Welcome to another edition of our fantasy hockey buy low/sell high advice, but this week, many of our candidates are players who have either performed well, or disappointed after returning from injury. With the 2026 Olympic break on the horizon, fantasy hockey managers should look to improve their team ahead of the freeze on the season, making this week’s buy-low/sell-high options some of the most important of the year.
More Fantasy Hockey Analysis: | Goalie Streamers | NHL Usage Trends | Buy-Low, Sell-High | NHL Schedule Preview | Fantasy Hockey Cold List | Prospect Report | NHL Injury Report | Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire
Fantasy Hockey Buy Low
Brandon Montour – Seattle Kraken
Last week, Brandon Montour returned to the Seattle Kraken after being sidelined for a month due to hand surgery, and in his first week of games back in action, he’s quickly impressed. The 31-year-old has managed to pick up 3 points since his return, two of which were on the power play. Additionally, he’s back to playing over 20 minutes a night and has increased his shot volume now that his hand is repaired. If Montour continues to produce, managers will not want to move him going forward, making now the perfect time to inquire about the 2024 Stanley Cup champion.
Darcy Kuemper – Los Angeles Kings
Similar to Montour, Darcy Kuemper sustained an injury in December, which kept him out of action for the remainder of the year, but he’s been unable to find his game since returning in January. In his last 9 games, Kuemper only picked up 2 wins and posted a .867 save percentage. In his most recent start, the 35-year-old left the Los Angeles Kings’ matchup with the New York Rangers after getting hit in the crease, but luckily avoided injury. Going forward, it’s best for managers to take a chance on Kuemper while his numbers are down, especially if he returns to form with the Olympics coming up, where he’ll be one of the goaltenders for Canada.
Fantasy Hockey Sell High
Evgeni Malkin – Pittsburgh Penguins
After missing 15 games due to an upper-body injury, Evgeni Malkin has been on a hot streak since returning to the ice. In his last 8 games, Malkin has averaged a point-per-game, while being a player that can be relied upon to collect a high number of shots on a nightly basis. Despite the veteran still proving to be a useful forward, managers should consider trading Malkin, who could garner a young player in return due to his recent production.
J.T. Miller – New York Rangers
The New York Rangers have been unexpectedly disappointing this season, but their players continue to be valuable in fantasy hockey, including J.T. Miller, who has been lights out since returning from injury on January 8. Despite the Rangers losing 6 of their last 7 games, Miller has recorded 10 points since coming back, 8 of which were in his last 4 outings. In addition, Miller continues to be strong on the face-off dot, but the 32-year-old was too inconsistent throughout the first three months of the season to be considered a reliable fantasy option.
Going forward, many fantasy hockey leagues will approach the trade deadline during or after the Olympic break, making now the right time to act on the recommendations above. Make sure to return next week for more buy low/sell high advice.
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