Apples & Ginos Fantasy Hockey Podcast

It's time for another ADP Battle.Blake is joined by Josh, co-host of the Banger Management Fantasy Hockey Podcast, to go head-to-head on six difficult decisions for 2026-27 fantasy hockey drafts.The concept is simple: two players going in a similar range, two sides to the debate. Who would you draft — and why?This time we're looking through the lens of a Bangers Categories League counting Goals, Assists, Hits, Blocks, Power-Play Points and Shots on Goal.

In this episode, Brian, Ryan & Evan walk through their bold takes for the 2026-2027 fantasy hockey season.** Buy the 2026-27 Apples & Ginos Fantasy Hockey Draft Guide on Patreon!**Create a free account and purchase this post:https://www.patreon.com/applesginos/posts/2026-27-apples-168262832** Sign up for the Apples & Ginos Patron League HERE: https://applesandginos.com/apl/ **

In this episode, Ryan talks through eight breakout candidates who are on the threshold of fantasy greatness if they can combine their talent with some opportunity this season.Adam Fantilli - 9:34Jimmy Snuggerud - 12:25Will Smith - 15:10Jesper Wallstedt - 17:04Zeev Buium - 20:21Frank Nazar - 24:10Tyson Foerster - 26:34Ryan Leonard - 30:12** Buy the 2026-27 Apples & Ginos Fantasy Hockey Draft Guide on Patreon!**Create a free account and purchase this post:https://www.patreon.com/applesginos/posts/2026-27-apples-168262832** Sign up for the Apples & Ginos Patron League HERE: https://applesandginos.com/apl/ **

Blake breaks down the Top 10 fantasy hockey defencemen for 2026-27 in both Points leagues and Category leagues.The rankings aren't identical, and that's the point. We look at how goals, assists, power-play production, shots, hits and blocks change the value of players like Cale Makar, Zach Werenski, Evan Bouchard, Quinn Hughes, Rasmus Dahlin, Matthew Schaefer and more. We also dig into why some defencemen rise in category formats, why others are better suited to points scoring.If you're preparing for a 2026-27 fantasy hockey draft, this is your quick guide to the blue liners worth prioritizing.Let's get to BIZ!!

** Buy the 2026-27 Apples & Ginos Fantasy Hockey Draft Guide on Patreon!**Create a free account and purchase this post:https://www.patreon.com/applesginos/posts/2026-27-apples-168262832In this episode, Nate talks through eight players who could win you your league, but also might lose you your league if you're not careful.Auston Matthews - 1:40Brady Tkachuk - 6:18Moritz Seider - 10:02Jakob Chychrun - 12:59Darren Raddysh - 16:46John Carlson - 20:25J.T. Miller - 23:27Porter Martone - 25:38** Sign up for the Apples & Ginos Patron League HERE: https://applesandginos.com/apl/ **

Nate live streams Drafters best ball drafts, reviews his APL team, sneaks in a Yahoo mock draft, and takes questions from viewers.** Buy the 2026-27 Apples & Ginos Fantasy Hockey Draft Guide on Patreon!**Create a free account and purchase this post:https://www.patreon.com/applesginos/posts/2026-27-apples-168262832Get a first time deposit match of up to $100 when using promo code "GINOS"!** Join the Apples & Ginos Patron League wait list HERE: https://applesandginos.com/apl/ **

The Hidden Gems series rolls into the Metropolitan Division.Blake is joined once again by Louis Boulet of LB-Hockey to break down eight players who may not be obvious fantasy hockey draft targets right now, but have something under the hood worth paying attention to. We're digging into the microstats, skill sets, deployment questions and specific fantasy triggers that could turn these names into legitimate assets. This episode features:Kent Johnson — CBJ: Can the skill and transition game re-emerge after a nightmare 22-point season?Logan Stankoven — CAR: An elite underlying profile playing on one of hockey's best 5v5 lines.Arseny Gritsyuk — NJD: Speed, controlled entries, rush creation and relentless forechecking, even if the immediate top-six path has become murkier.Emil Heineman — NYI: An elite one-timer, strong finishing profile and 247 hits make him a fascinating category-league option.Gabe Perreault — NYR: A cerebral playmaker whose patience and passing could help replace some of New York's lost offensive creativity.Tyson Foerster — PHI: A legitimate goal scorer who could take another step if the shots and PP1 opportunity arrive.Tommy Novak — PIT: Top-six-looking transition and creation numbers trapped inside a 14-minute, PP2 role.Ryan Leonard — WSH: Heavy shot, interior offence, physicality and a fantasy toolkit that could force its way up the depth chart. These aren't all sleepers, and we're not telling you to draft every one of them. The goal is to know the names before the opportunity arrives.Who has the best chance to make the leap this season?Let's get to BIZ.

