2024-25 Fantasy Hockey: Top 10 Sleepers

Sleepers can fall into multiple categories, depending on your league format. For purposes of this column, I focused on those who either through line placement or opportunity may have a chance to exceed their usual projections.

In addition, I included several players who could be bounce-back candidates as well as some that will need a bit of help to outproduce their projections.

Anton Lundell, C, Panthers

Lundell is pencilled as the Panthers' third-line center, but don’t let that placement fool you. We saw signs of growth last year, though some may discount that because he has Aleksander Barkov and Sam Bennett in front of him, meaning he may go lower than he possibly should in most fantasy formats.

The Panthers made a major commitment to Lundell, inking him to a six-year, $30-million contract, which should provide a good sense of their expectations. He had 13 goals and 35 points in 78 contests in 2023-24 and stepped up in the playoffs with three goals and 17 points in 24 outings. Look for a significant rise in output this year.

Logan Stankoven, C, Stars

Another brilliant draft pick by the Stars, this one coming 47th overall in 2021, Stankoven, after tallying 57 points in 47 games in the AHL, burst on the scene after his late-February promotion.

He had 14 points in 24 games before adding eight points in 19 playoff appearances. Still Calder Trophy-eligible after finishing one regular season game shy of the cut-off, Stankoven could open the season as the team’s second line right winger. His hair-on-fire style of play and never say die attitude has endeared him to the home faithful and 50-plus points is attainable.

Logan Cooley, C, Utah

The delineation between a sleeper and breakout candidate is thin. Cooley can easily be placed in the latter category. Those who know hockey already are quite well aware of how good Cooley will be.

Those in shallower leagues may not be fully cognizant of him. Cooley, selected third overall in 2022, had a solid rookie campaign with 20 goals and 24 assists. He's just scratching the surface, as Cooley should take a step forward in his development, which should be reflected in his point total.

Related: 2024-25 Fantasy Hockey Team Preview: Utah Hockey Club

Jack Quinn, RW, Sabres

Looking at a player’s point production without taking a step behind the numbers to view games played or the circumstances that might have driven a decline in output is a pathway to losing in your fantasy league.

On the face of it, Quinn dropped from 14 goals and 23 assists in 75 games in 2022-23 to just nine and 10, respectively, last season. But a peak behind the curtain shows that he was limited to just 27 games by a pair of injuries, making 19 points in 27 contests a step up the prior season. Slated to skate as the second-line right winger at even-strength and on the power-play, a rise in production is expected, which might be overlooked or missed by those who only peak at the bottom line.

Related: 2024-25 Fantasy Hockey Team Preview: Buffalo Sabres

James van Riemsdyk, LW, Blue Jackets

van Riemsdyk was brought on board with a one-year deal partially for what he can do on the ice, but also for his veteran presence and to aid in the healing process following the tragic death of Johnny Gaudreau. He was a decent secondary scorer last season with the Bruins after spending the prior five campaigns with the Flyers. The Jackets should deploy van Riemsdyk as a middle-six forward with some power play time, enabling him to exceed his somewhat middling production.

Pavel Dorofeyev, LW, Golden Knights

Those in shallower leagues are going: "Who?" A third-round pick in 2019, Dorofeyev put himself on the map with 13 goals and 24 points in 47 appearances despite averaging only 13:17 of ice time.

Dorofeyev showed he could play up and down the lineup, not looking out of place in either. The off-season departures of Jonathan Marchessault and Chandler Stephenson via free agency have created an opening in the top six that likely should be filled initially by Dorofeyev, who has the talent to net 20-plus goals.

Brandt Clarke, D, Kings

Drew Doughty’s fractured ankle — do yourself a favor, don’t watch it as ankles aren’t supposed to bend that way — will sideline the blueliner for months. The Kings have a pair of young defensemen in Jordan Spence and Clarke to help that fill the breach created by Doughty’s absence.

My view is that Clarke may be the one to roster especially after he averaged nearly a point per game in the minors last year (46 points in 50 games). Clarke may get the chance to replace Doughty as the point on the L.A. PP.

Related: 2024-25 Fantasy Hockey Team Preview: Los Angeles Kings

Lane Hutson, D, Canadiens

I included Mike Matheson in our busts column largely due to the presence of Hutson. As such, it makes sense that Hutson is part of either the sleepers or breakouts column. Hutson, who lasted all the way to 62nd in the draft, is a top-notch puck-moving who will be the future PP1 QB for the Habs, and now the only question is when.

Hutson may need to share the spotlight for now, but a changing of the guard could take place sooner rather than later. Get in early on Hutson or you might not be able to get in at all.

Related: 2024-25 Fantasy Hockey Busts

Justus Annunen, G, Avalanche 

Annunen took a step forward last season, posting an 8-4-1 mark with a 2.25 goals-against average and .928 save percentage. A deeper look shows an even more impressive netminder.

Annunen, in just 14 games overall, delivered a 13.37 goals saved above expected and, at times, far outplayed Alexandar Georgiev. He deserves additional time between the pipes and should see an uptick in games played. If Georgiev scuffles as he did last season, a charging of the guard might happen — at least until the trade deadline.

Dustin Wolf, Flames

The Flames are rebuilding with Wolf lined up to be the final line of defense following the trade of Jacob Markstrom to the Devils.

The two-time AHL goalie of the year and AHL MVP from 2022-23, Wolf got his feet wet last year, seeing 17 games of action between the pipes. Dan Vladar is also in the mix, but Wolf is the Flames’ netminder to roster. Calgary’s blueline is also a work-in-progress, so Wolf may have some growing pains, but his talent and upside is highly apparent.

Related: It's Dustin Wolf Time in Calgary

Honorable Mention:

Shane Wright, C, Kraken
Connor McMichael, C, Capitals
Connor Zary, C/RW, Flames
Luke Evangelista, RW, Predators
Simon Edvinsson, D, Red Wings
Lukas Dostal, G, Ducks