Fantasy hockey top 10 rookie rankings for 2026-27
Martone, McKenna, Cole Hutson leading class; Blackhawks have 2 players on list
MORE FANTASY COVERAGE:
Top 250 ranks | 100 'F' | 50 'D' | 25 'G'
Keeper / dynasty | NHL EDGE stats
Fantasy spin: McKenna to Maple Leafs
NOTE: Players on this list are eligible for the Calder Trophy, which is given annually to the best rookie in the NHL as voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
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1. Porter Martone, F, PHI
Average draft position: 68.7
Martone, who was the No. 6 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft and signed his entry-level contract with the Philadelphia Flyers on March 29, had 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in his first 19 NHL games (regular season and playoffs combined). From Martone's debut (March 31) through the end of the regular season, the 19-year-old was the only player in the NHL with at least 10 points (four goals, six assists in nine games) and 15 hits (16) over that span. Per NHL EDGE stats, Martone scored each of his four regular-season goals from high-danger areas, giving Philadelphia a much-needed net-front presence; the Flyers, as a team, scored the second-fewest high-danger goals (102). Martone, who could play on the Flyers' top line and first power-play unit in his first full NHL season, is a must-have player in fantasy leagues counting hits and shots on goal and fringe top 10 overall player in keeper and dynasty leagues.
2. Gavin McKenna, F, TOR
Average draft position: 93.9
McKenna, the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, could make an immediate impact this season alongside the Toronto Maple Leafs' elite offensive talent. During his freshman season at Penn State, McKenna was tied for fifth in the NCAA with 51 points (15 goals, 36 assists) in 35 games and averaged 4.34 shots on goal per game. He had 33 points (11 goals, 22 assists) in 19 NCAA games following the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship; McKenna finished second in points at the WJC (14; four goals, 10 assists in seven games). Per NHL EDGE stats, the Maple Leafs offense should get a boost from McKenna’s playmaking ability after they ranked last in the League in offensive zone time percentage (38.9) last season; even so, Toronto ranked highly in high-danger goals (130; 11th) and mid-range goals (85; ninth). The 18-year-old, whose primary position has been left wing, could earn a spot on the top line with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies or the second line with John Tavares and William Nylander, as well as the first power-play unit. McKenna is a fringe top 15 forward in the fantasy keeper and dynasty rankings.
3. Cole Hutson, D, WSH
Average draft position: 91.7
Hutson had 10 points (three goals, seven assists), six power-play points, 22 shots on goal, 16 hits and averaged 17:27 of ice time in 14 NHL games for the Washington Capitals last season. The 20-year-old was selected in the second round (No. 43) of the 2024 NHL Draft and is a top contender for the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year this season. Last season, Hutson had a game with seven shots on goal, three games with at least three hits, and one game with two power-play points, showing his category coverage. Per NHL EDGE stats, Hutson ranked in the 91st percentile among defensemen in max skating speed (22.94 mph) last season. Hutson, who has an offensive ceiling similar to his brother Lane Hutson of the Montreal Canadiens, is in the top five at his position of NHL.com's fantasy keeper and dynasty rankings.
4. Anton Frondell, F, CHI
Average draft position: 138.3
The No. 3 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft had nine points (three goals, six assists), two on the power play, and 36 shots on goal in his first 12 NHL games for the Chicago Blackhawks at the end of last regular season; he became the sixth player since 2015-16 to have at least nine points in his first 12 games as an 18-year-old; the others were Connor McDavid, Patrik Laine, Connor Bedard, Macklin Celebrini and Matthew Schaefer. Per NHL EDGE stats, Frondell ranked highly among forwards in both hardest shot (93.56 mph; 94th percentile) and average shot speed (61.82 mph; 94th percentile) as a rookie last season in a small sample size. With a chance to shoulder a heavy workload early in the season during Bedard’s injury absence, Frondell has the ceiling of being a Calder Trophy contender and could be a big fantasy steal in the process. Frondell is a fringe top 15 option in keeper and dynasty formats but could be underestimated in standard, redraft leagues.
5. Ivar Stenberg, F, SJS
Average draft position: 132.8
Stenberg, the No. 2 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft by the San Jose Sharks, had the fifth-most points (33) ever by a player age 18 or younger in the Swedish Hockey League last season behind only Daniel Sedin (42 points in 1998-99), Markus Naslund (39 points in 1991-92), Tomas Sandstrom (37 points in 1982-83) and Henrik Sedin (34 points in 1998-99). Stenberg helped Sweden win gold at the 2026 World Junior Championship, where he tied for the country’s lead with 10 points (four goals, six assists) in seven games (including one goal, two assists in gold medal game). Stenberg is a dark horse candidate for the Calder Trophy as he joins the Sharks’ deep offense. Per NHL EDGE stats, the Sharks ranked highly in both high-danger goals (132; ninth) and mid-range goals (84; tied for 10th) last season despite missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
6. Konsta Helenius, F, BUF
Average draft position: N/A
The 14th pick in the 2024 NHL Draft made waves in the hockey world last spring; after having four points in nine games last regular season, Helenius scored two goals on four shots on goal in four playoff games for the Buffalo Sabres and then scored the golden goal in overtime for Finland at the 2026 IIHF World Championship. Per NHL EDGE stats, Helenius ranked highly among forwards in average shot speed (66.57 mph; 98th percentile) during a small sample size last regular season. Considering Buffalo quietly ranked fifth in goals per game last season (3.45) but had a key offseason departure in forward Alex Tuch, Helenius could seize a prominent role at 20 years old playing either center or wing this season.
