While especially important in keeper and dynasty leagues, rookies are inherent sleepers in all NHL fantasy formats. This season features one of the best rookie crops we’ve seen in quite some time, with all of the top three picks in the 2023 draft making a ton of noise already. Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, and Leo Carlsson are all clear cut NHLers and look to have extremely bright futures. They might be dominating Calder Trophy talks now, but there are a ton of other rookies that are not only deserving of more attention around the league, but also in fantasy hockey.
Here are five fantasy relevant rookies to watch, outside of the obvious ones which include Bedard, Fantilli, Carlsson, Logan Cooley, Luke Hughes, Devon Levi, and Pavel Mintyukov (who we’ve discussed in our previous two fantasy articles, and whose ownership has increased to 56% since then).
Marco Rossi – MIN – C/LW
- Preseason Rank: 899
- Last 14 Days Rank: 278
- Ownership: 15%
The ninth overall pick in the 2020 draft, Marco Rossi took a bit longer to burst onto the scene than was expected. His NHL career was in jeopardy due to complications with covid, but Rossi is back and showing why he was a top-10 pick. He is currently centering the Wild’s second line alongside Matt Boldy and Marcus Johansson, and is skating as the center on the second power play unit. Rossi has five goals and seven points on the season, and has six points in his last nine games despite going pointless in his last three. He’s also second among rookies in total shots on goal with 31
Connor Zary – CGY – C/LW
- Preseason Rank: 975
- Last 14 Days Rank: 379
- Ownership: 2%
Nobody expected Connor Zary to get any significant NHL opportunity this season, but after being called up he has not looked back. Zary has scored at least one point in every single professional game he’s played in this season, AHL and NHL included. He started his season with 10 points in six AHL games, and has racked up four points in his first four NHL games. He’s on the second line with Yegor Sharangovich and Nazem Kadri, a line that has absolutely dominated their opposition since being assembled. He also played on Calgary’s first power play unit last night, almost scoring after a laser beam of a shot beat Joseph Woll but didn’t beat the post.
Luke Evangelista – NSH – RW
- Preseason Rank: 975
- Last 14 Days Rank: 379
- Ownership: 2%
A second round pick in the 2020 draft, Luke Evangelista is making an impact for the Predators early this season. He’s skating on the second line with Tommy Novak and Kiefer Sherwood, and has an impressive eight points in 13 games so far this season including eight points in his last nine games. Evangelista is seventh among rookies with 23 shots on goal, and is on the Predators’ first power play unit. He actually ranks fifth overall among rookies in total power play TOI. Lots of opportunity, and he’s taking advantage of it.
Bobby Brink – PHI – RW
- Preseason Rank: 902
- Last 14 Days Rank: 375
- Ownership: 3%
Bobby Brink has scored at a ridiculous pace throughout his junior career. He averaged over a point per game across his entire three-year NCAA career, and after getting a taste of the NHL with 10 games for Philadelphia last season, Brink has had a solid start to the year. He has three goals and eight points through 12 games so far, and despite playing on the Flyers’ second power play unit, he ranks seventh overall among rookies in power play TOI.
Brock Faber – MIN – D
- Preseason Rank: 897
- Last 14 Days Rank: 249
- Ownership: 5%
With the Calen Addison trade to the San Jose Sharks, Brock Faber has been given significantly more opportunity in Minnesota. He’s currently skating on the top pairing alongside Jonas Brodin, and is averaging the second highest TOI on the team with 23:44, just three seconds shy of his partner Brodin for most. He has one goal and six points on the season, and four points in his last six games. Faber is not currently on any power play units though, so his fantasy value is severely muted at the moment.
