Top Fantasy Hockey Rookies to Target for 2026-27

Rookies can swing fantasy leagues, but separating real impact from preseason hype is tricky. This year’s class has a clear headliner on defense in Cole Hutson and a cluster of high-upside forwards like Gavin McKenna, Porter Martone, Ivar Stenberg, and Anton Frondell. All are Calder-eligible and projected to matter in standard formats. Let’s dig into what’s new, how to value them across league types, and who you should be most aggressive on for 2026-27.

What’s New & Why It Matters

This season’s rookie crop is unusually fantasy-friendly because several players are projected to step directly into top-six or top-pair roles instead of being sheltered in the bottom of the lineup.

Cole Hutson, D, Washington Capitals – Ranked as the top fantasy rookie, he’s positioned as a potential offensive driver from the blue line. If he sees early power-play time for the Washington Capitals, he becomes one of the few rookies who can help at a scarce position.
Gavin McKenna, F, Toronto Maple Leafs – Slotted as a top-six forward for Toronto, McKenna is ranked second among rookies and is expected to be a primary scoring option rather than a depth piece.
Porter Martone, F, Philadelphia Flyers – Third on the rookie list, Martone is more of a breakout candidate than a sure thing. His role with Philadelphia will dictate whether he’s a must-roster or more of a streaming play early on.
Ivar Stenberg, F, San Jose Sharks – Ranked fourth, Stenberg’s value is tied to opportunity on a rebuilding San Jose team that can afford to give him prime minutes.
Anton Frondell, F, Chicago Blackhawks – A strong ranking and projected top-six role in Chicago make Frondell a viable depth scorer with room to grow if he sticks on a scoring line.

The key theme: these rookies are not just depth call-ups. They’re being evaluated as potential fantasy starters in standard leagues, which raises both their ceilings and the urgency to act before they’re fully priced in via trades or waiver competition.

Fantasy Implications

Points-Only

In points-only formats, you care most about offensive ceiling and power-play access.

Cole Hutson – As the top rookie, Hutson’s value in points-only leagues hinges on whether he can secure primary or secondary power-play duties. Even a PP2 role with regular offensive-zone starts could make him an immediate fantasy starter at defense, where scoring depth is always thin.
Gavin McKenna – Ranked second among rookies and projected as a top-six forward for the Toronto Maple Leafs, McKenna has the profile of a high-end scorer. If he lands on a line with established finishers and sees power-play time, he has the best shot among the forwards to challenge Hutson for total points.
Porter Martone – Third on the list, Martone is more of a boom-or-bust option. In points-only, he’s ideal as a bench stash: if he locks into a scoring role with Philadelphia and sees PP usage, he can be promoted quickly; if not, he’s a relatively painless cut.
Ivar Stenberg – Ranked fourth and expected to be a top-six forward in San Jose, Stenberg’s path to touches is straightforward. On a team lacking established stars, he could be leaned on for offense, which quietly boosts his points-only appeal even if the team overall struggles.
Anton Frondell – Chicago’s rookie forward is more of a steady depth scorer. In shallower points-only leagues he’s a watchlist name; in deeper formats, he’s a reasonable final active forward if he sticks in the top six and sees occasional PP time.

Categories / Bangers

In multi-category leagues, you’re looking beyond raw scoring to shot volume, special-teams usage, and peripheral contributions like hits and blocks (where applicable).

Cole Hutson – As an offensive defenseman, Hutson’s main non-scoring contributions are likely to be shots and power-play production rather than heavy hits or blocks. That’s still valuable: a rookie defenseman who can chip in on the man advantage and keep his shot totals respectable can stabilize your blue line without needing elite peripherals.
Gavin McKenna – McKenna’s top-six projection suggests strong shot and point potential. If he’s aggressive shooting the puck and deployed on a scoring line, he can contribute in goals, assists, power-play points, and shots on goal. Even if he’s not a big hitter, that multi-cat scoring profile plays in almost any format.
Porter Martone – Martone’s breakout potential makes him a classic categories swing piece. If he brings a power forward element to Philadelphia’s lineup, he could help in hits and shots while chipping in goals. Managers in bangers formats should monitor his early stat lines closely; a strong mix of shots and physical play would justify an early add.
Ivar Stenberg – On a rebuilding San Jose team, Stenberg may be asked to do a bit of everything. That can translate into decent shot volume and all-situations usage, which is sneaky-good for categories. Even if his plus-minus is a concern, his counting stats could offset that in leagues that de-emphasize or ignore the category.
Anton Frondell – Frondell’s value in bangers formats will depend on whether he plays a more finesse or power style in Chicago’s top six. For now, treat him as a depth scoring option who may add modest shots and occasional secondary category help rather than a true multi-cat stud.

Dynasty / Keeper

In dynasty and keeper leagues, patience and trajectory matter more than immediate year-one production.

Cole Hutson – As the top-ranked rookie defenseman, Hutson should be treated as a cornerstone asset. Even if his first season is uneven, his long-term outlook as an offensive driver on the Capitals’ blue line makes him a priority hold and a strong target in trades using tools like the NHL Trade Analyzer.
Gavin McKenna – McKenna’s combination of top-six role and high rookie ranking suggests long-term top-line upside in Toronto. In keeper formats, you can tolerate early inconsistency because the payoff could be multiple seasons of prime scoring.
Porter Martone – Martone’s “prospect watch” label fits dynasty perfectly. He may not be an automatic year-one star, but his third-place rookie ranking signals meaningful upside. He’s the type of player you stash on a farm slot and reevaluate once his NHL role solidifies.
Ivar Stenberg – Stenberg’s combination of strong ranking and opportunity on a rebuilding Sharks roster makes him a classic long-term volume play. Even if San Jose’s team results lag, his individual usage can support steady growth in dynasty.
Anton Frondell – Frondell profiles as a long-term complementary scorer. In shallow keeper leagues he may end up on and off rosters, but in deeper dynasty formats he’s a smart stash who could settle into a reliable 2nd-line role over time.

Who to Add / Stream / Watch

Cole Hutson – Add in all formats: Top-ranked rookie with a clear path to offensive minutes on Washington’s blue line, especially valuable at a scarce position.
Gavin McKenna – Add in all formats: Projected top-six forward for Toronto with high scoring upside; worth an aggressive move wherever he’s available.
Porter Martone – Watchlist / speculative add: Ranked third among rookies and tagged as a breakout candidate; monitor his role in Philadelphia and pounce if he lands in a scoring spot.
Ivar Stenberg – Add in standard and deep leagues: Ranked fourth with a likely top-six role in San Jose, offering strong value where managers can be patient.
Anton Frondell – Depth add / stream: A strong rookie ranking and projected top-six deployment in Chicago make him a solid depth scorer and streaming option.

Fantasy Takeaways

Cole Hutson should be treated as a priority add in any league that rewards offensive defensemen, with the upside to anchor your blue line for years.
Gavin McKenna’s combination of top-six opportunity and elite rookie ranking makes him a must-target scorer in both points-only and multi-category formats.
Porter Martone belongs on every watchlist; if his early usage in Philadelphia trends toward a scoring role, he quickly becomes an add rather than a stash.
Ivar Stenberg offers excellent value on a rebuilding Sharks team that can give him prime minutes, especially in deeper and dynasty leagues.
Anton Frondell is a smart depth play in Chicago, with enough upside to justify a roster spot in standard leagues and a stash in keepers.

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