The 2026-27 rookie class is loaded, and a first-year player on the right line can be a league-winning value. These are our 2026-27 fantasy hockey rookie rankings: the top Calder-eligible rookies to draft, why each one matters, and a printable rookie board for draft night. Pair it with our Top 200 cheat sheet so you know exactly when a rookie is worth the pick.
Quick Facts: 2026-27 Fantasy Hockey Rookies
- Porter Martone and Gavin McKenna headline the class as the top two fantasy rookies for 2026-27.
- Cole Hutson is the top rookie defenseman, a power-play quarterback profile that is rare and valuable in fantasy.
- Jacob Fowler is the top rookie goalie, a long-term crease bet in Montreal.
- Washington has two top-ten rookies in Cole Hutson and Ilya Protas.
- Draft rookies by role, not hype: a first-year player with top-six or power-play time is worth far more than a name on a fourth line.
2026-27 Fantasy Hockey Rookie Rankings (Top Rookies to Draft)
| # | Rookie | Team | Pos | Why draft |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Porter Martone | PHI | RW | Big, skilled winger with top-six upside |
| 2 | Gavin McKenna | TOR | LW | The class headliner, a dynamic offensive talent |
| 3 | Anton Frondell | CHI | C | Center depth and a clear path to minutes |
| 4 | Cole Hutson | WSH | D | Power-play quarterback, a rare fantasy D rookie |
| 5 | Ivar Stenberg | SJS | RW | Skilled scorer with real runway in San Jose |
| 6 | Konsta Helenius | BUF | C | Two-way center trending toward a role |
| 7 | James Hagens | BOS | C | High pedigree, and Boston needs young scoring |
| 8 | Ilya Protas | WSH | LW | Size and finish, the second Capitals rookie to watch |
| 9 | Jacob Fowler | MTL | G | The top rookie goalie and a long-term crease bet |
| 10 | Victor Eklund | NYI | RW | Motor and skill, with a chance at a scoring role |
| 11 | Carter Yakemchuk | OTT | D | Offensive defenseman with a booming shot |
The Top Rookies to Draft
Porter Martone and Gavin McKenna are the headliners, and both carry top-six upside that makes them worth a mid-round flier in deeper leagues. Anton Frondell gives Chicago a center with a real path to minutes, and Ivar Stenberg lands in San Jose with the runway a rebuilding team offers a skilled scorer. The value that fantasy managers often miss is at defense: Cole Hutson has a power-play quarterback profile, and a rookie blueliner who runs a unit is far more useful in categories leagues than his draft slot suggests. In the crease, Jacob Fowler is the clear top rookie goalie, though rookie goalies are usually a stash rather than a week-one starter.
How to Draft Rookies
Weigh opportunity over pedigree. A rookie with confirmed top-six minutes or power-play time is worth a real pick, while a highly drafted name buried in a bottom-six role is a late flier at best. Rookies also carry variance, so treat them as ceiling swings on your bench rather than roster anchors, and stay ready to stream them in and out based on ice time. Track their landing spots through the preseason, because a line promotion can change a rookie’s value overnight. For where these rookies fall against the full field, use our positional rankings and tiers.
Fantasy Hockey Rookie FAQ
Who is the No. 1 fantasy hockey rookie for 2026-27?
Porter Martone tops the rookie board, with Gavin McKenna right behind. Both are skilled forwards with top-six upside as freshmen.
Should I draft a rookie goalie?
Only as a stash in most formats. Jacob Fowler is the top rookie goalie, but rookie goalies rarely carry a starter’s workload right away, so draft for the long term rather than week-one production.
Are rookie defensemen worth drafting in fantasy?
Yes, if they run a power play. Cole Hutson and Carter Yakemchuk have that profile, and a rookie who quarterbacks a unit provides category value that outweighs his draft position.
How many rookies should I draft?
One or two as upside picks is plenty for a standard roster. Prioritize the rookies with confirmed roles and keep the rest on your watch list for in-season pickups.
More 2026-27 Fantasy Hockey Tools
- 2026-27 Fantasy Hockey Sleepers, Breakouts and Busts
- 2026-27 Fantasy Hockey Rankings: Top 200 Cheat Sheet (Printable PDF)
- 2026-27 Fantasy Hockey Draft Strategy: How to Win Your League
- 2026-27 Fantasy Hockey Positional Rankings and Tiers
- 2026-27 Fantasy Hockey Goalie Rankings and Streaming Guide
- Printable Fantasy Hockey Draft Board and Order Randomizer
