Early-week NHL fantasy push centers on waiver-wire depth and targeted streams. Anton Lundell looks like the Panthers’ answer to Barkov’s absence, while Elias Lindholm returns to a prime Bruins role. Shane Pinto and Matty Beniers offer high ceiling with top-line/minor adjustments, and Marco Kasper plus Leo Carlsson carry multi-position appeal in deeper leagues. Defenders Ekblad and Nikishin push for steady PP time, with solid goalie streams in Vejmelka and Jarry on deck for the week.

Short-term adds include Brazeau, Nazar, McBain and Jarry, while Malkin, Bedard, Hayton, Keller, Schmaltz, Barkov, Tkachuk and Jones shape daily decisions across races and spots. Track schedule density, lines, and PP usage to maximize both season-long value and daily fantasy upside.

Five NHL games kick off the 2025-26 season, but the focus lands on three key headlines: Panthers at Flyers, Blues at Canucks, and Kings at Wild, with a heavy emphasis on how injuries and goaltending shape nightly bets and fantasy value. The piece flags depth plays, live underdogs, and the potential for high-leverage overs in a week that also features Parlay ladders and player-prop angles across the slate.

Without Barkov and with Tkachuk out until December, Florida leans on Bobrovsky’s form and Lundell’s growing role, while Vancouver’s Demko has been a stopper early in the year. Minnesota hosts a Kings squad still finding its footing and eyes a high-scoring tilt, underscored by recent trends in Blues-Canucks meetings. This slate blends tight defense with late-game narratives that fantasy managers can exploit.

Los Angeles paused Adrian Kempe’s extension talks, opting to regroup after a start to the season that suggests a pragmatic approach to a key veteran. Market dynamics, not urgency, seem to drive the hold as the Kings weigh cap flexibility against Kempe’s value on the wing.

Across the league, Kaprizov’s extension has rippled through winger valuations, nudging teams to recalibrate offers for players like Kyle Connor, Alex Tuch, and Artemi Panarin. Kempe’s camp remains hopeful, but the timing of negotiations could hinge on how the cap picture evolves and how other deals influence the market as the season unfolds.

Watch lists expand beyond Kempe: Minnesota Wild, Necas, Connor, Tuch, Panarin, and Lane Hudson feature as barometers for price and term. With revenue growth lifting the cap, longer deals could become more common, complicating early-season decisions for fantasy managers and bettors alike.

Wild firepower, but a puzzling result. Minnesota pumped a franchise-record 52 shots and converted four times on the power play, yet Columbus surged to a 7-4 win. Kaprizov lit a blaze with a career-high 11 shots and 2 goals, while Boldy filled the scoresheet for the second straight game. Rookie Zeev Buium broke through with his first NHL goal during a dominant power-play night for Minnesota, which pelted eight opportunities but still left gaps on the other end.

Two games in, the Wild show a high-octane offense but struggle with possession at even strength—losing 62% of draws and getting buried in transition early in each period. Eriksson Ek produced a 1G-2A night on the power play, yet the second line hasn’t clicked consistently, prompting potential tinkering as Minnesota readies for a date with the Los Angeles Kings. The mix of scorers, PP firepower, and looming lineup changes shapes a riveting fantasy map as Minnesota chases a louder, more balanced 1-2 start.