As we inch closer to the most anticipated night on the fantasy calendar, the annual HRHL draft brings with it endless speculation, intense preparation, and, inevitably, pure chaos. While there are many uncertainties, one thing is clear: drama will unfold. Will the rookies be overhyped? Will a seasoned vet fall prey to a bad draft strategy? Here’s a breakdown of the key storylines to watch as the GMs take their positions for what promises to be an unforgettable draft night.
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Freakin Viken's Balancing Act: Will Fatherhood Make Him Vulnerable?

The Commissioner comes into the draft with a target on his back. Having clinched two of the last three seasons, he’s become the gold standard in fantasy management. But this year, he’s got an unexpected challenge: fatherhood. Sleepless nights and diaper duty have taken a toll on his podcast binging and CORSI deep dives. Will the demands of a newborn open the door for other GMs to finally overtake him? Or will he somehow manage to squeeze in that last-minute research between baby naps and still dominate?

Prediction: Emil sticks to his tried-and-true strategy, going safe with positional drafting, going hard for a reliable RW like Nikita Kucherov, or if he misses out a dual eligibility stud like Timo Meier, but we’re betting on a couple of mid-draft panic picks as the fatigue sets in. Watch for a questionable "sleeper" selection in the later rounds that he’ll regret by Week 3 and peddle on to some unsuspecting manager through a trade that makes the rest of the league wonder if he bribed the other manager.

Aspudden DJ International and the All-Swede Squad: More Heart Than Head?

We know Lucas loves his Swedes just as much as he loves his unreliable rookies. The question isn’t whether he’ll overpay for one, but which one. Last year, it was Adam Fantilli; this year, there’s a buzz he’s got his eye on Jonathan Lekkerimäki, a rookie with tons of promise but limited NHL experience that will likely spend all season in AHL. And while having Leon Draisaitl as a keeper locks in a steady points producer, there’s a looming risk Lucas will empty his wallet too early on a flashy, unproven blonde blue-eyed rookie.

Prediction: Lucas will reach early, overspending on Lucas Raymond or another Swedish prospect, sparking a round of headshakes and murmurs from the rest of the room. But don’t be surprised if he lucks into a breakout, turning it into a “told you so” moment by midseason.

Harrius Hammers and the Zero G Sham: Will He Actuallt Stick to His Plan This Time?

Every year, Gunnar claims he’s adopting the “Zero G” strategy—draft your goalies late and trust no one. And every year, the room watches as he caves, bidding home a top-tier netminder earlier than expected. Despite his aversion to goalies, his data-driven approach has paid off in recent years with multiple top finishes. The real question is whether he’ll finally stick to the Zero G mantra or cave and spend $32 on Oettinger once again.

Prediction: Gunnar resists the allure of an elite goalie and snatches up Jordan Binnington for a couple of bucks. The room will roast him, but by Week 10, he’ll be laughing at everyone else when Binnington is leading the league in saves while somehow putting up a .925 save percentage.

Niklas' Nifty Team: Will the Ghosts of Last Year Haunt Him?

Niklas is still recovering from last year’s infamous draft debacle, where a few too many drinks led to some… let’s call them interesting developments. This year, there’s chatter that he’s coming in focused and ready to redeem himself. But old habits die hard, and with Lövet likely passing around the Slivo, the temptation to repeat history could be strong.

Prediction: Niklas will start strong, landing a stable top sixer like Tim Stützle, but once the drinks start flowing, expect him to throw caution to the wind and ending up with five C only by the end of the draft. Odds are at the very lowest of him snagging up Nick Leddy for a dollar to wrap his team up.

Kungsholmen Calamares: So Many Arms, But Can Dennis Find a Winning Strategy?

Dennis might have a bachelor in statistics yet somehow fantasy hockey success continues to elude him. If only you could replace VORP with EV/EBITDA he'd probably reach the playoffs with ease. You can expect him to come into the draft bidding on the true and tested, valuing safe players with big name value. And then, in a moment of panic, he’ll likely throw it all out the window and draft players that confuses the rest of the room.

Prediction: Despite coming in with a crafted game plan, Dennis will be outbid on his targets and succumb to panic buying a D who hasn't been on PP1 since 2021 or draft an injury-prone star too early. Our bet is on him ending up, one way or another with Aaron Ekblad on his team.

Lövets Langoustiner: Ovechkin Overdrive or Overreach?

Lövet is the heart of draft day, keeping spirits high with Slivo and banter. But beneath the fun-loving exterior, there’s a serious question hanging over him this year: can he resist the temptation of Ovechkin? The Great Eight, still chasing the goal-scoring record, well past his prime but remains an alluring pick for anyone with a nostalgic soft spot. For Lövet, that soft spot could turn into an overreach. Will he lean into Ovechkin’s potential one last time, or stick to his usual, steady drafting style? The room waits with bated breath.

Prediction: Adam Fox will be the first D on the books in the crustacean favorites. But when Ovie comes up on the board he'll end up in a bidding war and paying too much in hopes the veteran has one last elite season in him. Slivovitz-fueled optimism? Probably. But he’s banking on that high-risk, high-reward scenario.

