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New York Times
6 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
10 NHL teams that could be aggressive buyers this offseason
Which NHL teams could be the most aggressive buyers in the free-agency and trade market this offseason? There are a few factors to consider when identifying which clubs could make some noise. You can't go big-game hunting without salary cap flexibility and premium assets. Hence, excess cap space and robust trade capital (owning extra draft picks and having a strong prospect pipeline to deal from) are the first prerequisites. After that, the team's direction and ambition level are essential, too. Some clubs have a lot of cap room and trade assets, but they're not yet in an accelerated phase of roster building, which makes them less likely to spend lavishly. Advertisement We combed the league searching for clubs that matched this bill: Having disposable cap space, rich trade capital, and a strong incentive to make a splash this summer. In evaluating each team's cap situation, we had to be mindful of key restricted free agents. For example, the Winnipeg Jets have $26.4 million in cap space right now, which is impressive at first glance, but a large chunk of that will be consumed by the long-term extensions that RFAs Dylan Samberg and Gabriel Vilardi are likely to sign. That means their disposable cap space isn't as high as the other teams on this list, despite the room they technically have on paper right now. Without further ado, here are 10 teams to keep an eye on. Projected cap space: $38.7 million (16 players signed) Notable RFAs: Mason McTavish, Lukáš Dostál Notable UFAs: Robby Fabbri General manager Pat Verbeek stated that he expects the Ducks to 'make the playoffs next season' and that he'll be 'very active and aggressive' this summer. There's a lot Verbeek will need to accomplish to elevate Anaheim to the level of a playoff team, but he has a mountain of cap space and assets to help achieve that goal. The Ducks have nearly $27 million to spend even after you plug in AFP Analytics' contract projections for RFAs McTavish ($6.8 million AAV) and Dostál (four years, $5.2 million AAV) Assets-wise, Anaheim has nine picks at this year's draft and an above-average prospect pool. Only two Ducks forwards, Troy Terry and McTavish, crossed the 50-point mark this season, and none hit 25 goals. They need to add a top-flight scoring winger or two to give the offense a shot in the arm — Mitch Marner, Nikolaj Ehlers, and Brock Boeser could be potential targets. It isn't farfetched to think that Anaheim could be in the wild-card race next season if it's able to land an offensive star or two, on top of the potential breakouts you could see from the likes of Leo Carlsson, McTavish, and Cutter Gauthier, among others. Advertisement Projected cap space: $28.4 million (20 players signed) Notable RFAs: None Notable UFAs: Brent Burns, Dmitry Orlov, Jack Roslovic, Eric Robinson The Hurricanes have by far the most cap space and trade assets of any active NHL contender. With Dmitry Orlov and Brent Burns' contracts coming off the books this summer, GM Eric Tulsky will have a whopping $28.4 million of cap space. Alexander Nikishin and Scott Morrow, two blue-chip up-and-coming defensemen who debuted in the playoffs, should be able to pick up some of the slack that Orlov and Burns' departures could create. Carolina has all of its own first-round picks and two extra from Dallas in 2026 and 2028 because of the Mikko Rantanen trade. That gives them plenty of ammo to go star-chasing on the trade market. The Hurricanes have a few needs they could target. Finding a true second-line center behind Sebastian Aho should be a priority. Adding another elite winger to the core — which the Hurricanes attempted to do with Rantanen and Jake Guentzel the last two seasons — would be huge. It'd also make sense to target an offensively-oriented right-shot defenseman to play with Jaccob Slavin, with Rasmus Andersson, Erik Karlsson, and Noah Dobson (if the Islanders decide his next contract will be too expensive) standing out as potential fits. Carolina has the cap space and assets to address all three of those needs if it wants to. Projected cap space: $20.4 million (21 players signed) Notable RFAs: Jack McBain Notable UFAs: Nick Bjugstad Utah was one of the most aggressive buyers in the NHL last summer, swinging a blockbuster trade for Mikhail Sergachev and making a separate move for John Marino. Don't be surprised if we see more fireworks from them this offseason. The Mammoth have around $20 million of cap space, with 11 forwards, eight defensemen, and a starting goaltender already signed. GM Bill Armstrong has all of his first-round picks and a whopping 11 picks in 2026 (headlined by three second-rounders) to deal from