NHL Fantasy on Ice

Pete and Rob recap a busy first few days of NHL free agent signings. They cover all angles of Taylor Hall joining the Buffalo Sabres, including the impact on Jack Eichel and Rasmus Dahlin and where to target these players in drafts. The guys also discuss the high ceiling of Tyson Barrie joining the potent Edmonton Oilers’ first power play and what Torey Krug’s move to the St. Louis Blues means for his fantasy value. Other moves discussed are Braden Holtby to the Vancouver Canucks, Henrik Lundqvist to the Washington Capitals, Jacob Markstrom to the Calgary Flames, new goalie tandems to target and how Tyler Toffoli fits in with the Montreal Canadiens. The episode includes early stat and lineup projections and also some player comparisons for NHL.com’s rankings.

Pete and Rob are back to recap the 2020 NHL Draft’s top picks and biggest trades. They discuss the potential immediate impact of Alexis Lafreniere with the New York Rangers and how the Ottawa Senators were the big winners of the draft with two picks in the top five and the trade for a proven goalie in Matt Murray. The guys debate the value of Murray vs. former teammate Tristan Jarry, Max Domi’s upside after moving to the Columbus Blue Jackets, the bounce-back appeal of the Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks and how Jesse Puljujarvi is a deep fantasy sleeper after re-signing with the Edmonton Oilers.

Rob Reese is joined by Nick Alberga to talk about the Cup Final, players that have helped their fantasy value, teams that need goalies, and trades/signings that may make sense.

Rob Reese is joined by James Harding to talk about the Stanley Cup Final, Stamkos being ruled out for rest of series, Pavelski & Perry. They make their picks for Game 6 and also talk about Torey Krug, Patrik Laine and other potential free-agent moves and trades that may be coming down the pipe.

Rob Reese is joined by David Satriano to talk about the Cup Final, the return of Stamkos, and what the Dallas Stars need to do to level the series. They also talk at length about the goalie free-agency market and try to figure out who will land where.

Pete and Rob are back for some early reaction to the Lightning-Stars Stanley Cup Final and a forecast for the rest of the series. The guys debate Joel Kiviranta’s long-term fantasy value after a breakout postseason, how Anton Khudobin deserves a reward for a stellar contract year and the Lightning’s recent history of bouncing back. They also discuss Steven Stamkos’ potential impact if/when he returns and look ahead to free agency (begins Oct. 9) with the best landing spots for elite defenseman Alex Pietrangelo and goalie Braden Holtby. They also give some reasons to be excited about the Kings’ direction leading up to the 2020 NHL Draft (Oct. 6-7).

Pete and Rob get ready for the Stanley Cup Final by previewing the Lightning-Stars series and the biggest storylines from betting and general hockey lenses. The guys discuss key matchups and stats, X-factors, each team’s adaptability, Brayden Point’s return and the potential availability of Steven Stamkos and/or Ben Bishop down the line. The guys focus on Tyler Seguin’s bounce-back appeal, whether this will be a high or low-scoring championship series and give their leanings for Game 1 on Saturday and picks for which team will hoist the Cup. They also give shoutouts to some friends of the show who predicted this Cup Final matchup last October.

Pete and Rob are back to break down the Tampa Bay Lightning-New York Islanders series extensively ahead of Game 6 on Thursday and a potential Game 7 on Saturday, including the impact of Brayden Point’s uncertain status and how scoring depth and coaching will be the deciding factors. The guys also discuss the Dallas Stars’ run to the Stanley Cup Final, including clutch performances by Anton Khudobin, Denis Gurianov and Joel Kiviranta and how Tyler Seguin still has a much higher gear. Other topics include the disappointing ending to the Vegas Golden Knights season and the fantasy impact of the Washington Capitals hiring Peter Laviolette and the Buffalo Sabres upgrading their No. 2 center by trading for veteran Eric Staal.

Rob is joined by Nick Alberga to talk about the Conference Finals, the Conn Smythe race, NYI and VGK goalie situation, Tampa rolling, and the Stars finding their scoring touch.

Pete and Bob Bender preview Game 7 of the Avalanche-Stars series. The guys run through the big storylines, stats and questions facing each team, including Nathan MacKinnon’s opportunity on the big stage, the uncertainty surrounding Gabriel Landeskog and Ben Bishop and notable past Game 7 performers, including Andre Burakovsky and Joe Pavelski. The guys also discuss Thatcher Demko’s amazing performance to help the Canucks stave off elimination and how Vancouver and Vegas should approach the back-to-back scenario for Games 6 and 7. Other topics discussed are injury updates on Steven Stamkos, Mathew Barzal and Sean Couturier, why Josh Bailey and Semyon Varlamov are DFS targets right now for the Islanders and the value of series odds for the Canucks and Flyers in their bids to overcome 3-1 deficits.

