It is only the second week of the fantasy hockey season, and yet there are some teams that are ready to trade. While I think it is still too early to make a deal, plenty of poolies want to fix their lineups quickly.
Here are some players who you could deal for and trade elsewhere.
TRADE FOR
Connor McDavid, C, Oilers (100% rostered)
McDavid is off to a slow start with only four assists and 10 shots on goal in four games. While most players in the NHL would love that start, McDavid has had at least 100 points in seven of his last eight seasons — missing out only in 2019-20 when he had 97 points in 64 contests. The Oilers have not been good thus far — similar to the start they had last season — losing their first three games before defeating the Flyers in overtime Tuesday, but it’s only a matter of time before McDavid and the Oilers get hot. McDavid has a new linemate in Jeff Skinner, who replaced Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on Sunday, alongside Zach Hyman.
McDavid has all 10 shots on goal over the last three games, after the Jets held him without a shot Opening Night. Edmonton finished fourth in the NHL last season with 294 goals, but it has managed only seven in four games. It was tied with Carolina for the lowest goals-per-game this season heading into Tuesday’s tilt when the Oilers exploded for four tallies. McDavid has to be a big part of the Oilers resurgence the rest of the way.
McDavid is a generational player and is just below the likes of Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and Bobby Orr. That is great company to be in, so don’t worry about three games in a long season.
Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: McDavid and Zach Werenski for Auston Matthews and Quinn Hughes.
Auston Matthews, C, Maple Leafs (100% rostered)
Matthews has yet to garner a point in three games. The 27-year-old is still firing away as he is averaging five shots on goal per game, a better clip than the 2023-24 campaign in which he had 69 goals on 369 shots in 81 contests (4.56 shots per game). He has had some tough luck this season as he has run into some hot goalkeeping, especially Sam Montembeault’s performance Opening Night, when he turned aside all six of the Leafs’ captain’s shots.
Matthews has won the Rocket Richard Trophy three times in the last five seasons and has picked up more than 100 points in two…