Apples & Ginos Fantasy Hockey Podcast

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!

🏒 Welcome to Apples and Ginos – Your Ultimate Fantasy Hockey Edge!

Every week we dive deep into fantasy hockey insights, player analysis, waiver wire pickups, trade targets, lineup tips, and more to help you dominate your league. Hosted by Nate Groot Nibbelink and Blake Creamer, this channel is dedicated to giving you the tools you need to make smart, informed decisions all season long.

🔔 Subscribe for weekly videos, rankings, and updates:

https://www.youtube.com/@applesginos

💬 Join the community:

Discord: https://discord.gg/a3hZkJzK2a

Apples and Ginos on X: https://x.com/ApplesGinos

Blake Creamer on X: https://x.com/BlakeCreamerAG

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/applesginos/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@applesandginos

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!

🏒 Welcome to Apples and Ginos – Your Ultimate Fantasy Hockey Edge!Every week we dive deep into fantasy hockey insights, player analysis, waiver wire pickups, trade targets, lineup tips, and more to help you dominate your league. Hosted by Nate Groot Nibbelink and Blake Creamer, this channel is dedicated to giving you the tools you need to make smart, informed decisions all season long.🔔 Subscribe for weekly videos, rankings, and updates:https://www.youtube.com/@applesginos💬 Join the community:Discord: https://discord.gg/a3hZkJzK2aApples and Ginos on X: https://x.com/ApplesGinosBlake Creamer on X: https://x.com/BlakeCreamerAGInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/applesginos/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@applesandginos

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!

🏒 Welcome to Apples and Ginos – Your Ultimate Fantasy Hockey Edge!Every week we dive deep into fantasy hockey insights, player analysis, waiver wire pickups, trade targets, lineup tips, and more to help you dominate your league. Hosted by Nate Groot Nibbelink and Blake Creamer, this channel is dedicated to giving you the tools you need to make smart, informed decisions all season long.🔔 Subscribe for weekly videos, rankings, and updates:https://www.youtube.com/@applesginos💬 Join the community:Discord: https://discord.gg/a3hZkJzK2aApples and Ginos on X: https://x.com/ApplesGinosBlake Creamer on X: https://x.com/BlakeCreamerAGInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/applesginos/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@applesandginos

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!

🏒 Welcome to Apples and Ginos – Your Ultimate Fantasy Hockey Edge!Every week we dive deep into fantasy hockey insights, player analysis, waiver wire pickups, trade targets, lineup tips, and more to help you dominate your league. Hosted by Nate Groot Nibbelink and Blake Creamer, this channel is dedicated to giving you the tools you need to make smart, informed decisions all season long.🔔 Subscribe for weekly videos, rankings, and updates:https://www.youtube.com/@applesginos💬 Join the community:Discord: https://discord.gg/a3hZkJzK2aApples and Ginos on X: https://x.com/ApplesGinosBlake Creamer on X: https://x.com/BlakeCreamerAGInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/applesginos/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@applesandginos

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!

🏒 Welcome to Apples and Ginos – Your Ultimate Fantasy Hockey Edge!Every week we dive deep into fantasy hockey insights, player analysis, waiver wire pickups, trade targets, lineup tips, and more to help you dominate your league. Hosted by Nate Groot Nibbelink and Blake Creamer, this channel is dedicated to giving you the tools you need to make smart, informed decisions all season long.🔔 Subscribe for weekly videos, rankings, and updates:https://www.youtube.com/@applesginos💬 Join the community:Discord: https://discord.gg/a3hZkJzK2aApples and Ginos on X: https://x.com/ApplesGinosBlake Creamer on X: https://x.com/BlakeCreamerAGInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/applesginos/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@applesandginos

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!

🏒 Welcome to Apples and Ginos – Your Ultimate Fantasy Hockey Edge!

Every week we dive deep into fantasy hockey insights, player analysis, waiver wire pickups, trade targets, lineup tips, and more to help you dominate your league. Hosted by Nate Groot Nibbelink and Blake Creamer, this channel is dedicated to giving you the tools you need to make smart, informed decisions all season long.

🔔 Subscribe for weekly videos, rankings, and updates:

https://www.youtube.com/@applesginos

💬 Join the community:

Discord: https://discord.gg/a3hZkJzK2a

Apples and Ginos on X: https://x.com/ApplesGinos

Blake Creamer on X: https://x.com/BlakeCreamerAG

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/applesginos/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@applesandginos

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/VictorNuno12

Fantasy Hockey Life Podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fantasy-hockey-life--3548456

Fantasy Hockey Life Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/FantasyHockeyLife

The Journey on Dobber Hockey:

https://dobberhockey.com/category/hockey-home/the-journey/

McKeen's Hockey:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/

00:00 - Intro

03:30 - Overall Class Strength

05:21 - Tiering at the Top

09:12 - NHL-Ready or Not?