Join Evan and Nate as we break down the various draft day strategies! Is there one specific strategy to win your league? Do playoff schedules and off-nights really matter? Are elite defensemen really worth the high draft capital? Tune in to find out!

** Buy the 2026-27 Apples & Ginos Fantasy Hockey Draft Guide on Patreon!**Create a free account and purchase this post:https://www.patreon.com/applesginos/posts/2026-27-apples-168262832ADP Battles are back!Blake kicks off our annual 4-part series with Elan Dubrofsky from the Keeping Karlsson Fantasy Hockey Podcast to tackle some of the toughest decisions you'll face on draft day.The premise is simple: two players being drafted around the same ADP, one pick. Who are you taking?This episode's battles:• Leon Draisaitl vs. Macklin Celebrini• Tim Stützle vs. Clayton Keller• Brandt Clarke vs. Mikhail Sergachev• Ivan Demidov vs. Jimmy Snuggerud• Linus Ullmark vs. Jesper Wallstedt in the ZeroG Round• Matt Coronato vs. Cole Perfetti in the Sleeper RoundBlake and Elan dig into projections, deployment, power-play roles, peripheral production, team environment, upside and risk to figure out which side they're taking in each matchup.Some are easy. Some are painful. And there may be a few disagreements along the way.Let the Battle BEGIN.Stay tuned for three more ADP Battles with some of the best minds in the fantasy hockey BIZ as we get you ready for your 2026-27 drafts.

Finding a sleeper isn't only about chasing the perfect breakout. The best late-round targets also provide enough of a floor that your pick won't become a complete whiff if everything doesn't go according to plan.In this episode, we reveal 10 fantasy hockey sleepers who possess the underlying process, opportunity and upside to significantly outperform their 2026-27 draft positions.We break down:• Quinton Byfield's post-Kopitar opportunity under Peter Laviolette• Anton Frondell's immediate role while Connor Bedard is sidelined• Alexis Lafrenière's path to PP1 without Artemi Panarin• Matt Coronato's outstanding microstat profile• Egor Chinakhov's breakout potential in Pittsburgh• JJ Peterka's upside alongside David Pastrnak• Luke Hughes' bounce-back case in New Jersey• Why the Summer of Matvei Michkov is officially underway• Viktor Arvidsson's reunion with Todd McLellan• Jackson Blake's opportunity to replace Seth Jarvis on Carolina's PP1Which sleepers provide legitimate league-winning upside—and which still return value if their best-case scenarios don't materialize?Timestamps:Byfield - 02:56Frondell - 10:30Lafrenière - 14:52Coronato - 20:51Chinakhov - 25:15Peterka - 29:41Hughes - 33:53Michkov - 29:25Arvidsson - 45:18Blake - 49:42Let us know your favourite sleeper in the comments!All advanced statistics referenced in this episode come from Natural Stat Trick. Microstats come from Corey Sznajder's All Three Zones project.

** Buy the 2026-27 Apples & Ginos Fantasy Hockey Draft Guide on Patreon!**Create a free account and purchase this post:https://www.patreon.com/applesginos/posts/2026-27-apples-168262832In this episode, Nate talks through the #ZeroG draft strategy and walks through his goalie tiers and rankings for the 2026-27 season.ZeroG Refresher - 2:58Tier 1: Vasi - 6:32Tier 2: Top Guys - 7:37Tier 3: Big Potential - 10:50Tier 4: Take Your Pick - 15:59Tier 5: Roll The Dice - 21:24Tier 6: Could Draft - 23:37Tier 7: Don't Draft - 25:11Tier 8: Yikes - 27:32Tier 9: They Exist - 28:23** Sign up for the Apples & Ginos Patron League HERE: https://applesandginos.com/apl/ **

