The 2025–26 season is shaping up as a test case for how different kinds of young talent translate in fantasy hockey. Connor Bedard has already proven he can drive play on a weak Chicago roster, piling up elite per-60 production despite a below-average shooting percentage and limited support. Matvei Michkov enters Philadelphia with a chance to become their top scoring winger, while Macklin Celebrini is showing early signs he can generate value without the luxury of elite teammates around him. And then there's Matthew Coronato, fighting for a larger role in Calgary but flashing the kind of shot volume and power-play touch that could push him into relevance if usage clicks.

Taken together, these four represent very different archetypes: the high-volume driver (Bedard), the pure scorer (Michkov), the self-sufficient center (Celebrini), and the dark-horse winger (Coronato). In fantasy terms, the question isn't just who scores –– it's how they fill categories. Goals, assists, shots, blocks, hits, and usage all shape value differently depending on league format, and each of these players enters 2025–26 with a unique path to climbing those ranks.

Connor Bedard – Chicago Blackhawks

Bedard's first two seasons tell a story of both promise and growing pains. As a rookie he scored 61 points in 68 games (a 74-point pace), then followed with 67 points over a full 82 games in his sophomore year. The raw totals might look flat, but the efficiency hints at upside: his career shooting percentage sits at just 11.2%, below league average, and yet he's already produced 45 goals on more than 400 shots. Nearly half of those attempts come from the mid-slot, and with his skating and quick release, any move closer to the crease should raise his conversion rate.

He's also proven himself as a play driver. Since 2023-24, Bedard ranks 32nd league-wide in first assists per 60 (minimum 750 minutes), but drops well outside the top-150 in second assists –– a reflection of Chicago's lack of finishers. Even so, he led the Blackhawks in points per 60 and ranked top-two in assists per 60. In 24/25 alone, his per-60 profile underscores that impact: 2.42 points/60 (82nd percentile), with 1.59 assists/60 (87th) and 1.84 primary points/60 (80th). Despite that production, he managed it while carrying huge usage –– 20:29 TOI per game (96th percentile) and a heavy offensive zone push (73% OZ starts).

For fantasy, his 200-plus shots per season already make him an anchor piece in multi-cat formats despite modest hits (1.7/60, just 15th percentile) and blocks (1.3/60). What stands out is how efficient he already is in your scoring setup: an 8.70 FPPG/60 rate (83rd percentile), comfortably above the positional average. He adds rush chances (80th percentile in rush attempts), creates rebounds (82nd), and has elite takeaway numbers (88th) that keep him dangerous even when the puck isn't going in. The giveaways are high (96th percentile), but that's partly the tax of being the offensive hub.

The next step hinges less on outside veterans and more on the Blackhawks' young core –– Frank Nazar, Sam Rinzel, and Artyom Levshunov –– growing into NHL roles. If that supporting cast clicks, Bedard's play-driving could finally be matched by finishing talent, raising both his floor and his ceiling.

Matvei Michkov – Philadelphia Flyers

Michkov wasted no time announcing himself in his rookie year. Across 82 games he scored 26 goals on nearly 200 shots, shooting 13.1% — right in line with skilled finishers — with eight of those tallies coming on the power play. That efficiency doesn't scream regression; if anything, the volume suggests his totals could rise with more usage. Michkov isn't a one-dimensional trigger man either — he drives offense from every angle of the zone, and the numbers back it up.

Among skaters with at least 750 minutes last season, Michkov ranked 64th in goals/60, 60th in assists/60, 57th in points/60, and 26th in individual point percentage (IPP). Within the Flyers, he was the focal point: first in goals/60, first in points/60, second in assists/60, second in shots/60, and first in rebounds created. His percentile card paints the same picture — 8.95 shots/60 (90th), 2.83 points/60 (89th), 2.16 primary points/60 (89th), and a sparkling 0.75 IPP (89th). For a rookie, those are remarkable benchmarks.

The fantasy profile is clear. He's a premium points league option thanks to elite shot generation and scoring efficiency, but his physical game lags behind — just 1.3 hits/60 (10th percentile) and 1.0 blocks/60 (9th). That keeps his ceiling lower in bangers leagues. The addition of Trevor Zegras adds intrigue: two creative but defensively suspect playmakers being asked to mesh. If they click, Michkov's totals could take another leap; if not, expect volatility. Either way, he's already shown he belongs in the top tier of young fantasy forwards.

Macklin Celebrini – San Jose Sharks

Celebrini's rookie year showed exactly why the Sharks view him as the future of their franchise. At just 18, he put up 25 goals and 63 points in 70 games while averaging nearly 20 minutes a night. His 236 shots speak to the volume he generated, even if the 10.6% conversion kept him from an even bigger breakout. Add in 22 power-play points (8 goals, 14 assists), and he's already functioning as the centerpiece of San Jose's attack.

The underlying numbers only reinforce that. League-wide, he slotted in 92nd in goals/60 and 66th in points/60, respectable ranks for a rookie, but his 0.79 IPP (93rd percentile) and 10.22 shots/60 (98th) show how much of the Sharks' offense ran directly through him. His 11.24 FPPG/60 (97th percentile) makes him one of the most efficient fantasy rookies we've seen in recent years, and the mix of rebounds created, and takeaways (92nd percentile) underline his ability to keep plays alive.

Fantasy managers shouldn't expect much in peripherals (just 37 hits and 53 blocks), and the giveaways were high (113, nearly 100th percentile), but those are rookie blemishes on a team with few other drivers. What matters most is that Celebrini proved he can create offense without the benefit of elite teammates — a rare trait for an 18-year-old. If the Sharks add even modest support, his already strong points foundation could rise even higher in year two.

Matt Coronato – Calgary Flames

Coronato's first full season in 2024–25 was a step forward for the Flames' young winger. He scored 24 goals and 47 points in 77 games, powered by 180 shots on goal at 13.3% shooting. While the rate stats don't leap off the page, his role on a low-scoring Calgary team made him one of their more reliable offensive contributors. He ranked third on the roster in goals/60, fifth in assists/60, and third in points/60, showing steady growth into a secondary scoring option.

The percentile data fills in the picture. Coronato landed in the 81st percentile for shots/60 (7.98) and 79th percentile for ice time (17:35 ATOI), while also standing out as a transition player — 92nd percentile in rush attempts and 93rd in rebounds created. That mix suggests he has the tools to keep generating offense even when the puck isn't going in. On the flip side, his fantasy floor is lower in bangers leagues: just 1.6 hits/60 (13th percentile) and 1.6 blocks/60 (30th).

For fantasy purposes, Coronato is best viewed as a middle-six scorer who gains value with power-play usage. If he holds his shooting efficiency and sees even a slight bump in special-teams time, a 25–30 goal season isn't out of the question. He doesn't carry the same breakout shine as Bedard, Michkov, or Celebrini, but he's carving out a dependable role on a rebuilding Flames squad.

Conclusion

Bedard, Michkov, Celebrini, and Coronato each offer a different kind of value heading into 2025–26: Bedard is already a franchise driver who just needs finishers around him; Michkov looks poised to grow into a pure scoring threat with top-50 production rates as a rookie; Celebrini showed he can carry offense without help, a rare trait for an 18-year-old; Coronato may not have the same ceiling, but his volume shooting and power-play role make him a steady depth piece.

For fantasy managers, the key takeaway is that context matters as much as talent. Usage, efficiency, and category balance decide whether a player is a league-winner or just a streaming option. All four are trending upward — the question is which ones can turn strong foundations into full breakouts this season.

Data from Hockey Reference, NaturalStatTrick