Preseason deployment is putting several lightly rostered players on the fantasy radar, with New Jersey’s reshaped roster supplying three of the clearest early targets. Luke Evangelista, Anthony Mantha and Jake Allen all enter 2026-27 with prominent projected roles for the Devils.
Quick scan
- Luke Evangelista is skating beside Nico Hischier and Timo Meier while working on New Jersey’s first power-play unit.
- Anthony Mantha has opened on a line with Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt.
- Jake Allen is positioned as New Jersey’s starting goaltender after Jacob Markstrom’s trade to Florida.
- Mason Marchment is slated to ride shotgun with Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith in San Jose.
- Chicago’s Roman Kantserov has moved into a top-line opportunity during Connor Bedard’s injury absence.
Evangelista is available in 61 percent of leagues despite his preseason look alongside Hischier and Meier. The power-play usage adds another layer to his appeal if that arrangement carries into the schedule.
Mantha is rostered in 28 percent of leagues and has landed with Hughes and Bratt at even strength. That top-unit assignment gives him a chance to produce quickly if the Devils keep the trio together.
Allen, rostered in 29 percent of leagues, becomes the No. 1 option in New Jersey following Markstrom’s move to the Panthers. Goaltenders with a clear crease path are difficult to leave unclaimed in deeper formats.
Marchment is on San Jose’s first line with Celebrini and Smith, yet sits on only 30 percent of rosters. His combination of a featured offensive role and potential peripheral production makes him one of the more notable forward pickups.
Chris Kreider has been placed with Montreal captain Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. The veteran winger is rostered in 27 percent of leagues and steps into a high-end finishing spot on the Canadiens’ top line.
Mats Zuccarello has been used on Los Angeles’ second line and first power-play group during camp. At 19 percent rostered, the playmaker has a route to relevance if that special-teams role sticks.
Chicago’s Kantserov is skating with Frank Nazar and Patrick Kane, taking advantage of the opening created by Bedard’s injury. He is rostered in 17 percent of leagues and has immediate top-line exposure.
Buffalo’s Konsta Helenius is another young forward whose opportunity is tied to an injury situation. With Jiri Kulich sidelined, Helenius has worked on the second line with Josh Norris; he is available in 91 percent of leagues.
On the blue line, Florida’s Aaron Ekblad has received first-unit power-play work in preseason and is rostered in 19 percent of leagues. San Jose defenseman Luca Cagnoni, at seven percent rostered, has also seen time on his club’s top power-play unit.
Deeper roster options
Managers in larger leagues can also consider Anaheim defenseman Mikael Granlund, who is rostered in 19 percent of leagues. Edmonton goaltenders Tristan Jarry, at 17 percent, and Devon Levi, at eight percent, are further crease options.
The remaining deep-league forward names are Utah’s Anders Lee (eight percent rostered), New York Islanders rookie Victor Eklund (seven percent), Winnipeg’s Viggo Bjorck (four percent) and Anaheim’s Nikita Klepov (two percent). Buffalo goaltender Colten Ellis is available almost everywhere at two percent rostered.
For injured-reserve stashes, Florida forward Brad Marchand remains worth holding where available despite being rostered in 57 percent of leagues. Los Angeles winger Kevin Fiala, rostered in 38 percent, and Edmonton goaltender Frederik Andersen, at 22 percent, are also injury stashes with enough upside to matter in most formats.