Pete and Rob react to the Lightning advancing past the Bruins despite an injury to Nikita Kucherov and the Avalanche staying alive after chasing Ben Bishop in his return. They debate Dallas’ goalie situation, the viability of Michael Hutchinson beyond a single game and how Colorado’s quick-strike offense has them confident again and right back in the series. Jensen and Reese also preview the Game 5s of the Flyers-Islanders and Golden Knights-Canucks series with key storylines, best bets and DFS picks. The guys also look ahead to a crucial offseason for Boston and how Vancouver’s young core is poised for big things in the years to come.

Pete and Rob discuss the implications of all four playoff matchups being 3-1 series leads and which teams have the best chance to force Game 6s. They debate whether the Islanders or Stars are more likely to keep up their high-scoring ways and reflect on which teams took advantage of back-to-back scenarios over the weekend. They also touch on some unheralded fantasy producers around the League, give their best bets for Monday and break down the fantasy impact of Kasperi Kapanen being traded to the Penguins for next season.

Pete is joined by fantasy correspondent James Harding to discuss each Stanley Cup Playoff second round series. The guys react to the offensive flair of the Avalanche, who fought back against the Stars, and the Lightning, who finally ended their power-play drought, in Game 3 wins and why the Islanders are still in great position despite an overtime loss in Game 2. Others topics discussed include the impact of Tyler Toffoli’s return on the Canucks, Brayden Point’s rise to superstar status and a few reasons to be concerned about the Golden Knights. The guys then round out the show with some DFS plays, best bets for Thursday’s two-game slate and even a friendly wager involving a Seattle Kraken jersey.

Pete and Rob discuss all four Stanley Cup Playoff second round series, including whether the depleted Avalanche still have a chance against the Stars, who took a 2-0 series lead and have won all six games against Colorado this season. The guys discuss the Golden Knights’ complete roster, Semyon Varlamov’s elite play, the Islanders’ mastery of Barry Trotz’s system and the Lightning’s bounce-back appeal for Game 2. They also sprinkle in some DFS plays and discuss why the Flyers should be worries about their goal-scoring struggles.

Pete is joined by NHL.com staff writer David Satriano to break down all four matchups in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and give their early leanings. The guys discuss the impact of the Philipp Grubauer and Erik Johnson injuries on the Avalanche, why the Lightning’s power play continues to struggle and preview the Flyers-Islanders series before Game 1 on Monday. They also react to impressive starts by the Stars and Golden Knights and give their player rankings for the new snake draft DFS contests on FanDuel.

Pete is joined by Sportsnet’s Nick Alberga to bounce around the League and highlight the teams who have advanced to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The guys debate whether the Capitals can mount a comeback against the Islanders, react to the Canucks’ rapid rise this postseason and discuss why the Canadiens are a legitimate threat to the Flyers. The guys also touch on the Stars-Flames series, the Blues‘ goalie situation and provide DFS picks and best bets for the upcoming games.

Pete and Rob discuss all the playoff series, including what has gone right & wrong for the five teams in position to advance as of Tuesday. They react to Jake Allen starting over Jordan Binnington and winning back-to-back games for the Blues against the Canucks and how the Bruins took command against the Hurricanes with a big third-period rally. The guys also give their best bets and DFS locks for Tuesday and Wednesday.

Pete is joined by NHL.com fantasy correspondent James Harding to catch up about each Stanley Cup Playoff series. The guys react to Jaroslav Halak's win after Tuukka Rask opted out of the playoffs and how the Andrei Svechnikov injury could change the course of the Bruins-Hurricanes series. They also discuss the Islanders' success against the Capitals and whether the Blues can mount a comeback. Other topics include the Golden Knights' ongoing goalie debate, power-play struggles around the League, whether Darcy Kuemper and Joonas Korpisalo can sustain their strong play, best bets for Monday games and even a golf pick from James.

Pete and Rob react to the opening games of the Stanley Cup Playoffs first round, including the five-overtime classic between the Lightning and Blue Jackets. They discuss what's wrong with the Dallas Stars, the New York Islanders comeback against the Washington Capitals, the bounce-back performance by the Boston Bruins and how the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche look to be on a collision course in the Western Conference. The guys also give their best bets and DFS lineup locks for the games ahead and discuss the fantasy impact of the New York Rangers winning the NHL Draft Lottery on likely pick Alexis Lafrenière.

