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Go To Full NHL Digest
September 17, 2025
Fantasy Hockey: Key Players to Watch in 2025 Season
@rotowire
RotoWire
Fantasy Hockey: Key Players to Watch in 2025 Season

Pettersson, Shesterkin and Klingberg emerge as top positive regression candidates for 2025-26, with Pettersson eyeing a return to 30+ goals and 80+ points amid a fresh Canucks start, Shesterkin rebounding behind a steadier Rangers lineup, and Klingberg potentially reviving his PP quarterback role in San Jose. On the downside, Wilson, Walman and Kuemper carry clear regression flags: Wilson’s goal rate looks unlikely to hold, Walman’s role may shrink, and Kuemper could drift toward an average starter.

These projections hinge on health, coaching changes, and lineup stability, then translate into concrete fantasy implications: draft around risk-reward for goaltending with Kuemper, and target players like Pettersson and Shesterkin where firm performance anchors are likely despite surrounding team turbulence. The article places these players in a realistic context for 2025-26 rosters and DFS/casual fantasy planning.

Which players present the most reliable bounce-back value in this list for fantasy hockey drafts in 2025-26?How should fantasy rosters approach goaltenders with regression risk like Kuemper?What indicators best signal a Pettersson or Shesterkin breakout in 2025-26?Which players might be most overlooked due to team context but have upside?
Mentions:
@Darcy Kuemper | Los Angeles Kings | NHL
@Darcy Kuemper | Los Angeles Kings | NHL
Edmonton Oilers | NHL
Edmonton Oilers | NHL
@Elias Pettersson | Vancouver Canucks | NHL
@Elias Pettersson | Vancouver Canucks | NHL
@Igor Shesterkin | New York Rangers | NHL
@Igor Shesterkin | New York Rangers | NHL
@Jake Walman | Edmonton Oilers | NHL
@Jake Walman | Edmonton Oilers | NHL
@John Klingberg | San Jose Sharks | NHL
@John Klingberg | San Jose Sharks | NHL
Los Angeles Kings | NHL
Los Angeles Kings | NHL
New York Rangers | NHL
New York Rangers | NHL
San Jose Sharks | NHL
San Jose Sharks | NHL
@Tom Wilson | Washington Capitals | NHL
@Tom Wilson | Washington Capitals | NHL
Vancouver Canucks | NHL
Vancouver Canucks | NHL
Washington Capitals | NHL
Washington Capitals | NHL

https://www.rotowire.com/hockey/article/fantasy-ho..

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