Fantasy hockey awards: Most valuable picks, players and standouts from the 2026 season

This season had every part you need from fantasy hockey: surprising breakout stars, waiver-wire gems that saved leagues, and the form of traces and goalies that make you surprise in case your draft technique truly mattered. Some names you anticipated confirmed up, some stunned the heck out of everybody, and a few made you significantly query why you ever drafted them. Here is a have a look at who earned {hardware} in 2025-26, and who left fantasy managers shaking their heads.

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Sources: Each day traces | Player rater | Most added/dropped | Mock draft lobby | The way to watch

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Fantasy Artwork Ross Trophy

Finalists: Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid, Nikita Kucherov

(Probably) Winner: Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche

MacKinnon holds a modest lead, although a wrinkle stays: the Avalanche may relaxation him if the playoff image or Presidents Trophy is locked up earlier than the season ends. MacKinnon gained this award for probably the most complete fantasy factors in 2023-24 with a whopping 294.9, however he will not get too near that mark this season. Connor McDavid’s 2022-23 nonetheless stands because the 15-year mark with 320.1 fantasy factors. A robust end and little to no relaxation for MacKinnon might see him end as excessive as sixth on the listing of high fantasy seasons for skaters since 2009-10, a mark at present held by David Pastrnak’s 2022-23 marketing campaign with 258.8. MacKinnon’s 2025-26 is at present ranked ninth on that listing.

Fantasy Hart Trophy

Finalists: Darren Raddysh, Scott Wedgewood, Leo Carlsson

Winner: Darren Raddysh, D, Tampa Bay Lightning

Not solely did a 30-year-old Raddysh burst onto the scene as a stable harm substitute for Victor Hedman, he exceeded thresholds beforehand set by the enduring Lightning defender. Raddysh set the franchise file for objectives by a defenseman this previous weekend and goes to come back near 30 power-play factors on the season. When you’re speaking Hart trophy for MVP in a fantasy sense, it is all about return on funding, and Raddysh was rostered in solely 7.0% of leagues again in October, making him primarily free.

Fantasy Calder Trophy

Finalists: Matthew Schaefer, Beckett Sennecke, Jakub Dobes

Winner: Matthew Schaefer, D, New York Islanders

The issue right here was reducing off the nominees at simply three. We can’t beat across the bush, as Schaefer takes the fantasy Calder with out breaking a sweat. Sennecke has some separation on the remaining, too. However after that, we’ve to check apples to oranges for the third nomination. Ivan Demidov has the following highest fantasy factors complete, however Jimmy Snuggerud has a greater per-game mark. Dobes and Jesper Wallstedt have fewer total fantasy factors, however their contributions as goaltenders get additional credit score.

In the long run, Dobes was extra precious for longer stretches than the others to sneak in because the third finalist. However let’s take a minute to understand Schaefer. Since he’s on protection, you could possibly make a case for him because the bar-none greatest fantasy constructing block in the intervening time. His numbers at 18 years of age are unreal and the Isles’ energy play did not assist pad his stats as a lot because it might sooner or later.

Fantasy Norris Trophy

Finalists: Evan Bouchard, Cale Makar, Moritz Seider

Winner: Evan Bouchard, D, Edmonton Oilers

It will be Makar’s present upper-body harm that unseats him from two consecutive seasons because the fantasy factors chief amongst defenders. We normally bake a little bit of expectation into this award, like when Weegar gained in 2023-24, ending third in fantasy factors behind Makar and Josi. However on this 2025-26 marketing campaign, all the highest defenders have been anticipated to be precisely that, so Bouchard takes it down.

Fantasy Vezina Trophy

Finalists: Andrei Vasilevskiy, Scott Wedgewood, Ilya Sorokin

Winner: Andrei Vasilevskiy, G, Tampa Bay Lightning

You can make a case for each Vasilevskiy and Wedgewood because the winner, and your choice could be based mostly on the kind of fantasy league you play in. Wedgewood hasn’t had as a lot crease time, however has made extra out of his time share due to the profitable methods of the Avalanche, which is arguably higher for season-long rotisserie codecs. However in relation to head-to-head, Vasilevskiy stands out because the clear winner by exhibiting up extra. Since he completed third in complete fantasy factors for goaltenders in 2017-18, he is had six high three finishes throughout these 9 seasons and this will probably be his third as the highest goalie.

