Projecting 2025-26 Fantasy Hockey Rookies: Who Can Help You Now?

Rookies are the biggest swing pieces in fantasy hockey: they win leagues when you hit and sink you when you miss. With a fresh class headlined by Matthew Schaefer and Ivan Demidov, plus impact options on defense and in net, managers need to separate real-life hype from fantasy-ready production. Let’s break down how this rookie group fits into different formats and which names you should prioritize, stash, or simply monitor as the 2025-26 season unfolds.

What’s New & Why It Matters

The latest rookie rankings spotlight a diverse group: a potential workhorse defenseman in Matthew Schaefer, a high-skill forward in Ivan Demidov with the Montreal Canadiens, a dynamic blueliner in Zeev Buium now with Minnesota, and a top goalie prospect in Yaroslav Askarov for San Jose. These players are all Calder-eligible, which usually means prominent roles and plenty of opportunity if they stick.

For fantasy managers, the key is role and deployment. Schaefer and Buium project as defensemen who could grow into heavy minutes and power-play usage, which is gold at a thin position. Demidov and Jimmy Snuggerud are the forwards to watch for top-six and PP1 chances, while Askarov’s path to starts in San Jose will determine whether he’s a stash or an immediate contributor. Depth names like Ben Kindel, Jakub Dobes, Beckett Sennecke, and Alexander Nikishin round out the class as deeper-league options with situational upside.

Fantasy Implications

Points-Only

In points-only formats, you care almost exclusively about offensive ceiling and power-play opportunity. That puts Ivan Demidov and Jimmy Snuggerud at the front of the line among forwards. Demidov’s profile as a high-skill attacker on Montreal gives him a path to meaningful production if he lands in the top six and sees PP1 time. He’s the type of rookie you can stash early, accept some inconsistency, and hope the second-half breakout arrives.

Snuggerud, ranked in the upper half of the rookie list, looks more like a steady middle-six scorer who can chip in on the man advantage. In points-only leagues he’s more of a midseason pickup than a must-hold from day one, but his combination of shot volume and finishing ability makes him a strong candidate to ride hot streaks.

On the back end, Matthew Schaefer and Zeev Buium are the key names. Schaefer being viewed as the top rookie overall hints at a potential all-situations role with the New York Islanders, including real power-play responsibility. If he lands PP1, he becomes one of the more valuable rookie defensemen in points-only formats. Buium’s ranking inside the top tier of rookies suggests Minnesota sees him as a core piece; even if he starts on PP2, his puck-moving ability should translate into assists and secondary points.

Goalies rarely matter in points-only leagues, so Yaroslav Askarov is more of a luxury stash than a priority unless your format specifically rewards wins and shutouts heavily.

Categories / Bangers

In multi-cat and bangers formats, the rookie board reshuffles. Matthew Schaefer and Zeev Buium gain extra appeal as defensemen who can contribute across the stat sheet. If Schaefer logs heavy minutes for the New York Islanders, he should provide a mix of shots, blocks, and possibly some hits, making him a strong depth D with upside. Buium’s ranking inside the top handful of rookies hints at usage that could include second-unit power-play time plus regular five-on-five minutes, giving him a solid floor in counting stats.

Yaroslav Askarov is particularly intriguing in categories leagues. As the top rookie goalie, any stretch where he takes over the crease in San Jose could deliver wins, saves, and potentially strong ratios. His value will be highly volatile: if he’s clearly in a 1A/1B or backup role, he’s a stash; if he grabs the starting job, he becomes a league-winner type in goalie-scarce formats.

Among skaters, Beckett Sennecke stands out for bangers leagues. His physical style suggests he can contribute hits while chipping in some offense. That combination makes him more useful in multi-cat formats than in pure scoring leagues. Alexander Nikishin also fits nicely in categories setups; his profile as a defenseman who can help in several areas makes him a smart depth add when you’re trying to balance your roster.

Don’t forget about Ben Kindel and Jakub Dobes in deeper categories leagues. Kindel could emerge as a streaming option if he lands in a scoring role, while Dobes is a name to remember in leagues that reward volume and saves, especially if his team leans on him heavily.

Dynasty / Keeper

Dynasty managers should be especially aggressive with this rookie class. Matthew Schaefer being ranked as the top rookie overall makes him a priority building block on defense. Even if his immediate production is modest, the combination of potential top-pair minutes and power-play usage for the New York Islanders gives him long-term cornerstone upside at a scarce position.

Ivan Demidov is your classic patience play. His ceiling as a high-end offensive forward in Montreal is enormous, but rookie forwards often take time to adjust. In dynasty and keeper formats, you’re betting on his talent and eventual role on the top line and top power-play unit. Short-term volatility is the price of long-term star potential.

Yaroslav Askarov is one of the more interesting goalie assets in long-term leagues. If he grows into San Jose’s clear starter, you’re looking at multi-year value at a position that’s notoriously hard to fill. Even if the wins aren’t there right away, securing a high-upside young goalie is often worth the wait in dynasty.

Deeper down, Beckett Sennecke and Alexander Nikishin are strong dynasty stashes. Sennecke’s physical profile suggests a long runway as a multi-cat winger, while Nikishin’s potential to contribute across categories makes him a great depth defenseman to park on your farm. Ben Kindel and Jakub Dobes are more speculative, but both are worth monitoring in very deep dynasty setups where you can afford to hold longer-term projects.

Who to Add / Stream / Watch

Matthew Schaefer – Add (all formats): Top-ranked rookie with a path to big minutes and potential PP1 time on the New York Islanders’ blue line.
Ivan Demidov – Add/Watch (points-only & dynasty): High-upside scorer in Montreal who could explode if he lands in the top six and on the first power play.
Yaroslav Askarov – Add (categories, dynasty): Top rookie goalie in San Jose with league-winning upside if he seizes the starting job.
Zeev Buium – Watchlist (standard, add in deep): Highly ranked Minnesota defenseman who can grow into a multi-cat contributor with secondary power-play usage.
Jimmy Snuggerud – Short-term stream (points-only): Middle-six scorer with PP2 upside who’s ideal to ride during hot stretches.
Beckett Sennecke – Watchlist (bangers): Physical winger whose hits plus secondary scoring make him a sneaky multi-cat asset.
Alexander Nikishin – Add (deep categories): Defensive depth piece who can quietly help in several categories from the blue line.
Ben Kindel – Watchlist (deep leagues): Monitor for an early-season role; could become a useful streamer if he sticks in a scoring spot.

Fantasy Takeaways

Matthew Schaefer should be treated as a priority rookie add, especially in leagues that reward defensemen who play heavy minutes and see power-play time.
Ivan Demidov is a swing-for-upside play in points-only and dynasty formats; be patient if his early-season production is inconsistent.
Yaroslav Askarov is a high-variance but high-reward goalie target, particularly in categories leagues where volume and ratios matter.
In bangers formats, Beckett Sennecke and Alexander Nikishin gain value thanks to their ability to contribute in hits and peripheral categories.
Use tools like the NHL Trade Analyzer to evaluate offers involving these rookies as their roles and perceived values change throughout the season.

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