13:51 - Top Defensemen

20:09 - Victor's Top 10 Ranks

26:31 - Offensive Potential

34:20 - Banger League Studs

38:55 - Surprising Selections

42:35 - Great Player/Team Fit

46:29 - Top Goalies to Know

50:38 - Late Round Sleepers

52:53 - Real Life vs Fantasy

We’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!

🏒 Welcome to Apples and Ginos – Your Ultimate Fantasy Hockey Edge! Every week we dive deep into fantasy hockey insights, player analysis, waiver wire pickups, trade targets, lineup tips, and more to help you dominate your league. Hosted by Nate Groot Nibbelink and Blake Creamer, this channel is dedicated to giving you the tools you need to make smart, informed decisions all season long.

🔔 Subscribe for weekly videos, rankings, and updates:

https://www.youtube.com/@applesginos

💬 Join the community:

Discord: https://discord.gg/a3hZkJzK2a

Apples and Ginos on X: https://x.com/ApplesGinos

Blake Creamer on X: https://x.com/BlakeCreamerAG

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/applesginos/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@applesandginos

🎧 Listen to the podcast:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4mVuWl51pWQ3SYGvXKuKe7?si=ebea8bc7c23046d0

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/apples-ginos-fantasy-hockey-podcast/id1592937637

All platforms: https://linktr.ee/applesandginos

#FantasyHockey #NHLFantasy #HockeyAdvice #WaiverWire #NHL #NHLDraft #NHLDraft2026 #Dynasty #DynastyFantasyHockey #FantasyHockeyTips #ApplesAndGinos

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 - Intro

02:37 - Signings

13:42 - Samoskevich to SEA

17:46 - Tkachuk to FLA

24:59 - Nemec to CGY

32:07 - Eklund to OTT

35:43 - Kyrou to WSH

40:32 - Tuch to WSH

44:26 - Byram to CHI

51:54 - Nichushkin to CBJ

55:50 - Zellweger to BUF

1:00:06 - McTavish to STL

1:03:22 - Peterka to BOS

1:09:38 - Dorofeyev to NYR

1:17:22 - Draft vibes

We’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!

🏒 Welcome to Apples and Ginos – Your Ultimate Fantasy Hockey Edge! Every week we dive deep into fantasy hockey insights, player analysis, waiver wire pickups, trade targets, lineup tips, and more to help you dominate your league. Hosted by Nate Groot Nibbelink and Blake Creamer, this channel is dedicated to giving you the tools you need to make smart, informed decisions all season long.

🔔 Subscribe for weekly videos, rankings, and updates:

https://www.youtube.com/@applesginos

💬 Join the community:

Discord: https://discord.gg/a3hZkJzK2a

Apples and Ginos on X: https://x.com/ApplesGinos

Blake Creamer on X: https://x.com/BlakeCreamerAG

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/applesginos/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@applesandginos

🎧 Listen to the podcast:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4mVuWl51pWQ3SYGvXKuKe7?si=ebea8bc7c23046d0

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/apples-ginos-fantasy-hockey-podcast/id1592937637

All platforms: https://linktr.ee/applesandginos

#FantasyHockey #NHLFantasy #HockeyAdvice #WaiverWire #NHL #FantasyHockeyTips #ApplesAndGinos

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.

🏒 Welcome to Apples and Ginos – Your Ultimate Fantasy Hockey Edge!

Every week we dive deep into fantasy hockey insights, player analysis, waiver wire pickups, trade targets, lineup tips, and more to help you dominate your league. Hosted by Nate Groot Nibbelink and Blake Creamer, this channel is dedicated to giving you the tools you need to make smart, informed decisions all season long.

🔔 Subscribe for weekly videos, rankings, and updates:

https://www.youtube.com/@applesginos

💬 Join the community:

Discord: https://discord.gg/a3hZkJzK2a

Apples and Ginos on X: https://x.com/ApplesGinos

Blake Creamer on X: https://x.com/BlakeCreamerAG

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/applesginos/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@applesandginos

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!

🏒 Welcome to Apples and Ginos – Your Ultimate Fantasy Hockey Edge!

Every week we dive deep into fantasy hockey insights, player analysis, waiver wire pickups, trade targets, lineup tips, and more to help you dominate your league. Hosted by Nate Groot Nibbelink and Blake Creamer, this channel is dedicated to giving you the tools you need to make smart, informed decisions all season long.

🔔 Subscribe for weekly videos, rankings, and updates:

https://www.youtube.com/@applesginos

💬 Join the community:

Discord: https://discord.gg/a3hZkJzK2a

Apples and Ginos on X: https://x.com/ApplesGinos

Blake Creamer on X: https://x.com/BlakeCreamerAG

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/applesginos/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@applesandginos