Pete and Rob give their first impressions and picks for the first round matchups in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The guys debate the winners of rematches like the Lightning-Blue Jackets and Bruins-Hurricanes series and whether teams like the Islanders and Canucks stand a chance against the past two championship teams in the Capitals and Blues. The guys also break down the key injury storylines and how all the matchups impact fantasy playoff pools.

Pete and Rob are joined by Action Network analyst Michael Leboff to discuss his hot start to wagering on the NHL postseason and which ways he is leaning ahead of the upcoming elimination games in the six remaining series. Mike weighs in on which underdog he thinks will close it out, his patience with the Minnesota Wild and how the Columbus Blue Jackets flipped the script in their series. The guys also discuss updated series prices, the goalie situations and long-term outlooks for the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators, whether to trust the Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs to bounce back and the final round-robin games to determine the top seed in each conference.

Pete and guest Chris Wassel break down the surprising Chicago Blackhawks and Montreal Canadiens, who are on the verge of upsetting the Edmonton Oilers and Pittsburgh Penguins. The guys also debate whether Sebastian Aho or Mika Zibanejad is the more valuable asset in keeper leagues and how high the Carolina Hurricanes ceiling could be after sweeping the Rangers. The guys also discuss the impact of Jake Muzzin’s injury on the Maple Leafs and all the fantasy and wagering trends from the other qualifying series.

Rob and Pete react to the qualifier games and round robin matchups. They are particularly interested in the Maple Leafs and Blue Jackets series and debate why the Oilers have looked shaky in their first two games. They provide their top DFS targets and throw out some of their best bets for Tuesday and Wednesday.

Rob and Nick react to the first qualifier games and discuss whether the Winnipeg Jets could still win the series with injuries to Mark Scheifele and Patrik Laine. They debate whether Chicago and Montreal could defy the odds and win their Qualifiers matchups. Best bets and DFS locks are given for Monday’s slate and general themes are previewed for the week.

Pete and Rob react to the first two days of exhibition games and discuss whether their opinions of teams like the Chicago Blackhawks and Florida Panthers have changed. The guys give their Stanley Cup Final picks and DFS lineups for Saturday’s five-game slate to begin the Qualifiers. They also debate the sneaky appeal of players like Nicholas Robertson, Dylan Strome, Conor Sheary and provide wagering coverage for the first games of the postseason.

Pete and Rob are joined by David Satriano to discuss their second fantasy hockey mock draft for pools counting the entire 24-team tournament. The guys discuss the value of Winnipeg Jets and Florida Panthers players, why Nathan MacKinnon went No. 1 over the Edmonton Oilers stars and various strategies for drafting defensemen, goalies and stacking teammates. The guys also discuss the status update on Corey Crawford, fallout from general manager John Chayka leaving the Arizona Coyotes and what the injury to Ilya Samsonov means for Braden Holtby’s fantasy value.

Pete and Rob are joined by wagering analyst Michael Leboff of Action Network to discuss his best bets for the Stanley Cup Qualifiers. The guys explore some intriguing longshots to win the Stanley Cup, which teams they trust to go deep and the potential impact of the uncertainty surrounding players like Dougie Hamilton, Sidney Crosby and Carter Hart. Leboff also gives his pick for the toss-up series between the New York Islanders and Florida Panthers.

Pete and Rob are joined by guest Harry Gagnon from Against All Odds and Odds Shark to give his wagering picks for the Western Conference. He talked about the sneaky appeal of the Arizona Coyotes, whether the Edmonton Oilers can win multiple rounds and if he thinks the Colorado Avalanche can win the Stanley Cup. The guys also discuss Harry’s Eastern Conference sleeper teams, the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers, as well as all the news from the weekend out of training camps.

Pete, Rob and Sportsnet's Nick Alberga dish out advice for fantasy playoff pools after all the updates from training camps this week and some tweaks to NHL.com's rankings. They give their picks based on odds for the Round Robin in the Eastern and Western Conferences and discuss the concerns surrounding David Pastrnak, Tuukka Rask and the Boston Bruins. The guys also debate the Edmonton Oilers' betting appeal, Dave Tippett's playoff pedigree and whether Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov or New York Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin will return more fantasy value next season.

Pete and Rob are back to break down all the early storylines from training camp, including line combinations, key injury returns and players not practicing (Steven Stamkos, Corey Crawford, Max Domi, Patric Hornqvist). The guys finally get the chance to react to the Minnesota Wild signing high-end forward Kirill Kaprizov and the Islanders agreeing to terms with goalie-of-the-future Ilya Sorokin. They also discuss Edmonton and Toronto being named hub cities and compare the sneaky wagering appeal of the Oilers and Maple Leafs to win the Stanley Cup.

