Check-in time. As NHL teams approach the regular campaign's quarter-mark, let's take a look at how our 10 rookies projected to make an immediate fantasy impact are making out. As usual, while a number are meeting or, better yet, exceeding expectations, others are falling short. This inspires the necessary question of whether there are brighter days ahead for those who aren't there yet.
Again, it's worth mentioning that each of these young competitors should be accounted for in dynasty and keeper competition. This ongoing discussion is about whether they can help your redraft team right now, almost seven weeks into the 2026-27 season.
More: Rankings | Most added/dropped | Mock Draft Lobby | Sign up
Most consistent players| Sustainable or lucky? | Biggest fantasy surprises
Jacob Fowler, G, Montreal Canadiens (4.6 FPPG, 82.3% rostered):
Boy oh boy, what a difference a stretch of time, along with a key injury, can make. Before the Canadiens hit the ice for meaningful competition this fall, Sam Montembeault was lauded as NHL-relevant-once-more after an impressive camp, while Jakub Dobes' striking emergence in 2025-26 still resonated as vivid memory. Fast-forward a few weeks and the former remains on injured reserve, while the latter is serving as only an occasional fill-in for Montreal's new go-to. Which would be the young lad frequently compared to Carey Price; a sentiment also echoed by the Hall of Famer.
Boasting a .925 SV%, 2.14 GAA, and 8-1-2 record, Fowler ranks third in total fantasy points to Pyotr Kochetkov and Jesper Wallstedt, despite starting fewer games. His underlying numbers are even more impressive, including 12.36 goals-saved-above-expected (GSAx), bettered by only the Wild's brilliant starter. Plus, the Canadiens are good. Seemingly unflappable, and mature well beyond his 21 years, Price 2.0 should be rostered right across the fantasy board. If you had the foresight to grab the current Calder Trophy-favorite as soon as Montembeault fell hurt, pat yourself hard on the back.
Cole Hutson, D, Washington Capitals (1.8 FPPG, 48.1% rostered):
The biggest pre-season concern was that Hutson would be prevented from reaching his legitimate potential with Jakob Chychrun taking up so much fantasy oxygen in Washington. While that's been the case to some extent -- the veteran blueliner is checking off multiple boxes by skating on the primary power play and blocking an average of two shots/game -- Lane and Quinn's younger brother is also holding his fantasy own. Better yet, he's becoming more dynamic as 2026-27 truly kicks into gear, boasting three goals and three assists over his past five games, including a point with the extra skater. Before the regular campaign got going, I suggested Cole stood a sensible chance of serving as the third consecutive defenseman to win the Calder. He's now considered a top-three favorite by many. Pick him up in deeper leagues while he's still available.
Gavin McKenna, F, Toronto Maple Leafs (1.4 FPPG, 71.9% rostered):
Despite all the hand-wringing in Toronto regarding Jim Hiller's handling of this year's No. 1 draft pick, McKenna is managing reasonably well enough. Sure, he's committing too many giveaways (26) -- which is receiving more attention in the Toronto market than it would most elsewhere -- but figuring out how to prevent those mistakes is part of the learning process and, frankly, not the biggest fantasy concern. Not unless such gaffes inspire Hiller to further cut McKenna's ice time, or worse. We've already seen enough magic from the teen, along with six goals and seven assists, to justify rostering in all but the shallowest of ESPN leagues. Plus, I'll bet he's back on the Leafs' top power play soon enough.
Ivar Stenberg, F, San Jose (1.3 FPPG, 34.4% rostered):
In any other but the deepest of fantasy redraft leagues, Stenberg's top power-play assignment isn't enough. Clearly NHL-ready and sporting a brilliant hockey IQ, the ex-Frolunda skater is undoubtedly going to serve as a valuable two-way force for years to come. Just be wary of getting too jazzed about the teen's recent three goals in five contests. Until coach Ryan Warsovsky boosts Stenberg's on-ice time with a return to the top six, or back alongside Macklin Celebrini on the No. 1 unit -- a recent experiment that didn't last long -- this year's No. 2 overall draft selection can't currently be expected to produce with great consistency.
