The Journey: Prospects With Plenty to Prove in 2026-27, Part 2
Victor Nuno
2026-10-10
Not every prospect has something to prove because of his talent. Sometimes the question is opportunity. Sometimes it’s health. Sometimes an organization’s depth chart changes around a player. And sometimes a prospect simply reaches the point where being promising isn’t enough anymore.
That’s the group we’re looking at this week. These players haven’t necessarily disappointed, but each enters 2026-27 facing a question that could significantly alter his dynasty value. For some, it’s about staying healthy. For others, it’s earning a larger NHL role or finding premium deployment. And for a few, the prospect clock is simply beginning to tick. Part 1 of this series can be read here.
David Reinbacher, Montreal Canadiens
Few prospects need a healthy season more than Reinbacher. Since Montreal selected him fifth overall in 2023, injuries have repeatedly interrupted his development, including significant knee trouble and additional shoulder and hand issues. He managed 57 AHL games and 24 points in 2025-26, an encouraging step toward establishing some continuity, but hardly the uninterrupted developmental progression Montreal envisioned when it drafted him.
At 21, Reinbacher still has time, but Montreal’s increasingly crowded defensive pipeline creates additional pressure. He needs to stay healthy, handle substantial professional minutes and demonstrate that his offensive game can develop beyond what we’ve seen. The defensive foundation may eventually make him a reliable NHL regular, but dynasty managers need more than that. Without meaningful offensive growth or power-play opportunities, his real-life value could substantially exceed his fantasy value.
Cayden Lindstrom, Columbus Blue Jackets
Lindstrom’s biggest obstacle remains availability. The fourth-overall selection in 2024 has lost valuable developmental time to injuries, an especially frustrating situation for a prospect whose appeal centers on his unusual combination of size, skating and offensive ability. His physical tools remain impressive, but projecting his eventual NHL impact becomes increasingly difficult without a sustained stretch of healthy hockey.
This season needs to be about playing games and producing consistently rather than discussing recovery timelines. Lindstrom has the potential to become particularly valuable in fantasy formats rewarding both scoring and physical categories, but that upside requires actual development. A healthy, productive season would go a long way toward restoring confidence. Another year interrupted by injuries would make it increasingly difficult to justify his dynasty valuation based primarily on draft pedigree.
Dalibor Dvorsky, St. Louis Blues
Dvorsky is no longer waiting for his first meaningful NHL opportunity. He appeared in 71 games for St. Louis last season, recording 12 goals and 21 points. That represents important progress for the former tenth-overall selection, but the production also illustrates how far he still has to go before becoming the offensive contributor dynasty managers envisioned. He’s already graduated from Dobber’s prospect rankings, yet his fantasy development remains very much unfinished.
The challenge now is turning NHL experience into meaningful offensive deployment. St. Louis has an increasingly competitive group of young forwards, including Jimmy Snuggerud and Otto Stenberg, and Dvorsky needs to establish himself as a legitimate top-six and power-play option. Simply remaining in the lineup isn’t enough. His offensive instincts and shooting ability still offer considerable upside, but 2026-27 needs to demonstrate that those tools can produce consistently against NHL competition.
Bradly Nadeau, Carolina Hurricanes
Nadeau enters 2026-27 having demonstrated that he can produce at the professional level, but his NHL résumé remains limited. He appeared in 12 games for Carolina last season, scoring three goals, and his preseason performance has reinforced the idea that he’s approaching a more substantial opportunity. His offensive instincts and shooting ability are legitimate strengths, and Carolina has given him opportunities to demonstrate that those skills can translate against stronger competition.
The challenge is that Carolina doesn’t hand out premium offensive minutes simply because a prospect can score. Nadeau needs to prove he can contribute within the Hurricanes’ demanding system while continuing to generate offense. A full-time NHL role would be encouraging, but dynasty managers should pay particular attention to his linemates and power-play deployment. If he earns meaningful offensive opportunities, his value could climb quickly. If he settles into a limited supporting role, the transition from AHL scorer to fantasy asset may take considerably longer.
Ilya Protas, Washington Capitals
Protas made a compelling argument for NHL consideration with an outstanding 2025-26 AHL campaign, recording 29 goals and 66 points in 69 games. He also produced four points in four NHL appearances, offering a brief glimpse of how his offensive ability might translate. At 6-6, he possesses a rare combination of size, reach and skill, and his professional production suggests there’s considerably more offensive upside than his third-round draft position initially implied.
