Fantasy hockey top 10 sleepers, deep sleeper picks
Players worth targeting in late rounds of standard drafts; season preview podcasts
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NOTE: Sleepers are players taken in the later rounds who can vastly outperform their average draft position. They can be young players who have scratched the surface or more experienced players who have performed well in the NHL before but remain underrated or overlooked in fantasy for any reason(s). Sleepers below are listed in order of NHL.com fantasy rank. These picks are a collaborative effort by Pete Jensen and Anna Dua.
Ivan Barbashev, F, VGK
Reason for optimism: The line of Barbashev, elite center Jack Eichel and reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner Jonathan Marchessault was the most valuable 5-on-5 trio in fantasy playoff pools. Barbashev, acquired from the St. Louis Blues before the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline, was tied for fourth in the NHL in even-strength points (16) during the playoffs for the Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights and tied for ninth in assists (11). Barbashev had a breakout season for the Blues in 2021-22 (60 points) in mostly a secondary role and could reach new fantasy heights after re-signing with Vegas on a five-year contract this offseason.
Pavel Zacha, F, BOS
Reason for optimism: He could be the No. 1 center and a first power-play fixture for the Boston Bruins after the retirements of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci and should also maintain even-strength exposure to elite right wing David Pastrnak (second in NHL with 61 goals last season; led League with 407 shots on goal). Zacha is coming off NHL career highs in points (57), goals (21), assists (36) and plus/minus (plus-26) and could be an even bigger fantasy steal if he sees significantly more power-play time than last season (1:43 per game).
Gabriel Vilardi, F, WPG
Reason for optimism: Acquired by the Winnipeg Jets from the Los Angeles Kings in the trade involving forward Pierre-Luc Dubois, Vilardi could reach a new gear in a top-flight role with his new team. He had 45 points (25 goals, 20 assists) in 68 games for the Kings last regular season and playoffs combined in mostly a second or third line role and could now play on the first power play with high-scoring skaters Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, Nikolaj Ehlers and Josh Morrissey.
Sean Durzi, D, ARI
Reason for optimism: He was tied with Drew Doughty for the Los Angeles Kings’ defenseman lead in goals (nine) last season and has combined for 31 power-play points over the past two seasons (tied for 29th in NHL at position) despite playing mostly on the second unit. He should have a much bigger role with the Coyotes and bring plenty of exposure to high-scoring forwards Clayton Keller, rookie Logan Cooley and Nick Schmaltz on the first power play.
Jakub Vrana, F, STL
Reason for optimism: He has scored 24 goals in 51 games (82-game pace: 39) over the past two seasons combined, including 10 (four on power play) in 20 games with the St. Louis Blues last season after being acquired from the Detroit Red Wings. Vrana also combined to score 49 goals over two seasons with the Washington Capitals (2018-19 to 2019-20) but has not played a full NHL campaign since.
Adin Hill, G, VGK
Reason for optimism: He was 11-4 with a .932 save percentage during their championship run and had two shutouts in six games against the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Final. The 27-year-old has never played more than 27 games in a regular season but should now be considered a top 25 fantasy goalie option -- especially after re-signing with Vegas, where he could remain the starter or be part of a strong tandem with Logan Thompson.
Sam Bennett, F, FLA
Reason for optimism: Since 2020-21, Bennett ranks third on the Florida Panthers in 5-on-5 goals per 60 minutes (0.99; minimum 80 games) and continues to be underrated in fantasy despite playing on a line with Matthew Tkachuk (consecutive 100-point seasons) and/or Carter Verhaeghe (led Florida with 42 goals last season). Bennett is also a category coverage player to prioritize in the late rounds of a fantasy draft; he ranked third on the Panthers in hits last regular season (150 in 63 games) and led them in shots on goal (73) in the postseason.
Connor Brown, F, EDM
Reason for optimism: He reunites with elite center Connor McDavid, the universal No. 1 player in fantasy hockey, after they played on the same line with Erie of the Ontario Hockey League during their time as teammates there from 2012-14. Brown missed most of last season because of injury but showed flashes of fantasy potential with the Ottawa Senators in 2020-21 with 21 goals in 56 games. Brown could shatter his previous career highs across the board if he can stick with McDavid and/or Leon Draisaitl, the second ranked player in fantasy, at even strength.
John Klingberg, D, TOR
Reason for optimism: He's had a high ceiling in years past (NHL career-high 67 points with Dallas Stars in 2017-18) and has renewed upside by joining the Maple Leafs with the opportunity to see power-play time, likely on the second unit with forwards Tyler Bertuzzi, Max Domi and rookie Matthew Knies. Since entering the NHL in 2014-15, Klingberg ranks 10th among active NHL defensemen in power-play points (158 in 619 games).
Jonathan Drouin, F, COL
Reason for optimism: He has two 53-point seasons; one with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2016-17 (including career-best 26 power-play points) and the other with the Montreal Canadiens in 2018-19. Drouin signed a one-year contract to join the Colorado Avalanche on July 1 and has been reunited with elite center Nathan MacKinnon (led NHL with 77 even-strength points last season); they thrived as linemates with Halifax of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Drouin is playing on the Avalanche's top line with MacKinnon and another elite forward in Mikko Rantanen (55 goals last season; third in NHL) in the preseason.
Other fantasy sleeper candidates to consider:
Ville Husso, G, DET
Dmitry Orlov, D, CAR
Cam Talbot, G, LAK
Filip Hronek, D, VAN
Rasmus Sandin, D, WSH
Reilly Smith, F, PIT
Deep sleepers to consider in larger leagues:
Ryan Johansen, F, COL
Max Domi, F, TOR
Morgan Frost, F, PHI
Anthony Beauvillier, F, VAN
Tommy Novak, F, NSH
Rafael Harvey-Pinard, F, MTL
Anthony Duclair, F, SJS
Kyle Palmieri, F, NYI
Ross Colton, F, COL
Tomas Tatar, F, COL
Mike Matheson, D, MTL
Jamie Drysdale, D, ANA
Logan Thompson, G, VGK
Karel Vejmelka, G, ARI
