With the chaos of a jam-packed Thanksgiving weekend behind us, let’s get back to business. It’s time to whip through eight(ish) players on this week’s fantasy hockey radar. 

Dawson Mercer, C/RW, NJD | 50% Yahoo

The Devils’ top line of Jesper Bratt, Nico Hischier, and Timo Meier is absolutely cooking. But that doesn’t help most managers looking for help on the waiver wire. So Mercer is back in focus for us. His transition back to center wasn’t without its bumps, but he is back on the rise again. The key here is that Mercer’s line isn’t going to draw top matchups — Hischier’s is, so that’s going to help free Mercer more. With four games on the schedule, including three light nights, the Devils’ schedule is super favorable in Week 9. 

Tyler Seguin, C/RW, DAL | 43% Yahoo

Two options in the Stars’ top-six standout: Seguin and Jamie Benn. Benn is benefitting from playing alongside Wyatt Johnston and Mikko Rantanen on the top line and can provide some physicality. The problem is that the combination (ahead of Sunday’s matchup) had only recorded a 37 percent xG rate through about 35 minutes of play. That’s why Seguin is the headliner here, as he is excelling on the second line with Roope Hintz and Jason Robertson. Together, the line is rocking a 56 percent xG rate and outscoring opponents 11-2.

Beckett Sennecke, RW, ANA | 25% Yahoo

Remember when I kicked Mason McTavish in last week’s column? Apparently, he took that personally with four points in three games since. But the real fantasy gem as of late is Sennecke, who extended his point streak to seven games on Sunday in Chicago. The rookie was putting up points with Cutter Gauthier and Leo Carlsson on the top line. Then on Saturday, he was productive on a new-look second line with McTavish and Chris Kreider. With four appearances in Week 9 (three on light nights), the Ducks are a team to target. 

Ross Colton, C/LW, COL | 13% Yahoo

The Avs’ second line is generating some chemistry. Gabriel Landeskog, Brock Nelson, and Colton had a 58 percent xG in their 48 five-on-five minutes together and are up 3-1 on the scoresheet. Landeskog makes for a really strong pick, given his recent production and shot volume. But those in banger leagues may want to keep an eye on Colton, who not only hits at a really high rate but also generates a ton of quality shots. His individual xG generation of 1.86 per 60 ranks seventh in the league for November. If he keeps that up, it could lead to more consistent scoring. 

Zachary Bolduc, LW/RW, MTL | 16% Yahoo

After starting the season strong in Montreal, Bolduc’s impact dwindled for the next month — until the coaches moved him up to the top line with Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki, and the PP1. While his play didn’t warrant a promotion, it did help get him back on track with five points against the Mammoth and Golden Knights. While the team struggled against Colorado over the weekend, a return to home ice should give Montreal a chance to rebound against short-handed (Winnipeg) and struggling (Toronto) teams.

BOLDUC. CAUFIELD. SUZUKI. BANG.

The Canadiens take a 2-0 lead. pic.twitter.com/71javMWJAW

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) November 27, 2025

Ryan Leonard, RW, WSH | 9% Yahoo

The Capitals are heading on the California swing, which should give them some prime scoring opportunities. The Ducks and Sharks were both bottom-10 teams in expected goal suppression in November, and now Anaheim is without its ace in net with Lukas Dostal sidelined. Leonard is generally the kind of depth player who can contribute to the peripherals, given his shot volume and hitting. But he is starting to put up some points and was shifted to the top power-play unit to help pick up the pace. 

Vladislav Gavrikov, D, NYR | 5% Yahoo 

Gavrikov isn’t the flashiest fantasy option, but he can be a steady presence to round out a blue line thanks to his all-around contributions. The Adam Fox injury throws a bit of a wrench into things, and that could quiet his point contributions and up his shot-blocking (since the Rangers will likely possess the puck even less without Fox). But he isn’t the only player to watch in New York. If Scott Morrow gets tapped to quarterback the top power play unit in Fox’s absence, then he could be a sneaky-good addition — unless the team opts to roll with five-forwards, like they did to end Saturday’s game against the Lightning. In that case, players like Vincent Trocheck and Will Cuylle are all the more valuable since they’ll likely both end up with more consistent PP1 deployment. 

Ryan Greene, C, CHI | 1% Yahoo

Want to benefit from Connor Bedard’s offensive excellence this year? Pick up his linemates. Andre Burakovsky is back from injury and has established chemistry with the rising center. He is rostered in less than 20 percent of Yahoo leagues, so he is a viable option for most. But those in deep leagues have to be more creative to find an edge — so consider Greene. He is hovering around break-even in xG with Bedard and Burakovsky on the top line, and he’s helped his team outscore opponents 9-4 in that time. 

Data via  Evolving-Hockey, HockeyViz, HockeyStatCards, All Three Zones, and Natural Stat Trick. This story relies on shot-based metrics; here is a primer on these numbers.