We’re now almost two months into the 2024–25 NHL season, and some surprising trends and performances have earned plenty of attention across the league. Every season there are players who come out of nowhere to surpass their draft day value early into the season, only to come back down to earth in the new year.
These players present perfect opportunities to capitalize when value is at an all-time high and deal them for more proven, consistent assets that can help you later in the season. Below are five players with huge sell-high potential right now that you should consider flipping if they’re on your roster.
Martin Necas, F – Carolina Hurricanes
Who had Martin Necas sitting atop of the league in scoring at the end of November? No one, that’s who. The 25-year-old took a big step back last season with just 53 points in 77 games which raised some concerns that his 71-point breakout in 2022–23 was a fluke. Now 23 games into the season Necas has racked up an astounding 37 points in 23 games, just 16 short of tying last season’s total but with 44 fewer games played.
If you drafted Necas in the middle of your draft, now would be a great time to gauge interest around your league for his services in return for a more established star. That isn’t to say Necas can’t keep producing, but his current 132-point pace seems too good to be true. He’s currently shooting the lights out at 21.8%, over double last season’s total. At some point here the luck will dry up and Necas will see his totals drop. For now, his value couldn’t be higher on the trade market.
Dustin Wolf, G – Calgary Flames
Dustin Wolf has proved the doubters wrong this season. After a rough go of it last year during his first extended stretch of NHL action, Wolf has looked like the elite goaltending prospect everyone thought he was this season. So far through 13 games played, the rookie has posted an impressive 8–4–1 record along with a .918 save percentage and 2.59 GAA. He’s quite literally carrying the Calgary Flames right now, a team that hasn’t scored more than three goals in a game since October 13.
Wolf is for real, there’s no doubt about that, but it’s fair to wonder how long a rookie goaltender can carry a team before some cracks start to show. Right now Wolf ranks 12th in the NHL in wins and is seventh among starters in save percentage. The Flames were expected to be a bottom feeder this season, and at any moment the rug could get pulled out from under them. If you’re looking for a safer bet between the pipes, moving Wolf for a veteran goalie on a better team is a good move.
Matt Duchene, F – Dallas Stars
No team has caused fantasy managers more frustration than the Dallas Stars. The team’s top-end talent has essentially all struggled, with veterans like Matt Duchene coming out of nowhere to lead the team in scoring with 27 points in 22 games. How long that will actually last though is up for debate. At some point, the Stars top dogs are going to start producing, and Duchene is going to hit a cold stretch.
That’s not to say Duchene won’t still put up 60+ points this season, but his current 101-point pace seems impossible to maintain for a 33-year-old who posted just 65 points last year. Duchene is floating on some serious luck right now. He’s currently sitting on 12 goals on the year but has put up just 40 shots. In other words, he’s scoring on pretty much one out of almost three shots he takes. That won’t continue and when his shooting percentage drops closer to his career average of 13.3%, his goal and point totals will come back down to earth. Sell now before that happens.
Sam Bennett, F – Florida Panthers
Sam Bennett is in the midst of the best season of his career. After posting just 41 points last year, Bennett is already at 22 this season in just 23 games. His 11 goals are only nine short of his full-season total from last year in 46 fewer games. One of the main reasons for the big spike is his current 15.7% shooting percentage, a total that’s 5% higher than his career average. How long those percentages remained spiked remains to be seen.
Bennett is a valuable player in banger leagues thanks to his category coverage, but there’s a very good chance his near-point-per-game pace comes crashing down at some point here. He’s posted 11 goals against his 7 ixG on the year. In other words, he’s scored four more times than what was expected given the chances he’s creating. There’s a reason his career-high in the NHL is just 49 points. He’s never been an elite scorer in this league and the odds of this pace continuing don’t seem great.
Opportunity awaits
Not moving these players isn’t necessarily the end of the world. They are still producing for the time being and can be difference-makers in the short term. However, with the long-term outlook over the balance of a season, getting a good return for them is always a strong play.
