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  • Jorge Castillo, ESPN Staff WriterJun 5, 2024, 07:00 AM ET

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      ESPN baseball reporter. Covered the Washington Wizards from 2014 to 2016 and the Washington Nationals from 2016 to 2018 for The Washington Post before covering the Los Angeles Dodgers and MLB for the Los Angeles Times from 2018 to 2024.

NEW YORK — Mets luminaries from a bygone era packed a room in the bowels of Citi Field on Saturday afternoon. Most on hand were protagonists during the franchise’s last World Series championship in 1986. Doc Gooden, Mookie Wilson, Kevin Mitchell, Jesse Orosco, Ron Darling, Keith Hernandez and others were in attendance to celebrate their former teammate Darryl Strawberry, who sat at the podium for a news conference reminiscing about his eight seasons starring in Flushing.

Strawberry’s No. 18 was retired during a pregame ceremony a little later. Mets fans arrived early to watch, filling the stands on a day that will be remembered in this organization’s history. It was a timely palate cleanser, on the first day of June, after a month that will be remembered for all the wrong reasons.

The Mets are 11-21 since May 1, but the slog has been even uglier lately than that record indicates. The misery really picked up steam on May 13, when All-Star closer Edwin Díaz blew his second save of the season, and over the ensuing weeks the team has been dropping games in every way imaginable.

There was a flurry of bullpen implosions and roster moves. There were injuries, injury setbacks and injury scares. There was a called third strike that went viral, announcers voicing sarcastic optimism on air, a glove angrily thrown into the crowd, an emergency players-only team meeting and a bizarre, misunderstood clubhouse outburst. The frustration leaked onto owner Steve Cohen’s X account.

There are encouraging trends within the turmoil, but getting good offense, good pitching and good defense to align on the same day has been rare. The bullpen is leaky. Fielding miscues are too regular. The rotation lacks a front-line starter with Kodai Senga on the injured list.

There is time for the club with MLB’s highest payroll to rebound. The chaotic stretch, however, has plunged the Mets into a deep hole, with the third-worst record in the National League, and on track for a trade deadline exodus for the second consecutive summer.

The Mets head to London for two games against the Philadelphia Phillies this weekend. Facing the best team in the National League isn’t a recipe for a turnaround, but traveling across the pond might be the change of scenery the team needs to reverse course in a season careening toward disaster.

“They’ll continue to fight, they’ll continue to work and we’ll get through it,” Mets first-year manager Carlos Mendoza said. “But it’s not a secret. It’s been hard for us these past three, four weeks here.”

Here’s a look back at the lowest moments of that stretch.

May 13: Díaz melts down, again (and again and again)

Questions about Edwin Díaz’s injury comeback begin to mount as he blows his second save of the season, giving up two runs on two hits and two walks in a loss to the Phillies

Díaz, the Mets’ All-Star closer known for his festive entrances from the bullpen, has endured a nightmarish season so far, after missing all of 2023 with a knee injury sustained at the World Baseball Classic. After the May 13 loss, he would blow another save in his next outing three days later before squandering a four-run lead against the Miami Marlins two days after that. He managed a clean seventh inning in his next appearance after a five-day layoff, but less than 24 hours later, he blew another save in a loss to the San Francisco Giants.

“He’s our closer,” Mendoza said after the loss to San Francisco. “In order for us to win games and get to where we want to get to, he’s got to pitch. And I felt like that was the right spot.”

Four days later, Díaz landed on the injured list with a shoulder impingement.

May 15: Cohen’s ‘DM’ debacle

Responding to a fan arguing that the front office should sell at the trade deadline, Mets owner Steve Cohen tweets, “All in the future, not much we can do until trade deadline,” during another Mets loss to the Phillies

Cohen often engages with fans on social media, though this time doing so backfired for the billionaire owner. The post was widely deciphered as Cohen’s acknowledgment that the Mets again intend to wave the white flag in July, as they did last year when they traded future Hall of Fame pitchers Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer.

