Going into this preseason a handful of teams sit on the playoff fringe conversation. These squads are not guaranteed postseason appearances, but they offer intriguing fantasy opportunities thanks to emerging stars, secondary scorers stepping up, and dynamic power-play units. From young cores making strides to veterans anchoring lineups, these ten teams are worth monitoring closely for both team success and individual fantasy impact.

Enjoy!

10. Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers may have finished at the bottom of the East, but there is still fantasy intrigue on this roster. Trevor Zegras gets a reset and the chance to build chemistry with close friend Jamie Drysdale, while Matvei Michkov looks ready to take another step after a strong rookie year. Travis Konecny continues to drive the offense, and Owen Tippett's shot volume makes him a real candidate for 30 goals if he stays in the top-six. One of Travis Sanheim, Cam York, or Drysdale needing to grab the power play role by the horns. In goal, Samuel Ersson and Dan Vladar are shaky, leaving extra weight on the top six, they are worth a look.

9. St. Louis Blues

St. Louis squeezed into the playoffs last season at the expense of Calgary and has made an effort to retool rather than a rebuild. The offense still leans on Brayden Schenn, while Jordan Kyrou has solidified himself as a 70–75 point threat and Pavel Buchnevich can push past 60, though scoring depth remains thin. Cam Fowler changed the team's look after arriving, boosting goals per game from 2.67 to 3.35 and lifting the power play from 17.4% to 24.6%, while adding 36 points in 51 games. For fantasy, Fowler and Jimmy Snuggerud bring power play upside, Dylan Holloway adds secondary scoring, and Philip Broberg may need another year to pop.

8. Utah Mammoth

Utah heads into its first full season with plenty of excitement and the chance to take a real step forward. The arrival of JJ Peterka to Utah was big as, although questions remain about Barrett Hayton's consistency and how Nick Schmaltz will adjust with new competition. The power play should be the main attraction with Dylan Guenther, Logan Cooley, Clayton Keller, Peterka, and Mikhail Sergachev forming a dangerous unit. Grit and character come from players such as Brandon Tanev and Stanley Cup Champion Nate Schmidt. In goal, Karel Vejmelka is a dependable volume starter. Everything about Utah screams excitement!

7. Calgary Flames

Calgary just missed the playoffs last season, losing out to St. Louis on a tiebreaker, and still looks like a fringe contender. Scoring consistency remains a concern, but Dustin Wolf offers real optimism. With Dan Vladar gone, Wolf steps into a heavy workload and has the tools to be one of the league's top young goalies. Up front, Nazem Kadri's shot volume gives him 30-goal potential and steady fantasy value, while Jonathan Huberdeau now projects closer to a 60-point depth option. A healthy Conor Zary adds another weapon, and on defense, Rasmus Andersson, MacKenzie Weegar, and rookie Zayne Parekh all bring fantasy upside, especially whoever grabs PP1 duties.

6. Vancouver Canucks

Vancouver enters the season with plenty of questions but also some upside. Elias Pettersson is looking for a bounce-back year to re-establish himself as the franchise centerpiece, while Quinn Hughes remains one of the league's elite offensive defensemen behind Cale Makar. With JT Miller gone, new opportunities open for Jake DeBrusk and Filip Chytil to step into top-six roles and deliver fantasy value. The elephant in the room, Thatcher Demko's health which is critical, though Kevin Lankinen has shown he can hold the crease if needed. The addition of Evander Kane gives Vancouver depth scoring and grit.

5. Nashville Predators

Nashville opens the season with a lot uncertainty. The biggest factor is Roman Josi who is still the backbone on defense, though his concussion last year raises concern. Steven Stamkos carries an $8 million cap hit and will need to bounce back from a 52-point year to justify the deal. Up front players like, Luke Evangelista thrived after the Novák trade while Jonathan Marchessault nearly hit a point-per-game pace with Filip Forsberg. Juuse Saros remains an elite, high-volume fantasy goalie, but he needs to perform a lot better than he did last year.

4. New York Rangers

The Rangers sit on the playoff fringe again after missing last year, and the roster is shifting. With Jacob Trouba, Chris Kreider, and K'Andre Miller all gone, Vladislav Gavrikov steps in as a shutdown anchor, freeing Adam Fox to drive offense. Will Cuylle and Alexis Lafrenière are expected to seize top-six roles, Artemi Panarin enters a contract year, adding weight to his production. JT Miller is secure long term but  Mika Zibanejad and Vincent Trocheck need to show steady output. For fantasy, Panarin and Fox remain elite so is Miller on his peripherals but Lafrenière and Cuylle need to that next step, especially Lafrenière. Ohh and did I mention Igor Shesterkin? This season could define the Rangers' next direction.

3. Montreal Canadiens

Montreal's rebuild is beginning to show steady progress instead of a full reset. The arrival of Ivan Demidov adds another layer of skill to a forward group already led by Cole Caufield and Patrik Laine. If Laine can stay healthy, the Canadiens suddenly boast a true top line with real scoring punch. Nick Suzuki keeps growing into his captaincy, setting the tone as a reliable two-way presence who balances the lineup. On defense, Lane Hutson looks ready to build off a strong rookie year, giving Montreal a puck-mover with power play value. In net, Sam Montembeault brings stability, while Caufield, Demidov, Suzuki, and Hutson all hold fantasy intrigue.

2. Detroit Red Wings

Detroit's power play was its backbone last season, and with Dylan Larkin, Lucas Raymond, Alex DeBrincat, Patrick Kane, and Moritz Seider leading the charge, that strength should continue. Raymond is emerging as a reliable top-line scorer, while Larkin's speed and finishing keep the offense flowing. Depth additions like JVR and Mason Appleton provide support, but the biggest question is in net. John Gibson joins as a potential stabilizer, and if he and Cam Talbot stay healthy, Detroit could finally roll out a true 1A/1B tandem to fuel a playoff push. For fantasy, Seider offers strong multi-category value, while Larkin, Raymond, Kane, and DeBrincat remain consistent scoring options.

1. Columbus Blue Jackets

Columbus took a real step forward last season, pushing for a playoff spot and showing signs they are close to breaking through. With a healthy Sean Monahan and Boone Jenner anchoring the veteran side, the focus shifts to the young core that continues to rise. Adam Fantilli, Kirill Marchenko and Kent Johnson all made major strides, moving from secondary pieces to real scoring threats, and that growth gives the Jackets a chance to ice a dangerous top six. On defense, Zach Werenski remains the heartbeat, eating heavy minutes while driving offense from the back end. Fantilli stands out as a prime sophomore breakout candidate, with Marchenko providing reliable finishing touch.

Thanks for reading! See you next week! For more fantasy hockey content and analysis, follow me on X @Punters_hockey. If you have any questions about your team or a trade? My DMs are always open, happy to help!