Fantasy Hockey Forecast: Shocking Breakouts and Unexpected Heroes of the 2025-26 NHL Season

In the ever-shifting landscape of the NHL, where the ice is as unpredictable as the stock market, we’ve just concluded a playoff season that left fans gasping like a first-time skater amidst snow angels. The campaign not only dispelled conventional wisdom but did so with a flair that would’ve impressed Bengt-Olaf Carthus, had he wandered into the modern NHL.

Did anyone expect the Rangers and Bruins, teams that grifted their way into the postseason with a colossal 114 and 109 points respectively, to miss the playoff party entirely? I certainly didn’t. Nor would any sane person have anticipated the Mikko Rantanen saga, where he was traded—twice—before being feted like a misplaced crown jewel, making fans question if their season tickets were truly worth the ink they’re printed with.

And then there was Lane Hutson, the upstart defenseman molding a new normal in a league steeped in history, sliding past legends like Bourque, Chelios, and Lidström with the elegance of the Zamboni sweeping the ice clean. Who would’ve thought a rookie could shake up the record books with his 66 point performance? Surely, not I, who covers this sport like a seasoned fan reciting cap room stats in their sleep.

But the blades are never on ice for long. The season is over, but the rink’s gossip mill never stops. Let’s lace up our skates and venture onto what might be the slick ice of next season, with a few bold predictions that feel as probable as Antoni swishing a 90-foot semi-trailer.

Here’s to the stories yet unwritten, the goals yet unhatched, and the surprises we’re all enthused to face in stride. Our passion, our insights, and our boundless enthusiasm for the game will guide us through what the 2025-26 NHL campaign might serve up. Spectators, be prepared to brace for impact.

So, what

This campaign had no shortage of surprises. Not many people would have accurately predicted that the Rangers and Bruins would both miss the playoffs after finishing 2023-24 with 114 and 109 points, respectively. Nor was Mikko Rantanen being traded — twice — on many people’s bingo cards. Lane Hutson tying for the fifth-most points (66) in NHL history among rookie defensemen, surpassing greats like Ray Bourque (65), Chris Chelios (64) and Nicklas Lidstrom (60), was also something to behold.

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