The question is whether Washington views Protas as a future offensive contributor or primarily as a versatile, defensively responsible forward. His size and two-way ability should help him earn NHL opportunities, but fantasy managers need him playing with talented linemates and receiving power-play time. A productive AHL season is encouraging, yet the next developmental step is demonstrating that his scoring translates to the NHL. His fantasy ceiling depends on becoming more than a dependable middle-six player.
Charlie Stramel, Minnesota Wild
Stramel has dramatically improved his outlook since the difficult early stages of his college career. He recorded 19 goals and 44 points in 37 NCAA games last season, demonstrating substantial offensive growth while continuing to develop the physical and defensive attributes that made him a first-round selection. Minnesota’s willingness to give him significant preseason responsibilities, including opportunities on both special-teams units, suggests the organization is taking his NHL readiness seriously.
The remaining question is whether Stramel’s offensive improvement will translate against NHL competition. His size, skating and two-way reliability give him several paths to becoming a regular, but those qualities don’t automatically create fantasy value. Dynasty managers should be watching his offensive deployment, particularly whether Minnesota trusts him in scoring situations rather than primarily defensive assignments. Stramel has already done considerable work to rebuild his prospect reputation. Now he needs to prove that the offensive upside is real.
Otto Stenberg, St. Louis Blues
Stenberg’s development took an important step forward last season. He appeared in 32 NHL games for St. Louis, recording three goals and 10 points, while adding 17 points in 36 AHL games. Those numbers aren’t overwhelming, but they represent meaningful professional experience for a young forward still establishing himself in North America. His combination of speed, competitiveness and offensive skill remains intriguing, particularly given how quickly he has progressed toward a regular NHL role.
The problem is that St. Louis has assembled a crowded collection of young forwards competing for offensive opportunities. Stenberg needs to distinguish himself from players such as Dvorsky and Snuggerud rather than becoming another promising option without a defined role. His 13:37 average NHL ice time last season illustrates the challenge. More minutes, better linemates and power-play opportunities would provide a much clearer picture of his fantasy potential. Without those improvements, his dynasty value could stagnate even as he becomes a more established NHL player.
Emil Hemming, Dallas Stars
Hemming remains an intriguing prospect because his size, shooting ability and offensive instincts provide a foundation for meaningful fantasy upside. However, Dallas has already made it clear that he needs additional development, assigning him away from NHL camp despite some encouraging preseason moments. That’s hardly unusual for a young prospect, but it reinforces the importance of establishing himself as a productive professional rather than relying on the offensive promise that made him a first-round selection.
The next step is demonstrating that his game translates consistently against stronger competition. Hemming needs to become more assertive offensively, generate shots and establish himself as a player capable of handling meaningful responsibilities. Dallas has a history of developing talented forwards patiently, but that also means opportunities must be earned. A strong professional season would reinforce his long-term upside. Modest production or limited offensive deployment would make him increasingly difficult to prioritize over prospects closer to NHL relevance.
Trey Augustine, Detroit Red Wings
Augustine has spent several seasons establishing himself as one of hockey’s more intriguing young goaltenders, but the transition from college hockey to professional competition represents his next major challenge. His technical foundation, positioning and ability to read developing plays have consistently earned praise, yet those qualities now need to translate against stronger shooters and more sophisticated offensive systems. Detroit has allowed him to develop patiently, and the organization doesn’t need to rush him into NHL responsibility.
For dynasty managers, the question is how quickly Augustine can establish himself as a legitimate professional starter. Detroit’s organizational depth creates competition, and meaningful NHL opportunities may not arrive immediately. That’s acceptable for a young goaltender, but he needs to demonstrate progression through consistent starts and strong performances. Goalie prospects are notoriously difficult to value, and Augustine’s long-term upside remains appealing. This season should provide important evidence about how close he actually is to becoming an NHL option.
Sebastian Cossa, Utah Mammoth
Cossa’s move from Detroit to Utah creates an interesting opportunity to reevaluate his dynasty outlook. The towering goaltender has spent several seasons developing his professional game, but the path toward becoming an NHL starter has taken longer than some anticipated when Detroit selected him 15th overall in 2021. His size and athletic ability remain attractive, although those tools alone are no longer sufficient to maintain his prospect value indefinitely.
A change of organization can create opportunity, but it doesn’t automatically accelerate development. Cossa needs to demonstrate that he’s ready for more substantial NHL responsibilities and that his performance justifies consideration as a future starter. Consistency will be particularly important, especially in his positioning, rebound control and ability to manage difficult stretches. Dynasty managers can afford patience with goaltenders, but patience isn’t unlimited. At this stage, meaningful progression matters considerably more than the reputation attached to his draft position.
