It’s always a challenge trying to predict how rookies are going to perform. Many of us expect them to be like Sidney Crosby or Connor McDavid. Forecasting rookie success in the NHL is hockey's biggest unknown. Fans and fantasy managers fantasize over overnight stars like Sidney Crosby, bursting for 102 points as a 2005-06 Penguins phenom, or Connor McDavid, scoring 48 goals and 77 helpers in his 2015-16 rookie campaign. 

But reality often resembles the slow-going of Alexis Lafreniere, the 2020 No. 1 overall pick, finding it took two years to top 50 points playing for the Rangers, or of Jack Hughes, whose injury-ridden 2019-20 rookie campaign only mustered 21 points before he became a 99-point per campaigner by 2022-23. These bright-eyed prospects have to learn to handle the wear and tear of 82-game seasons, physical hockey, and game-changing pressure, often after experiencing 1-3 years of adjusting. 

Nevertheless, with the 2025-26 campaign approaching a start coming after the trade dust settles following the draft and the preseason training sessions over the summer, here are quite a few of the bright stars coming up that are worth taking notice of for your keeper league and daily fantasy teams. 

Let's highlight a few of these stars that look ready to make splashes. Avid, but sometimes, they are Alexis Lafreniere or Jack Hughes. It takes time for these kids to adjust to playing in the NHL, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t names we need to remember when it comes time to draft our teams.

Let’s take a look at some notable rookies for this upcoming season.

 

 

 

2025 Fantasy Hockey Rookies

Ivan Demidov - Montreal Canadiens - Right Wing

Let’s get this out of the way early: Ivan Demidov is going to win Rookie of the Year and put up some exceptional numbers. The Russian winger played in the KHL and did exceptionally well considering the limited amount of ice time he saw. He came over to Montreal at the end of last season and dazzled fans. His skill is off the charts, and opposing teams are going to have a hard time slowing him down. Montreal struggled to generate shots last season, but maybe Demidov can help turn the tide for them. He’s been skating all summer here in La Belle Province and is expected to be on the second line with Patrik Laine and (maybe) Kirby Dach. If you have a chance to get a piece of him late in drafts, do so.

Zeev Buium - Minnesota Wild - Defence

I’m slightly higher on Zeev Buium than most people, but if he’s allowed to go out there and play his game, he can be a factor. The 19-year-old had two fantastic seasons with the University of Denver and was able to get some playoff experience at the end of last season. The Wild already have a young defenceman in Brock Faber, but he took a step back offensively last season. If Buium can lock down a spot on the top power play unit, look out. You don’t have to reach for him; just wait towards the end of your draft and use one of your final two picks on him. 

Yaroslav Askarov - San Jose Sharks - Goalie

Is this the year we see Yaroslav Askarov find a permanent home in the NHL? The 23-year-old spent most of last season in the AHL, but the team moved on from all their goalies last season and brought in Alex Nedeljkovic to help balance the workload. It’s hard to trust a rookie goalie, let alone one who plays for the Sharks. Are there going to be rough nights for him? Very much so, but if you draft him as a third goalie and spot start him accordingly, you might be able to get some good value out of him.

 

 

 

Matthew Savoie - Edmonton Oilers - Center

This is going to be a very interesting season for the Edmonton Oilers. Connor McDavid remains unsigned, and he may be waiting to see how the team starts the year before making a long-term commitment to them. Matthew Savoie is an offensive kid who can find the back of the net, but his value could explode if he can hold down a spot in the top-6. He’s listed as a center, but he’s more likely to play on the wing. For now, he’s going undrafted in most formats, but as training camp gets underway and lines start to be formed, he could move up the rankings very fast. If you want to take the risk at the end of the draft, do so. If he doesn’t work out early, you drop him and move on to someone else.

Matthew Schaefer - New York Islanders - Defence

It's really hard to be an 18-year-old kid in the NHL, but it’s even harder when you’re a defenceman. Matthew Schaefer was taken with the 1st overall pick in the 2025 draft, and while his spot on the team isn’t a lock, I can’t imagine the Islanders not giving him at least the first nine games to see how he holds up. The Islanders’ power play has been a mess for the last two seasons, and with Noah Dobson now in Montreal, they don’t have a true top power play quarterback. It might be wise to ease him in and put him in favourable matchups, so again, I would be shocked if they sent him back to the OHL. He’s a great target late in drafts if you need a bench defenceman with high upside.