Continuing from Part 1, these rookies are on teams that advanced to the second round, in large part because of their contributions. Here is a rundown of how they have fared so far and what their playoff performances may mean for their long-term projection. While some may still be seeing limited postseason usage, their presence alone reflects organizational confidence and accelerating development timelines. As always, playoff exposure carries weight, as these environments test processing speed, adaptability, and execution under pressure, all critical traits for long-term NHL success.

Ivan Demidov, RW – Montreal Canadiens

Demidov recorded just one assist in the seven-game first-round series win over the Tampa Bay Lightning and has added one point so far in the second round against the Buffalo Sabres. He has primarily skated alongside Alexandre Texier and Alex Newhook while also receiving top power-play deployment, which reflects a high level of organizational trust despite the limited production. Demidov also took a heavy hit from Jordan Greenway in Game 2 after getting caught with his head down and briefly left the game.

Ivan Demidov has gone to the dressing room after taking a hit from Jordan Greenway pic.twitter.com/CNaUb9Bfgs

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 9, 2026

Despite the quiet stat line, Demidov continues to flash the elite offensive creativity, deception, and puck control that make him one of the premier young talents in hockey. His game is built on manipulating defenders and generating offense through skill and vision, but the adjustment to playoff hockey often comes down to adapting to reduced time and space. His ceiling still projects at the point-per-game winger level, and there is little here to suggest that long-term outlook has changed. If anyone in your league views this postseason as a sign of disappointing production to come, there may be an opportunity to acquire him at a discount.

Jakub Dobes, G – Montreal Canadiens

Dobes has been one of the stories of the playoffs so far. In Round 1, he went head-to-head with Andrei Vasilevskiy and outdueled the Vezina Trophy winner and future Hall of Famer. Dobes finished the series with 8.55 goals saved above expected compared to 3.96 for Vasilevskiy, an impressive performance that has helped solidify his standing within the Canadiens' organization. For now, much of the discussion surrounding Jacob Fowler potentially taking over the crease has quieted considerably.

Dobes represents a less common playoff storyline, a rookie goaltender stepping into a major postseason role and thriving under pressure. His size, calm positioning, and composure give him a strong technical foundation, and his developmental progression has been steady throughout his career. Interestingly, Dobes and Fowler grade out fairly similarly in the Hockey Prospecting model, which speaks to the long-term strength of Montreal's goaltending pipeline. Whether Dobes ultimately claims the clear starter's role long term or shares the net in a tandem, the Canadiens appear well positioned in goal for years to come.

Noah Östlund, C – Buffalo Sabres

Östlund had a strong start to the playoffs, including scoring an excellent goal to close out Game 3 against the Boston Bruins in his first NHL playoff action. Unfortunately, he was injured two games later in Game 5 and has yet to return to the lineup. His absence has been noticeable, as the energy and enthusiasm he brought to the lineup appeared to resonate with the team.

Noah Ostlund's playoff debut is one we won't forget 😤 pic.twitter.com/DWTJmUENfZ

— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) April 24, 2026

While his regular season production was relatively modest at roughly a 40-point pace, the playoff flashes suggested there may be another level offensively as he grows more comfortable and physically mature. His long-term projection still points toward a versatile middle-six contributor capable of handling multiple situations, and this postseason experience could serve as an important springboard into a stronger 2026-27 campaign.

Porter Martone, RW – Philadelphia Flyers

Martone joined the Flyers after his NCAA season and immediately made an impact, finishing the regular season with 10 points in nine games. His production has cooled somewhat in the playoffs with four points through nine games, though three of those came in the opening three games of the series against the Pittsburgh Penguins, all of which Philadelphia won. Martone has primarily skated alongside Travis Konecny and Christian Dvorak, about as favorable a deployment situation as the Flyers can currently offer. At this pace, it may not be long before the conversation shifts from who Martone is playing with to who gets the opportunity to play alongside him.

PORTER MARTONE FIRST CAREER NHL GOAL FOR THE OT WIN 🚨

FLYERS ARE IN A PLAYOFF SPOT 😱 pic.twitter.com/YI5PkUensm

📢 advertisement:

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) April 5, 2026

Martone combines size, skill, and physical engagement in a way that projects exceptionally well for playoff hockey. He uses his frame effectively to protect pucks, extend offensive possessions, and create space while also contributing through physical play and net-front involvement. That combination gives him significant fantasy upside, particularly in multi-category formats where players who can both score and provide peripherals carry elevated value. While the playoff scoring pace has naturally slowed as defensive attention tightens, the flashes of dominance and immediate NHL adjustment have only reinforced the belief that Martone has legitimate top-line potential long term.

Beckett Sennecke, RW – Anaheim Ducks

Sennecke had an outstanding rookie season for the Anaheim Ducks. After barely making the team out of camp, he developed into an impactful scoring winger and finished with a 60-point pace (60 points in 82 games) – an incredible turnaround for a player who entered the season with far more questions than expectations. So far in the playoffs, Sennecke has three points in nine games, though all three have been goals. He is averaging just under 16 minutes of total ice time per game while also earning a spot on the top power-play unit. At even strength, he has primarily skated alongside Mikael Granlund and Alex Killorn, not necessarily the most dynamic offensive linemates, which makes the production even more encouraging.

