Fantasy Hockey Sleepers to Target for 2026-27
Finding the right sleepers is how you separate yourself in competitive leagues. The goal isn’t just to chase hype, but to identify players whose roles and situations are about to spike their fantasy value. For 2026-27, a handful of forwards and one goalie stand out as ideal value targets who can outperform their typical perception.
What’s New & Why It Matters
This group of sleepers is driven less by mystery and more by clear opportunity. Egor Chinakhov is moving into a prime scoring role for the Pittsburgh Penguins, riding strong chemistry with Evgeni Malkin and top power-play exposure. That combination of deployment and shot volume is exactly what you want when hunting upside on the wing.
In net, Joel Hofer is positioned to take over as the main starter for the St. Louis Blues after an impressive post-Olympics run. When a young goalie with momentum is poised to grab the crease, you get a rare chance at a high-impact starter without paying a premium.
On the wing, Anthony Mantha joins the New Jersey Devils coming off a career-best season and is lined up for a top-six role on a high-powered offense. Mason Marchment has a path to top-line minutes with the San Jose Sharks, offering a blend of scoring and physical stats that plays up in multi-category formats. And Valeri Nichushkin lands with the Columbus Blue Jackets, where top-line and first power-play duties could unlock more consistent production than we’ve seen in past seasons.
All five players share a common thread: their roles are trending up, but their fantasy cost typically lags behind that reality. That gap is where you find value.
Fantasy Implications
Points-Only
In points-only formats, deployment and offensive environment are king. Chinakhov is the purest upside swing here. Skating in a top-six role with Malkin and seeing PP1 time for Pittsburgh gives him exposure to elite playmaking and plenty of shooting opportunities. If his finishing holds, he can settle in as a strong middle-of-lineup scorer for your fantasy team with legitimate breakout potential.
Mantha’s appeal is similar but rooted in a different context. New Jersey’s offense is built around pace and skill, and Mantha is coming off a season where he finally put together a full scoring package. If he sticks in the top six and maintains his confidence, he can be a stable secondary scorer with stretches of top-line production, especially if he sees consistent power-play usage.
Nichushkin’s value in points-only leagues hinges on his role in Columbus. A regular spot on the top line and first power play would give him more puck touches and offensive-zone time than he’s had in some previous stops. He may not be as flashy as some pure scorers, but steady minutes with skilled linemates can translate into reliable point totals, particularly if he’s leaned on in all situations.
Marchment is more format-dependent. In pure points leagues, he’s more of a mid-tier sleeper; his ceiling comes from potential top-line usage and the chance to be one of the focal points of San Jose’s offense. If he clicks with the Sharks’ top forwards and gets prime power-play looks, he can surprise with better-than-expected totals, but his true edge shows up when peripheral stats count.
Hofer’s impact in points-only leagues (where goalies are often valued by wins and basic ratios) comes from volume. If he secures the starting job in St. Louis and maintains the level he showed post-Olympics, he can anchor your goalie group as a strong second option with upside to flirt with top-tier numbers.
Categories / Bangers
In multi-category formats, Marchment becomes one of the most attractive names on this list. His combination of physical play and scoring touch makes him a natural fit in leagues that count hits along with goals and assists. If he’s indeed locked into a top-line role in San Jose, he can pile up volume in several categories at once, giving you flexibility elsewhere on your roster.
Nichushkin also gains value in bangers leagues. As a top-line, power-play winger in Columbus, he should see heavy minutes, which typically leads to solid shot totals and peripheral contributions. Even if his pure point ceiling is modest compared to elite scorers, the multi-cat floor makes him a strong complementary piece.
Chinakhov’s shot-heavy profile is another reason to like him in categories formats. If he continues to fire the puck frequently on Pittsburgh’s top units, he can contribute in goals, shots, and power-play points, with the potential to add some secondary stats along the way. He’s the type of winger who can swing weekly matchups when he gets hot.
Mantha’s value in bangers leagues will depend on how much he leans into volume shooting and whether he can maintain his scoring surge from last season. On a fast-paced Devils team, he should have plenty of chances to generate shots and power-play points. He’s not a pure bruiser, but his offensive role can still make him a useful multi-cat contributor.
For goalies, Hofer’s categories appeal lies in his potential to deliver both volume and efficiency. If he grabs the bulk of the starts in St. Louis and carries over his strong post-Olympics play, he can help you in wins and ratios without costing the premium you usually pay for established starters.
Dynasty / Keeper
In dynasty and keeper formats, the focus shifts to age, trajectory, and organizational commitment. Chinakhov stands out as a long-term asset. He’s still on the upswing of his development curve, and establishing himself as a top-six, PP1 winger in Pittsburgh would cement his value for years. Managers who invest now could enjoy multiple seasons of growth.
Hofer is arguably the most important dynasty piece here. If he truly becomes the full-time starter in St. Louis, you’re looking at a multi-year solution in goal on a team that trusts him. Young starting goalies with clear paths to heavy workloads are rare; securing one early can stabilize your crease for several seasons.
Mantha is more of a win-now option in dynasty. His career-high scoring season and prime role in New Jersey make him a strong short- to medium-term asset, but his long-term upside is more about maintaining current levels than taking another huge step. He’s ideal for contenders who need scoring help without paying the price for a blue-chip star.
Marchment and Nichushkin both profile as useful depth pieces in dynasty leagues. Marchment’s physical style and potential top-line role in San Jose give him staying power as a multi-cat contributor, while Nichushkin’s likely top-line and PP1 usage in Columbus should keep him fantasy-relevant as long as he holds that spot. Neither is a franchise cornerstone, but both can round out competitive rosters.
Who to Add / Stream / Watch
- Egor Chinakhov – Add (all formats): Top-six and PP1 usage in Pittsburgh with strong chemistry alongside Malkin gives him true breakout scoring upside.
- Joel Hofer – Add (standard and deep): Poised to seize the starting job in St. Louis, offering starter-level volume without the usual cost.
- Anthony Mantha – Add (points-only, standard): Coming off a career-best season and stepping into a prime top-six role on a high-octane Devils offense.
- Mason Marchment – Add/Short-term stream (categories): Potential top-line winger in San Jose who can contribute in goals, hits, and other peripherals.
- Valeri Nichushkin – Watchlist/Add (deeper leagues): Top-line and PP1 opportunity in Columbus makes him a strong depth scorer with multi-cat appeal.
Fantasy Takeaways
- Target Egor Chinakhov as a value winger with top-six and PP1 exposure in Pittsburgh, especially in points-focused leagues.
- Joel Hofer is a prime goalie sleeper who could deliver starter-level production if he locks down the crease in St. Louis.
- Anthony Mantha’s career-best season plus a top-six role in New Jersey makes him an appealing mid-tier scoring option.
- Mason Marchment is a multi-category asset whose potential top-line role in San Jose can boost both hits and goals.
- Valeri Nichushkin’s projected top-line and PP1 usage in Columbus gives him sneaky upside as a late value pick.
Use tools like the NHL Trade Analyzer during the season to capitalize on these sleepers if they start hot and their trade value spikes.
Source: NHL.com. See the original for full details.