Cohen quickly deleted the tweet. The next day, he told SNY that the tweet — which he said was meant to be a direct message — was misinterpreted. He emphasized he “fully” expects the team to reach the postseason.

Still, nine days later, after another bullpen implosion, Cohen tweeted that the team’s disastrous stretch was “mind boggling.”

“I didn’t see it,” Mendoza said when asked about the second tweet. “I said it last night: You get pissed. It’s frustrating, but we’re professionals. We know we’re going through it right now, but I just met with our hitters again, we just have to keep going.”

May 24: Another setback for Senga

Mendoza announces Kodai Senga will be shut down for three to five days after an MRI revealed inflammation in his triceps

Senga was supposed to be the Mets’ ace this season, but he hasn’t thrown a pitch yet. The diagnosis came amid his longer-than-expected recovery from a strained posterior shoulder capsule that has sidelined him since February. The Mets expected the right-hander to return before June, but Senga had already made the decision to slow down his rehab– just as he resumed throwing off a mound — to work on mechanics. The triceps inflammation reset his throwing program to playing catch upon being cleared.

May 25: Lindor caught looking — and ‘the sun will come up tomorrow’

With one out, a runner on second, and the Mets leading the Giants 2-1 in the seventh inning, shortstop Francisco Lindor decides he’s not going to swing and instead takes a breaking ball right down the middle of the plate for strike three

Lindor’s early decision not to swing at anything was clear — so clear that the clip went viral. After the game, Lindor explained he wasn’t picking up the spin on reliever Randy Rodríguez’s first five pitches. Lindor, however, swung at two of them — so he simply decided not swinging at all was the best option to reach base.

“He hadn’t thrown a strike,” Lindor said. “I made every pitch a strike, and was helping him out. My best bet was to take a pitch. It just so happened that was the one strike the whole at-bat.”

The Mets would lose 7-2 in 10 innings, producing some wry words of encouragement from SNY play-by-play voice Gary Cohen for viewers: “The Mets are now 9-22 in their last 31 games. … Remember, the sun will come up tomorrow, as difficult as that may be to realize.”

May 29 (Part 1): ‘An inflection point’

David Stearns, the Mets’ president of baseball operations, tells reporters it is too early to decide whether the team will offload veterans at the trade deadline

The Mets’ record was 22-30 ahead of a doubleheader against the Dodgers when Stearns insisted he will give the roster until the July 30 trade deadline to claw back into the postseason race. He acknowledged the Mets “haven’t played like a playoff team” but said he believed he had “plenty of time” before weighing trades.

“We haven’t won enough games,” Stearns said, “and we certainly recognize that that’s going to need [to] change.”

Stearns, who was hired after the end of the last season, inherited the most expensive payroll in the majors and a team that had massively failed to reach expectations in 2023. He and Cohen pursued free agent Yoshinobu Yamamoto during the offseason, but they settled for several minor moves once Yamamoto chose to sign with the Dodgers.

The offseason didn’t include a contract extension for Pete Alonso, making the star first baseman a prime trade candidate and intensifying speculation as the Mets struggle to win games.

“Nothing’s changed with Pete’s situation,” Stearns said. “Our goal is, on a daily basis, [to] help this team succeed as much as possible so we can win as many games as possible. And that’s where I expect we’ll continue to be.”

The Dodgers went on to sweep the doubleheader that night.

May 29 (Part 2): The Mets-less Mount Rushmore

Asked to name his Mount Rushmore of New York athletes, Mets outfielder Harrison Bader names zero Mets and three New York Yankees — Derek Jeter, Aaron Judge and Anthony Volpe. The fourth spot goes unoccupied

Bader grew up a Yankees fan in Bronxville and spent parts of the last two seasons playing in the Bronx. Still, the Mets are paying him $10.5 million this season. The bit went viral. Fans were not pleased.

