Welcome back to another edition of the Roos Lets Loose monthly mailbag, where I answer your fantasy hockey questions by giving advice that should be useful to all poolies even if they don't own the specific players being discussed. As a reminder, if you want your fantasy hockey question(s) answered in the next mailbag, check out the end of the column, where I explain the ways to get it/them to me as well as the details you should provide when sending. The earlier you send a question the more likely it is to be included in the mailbag, and the deeper dive I can provide with my reply.

Question #1 (from Eric)

I’m in a 12 team, keep 6 league with skater categories and scoring of G=3, A=2, +/- = 0.25, PIM=0.5, PPG= 1, PPA=0.5, SHG=3, SHA=2, GWG=1, SOG=0.5, FW=0.1, FL= -0.05, HIT=0.5, BLK=0.75. Goalie categories are all volumed-based. Starting line-ups are 2C, 2LW, 2RW, 4D, 2G, with 4 Bench and 2 IR.

In our league the bottom 6 teams enter into a playoff to determine draft order, whereas the top 6 teams get to draft in the exact reverse order they finish the season. Last season I judged it was time for a rebuild, and this season I figured I wouldn’t yet be strong enough to compete and would need to continue the rebuild and enter the draft playoffs yet again. Alas, the rebuild both went too well and too poorly, as I’m too far from the bottom 6 to make the draft playoffs but not likely good enough to finish in the money. Ultimately, I decided to try to continue to rebuild, even if I don't get into position for a top six pick.

As of now, my team consists of Nico Hischier, Sam Reinhart, Cutter Gauthier, Matt Boldy, Ivan Demidov, David Pastrnak, Matvei Michkov, Matt Roy, Evan Bouchard, Nikita Zadorov, Dougie Hamilton, Darnell Nurse, Jusse Saros, Mackenzie Blackwood, Karel Vejmelka and Jet Greaves. There is no offseason trading, so any deals I'd make would need to be within the season.

I have my six keepers as Pastrnak, Demidov, Boldy, Michkov, Bouchard, and Gauthier. Prior to him being used at LW, Michkov was hurting my team not just because of his performance, but he was only RW eligible, giving me a logjam of RWs who often played on the same night. Now he’s LW/RW (this is a Yahoo league) so I’m able to roster him more often, but I worry about how things will unfold for him in Philly. Is he going to falter with Tocchet as coach, or is he still worth patience? I know trading him now would be the definition of selling low, but I feel having 2 keeper D is a good idea and wonder if he’s the odd man out in that RW spot. Maybe I can include him in a package for a top 5 D-man, or am I dreaming? Reinhart’s C/RW eligibility is valuable, but I've gotten zero traction in my attempts to trade him so far. Is Gauthier a definite keep?

Michkov and Tocchet might be like oil and water, but it is too soon to deem Michkov a failure, especially with his added positional flexibility for your league. I’d preach patience — hold and hope. Still, placing aside any animus Tocchet might have toward Michkov, there's also the fact Tocchet is not doing his players favors by the way he deploys them, with no Flyer forward in the top 100 for average TOI per game, or in the top 150 in PP TOI per game. That definitely is not conducive to scoring. As such, Michkov likely has a 70-point ceiling so long as Tocchet is coach; but that might not be much longer if the team doesn’t thrive. I do see Michkov as a keeper, especially since you're still rebuilding.

Gauthier has slowed from hit torrid early season pace, but he seems like he has the makings of a very good player, and he shoots a ton, which is a big deal in your league. If you were closer to winning, Reinhart could be in contention instead of Michkov; but in your situation I like keeping Michkov and Demidov, rather than Reinhart, who’s solid but seemingly on a downward trajectory.

