Training camp is where fantasy hockey starts getting real.
For the past few months, we’ve been projecting based on last year’s production, offseason moves, and speculation. But now we’re finally getting something much more valuable: actual evidence of how NHL coaches plan to use their players.
The 2026-27 NHL season begins September 29, and this year’s compressed training camp and preseason schedule has made early deployment particularly interesting. With less time for experimentation, several teams have already put potential opening-night combinations on the ice. That doesn’t mean every line is locked in, but it does give fantasy managers clues about which players could be entering the season with more opportunity than we expected.
That’s what we’re looking for here.
This isn’t simply a list of the best lines in hockey. These are 15 combinations that could have a meaningful impact on fantasy value, whether they’re creating a late-round sleeper, changing the outlook of a young player or making an established star even more dangerous.
One important reminder: training-camp lines are not guarantees. Coaches will experiment, injuries will happen and combinations can change quickly. But when a talented player suddenly finds himself skating beside elite linemates, that’s information fantasy managers shouldn’t ignore.
1. Mason Marchment — Macklin Celebrini — Will Smith | San Jose Sharks
This is probably one of the most interesting fantasy combinations of camp.
Mason Marchment arrived in San Jose after finishing last season strongly with Columbus, and the Sharks immediately put him alongside Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith. Marchment finished last season with 32 points in his final 39 games and brings the physical production that can make him especially valuable in leagues counting hits. NHL.com currently has his ADP around 130.7.
The opportunity is obvious. Celebrini is already being drafted as a top-five fantasy player, while Smith is entering his second NHL season with enormous upside. If Marchment sticks with those two, he’s going to have access to significantly better offensive opportunities than he would on a normal third-line assignment.
The Add List Take: Marchment was already one of our favorite late-round targets. This deployment makes him even more interesting. If he remains on the top line and gets meaningful power-play time, his current draft price could look very cheap by October.
2. Quinton Byfield — Artemi Panarin — Adrian Kempe | Los Angeles Kings
Quinton Byfield is entering the season as one of the more intriguing young forwards in fantasy hockey, and Los Angeles is giving him a huge opportunity.
Byfield started camp between Artemi Panarin and Adrian Kempe. He already established NHL career highs with 24 goals and 180 shots last season, and he scored 13 goals in just 24 games after Panarin joined the Kings. His current ADP sits around 136.
This is exactly the type of deployment fantasy managers want to see from a young player who is already trending upward. Byfield doesn’t need to suddenly become a superstar for this line to matter. He simply needs to maintain the momentum he showed after Panarin arrived.
The Add List Take: Byfield has legitimate 60-point upside, and the current draft price gives you room for the breakout to happen without paying a breakout price.
3. Chris Kreider — Nick Suzuki — Cole Caufield | Montreal Canadiens
This one came out of nowhere.
Chris Kreider signed a one-year contract with Montreal after his Anaheim contract was terminated, and the Canadiens immediately gave him a look alongside Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. Kreider is currently going undrafted in many fantasy leagues, despite being a three-time 30-goal scorer.
The important part isn’t simply that Kreider is on Montreal’s top line. It’s who he’s playing with.
Suzuki and Caufield are already established as one of Montreal’s primary offensive engines. If Kreider can provide net-front presence, speed and finishing ability while allowing Suzuki and Caufield to create, he could find himself in a much more productive environment than his recent fantasy reputation suggests.
The Add List Take: I’m not suddenly projecting a vintage Kreider season, but this is exactly the kind of situation that can turn an undrafted player into an early-season waiver-wire priority, or even a late-round draft target.
4. Gavin McKenna — John Tavares — William Nylander | Toronto Maple Leafs
The No. 1 overall pick is getting exactly the kind of opportunity fantasy managers were hoping for.
Gavin McKenna opened Toronto’s training camp on a line with John Tavares and William Nylander. Nylander has already talked publicly about being excited to play with the rookie, while coach Jim Hiller has highlighted the chemistry between the three players.
