MCKEEN’S 2026-27 NHL YEARBOOK: Fantasy Prospect Rankings – Top Ten Goalies

I have found that the vast majority of readers who read and follow my work are in dynasty keeper leagues with peripheral stats, or bangers leagues. The following rankings are based on projected point production and include added value to players who can contribute to other categories, such as hits, blocks, PIMs, and faceoff wins.

In fantasy hockey, we have a limited number of prospect roster spots, and as such I put higher value on prospects who have a quicker ETA to the NHL or have superstar upside.

This will help you identify the top 30 forwards, 20 defencemen, and ten goalies to target in your fantasy leagues.

To be considered a prospect, skaters must be under 26-years-old as of September 15th, 2026, and have played in under 60 career games, or less than 35 in a single season. For goalies, less than 30 career games played, or 15 in a single season.

1. Sebastian Cossa – Utah Mammoth

History will decide if the Mammoth traded for the right goalie from Detroit in adding Cossa over Augustine, but it is safe to say that Cossa will begin his NHL career in Utah sharing the crease with Karel Vejmelka. Cossa is older than Augustine, and more developed at 23-years-old and has three full seasons of AHL development under his belt. Cossa is NHL ready now and should provide reliable backup to Vejmelka if not a challenge for starts. There is still competition pushing from below in Michael Hrabal. Cossa will deliver fantasy value this season, and that value should only continue to rise.

2. Trey Augustine – Detroit Red Wings

The Red Wings' future in goal is Trey Augustine. After an impressive NCAA career at Michigan State and back stopping USA to back-to-back World Junior Gold Medals, the Red Wings were able to move Sebastian Cossa for a draft pick (used to select JP Hurlbert) and in so doing pushed all their chips in with Augustine as the future starting goalie. The 6-foot-1 Augustine had a cup of coffee in the AHL after signing late in the season but should see plenty of AHL starts in Grand Rapids in the coming season. Augustine will need at least a full season of AHL development, but as Ryan Miller winds down his glorious career, Augustine is ramping up for a run at glory himself.

3. Michael Hrabal – Utah Mammoth

The addition of Sebastian Cossa was curious in that it may suggest that Utah does not have complete confidence in the 6-foot-7 Hrabal to ascend to the starting goalie position. Then again, they drafted him 38^th overall in 2023, since then he helped Czechia win the Bronze at the World Junior and has three seasons of development in the NCAA at UMASS with a career stat line of 54-33-7. Utah signed Hrabal following his junior season, and he played in five AHL games in Tucson with a 3-1-1 record and a 2.96 GAA. Hrabal will get the lion's share of starts as a rookie in the AHL and may only need one season in Tucson before he is NHL ready.

4. Sergei Murashov - Pittsburgh Penguins

Russian has been churning out goalie prospects recently. Many of them are teenagers in Russia still which can be concerning for fantasy players. Murashov is 22 years old and has two seasons of development in North America. Drafted way back in 2022, the Penguins are about to be rewarded for their patience and development of the 6-foot-2 netminder. Murashov was the starting goalie in the AHL last year, posting a 24-9-4 record and carrying Wilkes-Barre to a conference final in the Calder Cup playoffs. He made his NHL debut starting in five games and could make the Penguins out of training camp to play full time in the NHL this year. He has starting goalie upside.

5. Mikhail Yegorov – New Jersey Devils

After a breakout season in his D+1 year jumping from the USHL to Boston University where he saved the Terriers season, Yegorov was unable to salvage the Terriers season in his sophomore year. Boston University struggled all season, but Yegorov was a steady presence that kept a disappointing season from being a disaster. Still only 20-years-old, Yegorov will return for his junior season at Boston University as the starting goalie and is a likely candidate to sign after the school year and have a cup of coffee in the AHL. Expect at least a full year of AHL development before he starts competing for NHL starts, but he has legit starting goalie upside.

6. Ilya Nabokov – Colorado Avalanche

Nabokov is now 23 years old and is very close to NHL ready. After playing three seasons in the KHL and posting spectacular numbers, he is finally signed and coming to North America. What makes Nabokov attractive is his age, the lack of depth in goal in Colorado and that the Avalanche are a contending team where he can rack up wins in the not very distant future, maybe as soon as next year. Expect a heavy AHL workload in year one, and if all goes well, he could be backing up Blackwood in the following season.

7. Hampton Slukynsky – LA Kings

Would I draft him based on his name alone? Possibly. Then look at his resume and find Gold Medals with USA at the U18, WJC and WC and Championships in the USHL and NCAA; Draft him ASAP!  The 21-year-old had two very strong seasons of development in the NCAA at Western Michigan and following his sophomore season signed with the Kings. Slukynsky had two AHL starts and won both games, allowing just one goal in each game. The Kings have a bevy of promising goalies in the system, and he will have to compete for starts with Eric Portillo and Carter George with the Ontario Reign, but one way or another he looks every bit the part of a franchise starting goalie.

8. Artur Akhtyamov – Toronto Maple Leafs

After a breakout season in the AHL where Akhtyamov back stopped the Marlies to a Calder Cup Championship and winning the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as Playoff MVP, the Leafs were convinced he is the future in goal and subsequently cleared a path by trading both Joseph Woll and Dennis Hildeby to allow Akhtyamov a bigger organizational role. The signing of Sergi Bobrovsky for three years provides him with an excellent veteran mentor and short-term insulation as Bob should see 50+ starts over that contract. Akhtyamov may see more AHL starts than NHL starts this year but count on Stolarz having injuries allowing some NHL call ups.

9. Drew Commesso – Chicago Blackhawks

Commesso continues to provide steady goaltending for Rockford in the AHL. While his third season in the AHL saw his stats dip slightly, we can chalk that up to playing behind the 30^th place team. Spencer Knight holds the starting position in Chicago, and the competition for backup is far from unsurmountable with Arvid Soderblom and Adam Gajan providing the only real competition for ice. In his small five game career NHL sample size, Commesso has not looked out of place. He could steal the backup role away from Soderblom despite being waiver exempt for the coming season.

10. Joshua Ravensbergen – San Jose Sharks

If you are drafting Ravensbergen, you are playing the long game. The 19-year-old was a Sharks first-round pick in 2025 and was outstanding in his three seasons in the WHL with Prince George. Looking forward, he will play the coming season as a freshman at Michigan State in the NCAA and test his metal versus older more advanced competition. Budget at least two seasons of NCAA development and another full year of AHL seasoning before he is in consideration for NHL time. With Yaroslav Askarov sinking his teeth into the Sharks starting goalie position, there is no rush on the promising Ravensbergen.