One of the greatest joys of participating in fantasy hockey is drafting a player in the way late rounds that not many others have heard of, and to have that player go on to not only make your fantasy roster but have good value. Each year there is an influx of new fantasy prospects that have the potential to deliver value from the final rounds of your draft. These imports can come from Europe or the NCAA, or some late blooming prospects poised for a breakout. To help give you a competitive edge in your fantasy league, here are some of the prospects who could prove to be gems, mined in the late, late rounds.
Coming To America – European Imports
Vitali Pinchuk, C – Nashville Predators
Pinchuk is actually coming back to North America after playing a season in the OHL with the Kingston Frontenacs way back in 2019-20. After posting 34 points in 54 games with the Fronts, Pinchuk went undrafted in the 2020 NHL Draft and with COVID he returned to Belarus to play with Metallurg and eventually in the KHL. Now 24-years-old and entering his prime, he posted a breakout 31 goal, and 66-point season in 65 games with Dinamo Minsk. That point per game KHL production and his size at 6-foot-3, 203 pounds made him the belle of the ball for European free agents. Pinchuk will try to play his way onto the Predators opening night roster after signing as a free agent in the offseason.
Benjamin Rautiainen, LW – Tampa Bay Lightning
Drafted in the fourth round of the 2025 NHL Draft as an overage player, Rautiainen had a monster breakout season last year with Tappara in the Liiga, where his point production skyrocketed from 33 points in the prior season to 77 last year. He was rewarded for his play with an entry level contract from the Lightning and could make the move to North America. The Lightning could use some secondary scoring depth on a low ELC cap hit, giving him an inside edge to make the roster.
Ilya Safonov, C – Vancouver Canucks
A 2021 sixth round pick, Safonov has produced consistent KHL production with 128 points in 331 career games with Ak Bars Kazan. The 6-foot-4, 205 pound 25-foot-year-old has signed with the Canucks, and with very little fanfare could make his rookie debut in the NHL this season. He will not win you your fantasy league like Artemi Panarin may have, but for a late round sleeper he could make the Canucks and provide you with some great value with peripheral stats and some offence.
Oliver Okuliar, LW/RW - Pittsburgh Penguins
Okuliar has taken the road less travelled to make it to the NHL. He has made stops along the way in just about every league including: The QMJHL, WHL, Slovakia, Czechia, the SHL, and the AHL. Signed by the Florida Panthers in 2024, he failed to make the team and was recently acquired by Pittsburgh in exchange for defenceman Emil Pieniniemi. He may lack dynamic offensive upside, but what he does bring is a tenacious and aggressive forechecking game that supports puck possession. The Penguins have a log jam of NHL contracts, so expect Okuliar to see time in the AHL before a spot opens in the NHL.
Theo Rochette, C – Detroit Red Wings
Rochette has dual citizenship with Canada and Switzerland. He played five seasons in the QMJHL, culminating in a 106-point season in Quebec where he captained the Ramparts to a Memorial Cup Championship. Undrafted, he has played the past three seasons in the Swiss NL with Lausanne where he has 104 points over 131 games. His recent play at the WC with Switzerland where he posted six points in ten games caught the Red Wings eye and they signed him to an ELC. Rochette is an undersized, playmaking center with excellent vision. Looking at a season in the AHL with Grand Rapids, he could see some NHL time this season but is a work in progress.
TOP OF THE CLASS – NCAA FREE AGENTS
Cruz Lucius, RW– Free Agent
Typically, this list is compiled by undrafted NCAA free agents. This year is a weaker class but there are two players who as of August 15th are poised to join the free agent pool Cruz Lucius was a Pittsburgh Penguins 2022 fourth round pick and after four seasons in the NCAA where he posted a point per game production, he will look to sign as a free agent and begin his pro career. Where he signs will have a significant influence on his offensive upside and path to the NHL. Regardless of where he signs, the 22-year-old is likely looking at a season of AHL development and adjustment, but he has top six offensive upside in the right situation.
Stiven Sardaryan, RW/LW - Free Agent
The other, now free agent, is the Buffalo 2021 third round pick that saw his game breakout after transferring from the University of New Hampshire to Michigan Tech after his sophomore season. At Michigan, he posted 79 points over 72 games during his junior and senior seasons. The 6-foot-2 Russian born winger will certainly find an NHL contract and begin his pro career in the AHL. While he may not have elite or even top six winger offensive upside, what he lacks in goals and assists at the NHL level should be offset with plenty of peripheral stats.
T.J Hughes, C – Colorado Avalanche
After four seasons at the University of Michigan where Hughes averaged well over a point per game in his career and was a Hobey Baker Nominee in his senior year, he was the top NCAA free agent. He quickly signed in Colorado and appeared in two AHL regular season games and then another 17 playoff games playing a significant role with the Eagles posting 16 points over the total 19 games. Hughes is strong on draws, reliable defensively and has NHL offensive upside. The Avalanche prospect pipeline is thin, so even if he plays the coming season in the AHL, he has a promising path to the NHL in a short time.