McKenna already produced 51 points in 35 NCAA games last season and finished the 2026 World Junior Championship with 14 points in seven games. NHL.com has projected that he could potentially exceed 60 points as a rookie, now he’s walking into an NHL lineup with two highly skilled offensive players.
The Add List Take: McKenna was already going to be one of the most expensive rookies in fantasy drafts. This deployment doesn’t make him safer ( rookies are still rookies ) but it strengthens the argument that Toronto intends to give him every opportunity to produce immediately.
5. Roman Kantserov — Frank Nazar — Patrick Kane | Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago may have quietly created one of the most fascinating young fantasy lines in the league.
On the opening day of training camp, Roman Kantserov centered Patrick Kane and Frank Nazar. The Blackhawks reportedly consider those initial lines particularly meaningful because of the compressed camp schedule.
Kantserov is making the jump to North America after three full seasons in the KHL, while Nazar is entering an important stage of his development. Put the two young players alongside a future Hall of Famer like Kane and there’s plenty of offensive skill on one line. The situation is even more interesting because Connor Bedard is expected to miss the beginning of the season, leaving Chicago looking for additional offensive production.
The Add List Take: Kantserov is exactly the type of player whose fantasy value can change dramatically in a few weeks. If this line survives the rest of preseason, his draft stock should move quickly.
6. Maxim Shabanov — Kirill Kaprizov — Ryan Hartman | Minnesota Wild
Shabanov may be one of the biggest beneficiaries of training camp.
With Mats Zuccarello leaving Minnesota for Los Angeles, there was an obvious opening beside Kirill Kaprizov. The Wild began camp with Shabanov skating alongside Kaprizov and Ryan Hartman. That’s an enormous opportunity for a player making his NHL debut.
Kaprizov is coming off a 45-goal season and remains one of the most valuable fantasy players in the league. The question isn’t whether he can produce, the question is who benefits from playing beside him, and Shabanov now has a very legitimate answer.
The Add List Take: If Shabanov stays on this line, he immediately moves from “interesting rookie” to “player fantasy managers need to know.” He’s one of the players whose draft stock could change the most between now and opening night.
7. Ilya Protas — Aliaksei Protas — Jordan Kyrou | Washington Capitals
This is one of the more intriguing young-player situations in Washington.
Ilya Protas opened camp alongside his brother Aliaksei Protas and offseason addition Jordan Kyrou. The younger Protas had four points in his first four NHL games last season and is being viewed as a potential long-term piece for Washington.
There is also something interesting about the fit. Kyrou is capable of generating offense off the rush, while the Protas brothers give the line size and reach. Ilya is largely going undrafted, which makes the opportunity particularly important.
The Add List Take: This is less about drafting Ilya Protas aggressively right now and more about putting his name on your preseason watch list. If he sticks with Kyrou and his brother into opening night, the waiver-wire upside is significant.
8. Ryan Leonard — Alex Ovechkin — Dylan Strome | Washington Capitals
Ryan Leonard is another young player whose fantasy value is being shaped by opportunity.
Leonard opened camp on Washington’s second line with Alex Ovechkin and Dylan Strome, and NHL.com noted that he could also see time on the first power play. His current ADP is around 132.
The Ovechkin situation needs monitoring because he has been dealing with a lower-body injury and has missed much of camp. When he returned to the sidelines, Ivan Miroshnichenko temporarily moved into his spot alongside Strome and Leonard, while also taking Ovechkin’s spot on the top power play. Still, the underlying fantasy opportunity for Leonard is obvious.
The Add List Take: Leonard doesn’t need Ovechkin to score 50 goals for this to work. If he gets top-six minutes and consistent power-play exposure, he’s one of the young forwards who could outperform his draft position.
9. Ivar Stenberg — Alexander Wennberg — Collin Graf | San Jose Sharks
Stenberg is another rookie whose fantasy value is being shaped by where San Jose puts him.
