Roope Hintz lands at No. 17 among NHL centers entering 2025-26, posting 67 points (28 goals, 29 assists) in 76 games. His two-way game keeps him in fantasy conversations, with Selke Award votes piling up over the past four seasons. Dallas’ star forward contributed 12 playoff points in 17 games last spring, though an injury in the Western Conference finals stemmed from a controversial Nurse slash. Hintz anchors the Stars’ lineup as part of a celebrated Finnish contingent that once included Mikko Rantanen, Mikael Granlund, Esa Lindell and Miro Heiskanen, a group nicknamed the Finnish Mafia. Granlund’s free-agency departure leaves Hintz, Lindell and Heiskanen as core holdovers, while Rantanen and Robertson remain crucial wings on a roster that leaned on depth and elite skill. NHL Network’s write-up underscores Hintz’s rhythm heading into the season and the historic four-point playoff burst by Hintz and Rantanen in a pivotal Game 6, a reminder that Dallas can lift a high-end fantasy ceiling when the star power is healthy.

For fantasy managers, Hintz remains a safe bet for 65–75 points with strong peripherals and continued two-way value. The Stars’ Finnish quartet signals sustained upside around leadership and chemistry, even as Granlund’s exit reshapes the depth chart. Dallas’ top wings (Robertson, Rantanen) and defensemen (Heiskanen, Harley) figure prominently in projections, with Lindell and Harley poised to carry significant minutes on the back end. Monitor Hintz’s health after the playoff injury and the evolving lineup, but the core fantasy appeal remains intact: elite point pace paired with excellent defensive impact and playoff pedigree.