potentially. Utah's top-10 ranked prospect pool is also a strength that the club can weaponize on the trade market. Advertisement Utah ranked 21st for goals scored per game this season, so adding a high-end top-six difference maker or two should be the No. 1 priority. An impact second-line center to upgrade on Barrett Hayton would be the ideal fit, but it'd also make sense for them to take an aggressive run at Marner. Besides upgrading at forward, the Mammoth may also need a second goaltender, depending on Connor Ingram's status. Ingram re-entered the NHLPA Players Assistance program in March for an indefinite period. Karel Vejmelka was rock solid as Utah's starter, so the club wouldn't need to spend big on adding a backup. Projected cap space: $40.4 million (17 players signed) Notable RFAs: Dmitry Voronkov Notable UFAs: Ivan Provorov, Dante Fabbro, James Van Riemsdyk, Luke Kunin Columbus' surprisingly competitive season was one of the best stories in hockey this year. This offseason could be a massive opportunity for the franchise to build around its talented young core and hopefully secure a playoff spot in 2026. After re-signing Voronkov, who is projected to net a $6.3 million AAV on a five-year deal according to AFP Analytics, the Blue Jackets will have $34.1 million of cap space to deploy. Columbus has extra draft picks it can dangle on the trade market, too, with two first-round picks this year and 10 picks for the 2026 draft. GM Don Waddell has already said both of this year's first-round picks are available. Upgrading the defense and goaltending will be key as the Blue Jackets ranked 25th in the NHL for goals against per game. Re-signing Fabbro would make sense, but adding a high-end top-four defender or two on top of that would go a long way in making the Blue Jackets' blue line playoff-caliber. Their existing goaltending tandem of Elvis Merzlikins and Daniil Tarasov (an RFA) also isn't good enough. Realistically, the Blue Jackets could bolster their backend and goaltending and still have ample cap room left over to swing for an elite forward like Marner, too. Advertisement Projected cap space: $29.2 million (21 players signed) Notable RFAs: Wyatt Kaiser Notable UFAs: Ryan Donato Fresh off hiring a new head coach and with Connor Bedard entering year three, GM Kyle Davidson must be feeling pressure to upgrade the Blackhawks' roster significantly. He can't afford another season finishing 31st. Chicago should be searching for a top-line forward or two for Bedard to play with, regardless of whether that's via free agency or trade. It would also be wise to consider adding a proven, established top-four defenseman to fill the hole created by the Seth Jones trade. The Blackhawks have multiple first and second-round picks over the next two drafts that they can use as potential trade chips. The Blackhawks already have some middle-of-the-lineup veterans, and they need to keep roster spots open for their emerging group of prospects. Therefore, this offseason's mission isn't about adding a high volume of new players but instead finding a couple of actual difference-makers near the top of the lineup. Projected cap space: $21.7 million (21 players signed) Notable RFAs: Alex Laferriere Notable UFAs: Vladislav Gavrikov, Andrei Kuzmenko, Tanner Jeannot Four straight first-round playoff exits to the Edmonton Oilers cost Rob Blake his job. In comes Ken Holland, who has already told colleague Pierre LeBrun that he plans to be 'aggressive' in the GM chair. It makes sense because while the Kings have a deep, hard-working team, they could use a game-breaking star to put them over the top come playoff time. Los Angeles has $21.7 million to spend, but that could dwindle if the club re-signs stud top-four defender Vladislav Gavrikov. L.A. would be left with $10.3 million if it re-signed Gavrikov at a $7.6 million AAV, and bridged Laferriere on a $3.8 million AAV, according to AFP Analytics. The Kings could ship out a modest contract, such as Trevor Moore's, to carve out the extra cap flexibility needed to make a serious run at Marner. They also still own all of their first-round picks, which could be valuable trade currency if the right top-six winger becomes available. Advertisement Projected cap space: $21.3 million (17 players signed) Notable RFAs: Jonatan Berggren, Elmer Soderblom, Albert Johansson Notable UFAs: Patrick Kane, Jeff Petry The clock is ticking for GM Steve Yzerman to snap the Red Wings' nine-year playoff drought. Detroit's first-round drafting has been excellent, but Yzerman's front office has made several blunders in free agency that have hindered the franchise's progress. Armed with over $20 million of cap flexibility again this summer — and with Yzerman sounding open to taking bold swings — the Red Wings must hit on their signings and trades to become a