The No. 2 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft opened his preseason debut on a line with Alexander Wennberg and Collin Graf. He recorded an assist and four shots while playing 22:17 in his first preseason game.
Stenberg has also already shown offensive chemistry with San Jose’s younger players, including Michael Misa and Igor Chernyshov during the Rookie Faceoff. That gives the Sharks several possible combinations to work with.
The Add List Take: The line with Wennberg and Graf isn’t necessarily the dream fantasy deployment, but Stenberg’s heavy preseason usage tells us the organization is giving him a serious look. If he moves higher into the lineup, his fantasy stock could rise quickly.
10. James Hagens — Fraser Minten — Marat Khusnutdinov | Boston Bruins
This might be the most interesting “young player” line that isn’t receiving enough attention.
Boston has kept James Hagens, Fraser Minten and Marat Khusnutdinov together for the opening days of camp, and the Bruins have already dubbed them the “Kid Line.” The trio has reportedly shown chemistry during scrimmages, with Hagens creating several scoring chances.
Hagens is entering his first NHL season after being selected by Boston with a high pick, while Minten is already locked into a long-term contract after joining the Bruins organization. This is particularly interesting for fantasy managers because Boston needs more offense from its younger players.
The Add List Take: Hagens is obviously the name fantasy managers are watching, but don’t overlook Minten. If this group sticks and receives legitimate offensive minutes, both players could become fantasy-relevant at different stages of the season.
11. Luke Evangelista — Nico Hischier — Timo Meier | New Jersey Devils
Luke Evangelista may be one of the sneakiest beneficiaries of a new environment.
New Jersey opened camp with Evangelista alongside Nico Hischier and Timo Meier. He has also been used on the Devils’ first power-play unit with Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, Hischier and Luke Hughes. That second piece may actually be more important than the line itself.
Top-line deployment is great, but top power-play deployment can transform a player’s fantasy ceiling. If Evangelista gets consistent exposure to New Jersey’s best offensive players at five-on-four, his scoring opportunity becomes much more interesting.
The Add List Take: Evangelista is exactly the kind of player who can move from “late-round flyer” to “legitimate fantasy target” because of deployment. Keep watching the power play.
12. Pavel Dorofeyev — J.T. Miller — Oliver Bjorkstrand | New York Rangers
Pavel Dorofeyev is entering New York under a massive spotlight after scoring 37 goals for Vegas last season.
The Rangers have been using him alongside J.T. Miller and Oliver Bjorkstrand at camp. NHL.com described Dorofeyev as a goal scorer and noted that he could also occupy a shooting position on the Rangers’ power play.
The fit makes sense. Miller can distribute the puck and operate down low, while Dorofeyev brings the finishing ability. Bjorkstrand adds another legitimate shooting threat. That could create a line capable of generating offense in several different ways.
The Add List Take: Dorofeyev’s draft price is going to be heavily influenced by this deployment. If the line continues to look good through preseason, I’m comfortable treating him as a player whose ceiling is higher than his previous fantasy reputation suggests.
13. Connor McDavid — Leon Draisaitl — Vasily Podkolzin | Edmonton Oilers
This is the obvious heavyweight combination, but it could have a surprisingly important fantasy effect.
New Edmonton coach Mike Babcock opened camp with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl together, with Vasily Podkolzin on the right wing. Babcock has indicated the plan is to start the season with McDavid and Draisaitl on the same line. McDavid and Draisaitl have played together plenty over the years, but they’ve also spent significant stretches driving separate lines. Putting them together concentrates an enormous amount of offensive talent on one unit. The third player becomes the interesting fantasy question.
The Add List Take: I’m not changing how I value McDavid or Draisaitl because they’re already elite fantasy players. I’m watching Podkolzin. If he can hold this spot, his fantasy value changes dramatically simply because of the quality of his linemates.
14. Alex DeBrincat — Andrew Copp — Lucas Raymond | Detroit Red Wings
Detroit has also given us a combination worth watching closely.
