Fantasy managers will pluck breakout candidates off the waiver wire after players enjoy hot starts, hoping they can sustain that level of play for the remainder of the season. However, savvy drafters can get a head start on their fellow poolies by identifying players likely to take the next step.
Unfortunately, these lists are sometimes bloated by blurring the line between breakouts and bounce-backs or breakouts and relatively inexperienced NHLers. As a result, we won't be looking at rookies or sophomores here. While players like Ryan Leonard, Michael Misa, Ivan Demidov, Gabe Perreault, Jesper Wallstedt and Jimmy Snuggerud didn't make the cut, they are poised to make significant progress in the 2026-27 campaign.
Top Fantasy Hockey Breakout Candidates for 2026-27
Will Smith, LW/RW, San Jose Sharks
Smith progressed in his sophomore NHL campaign. He notched 24 goals on 166 shots on net and 59 points across 69 games in the 2025-26 regular season. The 21-year-old forward spent the majority of his playing time alongside Macklin Celebrini. Smith took full advantage of Celebrini's 115-point launch into superstardom. However, that doesn't change the fact that the Sharks, and fantasy managers alike, should benefit from the young duo's chemistry for years to come. Smith could reach the 70-point plateau in the 2026-27 campaign if he remains healthy. He sat out 13 contests from Dec. 16 to Jan. 15 because of an upper-body injury. Smith possesses plenty of upside as an integral piece of San Jose's developing core
Fantasy managers will pluck breakout candidates off the waiver wire after players enjoy hot starts, hoping they can sustain that level of play for the remainder of the season. However, savvy drafters can get a head start on their fellow poolies by identifying players likely to take the next step.
Unfortunately, these lists are sometimes bloated by blurring the line between breakouts and bounce-backs or breakouts and relatively inexperienced NHLers. As a result, we won't be looking at rookies or sophomores here. While players like Ryan Leonard, Michael Misa, Ivan Demidov, Gabe Perreault, Jesper Wallstedt and Jimmy Snuggerud didn't make the cut, they are poised to make significant progress in the 2026-27 campaign.
Top Fantasy Hockey Breakout Candidates for 2026-27
Will Smith, LW/RW, San Jose Sharks
Smith progressed in his sophomore NHL campaign. He notched 24 goals on 166 shots on net and 59 points across 69 games in the 2025-26 regular season. The 21-year-old forward spent the majority of his playing time alongside Macklin Celebrini. Smith took full advantage of Celebrini's 115-point launch into superstardom. However, that doesn't change the fact that the Sharks, and fantasy managers alike, should benefit from the young duo's chemistry for years to come. Smith could reach the 70-point plateau in the 2026-27 campaign if he remains healthy. He sat out 13 contests from Dec. 16 to Jan. 15 because of an upper-body injury. Smith possesses plenty of upside as an integral piece of San Jose's developing core group.
Adam Fantilli, C, Columbus Blue Jackets
Fantilli had 31 goals in 2024-25 and 59 points in 2025-26. He has plenty of promise ahead of his fourth NHL season if he can put it all together. He also amassed 214 shots on net and 139 hits last year. As of this writing, he still needs a contract for the 2026-27 campaign, but he hasn't missed a game due to injury in the past two seasons. Fantilli's 11.2 shooting percentage should improve, and his role will likely expand further in 2026-27. He should have a top-line role and see time on the first power-play combination. The 21-year-old could get to the 70-point mark while giving fantasy managers valuable category coverage.
Zach Benson, LW, Buffalo Sabres
Benson scored 13 goals and collected 43 points in 65 appearances during the 2025-26 regular season. He added five goals, nine points, 26 shots on net, 16 hits, seven blocked shots and 64 penalty minutes in 13 playoff outings. The Sabres rewarded him for his upside with a seven-year, $52.5 million contract in the offseason. The 21-year-old forward could enter the 66-point range in the 2026-27 campaign. He would have additional fantasy value if he maintains the same feistiness he displayed in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Still, he should be a solid offensive option in a productive Buffalo top-six group even if his category coverage slips.
Quinton Byfield, C, Los Angeles Kings
Byfield set a new NHL personal best with 24 goals in 79 appearances in the 2025-26 regular season, but he dropped below the 50-point plateau for the first time in three campaigns. After logging a career-high 20:01 of ice time per game in 2025-26, he should see his responsibilities increase further this season following Anze Kopitar's retirement. The 24-year-old Byfield had 11 goals on 45 shots and 16 points in 16 games down the stretch to help the Kings qualify for the playoffs. He could flirt with the 30-goal mark and exceed 60 points if he seizes control of the primary center role.
William Eklund, LW/RW, Ottawa Senators
Eklund collected 15 goals and 53 points in 78 outings with the Sharks last season after he notched 17 goals and 41 assists over 77 appearances in the 2024-25 campaign. Despite a slight step backward offensively in 2025-26, he recorded a career-high 176 shots on target while supplying 51 blocked shots and 72 hits. Ottawa acquired Eklund from San Jose in the offseason, and the change of scenery could do him some good. The 23-year-old winger's playmaking skills could make him a great fit alongside Tim Stutzle on the top line. Eklund will also probably get a boost from the Senators' power play, which ranked eighth in the league last season. He has the potential to reach the 60-point mark for the first time in his NHL career in the 2026-27 campaign.
Luke Evangelista, LW/RW, New Jersey Devils
Evangelista had the second-most assists (44) among Nashville skaters last season through 81 appearances. He posted a personal best of 56 points and logged a career-high 16:37 of ice time per game. However, Nashville dealt the 24-year-old forward to New Jersey in September. The Devils promptly signed Evangelista to a five-year, $36.25 million contract. New Jersey clearly envisions him playing a key role in the 2026-27 campaign. He has been skating alongside Nico Hischier and Timo Meier during training camp while working with the first power-play unit. If his ice time increases further, Evangelista could reach the 60-point mark this season.
Logan Stankoven, C/RW, Carolina Hurricanes
Stankoven hasn't displayed much offensive consistency in the NHL yet. However, the 23-year-old forward gained indispensable experience in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He led the Hurricanes with 11 goals during the postseason, including a league-high three game-winners. The trio of Stankoven, Taylor Hall and Jackson Blake was pivotal to Carolina's championship-winning run. Stankoven also accounted for 55 shots on net and 42 hits in 19 games. While he probably won't maintain that same level of physical play in the 2026-27 regular season, he should be ready to find another gear on the scoresheet. Surpassing the 20-goal, 50-point and 200-shot marks is well within his scope.
Bowen Byram, D, Chicago Blackhawks
Byram had 11 goals and a career-high 42 points in 82 regular-season games for Buffalo in 2025-26. The 25-year-old rearguard also generated 109 shots on net, 93 blocked shots and 50 hits. Following some injury-shortened campaigns with Colorado, Byram rebounded nicely with the Sabres over the past two years. He stayed healthy and lived up to his potential as an all-around defender. Still, Buffalo shipped Byram to Chicago in June, and he landed a lucrative six-year, $75 million contract with the Blackhawks once free agency opened in July. He is poised to be an integral part of his new team's roster. He will likely get heavy minutes on the top pairing and first power-play combination. Byram's category coverage adds to his fantasy appeal, and he could be a 50-point producer in the 2026-27 campaign.
