NHL Player News

Benoit notched an assist and a plus-2 rating in Tuesday's 7-4 win over the Predators.

Benoit picked up his first point of the season on an Oliver Ekman-Larsson tally in the first period. The 27-year-old Benoit has brought plenty of grit to a third-pairing role, adding 10 hits, four blocked shots and a plus-2 rating over four appearances. His lack of offense is too much to overcome for most fantasy managers -- the defenseman has never had more than 10 points in a season, but he has topped the 200-hit mark in three straight campaigns.

McCabe scored a goal, dished an assist, logged three hits, blocked three shots and went plus-2 in Tuesday's 7-4 win over the Predators.

McCabe opened the scoring at 8:42 of the first period and then helped out on a William Nylander empty-netter late in the third. These were McCabe's first two points of the season, but he's been as reliable as ever in his own zone. He's posted a plus-6 rating, eight blocks and six hits to provide decent non-scoring production. McCabe looks to be a lock for top-four minutes as a shutdown blueliner. He's topped 20 points in each of the last four seasons, which gives him appeal in deeper fantasy formats.

Shea notched two assists, two shots on goal, three blocked shots and a plus-2 rating in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Ducks.

Shea has earned three helpers over four games to begin the year. The 28-year-old continues to play on the second pairing alongside Kris Letang, with Shea handling more of a shutdown role. Shea has added eight blocks and a plus-2 rating, so he's getting the job done on the defensive side.

Mintyukov recorded an assist, two hits and a plus-2 rating in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Penguins.

Mintyukov's first point of the season came on a Cutter Gauthier tally late in the first period. After being a scratch at times in 2024-25, Mintyukov has opened this campaign as a regular on the third pairing while the Ducks are carrying just six blueliners. The 21-year-old has posted three shots on net, three hits, two blocked shots and a minus-1 rating over three contests.

Helleson scored a goal on three shots and went plus-2 in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Penguins.

Helleson gave the Ducks a 3-2 lead midway through the second period on a set-up from Chris Kreider. The goal was Helleson's first point in three games, and he's added five shots on net, two blocked shots, one hit and a minus-1 rating this season. The Ducks are carrying just six blueliners early in the year, so the 24-year-old doesn't appear to have a reason to worry about his playing time. It wouldn't be surprising to see the Ducks for their five-game road trip, which begins Sunday in Chicago.

Reilly notched an assist and five shots on goal in Tuesday's 5-1 win over the Sharks.

Reilly drew into the lineup for Jaccob Slavin (lower body), who did not travel with the Hurricanes to begin their six-game road trip. The 32-year-old Reilly was scratched for the first two contests of 2025-26 and may only fill a part-time role this season. He put up 24 points in 59 appearances in 2023-24 but was limited to two assists in 18 outings in 2024-25 after missing a large portion of the season while recovering from a heart procedure.

Chatfield posted an assist in Tuesday's 5-1 win over the Sharks.

Chatfield had to play without his usual partner Jaccob Slavin (lower body), and that could be the case throughout the Hurricanes' six-game road trip. Both defensemen were banged up during the preseason, but Chatfield has been healthy to begin the regular season. The 29-year-old is at one assist, two shots on net, two hits, three blocked shots, four PIM and a plus-2 rating over three appearances. He'll continue to play an important on-ice role for the Hurricanes, but his style doesn't translate well in fantasy.

Walker scored a goal on three shots, added two PIM, doled out two hits and blocked two shots in Tuesday's 5-1 win over the Sharks.

Walker will be asked for heavy defensive minutes while Jaccob Slavin (lower body) is out of action, which could be for the entirety of the Hurricanes' six-game road trip. The goal was Walker's first point in three outings this season. The 30-year-old blueliner has added eight hits, six blocks and a minus-2 rating while playing in a top-four role to start 2025-26. If he can find momentum on offense, he may be worth a look as a well-rounded producer in fantasy.

Gostisbehere scored a goal on three shots, blocked three shots, added two PIM and went plus-2 in Tuesday's 5-1 win over the Sharks.

Gostisbehere has found the scoresheet in all three games to begin 2025-26, earning a goal and three assists. He's added a plus-7 rating, five shots on net, two hits and six blocks while filling a top-four role. Among Carolina blueliners, Gostisbehere has arguably the most scoring potential, in part due to his spot on the top power-play unit. He put up 45 points in 70 regular-season games in 2024-25 and should be in that neighborhood again this year.

Ekman-Larsson had a goal and two assists in a 7-4 win over the Predators on Tuesday.

OEL's shot from the top of the right circle was inadvertently redirected by Ozzy Wiesblatt at the top of the crease, and Justus Annunen had no chance on the play. Ekman-Larsson had been quiet offensively to start the season, so this effort was quite the big bang. He's a long time removed from his glory days in Arizona, but OEL will be ready to step into a PP1 role should Morgan Rielly fail in that spot.