Jacob Fowler, Montreal Canadiens
Fowler’s dynasty value has accelerated rapidly, and his NHL experience last season provides a more substantial foundation for that enthusiasm. He appeared in 17 games for Montreal, posting a 9-6-2 record and a .908 save percentage. Those are encouraging numbers for a young goaltender adjusting to the highest level, particularly considering how quickly he’s progressed through the professional ranks. His positioning, composure and ability to track the puck have made him one of the more compelling young goalie prospects in fantasy hockey.
The concern is that expectations may be moving faster than his development. Fowler doesn’t need to become Montreal’s unquestioned starter immediately, but his dynasty valuation increasingly assumes that outcome is approaching. His performance against NHL shooters offers encouraging evidence, yet a relatively small sample shouldn’t be mistaken for established reliability. This season needs to demonstrate that he can sustain his performance over a larger workload while continuing to improve. If he does, his lofty dynasty valuation becomes easier to justify. If he struggles, managers will receive another reminder of how volatile young goaltenders can be.
Easton Cowan, Toronto Maple Leafs
Cowan’s first substantial NHL season provided an important reality check after years of dominating junior competition. He recorded 11 goals and 29 points in 66 games for Toronto, respectable production for a young player but well short of the offensive impact his junior résumé suggested might eventually be possible. His relentless motor, puck pursuit and competitiveness translated reasonably well, but generating consistent NHL offense proved considerably more difficult than overwhelming opponents in the OHL.
The next step is turning those complementary strengths into meaningful fantasy production. Cowan needs to become more dangerous offensively, earn better opportunities and demonstrate that he can contribute beyond energy and puck retrieval. Toronto offers the possibility of playing alongside talented offensive players, but those opportunities must be earned. His dynasty value remains tied to the belief that there’s another level to his offensive game. A significant sophomore improvement would reinforce that projection, while another modest scoring season could begin lowering expectations.
Matthew Wood, Nashville Predators
Wood has always been an appealing fantasy prospect because of his combination of size, shooting ability and offensive instincts. Nashville has given him opportunities to demonstrate that those tools can translate against NHL competition, and his development has reached the stage where actual deployment matters more than theoretical upside. The Predators need younger offensive contributors to emerge, which creates an opportunity for Wood to establish himself as part of their long-term scoring core.
The key question is whether he can earn sustained top-six minutes and become a legitimate power-play weapon. Wood’s shot is his most obvious fantasy asset, but maximizing it requires playing alongside capable distributors and receiving opportunities in dangerous scoring areas. If Nashville gives him meaningful offensive responsibility, his dynasty value could rise substantially. If he struggles to secure premium deployment, his offensive ceiling becomes more difficult to project. This is the season when we need to see whether his attractive tools translate into a valuable fantasy role.
Gabe Perreault, New York Rangers
Perreault made substantial NHL progress last season, recording 12 goals and 27 points in 49 games for the Rangers. That’s encouraging production for a young forward whose greatest strengths have always been his offensive intelligence, vision and ability to create opportunities for teammates. His transition has been particularly interesting because his game relies less on overwhelming physical tools and more on anticipation and positioning, qualities that can take time to translate against NHL competition.
The next challenge is securing the offensive deployment necessary to maximize those strengths. New York has given Perreault opportunities alongside established offensive players, including Mika Zibanejad and Alexis Lafrenière, but his power-play role remains especially important. Playing on the second unit limits his fantasy ceiling even if he becomes a productive even-strength contributor. Perreault has already demonstrated that he belongs in the NHL conversation. Now he needs to establish himself as a player capable of consistently producing in a premium offensive role.
Victor Eklund, New York Islanders
Eklund enters 2026-27 with growing momentum after recording six goals and 24 points in 43 SHL games last season. His production doesn’t immediately jump off the page, but his pace, competitiveness and ability to influence play without the puck have made him an intriguing prospect. He also received a brief NHL opportunity last season, recording an assist in his debut, and his strong preseason has helped accelerate the discussion about whether he’s ready for a more substantial role with the Islanders.
The challenge is demonstrating that his game can produce meaningful offense against NHL competition. Eklund’s skating and work ethic should help him earn opportunities, but dynasty managers need to see those attributes translate into scoring rather than simply responsible two-way play. His early NHL deployment will be particularly revealing. If he earns regular minutes alongside offensive players, his development timeline could accelerate considerably. If he struggles to produce or receives limited opportunities, patience will still be necessary. The talent is intriguing, but the next step is proving that it can generate fantasy value.
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: @VictorNuno12
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