This week's list leans toward players whose roles have opened up in very real, very actionable ways. Whether it's a defenseman stepping into heavy minutes because of an injury above him, a winger returning to a premium spot on an elite line, or a young forward carving out a stable place in the top six, the theme is the same: fantasy value follows deployment. These five names aren't here because of one big night; they've earned their spots by holding meaningful usage over multiple games, and that's the part managers should react to before the numbers catch up.

Data Sources:

Player Data From Natural Stat Trick

Yahoo roster percentages via Frozen Tools.

Line combinations and power-play deployment via Daily Faceoff and Frozen Tools.

All information current as of November 19th, 2025.

Calgary Flames — Rasmus Andersson (76%, D)

Andersson has quietly pieced together one of his steadier starts in years. Through 22 games he's at 5 G, 7 A, 12 P with 52 SOG and 38 blocks, playing his usual massive workload at 24–26 minutes a night and holding a PP1 role. The recent six points in three games look like a spike, but the underlying usage hasn't changed, he's been carrying top-pair minutes, driving play at even strength, and eating all the special-teams work Calgary will give him. The fantasy appeal here is straightforward: dependable shots, reliable blocks, stable power-play time, and enough offense to matter even when the Flames are inconsistent. There's also the chance Calgary makes moves later in the season, and Andersson would immediately gain value if he landed in a stronger scoring environment.

Takeaway: High minutes, PP1, and consistent peripherals make Andersson a firm hold across formats. The recent production is just the visible part of a profile that's already been sturdy for weeks, and there's even room for a boost if trade season shifts his surroundings.

Tampa Bay Lightning — Darren Raddysh (2%, D)

Raddysh is back in a meaningful fantasy lane, and it's entirely deployment-driven. With Victor Hedman out, Tampa has pushed him straight into a heavy-minute role that includes PP1, and the results have come fast. He's at 2 G, 6 A, 8 P through 14 games with 28 SOG, 12 hits, and 10 blocks, but the real jump is his special-teams load, 2:46 per night on the power play, and multiple recent games clearing the four-minute mark. His last three outings (3 PTS vs NJD, 1 PT vs EDM, 1 PT vs VAN) came with 21–27 minutes of ice, showing how much trust Tampa is putting in him while the blue line is banged up. He's also rotating through top-pair looks with Hedman, JJ Moser, and Emil Lilleberg, which keeps him in the middle of every important shift.

Takeaway: This is a short-term but very real boost. PP1 and top-pair minutes on a Tampa team that still generates plenty of scoring chances gives Raddysh enough runway to be relevant in all formats while Hedman is out. In shallow leagues he's a high-upside streamer; in deeper formats he's a clean hold until the role disappears.

Vancouver Canucks — Filip Hronek (45%, D)

Hronek is doing exactly what you want from a high-minute support defenseman on a good team. Through 22 games he's at 1 G, 11 A, 12 P with 25 SOG, 45 hits, and 31 blocks in 23:38 a night, almost all of it coming in a steady top-pair role next to Quinn Hughes. He's living on PP2 (about 1:44 per game) but still touching both special teams, which keeps the peripherals flowing even when the assists slow down. The quarterly breakdown and game log both tell the same story as the past few seasons: locked-in usage, low-event shot volume, and a very repeatable pace in the mid-40s for points over a full year rather than any kind of early-season mirage.

Takeaway: Hronek isn't a ceiling play so much as a glue piece. Top-pair minutes, secondary power-play work, and strong hit/block support make him a clean hold in multi-cat and deeper formats, especially if you've already committed to Vancouver exposure. In shallower points leagues he's more of a "stabilize your D" add than a league-winner, but this role is safe and the production profile is about as bankable as it gets.

Edmonton Oilers — Zach Hyman (85%, F)

Hyman is back, and Edmonton wasted zero time putting him right where he belongs. He's stepped straight into his usual role skating 62 of his 75 even-strength minutes next to Connor McDavid, with PP1 locked in, and his minutes immediately climbing into the 20-23 range. The production hasn't popped in these first four games (0 G, 2 A), but the workload absolutely has: 10 SOG, 20 hits, nearly three minutes per night on the power play, and a full spread of top-line looks in the game log. His shifts have already come with McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Jack Roslovic, and Matt Savoie, basically every premium scoring touch Edmonton has, and the physical edge is very much back, highlighted by an 11-hit night in Carolina. The early minus numbers come from a messy road swing more than anything structural.

Takeaway: This is the same deployment that produced 77 and 83 points in back-to-back years. Top line, PP1, heavy minutes, big shot volume on the way, and plenty of hit support make Hyman a clear hold and an easy buy-low if anyone in your league is panicking after a quiet first week. His role never changed—his shooting luck just hasn't caught up yet.

Anaheim Ducks — Beckett Sennecke (10%, F)

Sennecke has settled into a real NHL role faster than most rookies manage. Through 21 games he's at 7 G, 8 A, 14 P with 35 SOG, a hit per game, and steady usage across the Ducks' top six. The big difference over the past two weeks is how Anaheim is deploying him: consistent L2 minutes next to Mason McTavish, regular PP1 looks (about 1:36 per night), and a clear willingness to let him drive offense rather than just fill space on a kid line. He's also stacking multi-point games—four of his last six points have come on the road, and the game log shows him touching 16–19 minutes most nights with enough shot attempts to keep the floor stable. The shooting percentage is hot (17.6%), but the opportunity is real, and his touches in the offensive zone are growing, not shrinking.

Takeaway: This is early breakout territory. L2 + PP1 on a young offense that's finally getting healthy gives Sennecke a clear path to 50–55 points with multi-cat help, and he shouldn't be sitting on waivers in competitive formats. In shallower leagues he's the exact kind of upside swing you act on before Anaheim locks in their forward combinations for the winter.