Welcome back to the final couple of weeks of the 2025-26 fantasy season with Dobber Hockey! With fantasy managers hopefully getting ready to wrap up their league titles, we have the information you need when scouring the waiver wire. Managers, let's look ahead at the upcoming weeks in fantasy hockey.

Fantasy Hockey Player Outlook

We will review 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? Check out the fantasy hockey players’ outlook for the upcoming week.

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

Mid-Season Adds (Claim these players on the waiver wire)

Philip Broberg, D, St. Louis Blues, Rostered-15.1%

The Blues have seen a resurgence of late and are back in the playoff hunt and Philip Broberg has been a big part of that resurgence. He's been picking up his offense of late and on an aging blue-line, he's the future of the defensive group in St. Louis.

Sam Malinski, D, Colorado Avalanche, Rostered-12.4%

Sam Malinski may not be a household name, but he's been on a tear of late offensively. With Cale Makar out of the lineup for the foreseeable future, now's the time for managers to capitalize on Malinski's play.

Young Players to Build Off (Young players who are hot right now)

Jakub Dobes, G, Montreal Canadiens, Rostered-37.9%

There isn't a goaltender in the NHL who is hotter than Jakub Dobes right now, taking over the starter's crease in Montreal after Samuel Montembeault fell out of favor. Dobes has run with it and is the main reason for the Canadiens current win streak.

Igor Chernyshov, RW, San Jose Sharks, Rostered-2.4%

Chernyshov has spent time this season between the NHL and AHL, but when he has been in the big league, he's been productive. Since his recall he has registered three points in five games. Chernyshov will be a big part of the young Sharks core moving forward.

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

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Eeli Tolvanen, RW, Seattle Kraken, Rostered-49.3%

Tolvanen's goal-scoring upside has made him an attractive fantasy option in larger leagues. However, he's managed only 12 goals this season. This hardly warrants nearly 50 percent ownership.

Jared Spurgeon, D, Minnesota Wild, Rostered-47.1%

Spurgeon is a premier shut-down defenseman in the NHL and a big part of the Wild's success this season. However, this doesn't always translate to fantasy value as Spurgeon has often lacked in the offensive part of the game.

NHL Team Outlooks

Let's analyze the upcoming week’s schedule and look 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 short-term team outlook.

*Note: This week’s analysis runs from Apr 3-Apr 9. The weekly fantasy matchup runs from Apr 6-12. 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.)

Detroit Red Wings

The Wings held down a top three berth in the Atlantic just a few weeks ago. However, they have been reeling down the stretch and have fallen out of the playoff picture. They'll need to capitalize on the games ahead if they hope to regain their position.

New Jersey Devils

The Devils are well outside the playoff picture at this juncture. However, with their upcoming schedule, they still hold some fantasy value.

San Jose Sharks

San Jose is in a dog fight for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference. The young team has a chance to gain some ground on their opposition in the next few games.

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

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Calgary Flames

The Flames are near the bottom of the league and after a 9-2 loss to Colorado and 6-3 loss to Vegas, the organization and its fans are likely ready for the season to end. Thankfully, they have a tough upcoming schedule which should push them closer to a lottery position.

New York Islanders

New York is in a tight battle in the Metropolitan Division and Eastern Conference. Unfortunately for them, the upcoming schedule won't help in that department.

Pittsburgh Penguins

The Penguins find themselves in a similar position to the Islanders who they are competing with for playoff positioning. Much like the Isles, don't expect them to pay dividends in the coming contests.