Last week, we ranked some of the biggest fantasy disappointments of the 2025-26 season. Therefore, it's only fitting to shift to a more positive note and rank the best fantasy pickups of the year. Which players surprised and ended up being league-winning draft picks, and who were some of the best free agent pickups? Let's take a look at some of this season’s top value fantasy additions.

*Note: Stats courtesy of ESPN Fantasy Hockey

10. Beckett Sennecke, RW, Anaheim Ducks, Rostered-56.4%

Beckett Sennecke is part of the youth movement that is leading the Anaheim Ducks back into the postseason in a quicker turnaround than anticipated. His play this season shows why the team selected him with what was at the time a shocking pick at 3rd overall in 2024. His play has likely earned him some Calder consideration. A rookie who wasn't on many people’s radar has now become a valuable asset for many managers.

9. Pavel Zacha, C, Boston Bruins, Rostered-59.5%

Boston wasn't expected to be able to rebound so quickly following a poor 2024-25 campaign that saw them miss the playoffs. This is largely due to their losses down the middle in Bergeron, Krejci, and Coyle over the last few years. However, Pavel Zacha has solidified his role for the Bruins and already surpassed his career-high point totals. Odds are that Zacha wasn't selected at all in the majority of drafts, but his ownership has skyrocketed with his play throughout the season.

8.  Bryan Rust, RW, Pittsburgh Penguins, Rostered-88.5%

The main concern for the Penguins this season was where the secondary scoring would come from with the likes of Crosby, Malkin, Karlsson, and Letang slowing down. Bryan Rust has stepped up in a big way for this Pittsburgh squad. Despite missing some games due to injury, he is within reach of career highs in both goals and points. Rust is a player who likely fell in the draft and, therefore, became a sneaky value pickup in fantasy.

7. Matthew Schaefer, D, New York Islanders, Rostered-96.3%

Schaefer's impact on the Islanders this season can't be understated. He's racked up the most points ever by an 18-year-old defenseman in the NHL. As a result, the Calder Trophy is well within his grasp. Many young defencemen don't make the jump to the NHL right away, even high draft picks like Owen Power have gone back to college before transitioning to Buffalo. As a result, Schaefer was likely selected in the back half of most fantasy drafts. However, he’s surpassed all expectations this season and is a big reason the Islanders have a shot at the playoffs.

6. Morgan Geekie, C, Boston Bruins, Rostered-89.8%

Geekie burst onto the scene in 2024-25, potting over 30 goals for the first time in his career. Many viewed this as a one-off and therefore didn't value him highly heading into this season. However, Geekie had a monster year for Boston as he was amongst the league’s goal leaders for the majority of the season and even earned national team consideration. Despite his play dipping as of late, anyone who selected Geekie this season got their money’s worth.

5. Juraj Slafkovsky, LW, Montreal Canadiens, Rostered-91.4%

The former first-overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky has always had lofty expectations placed on him. He has been on the cusp of a breakout season for the last few years. This year, however, was in many ways his coming-out party. The young forward has solidified his role alongside Suzuki and Caufield, forming one of the league’s most dangerous trios. He will likely hit the thirty-goal and seventy-point marks for the first time as well. Slafkovsky is putting the league on notice this season and won't be slipping in any drafts come next year.

4. Cutter Gauthier, RW, Anaheim Ducks, Rostered-91.8%

Cutter Gauthier had a solid rookie campaign in Anaheim last season. Despite this, nobody saw the offensive outburst of this year coming. Gauthier has scored almost forty goals and seventy points. Much like Slafkovsky in Montreal, he is putting the league on notice. Gauthier might have been one of the best bang-for-your-buck draft picks of the 2025-26 season.

3.  Trevor Zegras, C, Philadelphia Flyers, Rostered-79.8%

Trevor Zegras faced high expectations after such a successful beginning to his career in Anaheim. However, after several injuries and disappointing seasons, the Ducks gave up on Zegras. They opted to send him to Philadelphia this past offseason. He has been one heck of a pickup for the Flyers as he's managed to find his game. Zegras' resurgence wasn't viewed as unanimous, however. As a result, he likely slipped in most drafts. But he's been a pleasant addition for anyone who bet on him.

2. Mika Zibanejad, C, New York Rangers, Rostered-97%

Zibanejad's play dropped off last season. Some attributed this to the team’s failures, but many placed the blame solely on Zibanejad for his performance. This is what made his turnaround this season so surprising. He's seemingly returned to his prime at the age of 32. After many anticipated a steady decline, we saw a complete 180 from Zibanejad this season, making him one of the year’s most valuable fantasy assets.

1. Darren Raddysh, D, Tampa Bay Lightning, Rostered-91.2%

Darren Raddysh is undoubtedly the year’s biggest surprise. He went from an unknown commodity by many to a number one defenceman on a contending team and garnered Norris votes. With 67 points already on the season in only 69 games, he has shattered his previous career high. Raddysh has now found himself as the Lightning's power-play quarterback and is owned in almost every league. Any manager who picked him up this season got one of the fantasy year’s biggest steals.

*For more hockey and fantasy coverage, follow me on X (formerly Twitter) @Cdesjardins67