May 29 (Part 3): Injuries, an outburst and a team meeting

Minutes before first pitch against the Dodgers, the Mets announce Díaz was placed on the injured list with a shoulder impingement. Just as that was being digested, Alonso exits the game after being hit by a 93 mph pitch on his right hand in the first inning. Seven innings later, reliever Jorge López is ejected and throws his glove into the stands. After the loss, Lindor calls a players-only team meeting before López splashes gasoline on the fire, telling reporters he doesn’t regret his actions

López’s postgame comments caused a stir, both for his unfiltered candor and a subsequent debate over what he actually said in his second language. Speaking in English, the reliever called himself “the worst teammate in probably the whole f-ing MLB,” though initially there was confusion over whether he said “teammate” or “team.”

Either way, the Mets had seen and heard enough, and he was designated for assignment the next day. In a statement released shortly thereafter, López apologized for his behavior “on and off the field” and clarified his comment.

His former teammates, meanwhile, were seemingly reenergized after airing out their thoughts and concerns in the team meeting that lasted nearly an hour.

Clubhouse leaders, without offering many details, summarized the meeting to the media, with Lindor explaining he believed it was a chance for players to vent and hold themselves accountable. Brandon Nimmo, who said López’s behavior wasn’t directly addressed, called it “very constructive” and “positive.”

“It just felt like a boiling-over point,” Nimmo said. “It felt like the right time to do it.”

Reliever Adam Ottavino explained the floor was open to anyone who wanted to speak. He noted most of the team, including players who usually don’t openly express themselves, volunteered. They spoke of process and of keeping perspective.

“I mean, we stink right now,” Ottavino said. “It doesn’t mean we’re going to stink going forward.”

The good news was tests on Alonso’s hand showed no structural damage. He delivered a pinch-hit double in a win over the Arizona Diamondbacks the next night.

May 31: The roster shake-up

The Mets make six roster moves. Brett Baty, Christian Scott and Omar Narváez are sent out. José Iglesias, Dedniel Núñez and Luis Torrens are brought in

Optioning Baty, a former top prospect, to Triple-A Syracuse was largely expected, because the Mets needed a backup middle infielder and rookie Mark Vientos had outperformed Baty for the starting job at third base.

Demoting Scott, one of the team’s few bright spots this season, was explained as a temporary move as the team navigates an unusual portion of its schedule thanks to this weekend’s trip to London. Acquiring Torrens from the Yankees to replace Narváez was a production-based decision. Narváez was struggling mightily both offensively and defensively.

On the field, the Mets beat the Diamondbacks for the second straight night to open a four-game series. After Friday’s 10-9 win, Vientos noted there was a palpable difference in the vibe after the team meeting.

“Completely different,” Vientos said. “As in — we walk in, the room feels light. There’s good energy. We listen to music. We’re enjoying the game. It’s a kid’s game. So let’s just have fun and play.”

Will June play out better than May did? So far, the results are mixed. The Mets’ post-team-meeting winning streak lasted all of two games, giving way to consecutive losses to Arizona to begin the month and conclude their 10-game homestand, including another draining bullpen implosion Sunday.

Still, the Mets will try for a three-game sweep against lowly Washington on Wednesday. After two much-needed days off, the London Series begins Saturday.

“The front office, they’re going to make decisions no matter what,” Lindor said. “Whether it’s to add or subtract. And whether it’s to focus on the next season or focus on August and September.

“So they’re going to make decisions. I want to be on the side of adding. We don’t have 100-plus games for that moment. But we do have time to make sure we’re above water.”

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Leafs’ Matthews (lower-body) could miss week

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November 14, 2025

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Leafs' Matthews (lower-body) could miss week

  • Kristen ShiltonNov 13, 2025, 11:55 AM ET

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      Kristen Shilton is a national NHL reporter for ESPN.

