Contract years can create some interesting fantasy hockey opportunities — but not every player chasing a new deal is automatically a breakout candidate.

In this episode, we look at eight contract-year players who should be on fantasy managers’ radar heading into 2026-27. We break down the upside, risk, team context, role questions, and fantasy value for Bowen Byram, Nico Hischier, Jimmy Snuggerud, Ross Colton, Alex DeBrincat, Luke Evangelista, Ivan Demidov, and Zeev Buium.

Are these players legitimate draft targets, dynasty buys, or just names to monitor as the offseason unfolds?

Let us know what you think. Are you a believer in the contract-year boost?

Give us a follow on Spotify if you haven't already so you don't miss our new offseason content! Let's get to BIZ!

🏒 Welcome to Apples and Ginos – Your Ultimate Fantasy Hockey Edge!Every week we dive deep into fantasy hockey insights, player analysis, waiver wire pickups, trade targets, lineup tips, and more to help you dominate your league. Hosted by Nate Groot Nibbelink and Blake Creamer, this channel is dedicated to giving you the tools you need to make smart, informed decisions all season long.

🔔 Subscribe for weekly videos, rankings, and updates:https://www.youtube.com/@applesginos

💬 Join the community:Discord: https://discord.gg/a3hZkJzK2a

Apples and Ginos on X: https://x.com/ApplesGinos

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/applesginos/

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It's the offseason, and every dynasty and keeper fantasy manager is looking to improve their team heading into 2026-27. A key way to improve is to identify potential trade targets who may be undervalued by their current managers. In this episode of the Apples & Ginos Fantasy Hockey Podcast, Nate identifies a group of players who are very likely to improve their dynasty stock in 2026-27 and are worth trading for right now.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

03:00 - Matvei Michkov

08:06 - Matthew Knies

11:01 - Luke Hughes

14:52 - Elias Pettersson

17:25 - Matt Coronato

20:17 - Jack Quinn

24:15 - Cole Perfetti

27:32 - Auston Matthews

🏒 Welcome to Apples and Ginos – Your Ultimate Fantasy Hockey Edge!

Every week we dive deep into fantasy hockey insights, player analysis, waiver wire pickups, trade targets, lineup tips, and more to help you dominate your league. Hosted by Nate Groot Nibbelink and Blake Creamer, this channel is dedicated to giving you the tools you need to make smart, informed decisions all season long.

🔔 Subscribe for weekly videos, rankings, and updates:

https://www.youtube.com/@applesginos

💬 Join the community:

Discord: https://discord.gg/a3hZkJzK2a

Apples and Ginos on X: https://x.com/ApplesGinos

Blake Creamer on X: https://x.com/BlakeCreamerAG

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/applesginos/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@applesandginos

🎧 Listen to the podcast:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4mVuWl51pWQ3SYGvXKuKe7?si=ebea8bc7c23046d0

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/apples-ginos-fantasy-hockey-podcast/id1592937637

All platforms: https://linktr.ee/applesandginos

#FantasyHockey #NHLFantasy #HockeyAdvice #WaiverWire #NHL #FantasyHockeyTips #ApplesAndGinos

Blake and Nate fire up the fantasy hockey trade machine for one of the more chaotic offseason episodes yet.

In this one, we each bring four made-up NHL trades that could completely shake up the fantasy hockey landscape. Some are realistic, some are unhinged, and some would probably cause a full fanbase meltdown — but every deal comes back to the same question: who wins and who loses for fantasy?

We dig into hypothetical deals involving Dylan Larkin to Boston, Jordan Kyrou to Columbus, Brady Tkachuk to San Jose, Simon Nemec to Philadelphia, Vincent Trocheck to Minnesota, Ross Colton to Toronto, Elias Pettersson to Seattle, and Jason Robertson to Anaheim.

Would Larkin unlock another level for David Pastrnak? Could Brady Tkachuk be the perfect winger for Macklin Celebrini? Would Pettersson get a much-needed reset in Seattle? And what would Jason Robertson do to Anaheim’s already exciting young core?

This is a fun one: fake trades, real fantasy fallout, and plenty of debate along the way.

Let's get to BIZ!

🏒 Welcome to Apples and Ginos – Your Ultimate Fantasy Hockey Edge!Every week we dive deep into fantasy hockey insights, player analysis, waiver wire pickups, trade targets, lineup tips, and more to help you dominate your league. Hosted by Nate Groot Nibbelink and Blake Creamer, this channel is dedicated to giving you the tools you need to make smart, informed decisions all season long.

