With roughly a quarter of the NHL regular season to go, enter the stretch in which teams in head-to-head leagues are either jostling for pre-postseason positioning, if not already engaged in bracketed playoff competition. In that spirit, here's a roundup of (non-superstar) fantasy assets that shine in a particular category -- conventional or otherwise -- while not falling too short in others.
Goals
Zach Hyman, LW/C, Toronto Maple Leafs (rostered in 60.3% of ESPN.com leagues): Conventionally treasured for what else he brings to the ice, Hyman evidently fancies himself a goal-scorer now. Seven of his 13 points through 13 games have counted as goals, including five in six recent contests. Perhaps we should be less surprised, considering the formidable front-of-net presence the top-liner often provides. One of the Leafs' hardest-working skaters, the 27-year-old is also logging mega minutes and shooting the puck more often. Check on his availability on your own fantasy league.
Assists
Tyler Toffoli, RW/LW, Vancouver Canucks (41.5%): In his first game as a Canuck, Toffoli set up linemate J.T. Miller for a third-period goal in an eventual hard-fought shootout loss to the Wild. Traditionally recognized for his penchant for shooting and (occasionally) scoring, the former King is now bound to collect helpers in a hurry while competing with Miller and Elias Pettersson on Vancouver's top line and power play.
Shots
Blake Coleman, LW/C, Tampa Bay Lightning (45.3%): Only seven players have more shots than Coleman - averaging 4.21 per game - since New Year's Day, but unlike Alex Ovechkin, Nathan MacKinnon, Auston Matthews and Co., the Lightning's new forward might actually be available in your ESPN.com league. Still just one game into his lease with Tampa, the former Devil could bounce around the lineup a bit before settling in - a rather unsettling reality for managers. But I doubt he'll ease up on shooting on net. And imagine if he ever subs into the club's top-six.
Power-play goals
Zach Parise, LW, Minnesota Wild (79.4%): Tied atop the league with Chris Kreider since New Year's -- yes, even ahead of Boston's David Pastrnak -- Minnesota's leading sniper is averaging a power-play goal every three contests. Not a bad clip. Seeing top-line minutes game in and out, Parise is one aridly ugly October removed from a 60-point season, heavy on the goals. As it happens, he's a mini-tear away from threatening to hit 30 - a good number of them counting with the extra skater. And the incentive is still there as the Wild don't consider themselves out of it yet.
Power-play assists
Kevin Fiala, C/LW/RW, Minnesota Wild (61.5%): Four power-play assists since Jan. 18 doesn't sound like a lot and yet Parise's running mate with the man-advantage has only one fewer than the league-leader, Minnesota's Ryan Suter. And unlike Suter, the young forward is sizzling hot with 11 points altogether in eight games, including six goals. If not already too late, grab this under-appreciated fantasy beast ASAP.
Average time-on-ice
Damon Severson, D, New Jersey Devils (37.2%): Earning a good chunk of ice-time since early December, Severson is hustling more than ever, averaging 25-plus minutes per game his past six contests. Although currently mired in a four-game point-less drought, the three goals and 10 assists accrued since Jan. 7 speaks to his scoring ability, with and without the man-advantage. Right now, the 25-year-old serves as a sneaky, underappreciated fantasy asset across the ESPM.com spectrum. Above and beyond his time-on-ice.
Plus/minus
Ryan Graves, D, Colorado Avalanche (39.8%): I can't stand this category and not only because I make a personal mess of it, each and every fantasy season. Still, it's worth mentioning that Graves is leaving all others in his dust with a sparkling and ever-increasing plus-42. The sizeable defenseman also has a surprising collection of 24 points, leads Colorado's blue line with 114 shots, and ranks top-10 in the league with 122 blocked shots. It all adds up to a solid fantasy resume that frankly deserves more attention.
Faceoffs won
Phillip Danault, C/LW, Montreal Canadiens (50.1%): Hey, you lose 100% of the faceoffs you don't take, right? The fauxpression doesn't quite hit the mark, but you catch my drift. Anyway, Danault ranks 6th in the league in faceoffs taken and 6th in wins with 647. That works out to more than 10 per game. The Canadiens' top-line center also contributes enough otherwise -- 41 points thus far, although he hasn't scored in a while -- to merit inclusion in most deeper leagues.
Hits
Nick Foligno, LW/RW, Columbus Blue Jackets (18.4%): If hits carry exceptional weight in your league, Vegas' Ryan Reaves might be worth a roster spot. Otherwise, I like Foligno, who not only throws himself around with the best of them, but also sees a mass of minutes and stands a realistic chance to score each and every game. Or go back in time and draft Brady Tkachuk when you had the chance.
Blocked shots
Oskar Klefbom, D, Edmonton Oilers (71.6%): Leading the league in blocked shots with 172 through 59 games, Klefbom -- currently shelved with a shoulder injury -- could return to the Oilers' lineup as soon as early March. Just in time, perhaps, for your first round of head-to-head fantasy playoff action. Enjoying a career year across the board, the 26-year-old is serving as a fantasy behemoth in most conventional categories -- plus/minus the one glaring exception. And now he's available in nearly 30% of ESPN.com leagues.
PIM
Brenden Dillon, D, Washington Capitals (24.6%): Perennially reliable in the penalty-minute department, the feisty defenseman is clearly in even more of a mood this season, accumulating 83 PIM and counting. Dillon also ranks top-10 in the NHL with 179 hits. If your league rewards the rough stuff, don't overlook the newest member of the Capitals' blue line. Tell you what, I appreciate Dillon's increased odds of contributing to the scoresheet as member of Washington's top-four in contrast with his years in San Jose.
Goalie wins
Mike Smith, G, Edmonton Oilers (25.6%): Presuming (safely) that Andrei Vasilevskiy and other netminding heavyweights are spoken for, Smith serves as a largely available, if admittedly more volatile, next-best option in fantasy leagues where wins matter. While Mikko Koskinen hasn't played much of late, Smith has won nine of his past 12 starts, losing only once in regulation. And he's looked good doing it, boasting a .921 SV%. Until the pendulum swings back in Koskinen's favor -- we may be a while -- Smith should top any H2H manager's list as a sub-in asset if the W's mean something.