Once a quality fantasy squad is in place, the most effective way to seize an edge on your competition is to maximize every player’s opportunity to contribute. By hacking the schedule ahead of every month — sussing out which teams are more active when most others are not — you can seize more flexibility in boosting your lineup’s potential each night. The larger number of players in action on every occasion provides the greater capacity for positive fantasy returns. A tangible benefit, especially in tight head-to-head competition, where each point can mean the difference between weekly victory and defeat.
Setting the benchmark at six games — when another 20 teams, at minimum, are idle — a handful of squads are worth recognizing when deciding which available players to keep, pick up, or stream, all else being equal, on so-called slower nights from March 1 to March 31. Remember, the fantasy playoffs are right around the corner.
Post-Olympic break, March’s general schedule is racked and stacked, week by week, as the season’s finish line comes into sight. Nonetheless, it’s worth noting the Anaheim Ducks, St. Louis Blues, and Toronto Maple Leafs compete on six more lightly slated dates, while the New York Rangers play on eight such occasions.
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New York Rangers
No NHL team plays more often on lightly scheduled nights in March than the one sitting dead last in the Eastern Conference. While a lousy situation for Rangers fans and the organization itself, less of a bother to us fantasy managers, as long as our individual charges are putting up numbers. Like forward Will Cuylle, who registered one assist on one shot while blocking two more in Thursday’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.
Inheriting Artemi Panarin‘s spot on a line with Vincent Trocheck and Alexis Lafreniere, Cuylle is in position to wrap up 2025-26 as a rather valuable fantasy performer, particularly in leagues that also reward blocked shots and hits. Even if Trocheck is moved out of New York before the trade deadline, the 24-year-old winger is expected to be shifted alongside another center within New York’s top six.
Then there’s Cuylle’s aforementioned linemate, who has enduring another unsatisfying campaign by most measuring sticks. Earning a cool $7.45 million annually, Lafreniere is falling short, again, of providing the type of offense for which he’s being paid. But I still like him as a free fantasy pickup, under the current set of circumstances, including the focus of this piece. That the Rangers are playing on eight occasions this month when most other teams are off, along with the alleviated pressure of competing for nothing this season, should loosen some additional fantasy value out of the top-six winger. Also skating in place of Panarin on the club’s top power play, Lafreniere remains available in more than 84% of ESPN Fantasy leagues.
It’s worth noting both defenseman Adam Fox and goaltender Igor Shesterkin returned to the ice Thursday after missing significant time. Considering both prominent performers are essentially rostered across the fantasy board, two fantasy relevant takeaways here: The team is better with their No. 1 goalie and defender back in the mix, which boosts everyone. Blueliner Vladislav Gavrikov‘s days of anchoring New York’s top power-play unit are over.
Anaheim Ducks
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Beckett Sennecke lights the lamp
Beckett Sennecke lights the lamp
Competing on six more sparsely scheduled dates in March, the only playoff-contending team on this list boasts a handful of figures who may help your fantasy squad. Straight off, check on the availability of Leo Carlsson, and if somehow obtainable, grab him now. After losing most of January to a nasty thigh injury that required surgery, Anaheim’s top forward is back to productive business. Wednesday’s three-point haul versus the Edmonton Oilers suggests Carlsson is in for a dynamite conclusion to 2025-26.
If no dice on the Leo front, check on Beckett Sennecke, who’s unspoken for in nearly 50% of ESPN leagues. Skating on a line with veterans Alex Killorn and Mikael Granlund (when healthy), the rookie is beating the productive drum once more, after a more modest second half of December. With Matthew Schaefer and Ivan Demidov attracting more attention in the east, this fellow Calder candidate is quietly on pace to wrap his first campaign with 30 goals and 35-plus assists.
On the blue line, Radko Gudas radiates his own charm as a physical defenseman who contributes enough production to remain relevant. The Ducks’ captain has a role to play in deep fantasy leagues that reward hits and blocked shots.
However, Lukas Dostal sports the most sparkling fantasy potential for Anaheim between now and into April. Coming off a solid showing in Milan, where he played well for Czechia, the 25-year-old netminder should rack up a good number of wins when his club faces non-playoff bound clubs in nine of their 16 contests, a trend that bleeds into April. Plus, those adversaries presently playoff bound include the New York Islanders, Montreal Canadiens (twice), Utah Mammoth, and Buffalo Sabres. Only the Los Angeles Kings face an easier schedule from now until the end of the campaign. If possible, snag Dostal immediately.
St. Louis Blues
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Dylan Holloway scores goal for Blues
Dylan Holloway nets goal for Blues
Also more active when others are idle, the Blues compete on a half-dozen lighter nights. Obtainable fantasy performers who stand a good chance of remaining with the Blues beyond the trade deadline include Robert Thomas. Tending to a personal matter, the top center is expected back with his club on Friday and could be on the ice Sunday versus the Wild. Before suffering an injury in early January, Thomas accumulated 33 points through 42 games. A lousy tally by his standards, suggesting we might be in for a more productive flurry down the stretch.
Other Blues forwards with fantasy potential, who might be available on your wire, and stand a reasonable chance of sticking in St. Louis beyond March 6 include Jake Neighbours and Dylan Holloway, who potted a hat trick (plus an assist) in his first game since suffering an ankle injury in mid-December. Rookie Jimmy Snuggerud has three goals and six assists in his past seven games and remains grabbable in almost 93% of ESPN leagues.
On the blue line, give Philip Broberg serious thought if Justin Faulk is dealt in the next few days, as many anticipate. The recently extended blueliner could see an uptick in power-play time if Faulk is moved elsewhere.
Toronto Maple Leafs
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Oliver Ekman-Larsson scores goal for Maple Leafs
Oliver Ekman-Larsson nets goal for Maple Leafs
In step with the Ducks and Blues, the Leafs battle on six dates in March when most others are idle. Another team that could/should be active ahead of the March 6 trade deadline, Toronto offers limited options in the fantasy personnel department. Beyond Auston Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares, and, on a good day, Matthew Knies — all generally spoken for across the fantasy spectrum — fantasy pickings are slim. So how about a list of one?
Defender Oliver Ekman-Larsson blocks enough shots and pitches in a sufficient number of points to warrant consideration in leagues of reasonable size. Good for an adequate haul most nights, the veteran can also be counted on for the chance inspired showing, such as his 3.1-point act in Thursday’s ugly 5-1 loss to the Florida Panthers. Active several times this month when many other fantasy blueliners are off, OEL is available in nearly 70% of ESPN leagues. If he ends up getting dealt, then reevaluate.
Altogether, this is a team worth monitoring up until the clock strikes 3 p.m. ET next Friday. If Brad Treliving & Co. manage to lasso in a winger who might gel on a scoring line with Matthews or Tavares/Nylander, that figure would merit additional examination.
On the flip side, a quartet of clubs compete on only two so-labeled lighter nights — the Oilers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Minnesota Wild and Winnipeg Jets — while the Tampa Bay Lightning play only once.