🔔 Subscribe for weekly videos, rankings, and updates:https://www.youtube.com/@applesginos

💬 Join the community:

Discord: https://discord.gg/a3hZkJzK2a

Apples and Ginos on X: https://x.com/ApplesGinos

Blake Creamer on X: https://x.com/BlakeCreamerAG

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/applesginos/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@applesandginos

It's the offseason, and every dynasty and keeper fantasy manager is looking to improve their team heading into 2026-27. One of the best ways to accomplish that is to figure out which players might command a trade price that they never will again. In this episode of the Apples & Ginos Fantasy Hockey Podcast, Nate identifies a group of players who may have put their best work on record in 2025-26 - and therefore might be at their peak in terms of dynasty value.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

02:47 - Morgan Geekie

06:27 - Charlie McAvoy

09:37 - Shayne Gostisbehere

13:31 - Evgeni Malkin

16:03 - Anthony Mantha

19:24 - Drake Batherson

22:49 - Steven Stamkos

25:10 - Cole Caufield

🏒 Welcome to Apples and Ginos – Your Ultimate Fantasy Hockey Edge!

Every week we dive deep into fantasy hockey insights, player analysis, waiver wire pickups, trade targets, lineup tips, and more to help you dominate your league. Hosted by Nate Groot Nibbelink and Blake Creamer, this channel is dedicated to giving you the tools you need to make smart, informed decisions all season long.

🔔 Subscribe for weekly videos, rankings, and updates:

https://www.youtube.com/@applesginos

💬 Join the community:

Discord: https://discord.gg/a3hZkJzK2a

Apples and Ginos on X: https://x.com/ApplesGinos

Blake Creamer on X: https://x.com/BlakeCreamerAG

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/applesginos/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@applesandginos

🎧 Listen to the podcast:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4mVuWl51pWQ3SYGvXKuKe7?si=ebea8bc7c23046d0

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/apples-ginos-fantasy-hockey-podcast/id1592937637

All platforms: https://linktr.ee/applesandginos

#FantasyHockey #NHLFantasy #HockeyAdvice #WaiverWire #NHL #FantasyHockeyTips #ApplesAndGinos

Steven Ellis of Daily Faceoff joins Blake to break down the early names to know for the 2026 NHL Draft.

We dig into standout performances from the Men’s World Championship, including Viggo Bjorck, Ivar Stenberg, Alberts Smits, and Tomas Galvas, before looking ahead to the NHL Combine in Buffalo and how much that process can shift draft stock.

Then we get into the top of the draft, potential team fits, the deep group of defensemen in the class, and which prospects could eventually matter for fantasy hockey.

Steven also shares thoughts on Wyatt Cullen, Maddox Dagenais, Alexander Command, the Ruck brothers, first-round sleepers, later-round upside bets, and which recent draft picks could provide future fantasy value.

A must-listen for dynasty, keeper, and prospect draft managers looking to get ahead of the market.

Let's get to BIZ!

🏒 Welcome to Apples and Ginos – Your Ultimate Fantasy Hockey Edge!Every week we dive deep into fantasy hockey insights, player analysis, waiver wire pickups, trade targets, lineup tips, and more to help you dominate your league. Hosted by Nate Groot Nibbelink and Blake Creamer, this channel is dedicated to giving you the tools you need to make smart, informed decisions all season long.🔔 Subscribe for weekly videos, rankings, and updates:https://www.youtube.com/@applesginos💬 Join the community:Discord: https://discord.gg/a3hZkJzK2aApples and Ginos on X: https://x.com/ApplesGinosBlake Creamer on X: https://x.com/BlakeCreamerAGInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/applesginos/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@applesandginos

Some players don’t completely disappear — they just fall out of the fantasy hockey conversation.

In this episode, Blake and Nate dig into a group of forgotten players who could still matter for fantasy in 2026-27. We look at what happened last season, why the hype faded, whether the underlying profile still gives us hope, and what fantasy managers should do with these names heading into next year’s drafts.

Are they bounce-back candidates? Draft-day values? Formerly exciting names we need to let go of? Or players the fantasy community may be forgetting too soon?

