Fantasy hockey bounce-back candidates for 2026-27
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1. Auston Matthews, F, TOR
NHL.com fantasy rank: 17
Matthews had NHL career lows in points (53), goals (27) and power-play points (12) last season, but was limited to 60 games and had a career-low 11.9 shooting rate. The two-time 60-goal scorer has at least 30 goals in nine of his 10 seasons in the NHL and at least 40 goals in six of those seasons. Matthews, who leads active NHL players in career goals per game (0.62), has had at least 325 shots on goal in three of his past five seasons and ranks second in shots on goal per game (4.01) since his first season in the League in 2016-17. Despite missing 37 games over the past two seasons, Matthews is the only player in the NHL to have at least 480 shots on goal (488), 80 hits (87) and 130 blocked shots (170) over that span.
2. Brayden Point, F, TBL
NHL.com fantasy rank: 61
Point, who was limited to 63 games last season due to multiple injuries, had his lowest point total (50) since 2020-21 (48 points in 56 games) and his 18 goals were tied for the fewest he’s had in a season since his rookie campaign in 2016-17. The eight-time 20-goal scorer and four-time 40-goal scorer (three times in his past four seasons) had a career-high 51 goals and 95 points in 2022-23 and ranks seventh in goals (157 in 303 games) over that span. Point ranks sixth in the entire NHL in power-play goals (67) over the past five seasons and has had at least 30 power-play points in three of those seasons.
3. Zach Hyman, F, EDM
NHL.com fantasy rank: 87
Hyman reached the 30-goal mark (31) for the third time of his career despite being limited to 58 of Edmonton’s 82 games last season. Hyman has had a high fantasy ceiling in the past in terms of goals (54 in 2023-24; third in NHL) and peripheral category coverage. Since 2022-23 (past four seasons combined), Hyman is one of five players in the entire NHL to average 3.00 shots on goal per game (3.22), 0.50 goals per game (0.51) and 0.90 hits per game (0.96).
4. Nazem Kadri, F, COL
NHL.com fantasy rank: 112
Kadri had 50 points (16 goals, 34 assists) in 77 games last season, including nine points (four goals, five assists) and six power-play points in 16 games with the Colorado Avalanche after they acquired him from the Calgary Flames. Kadri had NHL career highs in points (87 in 71 games), assists (59) and power-play points (29) with the Avalanche in 2021-22. Kadri, who has had at least 240 shots on goal in four of his past five seasons and at least 50 hits in five consecutive seasons, is expected to play in the top-six and on the first power play with the Avalanche.
5. Robert Thomas, F, STL
NHL.com fantasy rank: 56
Thomas has had at least a point per game in each of the past three seasons and four of the past five. Over those past five seasons (since 2021-22), Thomas is tied for 23rd in the entire NHL in points per game (1.03; 373 in 361 games) among those who have played at least 200 games over that span. Despite being limited to 64 games last season, Thomas led the Blues in goals (25), assists (39), points (64) and even-strength points (47). The 27-year-old, who had 37 points in his final 30 games last season, could challenge his career high in points (86 in 2023-24) given his chemistry with wings Dylan Holloway and Jimmy Snuggerud down the stretch last season.
6. Roope Hintz, F, DAL
NHL.com fantasy rank: 86
Hintz had 44 points (15 goals, 29 assists), 19 on the power play, and 126 shots on goal through 53 games last season. The 29-year-old averaged 33.0 goals and 69.7 points in four seasons from 2021-22 to 2024-25 and had 84 power-play points and 13 shorthanded points over that span. Hintz should play in Dallas’ top-six and see significant power-play time bringing exposure to the Stars top wings in Jason Robertson and/or Mikko Rantanen.
7. Jordan Kyrou, F, WSH
NHL.com fantasy rank: 123
Kyrou had 18 goals with the St. Louis Blues last season, but had at least 30 goals in his previous three seasons in the NHL, including 36 goals in 2024-25 and a career-high 37 goals in 2022-23. Kyrou, who had 46 points in 72 games last season, had at least 67 points in four straight seasons prior to the 2025-26 season and at least 70 points in three of those seasons. Kyrou, who had a 10.4 percent shooting rate last season, his lowest mark since 2019-20 (10.3), has at least 235 shots on goal in three of his past four seasons. Kyrou has a chance to play on the Capitals’ first line and power play this season.
