Canada’s sports fandom tilts heavily toward hockey, with 58% following the NHL and half of women surveyed confirming NHL appeal. The NHL leads the national follow-rate, while the NFL, MLB, CFL and NBA fill the next spots, underscoring a hockey-driven fantasy landscape even as new leagues like PWHL and the Toronto Tempo enter the conversation. Star power dominates, with Connor McDavid topping favorites, Sidney Crosby close behind in many regions, and Auston Matthews rounding out the big five; Cole Caufield leads in Quebec, and Brad Marchand looms as Atlantic pride.

For fantasy, the narrative centers on the five anchors McDavid, Crosby, Matthews, Caufield, and Marchand, whose production streams shape early-season bidding and lineup construction. The report’s regional nuances and the rise of women’s hockey hint at evolving fantasy ecosystems beyond the NHL, suggesting depth in cross-league exposure as the sport expands its footprint across Canada and beyond.

Florida Panthers dominated last season’s hits tally with 2,280, led by A.J. Greer’s 222, a standout among a league where big hitters aren’t always playoff-bound. Vancouver Canucks (2,065) and Boston Bruins (2,053) also piled up hits, while the New York Rangers (1,928) showed similar bite. On the fistic side, Nashville led with 37 fights, yet none of the top fight teams made the playoffs, underscoring that aggression alone isn’t a guaranteed recipe for postseason success.

Bruins and Panthers emerge as the clearest anchors for aggression-driven fantasy angles, but aggression didn’t translate to trophies last season. Nashville’s offseason additions, Stamkos, Marchessault and Skjei, didn’t salvage a playoff bid for the West’s top-10 fight teams. Betters should weigh the balance of hits, fights and scoring as they forecast 2025-26 outcomes.

Boston navigates a post-2025 shift, balancing contention with rebuilding. Trades at the deadline emptied veteran caps and set the stage for a youth-driven 2025-26, with Jim Montgomery ousted and Joe Sacco guiding a refreshed lineup. Tanner Jeannot is the only long-term lock, while two breakout bets loom: Matt Poitras and Mason Lohrei, expected to anchor Boston’s future as they push for bigger roles.

From a fantasy lens, Poitras could drive a third line and unlock scoring with Jeannot and Kuraly, aiming toward 20+ goals and 50+ points if given sustained minutes. Lohrei projects into a top-four role, offering two-way value and peripheral stats. The Bruins’ fresh core, plus potential PP time, creates upside for opportunistic managers.