Daily players to watch with projections, advanced metrics; new podcast episodes
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NHL.com identifies players to watch in upcoming games for fantasy hockey, props and futures with EDGE stats insights throughout the 2025-26 season. For more coverage, visit NHL.com/Fantasy.
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Player to watch for goal, point and/or shots on goal: Pavel Dorofeyev, F, VGK (at LAK; 10 p.m. ET; HBO MAX, truTV, TNT, SN (JIP), SN360, TVAS)
-Has points in 13 of his past 20 games with 17 points (6 goals, 11 assists), 10 on the power play, and 48 shots on goal over that span.
-Ranks tied for 2nd in the entire NHL in power-play goals (11) behind Wyatt Johnston of the Dallas Stars (15); has scored 24 of his 52 goals since the start of last season on the power play.
-Playing on Vegas’ all-forward PP1 with Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, Mitch Marner and Tomas Hertl; VGK: 5-for-11 on PP during 4-game win streak.
-LAK: 4th-worst penalty kill percentage (71.8) in the NHL over their past 20 games (since Nov. 30); Allowed 2 PPG against Vegas when teams met on Oct. 8 (Kings won game 6-5 in a shootout).
-Dorofeyev’s 6 career goals (in 10 games) against the Kings are tied for his most against a single opponent in his career (also 6 goals against the Minnesota Wild).
-EDGE stats: Ranks among the forward leaders this season in hardest shot (93.33 mph; 95th percentile), offensive zone time percentage (46.3; 94th percentile), high-danger shots on goal (43; 92nd percentile) and midrange shots on goal (40; 91st percentile). — Troy Perlowitz
Player to watch for point and/or shots on goal: Bowen Byram, D, BUF (vs. PHI; 7:30 p.m. ET; HBO MAX, truTV, TNT, TVAS)
-Has 12 points (4 goals, 8 assists), all at even strength, over his past 10 games and 5 points (1 goal, 4 assists) during 4-game point streak entering Wednesday.
-Leads Buffalo Sabres defensemen in goals (10), one shy of matching his career high total (11 in 2023-24).
-Also covers blocked shots (56 in 44 games); 1 of 2 defensemen this season with at least 10 goals and 50 blocked shots while playing fewer than 22 minutes per game (other: Justin Faulk of the St. Louis Blues).
-Tied for NHL lead among defensemen in game-winning goals (4) this season; had 5 game-winning goals in his 5 NHL seasons prior to 2025-26.
-Playing on PP2 with Alex Tuch and Ryan McLeod; Byram’s 3 power-play points in 44 games this season are more than he had all of last season (2 in 82 games).
-The Sabres have won 13 of their past 15 games, and rank in the NHL’s top 10 in goals per game (3.60; 6th) and 5-on-5 shooting percentage (10.8; 9th) over that span.
-EDGE stats: Tied for 3rd among defensemen in midrange goals (6; 99th percentile) and ranks highly at the position in high-danger shots on goal (11; 97th percentile), 20-plus mph speed bursts (63; 95th percentile), max skating speed (22.87 mph; 94th percentile) and midrange shots on goal (20; 91st percentile). — Perlowitz
NHL Status Report for Wednesday
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Others to watch for goal and/or shots on goal:
Nico Hischier, F, NJD (vs. SEA)
Kevin Fiala, F, LAK (vs. VGK)
Others to watch for point:
Drake Batherson, F, OTT (at NYR)
Matty Beniers, F, SEA (at NJD)
Others to watch for assist:
Jesper Bratt, F, NJD (vs. SEA)
Mark Stone, F, VGK (at LAK)
Others to watch for multiple points:
Jack Hughes, F, NJD (at SEA)
Jack Eichel, F, VGK (at LAK)
Others to watch for shots on goal:
Tage Thompson, F, BUF (vs. PHI)
Timo Meier, F, NJD (vs. SEA)
Goalies to watch for saves:
Jonathan Quick, G, NYR (vs. OTT)
Darcy Kuemper, G, LAK (vs. VGK)
Others to watch for blocks:
Adam Larsson, D, SEA (at NJD)
Kaedan Korczak, D, VGK (at LAK)
Point combos/trios to consider:
OTT: Brady Tkachuk — Dylan Cozens — Claude Giroux
PHI: Travis Konecny — Trevor Zegras
SEA: Jordan Eberle — Kaapo Kakko
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NOTES: The below players are candidates to watch, from front-runners to sleepers, for various 2026 NHL Awards. These lists are a collaborative effort by Pete Jensen, Chris Meaney and Troy Perlowitz.
Art Ross Trophy:
– Nathan MacKinnon, F, COL
– Connor McDavid, F, EDM
– Macklin Celebrini, F, SJS
-Nikita Kucherov, F, TBL
Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy:
– Nathan MacKinnon, F, COL
– Connor McDavid, F, EDM
– Jason Robertson, F, DAL
– Matt Boldy, F, MIN
Hart Trophy:
– Nathan MacKinnon, F, COL
– Connor McDavid, F, EDM
– Macklin Celebrini, F, SJS
Norris Trophy:
– Cale Makar, D, COL
– Quinn Hughes, D, MIN
– Zach Werenski, D, CBJ
– Lane Hutson, D, MTL
Vezina Trophy:
– Logan Thompson, G, WSH
– Ilya Sorokin, G, NYI
– Andrei Vasilevskiy, G, TBL
– Scott Wedgewood, G, COL
Calder Trophy:
– Matthew Schaefer, D, NYI
– Ivan Demidov, F, MTL
Jack Adams Award:
– Jared Bednar, COL
– Rick Tocchet, PHI
– Lindy Ruff, BUF
– Martin St. Louis, MTL
Stanley Cup:
– Colorado Avalanche
– Dallas Stars
– Vegas Golden Knights
– Florida Panthers
– Tampa Bay Lightning
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