NHL Fantasy picks, props, futures with EDGE stats
Players to watch with projections, advanced metrics for upcoming games; new podcast episodes
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FRI. MARCH 6
Player to watch for point, assist and/or goal: Chris Kreider, F, ANA (vs. MTL; 9 p.m. ET; Victory+, KCOP-13, TSN2, RDS)
The Anaheim Ducks wing has 35 points (20 goals, 15 assists) and 12 power-play points, including seven power-play goals in 55 games this season. Kreider, who had 30 points (22 goals, eight assists) in 68 games with the New York Rangers last season, is having a bounce-back season in his first season with the Ducks. Kreider is playing on the first line with Leo Carlsson (1.02 points per game; first on team) and Cutter Gauthier (55 points; leads team) and first power play with Carlsson, Gauthier, Beckett Sennecke and Jackson LaCombe. Kreider has 23 points (10 goals, 13 assists) and eight power-play points in 30 home games (compared to 12 points and four power-play points in 25 road games). Per NHL EDGE stats, Kreider ranks highly among forwards in high-danger shots on goal (57; 93rd percentile), high-danger goals (13; 92nd percentile), midrange goals (five; 80th percentile) and max skating speed (22.89 mph; 83rd percentile). -- Chris Meaney
Read more: John Carlson's outlook with Ducks
Player to watch for goal, point and/or shots on goal: Juraj Slafkovsky F, MTL (at ANA; 9 p.m. ET; Victory+, KCOP-13, TSN2, RDS)
The Montreal Canadiens wing is having a breakout season; he ranks second on the team in goals (21; behind Cole Caufield’s 35) and is tied for their most power-play goals (10; with Nick Suzuki). Slafkovsky is in a five-game goal drought but has three assists and nine shots on goal in that span. He has had 19 games with at least three shots on goal this season, 11 games with at least four shots on goal and four games with at least five shots on goal. Slafkovsky, who is expected to play on the first line with Suzuki and Caufield, was also a standout for Slovakia in the 2026 Olympics, finishing tied for second in the tournament in goals (four) and tied for fourth in points (eight in six games). Per NHL EDGE stats, Slafkovsky ranks in the 90th percentile among forwards in high-danger goals (12) and is also a standout at his position in midrange goals, midrange shots on goal and max skating speed this season. Despite being one point behind the Vegas Golden Knights for the top spot in the Pacific Division, the Anaheim Ducks are allowing the third-most goals per game (3.48) this season. -- Pete Jensen
Player to watch for goal, point and/or shots on goal: Michael Misa, F, SJS (vs. STL; 10 p.m. ET; FDSNMW, NBCSCA)
The San Jose Sharks rookie center extended his point streak to four and goal streak to three against the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday; Misa, the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, became the sixth teenager in franchise history to score a goal in three straight games. The 19-year-old has 10 points (four goals, six assists) over his past 12 games, which ranks third on the team over that span behind Macklin Celebrini (15) and Will Smith (13). Misa has found chemistry on a line with William Eklund and Tyler Toffoli at even strength, as well as the second power play with Kiefer Sherwood and Philipp Kurashev. Per NHL EDGE stats, Misa ranks in the 95th percentile among forwards in average skating distance per 60 minutes (10.24 miles) while 17 of his 30 shots on goal have come from high-danger zones. The St. Louis Blues, who will play the Sharks three times in March, are winless in nine of their past 13 games. -- Troy Perlowitz
Read more: 'NHL Goal Chase' picks
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Others to watch for goal and/or shots on goal:
Cole Caufield, F, MTL (at ANA)
Cutter Gauthier, F, ANA (vs. MTL)
Connor Bedard, F, CHI (vs. VAN)
Will Smith, F, SJS (vs. STL)
Matt Boldy, F, MIN (at VGK)
Others to watch for point:
Beckett Sennecke, F, ANA (vs. MTL)
Robert Thomas, F, STL (at SJS)
Nikolaj Ehlers, F, CAR (at EDM)
Collin Graf, F, SJS (vs. STL)
Andre Burakovsky, F, CHI (vs. VAN)
Others to watch for multiple points:
Connor McDavid, F, EDM (vs. CAR)
Macklin Celebrini, F, SJS (vs. STL)
Nick Suzuki, F, MTL (at ANA)
Leo Carlsson, F, ANA (vs. MTL)
Nathan MacKinnon, F, COL (at DAL)
Others to watch for assist:
Quinn Hughes, D, MIN (at VGK)
Sebastian Aho, F, CAR (at EDM)
Lucas Raymond, F, DET (vs. FLA)
Matthew Tkachuk, F, FLA (at DET)
Jackson LaCombe, D, ANA (vs. MTL)
Others to watch for shots on goal:
Kiefer Sherwood, F, SJS (vs. STL)
Dylan Holloway, F, STL (at SJS)
Sam Rinzel, D, CHI (vs. VAN)
Sam Bennett, F, FLA (at DET)
Martin Necas, F, COL (at DAL)
Line combos/trios to consider:
MTL: Cole Caufield -- Nick Suzuki
ANA: Leo Carlsson -- Cutter Gauthier
SJS: Macklin Celebrini -- Will Smith
MIN: Kirill Kaprizov -- Matt Boldy -- Quinn Hughes
CAR: Sebastian Aho -- Seth Jarvis
DET: Lucas Raymond -- Alex DeBrincat
FLA: Sam Bennett -- Matthew Tkachuk
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NHL FUTURES WATCH
NOTES: The below players are candidates to watch, from front-runners to sleepers, for various 2026 NHL Awards. These lists are a collaborative effort by Pete Jensen, Chris Meaney and Troy Perlowitz.
Art Ross Trophy:
- Nathan MacKinnon, F, COL
- Connor McDavid, F, EDM
- Nikita Kucherov, F, TBL
Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy:
- Nathan MacKinnon, F, COL
- Connor McDavid, F, EDM
- Cole Caufield, F, MTL
- Matt Boldy, F, MIN
- Jason Robertson, F, DAL
Hart Trophy:
- Nathan MacKinnon, F, COL
- Connor McDavid, F, EDM
- Macklin Celebrini, F, SJS
Norris Trophy:
- Cale Makar, D, COL
- Zach Werenski, D, CBJ
- Lane Hutson, D, MTL
- Quinn Hughes, D, MIN
- Matthew Schaefer, D, NYI
Vezina Trophy:
- Ilya Sorokin, G, NYI
- Andrei Vasilevskiy, G, TBL
Jack Adams Award:
- Lindy Ruff, BUF
- Jared Bednar, COL
- Jon Cooper, TBL
Stanley Cup:
- Colorado Avalanche
- Tampa Bay Lightning
- Dallas Stars
- Minnesota Wild
- Carolina Hurricanes
