As a continuation to my last Ramblings I was looking ahead to the upcoming season with new opportunities, different line combinations and increased roles on the horizon with plenty of players who could see their fantasy stock rise once the season gets underway. These aren't necessarily the obvious names, but rather the players who could be worth adding to your watchlist now before their value starts to climb.

Roman Kantserov

Roman Kantserov is coming off a dominant KHL campaign with Metallurg Magnitogorsk, scoring 36 goals and 64 points in 67 games while leading the league in goals. His 36 goals also broke Kirill Kaprizov‘s record for the most goals by a U22 player in KHL history. Despite his smaller frame, Kantserov plays with a relentless motor and has the skill, creativity and offensive instincts to create chances consistently. That combination gives him legitimate top-six upside as he makes the jump to the NHL.

The opportunity in Chicago could be a big one for Kantserov, as he is expected to step directly into the Blackhawks lineup and could find himself in a top-six role, potentially alongside Connor Bedard when healthy or Frank Nazar. Obviously, we can't expect his KHL production to translate directly to the NHL, and there will be an adjustment period as he gets used to the pace and physicality of the league. That said, playing against men in the KHL has given Kantserov experience that some of the other rookies entering the NHL this season simply don't have, and that could give him an edge early on.

The addition of Patrick Kane could complicate things a little on the right side, with Teuvo Teravainen also in the mix, but a little healthy competition never hurt anyone. Having Kane around could also give Kantserov a veteran presence to lean on as he makes the transition to the NHL. He may not be one of the first five rookies off the board in fantasy drafts, but that's exactly what makes him appealing. Kantserov is firmly on my late-round target list, and he could end up being one of those players fantasy managers wish they had grabbed a few rounds earlier.

Danila Yurov

Danila Yurov is one of the more interesting fantasy watchlist players heading into the season, largely because the opportunity in Minnesota has opened up. With Marco Rossi, Mats Zuccarello and Vlad Tarasenko no longer in the picture, the Wild have some significant minutes and offensive production to replace. Yurov could be one of the biggest beneficiaries, especially after spending stretches of last season alongside Kirill Kaprizov. Now entering his second NHL season, there is a legitimate opportunity for Yurov to establish himself as Kaprizov’s new running mate and potentially take on a much larger offensive role.

Yurov showed plenty of flashes during his rookie season after making the jump from the KHL, but his deployment was inconsistent as he moved throughout the lineup. The talent is there, and getting consistent top-six minutes alongside a player like Kaprizov could be exactly what he needs to take the next step. With the Wild’s depth beyond their top line and top defensemen looking more like third-line talent, there should be opportunities for Yurov to move up the lineup and become a bigger part of the offense. There are still plenty of moving pieces in Minnesota, so I wouldn’t pencil Yurov into a top-six role just yet. There could be some line shuffling within the top six to start the season, but it's something I'll be watching closely throughout training camp and into the season. However, if he can secure consistent top-six minutes and meaningful power-play time, his fantasy value could take a pretty big jump. He may not be one of the more obvious picks heading into fantasy drafts, but the combination of his age, offensive upside and increased opportunity makes Yurov exactly the type of late-round target I want to take a chance on.

Devon Levi

Devon Levi is another goalie I would have on the fantasy watchlist, although his situation in Edmonton makes him a difficult player to evaluate heading into the season. The Oilers brought in Frederik Andersen after his Stanley Cup run with Carolina while still holding onto Tristan Jarry, who was acquired last season, creating a three-goalie situation much like I indicated in my last Ramblings with Nico Daws. Andersen will likely enter camp as the favorite to see the most starts, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll be the most effective of the three. Moving away from Carolina also means facing a much heavier workload, while Jarry has already shown how inconsistent he can be during his time in Pittsburgh and Edmonton.

That leaves Levi as the wild card. Once viewed as the future of the Sabres, the 24-year-old now gets a fresh start in Edmonton and an opportunity to rebuild his value behind Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Similar to Nico Daws, Levi doesn’t need to win the job outright on Day 1 to become interesting. If Andersen or Jarry struggles for an extended stretch, Levi would be next in line quickly giving him a chance to prove he can live up to the expectations that once surrounded him. I’m not drafting Levi expecting him to become Edmonton’s starter immediately, but the upside is too intriguing to ignore. If he outplays the veterans in camp or takes advantage when one of them falters, his fantasy value could change in a hurry. For now, Levi is a late-round goalie flyer and waiver-wire watch, but he’s the type of player who could become very valuable if the Oilers’ three-goalie experiment doesn’t last long.

Thanks for reading! See you next week! For more fantasy hockey content and analysis, follow me on X @Punters_hockey. If you have any questions about your team or a trade? My DMs are always open, happy to help!