Fantasy Hockey Defencemen Sleepers for Your 2026-27 Draft

As you read ahead, you’ll find a list of four fantasy hockey defenseman sleepers for your 2026-27 draft. But first, let’s get on the same page about what a sleeper pick actually is. A sleeper is a player you can snag later in your draft who has the potential to significantly outperform their average draft position.

Sleeper lists also come with a pretty high miss rate. I can’t count how many times I’ve dropped a player in November and thought, “Man, I wish I’d taken so-and-so instead.” But when you hit on a sleeper? That’s one of the best feelings in fantasy hockey.

It’s a lot like golf. You can shoot 100, but by the time you get home, you’re bragging about the miracle save from the rough or the thirty-foot putt that somehow dropped to save bogey. The bad shots fade away. The good ones stick with you.

That’s why you keep coming back.

Risk: How likely the pick is to fail to return value based on draft position.

Reward: How much upside the pick has if things break right

Fantasy Hockey Defenseman Sleepers

Morgan Rielly (D, Toronto Maple Leafs)

ADP: 231.51

Is Rielly really on the decline, or is the decline over the past two seasons related more to the playing style adopted under Craig Berube? The 2026-27 season will largely answer that question.  In the last two seasons, Reilly still produced 41 and 36 points, including 11 goals last year.

The arrival of Darren Raddysh has removed a significant amount of pressure and expectations from his shoulders. Rielly was never a true number one defenceman. Raddysh gives the Leafs a second true puck-moving defenceman for the first time in his career.

He won’t be on the first power-play unit this year, but I expect an increase in even-strength points. Even with the addition of Raddysh, Rielly should tease the 50-point mark. With slightly better matchups and a healthy Chris Tanev, Rielly will have more room to move the puck and play the attacking style that has made him an offensive threat in the past.

Few late-round defencemen offer a realistic path to 50 points and double-digit power-play production.

Risk: 2/10 Reward: 7/10

Luca Cagnoni (D, San Jose Sharks)

ADP 280.81

For one-year leagues, Cagnoni will feel like a stretch to draft. That’s what makes him a true sleeper. When we think Sharks power-play, everyone thinks forwards: Macklin Celebrini (C), Will Smith (RW), Michael Misa (LW), Ivar Stenberg (RW), and so on. No one lists the defenceman quarterbacking the blossoming stars. That’s because no one knows who will run the power play for the Sharks.

Early in pre-season, Cagnoni has been getting the most looks with the first power-play unit. He has the inside track to receive first dibs. I do think Darnell Nurse (D), will get a look as well. Having a veteran on the ice with four young forwards makes a lot of sense. He also played on the Oilers’ power play before Evan Bouchard (D, Edmonton Oilers) took over.

With that said, Cagnoni has a purer offensive skill set. On the first unit, Cagnoni could pop for 40 or more points, with half of those coming on the power play.

This is your real risk/reward pick. He could just as easily find himself back in the AHL by November.

Risk: 9/10 Reward: 8/10

Zayne Parekh (D, Calgary Flames)

ADP: 206.15

The time is now for Parekh. With the addition of Simon Nemec through trade and Carson Carels (D) at the draft, a lot of in-house competition is brewing for ice time. More specifically, that coveted spot on the first power-play unit.

The biggest thing holding Parekh back this year is the team surrounding him. The Flames will be bad- lottery-pick bad. They will struggle to score goals, which will hurt Parekh’s production.

Realistically, 30-35 points will be considered a great first full NHL season. He’s the prototypical offensive defenceman who is thriving in today’s NHL. It’s largely for that reason that I have him as a deep 50-point sleeper.

Risk 6/10 Reward 9/10

Logan Mailloux (D, St. Louis Blues)

ADP: 290.98

Mailloux finds himself in a similar situation to Cagnoni – someone has to run the power play in St. Louis. When they traded Justin Faulk to the Detroit Red Wings, it opened up a spot on the top power-play unit.

A lot of folks probably expect Philip Broberg to take over. I’m not convinced Broberg has a skill set that is properly suited for a first power-play unit. Mailloux isn’t Makar or Lane Hutson (D, Montreal Canadiens), but he’s better suited for the role than Broberg.

He also has some snarl to his games. In multi-cat pools, Mailloux will add his share of hits and penalty minutes. His upside is lower than others I’ve mentioned, but as a late-round option, Mailloux offers upside and good potential to push 40 points.

Risk: 7/10 Reward: 6/10