Best NHL Fantasy Stars Strategy Tips: Risers, Fallers & How to Build Your Team

NHL Fantasy Stars Risers, Fallers & Team-Building Strategies

NHL Fantasy Stars is a virtual card-collecting fantasy game in which users accrue players through free daily packs, earning coins and browsing a global marketplace. The app can be downloaded for free on the App Store and Google Play, and this article will provide advice for players based on trends around the league.

Building a Strong NHL Fantasy Stars Foundation with Base Packs and Early Coins

The structure of NHL Fantasy Stars allows players to craft their own experience, but there are several tips that can be utilized for more success in the game. This article will provide strategy-based advice to players throughout the season, ranging from tips for beginners to strategies for those who have more established teams.

For those starting the game and looking for a logical place to begin, a favorable way to gain XP and develop building blocks for a team is through base packs, which can be purchased in the marketplace for 100 coins. After creating an account, new players can earn 1,250 coins by completing profile details and connecting an NHL Game Zone account, which creates the opportunity to buy at least 12 base packs. The pull percentages for base packs aren't as favorable as gold packs, but plenty of solid silver and base players can be obtained while also racking up XP.

Top Rising NHL Fantasy Stars to Target Now

Nikolaj Ehlers, LW, Carolina Hurricanes: After spending the first 10 years of his career in Winnipeg, Ehlers got a change of scenery ahead of the 2025-26 campaign by agreeing to a six-year deal with the Hurricanes. He's on pace for a 60-point, 195-shot season, which is ample upside for a silver player. The 29-year-old is also averaging 2:56 of power-play ice time, which is a career-high mark, so he should continue to see plenty of opportunities to contribute as the season progresses.

Brock Nelson, C, Colorado Avalanche: Nelson has been heavily involved for the Avalanche this year but is just a silver player on NHL Fantasy Stars, meaning that he can be acquired for a favorable rate on the marketplace. The 34-year-old is averaging a career-high 3:01 of power-play ice time to begin the season, and he's recorded three goals with the man advantage over his last three outings. While Nelson's 87 shots over 41 appearances this season are off his pace of the past three years, when he averaged 221.7 shots on goal per season, he's generally a favorable candidate for training and lineup spots.

Anthony Mantha, RW, Pittsburgh Penguins: Mantha has turned back the clock over the first half of his age-31 season, and he's had plenty of momentum in recent weeks. While his four-game point streak came to an end Saturday against Detroit, he's come close to a point-per-game pace over the past month with 15 points over his last 17 appearances, and he's also logged 38 shots, 13 hits and eight blocked shots during that time.

Brett Pesce, D, New Jersey Devils: Pesce returned from a 24-game absence in mid-December and has hit the ground running upon his return. The blueliner has recorded multiple blocked shots in eight of his nine appearances since being cleared to return, and he's also taken multiple shots in five of those outings. Pesce has proven to be capable of topping 100 shots on goal and blocked shots earlier in his career, and he's contributed in those categories at a solid clip over a limited sample during the 2025-26 campaign.

Buffalo Sabres: Although the Sabres aren't expected to be significant contenders in the Eastern Conference this season, they've made waves recently with a 10-game winning streak. Their run came to an end Saturday in Columbus, but Buffalo's base team card can be acquired at a low rate, and the team is worth considering in starting lineups while playing at a high level. This success seems unlikely to continue over a prolonged period, especially since Alex Lyon is now slated to miss time due to a lower-body injury, but the team certainly deserves to be classified as a riser given the recent hot streak.

Key Underperformers in NHL Fantasy Stars to Avoid Starting

Chris Kreider, LW, Anaheim Ducks: While the Ducks have had increased success this year, Kreider's production during his first season in Anaheim has lagged behind his results over his 13 years with the Rangers. The 34-year-old hasn't hit as much this season, with 33 hits over 34 games, and he's recorded just three points over 14 games across the past month. Despite Kreider's gold status, there are likely more favorable options to start at left wing on most slates.

Robert Thomas, C, St. Louis Blues: Most of Thomas' production earlier in his career came through his points and shots on goal, but both of those marks have regressed in the 2025-26 campaign. Across 39 games this year, he's recorded just 20 points and 57 shots on goal, putting him on pace for one of his worst performances since the 2020-21 season. Thomas hasn't been known for his hits and blocked shots throughout his career, so his drop in points and shots is especially concerning for his NHL Fantasy Stars output.

Matvei Michkov, RW, Philadelphia Flyers: Michkov put together a stellar rookie season last year in which he racked up 26 goals and 37 assists on 199 shots, but he's been well off the pace of those marks over the first half of the 2025-26 campaign. He's picked up the pace slightly in recent weeks with seven points and 19 shots on goal over his last 10 games, and he has the talent to emerge as a riser at some point in the second half of the season. However, at the halfway point of the season, he isn't a very appealing player for starting lineups despite being a gold player.

Morgan Rielly, D, Toronto Maple Leafs: Rielly's career-long production earned his card a gold status ahead of the regular season, but he's struggled to play up to his potential in his age-31 campaign. The blueliner enters the midway point of the season with a minus-15 rating, which would be his lowest mark since the 2016-17 campaign, and he's struggled to produce with the man advantage, racking up just five power-play points over 40 games. There are plenty of silver and base defensemen who are worth considering over Rielly in starting lineups, and he's a solid option to list on the marketplace to potentially earn some extra coins.

Winnipeg Jets: A year removed from winning the Presidents' Trophy, the Jets find themselves at the bottom of the Western Conference standings and mired in a nine-game losing streak. Connor Hellebuyck hasn't looked as sharp as usual after returning from a three-week absence, and the team hasn't yet put the pieces together. While the Jets have the potential for a second-half surge, they aren't a reliable option in NHL Fantasy Stars at this point, despite being classified as a gold team.