Alex Ovechkin silenced his critics this past season.
He not only broke a record that many believed was untouchable, but also demonstrated to the fantasy hockey community that he still has plenty of skill and energy.
The Washington Capitals` prominent player was typically picked in the fifth round of fantasy drafts this year. This was unusual for Ovechkin, who is accustomed to being selected in the first couple of rounds. His draft position could be considered reasonable given his age and his relatively lower goal count of 31 in the 2023-24 season. However, despite that less productive year, Ovechkin has shown very few signs of decline.
In fact, there`s a compelling case to be made that this season was Ovechkin’s most impressive. While he has had multiple 50-goal seasons and even a 65-goal season, scoring 44 goals in just 65 games at the age of 39 is truly exceptional. It`s worth remembering that he missed a significant portion of the 2024-25 season due to a broken leg, and only Leon Draisaitl and William Nylander scored more goals than him.
Ovechkin has announced that he will not retire after the 2024-25 season and will return to further extend his all-time goal record. It’s possible that his statistics might decrease slightly now that the pressure of chasing the record is gone and considering he will be 40 at the start of next season. However, based on his performance this year, it`s difficult to anticipate a significant decline. Even if his goal scoring diminishes somewhat, there are still strong reasons to confidently draft Ovechkin in fantasy leagues.
He was on track to reach nearly 300 shots and almost 150 hits over a full 82-game season this year, indicating a high baseline value even if his goal consistency decreases. Furthermore, aside from last year`s unusual injury, Ovechkin has maintained excellent health throughout his career. It is reasonable to expect him to play close to 80 games, and injury concerns with Ovechkin are less prevalent than with other players in their late 30s.
It is also important to consider the positive influence of Dylan Strome on Ovechkin`s game. Strome has developed into a highly effective offensive player and achieved a point-per-game season this year. This provides Ovechkin with a skilled playmaker, a type of teammate he hasn`t had consistently since Nicklas Backstrom was at his peak. As long as Ovechkin can find open ice to unleash his powerful wrist shot, Strome will likely continue to set him up.
The 2025-26 season is the final year of Ovechkin’s current contract, and it could potentially be his last in the NHL. However, do not expect Ovechkin to fade away quietly as a player just filling a roster spot. This year has proven that Ovechkin remains one of hockey`s premier goal scorers, regardless of his age. If you overlook him in your fantasy drafts next season, you might regret it.
The Utah Hockey Club didn`t make the playoffs, but they were an exciting team to watch in 2024-25. Their top offensive players are full of young talent. While players like Clayton Keller, Logan Cooley, and Dylan Guenther will be popular in drafts next season, don’t forget about Nick Schmaltz in the later rounds. He achieved a career-high 63 points this season and is a dependable scorer who can benefit your fantasy points league.
Colton Parayko returned from injury recently and scored his 16th goal of the season. He accomplished this in only 64 games this year. While his shooting percentage is unusually high, it appears he has developed a knack for scoring. Parayko might not accumulate massive point totals, but this is his fourth season with double-digit goals as a defenseman. The veteran St. Louis Blues player offers more than just hits and blocks.
Speaking of Blues defensemen, Cam Fowler has shown renewed vigor since joining St. Louis. He scored 36 points in 51 games for the Blues, which translates to almost a 60-point pace over a full season. While it`s unlikely he`ll maintain that rate for a complete season in 2025-26, Fowler is definitely fantasy relevant once again.
The Seattle Kraken are a challenging team to evaluate for fantasy hockey. They have a lot of talent, but few players are highly valuable in fantasy. Shane Wright is an example; he is developing into a good two-way player, but his offensive stats could improve. For example, he scored 19 goals this season without even reaching 100 shots on goal. This high shooting percentage is likely unsustainable and could decline, so Wright needs to increase his shot volume to avoid a drop in goal production. He is still only 21 and has potential for growth, making next year important for Wright`s fantasy hockey trajectory.
Credit to Connor Brown for scoring four goals in a three-game stretch late in the season. The Edmonton Oilers forward now has 13 goals after a disappointing previous season where he only had four. Brown has been a 20-goal scorer twice, including a season in Ottawa a few years ago where he scored 21 in just 56 games. It`s surprising he didn`t have better chemistry with Connor McDavid when given the chance last season.
Jet Greaves did everything he could to push the Columbus Blue Jackets towards the playoffs in the last two weeks, including winning five games with a .975 save percentage and two shutouts. It remains to be seen how the Blue Jackets will address their goaltending situation next season, as both Elvis Merzlikins and Daniil Tarasov had less than stellar seasons. Columbus is improving as a team, and Greaves might get a longer look in 2025-26.
Adam Fantilli had a 31-goal season and was extremely impressive in his second year. What stood out is his ability to perform in crucial moments, including scoring six goals in a four-game stretch at the end of the season when the Blue Jackets needed wins. He also recorded over 100 hits. He is a versatile player worth targeting next season.
If you are participating in a playoff pool, consider Morgan Rielly if you are optimistic about the Toronto Maple Leafs. Rielly`s performance has improved recently, with six assists in a five-game stretch. He is known to elevate his play in the postseason and has played better since Brandon Carlo joined the team.
Charlie Coyle had a strong finish to the season. With several Colorado Avalanche players absent, Coyle was moved up to the top six and scored 11 points in his final six games, including two three-point games. Coyle is capable offensively and has a 60-point season in his past, so keep an eye on him next year if players like Jonathan Drouin and Brock Nelson don’t return to Colorado. Coyle could have a more prominent role.
It might be worthwhile to claim Gabriel Landeskog off waivers and hold onto him through the summer to see how the playoffs unfold. It’s a low-risk, high-reward move, and Landeskog seems highly motivated to return to playing at a high level. There is little to lose.
Are Joel Eriksson Ek`s injuries a cause for concern? He was excellent in his recent games for the Minnesota Wild after returning from injury, scoring four goals and having eight shots in his first game back. Eriksson Ek provides excellent category coverage, so hopefully this season isn’t the start of a trend of missing significant time. However, the Wild forward was generally healthy in the three previous seasons, so there’s no need to panic yet.
You should be very encouraged by Frank Nazar`s strong finish, scoring five goals and nine points in his last eight games. The Chicago Blackhawks are expected to be active in free agency and hopefully will add talent this off-season to support Nazar and Connor Bedard. Consider Nazar as a late-round pick next season.
Ivan Demidov of the Montreal Canadiens made an impressive debut, scoring a goal and an assist in his first game. He`s already rostered in 13 percent of leagues, even though he only played in two regular-season games at the end, as many people are planning to keep him for next year. If you want to draft Demidov next season, you’ll need to pick him earlier rather than later, especially if he performs well in the postseason. The hype is real.
Tristan Blackwood