Overachievers. In fantasy competition, to identify and secure them is to love them. There's no better complement to our unsurprising stars and other reliable contributors than a player (or more) who blows our too-modest preseason expectations right out of the rink. Whether of the breakout, bounce-back, or other variety, sleepers -- grabbed in late stages of a draft or even once play is underway -- go a long way in helping any competitive manager contend for a championship.
For this exercise, we're focusing on skaters who have been around the block a bit, as opposed to rookies or other breakout candidates like Jimmy Snuggerud, Jackson Blake, and Will Smith. We're tackling those similarly coveted fantasy performers elsewhere in our department. Also, you might notice a trend of fresh faces in new places applying to many of the following sleeper candidates. That's no coincidence. These potentially underrated fantasy skaters were not only actively pursued by their new teams, but acquired to fill a prominent position, which offers them an improved opportunity to make a bigger splash than otherwise.
Of course, you also want to avoid using too high of a draft pick in selecting players belonging on the other end of the meeting-expectations spectrum. So we're also including a few possible busts to steer clear of overly early on.
Ranking position provided by the preseason top 250, as of Sept. 16. N/A means the player currently ranks below that mark.
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Sleepers
Patrick Kane, F, Chicago Blackhawks (RW30)
They don't call him "Showtime" for nothing. Mark it, the 37-year-old is going to put on a sparkling display in his return to Chicago. If healthy enough, Kane's going to produce. It's as simple as that. The future Hall-of-Famer hasn't averaged more than a point/game for his 19-year career by happenstance. As for the winger's current physical condition, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, head coach Jeff Blashill believes his veteran star is feeling fit.
"He feels as good as he has in a long time. He's skating well, he's moving well," Blashill said. "Guys that play with their brain first seem to last a long time in this league, and he certainly has."
Then consider the eventual top-line and power-play assignment alongside burgeoning superstar Connor Bedard, who's due to return from a shoulder injury in early November. (Kane will make do well enough with gifted rookie center Anton Frondell or whoever else in the meanwhile.) All promising stuff. If the vet can carve out upwards of 70 games this campaign, he's well worth rostering in most leagues.
Mats Zuccarello, F, Los Angeles Kings (RW36)
Sure, he'll miss playing with winger Kirill Kaprizov in Minnesota. Who wouldn't? But there are much worse fates than landing on a top unit and power play with Artemi Panarin. Perennially underrated as a fantasy asset, all Zuccarello does is produce regularly. Averaging 0.92 points/game this past season, the 39-year-old is hardly slowing down with age. Durability remains the only concern here, as the veteran hasn't banged out anything near a complete season since 2022-23. But that's why you have IR spots. Draft Zuccarello late as a potential gem in his new Los Angeles digs.
Valeri Nichushkin, F, Columbus Blue Jackets (LW24)
When healthy and active -- admittedly an issue over the years in Dallas and Colorado -- the power forward is capable of putting up fantasy numbers with the best of them. He shoots, hits, scores and contributes frequently on the power play. After a modest year by his standards, the ex-Avalanche is now set to enjoy a fresh start as a more prominent player in Columbus. No longer in the company of Nathan MacKinnon, Martin Necas, Gabriel Landeskog and others, Nichushkin can sink his teeth into a larger role on a top line and power play with Jackets star and countryman Kirill Marchenko. The 31-year-old played 72 contests this past regular season, more than he has in a long while. At his best, Nichushkin is capable of averaging 2.0 points/game in ESPN standard leagues.
Gabriel Landeskog, F, Colorado Avalanche (N/A)
Ranking-wise, MacKinnon is cream of the fantasy crop in ESPN standard competition. Reasonably enough, Necas sits several notches below at 31st overall. Then we need to scroll all the way down to realize Landeskog isn't even included in the top 250. Bit odd, considering the Avalanche captain is slated to play with the aforementioned pair on Colorado's top line and power play. Or that he collected 11 points in 13 playoff games after his first full-ish season following what essentially amounted to a three-year absence from the game. Healthy and fit, which he is now, the still-only 33-year-old is capable of putting up 70 points alongside MacKinnon and Necas. No question, he's worth grabbing in deeper leagues.
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Mason Marchment, F, San Jose Sharks (N/A)
After showing flashes of potential in Florida and Dallas and Seattle and Columbus, the too-well traveled veteran now gets to play with Macklin Celebrini in San Jose. If he manages to keep a grip on that assignment, the 31-year-old is going to score 30 goals and 35-plus assists this season. A gig on San Jose's top power play, again alongside Celebrini, isn't out of the question either.