The Hidden Gems series is back.Blake is joined by friend of the show Louis Boulet of LB-Hockey to dig into eight Atlantic Division players who may not be obvious fantasy draft targets right now, but absolutely deserve to be on your radar.We break down what the underlying data says, where the opportunity could come from, and what would need to happen for each player to become genuinely fantasy relevant.This episode features:Oliver Kapanen — MTLMarco Kasper — DETJJ Peterka — BOSJordan Spence — OTTDominic James — TBLJosh Doan — BUFBrad Marchand — FLAJack Roslovic — TORFrom Kapanen's potential fit with Ivan Demidov, to Kasper's rebound case, Peterka's move to Boston, Spence's hidden offensive ceiling, Dominic James' transition numbers, Josh Doan's chaos game, Marchand continuing to defy Father Time, and Roslovic potentially landing beside Auston Matthews — there is a lot bubbling under the surface in the Atlantic.These aren't necessarily sleepers. They're players of interest — names to keep on your watchlist before the rest of your league catches up.The 2026-27 Apples & Ginos Fantasy Hockey Draft Guide is also available now, featuring 230 pages of team previews, projections, sleepers, injury analysis, draft strategy and more.And there's still time to join the APL before the season gets underway.Let's get to BIZ.

Join the Trade Talks Trio as they navigate a live mock draft to get ready for the Apples and Ginos Patron League, the most competitive fantasy hockey league in the world! Let's get to Biz!

** Buy the 2026-27 Apples & Ginos Fantasy Hockey Draft Guide on Patreon!**Create a free account and purchase this post:https://www.patreon.com/applesginos/posts/2026-27-apples-168262832In this episode, Nate talks about what needs to align for a player to become a league winner and how continually evaluating the best-case scenario for players helps him unearth these gems. Seven players are touted as potential league-winners for 2026-27:Matthew Schaefer - 4:12Dylan Guenther - 6:32Dylan Holloway - 8:37Brandt Clarke - 10:25Ivan Demidov - 14:21Gavin McKenna - 16:49Cole Hutson - 19:08** Sign up for the Apples & Ginos Patron League HERE: https://applesandginos.com/apl/ **

Sign up for the Apples & Ginos Patron League HEREThe finish line is here. Nate and Blake wrap up the annual Apples & Ginos projections series with the final four teams: the Vancouver Canucks, Vegas Golden Knights, Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets.They break down every fantasy-relevant player on each roster, including projected lines, power-play deployment, coaching changes, offseason additions and departures, projection disagreements and their favourite draft targets.Can Manny Malhotra get Elias Pettersson and Vancouver back on track? Is Zeev Buium ready to take over PP1? What changes under Ryan Craig in Vegas, and how high can Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner and Shea Theodore climb? Washington suddenly has one of the deepest forward groups in hockey — but who actually gets the premium deployment? And in Winnipeg, are Cole Perfetti and Gabriel Vilardi being overlooked behind the established stars?Eight episodes. All 32 NHL teams. The projections are officially complete.Next stop: draft season. Let's get to BIZ!

Join Brian as he walks you through some off-night player draft targets and shares some strategies when you're torn between two players and the clock is ticking.

Ryan and Evan are on the mic for a deep dive into one of fantasy hockey's trickiest questions: are injuries actually predictable, or are we just building narratives after the fact?They break down the difference between chronic injury concerns and plain bad luck, how much weight fantasy managers should put on recent games played, and why IR+ can completely change the value equation by allowing you to replace injured production from the waiver wire.Then they put the theory to the test with some of fantasy hockey's biggest injury-risk names, including Jack Hughes, Jack Eichel, Auston Matthews, Leon Draisaitl, Mark Stone, Matthew Tkachuk, Shea Theodore and Dylan Holloway. Which players have legitimate recurring concerns? Which injury histories are mostly a collection of unrelated events? And where is the market potentially discounting players too heavily because of the “injury-prone” label?It's data, history and risk — with the injury narrative put under the microscope. Let's get to BIZ!** Sign up for the Apples & Ginos Patron League HERE: https://applesandginos.com/apl/ **

Nate live streams Drafters best ball drafts and takes questions from viewers.** Sign up for the Apples & Ginos Patron League HERE: https://applesandginos.com/apl/ **

** Sign up for the Apples & Ginos Patron League HERE **The penultimate episode of our annual projections series is here! Nate and Blake break down every fantasy-relevant player on the St. Louis Blues, Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs and Utah Mammoth.We discuss projected lines, power-play deployment, coaching tendencies, offseason movement, breakout candidates and our favourite draft targets. Can McMichael and McTavish unlock St. Louis' secondary scoring? Will John Carlson quarterback Tampa Bay's top power play? How quickly can Gavin McKenna earn premium deployment in Toronto? And are Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther ready to explode in Utah?Timestamps:2:42 – St. Louis Blues46:21 – Tampa Bay Lightning1:24:36 – Toronto Maple Leafs2:08:02 – Utah MammothAdvanced statistics courtesy of Natural Stat Trick. Microstats courtesy of All Three Zones. Let's get to BIZ!