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews could miss up to a week of action with a lower-body injury, coach Craig Berube confirmed on Thursday.

The forward’s status was up in the air after he exited in the second period of Tuesday’s game against Boston following a hit from behind by Bruins’ defenseman Nikita Zadorov. Toronto hosts the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night.

“[Matthews] may be back sooner [than a week],” said Berube. “One of those things [where] he could come in a couple days from now feeling a lot better and [we’re] hopefully he’s good to go. But we’ll see. Could be as long as a week.”

It was midway through the second period on Tuesday when Matthews was knocked into the boards, and he immediately sought to retaliate on Zadorov with a hit of his own against the blue liner. Matthews didn’t take another shift and left the Leafs’ bench at the next TV timeout. He did not return for the third period.

There was no penalty called on the play, something Berube didn’t agree with.

“I think it’s a penalty, personally,” he said on Tuesday. “I don’t like it; I don’t like the hit [from Zadorov]. [Matthews] was in a vulnerable position.”

This will be Matthews’ first injury-related absence of the season after he was sidelined for 15 games last year. The three-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner has nine goals and 14 points in 17 games this season.

“We played last year without [Matthews] for a while, and it’s just next-man-up mentality [again],” said Berube. “Guys get a bigger bite here, a bigger role. We need a better team game.”

Matthews wasn’t the only one who was forced out of Tuesday’s contest. Goaltender Anthony Stolarz also left after the first period, during which he allowed three goals on 10 shots. Berube said on Tuesday he didn’t think Stolarz’s issue was serious and declared on Thursday he was day-to-day. The netminder is 6-5-1 this season with an .884 SV% and 3.51 GAA.

Dennis Hildeby is expected to start for Toronto against the Kings. The Leafs recalled goaltender Artur Akhtyamov from the American Hockey League on Thursday to back up Hildeby. They also placed forward Scott Laughton on injured reserve with an upper-body injury.

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Marchand reaches 1,000-point milestone in win

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November 14, 2025

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Marchand reaches 1,000-point milestone in win

  • Associated Press

Nov 13, 2025, 10:05 PM ET

SUNRISE, Fla. — Brad Marchand remembers a conversation he had with the Boston Bruins early in his days as a pro, and how some scouts there told him that getting to 400 games would signify having a pretty good career.

He’s done far better than that.

Marchand became the 102nd player in NHL history to reach 1,000 career points, reaching that milestone on Thursday night with a pair of assists in the Florida Panthers‘ 6-3 win over the Washington Capitals.

“It’s something I’m definitely proud of,” Marchand said. “And I hope there’s many more.”

Marchand came into the game with 998 points. Point No. 999 was an assist on a goal by Seth Jones midway through the third period, and the 1,000th came on an empty-netter by Eetu Luostarinen with 1:30 left.

The Panthers swarmed the ice after the milestone, surrounding Marchand in celebration.

“It was awesome. It was special,” Jones said. “You know, we’re a tight group in here, and he’s had an amazing career so far – and it feels like he’s got a lot left in the tank the way he’s playing for us this year, so that was pretty cool.”

Marchand got the first 976 points of his career with the Boston Bruins. He joined Florida in a trade that shocked many – especially given how the Bruins and Panthers had developed a playoff rivalry in recent years – late last season. The Panthers went on to win their second consecutive Stanley Cup, which was the second Cup of Marchand’s career as well.

“He’s unstoppable,” Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe said earlier Thursday. “I mean, I don’t know how he does it. Every game, he’s to have that kind of motor and be going every night. I mean, it seems like everything he shoots, it’s amazing. He’s such a great player and you can the energy he brings every night to us. He’s a huge reason why we are where we are.”

Marchand was the 71st pick in the 2006 draft, taken by Boston. A total of 29 teams all passed on drafting Marchand at least once that year – and in a bit of irony, Washington, the Panthers’ opponent for the milestone game, passed on drafting him five times that year. The Capitals had five picks in the top 70 of that draft.