playoff-caliber team. Bolstering the top-four defense, which falls off a cliff after Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson, is a critical need. Bringing in another top-six winger to upgrade the team's five-on-five scoring, which ranked 30th in the NHL this season, is essential, too. If the Red Wings aren't able to land a top-tier, guaranteed solution to those needs in free agency, they should pivot to the trade market. Detroit's inefficient contracts, such as those for Andrew Copp, Vladimir Tarasenko, Justin Holl, and J.T. Compher, stem from overpaying for middle-class talent on the open market. There's no sense doing that when the Red Wings can leverage their complete set of draft picks and rich prospect pool to find better fits via trade. Projected cap space: $12.2 million (21 players signed) Notable RFAs: Aatu Räty Notable UFAs: Brock Boeser, Pius Suter Quinn Hughes only has two years left on his contract and will be eligible to sign an extension on July 1, 2026. The Canucks, after missing the playoffs in four of the last five years, are facing enormous pressure to get back on track next season to maximize their chances of keeping their superstar captain long-term. Advertisement Vancouver is going to go all-in this summer to improve its roster. The Canucks desperately need to add a second-line center and a top-six winger, with one of them preferably having star potential (they didn't have a single forward hit the 55-point mark this season). Jim Rutherford said that he expects the club to make its biggest acquisitions via trade rather than free agency. Vancouver's No. 15 pick this year will likely be traded. The Canucks may also need to ship out one of their top prospects, whether that's Tom Willander, Jonathan Lekkerimäki, Elias Pettersson the defenseman, or Victor Mancini, to complete their offseason shopping. The Canucks are middle-of-the-road in terms of cap space and trade chips, but the pressure to contend in 2025-26 all but guarantees that they'll make big moves this offseason. Projected cap space: $20.0 million (16 players signed) Notable RFAs: Kaapo Kakko, Ryker Evans Notable UFAs: Michael Eyssimont At first, the Kraken didn't stand out as a team that should belong on this list. Yes, they boast ample cap flexibility and trade chips, but they've been stuck in mediocrity for a while and their decision to ship out Oliver Bjorkstrand for a haul at the trade deadline suggested that they might be entering a retool rather than a win-now mode. However, GM Jason Botterill told reporters at the end of the season that the Kraken are 'going to be aggressive again in free agency,' one year after they landed Brandon Montour and Chandler Stephenson. The Kraken own extra first-round picks in 2026 and 2027 as a result of the Bjorkstrand trade and extra second-round picks. President of hockey operations Ron Francis has stated that Seattle will consider using some of that currency as trade capital. A lack of elite, star-level offensive talent is currently the franchise's biggest weakness. If the right opportunity to acquire a first-line forward presents itself via trade or free agency, expect the Kraken to make a strong bid. Advertisement Projected cap space: $41.8 million (16 players signed) Notable RFAs: Nikolai Kovalenko Notable UFAs: Jan Rutta, Alexandar Georgiev The Sharks aren't under pressure to make the playoffs anytime soon, but they must be motivated to make some gradual progress up the standings. They also have no choice but to be aggressive to some extent — they're nearly $17 million shy of the $70.6 million salary cap floor, with no internal players requiring notable raises this summer. It'd make sense for San Jose to zero in on quality veterans on mid-range deals, similar to the Tyler Toffoli and Alex Wennberg signings last summer. GM Mike Grier can offer more generous AAVs than other teams, so long as the term isn't too long. A Mikael Granlund reunion is one possible move that would make sense, but they'll need to accomplish more than just that. Renovating the top four on the blue line should be a particular focus. The Sharks iced arguably the worst backend in the NHL this season, especially after trading Jake Walman to Edmonton at the deadline. Adding a veteran goaltender to pair with Yaroslav Askarov will also be important. Last offseason's Askarov trade — where they exchanged a younger prospect and a late first-round pick for a player in his early 20s who was closer to making an NHL impact — could also be another template they repeat. The Sharks have four picks in the first two rounds of this year's draft and four picks in the first two rounds of the 2026 draft. They could cash in one or two of those picks to acquire young, NHL-ready contributors. Minnesota Wild: The Wild would have less than $10 million in cap space if they