Do explore trading Reinhart, as I feel like his 94-point season with 57 goals is fresh enough in the minds of GMs as to entice them into paying you more than he's worth. After all, in Yahoo leagues he was, on average, the 22nd player drafted for 25-26, ahead of, among others, Jack Hughes, Sidney Crosby, Matt Boldy, Jason Robertson, Nick Suzuki, Mark Scheifele, and Tage Thompson. Although he's done worse in 25-26 than 24-25, after having done worse in 24-25 than 23-24, again I believe his name value, and team, may net a solid return. If you have doubts about Michkov or Gauthier, perhaps you trade Reinhart and one of them to get a top tier d-man, given that they comprise 40% of your skater line-up. You might even try dangling Vejmelka, who, if indeed your goalie stats are very volume-based, could be enticing if coupled with one of the youngsters. It might be worth at least exploring. Good luck!

Question #2 (from Oliver)

I'm in a 12 team, keep three league, where a player can be kept only than three seasons, but if a player is traded, his keeper clock resets, and two GMs are "abusing" that wrinkle and have traded Nathan Mackinnon and Connor McDavid among themselves over and over. Thus, we're trying to figure out a way to stop this, and the idea floating around is to not allow the exact same trade to occur between two GMs. Do you think that is a solution, or do you have any other ideas?

Aside from that, my team sits in 7th, with the top eight making the playoffs and the bottom four drafting in reverse order, but the last place team has to pay a literal price to get the first pick, as a last place finish means it'll cost you double the $20 buy for the following season. Here is my current roster:

C – Elias Pettersson (LW), Charlie Coyle (RW)

LW – Matthew Tkachuk (RW), Trevor Zegras (C)

RW – Nikita Kucherov, Emil Heinman (LW)

D – Brandt Clarke, Radko Gudas, Darren Raddysh, Ben Chiarot, 

G – Alex Lyon, Akira Schmid

Bench – Bo Horvat (C), Thomas Chabot, Sidney Crosby (C)

IR – Adam Fox, Alex Nedeljkovic

I traded away players to get Tkachuk and Kucherov. I’m also in a bad spot if I make playoffs, since I had to use a lot of my add/drops to deal with injuries this year, which leaves me with a small amount to capitalize on streamers for playoffs. My keepers would be Tkachuk, Kuch, and I’m thinking either Raddysh, Fox, or Crosby – leaning towards Raddysh if he keeps his PP1 role, since he seems to be a great banger/points D, and I wanted to target a high-tier defenseman as a keeper. Fox was initially my pick, but I think he gets injured often and doesn’t contribute as much in terms of peripherals. 

I was thinking of trying to sell off my other high-end players like Crosby and Fox to other managers for high draft picks before the trade deadline. What would you suggest I do in my situation?

Let's start with the trade back keeper end around situation that's happening. To me, the solution seems simple, so much so that I wonder if I'm missing something. But from where I sit, the rule should be no player can be kept for more than three consecutive years…..period. That way a player can be traded lots of times, but trades do not reset his keeper clock. It’s fair, and it’s easy to monitor. That is exactly how it works in my main league, which also has a rule that any free agent who's kept must be kept in the 12th round, and that cannot be circumvented by a GM dropping a player who was drafted earlier, as the rule is if a player who had been drafted/retained in round 1-11 is dropped then picked up as a free agent, he must be kept in the round he would've had to have been kept if not dropped. Also, I'd be careful about a last place penalty, since what's to stop a team from just not returning instead of having to pay double?

As for your keepers, I covered Raddysh in my last mailbag. There you can read that if indeed he's for real, he'd be quite the unicorn. Still, he checks enough boxes as to think he has indeed arrived and would not be at risk of seeing his production crater next season, this despite the fact he's going nuts right when he's an impending UFA. Do I believe he can continue to be a point-per-game player? Highly unlikely; however, I think the 50s or 60s might be viable, especially since he's now done what he's done for as many games as he's done it. That also assumes he stays with Tampa, which I do think will occur. On another team, I'd worry a bit more about a bigger drop off.

