Fantasy hockey sleeper picks with EDGE stats

Play Yahoo Fantasy Hockey

---

MORE FANTASY COVERAGE

Top 200 rankings | Draft cheat sheet

Breakout candidates | Bounce-backs

Fantasy spin on NHL training camps

Draft strategy: Rounds 1-4 | Cheat sheet

---

NOTES: Sleepers, players who are usually attainable around the top 120 overall or later, are underrated fantasy options who can exceed their average draft positions (ADP) this season.

1. Will Smith, F, SJS

From Jan. 20 to the end of the regular season, the only NHL rookie with more points than Smith (30 in 34 games) was his teammate Macklin Celebrini (31 in 34 games). He’s expected to remain in a top-six role, which could mean more exposure to Celebrini at even strength or a spot next to rookie Michael Misa. Smith also ranked highly among rookies in even-strength points (33; tied for fifth) and power-play goals (five; tied for fourth) last season. Smith, who is not being drafted on average in fantasy, is ranked among NHL.com's top 15 for keeper and dynasty leagues. Per NHL EDGE stats, Smith ranked among the forward leaders in long-range shots on goal (27; 95th percentile) and average shot speed (63.24 mph; 91st percentile). -- Troy Perlowitz

2. Cutter Gauthier, F, ANA

The No. 5 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft was tied with Matvei Michkov of the Philadelphia Flyers for the rookie lead in even-strength goals (18) last season and tied with Alex Killorn for Anaheim’s lead in that category. Gauthier had 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists) over his final 27 games last season and has the potential to eclipse the 30-goal mark in his second season given his high shot volume (190 shots on goal; second on Ducks behind Frank Vatrano’s 234). Per NHL EDGE stats, Gauthier ranked among the forward leaders in 20-plus mph speed bursts (200; 95th percentile), average shot speed (64.13 mph; 93rd percentile) and midrange goals (10; 90th percentile). -- Troy Perlowitz

3. Rickard Rakell, F, PIT

He led the Penguins in goals (career-high 35) last season and was second in points (career-high 70), even-strength points (51) and shots on goal (203) behind his elite linemate Sidney Crosby (91 points; 64 even-strength points; 227 shots on goal). Rakell brings strong hits coverage (116 last season; third on Pittsburgh) and is a potential fantasy bargain attainable outside the top 150 based on average draft position. Per NHL EDGE stats, Rakell led the Penguins in high-danger goals (22; tied for ninth in League) and high-danger shots on goal (88; 97th percentile among forwards) last season. -- Pete Jensen

4. Brock Nelson, F, COL

The center had 13 points (six goals, seven assists) in 19 games, three on the power play, after being acquired by the Avalanche from the New York Islanders last season. He's expected to remain on the second line, where he could bring exposure to talented wings in Valeri Nichushkin, Artturi Lehkonen and/or Gabriel Landeskog. Nelson is a three-time 30-goal scorer from his time with the Islanders and, per NHL EDGE stats, ranked among the forward leaders in total skating distance (259.89 miles; 97th percentile), midrange shots on goal (77; 93rd percentile) and 20-plus mph speed bursts (171; 91st percentile) last season. -- Pete Jensen

5. Cam Fowler, D, STL

Acquired from the Anaheim Ducks on Dec. 14, Fowler tied the best points-per-game average of his NHL career last season (0.59) and became a hot fantasy commodity after joining St. Louis (36 points, eight on power play, in 51 games). Fowler, who then had 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in seven games during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, has a chance to surpass his previous career high in points (48 with Ducks in 2022-23) and is attainable around the top 140 overall (39th among defensemen) based on fantasy average draft position. Per NHL EDGE stats, Fowler ranks highly among defensemen in power-play offensive zone time percentage (59.9; 85th percentile). -- Pete Jensen

6. Boone Jenner, F, CBJ

He didn’t make his season debut until Feb. 22 because of shoulder surgery but was still productive last season with 19 points (seven goals, 12 assists) and 70 shots on goal in 26 games. Jenner (199 career goals) is one goal away from joining Rick Nash (289) and Cam Atkinson (213) as the only players to score 200 goals for the Blue Jackets in their history. He has a high fantasy ceiling for Columbus, which led the NHL in 5-on-5 goals last season (201), especially given his strong hits coverage (2.2 per game in career). Per NHL EDGE stats, Jenner ranked among the League leaders in high-danger goals in both 2023-24 (18; 94th percentile) and 2022-23 (17; 92nd percentile). -- Troy Perlowitz

7. Zack Bolduc, F, MTL

The 22-year-old forward covered categories for the St. Louis Blues last season with 36 points (19 goals, 17 assists), seven power-play goals, 12 power-play points, 120 shots on goal and 108 hits in 72 games. After the 4 Nations Face-Off (Feb. 22), Bolduc led NHL rookies in both goals (13 in 26 games) and power-play goals (six) and was tied for first in his class in power-play points (nine) with his new Canadiens teammate, defenseman Lane Hutson. Bolduc will play on Montreal's second power-play unit and could have a role in the top-six with two goal scorers in rookie Ivan Demidov and wing Patrik Laine. Per NHL EDGE stats, Bolduc ranked highly among forwards in top shot speed (92.10 mph; 88th percentile), average shot speed (61.82 mph; 86th percentile) and midrange goals (10; 90th percentile) last season. -- Chris Meaney

8. Karel Vejmelka, G, UTA

He took over as Utah’s No. 1 goalie last season and reached career bests in games played (58), starts (55), wins (26), goals-against average (2.58) and save percentage (.904). Vejmelka had a plus-7 goal differential and kept his team in plenty of games last season; he had a .930 save percentage or better in 21 different games (tied for 10th in NHL), going 16-3-1 in his 20 decisions over that span. Per NHL EDGE stats, Vejmelka also had strong underlying numbers, ranking tied for eighth in long-range save percentage (.984). With the Mammoth adding wing JJ Peterka to their strong young forward group and veteran defenseman Nate Schmidt from the champion Panthers to their defense, Vejmelka is a potential fantasy bargain attainable outside the top 140 overall (25th among goalies) based on average draft position. -- Pete Jensen

9. Zeev Buium, D, MIN

The rookie had a power-play assist in four games during the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs and could be an instant offensive threat for Minnesota, which has not had a defenseman score at least 15 goals in a season since Brent Burns had 17 in 2010-11. Buium, who had 48 points (13 goals, 35 assists) in 41 games and played 27:03 per game as a sophomore at the University of Denver last season, joins forward teammates Matt Boldy and Marco Rossi among NHL.com's top 50 keeper rankings and should be considered a top five rookie for this season. Per NHL EDGE stats, Buium ranked in the 85th percentile among defensemen in offensive zone time percentage (45.0) during the 2025 playoffs and 88th percentile in power-play offensive zone time percentage (61.5). -- Troy Perlowitz

10. Ryan Leonard, F, WSH

The 20-year-old had one goal in nine regular season games and one assist in eight Stanley Cup Playoff games after signing his entry-level contract on March 31. Leonard joins Washington’s deep group of goal scorers, led by Alex Ovechkin (44 goals, tied for third in NHL) and including others who had career highs last season in Tom Wilson (33), Aliaksei Protas (30) and Dylan Strome (29). Leonard led the NCAA in goals (30 in 37 games) last season for Boston College and was a Hobey Baker Award finalist after becoming the first NCAA player with back-to-back 30-goal seasons since Cam Atkinson in 2009-10 and 2010-11. Leonard is among NHL.com's top 40 fantasy keeper rankings and top five rookies for this season. -- Troy Perlowitz