Shockingly, there’s an outdoor likelihood Vasilevskiy finishes with the bottom fantasy complete for the main goaltender way back to my detailed data go (2009-10) except the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season. And sure, that features the COVID-shortened 2020-21 marketing campaign when Vasilevskiy led all goaltenders with 182.8 fantasy factors — a mark of which he’s nonetheless virtually 20 factors shy with solely three video games remaining.

Fantasy Masterton Trophy

Finalists: John Gibson, Mika Zibanejad, Noah Dobson

Winner: John Gibson, G, Detroit Crimson Wings

The fantasy trophy is totally different than its NHL equal, as we’re on the lookout for fantasy rebounds from down seasons. Zibanejad and Dobson each had resurgent campaigns, however Gibson was a game-changer for a lot of groups. It was made all of the extra dramatic by a gradual begin that had Cam Talbot trying like the higher choose for greater than a month. However Gibson is battling to complete among the many high 10 fantasy goaltenders, which adopted years of irrelevance on a weak Geese crew.

Fantasy “2012 Draft” Trophy

Finalists: Sam Montembeault, Matvei Michkov, Alex Ovechkin

Winner: Matvei Michkov, RW, Philadelphia Flyers

Selecting this 12 months’s bust wasn’t straightforward as accidents, slumps, and excessive expectations all made the listing messy. Normally we give out a free go for extended accidents and attempt to give attention to gamers who have been wholesome and did not ship for fantasy. However there are such a lot of injury-riddled high picks this season that strung us alongside, we’ve to not less than point out them. From Anthony Stolarz and Adin Hill within the crease, to Neal Pionk and Devon Toews on the blue line, and Jonathan Huberdeau and Anze Kopitar up entrance, there have been loads of let downs that missed sufficient time to even be annoying on that entrance. It was a wrestle for fantasy managers in medium-to-deep codecs to carry onto these gamers or simply drop them.

We’ll notice that Ovechkin is not actually a good nominee, however he reset the bar so excessive with 2.6 fantasy factors per sport his record-setting run final season, we won’t assist however be a bit upset in a wholesome season with 1.8 FPPG. And Montembeault is extra in regards to the hindsight outcomes. The Canadiens are going to complete close to the highest of the standings and Montembeault was their 1A coming into the season. He’ll end with detrimental fantasy factors.

However the winner needs to be Michkov after his rookie exhibiting of 131.8 fantasy factors and 1.6 FPPG. He slipped again to an irrelevant 1.2 FPPG this season, reminding us why the phrase sophomore droop exists.

Fantasy Ruler Trophy

Finalists: Avalanche, Winnipeg Jets and Boston Bruins

Winner: Nathan MacKinnon (59.8), Martin Necas (55.5), Artturi Lehkonen (58.1), F, Colorado Avalanche

This award tracks five-on-five fantasy factors for forwards solely when all three are on the ice collectively. The thought is that we solely think about fantasy factors accrued by the forwards on the road and — and that is the important thing — solely rely them when all three gamers are on.

It is a tight pack on the high, and any of the three traces might win by the tip of the season, although the trio from Winnipeg are at an obstacle.

The Jets trio of Mark Scheifele, Gabriel Vilardi and Kyle Connor rank second, but in addition have not been on the identical line in latest video games, with Alex Iafallo up instead of Vilardi. This trio has an enormous benefit in minutes and took residence this award final season, however until they’re reunited, they are going to most likely end third.

The Bruins second line of Pavel Zacha, Viktor Arvidsson and Casey Mittelstadt is a pleasant shock within the race. The heavy lifting for fantasy is being accomplished by Zacha and Arvidsson, as Mittelstadt’s 1.2 FPPG is not even on the radar.

On the high is the mixture of MacKinnon, Necas and Lehkonen, with a balanced fantasy contribution from all three when collectively. They spent chunks of the season aside, however are again collectively of late.