QUACK QUACK!! 🦆

Beckett Sennecke opens the scoring! #StanleyCup

🇺🇸: @NHL_On_TNT
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet & @TVASports pic.twitter.com/mBai98CYhl

— NHL (@NHL) May 7, 2026

Sennecke brings a unique combination of size, puck skill, and offensive confidence that already appears to be translating at the NHL level. His hands and vision allow him to create offense in tight spaces, and one of the more impressive parts of his game is his willingness to hold onto pucks and dictate possession rather than defer to older teammates. The challenge in playoff hockey is maintaining that style against more structured and physical defensive pressure, but his ability to continue producing goals despite modest usage is a positive sign. If his development trajectory continues, there is a realistic chance he emerges as a top-line winger as early as next season, with significant long-term fantasy appeal because of his scoring upside and power-play usage.

Tyson Hinds, D – Anaheim Ducks

Hinds has quietly brought an important physical presence to the Anaheim Ducks blue line during this playoff run. Among Anaheim defenders, only Ian Moore has recorded more individual hits per 60 minutes than Hinds, though Moore has been scratched the last two games after previously shifting to forward. Hinds has also posted stronger defensive metrics than both John Carlson and Pavel Mintyukov in terms of Fenwick against per 60 minutes, reinforcing the value he brings in a shutdown and stabilizing role. While the offensive production is unlikely to ever be significant, his style of play is exactly the type coaches tend to trust more as playoff intensity increases.

Rookie lap for No. 60, Tyson Hinds.#FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/7Gs7Q3c8Pu

— Derek Lee (@Derek_Lee27) April 5, 2026

Hinds profiles as a steady, defense-first defender built around positioning, physical engagement, and detail-oriented play. After three full seasons in the AHL, he has developed into a reliable presence capable of handling difficult defensive-zone assignments while contributing through peripherals like hits and blocks. His game is not built around offensive creativity, but rather structure and consistency, traits that can translate extremely well in playoff environments where minimizing mistakes becomes critical. The long-term question is less about upside and more about role sustainability, but if Hinds continues defending effectively while maintaining his physical edge, there is a realistic pathway toward earning increased ice time and carving out a lasting NHL role. In fantasy leagues that reward hits, he is someone worth monitoring closely.

Tim Washe, C/LW – Anaheim Ducks

Washe is an interesting case because his development path has been far less conventional than most players in this group. Undrafted, he spent five seasons at Western Michigan and captained the Broncos to a national championship in 2025 before signing with the Anaheim Ducks. After going pointless in two NHL games following his signing, Washe took a major step forward this season, recording 27 points in 36 games for the AHL San Diego Gulls before earning an extended NHL role and appearing in 39 regular season games. So far in the playoffs, he has one point in eight games, but his defensive impact has been difficult to miss as part of an effective energy line alongside Jansen Harkins and Jeffrey Viel. He is unlikely to become a major offensive producer, but in deeper fantasy formats that reward physical play and versatility, he could develop into a useful depth contributor capable of chipping in across multiple categories.

Jesper Wallstedt, G – Minnesota Wild

This season has truly been Wallstedt's coming-out party. Although he played just 35 NHL games compared to 50 for Filip Gustavsson, Wallstedt finished with better goals saved above expected numbers and a stronger delta Fenwick save percentage. Those results helped earn him the somewhat surprising Game 1 start in Round 1 against the Dallas Stars, and he rewarded coach John Hynes by helping lead the Minnesota Wild to the series victory while outdueling Jake Oettinger. In the second round against the Colorado Avalanche, however, Minnesota has largely been outmatched. After Wallstedt struggled in Game 1, Hynes turned to Gustavsson, who did not fare much better behind the overwhelmed Wild defense.

How about rookie tendy Jesper Wallstedt…

The Wall of St. Paul's 1st Round stats:
6 Games —
– 171 saves on 185 shots (.924 SV%)
– 3.63 Goals Saved Above Expected

– 5-on-5: 131 saves on 135 shots (.970 SV%)
– 7.92 GSAE
– .920 HDSV%

Cold-blooded for a rookie #mnwild pic.twitter.com/t0PoeVOqNj

— Jack Jablonski (@Jabs_13) May 1, 2026

Even with the uneven second-round results, his long-term trajectory still points strongly toward becoming an NHL starter. The interesting wrinkle now is that Minnesota may already be approaching a timeshare situation as early as next season given how well Wallstedt performed overall this year. At the same time, Gustavsson's new contract kicks in next season and runs for four more seasons at more than triple Wallstedt's current salary, making the long-term crease picture complicated. Based on this playoff performance and pedigree, Wallstedt should be the starter long term.

Final Thoughts 

This second group highlighted just how quickly playoff hockey can accelerate development and reshape perception. Goalies Jakub Dobes and Jesper Wallstedt may have altered long-term organizational plans with their postseason performances, while highly skilled forwards like Ivan Demidov, Porter Martone, and Beckett Sennecke continued to flash star-level upside even when the production was inconsistent. At the same time, players such as Tyson Hinds and Tim Washe reinforced how much value coaches place on structure, physicality, and defensive reliability in playoff environments. For dynasty managers, deployment, trust, and the ability to handle difficult postseason minutes can often tell us more about long-term projection than raw scoring totals, and several of these rookies appear positioned for significantly larger roles moving forward.

Thanks for reading! See you next week. For more fantasy hockey analysis, or if there's a prospect, topic, or theme you'd like me to cover, follow and message me on X: https://x.com/VictorNuno12