Marchand becomes the third player from that class to reach 1,000 points, joining Claude Giroux (taken by Philadelphia at No. 22) and Nicklas Backstrom (taken by Washington at No. 4). And no player in that draft class has more goals than Marchand’s 435; Phil Kessel, who was taken at No. 5 by Boston that year, is second on that list with 413 goals.

“He’s been so prolific over his career,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. “And it’s good for him to kind of have an experience at home. I think that’s really nice that he gets to have the fans appreciate it, celebrate it with him. It’s great.”

The Panthers will further commemorate it at a pregame ceremony that has yet to be scheduled.

This season, at 37, Marchand has been the leading scorer so far for a Florida team that is playing without captain Aleksander Barkov and star forward Matthew Tkachuk, among others. But the Panthers clearly believe Marchand still has plenty left to contribute, as evidenced by them giving him a six-year contract this past summer.

“I’ve always loved hockey,” Marchand said recently during an in-game interview with Scripps Sports, the team’s broadcast partner. “It’s been my biggest passion. And when you’re at the rink, when you play this game, you just feel like a kid.”

His leadership has been valued as well – maybe as much as the scoring.

Panthers defenseman Donovan Sebrango – basically a rookie, since he appeared in only two NHL games before this season – told a story of how Marchand took him out for dinner on a recent road trip. Sebrango has been one of Florida’s most consistent players since.

“I believe that’s where the mentorship is so important,” Maurice said. “Donovan’s going to take somebody out for dinner 15, 20 years from now, right? And that’s how it gets paid forward. He’ll do something nice for a kid because it was done so well for him.”

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NHL Power Rankings: 1-32 poll, one fantasy add for each team

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November 14, 2025

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NHL Power Rankings: 1-32 poll, one fantasy add for each team

  • Sean Allen

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    Sean Allen

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      Sean Allen is a contributing writer for fantasy hockey and betting at ESPN. He was the 2008 and 2009 FSWA Hockey Writer of the Year.

  • Victoria Matiash

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    Victoria Matiash

    Special to ESPN.com

      Victoria Matiash is a contributing writer for fantasy hockey and betting at ESPN. Victoria has been a part of the fantasy team since 2010.

Nov 14, 2025, 07:00 AM ET

Another week of the 2025-26 NHL season, another Power Rankings top spot for the Colorado Avalanche according to ESPN’s panel of voters.

But beyond sorting out which are the best (and worst) teams in the league, let’s help out all of the fantasy hockey managers out there. This week, in addition to our 1-32 ranking, we’ve enlisted ESPN fantasy analysts Victoria Matiash (Western Conference) and Sean Allen (Eastern) to identify one player from each team that managers should consider adding to their roster.

Don’t worry if you haven’t signed up yet; it’s not too late to play ESPN Fantasy Hockey. Sign up and play for free today.

How we rank: A panel of ESPN hockey commentators, analysts, reporters and editors sends in a 1-32 poll based on the games through Wednesday.

Note: Previous ranking for each team refers to the previous edition, published Nov. 7. Points percentages are through Thursday’s games.

Previous ranking: 1
Points percentage: 80.6%

At minimum, Victor Olofsson serves as a viable streaming option if selected to jostle in for Valeri Nichushkin (injured) on an Avalanche scoring line, in addition to his spot on Colorado’s top power play. As it stands, while inconsistent, the 30-year-old is producing enough with the extra skater to make up for his fantasy-related shortcomings otherwise.

Next seven days: vs. NYI (Nov. 16), vs. NYR (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 4
Points percentage: 73.5%

Dawson Mercer has gone from third-line depth to top-six mainstay. He is pushing for the team lead in goals and delivering more across-the-board stats than most mid-tier forwards. Mercer grades as a top-50 fantasy skater this season.