Regardless though, of what may or may not occur, Raddysh is much like Brandon Bussi in that if you try to trade him away, you'll be met with skepticism due to lack of pedigree and past results, whereas if you try to trade for him, his GM will look for a ransom in return. With Bussi, what's happening is very much akin to the path that Tim Thomas took……but also that of Dwyane Roloson. Which one will he be, or will he fall somewhere in between? Those seeking to own him will try to liken him to Roloson, while those who own him will tout him as Thomas 2.0. It'll be the same with Raddysh. You either keep him, or you don't, as trading is unlikely to yield a desired result. That having been said, if you get approached by another GM offering very good value, I'd consider it, as you also still have Fox, who, notwithstanding the likely rebuild on which the Ranger will embark, is still an elite d-man.

Overall though, I'm actually not keeping either Raddysh or Fox most likely. Kucherov is an easy keep, and Tkachuk is as well. For the third, Crosby is the safe keep, and EP40 is the risk/reward keep. I can see a case to be made for either, and it depends on whether you want a surer thing in Crosby, or the home run potential in Pettersson. But I’d choose one of them over either of your d-men. Good luck!

Question #3 (from Me)

Is it too reactionary to ask if Cale Makar's reign as undisputed #1 fantasy d-man could be over given how Zach Werenski has been playing all season and Quinn Hughes has fared since the start of 2026?

I was surprised I hadn't already received a question like this; however, maybe it was because Hughes really started to go supernova just before the break and in the Olympics, and Makar is…..well…..Makar. But since no one asked it, I'm going to ask it to myself, along with the other three questions this month.

Let's keep in mind Makar had a slow – for him – in January, before which he was at 53 points in 45 games, for a 95-point scoring rate which would be right in line with his norm. It is notable that he is on pace to have the lowest SOG per game rate since his second season, and to not hit 30+ PPPts for the first time since that early campaign as well. This is occurring despite his PPTOI per game a career high, and less SH duty per game, making his slightly lower TOI actually not an issue. So what's "wrong"?

It's minor, but he has no SHPs, after five in each of the past two seasons. He's also hit ten combined posts and crossbars, which, if it stays at that pace, would be the second highest rate for his career. He also is pacing for only three PPGs, having been at seven or more in each of the past four seasons. His PP SOG rate is keeping with his norm though, as is his shooting percentage. Certainly, the Avs being dead last in the NHL in PP conversion percentage is a big component, this after having the ninth most effective PP last season and the fifth best in 2023-24. It does look like they are on a downward slide in this area; but to fall from ninth to last seems like an aberration. Maybe it will take until next season for them to retool enough to rise again; however, there is only one way for things to go, and that's up. As far as other multicat areas, Makar is amazingly plus as usual, on top of getting his 0.5 HIT and 1.5-2 BLK per game, so no issues there.

Turning to Werenski, the interesting thing about him is despite having debuted three seasons prior to Makar, he's barely a year older. Many felt his performance last season made him a one hit wonder, but he's done even better for 2025-26. Seemingly he had this in him all along, but the combination of him hitting breakout threshold game number 400 in 2023-24, and – knock on wood – being able to stay healthy for enough games, allowed him to perform up to his full potential. Indeed his SH% of 10.3% despite firing 3.6 SOG per game is difficult to see as sustainable, although for what it's worth last season, despite a total of 23 goals, Werenski hit an identical combined number of posts and crossbars – also 23! This season he's hit only four combined; so those shots which were an inch or two from being goals last season have indeed been goals for 2025-26. 

Even more so than Makar, Werenski appears to have realistic room to fare better on the PP, as he's a good bit behind his rate of just under one PPPt per every three games from last season, and he could easily have more PPPts, as his PP IPP is again above 75%, which is quite amazing. Otherwise, his team SH% at 5×5 is barely above his own SH%, and his OZ% and secondary assist rates are reasonable. He looks to be very much the real deal. Although his SOG rate is great for multicat, his +/- is not on a par with Makar, and even his once high BLK total has shrank, making him a drag in both HIT and BLK.