The Red Wings have been using Alex DeBrincat, Andrew Copp and Lucas Raymond together, while Marco Kasper has been skating on another line with Tyler Finnie and Viktor Arvidsson. Detroit’s power-play work has also featured Raymond and DeBrincat on the flanks. The fantasy angle here is Raymond and DeBrincat rather than Copp.
Both are established offensive players, but their value can shift depending on how much offensive-zone time they receive and who is feeding them the puck.
The Add List Take: This isn’t a sleeper situation like Marchment or Shabanov. It’s more about identifying which Detroit forwards could benefit from stable top-six deployment and strong power-play usage. Raymond remains the particularly interesting player if Detroit can generate more offense this season.
15. Juraj Slafkovsky — Ivan Demidov — Oliver Kapanen | Montreal Canadiens
Finally, we have a line that could create a very interesting fantasy ripple effect in Montreal.
While Kreider was getting a look with Suzuki and Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky was skating with Ivan Demidov and Oliver Kapanen. NHL.com specifically identified Kapanen as a deep-league sleeper because of his exposure to Slafkovsky and Demidov. Kapanen scored 22 goals last season, finishing third among NHL rookies in that category, although his production dropped late in the year. Montreal’s own season preview also identified the second-line center position as an important area to watch.
If Kapanen can establish himself between two young offensive talents, this could become one of the more interesting secondary scoring lines in the league.
The Add List Take: Demidov and Slafkovsky are already fantasy-relevant names. Kapanen is the player I’m watching. He’s the type of late-round or waiver-wire player who could become much more valuable if this combination sticks.
What These Lines Tell Us About Fantasy Drafts
The biggest lesson here isn’t that every player listed above is suddenly a must-draft player. A player who was ranked 150th two weeks ago can suddenly become much more interesting if he’s skating beside a superstar. A rookie who looked like a long shot can become fantasy-relevant if he’s receiving top-six minutes. And a veteran who was barely on the fantasy radar can become a late-round target if he’s been placed on a team’s top line. That’s why training camp matters.
Daily Faceoff’s Matt Larkin recently made a similar point while updating his Top 300 rankings: preseason forces fantasy managers to separate meaningful role changes from combinations that don’t really matter. That’s the key distinction. Don’t chase every line combination. Chase the ones that make sense.
If a player has already demonstrated NHL ability, receives top-six minutes and is skating with elite offensive talent, that’s a combination worth paying attention to. If a rookie is suddenly on the fourth line for one preseason game, that’s probably not enough information to move him up your rankings. And if a player is getting first-unit power-play time on top of a strong even-strength role, that’s when the fantasy radar should really start going off.
The Add List Preseason Line-Combination Checklist
As we get closer to September 29, here’s what I’m watching:
1. Does the line survive multiple practices?
One practice can be an experiment. Several practices and preseason games carry much more weight.
2. Who is on the power play?
This might be even more important than the five-on-five line.
3. Is the player getting top-six ice time?
A great linemate doesn’t help much if the player is only getting 12 minutes a night.
4. Is there a path to staying there?
Look at the team’s depth. If the player performs well, is there actually a reason for the coach to move him?
5. Has the player’s fantasy draft price caught up yet?
This is where fantasy managers can gain an edge. Once everyone notices the new line, the discount can disappear.
Final Thoughts
The best fantasy information isn’t always found in last year’s stat sheet, sometimes it’s sitting on the ice during a September practice.
The 15 combinations above give us a glimpse into how teams are thinking about their rosters heading into the 2026-27 season. Some of these lines will stick. Some will change before opening night. A few players will move up the lineup, while others will fall down the depth chart. That’s exactly why we’re paying attention now.
The fantasy draft market is already moving, but it hasn’t completely caught up to the information coming out of training camps.
We’ll keep watching the lines, the power plays, the injuries and the preseason performances, because the goal isn’t simply to know who the good players are. It’s to figure out which players are about to become more valuable before everyone else does.
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