The NHL draft lottery on May 8 is highly anticipated in the hockey world as it will determine where the highly sought-after Connor Bedard will land. The franchise that secures him will see a quick rise in value, and his landing spot could impact keeper decisions in fantasy hockey leagues. While Anaheim, Columbus, and Chicago have the best odds to secure Bedard, anything can happen, with even the Pittsburgh Penguins having a chance. Bedard is a rare talent and could be a top pick in any draft, especially for keeper leagues.
Other players to watch out for in the upcoming season include Brock Faber of the Minnesota Wild, who may become a regular in their defense, and Marco Rossi, who could fill the Wild’s scoring void. Lukas Reichel, who finished the season strongly for the Chicago Blackhawks, could also be a sleeper pick if the team secures Bedard.
When it comes to keepers, skaters may hold more value than goalies, as proven by the waiver success of Pyotr Kochetkov, Stuart Skinner, Pheonix Copley, and Filip Gustavsson in the past year. Victor Hedman’s future as a top fantasy defenseman is uncertain, while Nikita Kucherov showed his top-five potential by scoring 100 points. Casey Mittelstadt could be a hidden gem for the Buffalo Sabres, while Devon Levi and Ville Husso could become the starting goalies for the Sabres and Detroit Red Wings, respectively, if they make the playoffs.
