There are plenty of leagues that incorporate a variety of statistical categories. That's where the Frozen Tools section comes in handy, offering a treasure trove of sortable and filterable data to help you analyze NHL players and their overall gameplay across nearly any category. Now that we're approaching the halfway mark of the season, it's always exciting to take a moment to check out which players are on pace to dominate in certain categories, whether it's goals, assists, points, or blocked shots.

Below, I've highlighted 10 players and their contributions across various fantasy-relevant stats. While these players are currently on track to lead their respective categories, there are others closing in who could overtake them if regression or opportunity shifts their way. Enjoy!

10. Mathieu Olivier – PIMS

Looks like Mathieu Olivier is very good at walking that fine line without crossing it too often. He's on pace for 162 PIM. Interestingly, he's got some stiff competition from Mark Kastelic and Nikita Zadorov, who are close behind with projected totals of 156 and 152 PIM, respectively. While this might not hold much value for most fantasy leagues, it could be a goldmine for those where penalty minutes are a counted category.

9. Chris Tanev – Blocked Shots

Chris Tanev won't light up the scoreboard, but if your league counts blocks, he's gold. Leading the NHL with 111 blocked shots and on pace for 233, he's averaging nearly three per game. Ian Cole and Jacob Trouba are right behind with 110 and 109 blocks, making them valuable in this category. Tanev's 19:31 average ice time ensures he'll keep up the pace. Offensively, his one goal and 11 assists won't blow you away, but they can be clutch in a tight matchup or category race. If your league values grit and defensive stats, Tanev is a sneaky-good addition to your roster.

8. Kiefer Sherwood – Hits

Keifer Sherwood has delivered an impressive 220 hits in just 38 games. The next closest player, Mark Kastelic, trails with 148 hits. Sherwood is on pace for 475 hits, but what makes this even more intriguing is his growing offensive impact. Rick Tocchet clearly sees potential, giving Sherwood room to showcase his skills. In those 35 games, he's tallied 12 goals and 7 assists, putting him on pace for a 45-point season. Sherwood is emerging as a true multi-category gem and should be rostered in most leagues by now.

7. David Pastrnak – SOG

Pastrnak is averaging 4.1 shots per game, pacing for 336 this season, not even his career high. Zach Werenski isn't far behind, with 160 shots on net and a pace for 328. Only three others are on track for 300 shots: Jack Hughes, Brady Tkachuk and Nathan MacKinnon. Werenski is the surprise here, as his career-high is 216 shots in 2021-2022, but he's now averaging 4.0 per game. I'm not too surprised by Jack Hughes being on this list, as we've seen him occasionally put up anywhere from 10 to 13 shots on net in a single game. Honestly, I'm more surprised he isn't at the very top of the list.

6. Sam Reinhart – Shorthanded Goals

A short-handed goal specialist in the NHL is a rare and invaluable asset. These players thrive in penalty-killing situations, turning defense into offense through speed, hockey IQ, and anticipation. Sam Reinhart currently leads the league with four short-handed goals this season. If he maintains this pace, he's on track for nine. Only four players in NHL history have scored 10 or more short-handed goals in a season, including Mario Lemieux (twice, with a record 13) and Wayne Gretzky (twice), not a bad group to be associated with. It's not out of the realm of possibility for Reinhart to join them.

5. Kirill Kaprizov / Mikko Rantanen – Empty Net Goals

Kirill Kaprizov and Mikko Rantanen have both scored six empty-net goals (ENGs) so far, with Rantanen’s ENGs making up 28.6% of his total goals and Kaprizov at 26.1%. Both are on pace for around 13 ENGs this season. Rantanen also has six empty-net assists, showing he’s playing a bigger role in these situations. For a bit of trivia, Nikita Kucherov holds the single-season record for most empty-net goals with 14.

4. Brayden Point – Power-Play Goals

In only 32 games played, Brayden Point has registered 18 PPP, broken down into 11 PPG. He is involved in 78.3% of Tampa's power player points with an average powerplay TOI of 3:46. Point is pacing for a total of 28 PPG on the season if this trend continues. As it stands, Tampa's PPG total is 28. Point alone accounts for nearly 40% of their powerplay scoring. Coming in a close second is Kyle Connor and teammate Gabriel Vilardi who have 9 PPG on the season.

3. Leon Draisaitl – Goals

Leon Draisaitl is on fire this season, pacing for 61 goals. His shooting volume (252 SOG) for the year is elite, and he’s currently sitting at 29 goals. Brayden Point is just under the 60-goal pace (59 goals), with 23 goals in 32 games, though his projected shot volume (192 SOG) is lower. Down the list is the injured Kirill Kaprizov pacing for 55 goals. Ovi, even with the missed time and his age creeping up, would've been a serious threat in this category. You still have to admire the guy; he's out there producing like it's just another day at the office.

2. Nathan MacKinnon – Points

A month ago, if I did this, it would have been Martin Necas but he has since cooled off. Now sitting at the top spot is Nathan MacKinnon with 65 points on the season. He also leads the league in assists with 47 and is pacing for 133 points on the season. Nikita Kucherov, despite playing fewer games is projecting for a 130-point season. You definitely cannot count out Draisaitl and teammate Connor McDavid who both are pacing at 124 and 123.  With all four elite producers topping the list, it is honestly up for the taking.

 1. Connor Hellebuyck – Wins

We all know Connor Hellebuyck and the Winnipeg Jets are a wrecking ball this season. Through 32 games, Hellebuyck boasts a record of 24-6-2 with five shutouts. It's also worth noting that he is tied with Filip Gustavsson with a .926 save percentage and a league leading 2.09 GAA among goalies who have played at least 25 games. If he continues at this pace and plays 64 games, Hellebuyck is on track for a 48-win season. For context, Braden Holtby and Martin Brodeur currently share the record for most wins by an NHL goalie in a season, with 48.

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