re-sign Marco Rossi long-term and don't have their first-round pick this year. They'll still be active this summer, however, and will have the upgraded cap space and trade assets to make bigger splashes if they decide to ship Rossi out. Toronto Maple Leafs: Toronto will have nearly $20 million of cap space even after re-signing RFA Matthew Knies. The Leafs have tons of cap flexibility, but their lack of assets will likely restrict their ability to make a splash on the trade market. Toronto has already traded away its next three first-round picks and has a relatively shallow pool of prospects. Advertisement Teams with cap space and assets that probably aren't feeling pressure to make splashy, win-now moves: Calgary Flames, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins, New York Islanders, Nashville Predators All contract, roster, and salary cap data courtesy PuckPedia (Photo of the Carolina Hurricanes: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images)
Time of India
04-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Matt Coronato's contract may well impact Mason McTavish's next deal with the Anaheim Ducks
Image Via Twitter Entering a crucial offseason, all attention is set on how the Anaheim Ducks will structure a new deal for one of their most promising young stars. With the salary cap expected to rise and the market evolving, the timing could not be more fortuitous. The contract extension of Matt Coronato with the Calgary Flames serves as the comparison at this point. The two players have similarities in terms of age and draft class, but McTavish's consistent NHL impact has made the negotiation more challenging for the Ducks. The Matt Coronato extension sets a strange counterpoint to the Mason McTavish contract talks One would think the $6.5 million, seven-year contract would be considered aggressive for a player with only one full NHL season to his credit, but the fact that it weighs on Anaheim management now, as they enter negotiations with Mason McTavish, whose on-ice contributions have been perhaps more consistent and impactful. Being the third overall pick in 2021, he has notched three seasons above 40 points and finished second in team scoring last year with 52 points in 76 games. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The place-to-be for automation and robotics Undo Relevant topics from automation, AI and robotics Undo Valuable contacts with international exhibitors Undo Fresh input at the top-class supporting program Undo The leading trade fair for automation & robotics Undo Being selected ten places after McTavish, Coronato put together an impressive 47 points in 77 games this year, but really, it stands in stark contrast to McTavish's consistency over three years. If the salary cap, currently at $88 million, is projected to rise to $113.5 million by the 2027-28 season, then the longer-term deals signed today could be labeled near steals in a handful of years. This raises a pertinent question for Anaheim's front office: Should they go ahead and lock McTavish in on a long-term deal now at today's market rate or give him a shorter-term bridge contract? General Manager Pat Verbeek has always preferred bridge deals to gauge a player's full potential before offering long-term assurances. It worked for Anaheim over the last couple of trades with Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale but with delay and uncertainty. Applying the same approach to McTavish may garner short-term gains in YODs but put them in an unpleasant position with a huge hike in his valuation if he continues trending upward. From McTavish's perspective, the Coronato deal may represent the reinforcement of the bargaining position. It shows that teams are willing to spend early on young talent, especially with cap growth ahead. Should Anaheim undervalue his market value, McTavish and his agent may press for a structure that works with his trajectory rather than one that reflects the Ducks' usually conservative stance. Also Read: Aleksander Barkov, Anthony Cirelli, and Sam Reinhart shine as Selke Trophy finalists With both sides having legitimate arguments and the cap expanding, Mason McTavish's next contract may become the foundation of the Ducks' long-term future. Be it with stability or patience on Anaheim's part, the shadow of Matt Coronato's extension will surely cast over every step of the negotiation.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists Mapped the Evolution of 11,000 Bird Species to Build the Avian Tree of Life