To assess Hughes, you do really need to look at just his Minnesota time. After taking a bit to fully get into the swing of things there, he's been scorching hot, as since the start of Q3 he's over 3.0 SOG per contest and taking the ice for nearly half of every game despite next to no SH duty and an OZ% still at 54.5%. He's piling on the PPPts too. Yet he still lacks goals, and he's barely even in terms of +/- over this stretch. As per usual he has virtually no HIT, plus remains pretty weak BLK too. Still, his PP acumen, and him taking the ice for such a large chunk of the game, will lead to points, and lots of them, perhaps more – per game – than either Makar or Werenski.

Do I believe Makar is no longer the undisputed #1 fantasy rearguard? I think under most situations he still is. In leagues that are heavy on SOG and goals though, Werenski is amazing, whereas in those that are points only, Hughes might now hold an edge or at least it's now getting closer.

Question #4 (from Me too)

What are we to make of Mark Scheifele? He's about to turn 33 but having by far his best season, and this after his best full season in 2024-25? Is he immune from father time? How long can this last?

Scheifele seems to be aging like fine wine fantasy-wise. Of course many point to his very high SH%; however, truth be told it's not that elevated, as he was 20% or more in two of the past three seasons. His PP scoring rate, though a bit higher, is not through the roof. Ice times are all in his normal ranges too. But when you peel back the onion, that's where you see indications of truly unsustainable stats. For one, his team SH% is 14.7%, when prior to last season it had been above 10.0% in one of his prior seven seasons. Also, his secondary assist rate is 41.9% after being under 34% each of the past two seasons. His overall IPP is 72.9% after having been under 70% in eight of the last nine campaigns. Even his PP IPP, at an unremarkable 61.5%, would be a five season high.

There is also the fact this is coinciding with Kyle Connor having elevated himself to a 90-100 point guy. That is definitely helping Scheifele, as they are joined at the hip, so much so that I cannot even do a "With or Without You" comparison. Still, with Connor likely to remain at this level for at least a few more seasons, chances are Scheifele will be along for the ride. But not a circa 100-point pace Scheifele, as his team SH%, IPPs, and secondary assist rate indicate he's maybe not even a 90-point guy, and more likely to produce at a level we saw last season.

Question #5 (from Me again)

For those who own Matthew Knies in keepers, is there cause for concern? He was scorching to start the season despite the struggles of Auston Matthews. But since being separated from Matthews he's been cold while Matthews has shown signs of improvement? If they lack chemistry, what will that mean for Knies long term?

First off, Knies is a large frame player. Thus, for him to have done as well as he has despite being another two to three seasons from his 400-game breakout threshold is quite remarkable. Yes, the BT game total is considered the norm, and there are aberrations. Still, from where I sit it means we can't fully judge Knies based on what we're seeing now, as he might have another gear. That having been said, we can try to figure out what his trajectory may be for the rest of this season and near future.

Looking at the top level data, we see Knies averaged over 20:00 per game and 3:00 on the PP in Q1, on his way to 22 points in 19 games. By Q2, those TOIs had shrunk to 18:19 and 2:25, and his scoring to 14 points in 19 games, while for Q3 he's at 12 points in 19 games despite still lower TOIs, specifically 17:31 and 2:14 per game. The good news is when he plays alongside top tier talent and gets heaps of ice time, he seems to thrive; however, if he has to earn back that TOI, then there might be an issue since he can't seem to succeed without it. Not ideal.

Also, he doesn't shoot much, on pace for under two SOG per game. He's also outside of the top 100 in forward PP TOI over the past two seasons, but there too isn't forcing the issue, standing tied for 108th in PPPts. On a positive note, he's on track yet again for Toronto to have a double digit SH% at 5×5 when he's on the ice. That's great to see, especially when it's coupled with a 73.8% overall IPP, which is well above the 70% threshold I equate with truly special talent. Unfortunately, on the PP his IPP is 44.4%, this after being 42.8% last season. That is horrendous; but the Leafs are not brimming with top tier talent, such that his PP1 spot is likely safe. Still, we should not be holding our breath for him to suddenly see a huge boost in PP scoring. His secondary assists rate is fine, as per usual, as is his OZ%.

