Persevering with from Half 1, these rookies are on groups that superior to the second spherical, largely due to their contributions. Here’s a rundown of how they’ve fared thus far and what their playoff performances could imply for his or her long-term projection. Whereas some should still be seeing restricted postseason utilization, their presence alone displays organizational confidence and accelerating growth timelines. As at all times, playoff publicity carries weight, as these environments take a look at processing pace, adaptability, and execution below stress, all crucial traits for long-term NHL success.
Ivan Demidov, RW – Montreal Canadiens
Demidov recorded only one help within the seven-game first-round collection win over the Tampa Bay Lightning and has added one level thus far within the second spherical towards the Buffalo Sabres. He has primarily skated alongside Alexandre Texier and Alex Newhook whereas additionally receiving high power-play deployment, which displays a excessive stage of organizational belief regardless of the restricted manufacturing. Demidov additionally took a heavy hit from Jordan Greenway in Recreation 2 after getting caught along with his head down and briefly left the sport.
Regardless of the quiet stat line, Demidov continues to flash the elite offensive creativity, deception, and puck management that make him one of many premier younger skills in hockey. His recreation is constructed on manipulating defenders and producing offense by talent and imaginative and prescient, however the adjustment to playoff hockey typically comes all the way down to adapting to lowered time and house. His ceiling nonetheless initiatives on the point-per-game winger stage, and there’s little right here to counsel that long-term outlook has modified. If anybody in your league views this postseason as an indication of disappointing manufacturing to return, there could also be a chance to accumulate him at a reduction.
Jakub Dobes, G – Montreal Canadiens
Dobes has been one of many tales of the playoffs thus far. In Spherical 1, he went head-to-head with Andrei Vasilevskiy and outdueled the Vezina Trophy winner and future Corridor of Famer. Dobes completed the collection with 8.55 targets saved above anticipated in comparison with 3.96 for Vasilevskiy, a powerful efficiency that has helped solidify his standing inside the Canadiens’ group. For now, a lot of the dialogue surrounding Jacob Fowler doubtlessly taking on the crease has quieted significantly.
Dobes represents a much less widespread playoff storyline, a rookie goaltender moving into a serious postseason position and thriving below stress. His measurement, calm positioning, and composure give him a powerful technical basis, and his developmental development has been regular all through his profession. Curiously, Dobes and Fowler grade out pretty equally within the Hockey Prospecting mannequin, which speaks to the long-term power of Montreal’s goaltending pipeline. Whether or not Dobes finally claims the clear starter’s position long run or shares the online in a tandem, the Canadiens seem effectively positioned in purpose for years to return.
Noah Östlund, C – Buffalo Sabres
Östlund had a powerful begin to the playoffs, together with scoring a superb purpose to shut out Recreation 3 towards the Boston Bruins in his first NHL playoff motion. Sadly, he was injured two video games later in Recreation 5 and has but to return to the lineup. His absence has been noticeable, because the vitality and enthusiasm he delivered to the lineup appeared to resonate with the crew.
Whereas his common season manufacturing was comparatively modest at roughly a 40-point tempo, the playoff flashes recommended there could also be one other stage offensively as he grows extra snug and bodily mature. His long-term projection nonetheless factors towards a flexible middle-six contributor able to dealing with a number of conditions, and this postseason expertise might function an vital springboard right into a stronger 2026-27 marketing campaign.
Porter Martone, RW – Philadelphia Flyers
Martone joined the Flyers after his NCAA season and instantly made an influence, ending the common season with 10 factors in 9 video games. His manufacturing has cooled considerably within the playoffs with 4 factors by 9 video games, although three of these got here within the opening three video games of the collection towards the Pittsburgh Penguins, all of which Philadelphia received. Martone has primarily skated alongside Travis Konecny and Christian Dvorak, about as favorable a deployment scenario because the Flyers can at present supply. At this tempo, it might not be lengthy earlier than the dialog shifts from who Martone is taking part in with to who will get the chance to play alongside him.
Martone combines measurement, talent, and bodily engagement in a manner that initiatives exceptionally effectively for playoff hockey. He makes use of his body successfully to guard pucks, lengthen offensive possessions, and create house whereas additionally contributing by bodily play and net-front involvement. That mixture provides him important fantasy upside, significantly in multi-category codecs the place gamers who can each rating and supply peripherals carry elevated worth. Whereas the playoff scoring tempo has naturally slowed as defensive consideration tightens, the flashes of dominance and instant NHL adjustment have solely bolstered the idea that Martone has reliable top-line potential long run.
Beckett Sennecke, RW – Anaheim Geese
Sennecke had an excellent rookie season for the Anaheim Geese. After barely making the crew out of camp, he developed into an impactful scoring winger and completed with a 60-point tempo (60 factors in 82 video games) – an unbelievable turnaround for a participant who entered the season with way more questions than expectations. To date within the playoffs, Sennecke has three factors in 9 video games, although all three have been targets. He’s averaging slightly below 16 minutes of whole ice time per recreation whereas additionally incomes a spot on the highest power-play unit. At even power, he has primarily skated alongside Mikael Granlund and Alex Killorn, not essentially essentially the most dynamic offensive linemates, which makes the manufacturing much more encouraging.