Next seven days: @ WSH (Nov. 15), @ TB (Nov. 18), @ FLA (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 8
Points percentage: 67.6%

The Ducks are having fun. None more so than Beckett Sennecke, competing on a scoring line with Cutter Gauthier and Mason McTavish. Best suited to deep-league managers with a bit of patience, the 19-year-old tends to score sporadically. But it all works out in the long run.

Next seven days: @ MIN (Nov. 15), vs. UTA (Nov. 17), vs. BOS (Nov. 19), vs. OTT (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 7
Points percentage: 68.8%

Many managers bailed on Nikolaj Ehlers early. Don’t be one of them. After a slow start, he has posted points in five straight games. He didn’t score a goal in October, but he’s producing now and remains available in far too many leagues.

Next seven days: vs. VAN (Nov. 14), vs. EDM (Nov. 15), @ BOS (Nov. 17), @ MIN (Nov. 19)

Previous ranking: 11
Points percentage: 69.4%

This unproductive start is out of character for Tyler Seguin. It was only last season the experienced center scored 21 points in an injury-shortened 20-game campaign. At least keep Seguin on your fantasy radar in anticipation of more productive days ahead.

Next seven days: vs. PHI (Nov. 15), vs. NYI (Nov. 18), @ VAN (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 2
Points percentage: 64.7%

Rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes is still on the waiver wire in a third of leagues, which seems like a mistake. He has been a force in limited starts and is clearly separating from Sam Montembeault in fantasy value. Even if playing time isn’t steady yet, stash him now before it is.

Next seven days: vs. BOS (Nov. 15), @ CBJ (Nov. 17), vs. WSH (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 3
Points percentage: 58.8%

Recovered from his ankle injury, Cole Perfetti is finally settling in on the second scoring line and No. 1 power play in Winnipeg. The perceived lineup replacement for a departed Nikolaj Ehlers will have his name on the scoresheet soon enough.

Next seven days: @ CGY (Nov. 15), vs. CBJ (Nov. 18)

Previous ranking: 20
Points percentage: 57.9%

Morgan Geekie deserves the spotlight, but a recovering Elias Lindholm has been just as impactful when healthy. Still week-to-week, he should soon rejoin Geekie and David Pastrnak at even strength and on the power play. Lindholm’s early-season production hinted at a bounce-back season.

Next seven days: @ MTL (Nov. 15), vs. CAR (Nov. 17), @ ANA (Nov. 19)

Previous ranking: 10
Points percentage: 61.8%

Anthony Mantha‘s resurgence predates the team’s rash of injuries. He has scored eight goals and looks like the early-career version who flirted with 30. Injuries have shuffled roles, but Mantha’s form should keep him fantasy relevant even when the lineup stabilizes.

Next seven days: vs. NSH (Nov. 14), vs. NSH (Nov. 16)

Previous ranking: 5
Points percentage: 59.4%

Riding shotgun to Jack Eichel and Mitch Marner, winger Ivan Barbashev is putting up even-strength points with aplomb. And unlike his prodigious linemates, Barbashev is largely available in ESPN fantasy competition. Grab him before competing managers become the wiser.

Next seven days: @ STL (Nov. 15), @ MIN (Nov. 16), vs. NYR (Nov. 18), @ UTA (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 16
Points percentage: 61.1%

Turning back the clock in southern California, Corey Perry is clearly in a scoring mood. While the 40-year-old is unlikely to maintain a point-per-game pace all season, he certainly deserves a spot on your deeper fantasy roster at the moment.

Next seven days: @ OTT (Nov. 15), @ WSH (Nov. 17), @ SJ (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 17
Points percentage: 56.3%

Trade target alert: Brayden Point. His scoring has been oddly cold, but the long-term numbers say it’s just variance. He ranks 19th among skaters in total fantasy production over the past seven seasons and 11th over the past three — this ideal trade window won’t last.

