The 10 Biggest NHL Fantasy Risers and Bounce Backs in 25/2026. ( Ranked )
Not every breakout or bounce back comes out of nowhere — sometimes it’s a young core finally clicking, a veteran proving people wrong, or a former top prospect delivering on the hype. This season gave us a bit of everything.
10. Nick Suzuki
2024 – 25 goals, 30 assists, Rank 25
2025 – 29 goals, 72 assists, Rank 7
Suzuki didn’t suddenly explode — he just leveled up quietly. He took another step as a true No. 1 center, driving offense more consistently and pushing his point totals higher without the ups and downs that used to define his game. In fantasy, that kind of reliability adds up fast, even if it doesn’t always grab headlines.
9. Cole Caufield
2024 – 37 goals, 33 assists, Rank 41
2025 – 51 goals, 37 assists, Rank 17
Caufield’s improvement came from becoming more than just a shooter. The goals were always going to be there, but this season he rounded out his game, creating more and finding ways to stay productive even when he wasn’t scoring. That extra layer made him far more valuable in points leagues.
8. Juraj Slafkovský
2024 – 18 goals, 33 assists, Rank 125
2025 – 30 goals, 43 assists, Ranks 33
This was the year it finally started to make sense. Slafkovský went from “project” to legitimate top-line contributor, especially as the season went on. You could see the confidence grow game by game, and once he got comfortable, the points followed in a big way.
7. Andrei Svechnikov
2024 – 20 goals, 28 assists, Rank 118
2025 – 31 goals, 39 assists, Rank 40
Svechnikov reminded everyone what he’s capable of. After some inconsistency and setbacks, he came back looking like a true offensive driver again. When he’s on, he’s a difference-maker — and this season he found that level more often.
6. Nick Schmaltz
2024 – 20 goals, 43 assists, Rank 142
2025 – 33 goals, 41 assists, Rank 38
Schmaltz is one of those players people forget about until they check the standings and realize he’s been quietly producing all year. He doesn’t dominate games, but he consistently makes plays and racks up assists. Saying that, his goal production improved this year as well. That steady production made him a sneaky valuable piece in points formats.
5. Cutter Gauthier
2024 – 20 goals, 24 assists, Rank 177
2025 – 41 goals, 28 assists, Rank 51
Gauthier’s jump came down to opportunity — once he got it, he ran with it. He’s a natural scorer, and when his minutes increased, so did his confidence. You could see the shift from “promising” to “dangerous” as the season went on.
4. Steven Stamkos
2024 – 27goals, 26assists, Rank 214
2025 – 42 goals, 24 assists, Rank 59
A lot of people expected another decline. Instead, Stamkos delivered a strong season and reminded everyone that elite players don’t fall off that easily. His production — especially on the power play — stayed consistent, and he proved he still belongs in that upper tier of fantasy contributors.
3. Leo Carlsson
2024 – 20 goals, 25 assists, Rank 288
2025 – 29 goals, 38 assists, Rank 70
Carlsson didn’t just show flashes — he showed real control of the game. For such a young player, his composure stood out, and his production followed. It felt less like a hot streak and more like the beginning of something sustainable.
2. Trevor Zegras
2024 – 12 goals, 20 assists, Rank 467
2025 – 26 goals, 41 assists, Rank 68
Zegras bounced back in a big way. After a rough stretch where his value dipped, he re-established himself as a high-end offensive talent. The creativity was always there, but this season it translated into real, consistent production again.
1. Macklin Celebrini
2024 – 25 goals, 38 assists, Rank 133
2025 – 45 goals, 70 assists, Rank 4
Celebrini lived up to the hype — and then some. It’s rare for a young player to step in and immediately look like a focal point of an offense, but he did exactly that. The skill, the confidence, the impact — it all showed up right away, making him the biggest and most exciting fantasy riser of the season.