** Sign up for the Apples & Ginos Patron League HERE**The 2026-27 fantasy hockey projections series rolls on with the Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, San Jose Sharks and Seattle Kraken!Nate and Blake project every fantasy-relevant player across all four teams while breaking down potential line combinations, power-play deployment, coaching outlooks and their favourite draft targets. Can Matvei Michkov play his way out of the doghouse? Is Sidney Crosby still undervalued? Which of San Jose's young stars are ready to break out? And can Lane Lambert finally release the Kraken?Players discussed include Travis Konecny, Trevor Zegras, Porter Martone, Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell, Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, Igor Chernyshov, Michael Misa, Jared McCann, Matty Beniers, Shane Wright and many more. Let's get to BIZ!

We're jumping into our first Yahoo standard category mock drafts of the 2026-27 fantasy hockey season!We'll run through multiple drafts, break down the biggest ADP surprises, talk through our picks, and see how early Yahoo draft rooms are shaping up. Who's going too high? Who's falling too far? And where can we already find value?Draft season is officially here. Let's get to BIZ!

*Sign up for the Apples & Ginos Patron League HERE The 2026-27 Projections Series continues with four more teams: the New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Rangers and Ottawa Senators.Nate and Blake break down every fantasy-relevant player across all four rosters, including projected lines, power-play deployment, coaching impacts, offseason changes and the biggest differences in their projections.Can Jack Hughes put together a monster fantasy season? How high should we be drafting Matthew Schaefer? Is this finally the year Alexis Lafrenière takes another step? And what does Ottawa look like without Brady Tkachuk?Plus, we dig into Nico Hischier, Timo Meier, Anthony Mantha, Mathew Barzal, Calum Ritchie, Adam Fox, Gabe Perreault, Dylan Cozens, Jake Sanderson, William Eklund and plenty more.As always, Nate and Blake finish each team by revealing their top three fantasy targets heading into 2026-27 draft season.Four teams. A lot of new opportunity. And plenty of players we think the fantasy market may be getting wrong. Let's get to BIZ!

** Sign up for the Apples & Ginos Patron League HERE **Fantasy hockey draft season rolls on — and this time, we're switching to categories.Evan and Brian are joined by 10 Apples & Ginos listeners for a full 12-team LIVE CATS league mock draft, putting category-league draft strategy to the test in real time.We'll break down picks, roster construction, positional value, category balance, reaches, steals, and the different decisions you have to make when drafting in a categories format.If you play CATS leagues — or just want another look at how fantasy hockey drafts are shaping up for 2026-27 — come hang out, follow the draft board, and let us know in chat who you think builds the best team. Let's get to BIZ you beauties!

** Sign up for the Apples & Ginos Patron League HERE **The 2026-27 Projections Series continues with the Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota Wild, Montreal Canadiens and Nashville Predators.Nate and Blake break down the fantasy outlook for every relevant player across all four teams, including projected lines, power-play deployment, coaching changes, breakout candidates, draft values and their top three targets from each roster.In this episode:• What Peter Laviolette's arrival could mean for Artemi Panarin, Brandt Clarke, Quinton Byfield, Adrian Kempe and the new-look Kings offense• How Minnesota's changing roster impacts Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, Joel Eriksson Ek, Brock Faber, Ryan Hartman and Bobby Brink• Just how high Ivan Demidov can climb alongside Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky and Lane Hutson• Whether Roman Josi, Mavrik Bourque and Luke Evangelista can provide major fantasy value in Nashville• The biggest differences between Nate and Blake's projections• Our top fantasy targets from LAK, MIN, MTL and NSHIf you want to know not only where we project these players, but why, this is the series for you.Now let's get to BIZ!

Fantasy hockey draft season is heating up!For our second mock draft of the season, nine Apples & Ginos listeners join Ryan, Brian, and Evan for a complete 12-team points-league draft using official APL scoring.Follow every pick as the group tests different roster builds, searches for draft-day value, and makes the difficult decisions that could shape fantasy drafts this season. Who assembled the strongest team? ***Join the Apples & Ginos Patron League (The APL) here: https://applesandginos.com/apl/Get your BISCUITS in here and get to BIZ!

