Often during fantasy hockey drafts, people only queue their players for the first half of the draft. After that, they don’t worry about the later rounds until it is time to pick your players and there are so many questions. It is good to have a reliable source you can double-check to ensure you are selecting the right players. With that, here are five late-round bargain buys for the 2024-25 NHL season.
Late-Round Bargain Buys for 2024 Fantasy Hockey
Max Domi, Forward, Toronto Maple Leafs
Max Domi could be one of the most underrated picks in the 2024-2025 fantasy hockey drafts. Depending on the number of teams, he may be a mid-round target. However, in most drafts, Domi will be available until the later rounds.
Last season, Domi scored nine goals and 38 assists, for 47 total points in 80 games. Although he started out on the third line, he eventually made his way up to the top line alongside Auston Matthews and truly found his game. If newly hired head coach Craig Berube puts him back with Matthews for an entire season, Domi could end up scoring 50+ points and might be able to beat his career high of 72.
Anthony Duclair, Forward, New York Islanders
Anthony Duclair is the next forward on the list. He and Domi have had similar career paths, but this off-season they were able to find longer-term homes. This could be a factor in Duclair having a breakout season with his new club, the New York Islanders.
Last season, Duclair split time between the San Jose Sharks and the Tampa Bay Lightning. In 73 contests, he had 24 goals and 18 assists for 42 points. After he was traded at the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline to the Lightning, he seemed to have found his game and played a bit more relaxed.
If he can find his game early as an Islander and help the team find success, he will be an absolute steal of a pick in the later rounds of your fantasy hockey draft.
Daniel Sprong, Forward, Vancouver Canucks
The last forward on the list is Daniel Sprong. He was recently signed by the Vancouver Canucks, and the fit is nearly perfect. The Canucks are a very offensively talented team with players like Brock Boeser, Elias Pettersson, and J.T. Miller. Which will give Sprong a strong chance to have a breakout season with his new club.
As the last forward on the list, you may find him still available in the very late rounds, and if he is, scoop him up quickly. Sprong is coming off a season where he scored 43 points in 76 games with the Detroit Red Wings. The Canucks are a drastically better offensive team than the Red Wings, which should give Sprong a much higher chance to have a better season, possibly even breaking his career-high of 46 points.
Rasmus Sandin, Defence, Washington Capitals
The first defenseman on the list of bargain buys is Rasmus Sandin from the Washington Capitals. A very underrated pick in most fantasy hockey drafts who will be poised for a big season. After struggling to find his way with the Maple Leafs, he has fit in well with the Capitals blue line.
With the moves that the team made this off-season, Sandin will likely be given more ice time to help quarterback the power play and lead the team to the playoffs. Sandin is coming off his first full season with the Capitals, where he had 23 points in 68 games. However, this season, with the increased role and ice-time, he will likely be able to offer your fantasy team 40+ points.
Jeremy Lauzon, Defence, Nashville Predators
If hits are a category in your 2024-25 fantasy hockey league, then Jeremy Lauzon has to be in your queue. There are numerous players who provide a lot of hits, but no one hits as much as the Nashville Predators defender. Last season, he set the single-season record for hits with 386 in total.
No, he doesn’t offer a lot on the offensive side of the puck, at most 15–20 points per season. However, if you pair him on your fantasy blue line with an offensively dominant defenceman, and two, two-way style defenders, his point production won’t matter. Now, after Lauzon’s season last year, he may be selected in the middle rounds, similar to how Radko Gudas and Luke Schenn were in random drafts. But there is a high chance that your opponents, in the draft, will go for goals and assists first. Be smart about it and queue him early and draft him in the later rounds.
There are a ton of late-round bargain finds; however, these five are players who should have big seasons and help your team. Make sure you get them in your player queue and hit the draft button as late as you can!