Fantasy picks, props, futures for 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs

NHL.com identifies players to watch for free-to-play fantasy hockey games, props and futures throughout the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. For more coverage, visit NHL.com/Fantasy.

MORE PLAYOFFS COVERAGE:

Fantasy playoff rankings | NHL EDGE stats

Projected lineups, starting goalies for today

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WED. MAY 13

MIN at COL: Game 5 (8 p.m. ET; HBO MAX, truTV, TNT, SN, TVAS, CBC)

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NHL PROPS WATCH

NHL.com's fantasy hockey staff of Pete Jensen, Chris Meaney and Troy Perlowitz provide daily players to watch for props in various categories and for free-to-play games throughout the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Player to watch for goal, assist and/or point: Danila Yurov, F, MIN

The Minnesota Wild rookie has been productive against the Colorado Avalanche in the second round with points in three of the first four games of the series (one goal, two assists). He scored a power-play goal in Game 4 and had points in each of the first two games in Colorado as the series shifts back to Ball Arena for Game 5 on Wednesday. Yurov is only averaging 12:00 per game this postseason but plays on the second line with elite goal-scoring wing Matt Boldy (seven goals; tied for NHL lead this postseason) and also the second power play. Per NHL EDGE stats, Yurov ranks in the 83rd percentile among forwards in hardest shot (86.88 mph) this postseason, and four of his eight shots on goal in the playoffs have come from high-danger zones. -- Jensen

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Others to watch for point:

Gabriel Landeskog, F, COL
Valeri Nichushkin, F, COL
Nicolas Roy, F, COL

Others to watch for assist:

Mats Zuccarello, F, MIN
Martin Necas, F, COL
Brock Faber, D, MIN

Others to watch for multiple points:

Quinn Hughes, D, MIN
Kirill Kaprizov, F, MIN
Nathan MacKinnon, F, COL

Others to watch for shots on goal:

Nazem Kadri, F, COL
Ryan Hartman, F, MIN
Brock Nelson, F, COL

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'NHL GOAL CHASE' PICKS

Welcome to "NHL Goal Chase," a daily game where fans pick one goal-scorer per day and try to compile the longest streak possible. Multigoal games can also extend your streak by the number of goals scored by the goal-scorer you select.

Perlowitz's pick: Cale Makar, D, COL

The Colorado Avalanche defenseman scored two goals in Game 1 against the Minnesota Wild and is second on the team in shot attempts (27) behind Nathan MacKinnon (33) over the four games in this series. Makar has 16 points (four goals, 12 assists) in 15 potential series-clinching games in his career, including a goal in Game 4 of Colorado's series sweep of the Los Angeles Kings in the first round. Makar plays on the first power play with MacKinnon, Martin Necas, Gabriel Landeskog and Nazem Kadri, and Colorado has scored power-play goals in five straight games. The 27-year-old Makar, who's tied for the defenseman lead in goals (four) this postseason, ranks third all-time in points per game (1.03; minimum 20 games played) at his position in Stanley Cup Playoffs history behind Bobby Orr (1.24) and Evan Bouchard (1.09). Per NHL EDGE stats, Makar leads defensemen in 22-plus mph speed bursts (five) this postseason and ranks in the top 10 at the position in high-danger shots on goal (three; tied for second), midrange goals (two; tied for second), midrange shots on goal (five; tied for eighth) and long-range shots on goal (10; tied for 10th).

Other players to watch for goal: Matt Boldy, F, MIN; Nathan MacKinnon, F, COL; Nazem Kadri, F, COL; Kirill Kaprizov, F, MIN

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'NHL FANTASY STARS' ADVICE

Do you have what it takes to be an NHL GM? Test your skills by downloading the "NHL Fantasy Stars" app and setting your daily lineup during the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs! The game allows you to construct your dream team by opening packs, compiling coins and then collecting, buying, selling and training NHL licensed hockey players.

Team to watch: Colorado Avalanche (vs. MIN)

The Avalanche, who won the Presidents' Trophy for the NHL's best record during the regular season, are one win away from reaching the Western Conference Final for the first time since winning the Stanley Cup in 2022. Colorado has won seven of its eight games this postseason, outscoring their opponents 33-20, and has only allowed more than two goals in a game twice. The goalie tandem of Scott Wedgewood (6-1, .911 save percentage) and Mackenzie Blackwood (1-0, .912 save percentage) have carried over their success from the regular season, and the team has had a significant advantage in 5-on-5 shot attempts percentage against the Wild in the second round (55.5 to 44.5). The Avalanche's power play is also 5-for-12 in this series, compared to 1-for-11 against the Los Angeles Kings in the first round. Per NHL EDGE stats, Colorado goalies have a .922 save percentage (83 saves on 90 shots faced) against perimeter shots (mid-range and long-range combined) this postseason. -- Perlowitz

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NHL FUTURES WATCH

NOTE: These contenders for various futures angles are a collaborative effort by Jensen, Meaney and Perlowitz.

Conn Smythe Trophy:

1. Nathan MacKinnon, COL
2. Frederik Andersen, CAR
3. Mitch Marner, VGK
4. Cale Makar, COL
5. Jakub Dobes, MTL

To lead entire playoffs in goals:

1. Nathan MacKinnon, COL
2. Logan Stankoven, CAR
3. Pavel Dorofeyev, VGK
4. Alex Tuch, BUF
5. Matt Boldy, MIN

To lead entire playoffs in points:

1. Nathan MacKinnon, COL
2. Logan Stankoven, CAR
3. Mitch Marner, VGK
4. Cale Makar, COL
5. Quinn Hughes, MIN

To lead series in goals:

Logan Stankoven, CAR
Cale Makar, COL
Pavel Dorofeyev, VGK
Cole Caufield, MTL

To lead series in shots on goal:

Logan Stankoven, CAR
Leo Carlsson, ANA
Alex Tuch, BUF
Nazem Kadri, COL

To lead series in points:

Nathan MacKinnon, COL
Jackson Blake, CAR
Lane Hutson, MTL
Mitch Marner, VGK