Our 2026-27 fantasy hockey projections series continues with the Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers.Blake and Nate break down every fantasy-relevant player on all four teams, covering projected lines, power-play roles, coaching impact, breakout potential, draft-day value and the biggest differences between their projections.Is Roope Hintz being overlooked? What happens to Detroit if Dylan Larkin is traded? Can Matthew Savoie or Isaac Howard earn a meaningful role in Edmonton? And how should fantasy managers approach Florida's loaded lineup featuring Matthew Tkachuk, Brady Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart? Plus, is Nate too bullish on "The Rat" Brad Marchand? A new tattoo bet may be on the line.Blake and Nate also reveal their top three fantasy targets from each team.Timestamps:1:57 — Dallas Stars41:56 — Detroit Red Wings1:18:50 — Edmonton Oilers1:50:55 — Florida Panthers

The 2026-27 projections series continues with the Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche and Columbus Blue Jackets!Nate and Blake project every fantasy-relevant player across all four teams, breaking down expected lines, power-play deployment, offseason additions and potential draft-day value.Can Nikolaj Ehlers continue his rush dominance in Carolina? How will Patrick Kane and Bowen Byram affect Connor Bedard's Blackhawks? Where do Nazem Kadri and Gabriel Landeskog fit in Colorado? And can Valeri Nichushkin help unlock another level from Adam Fantilli and Kirill Marchenko?The guys also reveal their biggest projection disagreements and top three fantasy targets from each team. Let's get to BIZ!

The annual Apples & Ginos Fantasy Hockey Projections Series is back!Nate and Blake begin their journey through all 32 NHL teams with the Anaheim Ducks, Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres and Calgary Flames.They break down every fantasy-relevant player, projected line combinations, power-play deployment, coaching impact and offseason changes before revealing their three favourite fantasy targets from each team.Can Leo Carlsson take another major step? Where will JJ Peterka fit in Boston? Is Zach Benson ready to break out? And who will claim Calgary's PP1 quarterback role between Simon Nemec and Zayne Parekh?Players discussed include Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, Beckett Sennecke, David Pastrnak, JJ Peterka, Morgan Geekie, James Hagens, Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin, Zach Benson, Josh Doan, Matt Coronato, Zayne Parekh and more.Let's get to BIZ!

Draft season has officially begun.Blake, Nate, Brian and Evan are joined by eight Apples & Ginos listeners for our first live fantasy hockey mock draft of the 2026–27 season. The group completes a full 12-team points-league draft using official APL scoring.We break down our strategies in real time, debate early player values and react to the reaches, steals, positional runs and difficult decisions that shaped the draft.Who built the best roster—and which picks will look completely different by the time the season begins?Let's get to BIZ!

Nate and Blake dig into ten of the most surprising statistics from last season—and what each one could mean for fantasy hockey in 2026-27.Can the historically dominant Edmonton and Dallas power plays maintain their success? Is Colorado's man advantage destined for a major bounceback? How did Pittsburgh go from projected lottery team to one of the NHL's highest-scoring offences, and was any of it sustainable?The guys also examine a potential Los Angeles offensive turnaround, the teams most likely to regress from elevated shooting percentages and whether Ottawa's strong defensive process could fuel a Linus Ullmark rebound.On the player side, they discuss Dylan Cozens' elite post-Olympics chance creation, Auston Matthews' underlying dominance, Logan Cooley's 100-point potential and the remarkable numbers behind Matthew Schaefer's historic rookie season.Ten shocking stats. Ten major questions. Plenty of implications for your next fantasy draft. Let's get to BIZ!

Kevin Woodley from NHL.com and InGoal Magazine joins Apples & Ginos to break down one of the most difficult positions to project in fantasy hockey: goalies.In this episode, we dig into the chaotic NHL goalie market, including major offseason moves, new team fits, and what happened to some of fantasy's biggest goalie names last season. Kevin shares his perspective on Connor Hellebuyck, Linus Ullmark, Sergei Bobrovsky, Jacob Markstrom, Devon Levi, Frederik Andersen, Stuart Skinner, and more.Then we get to the names fantasy managers really need to know: the under-the-radar goalies who could become relevant before most of your league sees it coming.If you're trying to avoid overpaying for goalies while still finding real upside, this is a must-listen.NHL fantasy hockey, goalie targets, bouncebacks, sleepers, and advanced goalie analysis with one of the best in the business.Now, let's GET to BIZ!