Players discussed include Matt Coronato, Adam Fox, Aleksander Barkov, Victor Hedman, Arseny Gritsyuk, Artyom Levnshunov, Mason McTavish and Jordan Kyrou.

Perfect for managers already thinking about 2026-27 fantasy hockey rankings, sleepers, bounce backs, draft values, and potential buy-low targets.

Let's get to BIZ!

🏒 Welcome to Apples and Ginos – Your Ultimate Fantasy Hockey Edge!Every week we dive deep into fantasy hockey insights, player analysis, waiver wire pickups, trade targets, lineup tips, and more to help you dominate your league. Hosted by Nate Groot Nibbelink and Blake Creamer, this channel is dedicated to giving you the tools you need to make smart, informed decisions all season long.🔔 Subscribe for weekly videos, rankings, and updates:https://www.youtube.com/@applesginos💬 Join the community:Discord: https://discord.gg/a3hZkJzK2aApples and Ginos on X: https://x.com/ApplesGinosBlake Creamer on X: https://x.com/BlakeCreamerAGInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/applesginos/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@applesandginos

The Olympic break came and went… and then these five players took off.

In this episode, Blake digs into five players who broke out offensively after the Olympic break and asks the fantasy question that actually matters: can we trust it next season?

We’re comparing each player’s pre- and post-break production, then looking under the hood to figure out what changed. Was it more ice time? Better linemates? A new power-play role? Increased shot volume? Better team offense? Or just a late-season heater that fantasy managers need to be careful with?

If you’re already thinking about next year’s draft board, these are the types of players who can either become major values… or major traps.

Let’s get to BIZ.

🏒 Welcome to Apples and Ginos – Your Ultimate Fantasy Hockey Edge!Every week we dive deep into fantasy hockey insights, player analysis, waiver wire pickups, trade targets, lineup tips, and more to help you dominate your league. Hosted by Nate Groot Nibbelink and Blake Creamer, this channel is dedicated to giving you the tools you need to make smart, informed decisions all season long.🔔 Subscribe for weekly videos, rankings, and updates:https://www.youtube.com/@applesginos💬 Join the community:Discord: https://discord.gg/a3hZkJzK2aApples and Ginos on X: https://x.com/ApplesGinosBlake Creamer on X: https://x.com/BlakeCreamerAGInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/applesginos/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@applesandginos

Corey Sznajder of All Three Zones is back on Apples & Ginos to help us look past the boxscore and better understand the process behind fantasy hockey production.

In this episode, Blake talks with Corey about the microstats that can help us identify real breakouts, future production, and potential fool’s gold. We dig into zone entries with chances, shot assists, chance assists, transition play, rush offense, and the under-the-hood indicators that can change how we evaluate players.

We also get Corey’s thoughts on a wide range of fascinating fantasy hockey names, including Matt Coronato, Will Smith, Ivan Demidov, Matvei Michkov and more. Plus, we discuss playoff standouts, the Hurricanes’ surprising second line, the Ducks’ young talent, and which young players Corey is most excited about moving forward.

If you want to understand which players have the process to support a fantasy breakout, this one is for you.

Let’s get to BIZ!

🏒 Welcome to Apples and Ginos – Your Ultimate Fantasy Hockey Edge!

Every week we dive deep into fantasy hockey insights, player analysis, waiver wire pickups, trade targets, lineup tips, and more to help you dominate your league. Hosted by Nate Groot Nibbelink and Blake Creamer, this channel is dedicated to giving you the tools you need to make smart, informed decisions all season long.

🔔 Subscribe for weekly videos, rankings, and updates:

https://www.youtube.com/@applesginos

💬 Join the community:

Discord: https://discord.gg/a3hZkJzK2a

Apples and Ginos on X: https://x.com/ApplesGinos

Blake Creamer on X: https://x.com/BlakeCreamerAG

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/applesginos/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@applesandginos

🎧 Listen to the podcast:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4mVuWl51pWQ3SYGvXKuKe7?si=ebea8bc7c23046d0

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/apples-ginos-fantasy-hockey-podcast/id1592937637

All platforms: https://linktr.ee/applesandginos

#FantasyHockey #NHLFantasy #HockeyAdvice #WaiverWire #NHL #FantasyHockeyTips #ApplesAndGinos

We already reviewed our own Apples & Ginos projections — now we’re zooming out and looking at the players most of the fantasy hockey industry missed on this season.

