In fantasy hockey, the margin between winners and the pack is carved in the late rounds. Stars go early, but the true edge comes from players who land in clearer paths to minutes and power-play time, or land on teams primed for a breakout season. The ESPN breakdown spotlights a dozen targets outside the 200+ ADP window, emphasizing context over name value as the key to upside.

Targets span forwards, defensemen, and goaltenders like Byfield, Nichushkin, Drysdale, and Swayman, who could surge with bigger roles or favorable team situations. The message is practical: use late picks wisely, monitor waivers, and be ready to pivot when opportunity arises to turn margins into fantasy glory.

John Gibson suited up in his hometown for Detroit's preseason clash in Pittsburgh, a 3-2 defeat that highlighted Detroit's goalie shuffle and budding depth. Detroit leaned on a mix of veterans and prospects, with Sebastian Cossa handling a full game earlier and Cam Talbot and Michal Postava splitting this night’s action.

The Wings' young core—Nate Danielson, Emmitt Finnie, Carter Bear, and John Leonard—made the scoreboard, while Robby Fabbri, Filip Tomasino and Connor Dewar supplied offense for the Penguins. Detroit heads to Buffalo next for another tune-up, as the crease remains a work in progress and the prospect pool takes more meaningful reps.

Detroit’s 2025-26 plan centers on Gibson in net and veteran depth with van Riemsdyk, Appleton, and Hamonic, but scoring depth remains thin and goaltending unsettled. Bold chatter has the Wings potentially trading an important piece at the deadline and possibly finishing bottom-10, testing Yzerman’s rebuild as Lucas Raymond eyes a 100-point ceiling. Seider and Edvinsson anchor the blue line, while Raymond, Van Riemsdyk, and Appleton must lift the offense and PP usage to keep playoff hopes alive.

Gibson’s arrival changes the goaltending narrative, but the roster-wide gaps—especially on the right side and in depth scoring—keep fantasy upside murky. If Detroit succumbs to pressure and lottery luck tilts away, the draft class and depth moves will define the rebuild’s pace more than immediate wins. The Wings’ path blends risk with upside as youth meets veteran steadiness.

Edmonton’s path to an elite No.1 goalie before the trade deadline is narrow; only a handful of duos in the league could realistically upgrade a starter ahead of Skinner/Pickard, making a seismic move unlikely.

The piece catalogs plausible targets: Gibson and Talbot (Detroit), Sorokin/Varlamov/Ingram (Islanders), Demko and Lankinen (Canucks), Mrazek (Ducks), Jarry and Merzlikins (stars in rumor mill). It also notes McDavid’s extension chatter could be a distraction, so fantasy managers should brace for a limited upgrade and plan around an unsettled crease.