The NHL is gearing up for a bustling offseason, with the free agency period commencing on July 1. Prominent players like Mitch Marner, Sam Bennett, and Nikolaj Ehlers are anticipated to enter the free market, while many others could be moved via trades.
For fantasy hockey managers seeking a competitive advantage, understanding how player roles might shift and identifying potential new opportunities is crucial for evaluating players before your drafts.
This analysis will be updated regularly with new free agent signings and trades, detailing their expected impact on fantasy hockey leagues.
Evander Kane to the Vancouver Canucks: After sitting out the entire 2024-25 regular season, Kane demonstrated his fantasy relevance during the Oilers` playoff run to the Stanley Cup final. He averaged 1.7 fantasy points per game over 21 postseason contests, putting him on the cusp of relevance in standard leagues. This performance came despite limited ice time alongside top forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. With Brock Boeser potentially departing Vancouver and other offseason moves anticipated, Kane could become one of the Canucks` top-scoring wing options next season. This could elevate his fantasy value, particularly if he earns ice time with Elias Pettersson (who is expected to rebound) and gets power-play opportunities (something he didn`t receive much in Edmonton).
Mason Marchment to the Seattle Kraken: Marchment represents a type of fantasy asset useful in spurts, depending on his linemates. The Kraken are an ideal fit for such a winger, given their roster`s emphasis on depth over star power. Consequently, Marchment could feature anywhere from the third line to the first line, depending on coaching decisions. (One could even argue that any of the Kraken`s top three lines essentially function interchangeably). The primary constraint on his fantasy upside is ice time, which might remain around 15 minutes per game unless he`s paired with Matty Beniers. He has displayed strong defensive capabilities, ranking among the top 20 forwards in plus/minus over the past four seasons – if your league tracks this stat, Marchment`s appeal increases significantly.
Trevor Zegras to the Philadelphia Flyers: If you`re nearing the end of your fantasy draft with your starting lineup mostly set, taking a chance on Zegras in a new environment like Philadelphia isn`t a bad gamble. The initial excitement surrounding Zegras has diminished since his viral `Michigan` goals during his rookie year, but how much of his reduced performance is due to his previous team`s situation and injuries? A pessimistic view might argue that moving to the also-rebuilding Flyers doesn`t significantly improve his circumstances. However, looking optimistically, it`s unlikely he`ll face the same level of injury misfortune for a third straight season. Zegras missed 76 games over the last two years, severely impacting his fantasy production. Even in the 2022-23 season, when he played 81 games averaging 18:49 per night, he only managed 1.65 fantasy points per game – not ideal. In Philadelphia, Zegras will compete with Sean Couturier and Noah Cates for center minutes, but the opportunity for a larger role exists. With potential wingers like Matvei Michkov and Travis Konecny, his offensive upside remains considerable.
