Each week, I will take a trip around the league and dig into the numbers to find insights that can help you make better fantasy hockey decisions.
This week, looking at players who, for one reason or another, might be undervalued going into the 2026-2027 season, with Mason Marchment, Nick Robertson, Kent Johnson, and many more!
1 A 6-foot-5 winger who has scored at least 45 points in three of the past four seasons, Mason Marchment landed a five-year, $33.75 million contract from the San Jose Sharks as a free agent this summer. While that gives Marchment security, he is getting a chance to skate on the top line with newly named captain Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith. If Marchment can merely be a reliable option on that line, it could set him up for the best production of his career. Having the right coattails to ride can go a long way.
2 The Pittsburgh Penguins have a plethora of options on the wings after a busy offseason, and one of their newcomers appears to be getting a look on the right wing of Sidney Crosby’s line. Nick Robertson had career highs of 16 goals and 32 points for the Maple Leafs last season, but he averaged just 12:40 of ice time per game and was not typically playing with players of Crosby’s calibre. If Robertson can stick in that spot, his fantasy hockey value would jump dramatically.
3 In so many cases in the National Hockey League, a player’s production is tied to opportunity so even if a player is very skilled, it doesn’t much matter if they aren’t getting ice time. This brings us to Columbus Blue Jackets winger Kent Johnson, the fifth pick in the 2021 Draft who managed just 22 points (7 G, 15 A) while playing just 13:14 per game in 76 games last season. Those numbers give no indication that he should draw fantasy interest this season, but the season before he had 57 points (24 G, 33 A) while playing more than 17 minutes per game, so he has already established that he can produce at this level. If Johnson gets a crack at skating alongside Adam Fantilli on Columbus’ top line, that could allow Johnson’s puck skills to shine and give him the chance to re-establish his offensive credentials.
4 The seventh pick in the 2021 Draft, William Eklund has been a productive player in San Jose, delivering 111 points (32 G, 79 A) in 155 games across the past two seasons. Now that he has moved to Ottawa, Eklund does have a chance to play alongside Tim Stuzle on Ottawa’s top line which should give him a chance to reach his potential. It’s not like Eklund was buried in San Jose, playing more than 19 minutes per game in the past couple of seasons, but his most common centre during 5-on-5 play was Alexander Wennberg, so there could be more offensive opportunities available to Eklund in Ottawa.
5 It may not last long, but it’s worth keeping an eye on the Maple Leafs’ top line, where Jack Roslovic is getting first crack to play with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies. Highly touted rookie Gavin McKenna could move to that line in short order but, for now, McKenna looks like he will start the season with John Tavares and William Nylander. Roslovic is a three-time 20-goal scorer who has a couple of seasons with more than 40 points to his credit, but he is 29 years old with 595 NHL games under his belt, so he probably is what he is. For however long he gets to play with Matthews, though, Roslovic may hold some fantasy appeal.
6 Although Minnesota Wild centre Danila Yurov had a modest 27 points (12 G, 15 A) during his rookie season in 2025-2026, he has potential for a whole lot more in his second season. In recent years, the Wild have been trying to find a suitable long-term answer as a scoring centre and the search continues, but early indications are that Yurov could centre a Russian trio with Kirill Kaprizov and Max Shabanov on the wings. There is the possibility that the Wild could trade for a scoring centre but, in the meantime, Yurov could be the Wild’s best option and playing with Kaprizov is a quality opportunity to produce points.
7 Historically, there are not a lot of No. 8 overall picks that are ready to play in the NHL immediately in the next season, but it appears that the Winnipeg Jets are prepared to give Viggo Bjorck a shot to start the season in the NHL. He had 15 points (6 G, 9 A) in 42 games for Djurgardens in the SHL last season, but recorded nine points (3 G, 6 A) in seven games for Sweden at the World Juniors and added six points (1 G, 5 A) in eight games at the World Championships. None of this assures that Bjorck is ready for the NHL as an 18-year-old, but the opportunity is in front of him.
8 Last season ended up being disappointing for Nashville Predators prospect Brady Martin, the fifth pick in the 2025 Draft, who had one assist in three games with the Preds last season before getting sent back to the Ontario Hockey League where he had 24 points (8 G, 16 A) in 24 games for the Soo Greyhounds before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury at the World Juniors. That lack of production dinged Martin’s prospect status so he’s entering this season with lowered expectations but he did have eight points (4 G, 4 A) in six games for Canada at the World Juniors and he’s getting a training camp look on a line with veterans Ryan O’Reilly and Steven Stamkos, not a bad place to be if he’s going to stick in the NHL this season.
9 Even though Cam Fowler is the returning defenceman who had the most power play points for the St. Louis Blues last season, it appears that Philip Broberg could get a shot on PP1 to start the season. Broberg had 34 points (6 G, 28 A) last season, with only five points on the power play, so if he gets the big power play spot in St. Louis that could set up 25-year-old Broberg for an offensive breakthrough this season.