8. Dylan Strome, F, WSH
NHL.com fantasy rank: 126
Strome’s 58 points and 19 goals in 80 games last season were his lowest totals in four seasons with the Capitals. Strome, who had NHL career highs in points (82 in 82 games), goals (29), assists (53) and power-play points (34) in 2024-25, has had at least 20 goals in four of his past five seasons and at least 65 points in three of his past four seasons. Strome could get back in the point-per game range with the additions of Kyrou and Alex Tuch in the offseason.
9. Jacob Markstrom, G, FLA
NHL.com fantasy rank: 79
After being traded from the New Jersey Devils on June 30, Markstrom is a bounce-back candidate and has sneaky upside given Florida’s defensive structure and elite supporting cast in front of him. Florida is tied for the third-fewest shots on goal (27.0) in the NHL over the previous two seasons combined (2023-24 and 2024-25) and ranked among the leaders in offensive zone time percentage over that span. Markstrom, who has had at least 20 wins in nine straight seasons, has a chance for his second 30-win season in his NHL career (37 wins in 2021-22 with Calgary Flames) this season.
10. Connor Hellebuyck, G, WPG
NHL.com fantasy rank: 27
Hellebuyck’s 23 wins in 57 games last season were the fewest he’s had in a season since his rookie campaign (13-11-1) in 2015-16. He had a career-low .895 save percentage last season and zero shutouts for the first time in his career. Hellebuyck won the Hart Memorial Trophy and Vezina Trophy in 2024-25 after posting NHL career highs in wins (47-12-3), goals-against average (2.00), save percentage (.925) and shutouts (eight). Among goalies with 125 games played since 2022-23, Hellebuyck leads the League in wins (144 in 244 games played), save percentage (.916) and goals-against average (2.43) and ranks second in both shutouts (17) and saves (6,387). Hellebuyck, who has made public his desire to be traded by the Jets, is a three-time Vezina Trophy winner with a ceiling of finishing as the top fantasy goalie this season.
11. John Carlson, D, TBL
NHL.com fantasy rank: 116
Carlson, who’s coming off his fifth 60-point season last season, could have an even higher ceiling (had NHL career high 75 points in 69 games for Washington Capitals in 2019-20) in Tampa Bay’s offense and on the first power play with exposure to elite forwards Nikita Kucherov, Point and Jake Guentzel. Carlson could put up similar numbers to Darren Raddysh last season (70 points in 73 games, including 26 power-play points).
12. JJ Peterka, F, BOS
NHL.com fantasy rank: 156
Peterka scored 25 goals in 82 games with the Utah Mammoth last season, despite averaging 15:59 time on ice per game compared to 18:11 with the Buffalo Sabres in 2024-25 when he scored 27 goals. Peterka, who is tied for 16th in the entire NHL in 5-on-5 goals over the past three seasons combined (61 since 2023-24), has a chance to set NHL career highs in goals and points with the Boston Bruins this season as he could play on the first line and power play with David Pastrnak (100 points last season; tied for seventh in NHL) and Pavel Zacha (career-high 65 points). Peterka has had at least 25 goals in three straight seasons and had a career-high 68 points in 2024-25.
13. Sergei Bobrovsky, G, TOR
NHL.com fantasy rank: 118
Bobrovsky had a career-low .877 save percentage last season, which was the first time he’s had a save percentage below .900 since his sophomore season with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2011-12 (.899). Bobrovsky, who had 27 wins in 52 games last season, has had at least 30 wins in three of his past five seasons and his 15 shutouts over the past three seasons leads the NHL and his 164 games played over that span ranks seventh.
