NHL.com has fantasy hockey reaction to the biggest free agent signings for the 2024-25 season.
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From Guentzel to Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning signed Jake Guentzel after acquiring his rights, which should soften the blow of losing Steven Stamkos to the Nashville Predators in free agency and the trade that sent defenseman Mikhail Sergachev to the Utah Hockey Club. Guentzel joins other elite talents like Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Victor Hedman and goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy as top-30 overall fantasy options.
Guentzel had 25 points (eight goals, 17 assists) in 17 games with the Carolina Hurricanes last season after being acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he was Sidney Crosby’s trusted linemate. Tampa Bay has made the Stanley Cup Playoffs for seven straight seasons, winning Stanley Cup titles in 2020 and 2021, and Guentzel has 67 points (38 goals, 29 assists) in 69 career postseason games and won a championship with the Penguins in 2017.
Since 2018-19, Guentzel ranks 14th in the NHL in goals (189) and has two career 40-goal seasons. Despite being limited to 67 games last season, Guentzel ranks 20th in even-strength points (55), which should boost Tampa Bay, which is middle of the pack in 5-on-5 goals (172; tied for 14th).
Guentzel’s Targeting Range in Fantasy Drafts: Top 30 overall
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Stamkos, Marchessault and Skjei to the Predators
The Nashville Predators significantly increased their fantasy value and Stanley Cup appeal by signing forwards Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and defenseman Brady Skjei as free agents. While Stamkos could lose some individual value by leaving the Lightning, the trade gives Nashville four players in the top 50 overall in fantasy, with Stamkos joining winger Filip Forsberg, defenseman Roman Josi and goaltender Juuse Saros.
Stamkos is coming off a 40-goal season with the Tampa Bay Lightning, marking the seventh time in his NHL career he has accomplished that difficult feat. He has been one of the NHL’s most dynamic power-play producers and should propel the Predators, who ranked 16th on the man advantage (21.6 percent) last season, in that department. Stamkos is second among active NHL players in power-play goals (214) behind Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals (312) and also ranks fifth on that list in power-play points (422).
Marchessault scored an NHL-high 42 goals last season and won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs MVP. Marchessault has consistently been a top-75 overall fantasy player with solid coverage in goals, points, shots on goal and hits regardless of his lineup placement with Vegas over the years, and if he plays on a line with Stamkos, he gives the Predators another high-performing unit to complement last year’s top trio of Forsberg, veteran center Ryan O’Reilly and winger Gustav Nyquist.
Skjei sits quietly fifth among NHL defensemen in goals (31) over the past two seasons combined and is tied with new teammate Roman Josi for third at the position in even-strength goals (24) over that span, behind only Erik Karlsson (29) and Cale Makar (25). While Skjei is clearly the second-best defenseman behind Josi, he’s still worth targeting in the later rounds as a potential steal for a much-improved Nashville team.
Stamkos’ Targeting Range in Fantasy Drafts: Top 50 overall
Marchessault’s targeting range in fantasy drafts: Top 75-100 overall
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From Montour to Kraken
The Seattle Kraken have signed prolific defenseman Brandon Montour, bolstering their defensive outlook, offensive attack and rebound potential as a playoff contender. Montour joins Seattle, which made the playoffs two seasons ago and has another valuable fantasy defenseman in Vince Dunn. The two could either compete for the lead on the power play or share the ice together in power play situations.
Montour might lose some individual fantasy appeal with the trade away from the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, but he still has a high ceiling given that he has two double-digit goal seasons, including the 2022-23 season; he set NHL career highs in goals (16), assists (57), points (73), power-play points (33) and shots on goal (242) that year.
Montour’s Targeting Range in Fantasy Drafts: Top 100-120 overall (top 20-25 among defenders)
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E. Lindholm to the Bruins
The Boston Bruins signed Elias Lindholm, making him a potential bounce-back candidate if he becomes their No. 1 center on a line with elite winger David Pastrnak and/or Brad Marchand. Lindholm is coming off a disappointing regular season with 44 points (15 goals, 29 assists) in 75 games with the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks, but he showed his high fantasy potential in 2021-22, when he had 82 points (42 goals, 40 assists) skating primarily on a line with elite wingers Matthew Tkachuk and Johnny Gaudreau when they all played in Calgary.
Lindholm has been productive in the playoffs for the Canucks with 10 points (five goals, five assists) and 25 shots on goal in 13 games. Boston was tied for 13th in goals per game (3.21) last season and tied for 11th in fewest shots on goal per game (29.3), two categories Lindholm can help improve.
Target range for E. Lindholm in fantasy drafts: Top 125-150 in the general classification
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Other players with fantastic potential in new teams: Jake DeBrusk, VAN; Viktor Arvidsson, EDM; Teuvo Teravainen and Tyler Bertuzzi, CHI; Anthony Duclair, NYI; Tyler Toffoli, SJS
