NHL.com releases top-10 rookie fantasy rankings for the 2026-27 season

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

NHL.com has released its fantasy hockey top-10 rookie rankings for the 2026-27 season in standard fantasy leagues, presenting a list built around players who are also eligible for the NHL’s Calder Trophy, awarded annually to the league’s best rookie as voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

The rankings open with Cole Hutson, listed as a defenseman for WSH, followed by Gavin McKenna, a forward with TOR, and Porter Martone, a forward with PHI. NHL.com also provides each player’s fantasy ranking reference within its broader system, including the note that Hutson is listed at No. 113 and McKenna at No. 116, while Martone is shown at No. 117 in NHL.com’s fantasy rankings.

Continuing the top group, NHL.com places Ivar Stenberg (forward, SJS) at No. 122, Anton Frondell (forward, CHI) at No. 125, and then Konsta Helenius (forward, BUF) at No. 188. The publication’s use of both team abbreviations and positions is consistent across the list, with each player presented as a rookie target for fantasy managers looking toward the 2026-27 season.

NHL.com’s remaining entries include Roman Kantserov (forward, CHI) at No. 189, James Hagens (forward, BOS) at No. 191, and Luca Cagnoni (defenseman, SJS) at No. 194. Victor Eklund, listed as a forward for NYI, is also included in the top 10, with NHL.com noting that his fantasy rank is listed as N/A within the same ranking reference.

The list is framed by NHL.com as part of its broader fantasy offerings, which it describes as including player rankings, projections, essential lists and podcast analysis. NHL.com’s page also points fantasy readers to additional formats and resources such as keeper/dynasty cheat sheets, top-10 waiver-wire content, and “Picks/props,” alongside references to “NHL Fantasy Stars” and “NHL Goal Chase” games.

For readers tracking rookie impact in fantasy leagues, the key practical takeaway from NHL.com’s release is that all 10 names are identified as Calder Trophy-eligible rookies, giving fantasy managers a crossover lens into players who could become prominent in the NHL as they transition from development to regular-season roles.