Sennecke brings a singular mixture of measurement, puck talent, and offensive confidence that already seems to be translating on the NHL stage. His fingers and imaginative and prescient permit him to create offense in tight areas, and one of many extra spectacular elements of his recreation is his willingness to carry onto pucks and dictate possession fairly than defer to older teammates. The problem in playoff hockey is sustaining that model towards extra structured and bodily defensive stress, however his capability to proceed producing targets regardless of modest utilization is a constructive signal. If his growth trajectory continues, there’s a sensible likelihood he emerges as a top-line winger as early as subsequent season, with important long-term fantasy enchantment due to his scoring upside and power-play utilization.
Tyson Hinds, D – Anaheim Geese
Hinds has quietly introduced an vital bodily presence to the Anaheim Geese blue line throughout this playoff run. Amongst Anaheim defenders, solely Ian Moore has recorded extra particular person hits per 60 minutes than Hinds, although Moore has been scratched the final two video games after beforehand shifting to ahead. Hinds has additionally posted stronger defensive metrics than each John Carlson and Pavel Mintyukov when it comes to Fenwick towards per 60 minutes, reinforcing the worth he brings in a shutdown and stabilizing position. Whereas the offensive manufacturing is unlikely to ever be important, his model of play is strictly the sort coaches are likely to belief extra as playoff depth will increase.
Hinds profiles as a gentle, defense-first defender constructed round positioning, bodily engagement, and detail-oriented play. After three full seasons within the AHL, he has developed right into a dependable presence able to dealing with tough defensive-zone assignments whereas contributing by peripherals like hits and blocks. His recreation will not be constructed round offensive creativity, however fairly construction and consistency, traits that may translate extraordinarily effectively in playoff environments the place minimizing errors turns into crucial. The long-term query is much less about upside and extra about position sustainability, but when Hinds continues defending successfully whereas sustaining his bodily edge, there’s a sensible pathway towards incomes elevated ice time and carving out an enduring NHL position. In fantasy leagues that reward hits, he’s somebody price monitoring carefully.
Tim Washe, C/LW – Anaheim Geese
Washe is an fascinating case as a result of his growth path has been far much less typical than most gamers on this group. Undrafted, he spent 5 seasons at Western Michigan and captained the Broncos to a nationwide championship in 2025 earlier than signing with the Anaheim Geese. After going pointless in two NHL video games following his signing, Washe took a serious step ahead this season, recording 27 factors in 36 video games for the AHL San Diego Gulls earlier than incomes an prolonged NHL position and showing in 39 common season video games. To date within the playoffs, he has one level in eight video games, however his defensive influence has been tough to overlook as a part of an efficient vitality line alongside Jansen Harkins and Jeffrey Viel. He’s unlikely to grow to be a serious offensive producer, however in deeper fantasy codecs that reward bodily play and flexibility, he might develop right into a helpful depth contributor able to chipping in throughout a number of classes.
Jesper Wallstedt, G – Minnesota Wild
This season has really been Wallstedt’s coming-out occasion. Though he performed simply 35 NHL video games in comparison with 50 for Filip Gustavsson, Wallstedt completed with higher targets saved above anticipated numbers and a stronger delta Fenwick save proportion. These outcomes helped earn him the considerably stunning Recreation 1 begin in Spherical 1 towards the Dallas Stars, and he rewarded coach John Hynes by serving to lead the Minnesota Wild to the collection victory whereas outdueling Jake Oettinger. Within the second spherical towards the Colorado Avalanche, nevertheless, Minnesota has largely been outmatched. After Wallstedt struggled in Recreation 1, Hynes turned to Gustavsson, who didn’t fare significantly better behind the overwhelmed Wild protection.
Even with the uneven second-round outcomes, his long-term trajectory nonetheless factors strongly towards turning into an NHL starter. The fascinating wrinkle now could be that Minnesota could already be approaching a timeshare scenario as early as subsequent season given how effectively Wallstedt carried out total this yr. On the identical time, Gustavsson’s new contract kicks in subsequent season and runs for 4 extra seasons at greater than triple Wallstedt’s present wage, making the long-term crease image sophisticated. Based mostly on this playoff efficiency and pedigree, Wallstedt ought to be the starter long run.
This second group highlighted simply how rapidly playoff hockey can speed up growth and reshape notion. Goalies Jakub Dobes and Jesper Wallstedt could have altered long-term organizational plans with their postseason performances, whereas extremely expert forwards like Ivan Demidov, Porter Martone, and Beckett Sennecke continued to flash star-level upside even when the manufacturing was inconsistent. On the identical time, gamers similar to Tyson Hinds and Tim Washe bolstered how a lot worth coaches place on construction, physicality, and defensive reliability in playoff environments. For dynasty managers, deployment, belief, and the power to deal with tough postseason minutes can typically inform us extra about long-term projection than uncooked scoring totals, and several other of those rookies seem positioned for considerably bigger roles transferring ahead.
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