Fantasy Hockey Rookie Rankings 2025-26: Schaefer, Demidov, More

Rookies can swing fantasy leagues when they hit, but they also carry risk and uncertainty. The 2025-26 class features impact options at every position, from a potential PP1 workhorse on the blue line to a high-upside scorer and a goalie who could seize a starting job. Let’s break down how to approach these rookies by format and where they should fit into your rest-of-season plans.

What’s New & Why It Matters

The key storyline for this rookie group is opportunity. Matthew Schaefer projects as a top-pair defenseman for the New York Islanders with a real chance to run PP1. That combination of minutes, role, and talent is rare for a first-year blueliner and immediately puts him in the conversation as the most valuable rookie in many formats.

Up front, Ivan Demidov is expected to slide into a top-six role for the Montreal Canadiens. His calling card is offensive upside, and while there may be the usual adjustment bumps, his long-term ceiling is exactly what dynasty managers chase.

Beckett Sennecke offers a more immediate scoring punch for the Anaheim Ducks. Slotted into a top-six role with offensive deployment, he’s the kind of winger who can be streamed in most leagues when the Ducks have favorable schedules and potentially held if he sticks on a scoring line.

In net, Yaroslav Askarov lands with the San Jose Sharks and has a path to meaningful starts as a potential starter. On rebuilding teams, volume often matters more than win percentage for fantasy, and Askarov could quickly become a categories asset for saves and counting goalie stats.

Rounding out the core group, Zeev Buium brings a physical edge to the Minnesota Wild blue line. His value is more format-dependent, but in leagues that reward hits and blocks, his profile is tailor-made for bangers appeal, with some room for secondary offense if his role grows.

Fantasy Implications

Points-Only

In points-only formats, deployment and power-play access drive most of the value for this rookie class. Schaefer is the headliner here: a top-pair role plus PP1 opportunity on the Islanders gives him a strong floor in assists and secondary points, with upside if the team’s power play clicks. Among rookies, he’s the safest bet to provide steady production from the back end.

Demidov’s value is more ceiling-driven. As a top-six forward in Montreal, he should see good offensive linemates and offensive-zone usage. Even if his early-season totals are streaky, his skill set suggests he can finish among the more productive rookie forwards once he settles in. He’s a priority stash in deeper points-only leagues and a strong mid-season add if his ice time and PP role ramp up.

Sennecke is a classic streamer with hold potential. Anaheim’s offense is still growing, but a top-six winger with an offensive mandate can quickly become rosterable if he sticks on a scoring line or sees PP1 time. In shallower points-only leagues, you can rotate him in when the Ducks have four-game weeks; in deeper formats, he’s worth a proactive add if his early production is strong.

Askarov’s points-only value is more limited because goalie categories are often compressed, but any rookie with a path to a starting job deserves attention. If your league counts wins and shutouts heavily, he’s more of a matchup-based play; if volume and saves matter, his value rises.

Categories / Bangers

In multi-cat and bangers leagues, the ranking board looks different. Schaefer’s combination of minutes, PP1 potential, and all-situations usage means he can contribute across the board: shots, blocks, some hits, and power-play points. That multi-category profile is why he should be prioritized over most rookie forwards in these formats.

Buium is the most format-specific weapon of the group. As a physical defenseman for Minnesota, he’s built to rack up hits and blocks, with the possibility of chipping in enough offense to avoid being a drag in scoring categories. In leagues counting hits, blocks, and PIM, he can outproduce more skilled but less physical rookies on a per-game basis.

Sennecke’s fantasy appeal in categories leagues leans on his shot volume and potential for goals. If he’s encouraged to shoot in Anaheim’s top six, he can help in goals, shots, and potentially power-play points. He’s less valuable if his role is sheltered or if he’s stuck on a secondary unit, so monitor his usage closely.

Demidov remains a high-upside play, but his value will depend on whether he adds enough shots and power-play production to support his scoring. In categories leagues with limited bench spots, he’s more of a luxury stash than a must-roster if he starts slowly.

In goal, Askarov is a prime categories streamer. A potential starter on San Jose should see plenty of rubber, making him useful for saves and volume even if the Sharks aren’t racking up wins. In leagues with weekly minimums or deep goalie slots, he’s a strong third-goalie option who can be cycled in for favorable matchups.

Dynasty / Keeper

Dynasty managers should think in multi-year windows with this class. Schaefer’s profile as a PP1-capable, minute-eating defenseman for the Islanders is exactly what you want anchoring a blue line for years. Even if his rookie-year totals are modest, his long-term trajectory is that of a foundational fantasy defenseman.

Demidov is the crown jewel up front. A top-six role in Montreal as a rookie is just the beginning; his upside suggests he could become a primary offensive driver for the Canadiens. In dynasty, he’s the type of player you’re willing to be patient with through early inconsistency, knowing the payoff could be multiple prime seasons of high-end scoring.

Sennecke is more of a tier below in dynasty but still very relevant. If he cements himself as a top-six winger in Anaheim, he can be a long-term complementary scorer, especially valuable in deeper leagues that start many forwards. He’s a good target for rebuilding teams that can wait out some development time.

Askarov’s long-term value hinges on how firmly he grabs the starting job in San Jose. If he proves he can handle heavy workloads, he becomes a cornerstone goalie in dynasty, especially in leagues that reward saves and starts. He’s worth aggressive pursuit for managers thin in goal.

Buium is a classic dynasty bangers piece: his physical style should translate year after year, and any growth in offensive usage with the Wild would push him into every-week starter territory in multi-cat formats.

Who to Add / Stream / Watch

Matthew Schaefer – Add (all formats): Top-pair role with PP1 upside on the Islanders makes him the most bankable rookie across league types.
Ivan Demidov – Watchlist/Add (dynasty and deep redraft): High-end scoring ceiling in Montreal; stash where you can be patient with early growing pains.
Beckett Sennecke – Short-term stream (standard leagues): Top-six deployment in Anaheim gives him immediate scoring and shots potential when the Ducks have strong schedules.
Yaroslav Askarov – Stream/Add (categories and deep leagues): Potential starter for San Jose who can pile up saves and volume, especially valuable as a third goalie.
Zeev Buium – Watchlist/Add (bangers formats): Physical defenseman for Minnesota whose hits and blocks can carry value even if the offense is secondary.

Fantasy Takeaways

Prioritize Matthew Schaefer as the top rookie target thanks to his PP1 path and heavy minutes on the Islanders’ blue line.
Treat Ivan Demidov as a long-view investment, especially in dynasty, where his scoring upside in Montreal is worth patience.
Use Beckett Sennecke as a flexible streamer in Anaheim, upgrading him to a hold if his top-six role and production stabilize.
Leverage Yaroslav Askarov as a volume-based goalie option in categories leagues, particularly if you need starts and saves.
In bangers formats, keep Zeev Buium high on your watchlist for his hits-and-blocks profile with room for offensive growth.

Source: NHL.com. See the original for full details.