Porter Martone, F, Philadelphia Flyers (0.9 FPPG, 19.9% rostered):
With only three goals and five assists in 21 contests, the power forward isn't near replicating his exciting performance from last spring. We all know he's going to be a formidable player and leader in Philadelphia for years to come, but this strikes as another situation where a struggling team isn't helping a promising player reach his current potential. Leave Martone on the fantasy backburner for now.
Roman Kantserov, F, Chicago Blackhawks (1.5 FPPG, 10.8% rostered):
Pulled from this year's aforementioned preseason piece: "He's going to score goals. Probably not at the rate of 0.57/game that led the KHL last year, but at a decent clip." As it stands, Kantserov is blasting the opposition's twine at a better-than-decent clip of 0.69/game in his past 13 contests. A rate equally impressive and wholly unsustainable, considering his 34.6 Sh% over that stretch. Unless Kantserov starts firing on net a lot more often, beware of buying into his flashy scoring numbers before they inevitably level off. Besides, the Blackhawks are a mess right now.
James Hagens, F, Boston Bruins (1.9 FPPG, 29.4% rostered):
Unfortunately, Hagens is expected to be out weeks after suffering a back injury against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Before then, credit the top-six forward with a significant haul of six goals and six assists through 17 games. The 5v5 standout also leads Boston's gang of forwards with 19 blocked-shots. If competing in deeper fantasy leagues, make note of when the just-turned 20-year-old is expected to return. He should prove to be a valuable acquisition, once again healthy.
Anton Frondell, F, Chicago Blackhawks (1.3 FPPG, 9.7% rostered):
The promising, young center celebrated Halloween by firing nine shots at Boston backup Michael DiPietro and scoring twice. Other than that, it's been a quiet tune of fantasy crickets from the third-overall draft selection (2025). Once Patrick Kane and Bowen Byram return from their respective injuries, Frondell will also lose his spot on the top power play. Tasking the teenager with serving as second-line center in the NHL is a big ask; one in which he's learning, if not yet productively thriving. Give him a minute.
Viggo Bjorck, F, Winnipeg Jets (0.5 FPPG, 1.1% rostered):
After laying a glaring goose egg each and every night through his first 15 games, Bjorck now has four assists to show for his past three contests. So that's something. But not sufficiently enough to even think about corralling the diminutive forward onto your redraft fantasy squad. Winnipeg's management, coach Scott Arniel, and outside observers everywhere all learned together that Bjorck isn't yet ready to take on the responsibility of centering a second scoring line in the NHL. And that's okay.
Sebastian Cossa, G, Utah Mammoth (-0.1 FPPG, 1.6% rostered):
So, the widely-available netminder is playing a lot for a team considered to be a legit playoff contender in the West. Up until last week's loss to the Canadiens, followed by another resounding defeat at the armored hands of the Golden Knights, battling reasonably well to boot. That's where the positive fantasy tidings ring to a close. While the Mammoth risk losing their grip on a wildcard spot to the Seattle Kraken, Jets, St. Louis Blues or others, neither Cossa nor Karel Vejmelka merit much fantasy faith right now. Moreover, if you think Utah's recent issues can be blamed on team-defense, know that both netminders' underlying stats, ahem, suggest otherwise. At this point, no one would feel shocked if GM Bill Armstrong traded for another goalie to increase his team's chances. We already know he's been working the phones this autumn.
Continue to monitor:
Dylan Garand, G, New York Rangers (1.8 FPPG, 48.3% rostered)
Trevor Connelly, F, Vegas Golden Knights (1.5 FPPG, 8.7% rostered)
Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, F, Detroit Red Wings (1.5 FPPG, 11.8% rostered)
