We’re into the ninth week of the 2024-25 fantasy hockey season. As has been the case in previous weeks, we’ll highlight two targets at their fantasy nadir you need to work to acquire this week, as well as two players you can trade at the height of their value.
NHL Fantasy Hockey Trade Advice (Week 9)
Buy
The 27-year-old rearguard has managed three goals with 12 points and a minus-6 rating in 28 games while notching a power play goal and an assist on the man advantage. He had exactly 12 points in 19 games last season for VGK after coming over from the Calgary Flames at the NHL trade deadline last spring.
Hanifin has averaged 44.3 points per game (PPG) in the past three full seasons, so you know what you’re going to get. He is also averaging 10.0 goals per game, so he should pick up the pace offensively. The time is now to make your pitch before Hanifin starts trending up, and his price tag rises in the process. His mark of 2.6 expected goals would be a career low, although last season he had a career-high 11.5 expected goals splitting time between the Flames and Golden Knights. Get on the ball quickly before he starts picking up the pace.
The veteran defenseman was traded from the New York Rangers to the Anaheim Ducks this past week as the Blueshirts made some changes. If you’re a fantasy manager looking to make some changes, go grab the veteran Trouba.
Trouba is scoreless in two games with the Ducks so far, going with a minus-2 rating. That’s the rub, as moving from the Rangers, a team who should be much better, to a struggling Ducks side, his plus/minus rating is going to take a hit. If you’re in a fantasy pool that doesn’t penalize a poor rating, then it’s perfectly OK to scoop him up.
It’s hard to believe, as it seems like he has been around forever, but the Michigan native is just 30 years old. He has plenty left in the tank, and he is generally a player capable of putting up 30-35 points. He has managed no goals and just six points through 26 games, so he could really pick up the pace.
Sell
The 31-year-old pivot has gone for 10 goals and 19 points through just 29 games with the Flames, and he has racked up three goals and seven points in the past five outings. It’s hard to imagine, but he is available in two-thirds of Yahoo! fantasy leagues, and one-third of Fantrax fantasy games. This is a guy who went for 30 goals and 115 points in the 2021-22 season with the Florida Panthers. You have to feel for the guy, as he was a huge part of the Matthew Tkachuk trade, missing out on the Stanley Cup last season with a Flames team that missed the playoffs.
Now, he is going to miss out on hoisting the Cup with your fantasy team, because you’re going to trade him. Since landing in Calgary, he is averaging 13.5 goals and 40.0 assists per season. He is projected for 28 goals and 54 points, and he is certainly going to tail off. Just don’t include that in your trade talks.
The Islanders’ captain has picked up the pace with five goals and 10 points in the past seven games with a plus-6 rating and three power-play points. It has helped Lee’s fantasy roster percentages rise a tick lately. He is still available in roughly half of all pools, so if he is a free agent, go get him.
The Minnesota native is 34 years old, and not exactly a spring chicken. Still, in the past three seasons, he has averaged 44.3 points, and he is already up to 13 goals and 24 points through 30 games, putting him on pace for 36 goals and 66 points. The 36 goals would be the second-best of his career, and the 66 points would make a new career high. It’s possible, but it isn’t likely. Sell high, and get a younger player or two with some upside.