Welcome back to the continuation of the 2025-26 fantasy season with Dobber Hockey! With the NHL season over one-third complete, this also means fantasy managers are in the midst of their league’s season. 

Whether you are scanning the waiver wire for possible additions or scouring the trade market to improve your team, we have the information you need. Managers, let's look ahead at the upcoming week in fantasy hockey.

Fantasy Hockey Player Outlook

Let's peruse which players you should be targeting in your league’s fantasy season. Who can be had on the waiver wire, and who should you avoid picking up? Take a look at our fantasy hockey players’ outlook for the upcoming week. Data from Frozen Tools and current as of Thursday, December 11^th.

*Note: All stats are courtesy of ESPN Fantasy Hockey. 

Early Season Adds (Claim these players on the waiver wire)

Oliver Ekman-Larsson, D, Toronto Maple Leafs, Rostered-40.2%

            Oliver Ekman-Larsson has seen a resurgence offensively in Toronto this season. With all the injuries on the Maple Leafs defence core, this has given OEL major minutes. He already has 20 points on the year, which is good enough for fifth on the Leafs. With Tanev and Carlo still out of the lineup, OEL remains a valuable fantasy option for the foreseeable future. Just keep an eye on his status as he was injured on Thursday night.

Darren Raddysh, D, Tampa Bay Lightning, Rostered-40%

            Darren Raddysh has seen an offensive explosion in Tampa Bay this year. He is near a point per game and has been lighting it up on the team’s top power play unit. He is playing big minutes on an injured blue line for the Lightning. This all makes him worth a look as a depth defenceman in fantasy.

Young Players to Build Off (Young players off to hot starts)

Luke Evangelista, RW, Nashville Predators, Rostered-4.2%

Virtually everyone on the Predators has struggled offensively this season, which is why they find themselves at the bottom of the league. However, young forward Luke Evangelista has been an exception to that trend. He finds himself on the team’s top line, and in larger leagues, he is worth taking a gamble on.

Oliver Kapanen, C, Montreal Canadiens, Rostered-4.2%

            In his rookie season, Oliver Kapanen has been tasked with centering the Canadiens second line. With nine goals on the year, he has been productive for a first-year forward. However, much of this can be attributed to his linemate and fellow rookie Ivan Demidov's playmaking ability. As long as Kapanen continues to center a line with Demidov, he is a decent fantasy option in larger leagues.

Buy-Now Players (You should trade for these players as soon as possible)

Brayden Point, C, Tampa Bay Lightning, Rostered-85.9%

            Brayden Point has been a consistent 40- to 50-goal, point-per-game player throughout his career. However, this year, he is having a career-worst campaign out of the gate. He missed the last several games with injury, but upon his return, he managed a goal and an assist against the Canadiens. This could be an opportunity to buy-low on Point before his value returns to normal.

Drake Batherson, RW, Ottawa Senators, Rostered-82.8%

            Drake Batherson has been on a torrid offensive pace for the Ottawa Senators this season. He is in line for the first point-per-game season of his career. Managers should capitalize on Batherson's hot start while they can.

Steer Clear (Players you should avoid in fantasy leagues, or trade immediately if you own them)

Emil Heineman, LW, New York Islanders, Rostered-43.5%

            Following his acquisition by the Islanders, sophomore forward Emil Heineman was off to a blistering hot start to 2025-26. However, he has finally cooled off and has been held to just a single point in his last ten games. Heineman's true value likely rests somewhere in the middle of these two trends.

Jonathan Huberdeau, LW, Calgary Flames, Rostered-43.2%

            Jonathan Huberdeau went from one of the NHL's best players in Florida to a borderline top-six option in Calgary. It's safe to say that Huberdeau won't return to his past form, especially not on a Calgary squad that has been starved for offense.

NHL Team Outlooks

Analyzing the upcoming week’s schedule and looking at which NHL teams are expected to have a strong week and who will be in tough. Which teams’ players should you be buying stock in, and which teams should you avoid at all costs? Take a peek at the NHL team outlook for the upcoming week.

*Note: This week’s analysis runs from Dec 12-Dec 18. The weekly fantasy matchup runs from Dec 15-21. Teams that play more games during the week/matchup often gain favor in the schedule analysis.

Matchup Favorites (These teams will pay dividends in the coming games.)

Minnesota Wild

            The Wild, led by young netminder Jesper Wallstedt and the NHL's highest-paid player in Kirill Kaprizov, have been playing some strong hockey as of late. Their upcoming homestand should allow for that to continue.

Montreal Canadiens

            The Montreal Canadiens have faced some struggles lately, particularly in the crease. Montembeault and Dobes have been the NHL's worst duo in terms of save percentage this season. As a result, Montreal called up rookie Jacob Fowler. The Canadiens' thin upcoming schedule could allow for their rookie goalie to hit the ground running.

New York Rangers

            The Rangers have had their struggles at home this season, particularly finding the back of the net. Hopefully, their upcoming homestand can allow them to resolve some of these issues and gain some ground in the Eastern Conference.

Matchup Killers (Avoid players from these teams at all costs in the upcoming games.)

Colorado Avalanche

            The Avalanche have been the best team in the NHL this season as they have been on a torrid pace. However, they've come back down to Earth slightly in recent games. They're still a tough team to bet against, but they only play a few games in the coming days.

Los Angeles Kings

            The Kings have had a solid season and are capitalizing on a weak Pacific Division. However, their upcoming road trip could prove tough for Los Angeles in the standings.

Vegas Golden Knights

            The Vegas Golden Knights have been one of the NHL's best teams so far this season. The only reason they find themselves in this category is due to their short schedule in the upcoming days.

*For more hockey and fantasy coverage, follow me on X (formerly Twitter) @Cdesjardins67