Fantasy hockey bounce-back candidates for 2026-27
Top 10 players who can return to past elite form; season preview podcasts
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1. Auston Matthews, F, TOR
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 NHL seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs 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. Matthews should also benefit from the offseason additions of Gavin McKenna (No. 1 pick in 2026 NHL Draft), Kirill Marchenko and Darren Raddysh.
2. Connor Hellebuyck, G, WPG
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 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 Winnipeg Jets, is a three-time Vezina Trophy winner with a ceiling of finishing as the top fantasy goalie this season. UPDATE: Hellebuyck has been suspended by the Jets for not reporting to training camp, making his fantasy average draft position worth monitoring.
3. Brayden Point, F, TBL
Point, who was limited to 63 games for the Tampa Bay Lightning 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.
4. Zach Hyman, F, EDM
Hyman reached the 30-goal mark (31) for the third time of his career despite being limited to 58 of the Edmonton Oilers' 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).
5. Jacob Markstrom, G, FLA
After being traded from the New Jersey Devils on June 30, Markstrom is a bounce-back candidate and has sneaky upside given the Florida Panthers' defensive structure and their 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.
6. Nazem Kadri, F, COL
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.
7. Jordan Kyrou, F, WSH
Kyrou, who was acquired by the Washington Capitals this offseason, scored 18 goals with the St. Louis Blues last season but had at least 30 goals in each of his previous three seasons, 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 2025-26 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 had at least 235 shots on goal in three of his past four seasons and now has a chance to play in the Capitals’ top six and on the first power play.
8. Shea Theodore, D, VGK
Theodore, a two-time 50-point producer and four-time 10-goal scorer, has a high fantasy ceiling as the potential first power-play quarterback in the Vegas Golden Knights’ consistent offense. The 31-year-old had 39 points (10 goals, 29 assists) in 70 games last season, his first below the 40-point mark since 2018-19. The departure of Pavel Dorofeyev (traded to New York Rangers) means Theodore could quarterback the Golden Knights' top power play again after they used a five-forward unit for much of last season. Vegas ranked sixth in the NHL in power-play goals (58) and power-play percentage (24.6 percent) last season.
9. JJ Peterka, F, BOS
Peterka, who was acquired by the Boston Bruins this offseason, 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 Buffalo Sabres in 2024-25, scoring 27 goals that season). 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 new career highs in goals and points with the 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.
10. Thomas Harley, D, DAL
Harley had 36 points and six goals in 70 games for the Dallas Stars 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) and could re-emerge as Dallas' top defenseman given Miro Heiskanen's inconsistency over the years in terms of fantasy performance.
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Other bounce-back candidates:
Sam Reinhart, F, FLA
Robert Thomas, F, STL
Roope Hintz, F, DAL
Dylan Strome, F, WSH
J.T. Miller, F, NYR
Elias Pettersson, F, VAN
Jared McCann, F, SEA
Jonathan Marchessault, F, NSH
Roman Josi, D, NSH
Victor Hedman, D, TBL
Dougie Hamilton, D, NJD
Seth Jones, D, FLA
Sergei Bobrovsky, G, TOR
Linus Ullmark, G, OTT
Mackenzie Blackwood, G, COL
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