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.

Mason McTavish is absent from Ducks camp amid a contract dispute, leaving Anaheim to start under Joel Quenneville without its expected second-line center. Verbeek calls the holdout disappointing but notes talks have progressed and reps in a new system are essential for a fast ramp.

The Ducks envision McTavish and Leo Carlsson as their future top pivot duo after trading Trevor Zegras this summer. McTavish, 22, posted 52 points last season and is central to Anaheim’s playoff chances, provided a deal is reached in time for the season's start.

A refined NHL defense breakout model now targets blueliners likely to deliver true fantasy impact beyond sporadic scoring, focusing on age, experience, and a first sustained FPPG above a historical median. It flags defenders entering a true breakout window (roughly 23–27 years old, 170–380 games) who can push into top unit minutes and PP time, while accumulating hits and blocks that translate to fantasy points.

Among the names highlighted: Bowen Byram, Jamie Drysdale, Dylan Samberg, and K’Andre Miller, plus others who could unlock a real late-round upside if opportunity aligns. The framework aims to separate true contributors from depth players, guiding drafts with data-backed confidence.

Mason McTavish and the Ducks are at odds over term as training camp approaches, signaling a prolonged negotiation that could influence his fantasy ceiling and Anaheim’s long-term cap plan.

Elliotte Friedman’s latest Thoughts compiles a web of rumors—from Zegras and Drysdale’s 2023 bridge deals to the wider mock trades involving Karlsson, Rakell, Rust and Hoglander—highlighting how camp chatter could shift rosters and fantasy value.

The NHL offseason lingers as teams wait on key restricted free agents, with Mason McTavish at the center of the swirl. Luke Hughes and Marco Rossi remain unsigned, keeping their clubs wary of optics and cap implications. Anaheim’s patience is tested as McTavish’s role under Pat Verbeek’s system remains in flux, fueling trade chatter despite the Ducks’ stated playoff goals. A cluster of destinations—Detroit, Carolina, Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, Philadelphia, and even Pittsburgh—are floated as viable fits, each with its own price tag and strategic upside. The conversation centers on McTavish as a potential 2C and whether Anaheim should cash in now or hold for the right return.

Across the league, teams weigh how to navigate center depth behind McTavish, while rivals eye the Ducks’ leverage with a premium. The piece also threads in related unsigned RFAs and notable roster moves, highlighting how one marquee trade could realign conferences and fantasy values alike. Until signings land and training camps open, the market circling McTavish will shape both real-world outcomes and fantasy projections for the coming season.