Defensemen are usually not prioritized as much as forwards and goalies in fantasy hockey drafts. If this is the case and you wait until later to jump on some defensemen to fill your roster, look no further than these seven sleeper defensemen that could pay off in a big way in fantasy this season. These aren’t the top-of-the-line d-men, but they will get their chances and cover multiple stats every manager needs to win the championship.
Fantasy Hockey Sleeper Defensemen
Neal Pionk, Winnipeg Jets
Neal Pionk is the number two defenseman in Winnipeg, which means he doesn’t get looks on the top power play and plays on the second pairing apart from Josh Morrissey. Pionk brings a much different look to your fantasy team in that he will still hit 30 points each season (has done so in five straight seasons), but will block over 100 shots and delivered 221 hits last season. He is the all-around late-round sleeper you must have. If something happens to Morrisey, Pionk gets elevated to the top power-play unit and I guarantee he won’t be there for you to grab long after.
Brandt Clarke, Los Angeles Kings
Brandt Clarke will finally get his opportunity in Los Angeles after Matt Roy signed in Washington. Clarke should step into the second pairing role behind the workhorse Drew Doughty. This will limit Clarke’s power-play time, but who knows, age could start to show for Doughty. Assuming that doesn’t happen, there is still a lot of potential for Clarke with how much more ice time and opportunity he will receive this season. He will have a good defense partner in Vladislav Gavrikov and the second power-play unit is nothing to overlook. Expect the young d-man to get in front of a lot of shots and help in that aspect of your fantasy team.
Cam Fowler, Anaheim Ducks
Cam Fowler still appears to be the number one d-man for the Anaheim Ducks despite some of the younger talent making their way onto the team and challenging him. Fowler hasn’t been overtaken on the top power play just yet, but there is a chance it will come. While logging over 24 minutes per night, he will block a ton of shots, make hits, and put up 40 points. There’s nothing not to like about using a late pick on this sleeper defenseman and the Ducks will be better offensively this season.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Toronto Maple Leafs
Oliver Ekman-Larsson had a strong bounce-back season in Florida after being bought out by the Vancouver Canucks. He has always been an offensive-type defenseman, and that helps in fantasy hockey for sure. I see his deployment being on the second, possibly third pairing, but the Toronto Maple Leafs have no trouble scoring goals. This will help Ekman-Larsson rack up some points and there is a chance that Morgan Rielly is overtaken on the top power play at a point during the season. If this happens, Ekman-Larsson will be a must-have defenseman in any league as he will be exposed to the elite of the Maple Leafs with the man advantage. He is not afraid to get his hands dirty with penalty minutes, hits, and blocked shots as well.
Related: 7 Sleeper Forwards for 2024-25 Fantasy Hockey
Travis Sanheim, Philadelphia Flyers
Even with Cam York and Jamie Drysdale on the team, Travis Sanheim is the clear number-one defenseman in Philadelphia. He logs a ton of minutes and had 125 minutes on the power play last season. He will be challenged on the top unit by York, who may see more time, but Sanheim set career highs with 10 goals and 44 points while only benefiting from five power-play assists all season. The Flyers hope to be a little better offensively, especially on the man advantage and Sanheim hits all the important categories. He is a solid sleeper pick.
Justin Faulk, Justin Faulk
The St. Louis Blues are nothing special, but they do have some talented players that can score. Justin Faulk will be exposed to all of them regularly at 5-on-5 and at all times on the top power-play unit. Over the past 218 games across three seasons, he has 29 goals, 127 points, 495 shots, 344 hits, and 345 blocks, and that is without being the go-to defenseman on the power play. He hits all categories and can be a great sleeper pick in all formats.
Erik Gustafsson, Detroit Red Wings
The keys to the top power-play unit appear to be given to newly signed Erik Gustafsson. He has proven time and time again that his skills are perfect for the power play. He broke out in Chicago years ago and even last season stepped up in a big way for the New York Rangers’ PP1 when Adam Fox was out with an injury. Gustafsson will likely play on the third pairing unless Jeff Petry proves ineffective, but he will put up unique fantasy production for someone drafted later. He isn’t afraid to hit or block shots either. Moritz Seider held the role on the top power play last season, but he could use a bit of a break and Gustafsson will greatly help that top unit score.
Don’t forget about your defensemen. They’re harder to find on the waiver wire, so this is why drafting sleepers like this later in the draft will benefit your team a lot throughout the 2024-25 season.