Essential Fantasy Hockey Draft Kit for 2025-26

With the 2025-26 NHL season on the horizon, fantasy hockey managers are gearing up for another year of draft-day drama and in-season maneuvering. NHL.com's fantasy hockey draft kit is a one-stop resource, offering rankings, waiver wire recommendations, and strategic advice to help you build a contender—whether you're playing in a points-only, categories, or dynasty league. Let's break down what’s new, why it matters, and how to use these insights for a winning campaign.

What’s New & Why It Matters

This season’s draft kit stands out for its depth and timeliness. It features freshly updated player tiers—grouping skaters and goalies by expected production and role, rather than just raw numbers. Notably, there are significant player relocations impacting fantasy value: Noah Dobson has landed in Montreal, Trevor Zegras is now in Philadelphia, and JJ Peterka is set for an expanded role in Utah. These moves, along with a new batch of rookies and evolving power-play hierarchies, reshape the fantasy landscape.

Managers also gain access to projections for lineups, starting goalie trends, and the coveted top 200 rest-of-season list. Keeper and dynasty league sections highlight prospects and long-term risers, while EDGE stats provide a data-driven edge for those seeking advanced insights. All of this is designed to help you adapt to early-season surprises and mid-season injuries, and to capitalize on schedule quirks.

Fantasy Implications

Points-Only

With several high-profile trades and signings, the points-only landscape has shifted. Trevor Zegras is a prime example—a move to Philadelphia could boost his scoring thanks to top-six deployment and increased power-play exposure. Similarly, Dobson’s offensive upside in Montreal makes him a coveted blueliner, especially if he locks down PP1 duties. Managers should keep an eye on projected line combinations and preseason usage, as these often foreshadow breakout campaigns.

Categories / Bangers

The categories and bangers format rewards multi-cat contributors. This year, managers should target players like JJ Peterka, whose transition to Utah could mean more minutes and a greater share of hits, shots, and possibly even faceoff wins. Nikita Schaefer’s immediate impact with the Islanders makes him a streaming candidate for those needing a boost in hits or PIMs. Keep tabs on evolving roles—especially with young players or those benefiting from injuries to established stars.

Dynasty / Keeper

Long-term managers need to weigh both upside and opportunity. Dobson’s arrival in Montreal positions him as a possible franchise anchor on the blue line, with increased offensive responsibilities. Dynasty GMs should also monitor rookies and sophomores breaking into top-six or PP1 roles, as early production often leads to sustained value. The draft kit’s dynasty and keeper rankings help identify these risers before your league mates do.

Who to Add / Stream / Watch

Noah Dobson (Montreal): New home, likely top-pair and PP1—must-add in dynasty and deep leagues.
Trevor Zegras (Philadelphia): Top-six role and PP exposure boost his points-only ceiling—draft with confidence.
JJ Peterka (Utah): Elevated usage expected; watch for early category contributions and breakout potential.
Nikita Schaefer (Islanders): Making noise in banger leagues—stream for immediate hits and blocks.
Nikolaj Ehlers (Carolina): New environment could spike assists and plus-minus; consider as a trade target.
Top rookies: Scan preseason lineups for youngsters earning PP time or top-six minutes—these are your next waiver gems.
Emerging goalies: Monitor depth charts for backups stepping into starting roles, especially on teams with favorable early schedules.

Fantasy Takeaways

Monitor player movement closely—trades and signings can radically alter fantasy value, especially for those moving into bigger roles or stronger offensive environments.
Use tiers to identify value pockets in your draft; don’t overpay for name recognition when a similar producer is available later.
Streaming is more important than ever, especially in banger leagues—capitalize on schedule density and short-term opportunity.
Dynasty managers should act early on young players breaking into meaningful roles, as the window to buy low is short.
Leverage advanced stats (EDGE) to find hidden contributors—look for players with strong underlying numbers who may be due for positive regression.

Source: NHL.com (2025-10-16). See the original for full details.