The 2026 NHL offseason has been absolute chaos, and Blake and Evan are here to sift through the rubble.In this episode, we break down the fantasy hockey fallout from a wild stretch of offer sheets, signings, extensions, and trades — including Leo Carlsson's massive offer sheet with the Flyers, John Carlson to Tampa Bay, Frederik Andersen to Edmonton, Bobrovsky to Toronto, Boone Jenner to Washington, Anders Lee to Utah, Bowen Byram's huge Blackhawks deal, Ivan Demidov's Canadiens extension, Trocheck to the Mammoth, Nurse to the Sharks, and more.Which moves actually matter for fantasy? Which players gained real opportunity? Which situations are now too messy to trust? And which offseason headlines could change the way we draft next season?Dear god. Let's get to BIZ!

In this episode Nate is joined by Victor Nuño of Dobber Prospects, McKeen's Hockey, and the Fantasy Hockey Life podcast to discuss the 2026 NHL Draft. They discuss all things from draft-day surprises to late-round sleepers to goalie drafting strategy, and Victor highlights his favourites above consensus.Victor Nuño on X: https://x.com/VictorNuno12Fantasy Hockey Life Podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fantasy-hockey-life--3548456Fantasy Hockey Life Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/FantasyHockeyLifeThe Journey on Dobber Hockey:https://dobberhockey.com/category/hockey-home/the-journey/McKeen's Hockey:https://www.mckeenshockey.com/00:00 - Intro03:30 - Overall Class Strength05:21 - Tiering at the Top09:12 - NHL-Ready or Not?13:51 - Top Defensemen20:09 - Victor's Top 10 Ranks26:31 - Offensive Potential34:20 - Banger League Studs38:55 - Surprising Selections42:35 - Great Player/Team Fit46:29 - Top Goalies to Know50:38 - Late Round Sleepers52:53 - Real Life vs FantasyWe'll dig into deployment, linemates, playoff production, microstats, sustainability, and what it all means for 2026-27 fantasy hockey drafts. Let's get to BIZ!

In this episode, Nate and Blake break down the fantasy hockey impact of the latest NHL trades and signings. We look past the real-world hockey headlines to tell you exactly how these moves affect player values, line combinations, and power-play time. Whether you need to make a trade in your league or adjust your draft strategy, we have you covered with the ultimate winners and losers of these blockbusters.Timestamps for deals discussed:00:00 - Intro02:37 - Signings13:42 - Samoskevich to SEA17:46 - Tkachuk to FLA24:59 - Nemec to CGY32:07 - Eklund to OTT35:43 - Kyrou to WSH40:32 - Tuch to WSH44:26 - Byram to CHI51:54 - Nichushkin to CBJ55:50 - Zellweger to BUF1:00:06 - McTavish to STL1:03:22 - Peterka to BOS1:09:38 - Dorofeyev to NYR1:17:22 - Draft vibesWe'll dig into deployment, linemates, playoff production, microstats, sustainability, and what it all means for 2026-27 fantasy hockey drafts. Let's get to BIZ!

Byron Bader of HockeyProspecting.com returns to the show to break down his updated 2026 NHL Draft rankings, his latest model changes, and the prospects fantasy hockey managers need to know.We discuss NHL equivalency, how Byron's model evaluates offensive upside, and why players like Carson Carels, Chase Reid, Caleb Malhotra, Tynan Lawrence, Viggo Bjorck, Keaton Verhoeff, Daxon Rudolph and Ryan Lin are so interesting for dynasty leagues.Plus, Byron gives us his favorite targets, darkhorse picks, and the players he'd be drafting for fantasy hockey dynasty squads.

The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs may have changed the fantasy hockey outlook for a handful of players heading into next season.In this episode, Blake looks at the playoff performers who separated themselves from the pack — and what their postseason runs could mean for 2026-27 fantasy hockey drafts. Mitch Marner went nuclear in Vegas and may still be undervalued because of old playoff narratives. Brett Howden turned a bigger role into a monster goal-scoring run. Carolina's second line of Jackson Blake, Taylor Hall, and Logan Stankoven looked like a legitimate weapon. Leo Carlsson flashed superstar upside. And Zach Benson may have played his way into a bigger role in Buffalo.Were these just playoff heaters, or did we get an early look at next year's fantasy hockey values?Let's get to BIZ!

