The 2024–25 fantasy hockey season is nearly upon us. With the NHL season kicking off in under a month, fantasy draft prep has fully begun with drafts starting to kick off. Another year of fantasy means another crop of NHL rookies ready to make their mark in the NHL and in fantasy leagues.
This season, in particular, feels like the top of the rookie class is absolutely loaded, with multiple players looking to earn large roles on their teams right away. With that said, the real world and fantasy are two different worlds. So, who among the 2024–25 rookie class is worth targeting in your draft? Let’s take a look.
Josh Doan, RW – Utah Hockey Club
We’ll kick it off with a member of the newest NHL franchise. A second-round pick in 2021, Josh Doan made his NHL debut last season and never looked out of place. Across his 11 games, he racked up five goals and nine points while averaging just 12:19 minutes a night for the Arizona Coyotes. Now entering his first full NHL season, Doan will be looking to pick up from where he left off last year.
Utah has a much-improved roster with more offensive firepower due to the offseason additions of Mikhail Sergachev and Sean Durzi, and Doan could benefit from that. The big question is where he plays in the lineup. Utah has a crowded group on the wing, but a top-six role alongside either Clayton Keller or Logan Cooley isn’t out of the question. Doan has the talent to be an impact player in fantasy he just needs the opportunity.
Matthew Savoie, C – Edmonton Oilers
Matthew Savoie has lit up every league he’s ever played in, and now he’s joining the best offensive team in hockey. For that reason, he’s worth a late-round flyer. The problem is the Edmonton Oilers are so loaded right now that Savoie isn’t yet a lock to even make the roster. If he does, he has immense talent and could light it up alongside the Oilers’ high-powered group.
Savoie’s ability to play at both centre and on the wing gives him an advantage going into training camp that could help him earn a full-time role. He’d also be a weapon on the Oilers’ second power play unit. Keep an eye on his status as preseason starts because the boom potential is very real if he gets a spot in the lineup out of camp.
Dustin Wolf, G – Calgary Flames
I feel like Dustin Wolf is sort of floating under the radar right now because of how bad the Calgary Flames are expected to be this season. The two-time AHL Goaltender of the Year finally has a clear path to NHL action with Jacob Markstrom in New Jersey and is by far the most talented goaltender in the organization. One of the most important aspects for goaltending in fantasy is volume, and Wolf could soak up a ton of it in Calgary this year.
Not only has he shown he can dominate at every level thus far, but he also showed flashes of his potential during his 17-game stint last season. This included a standout performance in the final game of the season. Wolf likely won’t have a big breakout year, but he has oodles of potential and has a really good shot of earning 40+ starts. That’s worth a look in fantasy any day of the week.
Shane Wright, C – Seattle Kraken
Shane Wright has kind of disappeared off the map. After a rough rookie season in the NHL in 2022–23, Wright played primarily in the AHL last year and tore it up as a 19-year-old with 47 points in 59 games. It’s easy to forget how much potential the former fourth-overall pick has. There’s a reason he was long projected as the top pick in the 2022 draft. Wright finally seems to be finding his form at the pro level and is set for his first full season in the NHL this year.
The Seattle Kraken went out this offseason and spent a boatload of money in an effort to improve their roster, and they should be a much-improved team this year. Wright will likely start the year as the third or fourth centre on the depth chart, however his ceiling is higher than arguably every other centre on the Kraken. He may not be worth owning to start the year, but there’s a good chance he finds himself playing a major role on the Kraken before season’s end.
Shakir Mukhamadullin, D – San Jose Sharks
Shakir Mukhamadullin had a short stint in the NHL last year—suiting up for just three games—but boy did he make every second count. The rookie defenceman totaled one assist, 11 shots, five hits, and five blocks while averaging over 21 minutes a game. Now entering his third season of pro hockey in North America, Mukhamadullin could be set for a massive rookie year on an improved San Jose Sharks roster.
The Sharks are still very thin on defence, leaving every opportunity for the 22-year-old to earn a major role in the lineup from game one of the season. Even with the additions of Cody Ceci and Jake Walman, Mukhamadullin is still the most talented blueliner on the team by quite a wide margin. If he can earn top-four minutes as well as power play time, he could become a must-own player in fantasy due to his category coverage.
