NHL Fantasy: 10 sleepers to steal

Finding late-round gems can catapult you to a fantasy title. We've got you covered with players projected to go in the second half of your draft who could vastly outperform that capital and super deep sleepers completely off the fantasy radar.

Will Cuylle, LW/RW, Rangers

ADP: 157.5

Cuylle already possesses an extremely stable floor in leagues that include hits, having racked up 301 last season and 249 the year prior. But he's only scratching the surface of his offensive potential. The 23-year-old will be a mainstay in New York's top-six forward group this campaign. Considering how weak the team's bottom six is, Cuylle should see a jump in ice time from the 15:05 he averaged in 2024-25. A season with 30 goals and 60 points is in the cards.

Dylan Cozens, C, Senators

ADP: 171.5

Several players have excelled after leaving the Sabres, and Cozens could be one of the latest. He produced 16 points in 21 games after Buffalo traded him to Ottawa last campaign. A full season with the Senators could allow Cozens to rediscover his form from 2022-23, when he scored 31 goals and 68 points. He's still just 24 years old.

Will Smith, C/RW, Sharks

ADP: 182

Smith endured some growing pains during his rookie season, managing 15 points in his first 40 games. However, he found his footing down the stretch, registering 30 points in his final 34 appearances. The 2023 No. 4 pick is a highly skilled offensive player and could be in line for a huge breakout year.

Matt Savoie, C/RW, Oilers

ADP: None

The Oilers are expected to give Savoie a chance to earn a top-six role to begin the season, meaning he could wind up flanking Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl. The 2022 No. 9 pick is undersized, but he's a talented offensive player. Fellow Oiler Ike Howard is also a sleeper candidate, but I'd lean toward Savoie since he has more pro experience.

Matias Maccelli, LW, Maple Leafs

ADP: None

Maccelli began training camp in prime real estate on Toronto's top line with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies. Whether he can hold down that spot remains to be seen, but his slick playmaking could mesh well with Matthews' finishing ability. The Leafs traded a third-round pick for Maccelli, who's still 24 years old and a year removed from a 57-point season. He won't contribute much outside of assists, but he's worth a final-round flier in deeper leagues.

Zayne Parekh, D, Flames

ADP: 137.5

Putting up gaudy numbers can be tough as a rookie defenseman, let alone one who's 19 years old, but Parekh could be an exception. The 2024 No. 9 pick tallied a ridiculous 107 points in 61 OHL games last year. He didn't look out of place in his one NHL appearance, scoring a goal while logging 20:31 in Calgary's season finale. Parekh is the favorite to quarterback the Flames' top power-play unit, giving him immense fantasy upside.

John Klingberg, D, Sharks

ADP: None

Klingberg looked closer to his old self after returning from hip surgery with the Oilers last campaign. The offensive production wasn't there, but Evan Bouchard also blocked him for a spot on the team's top power-play unit. That shouldn't be the case with the Sharks, especially after the team made a $4-million investment in him this summer. Klingberg could flirt with 50 points while quarterbacking what could be a sneaky-good power play.

Stuart Skinner, G, Oilers

ADP: 139

It's understandable why many are low on Skinner, who's had several up-and-downs throughout his brief career. But a 139 ADP is awfully low for a goalie who should start a lot of games and rack up wins behind one of the league's best offenses. Despite Skinner's struggles last season, the Oilers didn't add any further crease competition, and backup Calvin Pickard isn't the answer. Skinner's also just two years removed from a .913 mark. If he can bring his save percentage back up over .900 in 2025-26, he'll be a highly valuable late-round pick.

Karel Vejmelka, G, Mammoth

ADP: 140.1

Vejmelka enters next season as Utah's unquestioned No. 1 goalie, with Vitek Vanecek not posing a serious threat to make this a tandem. Vejmelka notched 26 wins with a .904 save percentage last campaign, but both those figures could improve if the Mammoth become a legitimate playoff contender. That's a real possibility if the blue line stays healthy and marquee offseason acquisition JJ Peterka makes an impact up front.

Joseph Woll, G, Maple Leafs

ADP: 151.6

Woll was being drafted much earlier than fellow Maple Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz a year ago, and I advised targeting the latter instead. The roles have now reversed. Stolarz (69.6 ADP) is being drafted seven rounds higher than Woll in 12-team leagues. That makes Woll a great value pick, considering he and Stolarz are projected to share the net in a nearly 50-50 split. Woll is also four years younger, and it wouldn't be a total shocker if he's Toronto's more effective goalie. Also, his recent leave of absence from the Maple Leafs shouldn't be viewed as a concern this late in your fantasy draft.