This is it – the last week-and-half of the 2024-25 regular season.
Most fantasy leagues have already finished, but if your league continues to the end of the season on April 17, then this one’s for you. Thank you all for reading this season and in past seasons, too. Without you, this column would not exist.
See below for the expanded schedule that runs from April 7 to 17. Starting Monday, 13 teams will have six games remaining, 14 with five remaining and five with four remaining. It’s important to note when each team’s regular season will finish – game 82 for each team is highlighted in yellow in the schedule matrix – because it will be a significant determining factor in which players you stream, add or drop.
The Avalanche, for example, finish their regular season in Anaheim on Sunday, taking the final half-week off. If you’re in a non-keeper league, this is the time where you can drop Nathan MacKinnon or Cale Makar without worry. It feels strange to do (and to see), but it makes sense because they have zero fantasy value beyond the final game of the regular season.
Note only the Kings and Red Wings play three games over the final four days. You may want to target players on both teams as the season winds down. Note also that there’s some weird travel schedules in there with numerous teams playing a single game at home sandwiched between road games, or playing a single road game and heading back home.
The Oilers, for example, play in Winnipeg on Sunday, head back to Edmonton for Monday’s game for the second half of a back-to-back and then hit the road to San Jose on Wednesday.
The other significant factor to consider is injuries. Last week, injuries to numerous key players wreaked havoc on fantasy rosters. Leon Draisaitl was injured again, and Dylan Holloway’s hot streak was disrupted.
Depending on where the team sits in their playoff (or lottery) races, it also gives them a chance to insert role players or younger players for increased minutes. Minor leaguers having strong seasons (Justin Robidas) and recent NCAA signees (Ryan Leonard, Jimmy Snuggerud among others) will get good looks as teams prepare to either gear up for the playoffs or audition them for the 2025-26 season.
A new episode of the Sleepers and Keepers fantasy hockey podcast will be published Monday at 8 a.m. PT/11 a.m. ET to discuss the final week, and to wrap-up the 2024-25 season with our best and worst picks.
Schedule
Pick players from teams at the top of the schedule matrix to maximize games and matchups. Green is good. Red is bad. All advanced stats courtesy naturalstatrick.com. All positions and rostered percentages are courtesy of Yahoo Fantasy. Points percentages are as of the conclusion of Saturday’s games. Last game of the regular season highlighted in yellow.
Final Week Streamers (< 50% rostered on Yahoo)
Matvei Michkov, RW, PHI (48% rostered)
Michkov should be a good hold for the rest of the season and beyond. His minutes haven’t yo-yoed as much under Brad Shaw, and he played 23:04 against the Habs in his previous game. He’s a high-upside offensive player with good shot volume with a few games against defensively porous opponents.
Pavel Buchnevich, C/LW/RW, STL (42% rostered)
Buchnevich has a chance to finish the season strong. He’s scored three goals in four games since returning to the lineup and his line with Robert Thomas has managed to stay productive even without the injured Dylan Holloway. Snuggerud has taken Holloway’s place, and he possesses ...
