Category Targets: Opening Week

The opening week of the 2025-26 NHL season is finally upon us! Fantasy managers looking to tinker with their rosters will benefit from zeroing in on specific categories. Whether you are looking for long-term fits or short-term options, there should be a plethora of potential pickups to help your squads. 

Let's get into this week's suggestions for your consideration.

Scott Wedgewood, G, Avalanche (33% rostered) for Starts/Saves/Wins 

Wedgewood might begin the 2025-26 campaign as Colorado's No. 1 goalie. Mackenzie Blackwood has been a limited participant during training camp because of a lower-body injury and could miss the start of the year. After being acquired from Nashville in late November, the 33-year-old Wedgewood posted solid numbers with the Avalanche. He earned a 13-4-1 record with two shutouts, a 1.99 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage across 19 regular-season appearances. Wedgewood will possess plenty of upside as a depth fantasy option, and he makes for a good insurance policy for Blackwood's fantasy managers. 

Alexis Lafreniere, LW/RW, Rangers (29% rostered) for Assists/Points/Shots/Hits 

Lafreniere took a step backward last campaign after he finally broke out offensively in 2023-24. He dropped from 28 goals to 17 and slipped from 57 points to 45. He also didn't get nearly as many shots on target in 2024-25, compiling 153 after a career-high total of 217 the previous year. However, most members of the Rangers struggled to produce in a tumultuous season, and Lafreniere has bounce-back appeal going into his age-24 campaign. He will probably spend most of his playing time alongside Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck again, which could help him push for the 60-point plateau while topping 175 shots and 100 hits. Despite his inconsistency in 2024-25, Lafreniere got off to a great start, contributing eight goals, 16 points, 41 shots and 21 hits in his first 19 outings. The Rangers play a league-high four times this week, giving him considerable short-term upside. However, he also has plenty of long-term appeal. 

Ivan Barbashev, LW, Golden Knights (27% rostered) for Goals/Points/Shots/Hits  

Barbashev accounted for 23 goals, 51 points, 111 shots on net and 104 hits across 70 regular-season games with Vegas in 2024-25. He had a hot start, compiling eight tallies and nine assists in his first 15 outings. He also had 30 hits and 28 shots during that span. The 29-year-old winger could get an offensive boost thanks to the play-making skills of Mitch Marner, who will join Barbashev and Jack Eichel on the top line. The Golden Knights play three times this week, making Barbashev an intriguing pickup option.

Anton Lundell, C, Panthers (23% rostered) for Assists/Points/Shots/Hits/Faceoffs/PP

Lundell will receive an increased role in the 2025-26 campaign due to the absence of Aleksander Barkov, who will miss seven to nine months after undergoing knee surgery in late September. The 24-year-old Lundell has displayed plenty of two-way upside and could assert himself offensively with a top-six role. He should play in all situations, while getting more power-play minutes, and he won a career-high 542 faceoffs last season. Lundell missed the end of training camp because of an upper-body injury, but he could be ready for the Panthers' regular-season opener on Tuesday. Florida plays three times at home this week against Chicago, Philadelphia and Ottawa. 

Evgeni Malkin, C/LW, Penguins (21% rostered) for Assists/Points/Shots/PP 

Malkin's fantasy stock has plummeted ahead of what could be his final season. Injuries limited him to 68 appearances during the 2024-25 regular season, but he still chipped in 16 goals, 50 points and 125 shots. His plus-minus rating could be an issue again, but in point-drive formats, he still possesses solid fantasy value and should be rostered in more leagues. While the Penguins will likely struggle to pick up wins this campaign, Malkin should make an offensive impact, especially on what is likely to remain a dangerous power play.

Elias Lindholm, C, Bruins (20% rostered) for Assists/Points/Hits/Blocks/Faceoffs/PP 

Lindholm struggled in his first season with Boston, earning 17 goals and 47 points across 82 regular-season outings. He signed a seven-year, $54.25 million contract with the team in July 2024 to be a top-line scoring threat, but he spent chunks of the campaign in the middle six, and away from offensive star David Pastrnak. However, the 30-year-old Lindholm heated up down the stretch, collecting five goals, 11 points, 23 shots, 10 blocks and 11 hits in his final 11 appearances while playing between Pastrnak and Morgan Geekie. Lindholm should get back over the 50-point mark in the 2025-26 campaign. He will also be a strong source of faceoff wins after ranking ninth in the league last season with 759, and blocked shots after tying for 10th among forwards with 79 in 2024-25. Boston plays three times this week, including home matchups against Chicago and Buffalo. 

Andrei Kuzmenko, LW/RW, Kings (19% rostered) for Assists/Points/Shots/PP

Kuzmenko played for three different teams in the 2024-25 campaign, registering 11 goals and 37 points in 66 regular-season appearances. Despite having two goals and five points in seven outings with Philadelphia after being acquired from Calgary, the Flyers dealt the 29-year-old forward to Los Angeles. Kuzmenko notched five tallies and 12 assists in 22 regular-season outings with the Kings before adding six points, including three helpers, in six playoff contests. He signed a one-year, $4.3 million contract to remain with the organization, which has proven to be a good fit for him so far. Kuzmenko could be in the 50 to 60 point range while seeing time alongside Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe on the top line and first power-play combination. The Kings play three times in the first week. 

Jonathan Quick, G, Rangers (3% rostered) for Starts/Saves/Wins  

Quick should get at least one start during a busy opening week for the Rangers. As previously mentioned, the team plays four times, including a back-to-back situation. He may get the nod for Saturday's road game versus Pittsburgh and could play twice if the Rangers decide to split the outings evenly. The 39-year-old netminder played well out of the gate in 2024-25, winning five of seven appearances while stopping 190 of the 203 shots he faced.  

Kirby Dach, C/RW, Canadiens (3% rostered) for Points/Shots/Hits  

Dach hasn't lived up to expectations since being the No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. He has had flashes of potential, but injuries and inconsistencies have plagued him. However, he has some additional motivation to succeed this season as an internal solution to Montreal's lack of depth at center. The team also has an improved supporting cast with Patrik Laine, Zachary Bolduc and Ivan Demidov in the fold. That should help Dach if he secures his place on the second line. While his plus-minus rating could be a problem in some leagues, he has plenty of upside in banger formats after reaching 100 hits in 57 regular-season appearances last year. The Canadiens play three times on the road this week to open the 2025-26 campaign. 

Ville Koivunen, RW, Penguins (3% rostered) for Assists/Points/Shots/Blocks/PP  

Koivunen contributed seven assists (three on the power play), 15 shots on goal and eight blocked shots across eight regular-season outings with Pittsburgh in 2024-25. The 22-year-old forward amassed 21 tallies and 56 points in 63 AHL appearances for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton last campaign before adding two assists in two playoff games. He will likely crack the NHL roster out of training camp and has under-the-radar fantasy value if he secures a spot alongside Sidney Crosby. The Penguins play three times this week, and Koivunen is worthy of a watch-list slot for fantasy managers.