Fantasy spin on NHL training camps for 2026-27

NHL.com reacts to the biggest fantasy hockey news at the start of training camps for the 2026-27 season. For more coverage, visit NHL.com/Fantasy.

MORE FANTASY COVERAGE

Top 250 rankings | Keeper / dynasty

Point projections | Win projections

Mock draft 2.0 ⏰ | Cheat sheet

Byram scores hat trick for Blackhawks in preseason

Defenseman Bowen Byram, who was acquired by the Chicago Blackhawks from the Buffalo Sabres this offseason and then signed a six-year contract (begins in 2027-28 season), had a hat trick against the Minnesota Wild on Monday. Byram, who's expected to start the regular season on the top pair with Alex Vlasic and be a No. 1 defenseman for the first time of his NHL career, also had five shots on goal, two hits and one block while playing a game-high 23:31. Byram, who has a fantasy average draft position (ADP) of 115.8, will be relied upon heavily for Chicago during the injury absence of top forward Connor Bedard and could bring exposure to other high-upside forwards like Anton Frondell, Frank Nazar and/or rookie Roman Kantserov on the first power play.

Hellebuyck suspended for not reporting to Jets’ training camp

Goalie Connor Hellebuyck has been suspended by the Winnipeg Jets after he failed to report to their training camp this week. Hellebuyck, who has made public his desire to be traded by the Jets earlier this offseason, is a three-time Vezina Trophy winner with fantasy bounce-back potential regardless of which team he plays for. Hellebuyck currently has an ADP of 27.9 but fell into the fourth round of NHL.com's fantasy mock draft 2.0 given the uncertainty of the situation. Stuart Skinner, who the Jets signed to a two-year contract in the offseason, could begin the season as the starting goalie for Winnipeg.

Kreider starts camp on Canadiens' top line

Veteran Chris Kreider, who signed a one-year contract with the Montreal Canadiens earlier this month after having his contract terminated by the Anaheim Ducks, started training camp on the top line with elite forwards Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. Kreider, a three-time 30-goal scorer who has covered key NHL EDGE stats like high-danger goals, high-danger shots on goal and skating speed through the years with the New York Rangers and Ducks, is going undrafted on average in fantasy. It's worth noting that Juraj Slafkovsky skated on the second line with Ivan Demidov and Oliver Kapanen. Kapanen, who ranked third among rookies in goals (22) last season, is considered a deep league sleeper given his exposure to Slafkovsky and Demidov.

Byfield starts camp on Kings’ top line

Center Quinton Byfield started training camp on the Los Angeles Kings’ top line with high-scoring wings Artemi Panarin and Adrian Kempe. Byfield, who scored 13 goals in 24 games after the Kings acquired Panarin from the New York Rangers last season, is a full-fledged breakout candidate in fantasy after setting NHL career highs in goals (24 in 79 games) and shots on goal (180) last season. Byfield, who's 24 years old and was the No. 2 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, is a potential steal based on ADP (136.8) considering he covers key EDGE stats like 20-plus mph speed bursts, total skating distance and shots-by-location metrics.

Capitals start camp with Protas brothers, Leonard in top six

Rookie forward Ilya Protas started training camp on a line with his brother Aliaksei Protas and offseason addition Jordan Kyrou. Ilya Protas, who had four points (one goal, three assists), including a power-play goal, and seven shots on goal in his first four NHL games last season, is part of Washington’s deep forward group and also a building block of the team’s young core, along with defenseman Cole Hutson and forward Ryan Leonard. Ilya Protas, who’s going undrafted on average in fantasy, is worth prioritizing in keeper and dynasty leagues.

Leonard, who signed an eight-year contract with the Capitals on Sept. 17, started training camp on the second line with Alex Ovechkin and Dylan Strome and could also see time on the first power play. Leonard is a breakout candidate attainable in the late rounds (ADP: 132.9). UPDATE: Ovechkin may not play in the preseason because of a lower-body injury.

Sharks’ Marchment starts camp on top line with Celebrini, Smith; Cagnoni playing on first power play

Forward Mason Marchment, who signed a five-year contract with the San Jose Sharks this offseason, started training camp on the top line with the elite duo of Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith. Marchment, who had a strong finish to last season with the Columbus Blue Jackets (32 points in final 39 games), is one of NHL.com’s top 10 fantasy sleepers for the 2026-27 season. Frequent exposure to Celebrini, who’s a top five overall player in NHL.com’s fantasy rankings and a potential Hart Trophy candidate, could make Marchment a huge fantasy steal based on ADP (130.7), especially given his strong hits coverage (84 in 68 games last season).

Rookie forward Ivar Stenberg, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, played on a line with Alexander Wennberg and Collin Graf in his preseason debut. It's worth noting that rookie defenseman Luca Cagnoni played on the first power play in Tuesday's preseason game against the Vegas Golden Knights and has a chance to play a significant role for San Jose this season.

---

Other new line combinations to monitor in fantasy: Gavin McKenna, F, TOR (with William Nylander, John Tavares); Roman Kantserov, F, CHI (with Frank Nazar, Patrick Kane); Maxim Shabanov, F, MIN (with Kirill Kaprizov, Ryan Hartman)

Read more: Babcock to start season with McDavid, Draisaitl on same line for Oilers

Other key injury situations to monitor in fantasy: Brady Tkachuk, F, FLA; Dylan Larkin, F, DET; Brad Marchand, F, FLA; Mathew Barzal, F, NYI; Mats Zuccarello, F, LAK; Mattias Samuelsson, D, BUF; Dan Vladar, G, PHI