Fantasy Hockey Sleepers: Canucks Prospects Buium and Ohgren Highlight Late-Round Value Picks

Fantasy hockey has become a winter staple for countless fans, turning armchair general management into a competitive ritual. As the Vancouver Canucks enter a rebuilding phase this season, several players on their roster—and a few familiar faces elsewhere—present intriguing sleeper potential for draft day.

Here is a breakdown of fantasy hockey targets for the upcoming campaign, categorized by profile.

Five Contract-Year Veterans Poised for Big Paydays

Quinn Hughes, D, Minnesota Wild
The name carries weight for good reason. Hughes is a perennial point producer from the blue line. Entering the final year of a six-year, $7.85 million AAV deal signed with former Canucks GM Jim Benning, he has every incentive to push his value toward the $20.4 million benchmark set by Cale Makar’s recent extension in Colorado.

Jared McCann, LW, Seattle Kraken
While Hughes, Nikita Kucherov, and Jason Robertson headline the pending UFA class, McCann sits in the next tier ready to cash in with a career year. The former Canuck netted 40 goals in 2022-23 and posted 20 goals and 40 points in just 52 games last season on a modest $5 million cap hit.

Mats Zuccarello, RW, Los Angeles Kings
Age is just a number for the 39-year-old, who signed a one-year, $1 million prove-it deal with Los Angeles after recording 15 goals and 54 points in 59 games with Minnesota. A strong showing could secure a significant raise next summer.

Erik Karlsson, D, Pittsburgh Penguins

At 36, Karlsson remains elite, finishing eighth among defencemen in scoring with 15 goals and 51 points. He enters the final season of an eight-year, $11.5 million AAV contract, making his next deal a fascinating storyline.

Drew O’Connor, LW, Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver’s offensive struggles pose a risk, but a rebuild creates opportunity. O’Connor, 28, carries a $2.5 million cap hit and is primed for a top-six role and power-play time that could unlock untapped production.

Five Young Defencemen to Target After Matthew Schaefer

Luca Cagnoni, San Jose Sharks
The Sharks are ascending behind Macklin Celebrini, and the Burnaby native may inherit the quarterback role on the top power-play unit. The 21-year-old has dominated lower levels with 95 points in 131 AHL games and 193 in 205 WHL contests, though he owns just nine NHL games to date.

Denton Mateychuk, Columbus Blue Jackets
Zach Werenski blocks the path to PP1 time, but Mateychuk’s knack for activating in transition drives offence. The 22-year-old posted 13 goals and 31 points in 75 games last season, adding seven points in 10 games for Canada at the World Championship.

Brandt Clarke, Los Angeles Kings
Clarke’s trajectory is steep: five goals and 33 points in 2024-25 jumped to eight goals and 40 points last year alongside an ice-time increase from 16:17 to 19:48 per game. The 23-year-old could see another deployment bump this fall.

Cole Hutson, Washington Capitals
The younger brother of Lane Hutson mirrors the Canadiens star’s offensive toolkit—smarts, shiftiness, and playmaking—with a slight size edge (5-foot-11, 175 pounds). The 20-year-old debuted with three goals and 10 points in 14 games after leaving Boston University. With Jakob Chychrun anchoring PP1, Hutson can develop without immediate pressure.

Zeev Buium, Vancouver Canucks
Filip Hronek holds the PP1 reins initially, but the slick, speedy Buium is a natural candidate to usurp that role. The 20-year-old exploded for 24 goals and 98 points in 83 games at the University of Denver before signing. He is a premium asset in keeper formats.

Five Forwards Flying Under the Radar

Ilya Mikheyev, LW, Tampa Bay Lightning
Canucks fans may wince—Vancouver retained salary to move him two summers ago—but Mikheyev has rebounded. After consecutive 20 and 18-goal seasons in Chicago, the 31-year-old signed with Tampa Bay and has lined up alongside Kucherov and Brayden Point on the top unit.

Vasily Podkolzin, RW, Edmonton Oilers
Another former Canuck in a prime spot. Podkolzin, 25, has skated with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. A 19-goal, 37-point rookie campaign could balloon if he locks down a top-line gig.

Egor Chinakhov, LW, Pittsburgh Penguins
If everyone targets him, is he still a sleeper? The 25-year-old exploded for 18 goals and 36 points in 43 games post-trade from Columbus (three goals, six points in 29 games prior). A 2020 first-rounder (20th overall), his pedigree supports the breakout.

Konsta Helenius, C, Buffalo Sabres
The 2024 14th overall pick debuted with two goals in four playoff games last spring. He ranked 10th in AHL scoring with 63 points (21 goals) in 63 games for Rochester. The 20-year-old is knocking on the NHL door.

Liam Ohgren, LW, Vancouver Canucks
Acquired in the Hughes trade, the 22-year-old flashed offensive upside down the stretch. On a rebuilding roster offering a clean slate and ample opportunity, the 2022 19th overall pick is a high-upside late-round dart.

Five Stars Opening the Season on Injured Reserve

Troy Terry, RW, Anaheim Ducks
Hip surgery on June 9 (impingement and labral tear) carries a 5-6 month timeline, targeting a late-November return at best—a minimum 20-game absence. Terry posted 19 goals and 57 points last year.

Connor Bedard, C, Chicago Blackhawks
Shoulder surgery on July 8 following an off-season injury in Burnaby carries a four-month projection, also roughly 20 games. The 21-year-old North Vancouver native tallied 30 goals and 75 points in 69 games as a sophomore.

Brad Marchand, LW, Florida Panthers
The 38-year-old underwent off-season surgery for an unspecified issue; the Panthers target an early-season return. He missed the final 19 games last year but still produced 27 goals and 54 points in 52 contests.

Ben Kindel, C, Pittsburgh Penguins
The Coquitlam native, 19, landed on IR Sunday with a lower-body injury suffered in a preseason game versus Buffalo. The 2025 11th overall pick impressed as a teenage regular last year with 17 goals and 35 points in 77 games.

Filip Chytil, C, Vancouver Canucks
Chytil, 27, is week-to-week with a shoulder injury sustained in a preseason collision with a referee. GM Ryan Johnson downplayed the severity. When healthy, the skilled centre accesses prime power-play real estate, though durability is a concern—just 78 games played over the last three seasons. His last full campaign (2022-23) yielded 22 goals and 45 points in 74 games.

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