Next seven days: @ FLA (Nov. 15), vs. VAN (Nov. 16), vs. NJ (Nov. 18), vs. EDM (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 6
Points percentage: 58.8%

Slump over! After a dry start to November, JJ Peterka is back to producing with his new squad in Utah. The second-line winger remains available in around third of ESPN fantasy leagues.

Next seven days: vs. NYI (Nov. 14), @ ANA (Nov. 17), @ SJ (Nov. 18), vs. VGK (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 21
Points percentage: 58.8%

Playing with Connor Bedard provides its perks. Just ask forward Andre Burakovsky, who has 14 points in 15 games, including five with the extra skater. Yet, he somehow remains available in nearly three-quarters of ESPN fantasy leagues.

Next seven days: vs. TOR (Nov. 15), vs. CGY (Nov. 18), vs. SEA (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 22
Points percentage: 61.1%

Shane Pinto hasn’t cooled off — he has just shifted from goals to assists. His line with Michael Amadio and Claude Giroux is driving play, outscoring opponents 9-3 so far. Pinto remains a steady fantasy contributor, even if the production looks a little different.

Next seven days: vs. LA (Nov. 15), @ ANA (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 15
Points percentage: 59.4%

Dan Vladar has earned matchup-stream consideration after winning six of nine starts. The pace might slow, but he has been steady behind a more competitive Flyers squad. He’s not a set-and-forget starter, but he’s a worthwhile spot play in daily formats.

Next seven days: @ STL (Nov. 14), @ DAL (Nov. 15), vs. STL (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 14
Points percentage: 61.8%

In one of this season’s feel-good stories, Matt Murray is proving he can still perform, with three solid-to-great starts for the Kraken. The veteran could be a viable streaming option if he is able to muscle appearances away from Philipp Grubauer, even once starter Joey Daccord is healed up.

Next seven days: vs. SJ (Nov. 15), @ DET (Nov. 18), @ CHI (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 9
Points percentage: 58.8%

Simon Edvinsson is a quietly useful depth defenseman. His mix of blocks, hits and modest offense keeps him fantasy relevant, and his pairing with Moritz Seider owns the NHL’s best shot-attempts percentage. He’s a sleeper pick for deeper formats.

Next seven days: vs. BUF (Nov. 15), @ NYR (Nov. 16), vs. SEA (Nov. 18), vs. NYI (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 13
Points percentage: 50%

This is when Ovechkin heats up; he had seven goals in five games around this time last season. If history repeats, his slow start makes him a trade target. He’s 40, but the motor still revs.

Next seven days: vs. NJ (Nov. 15), vs. LA (Nov. 17), vs. EDM (Nov. 19), @ MTL (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 18
Points percentage: 52.6%

Forward Zach Hyman is back this week. Scoop him up before he starts scoring as a member of the Oilers’ top six and No. 1 power play. The 33-year-old winger won’t be available in more than half of ESPN leagues for long.

Next seven days: @ CAR (Nov. 15), @ BUF (Nov. 17), @ WSH (Nov. 19), @ TB (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 26
Points percentage: 55.6%

Gabe Perreault debuted Monday on a scoring line and tallied an assist. After 10 points in nine AHL games, he could be the offensive spark New York needs. In deeper formats, he’s a solid speculative add while the Rangers search for secondary — or maybe just primary — scoring.

Next seven days: @ CBJ (Nov. 15), vs. DET (Nov. 16), @ VGK (Nov. 18), @ COL (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 23
Points percentage: 58.8%

Mathew Barzal, Kyle Palmieri and Emil Heineman are all viable adds from an offense that has been quietly consistent. Barzal is available in fewer than half of leagues, Palmieri in just more than and Heineman almost everywhere — all three offer scoring depth if you need it.