Pete, Rob and guest David Satriano discuss their first mock draft for the NHL’s 24-team postseason tournament. They debate which players to take at the top, identify the teams they trust most, give their sleeper picks and react to players who went higher or lower than their NHL.com rank.

Pete and Rob discuss their first and second line rankings for 2020 Stanley Cup fantasy pools. The guys break down the teams that roll three strong lines like the Vegas Golden Knights, Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals and how some teams that have potent first lines but depth concerns, like the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning, could run into problems. The guys also discuss how some goalie tandems and trios could pay dividends given ongoing player health concerns and identify their best bets for the Stanley Cup Qualifiers.

Pete and Rob are joined by Sportsnet’s Nick Alberga to identify the X-factors for the Stanley Cup Qualifiers. They go back-and-forth about players like Jake Guentzel, Dougie Hamilton, Kevin Fiala, Chris Kreider, Semyon Varlamov, Mike Hoffman, David Rittich and more. The guys also discuss the Penguins chances at a deep run, the Coyotes’ offensive ceiling, the Predators’ center situation and the Calgary Flames’ sneaky potential against the Winnipeg Jets.

Pete and Rob are back for another episode previewing sleeper candidates for Stanley Cup fantasy pools. The guys break down underrated options like Robin Lehner, Kailer Yamamoto, Jason Zucker, Andre Burakovsky, Oliver Bjorkstrand and Jakob Chychrun and debate whether Roope Hintz and Jonathan Drouin can elevate their game on the big stage. They also discuss Sami Vatanen’s value if he returns from injury and finally debuts for the Carolina Hurricanes, the Edmonton Oilers goalie tandem of Mike Smith and Mikko Koskinen and whether Alexandar Georgiev or even Henrik Lundqvist can steal starts from rookie standout Igor Shesterkin in the postseason.

Pete and Rob discuss bounce-back candidates for the Stanley Cup Qualifiers and entire 24-team postseason tournament. They explain their positional rankings for fantasy pools and the appeal of players like Sergei Bobrovsky, Philipp Grubauer, Alex DeBrincat and Brock Boeser. They also pinpoint players from teams that could collectively rebound from regular-season offensive struggles like the Dallas Stars (John Klingberg, Joe Pavelski) and Nashville Predators (Matt Duchene, Pekka Rinne). The guys identify some of the best active playoff goal scorers and point producers and gauge where to target players expected to return from serious injuries that have elite potential, such as Jake Guentzel, Vladimir Tarasenko and Dougie Hamilton.

Pete and Rob are joined by Sportsnet’s Nick Alberga to preview fantasy pool rankings for the 2020 Stanley Cup. The guys debate candidates to be taken No. 1 overall and the sneaky upside of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Nashville Predators, two teams that have made coaching changes this season. They also discuss how home/road splits could translate to neutral-site games and whether the Montreal Canadiens can pull off the upset of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Pete, Rob and guest David Satriano dive deeper into fantasy pool rankings for the Stanley Cup Qualifiers. They identify the top-ranked individual goalies, team tandems and discuss the value of the New York Rangers and Minnesota Wild trios. The guys also start building their top 10 overall player rankings and defenseman lists for formats that weigh deep playoff runs and name their favorite under-the-radar players to target deep in drafts. They also debate various players (Patrick Kane vs. Mark Stone; Jacob Markstrom vs. Philipp Grubauer) and identify which coaches are most worthy of trust in big games.

Pete and Rob are joined by NHL.com fantasy correspondent James Harding to discuss their early player rankings for playoff pools. The guys identify strategies for different formats and potential difference-makers in the Eastern and Western Conference. They debate the Edmonton Oilers' chances of winning multiple rounds, Vladimir Tarasenko vs. Mikko Rantanen in a playoff pool and whether breakout players like Bryan Rust, Tony DeAngelo and Neal Pionk can carry it over to the postseason. James also gives his take on the New York Islanders' postseason outlook.

Pete Jensen and Rob Reese are joined by Chris Wassel, host of Fantasy Hockey X, to discuss Stanley Cup odds and preview the eight teams in the Seeding Round Robin of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The guys discuss which team in each conference has the most to gain from the round-robin, whether the St. Louis Blues will repeat as champions, the impact of Steven Stamkos' likely return on the Tampa Bay Lightning and why the Dallas Stars are undervalued from a betting standpoint. The guys also break down the Philadelphia Flyers' ceiling this postseason and goalie situations for the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights.

Pete and Rob are joined by David Satriano to digest the Qualifying Round odds and give heir early picks, value plays and best bets. The guys discuss why the Rangers, Jets and Oilers are likely to advance, dive deep into toss-up series like Islanders-Panthers and Predators-Coyotes and dish out some appealing wagering odds. They also debate value picks to win the Stanley Cup based on odds released after the Return to Play Plan announcement and their best series bets.