Birds are the most diverse land vertebrate on the planet, and now scientists have constructed a complete evolutionary tree of the 11,000 or so known species. This data came from hundreds of studies written from 1990 to 2024, as well as additional taxonomic information on more than a thousand birds not included in those studies. This data is now part of the Open Tree of Life (OpenTree) project—a collaboration between evolutionary biologists and taxonomists which aims to construct the evolutionary history of all known species on the planet. When it comes to diversity, no animal can quite hold a candle to birds. Being the most genetically varied land vertebrate on the planet, the class Aves thrive on every continent. And they're also impressive survivors, being as they're the direct descendants of the avian dinosaurs that survived the K-T Extinction event some 66 million years ago. Those many millions of years have given birds time to evolve into some 11,000 species, and keeping track of all those species—not to mention their evolutionary history–can be quite the challenge. Luckily, scientists from the University of California Merced and Cornell Lab of Ornithology decided that challenge was one they wanted to meet and proceeded to pour over 262 studies related to 9,239 bird species published from 1990 to 2024. After combining additional data on the 1,800 or so species not included in these studies, the team formed a complete map of avian evolutionary history. The results of this work were detailed in the journal Proceedings of the National Academies of Science (PNAS) 'People love birds, and a lot of people work on birds,' Emily Jane McTavish, the lead author of the study from UC Merced, said in a press statement. 'People publish scientific papers about birds' evolutionary relationships all the time. We synthesized all the data to have unified information all in one place.' For years, McTavish worked on software known as the Open Tree of Life (OpenTree) project, a collaboration between evolutionary biologists and taxonomists to build a comprehensive evolutionary tree of all species on the planet—not just birds. By creating a complete evolutionary history of all known birds on the planet, the experts hope to gather research in one place and make startlingly new discoveries in the future. 'Many dozens of bird phylogenies (studies of evolutionary histories using genetics) get published every year, yet their findings—with implications for everything from taxonomy to our understanding of ancestral characters—aren't necessarily being used for downstream research,' Eliot Miller, a visiting scientist to Cornell Lab and senior author of the study, said in a press statement. 'Our project should help to close this research loop so that these studies and their findings are better incorporated into follow-up research.' Because Cornell Lab is also in charge of popular citizen science bird tools like Merlin and eBird, this updated tree can also link with those datasets, providing even better models for scientists and birders alike. The team also designed the dataset to update automatically as new phylogenetic information about birds becomes available. Crucially, similar techniques used to construct this evolutionary tree can be applied to other groups of species as well, slowly revealing the incredible and inter-related animal diversity that spans the globe. You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
New York Times
15-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Potential offer-sheet targets for the Flyers — plus 3 Flyers who might get targeted
A dramatically rising salary cap, coupled with a healthy amount of talented young players on expiring entry-level deals, is already fueling speculation that the 2025 offseason could be the 'summer of offer sheets.' Others are skeptical. After all, this sort of conjecture has happened before, only to fizzle out after July 1 when those offer sheets are eligible to be signed. Advertisement But the St. Louis Blues successfully plucking Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg from the Edmonton Oilers last summer — helping to spark a remarkable second-half surge into playoff position — surely has some other general managers thinking they might be able to do something similar. And considering Flyers general manager Daniel Briere has not been shy about trying to execute some major moves this summer, that's got to be one avenue he's pondering. At the same time, the Flyers might not be immune to the threat themselves, with three key players who are pending restricted free agents: Noah Cates, Tyson Foerster and Cam York. With that in mind, let's take an early look at players the Flyers could target, and how nervous they should be when it comes to keeping their own. Keep in mind, the offer-sheet compensation thresholds won't be revealed until June, but they're likely to be at least similar to last year's, listed here on PuckPedia. McTavish, 22, has a healthy total of 22 goals and 51 points in 74 games this season, mostly as the Anaheim Ducks' third-line center. Drafted No. 3 overall in 2021, McTavish not