2026 Rookie Forwards to Target in Fantasy Hockey
The 2026-27 season brings a wave of rookie forwards who can swing fantasy leagues from day one. Some, like Gavin McKenna, project as immediate lineup staples, while others are better treated as stashes or early-season streams. Let’s sort this class into tiers by role and risk so you know who to prioritize, who to watch, and how to handle them differently across formats.
What’s New & Why It Matters
This rookie group is unusually forward-heavy and, more importantly, packed with players projected to jump straight into meaningful NHL usage. Gavin McKenna is expected to land in a top-six role and on PP1 for the Toronto Maple Leafs, giving him a path to premium deployment alongside elite talent. In Philadelphia, Porter Martone is tracking toward a top-six job and first-unit power-play time for the Philadelphia Flyers, combining scoring upside with physical contributions.
Roman Kantserov could find himself on the top line and PP1 for the Chicago Blackhawks, making him a classic boom-or-bust rookie: the role could be huge, but the floor is low if he slides down the lineup. In Boston, James Hagens is projected to start as a third-line center with PP2 work for the Boston Bruins, while Ivar Stenberg should slot into a second-line, PP2 role for San Jose. Those two are more about patience and timing than immediate must-start value.
Because several of these rookies are walking straight into special-teams usage, understanding how to value PP1 versus PP2 time is critical. First-unit exposure can turn a talented rookie into a fantasy cornerstone, while PP2 often means more modest, streaky production.
Fantasy Implications
Points-Only
In pure scoring formats, deployment is everything. McKenna is the clear Tier 1 option here: a top-six winger on Toronto’s first power play is exactly the profile that can produce strong point totals immediately. Even if his even-strength minutes fluctuate early, PP1 access with high-end teammates should keep his floor relatively safe and his ceiling very high.
Martone sits in the next tier as a strong points-only play. A projected top-six role and PP1 time in Philadelphia give him a real shot at steady production, though his team context isn’t as explosive as Toronto’s. Still, the combination of opportunity and talent makes him a forward you can feel comfortable building around in your middle roster spots.
Kantserov is more volatile. If he sticks on Chicago’s top line and PP1, he can rival Martone in scoring upside, especially if he rides shotgun with the Blackhawks’ established stars. But his leash may be shorter; a cold stretch could push him down the lineup and off prime units, turning him into more of a streamer than a set-and-forget option.
Hagens and Stenberg are Tier 3 in points-only leagues. Hagens’ initial third-line, PP2 deployment in Boston suggests a slower ramp-up. He’s more of a watch-and-react option: if he earns a promotion into the top six or onto PP1, he becomes immediately interesting. Stenberg, with a projected second-line, PP2 role in San Jose, has a clearer path to decent minutes, but PP2 usage caps his early ceiling; think streaky depth scoring rather than core production.
Categories / Bangers
In multi-cat formats, Martone’s profile pops. His combination of scoring potential and physical play makes him a multi-category asset. A top-six, PP1 winger in Philadelphia who also contributes in hits or other grit stats can anchor your winger slots and smooth out the volatility that often comes with rookies.
McKenna remains elite in categories leagues because of his scoring and power-play outlook, but his value is more concentrated in offensive categories like goals, assists, power-play points and shots. If he doesn’t bring as much in hits or PIM, you’ll want to pair him with heavier linemates on your fantasy roster to balance category coverage.
Kantserov is a classic high-risk, high-reward categories play. If he sticks on the top line and PP1 in Chicago, he can chip in across offensive categories and potentially add some peripheral stats. But his role uncertainty means he’s better treated as a flexible roster spot: be ready to move on if the usage doesn’t materialize.
Hagens and Stenberg are more speculative in bangers formats. Hagens’ third-line, PP2 role in Boston limits his volume across most categories early on, though a promotion could change that quickly. Stenberg’s second-line deployment in San Jose gives him more ice time to accumulate shots and secondary stats, but without PP1 work, his category impact is likely modest. They’re better as watchlist names or deep-league bench stashes than core category contributors to start the year.
Dynasty / Keeper
In long-term formats, this class looks particularly appealing. McKenna is a foundational piece in dynasty and keeper leagues. Top-six, PP1 usage in Toronto as a rookie hints at a long runway of elite production. Even if there are growing pains in year one, the role and talent combination screams long-term building block.
Martone is just a step behind as a long-term asset. A top-six, PP1 winger in Philadelphia with a multi-category profile is exactly the type of player who can grow into a perennial top-100 fantasy option. In keeper formats, he’s worth paying a premium to secure now before his value fully spikes.
Kantserov is a pure upside stash in dynasty. If he cements himself as a top-line, PP1 winger in Chicago, his long-term ceiling is substantial, especially if he remains attached to the team’s offensive core. But there’s more role risk here than with McKenna or Martone, so price him as a high-upside swing rather than a sure thing.
Hagens and Stenberg are classic patience plays. Hagens’ initial third-line, PP2 role in Boston doesn’t scream immediate fantasy stardom, but centers who can eventually climb into top-six, PP1 roles on strong teams often become extremely valuable in dynasty. Stenberg’s NHL-readiness and second-line, PP2 projection in San Jose make him a solid stash in deeper keeper formats; if he grows into more offensive responsibility, you’ll be glad you held him through the quieter early years.
Who to Add / Stream / Watch
- Gavin McKenna – Add (all formats): Top-six winger with PP1 time in Toronto gives him league-winning rookie upside in both points-only and categories leagues.
- Porter Martone – Add (standard and deeper): Projected top-six, PP1 role in Philadelphia plus physical contributions make him a strong multi-cat building block.
- Roman Kantserov – Short-term stream / upside stash: Potential top-line, PP1 deployment in Chicago makes him a high-reward late add, but be ready to move on if the role slips.
- James Hagens – Watchlist (all formats, stash in deep): Starts as a third-line, PP2 center in Boston; monitor closely for any promotion into the top six or PP1.
- Ivar Stenberg – Watchlist / deep-league add: Second-line, PP2 role in San Jose gives him a path to steady minutes with room to grow into more offense.
Fantasy Takeaways
- Prioritize Gavin McKenna as the top rookie forward thanks to his projected top-six and PP1 role in Toronto.
- Porter Martone is a premium multi-category rookie with both scoring and physical upside in Philadelphia’s top six.
- Roman Kantserov is a high-variance play: treat him as an upside stream or stash tied directly to his top-line and PP1 usage in Chicago.
- James Hagens and Ivar Stenberg are better early-season watchlist names, with value that spikes if they earn promotions into more offensive roles.
- In keeper and dynasty leagues, be aggressive on McKenna and Martone, and use tools like the NHL Trade Analyzer to capitalize on early hype in trades.
Source: ESPN.com. See the original for full details.