Pete and Rob are joined by Sportsnet's Nick Alberga for an early 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs preview and reaction to the NHL's Return to Play Plan announcement. The guys banter about the 24-team tournament, including each Qualifying Round matchup, their early leanings in each series and key storylines. The guys discuss potential upsets in the Qualifying Round, players who could return from injuries, goalie tandems, the Seeding Round Robin and general betting strategies for this modified postseason format.

Pete and Rob are joined by David Satriano to discuss the storylines that would surround a potential 24-team Stanley Cup Playoff format and which teams could be dark horses that may have not been in the postseason under normal circumstances. They banter about teams that have gone through adversity and injuries like the Colorado Avalanche and Columbus Blue Jackets, young teams that could spring an upset like the New York Rangers and hungry teams with something to prove like the Tampa Bay Lightning. The guys also debate whether the Chicago Blackhawks could stand a chance if they sneak into the playoffs.

Pete Jensen and Rob Reese are joined by Sportsnet's Nick Alberga to discuss recent signings around the League, including Mikko Lehtonen to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Grigory Denisenko to the Florida Panthers and Alexander Romanov to the Montreal Canadiens. The guys discuss where to consider drafting likely top pick Alexis Lafraniere in fantasy and his possible landing spots, potential restart storylines surrounding the NHL Draft and Stanley Cup Playoffs and updated championship odds. Other topics include the Matt Murray vs. Tristan Jarry trade debate, injury updates surrounding the sneaky Columbus Blue Jackets and which Canadian team is most likely to end the country's Cup drought.

Pete Jensen is back with Rob Reese to catch up on some long-term fantasy developments, including notable NHL signings from overseas like goalie prospects Alexei Melnichuk (San Jose Sharks), Justus Annunen (Colorado Avalanche) and defenseman Mikko Lehtonen (Toronto Maple Leafs). The guys discuss the high upside of goalie Ilya Sorokin if he signs with the New York Islanders, injury updates on Steven Stamkos, Chris Kreider and the top five call-ups of the NHL season.

NHL.com’s Rob Reese and David Satriano are joined by Waiver Wire James Harding to discuss Keeper and Dynasty Leagues. They break down their top targets and drafting strategy. They discuss the value of Jack Hughes, Kaapo Kakko, Igor Shesterkin, Ilya Samsonov, Carter Hart, Ilya Sorokin, Kirill Kaprizov and others.

NHL.com’s Rob Reese and David Satriano chat about their top keeper league targets, Dustin Byfuglien’s status and Sorokin’s potential jump to the NHL.

Pete Jensen and Rob Reese are joined by guests David Satriano of NHL.com and Nick Alberga of Sportsnet to rap about fantasy hockey during the pause and identify what the postseason matchups would look like if they were based strictly on team points percentage. The guys also discuss the injury update on Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Seth Jones, this year's rookie class (for better or worse), varying expectations for the New York Rangers moving forward, picks for NHL.com’s “Greatest Moments of NHL Season ... So Far” bracket and more.

Pete Jensen and Rob Reese check in during the NHL's pause to reflect on the season to date and some of the best fantasy hockey storylines. They debate recent fantasy poll questions like best waiver-wire pickup, goalie tandem, category coverage asset and most valuable player to his team. The guys also react to injury updates on elite forward Jake Guentzel and defenseman Dougie Hamilton, their top 250 rankings on NHL.com/Fantasy and discuss all the teams that could be at full strength after the pause.

Pete and Rob discuss the injury to elite center Nathan MacKinnon and what it could mean for the Colorado Avalanche and his fantasy owners. The guys also discuss the value of Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly and Carolina Hurricanes goalie Petr Mrazek upon their expected returns and the Brock Boeser vs. Tyler Toffoli debate for the Vancouver Canucks after some good news on the Boeser injury front. Pete, Rob and Bob Bender then dive into the Tuesday slate and give their DFS plays and best bets, including an intriguing hockey/college basketball parlay.

Pete Jensen and Rob Reese are joined by waiver wire James Harding to discuss goalie decisions for the fantasy playoffs involving Juuse Saros, Igor Shesterkin, Tristan Jarry, Alex Stalock, Calvin Petersen and more. The guys debate whether to trust Petr Mrazek ahead of his upcoming return for the Carolina Hurricanes this week and identify replacement options on defense for injured Victor Hedman and Cale Makar. Pete and Rob then break down the Monday slate and identify which team had the biggest letdown over the weekend.