only has the ability to create offense, but at 6-foot-1 and 219 pounds, he's a tank. McTavish hasn't quite developed into the high-end offensive threat the Ducks probably hoped he would be by this point, so they might be reluctant to match any sizable deal. They're also going to have to pay a number of their younger players in the near future, including Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier (whom they may ultimately view as a center) and goalie Lukas Dostal. Not only is McTavish behind Carlsson and Ryan Strome on the center depth chart, the Ducks rarely spend to the cap anyway. If the Flyers feel there's still runway for McTavish to reach greater heights offensively and figure out a way to acquire him, he would immediately become their top-line center. Advertisement One scenario that could play out here, or with another target, is that the simple threat of an offer sheet might allow the Flyers to work out a trade. Perhaps there's a package deal with goalie John Gibson that makes sense here? The Flyers could include a guy like Ryan Poehling, for example, to help Anaheim fill the void that McTavish would leave, but it would obviously take more than that. Could the Flyers' own first-round pick, assuming it falls in the Nos. 5-to-7 range, even be in play for a guy like McTavish? Another center, Rossi has 24 goals and 60 points with the Minnesota Wild as a middle-six option. He was also mentioned frequently in trade rumors this season. The primary issue with the 23-year-old Rossi is his size, as he's listed at just 5-foot-9 and 182 pounds. The Flyers are already among the smallest teams in the league. The Wild might welcome a few extra draft choices if they're not sold on Rossi being a part of their future. They don't have a first- or a third-round pick in 2025, or a second-round pick in 2026 or 2027. If the Flyers were to threaten an offer sheet, perhaps Minnesota might be open to some sort of package with picks and/or a player (native son Bobby Brink, maybe)? The 22-year-old is having a breakthrough season with 29 goals and 55 points in 76 games. He's exactly what the Flyers need: a power winger with size (6-foot-3, 227 pounds) who can score on the power play, where he has five goals and 15 points. Knies wouldn't solve the Flyers' problems at center, but he'd give them some needed offensive depth and physicality up front. His unique skill set was detailed here by colleague James Mirtle. Knies' availability could depend on whether the Toronto Maple Leafs re-sign Mitch Marner. If the Maple Leafs can't afford Knies, the Flyers could be interested. And, of course, Briere has already done business with Toronto, dealing Scott Laughton there last month. It's been a fairly dramatic decline for Dobson, who finished eighth in Norris Trophy voting last season but had some struggles with the New York Islanders this season. After totaling 70 points in 79 games in 2023-24, he has just 39 points in 69 games in 2024-25. But Dobson only recently turned 25, so there's a decent chance this season is only a blip on the radar for him. He has some size at 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds, which, although he's not an overly physical player, would give the Flyers' blue line more wingspan on the left side. Dobson is also just one year removed from posting 24 points on the power play, which was 10th in the league among defensemen. Advertisement If the Flyers are looking to take a chance on a younger center with upside who wouldn't cost them as much as the guys listed above, Bourque, 23, could fit the bill. He was the leading scorer in the AHL last season (77 points in 71 games), but has had trouble breaking through on a deep Dallas Stars team, currently skating on the wing of the third line. The 23-year-old has probably made himself a few extra bucks with his late-season surge. Now with 24 goals on the season, he's tied with Travis Konecny and Matvei Michkov for the team lead with two games to go. There's little doubt that the Flyers view Foerster as a key to their future, with his ability to shoot the puck and a 200-foot game that made him a favorite of former coach John Tortorella. It would be surprising if the Flyers didn't lock him up before July 1, perhaps even long-term. Foerster's linemate, and another player it seems virtually impossible the Flyers let get away, Cates has been the Flyers' most consistent and versatile center since Thanksgiving. They're going to need him next season if they plan on getting better, particularly with their lack of depth down the middle. This deal will get done at some point, probably in the four-to-five-year range. In a perfect world, Cates slots in as a third-line center, even on a potential playoff team — which the Flyers hope to be sooner than later. York reiterated after the Tortorella incident that resulted in his getting functionally suspended for a game that he wants to stay in Philadelphia. Whether the Flyers see him as a long-term fit, though, is still uncertain. There were talks about a contract extension into November, but nothing ever got done. If there's a team that's in love with York that's willing to give him, say, $5 million-plus annually, that would return the Flyers a first- and a third-round pick. They might be OK with that, particularly if they believe prospect Emil Andrae is ready to step in and start playing a bigger role. (Photo of Mason McTavish: Steph Chambers / Getty Images)