Nate breaks down all of the most fantasy-relevant offseason moves so far, including the monster Darren Raddysh sign-and-trade to Toronto, and the shocking hire of Ryan Craig in Las Vegas.Timestamps:00:00 - Intro 01:36 - Raddysh to Leafs08:36 - Colton to Predators10:01 - Woll to Flyers; Andrae to Leafs12:45 - Karlsson & Terry injuries14:03 - In-season coaching changes: Bowness & DeBoer17:20 - Ryan Craig in Vegas20:11 - Manny Malhotra in Vancouver23:26 - Peter Laviolette in Los Angeles26:48 - Mike Babcock in Edmonton30:09 - Jim Hiller in Toronto

Contract years can create some interesting fantasy hockey opportunities — but not every player chasing a new deal is automatically a breakout candidate.In this episode, we look at eight contract-year players who should be on fantasy managers' radar heading into 2026-27. We break down the upside, risk, team context, role questions, and fantasy value for Bowen Byram, Nico Hischier, Jimmy Snuggerud, Ross Colton, Alex DeBrincat, Luke Evangelista, Ivan Demidov, and Zeev Buium.Are these players legitimate draft targets, dynasty buys, or just names to monitor as the offseason unfolds?Let us know what you think. Are you a believer in the contract-year boost? Give us a follow on Spotify if you haven't already so you don't miss our new offseason content! Let's get to BIZ!

It's the offseason, and every dynasty and keeper fantasy manager is looking to improve their team heading into 2026-27. A key way to improve is to identify potential trade targets who may be undervalued by their current managers. In this episode of the Apples & Ginos Fantasy Hockey Podcast, Nate identifies a group of players who are very likely to improve their dynasty stock in 2026-27 and are worth trading for right now.Timestamps:00:00 - Intro03:00 - Matvei Michkov08:06 - Matthew Knies11:01 - Luke Hughes14:52 - Elias Pettersson17:25 - Matt Coronato20:17 - Jack Quinn24:15 - Cole Perfetti27:32 - Auston Matthews

Blake and Nate fire up the fantasy hockey trade machine for one of the more chaotic offseason episodes yet.In this one, we each bring four made-up NHL trades that could completely shake up the fantasy hockey landscape. Some are realistic, some are unhinged, and some would probably cause a full fanbase meltdown — but every deal comes back to the same question: who wins and who loses for fantasy?We dig into hypothetical deals involving Dylan Larkin to Boston, Jordan Kyrou to Columbus, Brady Tkachuk to San Jose, Simon Nemec to Philadelphia, Vincent Trocheck to Minnesota, Ross Colton to Toronto, Elias Pettersson to Seattle, and Jason Robertson to Anaheim.Would Larkin unlock another level for David Pastrnak? Could Brady Tkachuk be the perfect winger for Macklin Celebrini? Would Pettersson get a much-needed reset in Seattle? And what would Jason Robertson do to Anaheim's already exciting young core?This is a fun one: fake trades, real fantasy fallout, and plenty of debate along the way.Let's get to BIZ!

It's the offseason, and every dynasty and keeper fantasy manager is looking to improve their team heading into 2026-27. One of the best ways to accomplish that is to figure out which players might command a trade price that they never will again. In this episode of the Apples & Ginos Fantasy Hockey Podcast, Nate identifies a group of players who may have put their best work on record in 2025-26 - and therefore might be at their peak in terms of dynasty value.Timestamps:00:00 - Intro02:47 - Morgan Geekie06:27 - Charlie McAvoy09:37 - Shayne Gostisbehere13:31 - Evgeni Malkin16:03 - Anthony Mantha19:24 - Drake Batherson22:49 - Steven Stamkos25:10 - Cole Caufield

Steven Ellis of Daily Faceoff joins Blake to break down the early names to know for the 2026 NHL Draft.We dig into standout performances from the Men's World Championship, including Viggo Bjorck, Ivar Stenberg, Alberts Smits, and Tomas Galvas, before looking ahead to the NHL Combine in Buffalo and how much that process can shift draft stock.Then we get into the top of the draft, potential team fits, the deep group of defensemen in the class, and which prospects could eventually matter for fantasy hockey.Steven also shares thoughts on Wyatt Cullen, Maddox Dagenais, Alexander Command, the Ruck brothers, first-round sleepers, later-round upside bets, and which recent draft picks could provide future fantasy value.A must-listen for dynasty, keeper, and prospect draft managers looking to get ahead of the market.Let's get to BIZ!

