- Oct 16, 2026
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Power-play ice time per game has emerged as the strongest predictor of whether defensemen can maintain top-25 fantasy value, according to early-season data.
Defensemen who remained in the top 25 averaged 2:48 of power-play time per game, compared with just 1:58 for those who fell out. The groups posted nearly identical peripheral stats, with the stayers recording 2.06 blocks and 1.33 hits per game versus 2.05 blocks and 1.30 hits for the dropouts. Hits and blocks barely separated the groups, making power-play usage the decisive factor.
Several highly ranked defensemen with minimal or no power-play time present sell-high candidates. MacKenzie Weegar of the Utah Mammoth ranks fourth among defensemen despite just 0:10 of power-play time per game. Vladislav Gavrikov of the New York Rangers sits sixth with 0:04, prompting the warning: "Enjoy the blocks while they're paying off, just don't count on him staying sixth." Travis Sanheim of the Philadelphia Flyers (10th, 0:14), Pittsburgh's Declan Carlile (12th, no PP time), Philadelphia's Nick Seeler (16th, no PP time) and Ottawa's Tyler Kleven (20th, 0:03) face similar regression risks.
Among forwards, Vasily Podkolzin ranks 11th while riding with McDavid/Draisaitl, though he finished 107th last season. Colorado's Artturi Lehkonen ranks 24th with only 1:48 of power-play time per game.
Waiver targets with strong power-play roles include San Jose's Ivar Stenberg, Winnipeg defenseman Neal Pionk, Seattle's Chandler Stephenson and Calgary's Morgan Frost.
Source: ESPN - Tue Oct 20, 3:23 PM ET
Written by the SportsMafia Wire desk in our own words from the original reporting (AI-assisted, checked against the source).