Hello everyone and welcome to the latest edition of Eastern Edge! I'm Eli Feldman.

Last week, Yahoo! released its annual ADP rankings. While the rankings are based on standard scoring statistics (goals, assists, powerplay points, plus-minus, and shots on goal), they serve as an effective tool to prepare for draft day.

Relative to last season, the rankings feature several major changes to reflect players whose stocks were impacted (for better or for worse) based on their performance in 2024-2025 and/or a change of scenery during the offseason.

Needless to say, a lot can change in a year. With this in mind, let's look at a few players in the East carrying new-look ADPs heading into 2025-2026.

(Statistics courtesy of Frozen Tools)

Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs (2024-2025 ADP: 4.1; 2025-2026 ADP: 9)

While Auston Matthews is easily one of the NHL's most revered goal scorers, the masterminds behind Yahoo's ADP system are understandably skeptical after last season. Following his 69-goal, 107-point masterpiece in 2023-24, Matthews was limited to a relatively pedestrian 78 points (33 goals, 45 assists) in 67 games last season. While Papi still produced at a respectable clip, he was clearly hampered by an undisclosed injury that presents concerns about his long-term durability.

Beyond his mysterious injury, another wrinkle affecting Matthews' ADP is the recent departure of his longtime linemate, primary setup man, and close friend Mitch Marner this summer. Since the duo powered Toronto's offence for nearly a decade, it's unclear whether Matthews can continue finding the back of the net nearly as consistently without a world-class setup man on his wing.

Given these considerations, Matthews has slipped outside the top five in ADP for the first time in recent memory. While he's certainly capable of reclaiming his elite status if healthy, new linemate dynamics will force AM34 to turn a new leaf beginning this season.

Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets (2024-2025 ADP: 114.8; 2025-2026 ADP: 18)

Werenski's ascent up the ADP rankings is the product of a wicked elixir: talent, opportunity, and health. Long regarded as a dynamic offensive defenseman, Werenski's career had been repeatedly stalled by injuries. Last season, however, everything finally came together as the d-man logged heavy minutes and thrived on Columbus' top power play, finishing the year with 82 points (23 goals, 59 assists) in 81 games. Werenski's brilliance was validated by a Norris Trophy nomination as one of the NHL's best defencemen.

Looking ahead to 2025-2026, Columbus' young core – highlighted by Adam Fantilli, Kent Johnson, Kirill Marchenko, and others – will once again rely on Werenski as a consistent source of offensive production across multiple categories (including points, shots on goal, and power-play points). The concern, of course, is sustainability. Werenski's injury history cannot be overlooked, and Columbus – while improving by the day – remains a team that will inevitably endure growing pains this season. Still, with the Blue Jackets trending upward, Werenski's ADP reflects his well-earned status as a foundational piece of any fantasy team.

Lane Hutson, Montreal Canadiens (2024-2025 ADP: 170.3; 2025-2026 ADP: 53)

Few defencemen have entered the NHL with as much hype and pizzazz as Habs star Lane Hutson. After joining the Canadiens in the second round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, Hutson's size became a constant talking point in Montreal, with skeptics questioning whether his offensive brilliance could translate at the NHL level.

Last season, Hutson answered those skeptics emphatically by emerging as one of the premier power-play quarterbacks in the league, dazzling nightly with his elite vision, mobility, and creativity. Alongside Montreal's young core (including Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and now, Ivan Demidov), Hutson finds himself in an offensive system that allows his skillset to shine. His ability to drive puck movement transformed Montreal's man advantage into a legitimate weapon last season, earning him heavy usage and cementing his place as a franchise cornerstone.

While sophomore growing pains remain a possibility, Hutson's rise mirrors other young, undersized players who overcame similar doubts to become NHL superstars (among them, his own Head Coach Martin St. Louis). Unlike last year, Hutson is by no means a mid-to-late-round flier, but rather a growing fantasy star with boundless potential.

Dylan Strome, Washington Capitals (2024-2025 ADP: 162.2; 2025-2026 ADP: 92)

Although much of the spotlight in Washington revolved around Alex Ovechkin's chase of Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record, Strome quietly became an indispensable piece of the Caps' offence. Centering Ovechkin for much of the year, Strome delivered steady production, posting a career-high 82 points (29 goals, 53 assists) in 82 games while helping the Caps secure the second-best record in the NHL.

Strome's role extended beyond simply feeding Ovechkin, as the crafty centre solidified his reputation as a reliable playmaker and secondary scorer. Interestingly, while Strome's offensive game reached a new level last season, 2024-2025 marked the third-consecutive season in which Strome produced 65+ points.

With Ovechkin another year older and no longer chasing Gretzky, Strome's fantasy stock heading into 2025-2026 is higher than ever before. Indeed, if anything, Strome may be relied upon even more as Washington transitions into its next stage of growth. Heading into the year, Dylan Strome is no longer merely "Ovechkin's centre"; he's a viable fantasy option capable of capitalizing consistently.

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That's all for this week! Stay tuned for the next edition of Eastern Edge on Tuesday, September 2. Have a great week everyone!