As we near the end of the calendar year, it's the perfect time to reflect on the season so far and take stock of the players who've gone above and beyond expectations. Some have not only met but exceeded what we hoped for. Regardless of how your league is structured, having a few of these players on your roster can propel your fantasy team to a strong standing as the NHL season heads toward its midpoint. Whether you grabbed them in your draft or off the waiver wire, if you snagged a few of these power-play stars, consider this a slow clap in your honor. Here’s a look at the Top 10 power-play performers who've helped catapult your fantasy teams success this year. Enjoy!

10. Dylan Guenther (Utah Hockey Club)

Dylann Guenther has made significant strides in his development with the Utah Hockey Club this year, His power-play contributions have been solid, with 15 points (7 goals), remaining a key figure on Utah's man-advantage unit. While Utah's power-play efficiency is mid-pack at best, the bright spot has been the emergence of their young core, including Guenther. He's primarily positioned as a trigger man, leading the team in power-play points and goals. While his production may normalize slightly, he has the tools and role to sustain strong power-play success, likely finishing in the 12-14 PPP range for the remainder of the season.

9. Gabriel Vilardi (Winnipeg Jets)

There's no denying Gabriel Vilardi has been on fire lately. In December alone, Vilardi recorded 15 points. Over 37 games, he's averaging 0.86 points per game, putting him on pace for 71 pts. With 15 power-play points already tallied, including 7 goals, he's been a key contributor to Winnipeg's man advantage. His 21.4% shooting percentage is slightly above his usual, but he's capitalizing on high-quality chances rather than shooting in volume (1.9 SOG/game). Vilardi is involved in nearly two-thirds of Winnipeg’s power-play goals, playing a key role as a finisher and secondary playmaker. Winnipeg's overwhelming power-pay and Vilardi's versatility in the slot or net-front have made him a valuable weapon.

8. Lucas Raymond (Detroit Red Wings)

Through 35 games, Raymond has proven his value as a top core player on this Detroit Red Wings’ offense, with 16 power-play points, including two goals. Raymond plays primarily on the half-wall, during the powerplay and his 5-on-5 chemistry with Larkin and Seider directly translates to the man advantage, where they facilitate puck movement and exploit defensive gaps. However, keep an eye out for Raymond’s reliance on secondary assists (50% of his power-play assists), it could potentially lead to a slight dip in production if his linemates’ finishing rates decline.

7. Drake Batherson (Ottawa Senators)

The Senators had a rocky start to the season, but Drake Batherson has been solid as the second-leading scorer behind Tim Stutzle. He has six power-play goals, averaging 3:21 of power-play time per game and a 61.7% usage rate on the top unit, totaling 17 power-play points. Compared to last season's 22 PPP in 82 games, he's trending toward a career-best. Batherson is involved in nearly three-quarters of the team's power-play scoring, but his 16.9% shooting percentage and 2.2 SOG/game raise sustainability concerns. He may need to increase shot volume in order to maintain this level of production.

6. Zach Werenski (Columbus Blue Jackets)

Zach Werenski's season highlights his evolution as a dominant two-way defenseman. With 39 points in 37 games, he's pacing for an elite 1.05 points per game, which would translate to an 86-point season. Werenski has been a key contributor to Columbus' power-pay, logging 3:01 of power-play time per game, an increase from last season's 2:44. His 71.2% power-play deployment has led to 17 power-play points (5 goals, 12 assists) and an impressive powerplay IPP of 89.5%. Werenski would have likely been outside your top 10 defensemen on your draft board, what a solid pick-up!

5. William Nylander (Toronto Maple Leafs)

William Nylander has firmly established himself as one of the Maple Leafs top producers in recent years, and he's proving it again this season. Despite Auston Matthews' sporadic absences, Nylander has already netted 7 power-play goals, putting him on pace to surpass his 13 from the 2021-2022 season. With Matthews out, Nylander has stepped up as the primary trigger man on the power-pay, and it's paying off in a big way. The Leafs success will continue to rely on his consistency and clutch play.

4. Shayne Gostisbehere (Carolina Hurricanes)

The 31-year-old defensemen is proving he can still make an impact on the stat sheet. Gostisbhere He's on pace for 63 regular-season points which would nearly match his career high of 64 points. His shooting percentage and average TOI are consistent with recent seasons, but his power-play deployment has increased by 20 seconds. Already with 18 power-play points, he's on track to smash last year's 29 power-play points total if he keeps this pace. Another late draft pick or waiver wire snag that has paid dividends.

3. Jesper Bratt (New Jersey Devils)

It's time we start calling Jesper Bratt a star in the NHL. He's no longer just a point-per-game player, he's putting up 1.21 points-per-game (46 points in 36 games) playing along side Jack Hughes and contributing 18 power-play points to the New Jersey Devils' offense. Bratt has become a key figure, especially on the power-pay, with 68.3% usage and a power-play IPP of 69.2%. His IPP of 75.4% might regress slightly but his strong playmaking and strategic deployment makes him a reliable offensive force on a dominant Devils squad.

2. Martin Necas (Carolina Hurricanes)

Martin Necas has been instrumental to the Carolina Hurricanes’ offensive success, especially on the power-pay. He has recorded 19 power-play points (7 goals, 12 assists) this season, already surpassing his total from last year of 13. While slightly less efficient than New Jersey and Tampa Bay, Carolina's special teams remain a vital part of their offensive strategy, with a league-leading 5:12 power-play time per game. Necas has hit a cold streak, going pointless in his last six games, and his numbers are starting to normalize. Even with a slight regression in his shooting percentage, his scoring opportunities remain sustainable.

1. Nikita Kucherov (Tampa Bay Lightning)

As usual,  Nikita Kucherov has been stellar this season with a potential pace for 140 points over 82 games. His power-play production is especially impressive, with 22 power-play points in just 31 games. Tampa Bay has scored 28 power-play goals on 99 opportunities, and Kucherov has been involved in 78.5% of them. His overall points total is impressive, but his power-play success is what fantasy managers dream of in the first-round picks. Kucherov is on pace for another 50 power-play point season, which would mark three consecutive seasons of 50 or more points on the man advantage.

Thanks for reading! See you next week. For more content/fantasy hockey analysis, follow and message me on X @Punters_hockey.