In the high-stakes world of fantasy hockey, where every pick can make or break your season, identifying undervalued gems is key to outsmarting your league mates. 

As the 2025-26 NHL season ramps up with teams like the Florida Panthers defending their Stanley Cup and rookies like Macklin Celebrini making waves, drafting smart isn't just about chasing stars it's about uncovering hidden value in unexpected places. 

That's where sleepers come in: those overlooked players poised for breakout performances due to improved line mates, coaching changes, or untapped potential.

For this section, we'll define a "sleeper" as:

  • A player who should be taken ahead of his Average Draft Position (ADP) based on his position.

This positional lens is crucial because fantasy leagues reward balance across forwards, defensemen, and goalies. A forward slipping to the later rounds might not excite, but a top-pairing defenseman available too late? That's where you strike.

It's not about snagging a bargain in the 10th round though those are fun—it's about maximizing VALUE in every round, turning a good draft into a championship roster.These are the five players you should keep an eye on heading into your fantasy hockey drafts.

Don't be afraid to reach a round (or two) earlier for them; they could be the edge that propels your team to glory. Let's dive in.

 

 

 

2025 Fantasy Hockey Sleepers

MacKenzie Weegar - Calgary Flames - Defence 

  • ADP: 10th 
  • Our Ranking: 2nd

If you paid attention last season, you knew that drafting Zach Werenski ahead of his ADP was very good value. This season, it’s MacKenzie Weegar. His name might not stand out if you don’t watch a lot of Calgary Flames games, but he is the complete package when it comes to fantasy defencemen. He logs a ton of minutes, throws his weight around, blocks shots and isn’t afraid to shoot the puck. In a category league, he is going to contribute more than any late-round pick you’ll find. I’m not saying you reach on him in the first top-20 picks overall, but if he’s on the board in the third round, don’t be shy to reach for him.

Filip Gustavsson - Minnesota Wild - Goalie 

  • ADP Ranking: 8th 
  • Our Ranking: 4th

Let me remind everyone that goalies are voodoo. We could dedicate a lifetime to trying to understand the position and would never come close to having an answer. In Fantasy, Filip Gustavsson is going as the 8th goalie on the board. In reality, he should be the 4th goalie. The Minnesota Wild lost key players due to injury and really struggled to generate results on home ice. Despite that, he put together a 2.56 GAA and a .914 SV%. Those are respectable numbers for a goalie who should once again see the lion's share of the workload. There is no reason to fear having the 27-year-old as your G1 on your roster.

Vincent Trocheck - New York Rangers - Center 

  • ADP Ranking: 27th 
  • Our Ranking: 13th

The New York Rangers have several weapons up front, so, normally, Vincent Trocheck gets forgotten. The veteran failed to hit 60 points last season, but that’s mainly because his power play numbers were down. Even with J.T. Miller in the mix, Trocheck is entering the top line with Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere, two players who can rack up points. The Pittsburgh native is strong on both ends of the ice, and in leagues where faceoffs are important, he takes a ton of them. The center group is always very deep, but Trocheck doesn’t deserve to be going off the board as the 27th centerman. Don’t be shy to take him earlier in drafts because he is a great candidate to stuff multiple categories.

 

 

 

Tom Wilson - Washington Capitals - Right Wing

  • ADP Ranking: 16th 
  • Our Ranking: 8th

I haven’t always been the biggest fan of Tom Wilson, but when it comes to fantasy hockey, it’s hard to ignore his value. He set career numbers in nearly every offensive category, and the Capitals have retained most of their team from last season. He can hit, rack up penalty minutes, generate a decent amount of shots, and collect points. He’s basically Brady Tkachuk, but without having to draft him in the top-10. Even if his point totals drop slightly, he can still finish in the top-10 for right wingers, especially in category leagues. 

Alexis Lafreniere - New York Rangers - Left Wing

  • ADP Ranking: 32nd
  • Our Ranking: 25th

I know it feels like Alexis Lafreniere has been in the league for 10 years, but in reality, he’s entering his 6th season, and we’re still waiting for the former first overall pick to break out. Like many Ranger forwards, he struggled to generate offence. So what’s different this time? Well, maybe seeing more power play time will help. In those six seasons, he has just 16 TOTAL power play points. If he can hold down a stop on the top unit and park himself in front of the net, good things will happen. He’s a big body, and he needs to be the “grinder” on his line; win puck battles and get to the front of the net. I can’t imagine New York giving up on a 23-year-old, and maybe another change behind the bench will allow him to get a fresh start. I want to believe this is the year for him, but we need to have some caution. You can easily get him later in most 12-team drafts.