J.T. Compher for FANT picks March 16 26

NHL.com identifies players to watch in upcoming games for fantasy hockey, props and futures with EDGE stats insights throughout the 2025-26 season. For more coverage, visit NHL.com/Fantasy.

MON. MARCH 16

Player to watch for point, shots on goal and/or goal: Anze Kopitar, F, LAK (at NYR; 7 p.m. ET; FDSNW, MSG)

The Los Angeles Kings forward, who passed Marcel Dionne for the most career points in franchise history, has had at least one point in six of his past seven games and has seven points (four goals, three assists) and three power-play points over that span. Kopitar is playing on the first line and first power play with Artemi Panarin (12 points in 10 games with Kings) and Adrian Kempe (eight-game point streak). Kopitar had five shots on goal in his most-recent game and has had at last three SOG in four of his past five games. Per NHL EDGE stats, Kopitar ranks highly among forwards in offensive zone time percentage on the power play (63.7; 96th percentile), total miles skated in a game (3.92; 90th percentile) and in a period (1.49; 90th percentile). -- Chris Meaney

Read more: NHL EDGE stats behind Kopitar's Kings point record

Player to watch for point, goal and/or shots on goal: J.T. Compher, F, DET (vs. CGY; 7 p.m. ET; FDSNDET, Prime)

The Detroit Red Wings forward had a season-high 22:03 time on ice in his most-recent game as he’s seen a promotion to the first line with wings Alex DeBrincat (nine points in past eight games) and Patrick Kane(five points in past five games) with Dylan Larkin and Andrew Copp sidelined with injuries. Compher, who has one goal and four shots on goal in his past two games, has 21 points (nine goals, 12 assists) and is averaging 15:16 TOI/GP in 67 games this season. Per NHL EDGE stats, Compher ranks in the 88th percentile among forwards in 20-plus mph speed bursts (131) and eight of his nine goals this season have come from the high-danger zone. The Calgary Flames have allowed the ninth-most goals per game (3.41) on the road this season. -- Meaney

Player to watch for goal, multiple points and/or shots on goal: Clayton Keller, F, UTA (at DAL; 8 p.m. ET; FOX4, Utah16, Victory+)

The Utah Mammoth forward leads them in points (64 in 67 games) and assists (45), while he is also tied with defenseman Mikhail Sergachev for the team lead in power-play points (18 each). Keller has 14 points (three goals, 11 assists), four on the power play, over his past 12 games which includes five of his team-leading 21 multipoint performances. Keller had a career-high 13 shot attempts against the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday, followed by another 10 shot attempts against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday; he reached double-digits in shot attempts in back-to-back games for the first time this season. Keller is playing on Utah's top line with Nick Schmaltz (tied for team lead with five multigoal games) and their top power-play unit with Dylan Guenther (leads team with 33 goals and seven power-play goals). Per NHL EDGE stats, Keller ranks among the forward leaders in midrange shots on goal (69; 96th percentile), offensive zone time percentage (46.5; 94th percentile), long-range shots on goal (19; 93rd percentile) and hardest shot (91.26 mph; 90th percentile). -- Troy Perlowitz

Read more: 'NHL Goal Chase' picks

Read more: NHL Status Report for today

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Others to watch for goal and/or shots on goal:

Jason Robertson, F, DAL (vs. UTA)
Martin Necas, F, COL (vs. PIT)
Artemi Panarin, F, LAK (at NYR)
Dylan Guenther, F, UTA (at DAL)
Anthony Mantha, F, PIT (at COL)

Others to watch for point:

Mavrik Bourque, F, DAL (vs. UTA)
Alexis Lafreniere, F, NYR (vs. LAK)
Valeri Nichushkin, F, COL (vs. PIT)
Mikael Backlund, F, CGY (at DET)
Fraser Minten, F, BOS (at NJD)

Others to watch for multiple points:

Nathan MacKinnon, F, COL (vs. PIT)
Wyatt Johnston, F, DAL (vs. UTA)
Cale Makar, D, COL (vs. PIT)
Jack Hughes, F, NJD (vs. BOS)
David Pastrnak, F, BOS (at NJD)

Others to watch for assist:

Nazem Kadri, F, COL (vs. PIT)
Adrian Kempe, F, LAK (at NYR)
Patrick Kane, F, DET (vs. CGY)
Miro Heiskanen, D, DAL (vs. UTA)
Jesper Bratt, F, NJD (vs. BOS)

Others to watch for shots on goal:

Timo Meier, F, NJD (vs. BOS)
Egor Chinakhov, F, PIT (at COL)
Blake Coleman, F, CGY (at DET)
Trevor Moore, F, LAK (at NYR)
Alex DeBrincat, F, DET (vs. CGY)

Line combos/trios to consider:

DAL: Jason Robertson -- Wyatt Johnston -- Mavrik Bourque
COL: Nazem Kadri -- Nathan MacKinnon -- Martin Necas
LAK: Artemi Panarin -- Anze Kopitar -- Adrian Kempe
DET: Alex DeBrincat -- Patrick Kane
NYR: Gabe Perreault -- Mika Zibanejad -- Alexis Lafreniere
NJD: Jesper Bratt -- Jack Hughes

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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
- Kirill Kaprizov, F, MIN

Hart Trophy:

- Nathan MacKinnon, F, COL
- Connor McDavid, F, EDM
- Macklin Celebrini, F, SJS
- Nikita Kucherov, F, TBL

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
- Buffalo Sabres

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