7. Roman Kantserov, F, CHI
Average draft position: N/A
Kantserov, who will turn 22 years old on Sept. 20, led the Kontinental Hockey League in goals (36) last season and now joins the Blackhawks’ young forward core, which includes Bedard, Frondell and Frank Nazar. Per NHL EDGE stats, the Blackhawks quietly ranked third in average shot speed (59.65 mph) last season despite missing the postseason. Although Bedard is expected to miss the start of the season because of injury, Kantserov could have a prominent role with Frondell or Nazar and potentially either stick with that player or be moved to Bedard’s line upon his return. It’s also worth noting Chicago signed veteran wing Patrick Kane, who had 57 points (16 goals, 41 assists) in 67 games last season with the Detroit Red Wings and remains a high-end playmaker.
8. James Hagens, F, BOS
Average draft position: 129.0
The No. 7 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft had one assist and two shots on goal in two NHL games for the Boston Bruins at the end of last regular season and also played three games during the 2026 playoffs. As a sophomore at Boston College, Hagens ranked 10th in the NCAA in points (47 in 34 games) last season after also having a point per game as a freshman in 2024-25 (37 in 37 games). While Hagens could start the season on the Bruins’ third line and second power play, he has the ceiling of emerging as a top-flight option for the team as early as this season. Per NHL EDGE stats, Hagens had 12 speed bursts of 18-20 mph over his two NHL games last season.
9. Jacob Fowler, G, MTL
Average draft position: 150.6
Overshadowed by the breakout season and 2026 playoff run for Jakub Dobes, Fowler is only 21 years old and also has a high ceiling in the short and long term for the Montreal Canadiens. Fowler was 9-6-2 with a .908 save percentage and one shutout in 17 NHL games last season and could be a part of an efficient timeshare for one of the most-promising young teams in the League. Per NHL EDGE stats, Fowler ranked highly in mid-range save percentage (.911; 88th percentile) last season. Fowler, who’s ranked second among 25-and-under goalies for fantasy keeper and dynasty leagues behind Jesper Wallstedt of the Minnesota Wild, is being underestimated in redraft leagues and is a rookie-eligible sleeper pick, especially as a stack with Dobes.
10. Victor Eklund, F, NYI
Average draft position: N/A
The New York Islanders offense has some high-upside young players to integrate around star defenseman Matthew Schaefer in the years ahead, including their top forward prospects in Eklund and Cole Eiserman. Eklund, the 16th pick in the 2025 NHL Draft and younger brother of Ottawa Senators wing William Eklund, had a strong NHL debut for the Islanders under new coach Peter DeBoer with one assist, two shots on goal and two hits in 15:30 on April 14. Per NHL EDGE stats, he ranked highly among forwards in average shot speed (62.40 mph; 95th percentile) and even-strength offensive zone time percentage (43.0; 88th percentile) last season. Eklund also had 10 points (three goals, seven assists; one power-play goal) in nine games last season in the American Hockey League and could compete with players like Eiserman (20th pick in 2024 NHL Draft; nine points in 12 AHL games last season), Calum Ritchie and veteran Kyle Palmieri (18 points in 25 games last season prior to season-ending injury) for top-six and/or first power-play usage over the course of this season.
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Other potential rookies to consider in fantasy
Roger McQueen, F, ANA
Charlie Cerrato, F, CAR
Bradly Nadeau, F, CAR
Sacha Boisvert, F, CHI
Matthew DiMarsico, F, COL
T.J. Hughes, F, COL
Carter Bear, F, DET
Aiden Fink, F, NSH
Cole Eiserman, F, NYI
Bill Zonnon, F, PIT
Quentin Musty, F, SJS
Filip Bystedt, F, SJS
Justin Carbonneau, F, STL
Sam O’Reilly, F, TBL
Tij Iginla, F, UTA
Caleb Desnoyers, F, UTA
Trevor Connelly, F, VGK
Ilya Protas, F, WSH
Andrew Cristall, F, WSH
Viggo Björck, F, WPG
David Reinbacher, D, MTL
Kashawn Aitcheson, D, NYI
Carter Yakemchuk, D, OTT
Arsenii Sergeev, G, CGY
Ilya Nabokov, G, COL
Trey Augustine, G, DET
Sebastian Cossa, G, UTA
Sergei Murashov, G, PIT
