When it comes to building a fantasy hockey team, it's a perennial battle to see who will land superstars like Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon -- but there is no shortage of sleepers in the lower parts of the draft, which is equally as crucial as getting the big-time producers on your team.
With rookies poised for a big role in their first year as well as some bounce-back candidates and underrated contributors, here are sleeper candidates to keep an eye out for in the later rounds of your NHL fantasy draft.
Forwards
Isaac Howard
He hasn't made his NHL debut yet, but forward Isaac Howard has NHL.com's fantasy experts buzzing about his potential value during this upcoming season. After three impressive years in the NCAA including a Hobey Baker win, Howard is poised to crack the Edmonton Oilers' full-time roster -- and some even project him to skate on the top line alongside Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman.
It's not hard to see why the 21-year-old could bring tremendous value to the table. He had a breakout season with Michigan State this past year, putting up 26 goals and 52 points in 37 games. Howard is a shot on goal machine, recording five or more SOG in 17 games this past season, including a career-high 11 SOG in a single outing. He is incredibly efficient at creating space for himself or finding open lanes, and his laser-accurate shot often winds up hitting the target. Alongside a playmaker like McDavid or even Leon Draisaitl on the second line, Howard has the potential to generate a ton of chances and rack up points as the season progresses.
Dylan Strome
At age 28, Strome led the Washington Capitals with 82 points in as many games this past season -- quietly, as he's only ranked 116th in ESPN's fantasy guide. That was his career-best campaign, and he seems ready to build on that once again in 2025-26. Strome has scored at least 20 goals in four straight seasons now, but has really honed in on his puck distribution as of late particularly on the power play.
As Washington's top center, Strome is bookended by two high-volume scorers in Aliaksei Protas (30 goals) and Alex Oveckin (44 goals) which will no doubt help him develop his playmaking even further this season. When it comes to the lower parts of a fantasy draft, Strome is a point-per-game player that will likely drop to later rounds since he flies under the radar. He's missed just one game in the last three seasons combined, so he's a night-in, night-out guy that can be relied upon for points on a consistent basis.
Defenseman
Zeev Buium
Rookie Zeev Buium is set to join the Minnesota Wild full-time this season and he's expected to embrace a significant role in the lineup. As a likely member of the second pairing, the 19-year-old employs a well-rounded style of play marked by both offensive prowess and responsible defense. Not only did he produce over a point per game at the University of Denver, but he's a regular shot-blocker and skates in all situations with effectiveness.
Buium is ranked by NHL.com at No. 184 on their fantasy list, and it's always a gamble to bet on a young player in his first season. But they also project Buium to tally 43 points across 82 games, which is a solid total for a blueliner transitioning from the NCAA to the NHL. He will likely be under the radar for a lot of fans, making Buium a great option for a defender in the later rounds.
John Klingberg
Klingberg only played in 11 games after suffering a hip injury this past season, but as he prepares for his first year with the San Jose Sharks, the 33-year-old is poised to take on big minutes. He will likely serve as quarterback on the Sharks' top power play unit which also features the likes of Macklin Celebrini, William Eklund, and Will Smith who are all offensive weapons on a team that's trending in the right direction.
In his top form, Klingberg is capable of producing 40 or more points and over 70 blocked shots on a regular basis, but has also topped 100 blocks twice during his career. He could have a similar statline to someone like defenseman Jake Walman, a mobile blueliner who put up 40 points, 57 hits, and 147 blocks last season. Klingberg will almost certainly be available until the very end of the draft, so if you're looking for one last D-man who can chip in on the scoresheet and log a good amount of minutes, he might be the right choice further down the line.
Goaltenders
Mackenzie Blackwood
He may have run into a hot Dallas Stars team in the playoffs, which saw his numbers trend downward, but Mackenzie Blackwood is shaping up to be a trustworthy, consistent starter for the Colorado Avalanche. After joining the Avs following a trade from the Sharks, Blackwood went 22-12-3 with a .913 SV%, 2.33 GAA, and 3 shutouts. His impact was immediate, helping Colorado's goals against average at 5-on-5 drop from 3.52 to 2.89.
Blackwood made at least 25 saves in just under half of his starts, and 30 or more saves in another five. ESPN ranks him as the 15th-best fantasy goalie so while guys like Connor Hellebuyck, Jake Oettinger and Andrei Vasilevksiy will be flying off the boards in early rounds, Blackwood could be a great alternative option.