Fantasy Hockey Forward Sleepers for 2026-27

Here’s a list of six fantasy hockey forward sleepers for your 2026-27 draft.

But first, let’s get on the same page about what a sleeper pick is. This is a player that you will find later in your draft who has the potential to outperform their average draft position.

Sleeper lists come with a relatively high miss rate. I can’t count how many times I’ve dropped a player in November and said to myself, “I wish I took so-and-so instead.”

Hitting on your sleeper, now that’s a joy. It’s like golf: you can shoot 100 but come home bragging about that save out of the rough or that thirty-foot putt to save bogey. You only remember the good ones. That’s why you come back.

Fantasy Hockey Forward Sleepers

Josh Norris (C, Buffalo Sabres) Fantrax ADP: 223.75

Injuries. Injuries. Injuries. That sums up Norris’ career to date. In seven NHL seasons, Norris has played more than 60 games just once. Yikes!

Where others see red flags – or, in this case, a red flag with a white cross on it (Fantrax’s Injury Reserve indicator), I see opportunity. Injuries are a major risk with Norris, and it is scaring owners away.

The decision to draft Norris is about understanding the risk-reward. The risk: he misses 20 to 40 games this season. The reward: Luck falls the other way, he pushes 70 games played, and you have a 60-point forward who Buffalo plays on the top power-play unit. He also has multiple seasons with over 100 hits; for banger leagues, Norris becomes a nice find.

Risk: 9/10 Reward: 7/10

Jackson Blake (RW, Carolina Hurricanes), Fantrax ADP: 186.9

Blake was part of the surprisingly dominant second line in the playoffs last season. With the chemistry he displayed with Logan Stankoven (C) and Taylor Hall (LW), don’t expect this trio to spend too much time apart.

With an average draft position of 186.9, Blake is going mid-to-late 16th round in drafts.

Blake did not suffer from a sophomore slump last year. He improved on his rookie numbers across the board. He jumped from 17 goals, 17 assists, 34 points, 142 shots to 21 goals, 32 assists, 174 shots. Sitting at 162 games played, he will pass his breakout threshold at mid-season.

Blake’s only roadblock is access to the Hurricanes’ first power play. His 2:10 per game ranked him fifth among Hurricanes forwards. Blake sits on the shortlist for a promotion to the top unit if there’s an injury or someone mightily struggles.

I expect Blake to break 60 points this year with upside from there.

Risk: 3/10 Reward 6/10

J.J. Peterka (RW, Boston Bruins), Fantrax ADP: 150.43

Peterka was not good with the Utah Mammoth last year. It was so poor that, in fact, the Mammoth traded him to the Bruins after only one year into his seven-year contract. The Bruins obviously believe the 2024-25 version of Peterka is the real Peterka, given they gave up two first-round picks to acquire him.

I’m siding with the Bruins here and am expecting a sizeable bounceback. His ice time was slashed by two minutes, and he lost 50 seconds on the power play.  His struggles resulted in a short leash and even being replaced in the top six by Kailler Yamamoto (LW/RW, Utah Mammoth)

In Boston, he’ll receive a golden opportunity alongside David Pastrnak on the power play. We need to wait and see how camp shakes out, but he could also join Pastrnak on the top line at 5-on-5. Boston has a knack

His 68-point season with the Sabres in 2024-25 was in a season when most Sabres had down years. He saw his shot totals drop by 53 shots from the season prior. His shooting percentage (S%)rose from 12.4% to 15.6%. Even amidst his struggles with the Mammoth, he maintained a 15.1 S%.

I expect him to eclipse 60 points this year. There’s upside to bypass 70 if everything clicks. The probability of that is low.

Risk: 3/10 Reward 5/10

Alex Laferriere (LW/RW, Los Angeles Kings), Fantrax ADP: 176.43

I’ve long been a fan of Laferriere. This is the season fantasy owners start making comparisons to Matthew Knies (LW, Toronto Maple Leafs), whose ADP is 98.43.

At a minimum, Laferriere will give you 50 points, 200 shots, and 180 hits. Those are the expected floors for Laferriere. At 241 career games, he has just bypassed his breakout threshold, which places him in the prime position for a big season. Until Kevin Fiala (LW/RW) returns, Laferriere should get looks on the first power-play unit. Once he is healthy, Laferriere will resume his familiar spot on the second unit.

He’s another player who will push 60-plus points this year.  The bonus is the peripherals he provides on top of that top-six production. Imagine getting 90% of Knies’ production and the same peripherals, but 98 picks (8 rounds) later.

Risk 1/5 Reward 8/10

Kent Johnson (LW/RW, Columbus Blue Jackets), Fantrax ADP: 290.58

Once upon a time, Johnson was drafted 5th overall (2021). His 57 points in 68 games in his third season heightened expectations for 2025-26. If he’d matched Peterka’s production last year, I wouldn’t be highlighting him here.

His 22 points in 76 games were abysmal. The 22 points placed him in a tie for 379th in NHL scoring.

On a positive note, Johnson reported to camp in great shape, bigger, stronger, and with a fresh mindset. He also has a coach who is going to give him every opportunity to succeed. This includes starting the season on a line with Adam Fantilli (C) and Kirill Marchenko (RW).

Last year was supposed to be his breakout year. He came in right at 200 games played. Not all players break out at this threshold. Breakouts correlate to 200 games played, but it’s not a guarantee.

If he hits, you’re drafting a 70-point forward in the final round. If he misses, it’s your last pick.

Risk 3/5 Reward 9/10

Vitali Pinchuk (C, Nashville Predators), Fantrax ADP: 292.94

A lot of you might be saying, ‘Who?’

If you are, that’s why he’s my final sleeper pick. Pinchuk’s free-agent signing with the Predators over the summer did not receive the same fanfare KHL players have in the past.

It’s a bit surprising considering he put up 31 goals and 66 points in 65 games in the KHL as a 24-year-old. In 2024-25, at 23, he produced 43 points in 66 games. He’s got the inside track on the second-line center job and should sneak onto the Predators’ first power-play unit.

Don’t expect the second coming of Artemi Panarin here. He doesn’t have that elite level of skill or play-driving ability. He has the potential to become a regular 65-75-point player with 20 power-play points.  It is unlikely he achieves all this in year one. That said, he won’t be a sleeper next year. Everyone will know who he is.  He can hit 60 this year if he sticks in the top six and stays on the first power-play unit.

Risk 1/10 Reward 7/10