*Note: Stats courtesy of ESPN Fantasy Hockey

While fantasy hockey seasons have long been completed, managers in keeper leagues have some decisions to make over the summer on who they'd like to keep on their rosters. Today, we'll be taking a look at the top 10 fantasy keeper players under 23 years old.

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

Honorable Mentions: Cutter Gauthier (Anaheim Ducks), Beckett Sennecke (Anaheim Ducks), Will Smith (San Jose Sharks), Michael Misa (San Jose Sharks), Adam Fantilli (Columbus Blue Jackets), Logan Stankoven (Carolina Hurricanes).

10. Porter Martone, RW, Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers rookie Porter Martone joined the club during their playoff push at the end of the season. He was a big reason the team qualified for the postseason as he tallied ten points in his first nine career contests. He also helped the team win their first-round series against their rival, the Pittsburgh Penguins. Martone plays a brand of hockey that's on par with the Flyers’ style of play. He will be at the center of the team’s success moving forward as he prepares for his official rookie campaign next season.

9. Dylan Guenther, RW, Utah Mammoth

Dylan Guenther is one of the top forwards on an up-and-coming Utah Mammoth team, which qualified for the playoffs for the first time in the franchise's history. He hit the 40-goal mark for the first time in his career this season and also put up 73 points. Guenther should continue to be a top goalscorer in the NHL moving forward, making him a valuable asset in keeper leagues.

8. Juraj Slafkovsky, LW, Montreal Canadiens

After a somewhat controversial first overall selection, there were high expectations for Juraj Slafkovsky, especially being in Montreal. He put up 50 points in each of the last two seasons, but this year was his breakout campaign. He tallied 73 points over a full 82-game season. Slafkovsky has become the perfect complement to Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki on the Canadiens first line, all of whom had career years for Montreal. On one of the best lines and power-play units in the league, Slafkovsky's production should only continue to grow as he develops into a top power forward in the NHL.

7. Wyatt Johnston, RW, Dallas Stars

Despite being knocked off in round one of the 2026 playoffs, the Dallas Stars are still one of the NHL's top teams. At only 22 years old, Wyatt Johnston is one of the key pieces of their success. He established himself as a premier sniper in the league this season, amassing 45 goals. He also set a franchise record for power play goals in a single season, helping his team put up the top power play percentage in the league. Johnston's goal-scoring ability makes him a top keeper candidate in fantasy.

6. Ivan Demidov, RW, Montreal Canadiens

Although he lost out on rookie of the year this season, it was nothing short of a spectacular rookie campaign for Montreal Canadiens Ivan Demidov. He scored 19 goals and 62 points in his first season in North America. The Russian phenom is one of the most exciting young talents in the NHL, and alongside the Canadiens young core, we can expect big things in his future. For managers who have Demidov on their keeper squads, he's not a player you want to let go of.

5. Leo Carlsson, C, Anaheim Ducks

Leo Carlsson is the centerpiece of an impressive young core in Anaheim that qualified for the postseason this year. His production has improved every year, and this season he put up 67 points in only 70 games. Expect Carlsson and the Ducks to terrorize the Pacific Division for years to come as he blossoms into one of the most dominant centremen in the league.

4. Lane Hutson, D, Montreal Canadiens

Due to his stature, Lane Hutson has been doubted at every level of his hockey career, but all he's done is produce. The Montreal Canadiens defenceman has transformed the team’s blueline and power play since bursting onto the scene last season when he won the Calder Trophy, awarded annually to the league’s top rookie. There was no sophomore slump as he was nearly a point per game player this season as a 22-year-old defenceman. Fantasy managers should have no doubts about Hutson's continued production moving forward.

3. Matthew Schaefer, D, New York Islanders

The 18-year-old blueliner Matthew Schaefer made the immediate jump to the NHL for the New York Islanders after being taken first overall last June. However, nobody expected the level of impact he would have at such a young age. As a result, he took home the Calder Trophy. Schaefer is already one of the best defencemen in the NHL and should be viewed as one of the top keeper candidates amongst all blueliners.

2. Connor Bedard, C, Chicago Blackhawks

In his third NHL campaign, Connor Bedard produced at the level we expected when Chicago drafted him 1st overall. He was amongst the league leaders in scoring before going down with an injury mid-season. As a result, his production slowed, and he was left off the Canadian Olympic roster. With the young talent and potential roster improvements for the Blackhawks, expect Bedard to have a spectacular season.

1. Macklin Celebrini, C, San Jose Sharks

To nobody’s surprise, Macklin Celebrini ranks atop this list. The 19-year-old cemented himself as one of the league’s best players in his sophomore season, amassing 115 points. He nearly led a young Sharks team to a playoff berth and earned some Hart Trophy recognition in the process. He is currently captaining Team Canada at the men’s world championships. For fantasy managers, Macklin Celebrini is arguably the most valuable keeper player in the NHL and should be a top 5-10 pick in standard leagues.