Dylan Hryckowian, RW – Dallas Stars
Following in his older brother Justins footsteps through Northeastern to Texas in the AHL, Dylan hopes to join his big brother in Dallas in the NHL soon. While undersized at 5-foot-10, 170 pounds, Hryckowian is not an elite or dynamically gifted offensive player. Despite these significant hurdles to clear to make an NHL roster, I believe he has NHL upside as his off-puck game is excellent. Dylan is an aggressive and tenacious forechecker. He excels in puck retrievals. When his junior season ended, the Dallas Stars reunited the brothers by signing Dylan to his ELC, and he played 17 regular season and playoff AHL games. A full season in the AHL is on deck for the younger Hryckowian before he joins Justin in the NHL.
Jake Livanavage, LD – Pittsburgh Penguins
Livanavage is an undersized 5-foot-11 offensive defenceman. Despite his size limitations, he plays a hard and competitive game that results in winning more puck battles than he loses. His skating is also underwhelming for a player his size, but his production speaks for itself, posting 82 points over 117 career NCAA games at the University of North Dakota. Livanavage also played in the Spengler Cup for USA Colligate Selects, and after the college season ended was signed by the Penguins and played his first career NHL game, Burning a year off his ELC. Livanavage will play the coming season in the AHL where if he can be an offensive producer, he could earn a second contract and then compete for an NHL job.
LATE BLOOMERS – ROOKIES
Ethan Wyttenbach, LW/RW - Calgary Flames
The 19-year-old winger is the poster boy for this category. Drafted 144th overall in the fifth round of the 2025 NHL Draft out of the USHL, Wyttenbach played his D+1 season as a freshman at Quinnipiac in the NCAA. He posted a league leading 59 points in 40 games as a freshman. Fantasy owners have been scrambling to add him to their prospect pool as a free agent, and if it is not too late in your league, get on it. Wyttenbach remains unsigned by the Flames and will return for his sophomore season with the Bobcats. Can he build on his incredible freshman performance, or will he take a step back? Either way he will need to add some strength and bulk to play at the NHL level, but it looks like the Flames found a diamond in the rough.
Miroslav Holinka, C – Toronto Maple Leafs
The Leafs 2024 fifth round pick left Czechia for the WHL for his D+1 season to develop with the Edmonton Oil Kings. He had an impressive rookie season posting 45 points and was a force at the WJC with Czechia scoring four points in a Bronze Medal winning performance. His sophomore season with the Oil Kings was a breakout as he scored 80 points in 59 games and stepped it up in the playoffs with seven goals and 11 points in seven games. The 6-foot-2 center has signed his ELC and played one AHL game with the Marlies and recorded his first career point. Holinka will play his rookie season with the Marlies and see if he can translate his offensive production at the pro level. The Leafs have a sleeper in Holinka.
Kai Uchacz, C – Vegas Golden Knights
Signed as an undrafted free agent in 2024, Uchacz continues to defy the odds, continues to develop and improve, and continues to play his way into an NHL job. Wearing an “A” in his sophomore season with the Silver Knights, his production jumped to 51 points in 62 games. But Uchacz fills all the boxes by winning 52% of his draws, posting 52 PIMs and delivering a hit per game. His strong play earned him a three-game NHL audition with the Golden Knights last year. Still waiver exempt, Uchacz should play the bulk of the season in the AHL where if he continues to improve will earn a second contract and a bottom six NHL role. He may never be an NHL point per game player, but he will bring high value at a low cost in multi category leagues.
Nathan Aspinall, LW/RW - New York Rangers
The Rangers 2024 fifth-round pick (159th overall) had a breakout senior season in the OHL as Captain of the Flint Firebirds. Aspinall doubled his previous season total with 94 points in 65 games and was dominant in the playoffs with 10 goals and 17 points in eight games. His breakout performance earned him a Red Tilson nomination for OHL MVP. Aspinall has signed with the Rangers and will embark on his rookie season in the AHL with Hartford. Even if his offensive production is not as prolific at the pro level, he has impressive size. You just can’t teach 6-foot-7, 207 pounds.
Kieron Walton, C – Winnipeg Jets
Drafted in the sixth round, 187th overall in 2024 by the Jets, Walton has been a dominate player in the OHL since then. He had a breakout 92-point league leading season in his D+1 year with the Soo and finished the year with a four-game stint in the AHL. Returned for his final season in junior, he had another strong year posting well over a point per game production. The behemoth, 6-foot-2, 212 pound forward will begin his pro career in the AHL full time in Manitoba. His upside projection may not be quite as high as Tage Thompson, but for a sixth-round pick, anything remotely close to that is a home run.