Jiri Kulich, F, Buffalo Sabres (N/A)
More specifically qualifying as a breakout candidate, Kulich still very comfortably fits the broader "sleeper" mold heading into 2026-27. After suffering a devastating -- and potentially career-ending -- blood clot last November, the 22-year-old underwent successful surgery and is ready to resume play. Selected 28th overall in 2022, he's expected to be offered the ripe opportunity to make a profound impression on a top line with Tage Thompson and fellow breakout candidate Zach Benson. If that's how it indeed shakes out in Buffalo, draft Kulich late in deeper leagues or off the wire before regular play gets underway. Before your fellow managers become more familiar with the kid who scored 15 goals in 62 games as a rookie two years ago.
Adam Fox, D, New York Rangers (D27)
D27? So we should draft 26 other NHL defenders before the guy who won the Norris five years ago? Who, at 28 years old, still enjoys top-pair minutes and competes on New York's No. 1 power play? That guy? I get that Fox may have fallen off some fantasy radars after losing a chunk of time to injury last season, but he still collected 53 points, including 24 with the extra skater, in 55 games. And the top-15 fantasy defenseman is once again healthy.
Stuart Skinner, G, Winnipeg Jets (G32)
So now camp no-show Connor Hellebuyck is suspended by the Jets. Hmm. Does this action further inspire management and hasten the goalie's exit out of Winnipeg, or do matters become even messier? Regardless, Skinner remains in place and is revving to go. The recent two-time Stanley Cup Finalist is presently the undisputed No. 1 for a solid-enough Jets team that's ready to put last year's debacle behind it. While this situation remains fluid -- GM Kevin Cheveldayoff could/should acquire a quality netminder as part of a package in return for Hellebuyck -- Skinner is still worth a flyer in all but the shallowest of fantasy leagues.
See also:
Seth Jones, D, Florida Panthers (N/A)
Jacob Markstrom , G, Florida Panthers (G30)
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Busts
Steven Stamkos, F, Nashville Predators (C14)
He isn't likely to score 40-plus again this season. According to Evolving Hockey, Stamkos should have netted approximately 34 goals (34.33 ixG) in 2025-26, not 42. His unsustainable 20.4% shooting percentage supports such evaluation. Projected to average around 17 minutes/game on Nashville's second line and the top power play, Stamkos sports a realistic ceiling of 30-35 goals and 25 assists, with a solid number of points counting with the man-advantage. Decent numbers indeed, but not near top-30. There are about 25 other NHL forwards who I would draft before the 36-year-old veteran.
Alex Ovechkin, F, Washington Capitals (LW11)
It's all relative, right? As a fantasy performer, this isn't your mother's Ovechkin. At 41 years old, the greatest goal-scorer of all time is back for another kick at the Stanley Cup can. If contributions from supporting castmates, including a host of newbies like Alex Tuch, Jordan Kyrou and Boone Jenner, help him get there, personal stats be darned. Sure, he'll flirt with 30 goals on a pile of shots in a full, healthy season (tougher ask this round with no elongated Olympic break), and many of them will count on the power play. But, again, there are too many other options around the league with greater fantasy potential. Especially if Ovechkin drops down the Caps lineup, as anticipated.
Morgan Geekie, F, Boston Bruins (C34)
Receiving positive attention in this space as a sleeper candidate last season, the Bruins winger didn't disappoint those willing to take the early plunge. At least until Christmas. Less notably, after scoring 25 goals in his first 36 games, Geekie only managed another 14 in his final 45. Which leaves us less optimistic about the 28-year-old's prospects this campaign, even if he remains on David Pastrnak's wing.
Brent Burns, D, Colorado Avalanche (D45)
Unless your preferred team is facing him in the Final, who wouldn't want to see Burns hoist the Stanley Cup? We all love the 41-year-old defender. But his finest fantasy days are behind him. Pegged to play on the third pair in Colorado and unlikely to enjoy any significant time with the extra skater, Burns projects to put up 30 or so even-strength points and not enough blocked shots to compensate otherwise. According to Evolving Hockey, he was supposed to score only six goals (6.62 ixG), yet he potted 12. The fourth-ranked fantasy defender on his own team behind Cale Makar, Devon Toews and Sam Malinski, Burns should only be rostered in deeper ESPN conventional leagues. His durability isn't enough.
Dan Vladar, G, Philadelphia Flyers (G18)
Joseph Woll is a good goalie. Better than Samuel Ersson. If the former Maple Leaf remains healthy, he'll eat into Vladar's playing time. Then there's the incumbent's small sample size. As impressed as we all are with how the ex-Flame conducted himself in his first year as Philly's go-to, it was just the one season. Plus, are the Flyers a playoff team again? In the Metropolitan Division, the Capitals are better, no one would be surprised to see the Devils and Rangers improve on their respective records, and Carolina remains Carolina. There's another crowd of netminders I'm chasing before Vladar as my second fantasy goalie in deeper leagues.
See also:
John Gibson, G, Detroit Red Wings (G16)
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