In the ever-shifting world of fantasy hockey, a manager’s best-laid plans can be upended in an instant by an ill-timed injury or a surprise return. As the 2024-25 NHL season enters its second month, several high-profile teams find themselves scrambling to adjust their lineups and strategies in the wake of major personnel changes. For fantasy managers, these shakeups present both challenges and opportunities to gain an edge on the competition.
Maple Leafs’ Mystery: The Matthews Conundrum
No player’s status looms larger over the fantasy landscape than that of Toronto superstar center Auston Matthews. The reigning MVP has already missed five games with an unspecified upper-body injury, and the lack of clarity from the tight-lipped Maple Leafs organization has left managers frantically refreshing their browsers for any scrap of news. With no timeline for his return, fantasy GMs must decide whether to stash Matthews on IR or burn a precious bench spot in hopes of a speedy recovery.
In Matthews’ absence, veterans John Tavares and William Nylander have shouldered the offensive load, with each taking shifts alongside Matthews’ usual running mate, Mitch Marner. But the real fantasy winner could be unheralded winger Bobby McMann, a recent call-up who potted a goal on eight shots in his debut on Tavares’ flank. With Nick Robertson also sidelined, McMann has a chance to stake a claim to a top-six role – at least until Matthews makes his long-awaited return to the ice.
Avalanche of Options in Colorado
While the Maple Leafs sweat out the Matthews mystery, the Colorado Avalanche are poised to welcome back several key cogs in their high-powered offense. Valeri Nichushkin, fresh off a six-month suspension, and Jonathan Drouin are both set to make their season debuts this week. Their presence should provide an immediate boost to an Avs attack that has looked sluggish at times in the early going.
Nichushkin in particular has the potential to be a fantasy difference-maker as a rare power forward who racks up points, shots, and hits with equal aplomb. If he can recapture the form that saw him post 25 goals and 52 points in just 62 games last season, managers will be racing to add the Russian bruiser off the waiver wire. Drouin and Artturi Lehkonen also stand to benefit from Nichushkin’s return, as they jockey for places on a revamped second line with emerging pivot Casey Mittelstadt.
Getting Val back is huge for us, both on and off the ice. He brings so much to the table with his size, skill and competitiveness. He’s a key piece of our core.
Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog
Canucks’ Youth Movement Takes Flight
As one star returns in Colorado, another exits the stage in Vancouver, where snakebitten winger Brock Boeser is out indefinitely after absorbing a brutal hit to the head from the Kings’ Tanner Jeannot. It’s a cruel blow for Boeser, who seemed poised for a bounce-back campaign after battling injuries and inconsistency for much of the past two seasons. His absence, while unfortunate, could open the door for one of the Canucks’ top prospects to seize a golden opportunity.
Enter Jonathan Lekkerimaki, the 15th overall pick in the 2022 draft, who has already notched a goal and five shots in his first two NHL contests skating alongside J.T. Miller on the Canucks’ nominal first line. The Swedish sniper was considered one of the top offensive talents in his draft class, drawing comparisons to countryman Elias Pettersson for his sublime puck skills and shoot-first mentality. If he can handle the defensive rigors that come with top-line duty, Lekkerimaki could be an intriguing fantasy flier, especially in keeper and dynasty formats.
| Player | Team | Position | FPts Last Yr | FPts Per Game 2024-25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auston Matthews | TOR | C | 612 | 2.9 (4 GP) |
| Valeri Nichushkin | COL | RW | 225 | N/A |
| Brock Boeser | VAN | RW | 322 | 2.4 (8 GP) |
| Jonathan Lekkerimaki | VAN | RW | N/A | 2.2 (2 GP) |
Around the League: Returns and Risks
Shifting to the Eastern Conference, managers are keeping a close eye on Patrik Laine‘s recovery from a knee injury that has sidelined the Blue Jackets sniper since opening night. Early reports suggest Laine could be back on the ice by the end of November, a welcome sight for a Columbus team that has struggled mightily to light the lamp in his absence.
Out west, the Vegas Golden Knights are hoping to get Mark Stone back in the lineup sooner rather than later as they look to keep pace with the high-flying Colorado Avalanche in the Pacific Division. Stone’s injury history always makes him a risk-reward fantasy play, but few wingers can match his category coverage and point-per-game upside when he’s firing on all cylinders between Jack Eichel and Ivan Barbashev on the Knights’ top line.
Finally, the Carolina Hurricanes are facing yet another goalie dilemma with both Frederik Andersen and Pyotr Kochetkov battling lower-body ailments of varying severity. If one or both netminders is forced to miss significant time, journeyman Spencer Martin could become a trendy waiver wire target as a spot starter for one of the league’s stingiest defensive clubs.
The Waiver Wire: Defenders and Diamonds in the Rough
- Brandt Clarke (D, LAK): The Kings’ rookie blueliner continues to impress as the QB of their top power play unit. A must-roster in all formats.
- Nick Paul (C/LW, TBL): The versatile forward has been filling in admirably on the top line, but could cede that plum spot once Brayden Point returns from injury.
- Jean-Gabriel Pageau (C, NYI): Skating on the Isles’ first line in Mathew Barzal‘s stead, Pageau has posted 5 points in his last 5 games while seeing major minutes in all situations.
As the old saying goes, the only constant in hockey is change – and that’s never been truer than in the topsy-turvy world of fantasy. By staying on top of the latest injury news and lineup shuffles, savvy managers can turn misfortune into opportunity and keep their title hopes afloat amid the midseason churn. Fantasy glory awaits those who can navigate the ever-shifting currents of this chaotic campaign.
