Martin Necas CAR

NHL.com identifies players to watch in fantasy hockey and props with EDGE stats insights for upcoming games. For more coverage, visit NHL.com/Fantasy.

MON. JAN. 20

Player to watch for point and/or power-play point: Martin Necas , F, CAR (at CHI)

The Carolina Hurricanes wing leads the team in points (51), assists (35) and power-play points (21) while nearly having as many multipoint games (15) as zero-point games (16) this season. Necas is only three points shy of passing his total from all of last season (53 points in 77 games) and five power-play points shy of matching his career high set in 2022-23 (26 PPP in 82 games). Necas has eight points (six goals, two assists) in his past nine games against the Chicago Blackhawks. Per NHL EDGE stats, Necas ranks 3rd in the League in 22-plus mile per hour speed bursts this season (31), trailing only Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche (55) and Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers (48). The Blackhawks are winless in 10 of their past 13 games (3-9-1) while allowing at least one power-play goal in eight of those games during that span. -- Troy Perlowitz

Player to watch for goal and/or shots on goal: Adrian Kempe , F, LAK (vs. PIT)

The Los Angeles Kings wing has 11 points (six goals, five assists) in his past 10 games to match his linemate and team captain, Anze Kopitar, for the team's scoring lead this season (42 points). The dynamic duo has found chemistry on a forward line with young and forechecking wing, Alex Turcotte, who looks more and more like the player that was drafted fifth overall in the 2019 NHL Draft with every game (seven goals, 12 assists in 38 games this season). Kempe has points in each of his past four games against Eastern Conference opponenets (three goals, two assists during span) this season and eight goals in his past four career games against the Pittsburgh Penguins, including the only four-goal NHL game (Feb. 11, 2023). Per NHL EDGE stats, Kempe ranks among the leaders at his position in midrange shots on goal (39; 91st percentile) and midrange goals (seven; 93rd percentile) this season. The Penguins are winless in eight of their past 10 games (2-5-3) and have allowed the most goals per game (3.65) in the League this season. -- Perlowitz

Player to watch for point and/or SOG: Nick Schmaltz , F, UTA (vs. WPG)

The Utah Hockey Club forward has a five-game point streak totaling six points (three goals, three assists), two power-play points and 13 shots on goal and is skating on a new-look top line with their top forwards Clayton Keller (48 points in 44 games; leads team) and Logan Cooley (41 in 45; second). Schmaltz has 22 points (nine goals, 13 assists), nine on the power play, over his past 26 games, and, per NHL EDGE stats, ranks in the League’s 94th percentile in offensive zone time percentage (46.3 percent). The Winnipeg Jets have lost two of their past three road games and allowed 13 goals over their past four road games. -- Fantasy Hockey Staff

Others to consider for point and/or SOG:

Pavel Dorofeyev , F, VGK (vs. STL)

Adam Fantilli , F, CBJ (at NYI)

Nikolaj Ehlers , F, WPG (at UTA)

William Nylander , F, TOR (vs. TBL)

Victor Hedman , D, TBL (at TOR)