Yousra: The Wildcard Rookie

All eyes are on Yousra this year, the league’s first rookie GM in a while and a complete wildcard. While the rest of the league has years of familiarity to lean on, she comes in with a fresh perspective. Some suspect her love of hockey drama might bleed into her drafting—will she grab players known more for their off-ice stories than their point production? Or will she surprise everyone by outdrafting the veterans?

Prediction: Yousra will keep it cool, drafting a balanced team and landing a mid-draft steal on a player the rest of the league soured on like Nazem Kadri. By the end of the night, the league will be on edge, unsure if they just witnessed the birth of a new contender.

Rooney Rikers: The Spreadsheet King in Need of a Comeback

Richard has built his entire identity on being the most prepared guy in the room. With two championships under his belt early on, he once seemed invincible, but a last-place finish followed by a fourth-place rebound has cast doubt on his methods. Expect him to arrive with an absurd amount of stats, looking for redemption, but the room won’t be shocked if he overthinks his picks and makes things way harder than they need to be.

Prediction: Richard will end up overpaying for Moritz Seider only to see him loosing PP1 to Erik Gustafsson merely weeks into the season. Then he'll buy Filip Gustavsson for $15 justifying it with a long-winded explanation of how the problem last season was backline injuries to Minnesota. 

Björkhagen Baboons: Will Baboons Be the New Bacic?

Patrik enters this draft with a fresh approach—his usual habit of spending $50 on Vasilevskiy is taking a backseat after the goalie’s underwhelming performance over the past two seasons. And he might just have found his new tactic. With JT Miller locked in as his keeper, the Baboons’ GM could be ready to embrace the chaos of hits and PIMs. The big question? Can Patrik land those crucial late draft purchases, like Jeremy Lauzon, to solidify his physical edge, or will he fall victim to an overreliance on brute force, leaving his team too one-dimensional to compete?

Prediction: Patrik will dive deep into the banger pool, targeting hit machines like Radko Gudas and Tanner Jeannot early. If he lands a sneaky steal, it could pay off big. But if he goes too heavy on hits and PIMs, his roster could lack the scoring punch to push him over the top. This year, the Baboons are either bound for glory—or headed for a season-long grind in the middle of the standings.

RIP Lundqvist: Is This the Year Erik Finally Breaks the Second Place Curse?

‍Erik comes into this draft with one of the biggest weapons in fantasy: Auston Matthews as his keeper. The real question? Whether he’s willing to drop $50+ on David Pastrnak to build a powerhouse duo. While Matthews gives him an edge, Erik’s Achilles’ heel has always been finding those late-round gems to balance his roster. He’s finished second far too many times—will this be the year he finally challenges for the title, or will his spending on big names leave him vulnerable in the later rounds?

Prediction: Erik will make an aggressive bid for Pastrnak, banking on a top-heavy roster that could steamroll opponents early. But his championship hopes hinge on whether he can finally hit on those late-round steals. If he nails it, RIP Lundqvist could be the team to beat. If not, Erik might find himself painfully close to the top once again.

Strandie Silverbacks: Will “Strandie” Show Up in Person or Yet Again Draft from Behind the Screen?

The big question on everyone’s lips – will Paul actually show up to the draft in person this year? After years of remote drafting, struggling with both technical and scheduling issues maybe an in person draft is what is needed to get back to his former glory. As for draft tactics this year, the question looms: Will he finally focus on building a roster for the future, or will this year be another season of him falling for the nostalgia of Brent Burns, hoping he still has some gas left in his tank.

Prediction: Paul will be remote again, juggling his draft with some jet-setting adventure, and will likely take another swing at past-prime veterans. Paul looses out on Kucherov to Vikens and ends up pumping up Mikko Rantanen to be second most expensive player in the draft after Matthew Tkachuk. Low on funds he ends up with more SEA and UTA players than anyone would be comfortable with.

Joschka Fisters: Will Nils Be Led by Ideology or Opportunity?

Nils tends to draft like a man entrenched in the ideological rigor of a bygone age, his choices guided by the anti-bourgeois rhetoric of the old USSR. Year after year, his strategy has leaned toward scouring talent from behind the old Iron Curtain, often passing on more established NHL stars. But with Connor McDavid—the clear current Tsar of the NHL—already secured as his keeper, Nils faces a pivotal choice: Will he stick to his tried-and-true approach, or finally embrace the full potential of the NHL’s elite?

Prediction: Expect Nils to look for strategic synergies by locking in Zach Hyman early, capitalizing on the value of McDavid. After that, he’ll set his sights on an all-American, muscle-flexing type like Patrick Kane. Will Nils be able to assemble that all-American squad, or will he find himself once again praying that Captain Canada can carry him to the playoffs?

Draft Day Chaos Awaits

As the clock ticks down to draft night, one thing is certain: this year’s HRHL draft promises drama, questionable picks, and enough banter to last the entire season. From Emil’s attempt to balance fatherhood with fantasy dominance, to Nils’ ideological battles, and Paul’s perpetual remote drafting, every GM faces their own unique challenges. Will veteran strategies prevail, or will bold new tactics reshape the league? The stage is set for surprises, steals, and stumbles that will define the season ahead. Buckle up—this draft is about to be unforgettable.

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