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire: Ducks can help you finish strong
This is it. Your last chance too add players off the waiver wire to help your title chances. Due to the brief window left in the fantasy hockey and NHL regular season, it's a good idea to grab players on teams that'll be appearing more times. So here's a breakdown of remaining games: 2: BOS, STL, COL, SEA 3: FLA, NYR, PIT, ANH, VAN, VGK, the Central Division except for STL and COL 4: Everyone else While you probably shouldn't limit your attention to those on the 16 clubs with four games left, the extra potential stats may come in handy. At the same time, more prominent names on the sides only getting two or three outings can't be ignored. Advertisement (Rostered rates as of Apr. 11) Forwards Mason McTavish, ANH (Yahoo: 33%) It's been just over a month since McTavish got a repeat here, but he really needs a third time as his recent stats are way too good for someone available in roughly two-thirds of Yahoo leagues. Since last being featured, he's gone off for 16 points in 18 games along with 52 shots and 119 faceoff wins on a 17:18 average. And while McTavish technically centers the third line, he's up on Anaheim's top power play where he's totaled 12 PPPs. He even produced three assists and 11 (!!) shots versus the Sharks on Apr. 1. Add him ASAP. Advertisement Blake Coleman, CGY (Yahoo: 33%) Coleman's offense has reverted to his standard offering in the 30s after a 54-point spike last season, including a recent stretch of 24 contests with only a goal and two assists. He's once again starting to show signs of life, posting four points, nine shots, eight hits, four blocks and a plus-5 over the last four. As a top-six forward and regular participant on both special-teams units — he potted a PPG and SHG last Thursday — Coleman can help across multiple categories. Conor Garland, VAN (Yahoo: 28%) The Canucks are set to miss the playoffs, yet they're not going to lie down for the final three matchups — even if they've been depleted up front through injuries and trades. And their lead PP is still talented enough to do some damage. Garland is part of that group and has blown well past his career-high with 16 PPPs. He's also been successful the last month-and-a-half by recording five goals, 10 assists, 42 shots and 21 blocks while skating close to 18 minutes per night. Vancouver will want to positively end the campaign with three home appearances, so Garland and company should be motivated to score. Will Smith, SJ (Yahoo: 16%) Close your eyes if you don't know how Smith and other Sharks fared against the Wild on Wednesday. Let's just say he wasn't bad. Or more specifically, he notched four points during an 8-7 loss. After not receiving great ice time or responsibilities early on as a rookie, Smith has got into a groove by tallying 11 goals, 18 assists, eight PPPs and 65 shots since mid-January, and now regularly shares the ice with Macklin Celebrini for all scoring situations. Expect him to keep the momentum going. Oliver Bjorkstrand, TB (Yahoo: 14%) Bjorkstrand has been a steady performer throughout his NHL career, and this year is no different. He fit in well on a balanced Kraken squad and got dealt with Yanni Gourde a couple days before the deadline as Tampa added middle-six depth. And while the nine points with the new organization isn't outstanding, Bjorkstrand isn't necessarily there to rack up huge offensive stats. He's also improved in the last 10 by contributing four goals, four assists, 19 shots, seven hits and nine blocks. Bjorkstrand's PPG and PPA on Wednesday among the first man-advantage were probably anomalies, as Jake Guentzel will retake that role once he returns. Even so, his involvement within the first three trios is bound to result in an adequate fantasy haul. Marcus Foligno, MIN (Yahoo: 12%) It may have taken a while for Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek to get back on the ice, but the wait seems to have been worthwhile, as the duo combined for seven points on Wednesday as Minnesota slotted eight past San Jose. With the latest line shuffling, Foligno is once again joining forces at five-on-five with JEE and picked up a pair of assists during