14. William Eklund, F, OTT
NHL.com fantasy rank: 196
Eklund, who the Senators acquired from the San Jose Sharks in the offseason, had 53 points (15 goals, 38 assists) last season and has at least 50 points in his past two seasons. Eklund, who had a career-high 176 shots on goal last season and has seen an increase in that category in his past three seasons, has at least 15 goals and 15 power-play points in each one of those seasons. Eklund saw a decline in ice time (18:32 per game) last season compared to 19:33 in 2024-25, but he could play a larger role on the Senators’ top line and first power play this season after Ottawa traded Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers.
15. Thomas Harley, D, DAL
NHL.com fantasy rank: 168
Harley had 36 points and six goals in 70 games last season, but had a career-high 16 goals and 50 points in 2024-25 and 15 goals and 47 points in 2023-24. Harley, missed time last season due to injury and his 5.3 percent shooting rate was much lower than his mark in 2024-25 (9.4 percent) and 2023-24 (10.4 percent). Harley is the only player at his position in the NHL over the past three seasons to have at least 35 goals (37), 370 blocked shots (393) and 130 hits (139).
16. Dougie Hamilton, D, NJD
NHL.com fantasy rank: 146
Hamilton scored 12 goals last season and has scored at least nine goals in 11 of his past 12 seasons and has double-digit goals in nine of those seasons. Hamilton’s 151 goals since 2014-15 ranks fourth among defensemen and his 2,401 shots on goal over that span ranks third at his position. The 33-year-old had 39 points last season, but has hit the 40-point mark in eight of his past 12 seasons. Hamilton was the only defenseman in the NHL last season to have at least 200 shots on goal (203), 80 hits (87) and 70 blocked shots (77).
17. J.T. Miller, F, NYR
NHL.com fantasy rank: 98
Miller has a high points ceiling from the past (103 in 2023-24 with Vancouver Canucks) and always brings strong category coverage but is coming off a down year offensively in his first full season back with the Rangers (17 goals, 53 points in 68 games). Even so, Miller was one of 13 players in the entire NHL to average at least 0.75 points per game (0.78), 1.50 hits per game (1.81) and 2.00 shots on goal per game (2.12) last season. Miller, who’s a top-six and first power-play fixture for New York, is a fantasy bounce-back candidate who could be one of the biggest steals based on average draft position, especially in leagues that count face-off wins (61.5 face-off win percentage last season; third in NHL among those with at least 300 face-off attempts).
18. Seth Jones, D, FLA
NHL.com fantasy rank: 167
Jones had 32 points (seven goals, 25 assists) and 16 power-play points in 52 games last season. Jones was one of three defensemen to average at least 0.62 points per game, 1.69 shots on goal per game, 0.90 hits per game and 1.17 blocks per game last season (others: Moritz Seider, Jackson LaCombe). Jones has a chance to play on the first power play with the Panthers this season and could be among the leaders in ice time per game at his position.
19. Elias Pettersson, F, VAN
NHL.com fantasy rank: 137
Pettersson led the Canucks in points (51 in 74 games) last season and scored 15 goals for the second straight season. Pettersson, who had three consecutive 30-goal seasons from 2021-22 to 2023-24, including a career-high 39 goals and 102 points in 2022-23, had a career-low 11.4 percent shooting rate last season. The 27-year-old was the only player in the NHL last season to have at least 15 goals, 50 points, 100 blocked shots (108) and 60 hits (67). Despite missing 26 games over the past two seasons, Pettersson is the only player in the League to have at least 30 goals, 140 hits (141), 65 assists (66) and 180 blocked shots (185) over that span.
20. Matt Duchene, F, DAL
NHL.com fantasy rank: 142
Duchene’s 45 points and 16 goals last season were his lowest totals since 2020-21 with the Nashville Predators when he has 13 points (six goals, seven assists) in 34 games. Duchene, who was limited to 57 games last season, had 82 points (30 goals, 52 assists) in 2024-25 and ranks fourth on the Stars in points per game (0.88; 192 points in 219 games) since his first season with Dallas (2023-24).
Other bounce-back candidates: Gabriel Landeskog, F, COL; Jared McCann, F, SEA; Jonathan Marchessault, F, NSH; Shea Theodore, D, VGK; Mackenzie Blackwood, G, COL
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