Fantasy Pocket Maintain ‘Em Trophy

Finalists: Seattle Kraken, Oilers and Crimson Wings

Winner: Adam Larsson (91.5), Vince Dunn (64.7), F, Kraken

This is identical award as above, aside from blueliners. Once more, that is solely fantasy factors accrued by the gamers themselves and solely when each are on the ice and solely when it is five-on-five.

The race is tight, with Simon Edvinsson and Seider solely barely edging out Dobson and Mike Matheson, in addition to Joel Edmundson and Brandt Clarke for third nomination. There are sufficient video games left any of this group might push into second place previous the Oilers pairing of Mattias Ekholm and Bouchard.

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However in a shock win — and a showcase of simply how essential particular groups are to fantasy, since neither of those gamers are must-roster property — its Larsson and Dunn taking the victory on the again of Larsson’s shot blocking.

Fantasy Orpik Trophy

Finalists: Jake McCabe, MacKenzie Weegar and Noah Dobson

(Probably) Winner: Jake McCabe, D, Toronto Maple Leafs

Winner: This race is much from settled. After Monday’s video games, McCabe had 101.4 fantasy factors from solely hits and blocked photographs, whereas Weegar was at 97.6 and Dobson at 97.2. Martin Fehervary, Seider, Darnell Nurse and Ben Chiarot are all in spitting distance, too. Weegar’s sport in hand may push him excessive, a becoming end for final season’s finalist. However McCabe simply must sustain his present tempo to keep up his lead. It was a formidable season total for bodily play, with just one participant (Chiarot) among the many high 10 for hits/blocks fantasy factors on tempo to complete with fewer than 1.6 fantasy factors per sport, that means they have been all borderline roster-worthy, which is not all the time the case.

There are additionally some new, younger additions to the listing that ought to be fantasy staples for years to come back. Mattias Samuelsson, Brandt Clarke, Braden Schneider and Simon Edvinsson all completed within the high 20, although Schneider and Edvinsson want so as to add some offense to be fantasy targets.

Fantasy all-stars

The fantasy all-star groups showcase the gamers all of us collectively added probably the most since October.

First crew all-stars (improve in rostership since Oct. 3)

Leo Carlsson, C, Anaheim Geese (64.5%)
Beckett Sennecke, RW, Anaheim Geese (57.5%)
Tyler Bertuzzi, LW, Chicago Blackhawks (63.7%)
Darren Raddysh, D, Tampa Bay Lightning (85.0%)
Mattias Samuelsson, D, Buffalo Sabres (82.6%)
Scott Wedgewood, G, Colorado Avalanche (83.4%)

Second crew all-stars (improve in rostership since Oct. 3)

Pavel Zacha, C/LW, Boston Bruins (42.1%)
Mark Stone, RW, Vegas Golden Knights (49.4%)
Morgan Geekie, C/LW/RW, Boston Bruins (50.3%)
Justin Faulk, D, Detroit Crimson Wings (65.2%)
Matthew Schaefer, D, New York Islanders (61.5%)
Jesper Wallstedt, G, Minnesota Wild (60.3%)

“The place’s the love?” all-stars

This crew of fantasy all-stars leads their place in fantasy factors amongst gamers nonetheless out there in not less than half of ESPN leagues.

Ryan Hartman, C, Minnesota Wild
Shane Pinto, C/RW, Ottawa Senators
Ivan Barbashev, LW, Vegas Golden Knights
Martin Fehervary, D, Washington Capitals
Sean Walker, D, Carolina Hurricanes
Jet Greaves, G, Columbus Blue Jackets

The all-duds crew (lower in rostership since Oct. 3)

Manually excluding gamers with prolonged harm points, these are probably the most dropped gamers because the begin of the season.

Kent Johnson, C/LW, Columbus Blue Jackets (-31.8%)
Frank Vatrano, LW/RW, Anaheim Geese (-34.4%)
Matvei Michkov, RW, Philadelphia Flyers (-34.4%)
Neal Pionk, D, Winnipeg Jets (-37.3%)
Devon Toews, D, Colorado Avalanche (-35.1%)
Anthony Stolarz, G, Toronto Maple Leafs (-52.4%)