As we roll through American Thanksgiving weekend, the NHL standings are starting to settle, giving us a picture of team dynamics and areas for improvement as the season progresses. Special teams, especially the power-play, play a massive role in team success and it's just as crucial in fantasy hockey.

For fantasy GMs, power-play production can make or break your season. Most leagues count power-play points in either points leagues or categories.  A strong power-play presence can significantly boost a player's overall production. Targeting players logging top-unit minutes on effective power-plays is always a smart strategy. So, let's go over 10 powerplay takeaways so far this season.

10. Casey Mittelstadt is still on the top PP in Colorado…. for now!

With the Avalanche at full strength, what's the outlook for Casey Mittelstadt's power-play role? At even strength, he's firmly entrenched as the second-line center, and for now, he's holding his spot on the top power-play unit. If the power-play hits a rough patch, Jared Bednar might tinker, and Mittelstadt could be the odd man out. I see Mittelstadt as a Nazem Kadri-type for Colorado—a versatile, offensive catalyst in key situations. As someone who owns shares of Mittelstadt in fantasy, I'm cautiously optimistic he sticks. With Colorado's power-play just outside of the top five, he may stick, but if they slide, he may not.

9. Dynamic Depth: How Sherwood and Garland Fit Vancouver's Puzzle

Kiefer Sherwood and Conor Garland have been unexpected sparks for the Vancouver Canucks this season, thriving alongside Elias Pettersson at even strength and earning time on the top power-play. With Brock Boeser back and J.T. Miller's return hopefully imminent, Sherwood's work ethic and versatility position him to potentially fill the role Elias Lindholm was unable to fulfil last year. Garland, a proven lineup chameleon, continues to showcase his ability to contribute wherever needed. Once the Canucks are fully healthy, don't be shocked if Sherwood or Garland remain a fixture on the top power-play unit, complementing the team's star-studded cast.

8. Bedard Is in a Constant Line Blender

Connor Bedard‘s sophomore slump is not exactly breaking news, but the root cause might be Chicago's endless line shuffling. The Blackhawks have tried nearly every combination to reignite his scoring touch, cycling through linemates like Taylor Hall, Nick Foligno, Teuvo Teravainen, Tyler Bertuzzi, Philipp Kurashev, Lukas Reichel, Ryan Donato, Craig Smith, and Patrick Maroon—just on the power-play! Even-strength lines? Let's not even go there. This lack of consistency makes it tough for Bedard to build chemistry, and it's showing in his confidence and goal production. The talent is undeniable, but without stable line assignments, sparking his offense remains a challenge.

7. Maybe It's Time to Give Laf a Real Shot

Trade rumors are usually just noise, but when Elliotte Friedman speaks, it's worth paying attention. The latest buzz has the Rangers considering moves involving Jacob Trouba and Chris Kreider. While Kreider’s inclusion is intriguing, lets focus on the team's power-play. The Rangers' offense has struggled, and they've leaned heavily on Igor Shesterkin to stay competitive. Giving Alexis Lafrenière a chance on the top unit could be the shake-up they need to generate goals and momentum. He's logged just 6 minutes there out of 47:49 total power-play time. A small tweak like this could be the spark the Rangers need to turn things around.

6. Clarke's Rise, Doughty's Return

Brandt Clarke's emergence has been exciting to watch this year, showcasing impressive puck movement and offensive instincts. His ability to create opportunities and stay composed under pressure highlights his value to this Los Angeles Kings team. However, Doughty's return in January may complicate things. As a veteran leader, most expect him to reclaim the top role. Clarke maintaining his spot solely depends on his continued impact and if the Kings explore a two-defenseman setup or shuffle forwards to accommodate him. The coming games will be interesting to watch, potentially forcing the Kings to reconsider their power-play structure if it continues to work well under Clarke.

5. Predators' Power-Play Woes

The Predators rank 14th on the power-play, not awful but their 20.8% success rate has been a letdown, especially with a unit featuring Roman Josi, Filip Forsberg, Steven Stamkos, and Jonathan Marchessault. Many voiced concerns in the offseason about stacking finishers over playmakers, the heavy reliance on right-handed shooters potentially disrupting flow thus reducing scoring angles – all of which are proving valid as the chemistry just isn't clicking. To shake things up, Gustav Nyquist was elevated to the top unit last game, bumping Marchessault down. A shakeup is definitely needed as Steven Stamkos has expressed his frustrations verbally on the Predators' struggles.

4. Hagel Looks Like a Good 5^th Wheel

Meanwhile, back at the ranch – the Tampa power-play has been running well with Brandon Hagel in replacement of Stamkos. It looks as if John Cooper has stuck with Hagel as the next installment to fit into the top power-play unit in Tampa. How long does that stick? I would guess once it shows signs of slowing.  Anthony Cirelli and Nick Paul had both seen time on the top unit last year but as of now Hagel has looked fairly well and fits in. The Lightning are top 10 in power-play efficiency across the league.

3. Devils' Power Play: Hamilton's Show for Now

It seems Luke Hughes has lost his spot on the top line and top power-play unit to Dougie Hamilton. Like many, I thought Hughes would be handed the reins if Hamilton stumbled, but that hasn't happened. Hamilton has found his groove after a slow start. Despite recovering from a pectoral injury, he's on pace for 58 points, contributing heavily to a Devils power-play that's first in the league. Hamilton's shooting percentage is a low 4.5% so far, down from his 3-year average of 6.3%, but with 10 of his 17 points coming on the man advantage, he's still making a significant impact on the top-power-play in the NHL.

2. Stars Shine Despite Power-Play Struggles

The Dallas Stars' power-play has struggled this season and is desperately trying to find its groove. Despite this, they're holding onto third place in the Central Division, a testament to their depth and resilience, even with a power-play efficiency that's among the NHL's bottom half. Jason Robertson and Roope Hintz have taken some time to get going, but a recent shakeup that saw Wyatt Johnston bumped to the top line and power-play unit might just be the spark they needed. If this power-play starts firing on all cylinders, the rest of the Western Conference better be ready because the Stars could become a serious nightmare to handle.

1. Boston's Offense Needs a Reset

The Bruins' power-play is in shambles, sitting at the bottom of league. This isn't just a blip, it is a glaring issue compounded by their overall offensive struggles. Beyond David Pastrnak, who always does the heavy lifting, the supporting cast has gone quiet. Elias Lindholm, Brad Marchand and Pavel Zacha have barely chipped in, leaving Boston's attack stagnant and predictable. Add to that their poor shot metrics and it's clear they're not creating enough quality chances. In order to be a competitive team in the Atlantic, they'll need to find secondary scoring and recalibrate their special teams.

Thanks for reading! See you next week. For more content/fantasy hockey analysis, follow and message me on X @Punters_hockey.