10 For all of the amazing talent that the San Jose Sharks have flowing through the organization, they are still searching for a suitable defenceman on the top power play unit. Veteran Dmitry Orlov was in that role last season and had a career-high 18 power play points on his way to a 37-point season. If the Sharks want to consider a new answer, then right-shot defender Luca Cagnoni might get a look. The 21-year-old blueliner has 95 points (24 G, 71 A) in 131 games through two AHL seasons, with 14 of his 24 goals coming on the power play.
11 Opportunity is a huge part of determining a player’s fantasy appeal for any season and a player on a rebuilding team might be looking at a better chance to log quality ice time. Calgary Flames centre Morgan Frost, a 27-year-old whose career high is 46 points, could be the Flames No. 1 centre this season and even if the Flames aren’t great, he could play with young wingers Matt Coronato and Matvei Gridin and that could mean a chance for Frost to put up more points than he has before.
12 It appears that the Montreal Canadiens would like to find a long-term solution at second-line centre behind captain Nick Suzuki but, in the meantime, it appears that second-year pivot Oliver Kapanen is going to get a chance to fill that role. The bonus of that situation is that he could have serious talent on his flanks, with Juraj Slafkovsky and Ivan Demidov as possible fits on those wings. Kapanen had 37 points (22 G, 15 A) as a rookie last season, while scoring on 16.8 percent of his shots, so he could see some regression there, but more ice time and better linemates could still see Kapanen elevate his output.
13 The Chicago Blackhawks are building a young talented team and some of their young players should be ready to pop this season. After putting up 64 points, including a league-leading 36 goals in 63 KHL games for Metallurg Magnitigorsk last season, 22-year-old winger Roman Kantserov is in a prime position to play in a scoring role right away in Chicago. Players coming from the KHL can be hit and miss (like any prospects), but that uncertainty does give Kantserov a chance to provide value right away if he makes a smooth transition to the NHL.
14 After resurrecting his career in Edmonton last season, Vasily Podkolzin might be as good a bet as any to start the season skating on the wing with Connor McDavid and possibly Leon Draisaitl. Podkolzin had a career-high 37 points (19 G, 18 A) last season, but that was with Draisaitl, Roslovic, Kasperi Kapanen, and Matt Savoie as his most common linemates. If he can earn trust to stay on the top line, that could set Podkolzin up to continue increasing his offensive output.
15 With the Vegas Golden Knights tight against the salary cap, they will need some players with inexpensive contracts to contribute and that could open the door for 2024 first-round pick Trevor Connelly to start the season in the NHL. Connelly only had 13 points (4 G, 9 A) in 23 games for Providence College in 2024-2025 before turning pro and he put up 53 points (15 G, 38 A) in 52 games with the Henderson Silver Knights of the AHL and that kind of production during his 19-year-old season in the AHL is a promising sign for what he might be able to contribute at a higher level.
16 As the Utah Mammoth continue to build a roster of promising talent, towering winger Daniil But may be in line to get regular playing time this season. A first-round pick in 2023, the 6-foot-6 But managed seven points (3 G, 4 A) in 29 games for the Mammoth last season, but he had 39 points (19 G, 20 A) in 41 AHL games to earn his promotion to the big club. This season, he could get a turn on the top line, with Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz, and that would give But the chance to have a much more significant impact in his second season.
17 As the New York Islanders look for a second-line centre, second-year pivot Calum Ritchie could get a chance in that role. Ritchie contributed 30 points (13 G, 17 A) in 65 games last season, but he only played 13:28 per game, and his most common linemates were Shabanov, Emil Heineman, Brayden Schenn, and Anthony Duclair, so if he gets a boost in ice time and maybe some better quality linemates, Ritchie could be a decent candidate for an offensive breakthrough this season.
18 With Mathew Barzal injured, another Islanders forward is making the most of the opportunity. Victor Eklund was a first-round pick in 2025 and followed that in the 2025-2206 season by scoring 24 points (6 G, 18 A) in 43 games for Djurgardens in the SHL, adding 10 points (3 G, 7 A) in nine AHL games plus one assist in one game for the Islanders. With his skill and creativity, Eklund could force the Islanders to give him a look right at the start of the season.
19 As Boston Bruins defenceman Charlie McAvoy is staring at a six-game suspension to start the season, veteran Hampus Lindholm is likely to be the main power play quarterback for Boston to start the season. Lindholm has just 10 power play points across the past three seasons, but he recorded a career-high 17 power play points in 2022-2023, his first full season with the Bruins. As a short-term play, Lindholm should have some early-season fantasy appeal.
20 A few notes to take from preseason action: Calgary Flames defenceman Zayne Parekh has attempted 19 shots, putting only five on goal, in two games. Detroit Red Wings prospect Michael Brandsegg-Nygard has 18 shots attempts, with six shots on goal and two goals, in three games. Boston Bruins prospect James Hagens recorded 16 shot attempts, with 10 shots on goal, in three games. Anaheim Ducks defenceman Tristan Luneau has 16 shots attempts, six shots on goal, and three points (1 G, 2 A) in two preseason contests. Carolina Hurricanes winger Bradly Nadeau has 15 shots attempts, 10 shots on goal, and two goals in two preseason games. San Jose sharks defenceman Eric Pohlkamp has 15 shot attempts, nine shots on goal, and two points (1 G, 1 A) in three games.