Some players don't completely disappear — they just fall out of the fantasy hockey conversation.In this episode, Blake and Nate dig into a group of forgotten players who could still matter for fantasy in 2026-27. We look at what happened last season, why the hype faded, whether the underlying profile still gives us hope, and what fantasy managers should do with these names heading into next year's drafts.Are they bounce-back candidates? Draft-day values? Formerly exciting names we need to let go of? Or players the fantasy community may be forgetting too soon?Players discussed include Matt Coronato, Adam Fox, Aleksander Barkov, Victor Hedman, Arseny Gritsyuk, Artyom Levnshunov, Mason McTavish and Jordan Kyrou.Perfect for managers already thinking about 2026-27 fantasy hockey rankings, sleepers, bounce backs, draft values, and potential buy-low targets.Let's get to BIZ!

The Olympic break came and went… and then these five players took off.In this episode, Blake digs into five players who broke out offensively after the Olympic break and asks the fantasy question that actually matters: can we trust it next season?We're comparing each player's pre- and post-break production, then looking under the hood to figure out what changed. Was it more ice time? Better linemates? A new power-play role? Increased shot volume? Better team offense? Or just a late-season heater that fantasy managers need to be careful with?If you're already thinking about next year's draft board, these are the types of players who can either become major values… or major traps.Let's get to BIZ.

Corey Sznajder of All Three Zones is back on Apples & Ginos to help us look past the boxscore and better understand the process behind fantasy hockey production.In this episode, Blake talks with Corey about the microstats that can help us identify real breakouts, future production, and potential fool's gold. We dig into zone entries with chances, shot assists, chance assists, transition play, rush offense, and the under-the-hood indicators that can change how we evaluate players. We also get Corey's thoughts on a wide range of fascinating fantasy hockey names, including Matt Coronato, Will Smith, Ivan Demidov, Matvei Michkov and more. Plus, we discuss playoff standouts, the Hurricanes' surprising second line, the Ducks' young talent, and which young players Corey is most excited about moving forward. If you want to understand which players have the process to support a fantasy breakout, this one is for you.Let's get to BIZ!

We already reviewed our own Apples & Ginos projections — now we're zooming out and looking at the players most of the fantasy hockey industry missed on this season.In this episode, Ryan and Blake dig into 8 of the biggest over- and under-projected players from preseason rankings and projections across the analyst world. We look at which stats surprised us, why the projections missed, and what lessons we can take into next season.Players discussed include Cutter Gauthier, Darren Raddysh, Brayden Point, Matvei Michkov, Rasmus Dahlin, Moritz Seider, Anthony Mantha, and Auston Matthews.Were the breakouts real? Were the disappointments just bad luck? Was it usage, deployment, shooting percentage, injuries, team context, or something else entirely?We're breaking it all down and trying to figure out what it means for next year's fantasy hockey drafts. Let's get to BIZ!

Nate dives deep into the #ZeroG draft strategy and how it performed in the 2025-26 fantasy season.#ZeroG Definition: 0:48Nate's 2025-26 ZeroG Teams: 3:10Historical Analysis: 6:28Season-Long Goalie Results: 10:15Quarter-Season Split Analysis: 14:13Skater ADP Comparison: 20:22Goalie Performance in Fantasy Playoffs: 23:36Frequently Asked Questions: 25:38Early Predictions for 2026-27 ZeroG Targets: 32:41Summary: 36:40

We're back for Mock Draft 2.0… and yes, it's still way too early.In this episode of Apples & Ginos, Blake and Evan run it back with their second “Way Too Early” fantasy hockey mock draft of the offseason—this time dialing in on categories league strategy through the first 4 rounds.After getting a first crack at it, the approach starts to shift:

Did we actually beat the industry?

It's never too early… right?In this episode of Apples & Ginos, Blake and Nate dive into a WAY too early fantasy hockey mock draft for the 2026-27 season, building out 12 different teams through the first 4 rounds.We go pick-by-pick breaking down:Early first-round strategySurprising picks and potential reachesHow roster builds take shape right out of the gatePlayers already rising (or falling) for next seasonSome of these teams look elite… others? Questionable. Who built the best team??If you're already thinking ahead to next year, this is where the edge starts.Let's get to BIZ

Everyone loves calling sleepers before the season… but not everyone comes back to check how they actually did.So today, we are.In this episode of Apples & Ginos, Blake revisits the official preseason sleeper picks and breaks down what really happened — the hits, the misses, and the ones that looked good under the hood but didn't quite get there.We dig into players like Josh Norris, Trevor Zegras, Kent Johnson, Marco Rossi, and more to figure out what we got right, what we got wrong, and what we can learn heading into next season.If you're trying to get an edge in your next draft, this is the kind of episode that matters.Learn from the wins.Avoid the traps.Let's get to BIZ