In this episode, Ryan and Blake dig into 8 of the biggest over- and under-projected players from preseason rankings and projections across the analyst world. We look at which stats surprised us, why the projections missed, and what lessons we can take into next season.

Players discussed include Cutter Gauthier, Darren Raddysh, Brayden Point, Matvei Michkov, Rasmus Dahlin, Moritz Seider, Anthony Mantha, and Auston Matthews.

Were the breakouts real? Were the disappointments just bad luck? Was it usage, deployment, shooting percentage, injuries, team context, or something else entirely?

We’re breaking it all down and trying to figure out what it means for next year’s fantasy hockey drafts. Let’s get to BIZ!

🏒 Welcome to Apples and Ginos – Your Ultimate Fantasy Hockey Edge!Every week we dive deep into fantasy hockey insights, player analysis, waiver wire pickups, trade targets, lineup tips, and more to help you dominate your league. Hosted by Nate Groot Nibbelink and Blake Creamer, this channel is dedicated to giving you the tools you need to make smart, informed decisions all season long.🔔 Subscribe for weekly videos, rankings, and updates:https://www.youtube.com/@applesginos💬 Join the community:Discord: https://discord.gg/a3hZkJzK2aApples and Ginos on X: https://x.com/ApplesGinosBlake Creamer on X: https://x.com/BlakeCreamerAGInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/applesginos/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@applesandginos

Nate dives deep into the #ZeroG draft strategy and how it performed in the 2025-26 fantasy season.

#ZeroG Definition: 0:48

Nate's 2025-26 ZeroG Teams: 3:10

Historical Analysis: 6:28

Season-Long Goalie Results: 10:15

Quarter-Season Split Analysis: 14:13

Skater ADP Comparison: 20:22

Goalie Performance in Fantasy Playoffs: 23:36

Frequently Asked Questions: 25:38

Early Predictions for 2026-27 ZeroG Targets: 32:41

Summary: 36:40

🏒 Welcome to Apples and Ginos – Your Ultimate Fantasy Hockey Edge!

Every week we dive deep into fantasy hockey insights, player analysis, waiver wire pickups, trade targets, lineup tips, and more to help you dominate your league. Hosted by Nate Groot Nibbelink and Blake Creamer, this channel is dedicated to giving you the tools you need to make smart, informed decisions all season long.

🔔 Subscribe for weekly videos, rankings, and updates:

https://www.youtube.com/@applesginos

💬 Join the community:

Discord: https://discord.gg/a3hZkJzK2a

Apples and Ginos on X: https://x.com/ApplesGinos

Blake Creamer on X: https://x.com/BlakeCreamerAG

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/applesginos/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@applesandginos

🎧 Listen to the podcast:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4mVuWl51pWQ3SYGvXKuKe7?si=ebea8bc7c23046d0

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/apples-ginos-fantasy-hockey-podcast/id1592937637

All platforms: https://linktr.ee/applesandginos

#FantasyHockey #NHLFantasy #HockeyAdvice #WaiverWire #NHL #FantasyHockeyTips #ApplesAndGinos

We’re back for Mock Draft 2.0… and yes, it’s still way too early.

In this episode of Apples & Ginos, Blake and Evan run it back with their second “Way Too Early” fantasy hockey mock draft of the offseason—this time dialing in on categories league strategy through the first 4 rounds.

After getting a first crack at it, the approach starts to shift:

• 🧱 When to prioritize category coverage vs elite talent
• 🥊 How early is too early for hits, blocks, and PIMs (“beefers”)
• 🎯 Positional decisions that can shape your entire draft
• 🧠 Adjustments from Mock #1

If you’re trying to build a true categories contender, this is where the foundation is set.

Let’s get to BIZ.

🏒 Welcome to Apples and Ginos – Your Ultimate Fantasy Hockey Edge!

Every week we dive deep into fantasy hockey insights, player analysis, waiver wire pickups, trade targets, lineup tips, and more to help you dominate your league. Hosted by Nate Groot Nibbelink and Blake Creamer, this channel is dedicated to giving you the tools you need to make smart, informed decisions all season long.🔔 Subscribe for weekly videos, rankings, and updates:https://www.youtube.com/@applesginos💬 Join the community:Discord: https://discord.gg/a3hZkJzK2aApples and Ginos on X: https://x.com/ApplesGinosBlake Creamer on X: https://x.com/BlakeCreamerAGInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/applesginos/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@applesandginos