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Although the summer months tend to be pretty quiet when it comes to actual hockey news, the speculation around players and where they could potentially fit into their new lineups can be both fun and frustrating, especially when it comes to players who have recently joined a team through a trade or free agency. We all know who the top players are and generally have a good idea of where they stand and what their production could look like. It's the players we aren't quite sure about that make this so much fun. These are the players that could be sitting on your watchlist or available on waivers who can sometimes make all the difference for your fantasy team. So, over the next couple of days, let's take a look at some players who are worth keeping an eye on and could be ready to make some noise.

William Eklund

William Eklund enters Ottawa in a much better fantasy situation than the one he had in San Jose. The Senators acquired Eklund this summer after he posted 53 points in 78 games, but his fantasy value could take another step forward with his new opportunity. In San Jose, he didn't consistently play alongside Macklin Celebrini, with Alexander Wennberg actually being his most common linemate. In Ottawa, Eklund is projected to skate on the top line with Tim Stützle and Drake Batherson following the departure of Brady Tkachuk.

The opportunity is what makes Eklund particularly interesting as Stützle gives him access to a high-end offensive centre, while Batherson provides another proven scoring threat. Eklund recorded 38 assists compared to 15 goals last season, so he doesn't necessarily need to suddenly become a 30-goal scorer to take a significant step forward, he's always been more of a playmaker. There is also some room for improvement in his finishing. Eklund’s 8.5% S% last season was below his 10.4% career average, so if he can maintain his shot volume in a more favourable offensive environment, we may see an increase in production. He has already shown he can be a useful fantasy player, but this could be the season where he takes that next step. The most important will how he is deployed on the powerplay. If Eklund sticks with Stützle and Batherson at even strength and earns a spot on PP1, he could quickly become a player who gets scooped up in your draft before ever seeing the waiver wire, depending on your league size. If the chemistry is there, the upside could be significant, not only this season but even more so moving forward.

Nico Daws

Nico Daws might have a serious chance at the crease heading into the season, but the road to becoming New Jersey's No. 1 goalie is far from a straightforward one. With Jacob Markstrom shipped off to Florida, the Devils are now looking at a three-way battle between Daws, David Rittich and Jake Allen. Current depth charts have Allen ahead of the other two, and realistically, he could still end up taking the lion's share of the starts early on. That said, what makes Daws worth keeping an eye on is that this is a legitimate opportunity. He isn't simply competing for a backup job anymore. GM Sunny Mehta has already expressed excitement about giving Daws a real chance to establish himself, and if he can take advantage of that opportunity, there is a path toward becoming the eventual heir to the crease. The bigger question is when that happens. There are some reasons to be optimistic. New Jersey had the lowest 5v5 S% in the league last season, a number that should have some room to bounce back. Better offensive support would certainly help their goaltending. The problem is that there are still a lot of unknowns. Allen remains the safest option, Rittich has NHL experience, and Daws still needs to prove he can handle a larger workload. For now, I wouldn't be counting on Daws as a reliable fantasy starter, but he is definitely a name I'd have on my watchlist. If he starts to separate himself from Allen and Rittich, the fantasy value could come quickly but it will be a tough climb.

Igor Chernyshov

Chernyshov is one of the more intriguing names on my fantasy watchlist heading into the season. He drew the short straw last year because he was waiver-exempt while San Jose had several players who were not, resulting in some time between the NHL and AHL. Despite that, the Russian winger made a strong impression when given the opportunity, recording nine goals and 19 points in just 28 NHL games while adding 33 points in 41 AHL games. For a 20-year-old playing on one of the NHL’s youngest rosters, there was plenty to like. What makes Chernyshov even more interesting is the chemistry he showed with Macklin Celebrini. He averaged around 15 minutes per game and received just 25% of the Sharks’ power-play opportunities, leaving plenty of room for his fantasy value to grow if his role expands. The biggest question is where he ultimately fits in the lineup. The addition of Ivar Stenberg gives San Jose another young forward competing for top-six minutes, which could push Chernyshov down fantasy draft boards. That may not be a bad thing. If Chernyshov earns a top-six role alongside Celebrini and sees more power-play time, his fantasy ceiling becomes much more appealing. Even if he starts on the second line, I still see enough offensive upside to keep him firmly on the radar. There is a lot of young star power coming together in San Jose, which could make Chernyshov less of an obvious choice, but that’s exactly why you need to keep tabs on him.

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!