The draft is a very important place to acquire the right players in fantasy hockey each season. Sleepers and late-round picks are just as key to success as players drafted higher. Each fantasy team typically holds more forwards than other positions and there are the most chances to hit on sleepers. So here are a number of sleeper forwards who will be drafted late or not at all but could really shine through on your fantasy hockey team this year.
Fantasy Hockey Sleeper Forwards
Dawson Mercer, New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are going to bounce back in a big way and that includes improved performances from a number of the players. Dawson Mercer is the player we’re counting on to have a big season again. He scored 27 goals and 56 points in 2022-23 before dropping to 20 goals and 33 points last season. The point total going down was due to a lack of assists, so that will inevitably increase because he is in the top 6, on the power play, and playing with some top talent. He isn’t afraid to block shots and will be on the top power-play unit that was incredible to start last season.
Marco Rossi, Minnesota Wild
Marco Rossi has established himself as the top-line center. He found chemistry with Kirill Kaprizov and Matz Zuccarello and there just isn’t any good option to kick the young player down the lineup as Joel Eriksson Ek is firmly planted in the number two center role. Rossi scored 21 goals and 40 points in his rookie season and will get increased ice time this season. As he proved he is able to score, his points should go up as well playing with a goal-scorer like Kaprizov regularly. Rossi will get power-play 2 time, but the unit isn’t horrible. He could be the first player moved up if there’s an injury.
Daniel Sprong, Vancouver Canucks
Daniel Sprong is finally getting the opportunity he deserves in the top-6 of a team. For the past two seasons, he has put up stellar numbers for how little he plays at the bottom of lineups. The Seattle Kraken and Detroit Red Wings didn’t give him a shot any higher, but the Vancouver Canucks don’t appear to be making the same mistake.
Sprong scored 39 goals and 89 points in 142 games across the last two seasons while averaging 11:44 per game. He is going to be playing on Elias Pettersson’s wing with Jake DeBrusk alongside them as well. Sprong has proven he can finish, and with better players and much more playing time, I can see him pushing 30 goals and 60 points.
Related: Fantasy Hockey 2024-25: Who is This Season’s Frank Vatrano?
Jake Neighbours, St. Louis Blues
Jake Neighbours might have had a very high shooting percentage last season at 18.6% to help him score 27 goals in a breakout season, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t in the right places and can’t put the puck in the back of the net. He will be playing on the top line with Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou, so the young left winger will get plenty of opportunities to produce a lot of offense. Neighbours will also rightfully be on the top power-play unit to add that element in fantasy. His ice time will go up and I fully expect him to improve upon just 11 assists last season. He is a good player to target as his shots will likely go up and he hits a ton.
Tommy Novak, Nashville Predators
Tommy Novak has the opportunity to earn a spot in the middle of Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault this season in Nashville. The second-line center role is up for grabs and if he seizes it, his points will most definitely rise to a point where he is a steal late in the draft. Novak won’t get time on the top power-play unit, but he could see a scoring pace closer to what he did in 2022-23, scoring 17 goals and 43 points in 51 games. He took a step back last season, but the personnel is around him and he has already shown the potential to be able to produce big numbers.
Reilly Smith, New York Rangers
In what was considered a down year for Reilly Smith, he still scored 17 goals and 40 points in 76 games. He just didn’t fit in with the Pittsburgh Penguins, but he has the chance to return to form on the New York Rangers. He should be playing on the wing of Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider playing on the first line as there is nobody to really challenge him. Kaapo Kakko likely won’t. Smith won’t get top unit power-play time, but will hit a bit and can put up in the mid-20s for goals and 55+ points. He had been putting up consistent numbers for 10 seasons before the blunder in Pittsburgh.
Philipp Kurashev, Chicago Blackhawks
Philipp Kurashev found a place on Connor Bedard’s wing last season and broke out. He was glued to the young superstar’s side on the top line and power play all season. I’m banking on the Chicago Blackhawks keeping that chemistry together even though Tyler Bertuzzi and Teuvo Teravainen were brought in and Taylor Hall is back. If Kurashev plays the majority of the season on the top line, his exposure to Bedard will help him improve upon his 18 goals and 55 points last season. Even if he doesn’t, the second line isn’t going to be bad by any means. Kurashev should shoot more and he blocks a good amount of shots for a forward.
Make sure to stay locked in for every round of your fantasy hockey draft and hit on some of these potential sleeper forwards. You never know which one might hit and all seven of these players are in a position to succeed.