2026-27 Fantasy Hockey: 5 Breakout Candidates to Target in Drafts

Today, I’m highlighting five fantasy hockey breakout candidates for the 2026-27 season. Designed for one-year redraft leagues, this list focuses on players who have the potential to far exceed production expectations and emerge as major fantasy assets.

Fantasy Hockey Breakout Candidates

Tyson Foerster (LW, Philadelphia Flyers)

Injuries robbed Foerster of most of last season. In 29 games, Foerster produced 17 points, a modest 48-point pace. This would have been a slight increase over his career high of 43 points. He enters the 2026-27 season with 195 career NHL games. Those injuries pushed Foerster’s breakout threshold to the start of this season.

His largest roadblock to a true breakout is the Flyers’ depth on the left wing. Trevor Zegras and Matvei Michkov sit above him on the depth charts. They force Foerster to the third line and off the first power-play unit. Entering the season with these roadblocks, even in a third-line, second power-play role, I like Foerster to break 50 points for the first time in his career. He’ll need more opportunity to produce beyond 55 points.

Prediction: 53 points, 11 power-play points. 

Shane Wright (C, Seattle Kraken)

We’re not at the draft-bust stage yet. However, we are entering the clear-cut draft-disappointment years. In his first full NHL season, Wright put up a strong 44 points. Being drafted 4th overall and having exceptional status to play in the OHL as a 15-year-old, no one thought they would need to wait three years post-draft to see production from him. Last year was not the sophomore season Wright fans & owners wanted or expected. He fell victim to a serious case of the sophomore slump, producing just 27 points in 74 games.

Wright sits with 169 career NHL games; his breakout threshold will come in mid-December (barring injury). Unlike Forester, if Wright starts to roll, the Kraken depth chart is much more pliable to him moving lines and increasing ice time.  If all goes ‘Wright’, Wright could lead the team in scoring.

Prediction: 57 points, 16 power-play points 

‘All goes right’ potential: 64 points, 21 power-play points

Nick Robertson (RW, Pittsburgh Penguins)

Toronto Maple Leafs fans’ favorite punching bag over the past three seasons has been given a fresh setting with a familiar front office face. After all, it was Kyle Dubas who drafted Robertson in 2019.

It’s worth noting that Robertson was given long looks on Sidney Crosby’s left wing in camp. He also took reps on the first power-play unit when Bryan Rust didn’t play. By all accounts, Robertson is going to get an opportunity in the Penguins’ top-six. We’ve also witnessed Crosby elevate players to new heights in the past. Predicting a Robertson breakout is really hard to nail down. I have him surpassing 45 points regardless of his linemates. If he locks down a spot in the top six and gets to fill in on the first power-play unit when there’s an injury, he could easily break 50.

Prediction: 47 points, 10 power-play points

‘All goes right’ potential: 57 points, 15 power-play points

Zach Benson (RW, Buffalo Sabres)

Now we’re talking real breakout potential. Benson is on more than a few breakout radars entering the 2026-27 season. He put up 43 points in 65 games – a 54-point pace over 82 games.

Benson is also poised to claim a full-time top-six role in Buffalo and should be given every opportunity to secure a spot on the first power-play unit. The biggest obstacle to his fantasy outlook is the same issue facing the Sabres’ roster as a whole: a lack of a true second-line center. While Josh Norris is certainly capable of filling that role, his injury history makes it difficult to count on him staying healthy over a full season. At 211 NHL games, Benson is a breakout time bomb.

Prediction: 58 points, 15 power-play points

‘All goes right’ potential: 68 points, 25 power-play points

Alexis Lafrenière (LW/RW, New York Rangers)

Lafrenière has been a slow burn, to say the least. After dominating the World Juniors tournament in his draft year, expectations on Lafrenière went through the roof. He’s been a solid producer, if unspectacular, on a veteran-laden Rangers team. Trading Artemi Panarin (RW, Los Angeles Angels) and Vincent Trocheck (C, Utah Mammoth).

After Panarin was traded last season, Lafrenière’s overall ice time increased by almost two minutes; 1:10 of that was on the power play. In the final 23 games of the season, Lafrenière produced 24 points, including nine from the power play. The stars are aligned for Lafrenière to finally break through.

Prediction: 68 points, 26 power-play points

‘All goes right’ potential: 79 points, 31 power-play points 

For more great fantasy hockey analysis, check out our full 2026 Fantasy Hockey Draft Kit