Sleepers and busts: Draft Landeskog, pass on Vladar
Sleepers and busts: Draft Landeskog, pass on Vladar. Skip to main content Skip to navigation Fantasy hockey sleepers and busts: Draft Landeskog, pass on Vladar16hVictoria Matiash2026 Fantasy hockey draft guide: Rankings, picks and more2dESPNPenguins' Malkin not tipping hand on plans beyond 2026-27Pittsburgh Penguins14hPanthers: Marchand to be rehabbing through Oct.
What happened
Whether of the breakout, bounce-back, or other variety, sleepers — grabbed in late stages of a draft or even once play is underway — go a long way in helping any competitive manager contend for a championship. 5M AAV, source saysAnaheim Ducks3dEmily KaplanFantasy hockey rankings: Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid lead 2026 rankings2dESPN FantasyFantasy hockey four-team mock draft: How long do you wait to draft Connor Bedard? 2dESPN FantasyCrease share picks: Which half of the goalie tandem should you draft?
2dSean AllenFantasy hockey draft picks: Grab these defensemen before their breakout year5dSean AllenFantasy hockey breakout forwards: Why Quinn, Coronato should take the next step9dSean AllenHow to draft, play and win your fantasy hockey league like an expert11dVictoria MatiashNHL free agency 2026: Which players improved their fantasy hockey potential? 79dSean Allen and Victoria MatiashLive NHL free agency tracker: Contract details for all the latest signings40dESPN StaffGabriel Landeskog of the Colorado Avalanche is available in 89.
Of course, you also want to avoid using too high of a draft pick in selecting players belonging on the other end of the meeting-expectations spectrum. So we're also including a few possible busts to steer clear of overly early on.
The wider picture
Draft Zuccarello late as a potential gem in his new Los Angeles digs. No longer in the company of Nathan MacKinnon, Martin Necas, Gabriel Landeskog and others, Nichushkin can sink his teeth into a larger role on a top line and power play with Jackets star and countryman Kirill Marchenko. Gabriel Landeskog, F, Colorado Avalanche (N/A)Ranking-wise, MacKinnon is cream of the fantasy crop in ESPN standard competition. Then we need to scroll all the way down to realize Landeskog isn't even included in the top 250.
Draft your players, set your lineups and earn points when the pros do. If that's how it indeed shakes out in Buffalo, draft Kulich late in deeper leagues or off the wire before regular play gets underway. So we should draft 26 other NHL defenders before the guy who won the Norris five years ago? BustsSteven Stamkos, F, Nashville Predators (C14)He isn't likely to score 40-plus again this season.
What has been reported
There are about 25 other NHL forwards who I would draft before the 36-year-old veteran. Dan Vladar, G, Philadelphia Flyers (G18)Joseph Woll is a good goalie. If the former Maple Leaf remains healthy, he'll eat into Vladar's playing time. There's another crowd of netminders I'm chasing before Vladar as my second fantasy goalie in deeper leagues. Who are the players going too high, or too low, compared to their expected fantasy hockey production? Florida Panthers1dJets suspend star goalie Hellebuyck after training camp no-showWinnipeg Jets2dRyan ClarkHughes not worried about getting new Wild deal done as season nearsMinnesota Wild1dRed Wings center Larkin injured in off-ice trainingDetroit Red Wings3dIsles' leading scorer Barzal aggravates injury, putting opener in doubtNew York Islanders3dSabres' Zucker to miss time after sports hernia surgeryBuffalo Sabres3dDucks sign Gauthier for 6 years; deal worth $13.
Dustin Bradford/Icon SportswireVictoria MatiashSep 18, 2026, 01:00 PM ETCloseVictoria Matiash is a contributing writer for fantasy hockey and betting at ESPN. Victoria has been a part of the fantasy team since 2010.
What happens next
Follow on XMultiple AuthorsEmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsOverachievers. In fantasy competition, to identify and secure them is to love them. There's no better complement to our unsurprising stars and other reliable contributors than a player (or more) who blows our too-modest preseason expectations right out of the rink. For this exercise, we're focusing on skaters who have been around the block a bit, as opposed to rookies or other breakout candidates like Jimmy Snuggerud, Jackson Blake, and Will Smith.
We're tackling those similarly coveted fantasy performers elsewhere in our department. Also, you might notice a trend of fresh faces in new places applying to many of the following sleeper candidates. These potentially underrated fantasy skaters were not only actively pursued by their new teams, but acquired to fill a prominent position, which offers them an improved opportunity to make a bigger splash than otherwise.