Similar to many NHL general managers and their recent roster moves, we're switching things up in this week's edition of Eastern Edge. With teams around the league taking serious looks at acquisitions ahead of the holiday freeze, there's no shortage of impactful hockey news from nearly every single team that's affecting your fantasy squad.

From trade speculation to injury news, to players streaking or fading, keeping a finger on the pulse is essential for any winning fantasy hockey GM in hopes of that top spot.

With that in mind, we're going to quickly break down one major fantasy hockey-relevant talking point from a number of teams in the Eastern Conference to keep you ahead of the pack. For fun, the list is organized in terms of current points, best to worst.

New York Rangers

No disrespect to the Boston Bruins, this is the best club in the conference. Complete back-to-front, a star netminder, beastly blue line, and balanced top-nine, New York has all the makings of a legitimate Stanley Cup threat and they're flexing their muscle.

In terms of fantasy, it’s hard to highlight just one piece or area when, so far, there has been so much success. However, an under-the-radar piece who has been extremely effective and that's also available in a lot of leagues is rearguard Erik Gustafsson. Sure, his ice time's seen a hit with Adam Fox back in the fold, but if you're looking for some blue line depth and a little offensive support, Gustafsson is only owned at 33% on Yahoo and 22% on ESPN.

The 31-year-old vet has three goals, 12 assists, 10 PIMs, 35 shots, and 25 blocks, so far in what has already been an excellent season. Keep your eye on his deployment, but he's still getting PP2 time and until the ice time fully drops off, he's worth a shot in a lot of formats for a backend bump.

Boston Bruins

Speaking of the Bruins, hats off to a group that many expected to finally take a step back this season, a step back that seemingly never comes. This Boston team is anchored by its Jennings Trophy-winning goaltending duo in Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman. Both of those names you won't find on any waiver wires, but the point had to be made considering how stingy they both have been.

The main takeaway here is the Bruins are mortals after all, as the Bs have a 2-3-0 record over their last five. One of those Ws was a tight OT win against the Toronto Maple Leafs and the other against the San Jose Sharks, so make sure you stay tapped into a Boston team that's obviously overachieved through the first two months.
That usually means you can find overachieving fantasy hockey pieces you're likely now invested in that could cool along with the team in the overall standings. Players like Charlie Coyle, Pavel Zacha, and even James van Riemsdyk, all should be monitored closely over the coming week or two as we determine whether the recent performances from the Bruins are a sign of things to come, or mere blips on the radar.

Florida Panthers

The Florida Panthers are silencing doubters and proving their haters wrong. Their improbable run to the Stanley Cup Final a season ago wasn't a flash in the pan. This team is a true threat out of the Eastern Conference, and with Brandon Montour and Aaron Ekblad recently back in the fold, this Panthers group is whole once again.
Florida allows the third-fewest shots against per game in the NHL at 27.6, and its aforementioned blue-line crew has a lot to do with it. But if you're looking for an intriguing fantasy piece, winger Evan Rodrigues (16 points, 63 SOG, 10 PIMs, 23 hits) is playing on the top line with Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart, and also gets deployment on a solid second power-play unit for the Panthers.

Rodrigues is heating up and is only owned at 33% on Yahoo and 12% on ESPN, give him a look over the coming days as a solid stream option with potential to stick.

Detroit Red Wings

Getting a piece of the action right now in the 313 is a really good idea.
The Wings were already playing excellent hockey, sitting third in the Atlantic Division touting the seventh-best power-play group in the league. That was before adding one of the most prolific scorers of the past two decades in three-time Cup champ Patrick Kane.
Of course, many would immediately look to Kane (74% on Yahoo/68% on ESPN) and adding his services, but the biggest fantasy impact here is actually threefold: Aside from what Kane himself can bring to the table, his addition bumps someone like Robby Fabbri, Joe Veleno, or even David Perron off the power-play units, and will also provide an offensive boost to whoever Kane lands with – that player and of course Alex DeBrincat. All of this is fantasy relevant, and with Kane's injection into the lineup imminent, you're going to have to navigate all of it if you're invested in the Wings.

Carolina Hurricanes

With Frederik Andersen's health still an uncertainty, goaltender of the future Pyotr Kochetkov (4-4-1, 2.83 GAA, .881 SV.%) is still trying to figure it out at the NHL level, and 34-year-old career backup Antti Raanta also struggling, it's actually quite impressive the Carolina Hurricanes still find themselves sitting second in the Metro.

Until one of those goalies starts to play better, it's likely going to be close to an even split in terms of timeshare in the blue paint, and given how solid this Carolina group is defensively, both Raanta and Kochetkov will remain relevant fantasy hockey pieces and good options in a lot of formats.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Considering this Leafs group allows the eighth-most shots-against per game in the NHL at over 32 a night and supposed number one netminder Ilya Samsonov's struggles, Toronto fans should be building Joseph Woll shrines up and down Bay Street. Of course, Woll's also dealt with inconsistencies of his own at times, but overall, he's been a saviour for Sheldon Keefe's crew, putting up solid numbers to the tune of an 8-5-1 record, 2.82 GAA, and .915 SV.%.
Woll's getting most of the run out and clearly has been the more reliable option in Toronto, his ownership is 72% on Yahoo but he's only owned at 44% on ESPN and the Leafs have points in 8 of 10. He's emerging as a very real fantasy option on a pretty good team.

Montreal Canadiens

This three-headed goalie scenario in Montreal was never going to hold water and with Sam Montembault's three-year deal now solidified, it's seemingly his crease in La Belle Province to take for the foreseeable future. At a very quiet 6-3-1, 2.66 goals-against average, and .913 save percentage this season, Montembault is proving that he's not only got what it takes to be a starter, but that he's also fantasy relevant.
If he starts getting more run out like a lot expect him to, you'll be thankful you grabbed him now. Even with Montreal rebuilding, Montembault serves as a promising future keeper/dynasty piece over the next season or two with the goaltending market notoriously thin.

New Jersey Devils

Dougie Hamilton's pec injury is the latest in a rash of serious ailments plaguing the start to New Jersey's season. Bouncing back from injuries to captain Nico Hischier, leading scorer and superstar Jack Hughes, and now number one D-man in Hamilton is something the Devils are already comfortable with as Jersey still sits in striking distance in the Metro.
Regardless, Hamilton's hole on an already somewhat thin Devils blue line is the main point at hand. Aside from what it means to the overall success of the club and its ability to continue its climb out of the bottom of the division, fantasy GMs are going to be scrambling to replace Hamilton.

Immediately look internally at the second overall draft pick from two years ago in 19-year-old Slovakian Simon Nemec who is now playing on the top pairing with Jonas Siegenthaler and quarterbacking the second power-play unit. Nemec's ownership is rising quickly in all platforms, and after two assists in over 22 minutes in ice time in his debut, those numbers will surely continue to soar.