the latest offensive explosion. And if we go back six games, the power winger has managed six points, 11 shots, 22 hits and eight blocks across 16:58 a night. The Wild are set to have all their forwards available for the playoffs, leaving secondary contributors like Foligno ready to benefit. Cutter Gauthier, ANH (Yahoo: 10%) Let's take a double dip with the Ducks and another of their 25-and-under entries in Gauthier. And like many first-year players, there's been some growing pains for the former fifth-overall selection. But, similar to McTavish, Gauthier has turned the corner — and then some — reeling off 11 goals, 10 assists, 68 shots and a plus-9 across 24 appearances despite an under-14 workload. He's going to be solid for several seasons, so you may want to give him a chance before others jump on the opportunity. Ryan Poehling, PHI (Yahoo: 1%) Sean Couturier was brought up last week, as the Flyers have surged in scoring following the latest coaching shakeup, and have now reached 25 goals from five outings. Poehling faced multiple slumps and injuries during his second year with the club, yet he began to get back on track under the former bench boss and has registered eight points, 10 shots, six blocks and 31 FW through the last four. He's at least worth a look given Philly will be going up against three vulnerable defenses in the Sabres, Blue Jackets and Isles. Defensemen Brady Skjei, NSH (Yahoo: 47%) The decision on which Nashville defender to feature this week was difficult between Skjei and Nick Blankenburg (1%), but the former ultimately was chosen due to a longer time between mentions and better overall output. We wouldn't fault you for taking Blankenburg, as he's quarterbacking the top power play and has delivered four PPAs over the last 10 games, yet his partner Skjei has been more active since Mar. 6 with 11 points — including five while up a man — 36 shots and 24 blocks on 23-plus minutes a night. Go with the stats and ignore the fact the Preds rank last in offense. Owen Power, BUF (Yahoo: 29%) It's not often you'll see a blueliner with 40 points available in at least 70 percent of Yahoo leagues, though Power has endured a couple prolonged droughts this season while still behind Rasmus Dahlin for primary attacking opportunities. Even so, he's notched a goal, eight assists — four on the PP — 19 shots and 15 blocks across 15 appearances. Combine that with a significant workload as part of an offense that's scored 46 times in 10 outings and Power provides the potential to produce. Kaiden Guhle, MON (Yahoo: 16%) Guhle returned at the end of March after missing two months following quad muscle surgery and has rejoined Lane Hutson at even-strength. While that pairing could yield points, Guhle is more known for his physical accomplishments. And he's right back to racking up those numbers via 11 PIM, 23 hits and 15 blocks from seven matchups. Guhle has also supplied two assists during that stretch and logged 25:01 Tuesday, so there doesn't look to be any limits regarding his responsibilities. Timothy Liljegren, SJ (Yahoo: 1%) Liljegren initially inherited the lead PP role after coming over from Toronto, though that didn't result in much, and his ice time began to decrease. And we didn't hear much about him until he recorded two assists, five shots and four blocks against his former club on Mar. 27. Including that performance, Liljegren has accumulated five helpers, 12 shots and 20 blocks through eight contests while skating over 24 minutes. He's even found his way back to the man-advantage and tallied a PPA Monday on the second unit. With a couple teammates out of the lineup, Liljegren is set to keep earning elevated placement. Goaltenders Karel Vejmelka, UTA (Yahoo: 46%) Vejmelka has appeared in Utah's last 22 games, where he's posted a 12-6-4 record alongside a 2.42 GAA. He's also allowed no more than two goals in five of the last seven. With the Hockey Club officially eliminated from postseason contention and Matt Villalta the only other healthy netminder on the roster, expect Vejmelka to start two of the three remaining road matchups. Calvin Pickard, EDM (Yahoo: 28%) Stuart Skinner has been out with a head injury the last couple weeks and is set to reappear — perhaps as early as Friday. Prior to being sidelined, he had struggled since early February by registering a 3.60/.868 line. Pickard has ably stepped in during Skinner's absence, winning four of the last five outings while stopping 122 of 133 shots. He's also been the better of the two for significant stretches and should assume starting duties for at least two of the final four contests with Skinner getting back up to speed. Thus concludes another season of the Waiver Wire column. Hope you enjoyed the occasional correct recommendations and horrible pun attempts. See you again in 2025-26!
