Another wild week of NHL and fantasy hockey action results in an equally uptempo version of the latest edition of Eastern Edge. This week we're taking a look into a number of different fantasy-relevant situations that could help prepare a lot of GMs for what is sure to be an intense stretch of the NHL schedule as we push toward the holiday break.

Injuries are piling up for a lot of teams and bodies are dropping – for a number of reasons – across the league, impacting on your ability to build a winner. This is why you're tapped in with your finger on the pulse with all of the latest in the NHL, starting with everything going down in the Eastern Conference.

Jenner's Absence + Fantilli's Future for Blue Jackets

Even if you're not a dedicated or seasoned fantasy hockey head, you're probably already aware that Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner has been an all-around fantasy darling for the past number of seasons. You might not be seeing many fans rocking Jenner's 38 outside of Ohio or even his hometown of Dorchester, Ontario, but you likely should.

Aside from his impact on and off the ice for this young and beleaguered Blue Jackets bunch, Jenner's fantasy production over the past handful of seasons has been nothing short of irreplaceable. Filling out the peripheral categories nicely while regularly chipping in offensively, Jenner has racked up 62 goals (18 on the power play), 45 assists, 243 hits, 165 blocks, over 80 minutes in penalties, and six game winners over his last 156 regular season games dating back to the start of the 2021-22 season. Irreplaceable.

However, if you're going to have anyone do it, why not one of the most promising young talents in the game, a natural centre, and rising star in the league in 2023 third-overall pick Adam Fantilli. Another good Ontario boy, Fantilli has really started to settle in during his last five games while registering four goals, two assists, 16 shots, and a 28.6 shooting percentage.

As it stands, Justin Danforth (Less than 10% on both Yahoo and ESPN) is going to get a look up the middle on the top line between Johnny Gaudreau and Patrik Laine with Jenner on the shelf with a busted jaw for six weeks. Danforth might be the decent immediate option, but you can't help but feel the Jackets might want to give Fantilli a serious top-line look for what is sure to ultimately be his role in the near future anyway. Fantilli is currently owned at surprisingly low percentages, currently sitting at 37% on ESPN and 28% on Yahoo.

The minute Fantilli gets that aforementioned look, he becomes a week-to-week must-add. Until then, monitor if Danforth forms some chemistry with Laine and Johnny hockey, if that happens his peripherals and rising offensive value make him an intriguing flier-type target.

Woll Out, Samsonov & Jones Next Up for Maple Leafs

Just when the Toronto Maple Leafs finally looked to have themselves a promising young goaltender with ability to regularly make big saves and keep their shabby blue line in games, Joseph Woll goes down week-to-week with a high-ankle sprain. Cue the circus music in the Six because now a Toronto team that already allows the six-most shots-against per game has to run out the duo of Ilya Samsonov (5-1-4, 3.29 GAA, .884 SV.% this season) and Martin Jones (2-1-1, 3.37 GAA, .870 SV.% in AHL).

Somebody pour a stiff rum and eggnog, this might get ugly.

Of course, the Leafs are still a relevant team that should provide value for both Samsonov (78% Yahoo/64% ESPN) and Jones over the coming games, as the more experienced veteran will be between the pipes for Sheldon Keefe's crew Tuesday night against the Rangers after losing in overtime to the Islanders on Monday. Jones was brought in as a clearcut third-string security blanket and should be looked at as only an option on a day-to-day basis on back-to-backs, or more closely should Samsonov struggle or worse, go down with injury.

Woll is the goalie of the now and future in Toronto, but until he returns the Leafs will have to maneuver a very fragile situation and hope this Samsonov-Jones tandem can keep them afloat in the increasingly tight Atlantic Division. Buyer beware.

Red Wings Rundown

Man, Dylan Larkin cannot catch a break right now. On and off the ice you can't help but feel for this guy. In terms of fantasy impact, head coach Derek Lalonde is saying he could be back as early as next week, but given Larkin's injury history, specifically with head/neck ailments, there is obvious concern that he might miss more significant chunks of the schedule.

Again, bodies dropping and lineups shuffling mean fantasy GMs have to scramble. Such is the case for replacing D-Boss' production of 11 goals, 14 assists, 83 shots, and 33 PIMs, but in terms of this Red Wings lineup, Larkin isn't the only hole Lalonde is going to need to fill. As a result of the play on Larkin that injured him, veteran winger David Perron put on a goon show while dummying Ottawa Senators blue-liner Artem Zub, leading to a six-game suspension for Perron.

In a resulting move, the Wings called up three pieces from their AHL affiliate and have juggled their lines with Andrew Copp jumping up to the top line to centre Alex DeBrincat and the recently added Patrick Kane.

The Wings are clearly trying to position themselves as Cup contenders, but are they yet? With the trio of Alex Lyon, James Reimer, and Ville Husso manning the blue paint, likely not. However, these lineup holes and updates produce opportunities. Even if names like Copp, Joe

Veleno, and Michael Rasmussen don't exactly get the fantasy juices flowing, they’re going to get a top-six look for a team with a good power-play (10th-best) and strong blue line. Don't sleep on these kinds of chances to potentially add pieces to good spots on a weekly basis.

Flyers Finally For Real?

This take is more a general, overall shout out to a team in the Philadelphia Flyers that deserve a lot more respect. Winning franchises in the NHL usually have a few common characteristics: Great goaltending, balanced scoring, strong special teams, and the consistent ability to win on the road at the top of that list.

Not only do the Flyers tout one of the best road records in the league at 9-4-1, they roll three solid lines with a balanced mix of promising young talent and proven veteran pieces. That balance has led John Tortorella's crew to also be one of the stingiest defensively, allowing the fourth-least shots-against per game (28.4) while running out the fifth-best PK unit currently killing penalties at an 86.2% clip.

Almost forgot about, perhaps, the biggest reason for Philly's newfound success in goaltender Carter Hart who is finally finding consistency after what has been nothing short of a tumultuous start to his NHL career. Hart has the eighth best goals-against average and save percentage at 2.42 and .919, respectively. Despite dealing with injuries, Hart also owns a very respectable 9-6-1 record and one shutout across 17 games this season. The young Flyers netminder is likely already owned in your league, as he's sitting at 78% on Yahoo and 75% on ESPN, but if he isn’t, he's a great week-to-week option in the cage if you need a fill in.

Other interesting young names with growing fantasy potential in the Cheesesteak capital that are worth your future fantasy gaze are names like Bobby Brink, Morgan Frost, and Tyson Foerster. Any way you cut it; Philadelphia is a much-improved club on the rise. Don't forget it.