Next seven days: @ UTA (Nov. 14), @ COL (Nov. 16), @ DAL (Nov. 18), @ DET (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 30
Points percentage: 52.8%

While we all “oooh” and “ahhh” (justly so) over what Macklin Celebrini is accomplishing in his second NHL season, know that a healthy-again William Eklund is also pitching in at a valuable pace. And, unlike with Celebrini, you might be able to snag Eklund off the waiver wire in your league.

Next seven days: @ SEA (Nov. 15), vs. UTA (Nov. 18), vs. LA (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 24
Points percentage: 55.9%

The Stanley Cup-winning line is back together, and that’s great news for Eetu Luostarinen. He’s widely available, produces when flanking Brad Marchand and Anton Lundell, and adds extra value in hits.

Next seven days: vs. TB (Nov. 15), vs. VAN (Nov. 17), vs. NJ (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 12
Points percentage: 50%

Oliver Ekman-Larsson is getting an extended look on the top power play. With the first unit still underperforming, he’s worth streaming in hopes that opportunity converts to points. Ride the role while it lasts.

Next seven days: @ CHI (Nov. 15), vs. STL (Nov. 18), vs. CBJ (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 19
Points percentage: 55.9%

Adam Fantilli is an ideal trade target. His slow start hid his upside, but he’s heating up after moving alongside Kirill Marchenko. While the line with Sean Monahan had strong numbers and might tempt another shuffle, Fantilli is currently the top dog and trending up.

Next seven days: vs. NYR (Nov. 15), vs. MTL (Nov. 17), @ WPG (Nov. 18), @ TOR (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 29
Points percentage: 50%

Back on Minnesota’s top line and power play after missing the start of 2025-26, Mats Zuccarello is already back to the business of regularly registering points. While the diminutive veteran isn’t all that flashy in the shallow-league fantasy sphere, he gets the job done in deeper leagues. Skating alongside Kirill Kaprizov helps.

Next seven days: vs. ANA (Nov. 15), vs. VGK (Nov. 16), vs. CAR (Nov. 19)

Previous ranking: 27
Points percentage: 47.2%

All Kiefer Sherwood does is score goals, ranking among the league leaders thus far. The Canucks’ secret net-finding playmaker is also the league leader in hits, making the left wing a must-start in leagues that reward both categories.

Next seven days: @ CAR (Nov. 14), @ TB (Nov. 16), @ FLA (Nov. 17), vs. DAL (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 31
Points percentage: 44.1%

The Blues don’t have to win another game for Justin Faulk to remain useful in fantasy competition that rewards production and defensive play; the veteran defender ranks second in St. Louis in points and blocked shots. That might partly explain why the Blues are ranked where they are.

Next seven days: vs. PHI (Nov. 14), vs. VGK (Nov. 15), @ TOR (Nov. 18), @ PHI (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 25
Points percentage: 41.2%

Don’t overlook Mattias Samuelsson‘s value. He has only six points, but his blocked shots and peripheral stats make him worth rostering. That kind of depth allows you to explore D-for-D trades knowing you have reliable replacement value sitting on your bench.

Next seven days: @ DET (Nov. 15), vs. EDM (Nov. 17), vs. CGY (Nov. 19)

Previous ranking: 28
Points percentage: 38.9%

Even before earning his first NHL hat trick, forward Matthew Wood was on a roll with three goals and three assists in six games. Considering how the season is unfolding (again) in Tennessee, it’s only a matter of time before the rookie earns more quality minutes. Add him before the next multigoal contest.

Next seven days: vs. PIT (Nov. 14), vs. PIT (Nov. 16)

Previous ranking: 32
Points percentage: 31.6%

It was only a few days ago that Jonathan Huberdeau was enjoying a six-game point streak prior to his current three-game pointless one. On the bright side, he’s still steadily shooting on net. If another productive run is just around the corner, the top-line winger might be worth a gamble in extra-deep fantasy leagues.

Next seven days: vs. WPG (Nov. 15), @ CHI (Nov. 18), @ BUF (Nov. 19)

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