In short, Knies is, at least at this stage of his career, a player whose presence leads to scoring and is a proven points magnet. But he doesn't shoot nearly enough, and is seemingly lost on the PP. His "spots" are likely safe, such that I see him in the 65-75 point range this season and the next couple, perhaps with a boost when he hits his breakout threshold.

Question #6 (from the Also Me)

After looking like he may be slowing over the last two seasons, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has bounced back. Should keeper league GMs use this as an opportunity to sell high, or would that be ill-advised?

In short, I'd say yes – I'd try to sell high. RNH has seemingly established a pattern of strong play for one season, then two seasons where he fares worse, followed by a bounce back, much like what's happened with Vincent Trocheck. Of course just because patterns have occurred doesn't mean they'll continue, for better and/or worse. But RNH's lack of back-to-back successful seasons leaves me inclined to see him as a player to sell high when you can, then buy back – or redraft – if/when his price goes down.

What also makes me even more eager to sell high now is his trending. His SOG rate for the last two successful seasons were 2.6 and 2.5 per game, versus 1.7 for this season. And not surprisingly, it's his PP scoring that greatly boosting his production. He can't seem to connect the dots in that area two seasons in a row either.

The other reality is he cannot be counted upon to play alongside Connor McDavid and/or Leon Draisaitl every season. Instead, it seems like after RNH succeeds when playing with one or both of its stars for a season, Edmonton feels they can have RNH center his own line, which causes his scoring to drop. Is it possible he finds a permanent home with one or both of Edmonton's top talents? Never say never; but the fact it hasn't occurred for several seasons in a row, and especially after successful seasons, makes me concerned.

Also, despite playing much more with Connor McDavid at ES this season, the Oilers are shooting 7.9% as a team with RNH on the ice, the same rate they did last season when RNH faltered. What this suggests is RNH is a drag on that line, and further undercuts hopes that he'd stay with McDavid next season yet again. As for other metrics, RNH's IPPs are both 54.0% overall and 52.4% on the PP, which are not only horrible, but under 60% for the third season in a row, which is very concerning, as if that was the case only in his poor seasons then it would be one thing, but for it to be the same when he's thriving again is another. And his OZ% and secondary assist rate don't tilt the scales in either direction.

So yes, sell high on RNH, although maybe not until the end of the season if you need his production. But if you're not trying to win, trade him now, as he might even come back to earth this season, causing his value to crater.

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To get mailbag questions to me either (1) email them to [email protected] with the words "Roos Mailbag" as the subject line, or (2) send them to me via a private message on the DobberHockey Forums, where my username is "rizzeedizzee".

When sending me your questions, remember to provide as much detail about your league/situation as possible. Examples of things I need to know include what type of league you're in (i.e., limited keeper, dynasty, or one-year; Roto vs. H2H; auction – if so, what the budget is – or non-auction), how many teams are in the league, does the salary cap matter, how many players are rostered (and of those, how many start at each position as well as how many bench and/or IR spots there are), what categories are scored and how are they weighted, plus other details if pertinent. If your question involves whether to pick up or drop a player, give me a list of top free agents available and let me know if the number of pick-ups is limited or if there is a priority system for pick-ups. If you're thinking of making a trade, it would be good to know not only the roster of the other team you might trade with but also where you stand in your categories. If your question involves keepers, in addition to giving me the options for who to keep, let me know if offseason trading is allowed and to what extent it is a viable option given your league. In sum, the key is to tell me enough for me to give you a truly proper answer, and for readers of this column to benefit from the answer/advice I provide. When in doubt, it's best to err on the side of inclusion since I can always omit or disregard things that don't matter.