This article is part of our Category Targets series.
Fantasy managers looking to tinker with their rosters will benefit from zeroing in on specific categories. Whether you are looking for long-term fits or short-term options, there should be a plethora of potential pickups to help your squads.
Let's get into this week's suggestions for your consideration.
Akira Schmid, G, Golden Knights (35% rostered) for Starts/Wins
Schmid has become the de facto No. 1 netminder for Vegas due to lower-body injuries to Adin Hill and Carter Hart. Hill has resumed practicing, but it remains unclear when he will be ready to return to the lineup. Hart is week-to-week after getting hurt last Thursday against Columbus. Schmid has won his past two outings, stopping 39 of 43 shots. He hasn't made 30 saves in any game so far this season, but he has a 13-4-5 record, 2.49 goals-against average and .895 save percentage through 23 appearances. He should be a solid volume starter until Hill or Hart returns, and more wins should be achievable due to a stingy defensive group in front of him.
Josh Norris, C, Sabres (27% rostered) for Assists/Points/Shots/Blocks
Norris has been all over the scoresheet this season when he's been in the lineup, accounting for six goals and 10 assists in 17 appearances. Staying healthy has been a problem for the 26-year-old forward throughout his NHL career. However, he has played in 12 straight games, notching four goals, five helpers, 16 shots on net and 10 blocked shots. He has been a good source of hits in the past, but that hasn't been the case this campaign. Still, if that helps him avoid injuries, potential fantasy managers probably won't have much of a problem with it. He has one goal and three assists during his four-game point streak. Norris possesses a great deal of upside during Buffalo's four-game homestand this week, and he could find another gear if his power-play production improves.
Logan Stankoven, C/RW, Hurricanes (22% rostered) for Goals/Points/Shots
Stankoven has scored a goal in four straight games and has added two assists during his five-game point streak. He has registered nine shots on net during that five-game stretch. The 22-year-old has been hot and cold offensively this campaign, but he has found some success while occupying the team's second-line center role. He should make for a solid short-term option during a four-game week for Carolina.
Matty Beniers, C, Kraken (21% rostered) for Goals/Points/Shots/PP
Beniers has been productive since December, compiling six goals and 14 points in his last 19 appearances. He has netted five of his nine goals this season in the past six games while adding two assists and 17 shots on target. Beniers has one goal and two helpers with the man advantage during that span. The 23-year-old pivot has been rolling offensively on the team's top line and first power-play combination. Seattle plays four times on the road this week.
K'Andre Miller, D, Hurricanes (20% rostered) for Assists/Points/Shots/Blocks/Hits
Miller has collected two goals, six assists, 10 shots on net, 10 hits and four blocked shots across his last eight appearances. He has two markers on five shots and three helpers during his three-game point spree. He has had a couple of extended scoring slumps this season, but he's on pace to top the 40-point plateau for the second time in his NHL career. If he remains productive in the scoring department, his category coverage makes him an intriguing option during a four-game week for the Hurricanes.
Oliver Kapanen, C, Canadiens (10% rostered) for Goals/Points/Shots/Blocks
Kapanen has filled the stat sheet with five goals, 10 points, 25 shots on net and 17 blocked shots in his last 11 outings. His three-game point streak ended in Saturday's 4-0 loss to Detroit, but the 22-year-old rookie has fit in nicely as Montreal's second-line center. He ranks third on the team with 15 goals. Kapanen also has 80 shots and 45 blocks through 45 appearances this campaign. He has plenty of value in deeper leagues ahead of a four-game week for the Canadiens.
Alexandre Texier, LW/RW, Canadiens (9% rostered) for Assists/Points/Shots/Hits
Texier has three multipoint efforts in the past six games, giving him four goals and four assists over that stretch. He had two straight three-point performances, including his first NHL hat trick in a 6-2 win over Florida last Thursday, before being held off the scoresheet in Saturday's shutout loss to the Red Wings. Still, the 26-year-old Texier is up to seven goals, 14 points, 39 shots on net and 20 hits in 23 outings with the Canadiens. After St. Louis terminated his previous contract, he has been a good fit since signing with Montreal on Nov. 23. He has been skating on the top line of the Canadiens and sees time on the second power-play unit. His deployment and category coverage make him an intriguing pickup for fantasy managers in banger leagues going into a four-game week for Montreal.
Kasperi Kapanen, RW, Oilers (8% rostered) for Assists/Points/Shots/Hits
Kapanen has earned a three-game point streak, consisting of one goal, three assists, five shots and eight hits, since coming back to the lineup from injury. It was a long road back for the 29-year-old forward, who missed 36 games. He has been skating on the second line at even strength with Leon Draisaitl, who has scored on two of Kapanen's three primary helpers during his point spree. The Oilers play a league-high five times this week, making Kapanen an interesting roster choice.
Matias Maccelli, LW/RW, Maple Leafs (3% rostered) for Assists/Points/Shots/PP
Maccelli has been a consistent presence on the scoresheet since being scratched for 10 of 11 contests from Nov. 26 to Dec. 18. In his last 11 appearances, he has generated three goals on 15 shots and eight points. He has one goal and two helpers with the man advantage during that span, including one tally and one helper in the past five games. William Nylander's return to the lineup from a lower-body injury should give Maccelli a boost, as they both see playing time on the second line and the top power-play combination. Maccelli has plenty of offensive potential ahead of a four-game road trip for Toronto this week.
Gage Goncalves, C, Lightning (1% rostered) for Goals/Points/Shots/Hits
Goncalves has accumulated three goals, 11 shots on target and seven points in his past seven outings. He has been rolling offensively while seeing time alongside red-hot stars Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point on the top line. The 24-year-old Goncalves' versatility takes a hit due to his center-only eligibility. However, he should be a superb under-the-radar addition during a four-game week for Tampa Bay.
