Fantasy Hockey Rookie Rankings: Early 2025-26 Impact Skaters & Goalies

Rookies are one of the best ways to squeeze extra value out of your fantasy roster, but they’re also among the hardest to project. This year’s class features a potential workhorse defenseman in Matthew Schaefer, a high-skill winger in Ivan Demidov, and a possible breakout starter in net with Yaroslav Askarov. Let’s break down how these names stack up for 2025-26 and what they mean for different fantasy formats.

What’s New & Why It Matters

The latest rookie rankings spotlight a small group of first-year players who are already slotted into meaningful NHL roles. For fantasy purposes, the key is not just talent, but how quickly that talent translates into deployment: top-four minutes, power-play time, and high-leverage goalie starts.

On the blue line, Matthew Schaefer is graded as one of the premier rookie defense options league-wide, not just among first-year players. That kind of overall ranking suggests he could step directly into a prominent role for the New York Islanders, with a realistic path to secondary or even primary power-play usage if he adapts quickly.

Up front, Ivan Demidov projects as a scoring driver for the Montreal Canadiens. His placement inside the broader top-150 mix hints that he’s not just a speculative stash; he’s someone who could matter in standard leagues if he lands in the top six and sees time on the main power-play unit.

In goal, Yaroslav Askarov joins the San Jose Sharks as a potential sleeper. The concern is team strength, but the upside lies in volume: if he wins the crease, even an average save percentage with heavy workload can be valuable in categories leagues.

Finally, defenseman Zeev Buium is flagged as a strong target for physical formats on the Minnesota roster. His appeal comes from a likely multi-cat profile: defensive minutes, peripheral stats, and enough offense to avoid being a drag in points.

Fantasy Implications

Points-Only

In pure scoring formats, you’re chasing ceiling and power-play access.

Ivan Demidov is the headline rookie for points-only leagues. His ranking within the top-150 overall suggests expectations of real production, not just hype. If he opens in the top six for the Montreal Canadiens and earns a regular spot on PP1, he has the toolkit to push meaningful totals right away. Managers should be ready to move quickly if his early usage confirms that role.

Matthew Schaefer is more format-dependent in points-only. As a defenseman, his path to elite scoring is narrower, but being ranked inside the top-60 overall is a strong signal that his offensive upside is real. If he’s quarterbacking or even co-running a power-play unit for the New York Islanders, he can be a top-half defense option in standard points leagues. If he’s stuck on a secondary unit with limited offensive deployment, he’s more of a depth play.

Zeev Buium is less of a priority in pure scoring formats unless you’re in deeper leagues. His value leans more toward multi-category, but any early signs of power-play usage in Minnesota would push him up the board.

Categories / Bangers

In multi-cat formats, deployment plus peripherals matter as much as raw point totals.

Zeev Buium is the most interesting rookie for bangers leagues. The analysis points to him as a trade target specifically for those formats, implying he can contribute in hits, blocks, and potentially penalty minutes while still offering some offense. If he settles into a heavy-minutes role in Minnesota’s top four, he could quickly become a staple in deeper multi-cat leagues.

Matthew Schaefer also carries strong category-league appeal. A highly ranked rookie defenseman on the New York Islanders should see plenty of ice, which translates into shots, blocks, and possibly special teams exposure. Even if his scoring lags early, his floor in peripherals can justify a roster spot.

For forwards, Ivan Demidov is primarily a scoring piece but could still help in shots and power-play points if he’s deployed as a primary trigger man. He’s more valuable in leagues that reward PPP and SOG than in formats that heavily emphasize hits and PIM.

In goal, Yaroslav Askarov is a classic categories sleeper. The San Jose Sharks may not rack up wins, but if he grabs the starting job, volume alone can make him useful in saves and potentially shutouts. He’s best treated as a watchlist or third-goalie type until his workload is clearer.

Dynasty / Keeper

In long-term formats, this rookie class looks particularly appealing.

Matthew Schaefer stands out as a priority add in dynasty. A top-60 overall ranking as a rookie defenseman is rare; it implies both strong immediate value and a high ceiling. Even if his first season is uneven, the long-term bet on a top-pair, power-play-capable blueliner for the New York Islanders is exactly the type of profile you want to lock in early.

Ivan Demidov should be rostered in virtually all dynasty formats. A top-150 overall grade as a first-year forward for the Montreal Canadiens suggests he’s viewed as a future offensive centerpiece. If your league rewards patience, he’s the kind of player you acquire now and build around for multiple seasons.

Yaroslav Askarov is more volatile but potentially more valuable in dynasty than in single-year leagues. Goalie development is unpredictable, but a young netminder with a path to a starting role on the San Jose Sharks is worth stashing, especially in formats that start multiple goalies or have deep benches.

Zeev Buium is a strong long-term hold in multi-cat dynasty setups. Even if his offensive upside tops out at a modest level, a defenseman who can pile up hits and blocks while chipping in points is a long-term roster glue piece. He’s also an interesting target via the NHL Trade Analyzer if your league undervalues non-scoring categories.

Who to Add / Stream / Watch

Matthew Schaefer – Add (standard & dynasty): Top rookie defenseman with a strong overall ranking and a clear path to big minutes on the New York Islanders.
Ivan Demidov – Add (points-only & deeper categories): Highly ranked forward for the Montreal Canadiens who could quickly become a core scorer if he lands in the top six and on PP1.
Yaroslav Askarov – Watchlist / speculative add: Potential starting goalie for the San Jose Sharks with sleeper upside if he wins the crease.
Zeev Buium – Trade target (bangers & dynasty): Multi-category defenseman in Minnesota who can deliver hits, blocks, and enough offense to matter.
Montreal top-six forwards – Watchlist (deep leagues): Any winger consistently riding shotgun with Ivan Demidov gains sneaky value from his playmaking and power-play exposure.
New York secondary PP defenseman – Watchlist (deep & dynasty): If Matthew Schaefer starts on PP2 but trends toward more usage, early adopters could profit.

Fantasy Takeaways

Matthew Schaefer should be treated as a priority rookie defense add in both single-season and dynasty formats thanks to his strong overall ranking and likely role.
Ivan Demidov is the rookie forward with the most immediate scoring upside; monitor his top-six and power-play usage closely in Montreal.
Yaroslav Askarov is best handled as a watchlist goalie with upside in volume-heavy categories leagues if he seizes the starting job in San Jose.
Zeev Buium is an ideal multi-cat trade target, especially in bangers and dynasty formats where his peripherals carry extra weight.
Use tools like the NHL Trade Analyzer and guides on how to value PP1 time to fine-tune how aggressively you pursue these rookies in your league.

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