One of the long-term effects of the NHL's salary cap has been teams' reliance on young players. All over the league, clubs will be looking to players on their rookie deals to play big roles because they cannot afford to add more veteran contracts.
For fantasy players, the influx of important rookies means there's an advantage to be gained by knowing about the next wave of young, talented players.
Here are 15 rookie skaters who could have fantasy value this season.
Forwards
Nico Hischier, New Jersey Devils
2017 No. 1 overall pick
With a weak (but improved) forward group, the Devils should be able to find plenty of ice time for their top selection, and Hischier's talents should translate to the NHL game rather quickly. He used top-notch offensive ability to score 86 points in 57 games in juniors last season and has enough defensive skill to hold down a regular role.
Nolan Patrick, Philadelphia Flyers
2017 No. 2 overall pick
Patrick will be set up to succeed in Philadelphia. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound center joins a rising team with a solid group of forwards. Considered a complete offensive player, Patrick should see top-nine minutes and power-play time right from the start of the season.
Dylan Strome, Arizona Coyotes
2015 No. 3 overall pick
The rebuilding Coyotes have kept Strome in juniors since drafting him two years ago, which is a rarity for a No. 3 overall selection. But he dominated during his extra time as an Erie Otter, notching 75 points in 35 regular-season games last season. Now the Yotes feel he's ready, and Strome is set up to be the team's No. 2 center behind Derek Stepan.
Clayton Keller, Arizona Coyotes
2016 No. 7 overall pick
Keller put on a show at Boston College in his freshman year with 45 points in 31 games, an extremely impressive mark for the NCAA level. Joining a team that is short on quality wingers could benefit the 19-year-old forward, as he'll likely see lots of top-six and power-play ice time.
Josh Ho-Sang, New York Islanders
2014 No. 28 overall pick
The oft-criticized Ho-Sang has already proved many wrong by having a solid AHL season and strong NHL debut last season. He scored 10 points in 21 games for the Islanders, putting himself in position for a full-time gig this season. Ho-Sang is a highly skilled playmaker who might end up playing alongside superstar John Tavares.
Mathew Barzal, New York Islanders
2015 No. 16 overall pick
Although he's earmarked to start the season in the AHL, it wouldn't be a surprise if the offensively gifted center made the Islanders out of camp and never looked back. In juniors, Barzal was largely known as a setup man. He produced 69 assists in 41 games last season with the Seattle Thunderbirds.
Joel Eriksson Ek, Minnesota Wild
2015 No. 20 overall pick
In a short NHL stint last season, Eriksson Ek showed significant promise, scoring seven points in 15 games for the Wild. The Swedish center is known as a competitive, two-way player, and he can improve Minnesota's team, but he does not have the offensive gifts to find himself at the top of the scoring leaderboard right away.
Kyle Connor, Winnipeg Jets
2015 No. 17 overall pick
After posting historically good college numbers at Michigan in 2015, Connor's offensive talent translated nicely to the AHL, where he scored 44 points in 52 games. His cup of coffee in the NHL was not as successful, but added experience should help Connor fit into a team that's stacked up front.
Tyson Jost, Colorado Avalanche
2016 No. 10 overall pick
The Avalanche have a long way to go before they are competitive again, but their lack of depth at forward will give Jost plenty of opportunities to put up points. His playing style is also expected to translate nicely, as Jost has a reputation for driving the net.
Alex DeBrincat, Chicago Blackhawks
2016 No. 39 overall pick
Eye-popping doesn't begin to describe DeBrincat's numbers in junior hockey. He scored over 100 points for three straight years, including 127 in 63 games last season. At 5-foot-7, there are some concerns over whether his size will hold him back from becoming a big-time NHL scorer, but the Blackhawks have a history of finding gifted forwards to play with their future Hall of Famers.
Pierre-Luc Dubois, Columbus Blue Jackets
2016 No. 3 overall pick
The Blue Jackets made the playoffs in coach John Tortorella's first season, and they enter 2017-18 as a contender again and could call upon Dubois' services to add forward depth. He is a promising two-way player, but Columbus' depth may prevent him from playing a major role right away.
Defensemen
Charlie McAvoy, Boston Bruins
2016 No. 14 overall pick
After he completed his freshman season at Boston University, the Bruins threw McAvoy into their playoff lineup. He performed well, registering three points in six postseason games. The experience should help him slingshot into a significant role on Boston's blue line and second power-play unit.
Mikhail Sergachev, Tampa Bay Lightning
2016 No. 9 overall pick
One of the top defensive prospects in the game, Sergachev was traded to Tampa Bay from Montreal in a deal for Jonathan Drouin. The Lightning have a terrific top pair with Victor Hedman and Anton Stralman, but they will rely on the 19-year-old Russian to provide depth. It's hard to see him putting up huge point totals with Hedman taking most of the power-play time.
Julius Honka, Dallas Stars
2014 No. 14 overall pick
The Finnish defenseman has spent the past two seasons honing his skills in the AHL and posted impressive numbers there. He scored 31 points in 50 games last season with the Texas Stars and saw 16 games in Dallas. Whether he becomes a major point producer might depend on how much Ken Hitchcock changes the Stars' system.
Ryan Pulock, New York Islanders
2013 No. 15 overall pick
Over three seasons in the AHL, Pulock developed an impressive offensive game, picking up 46 points in 55 games last season. With Travis Hamonic gone, Pulock will likely step into a significant role with the Islanders.