NHL fantasy: Biggest busts of the 2024–25 season

The 2024–25 fantasy season is coming to an end, with most leagues wrapping up their championship weeks tomorrow. It’s been another rollercoaster year in fantasy, with plenty of overperformers and even more underperformers. The odds are that if you have one of the below biggest busts of the year, you aren’t in your league’s championship game.

Alexander Georgiev – San Jose Sharks – G

ADP: 55 | Current rank: 457

No player in all of fantasy was a bigger bust this year than Alexander Georgiev. The veteran goalie came into the season being drafted as the ninth goalie off the board, strictly based on the team he played for. The hope was that he could gather up 30+ wins on the loaded Colorado Avalanche. Instead, Georgiev was terrible out of the gate, and by December, he was dealt to the NHL worst San Jose Sharks, which all but ended any fantasy value he had left.

He currently ranks 56th among goalies with at least 20 games played for save percentage at .876 and GAA at 3.64. Forget being the 55th player off the board, he should’ve been the 55th goalie off the board.

Juuse Saros – Nashville Predators – G

ADP: 27 | Current rank: 196

It’s been a nightmare season for the Nashville Predators, and especially for their franchise goaltender Juuse Saros. Coming into the year, Saros was viewed as one of the elite players at his position, being drafted at a sky-high ADP of 27 and as the third goalie off the board. Fast forward to now, and this looks like the biggest draft bust of the year.

Among goalies with at least 20 games played, Saros ranks 38th for save percentage at .895, 41st for GAA at 2.99, and 30th for wins with 18. He was barely worth a roster spot all season, despite being picked in the third round in most leagues.

Elias Pettersson – C – Vancouver Canucks

ADP: 22 | Current rank: 166

After a point-per-game 2023–24 season, Elias Pettersson was being drafted as one of the premier forwards in fantasy to start the season. His ADP of 22 made him the 16th forward off the board in drafts, going in the second round in almost every league. From day one, his season has been a massive letdown.

Pettersson started the year with just five points in his first 12 games, experienced a six-game pointless drought in December, and then went 15 straight games without a goal between January and March. He’s picked it up as of late for the fantasy playoffs, but he’s still sitting on just 15 goals and 45 points on the year—pitiful numbers for a second-round pick in fantasy.

Zach Hyman – W – Edmonton Oilers

ADP: 22 | Current rank: 166

We all knew Zach Hyman’s career-best 54 goals last year were a total fluke, but I don’t think many expected his drop-off to be this steep in 2024–25. There was still belief in the veteran winger coming into the year, being drafted at an ADP of 22 and ahead of forwards like Sidney Crosby, Mitch Marner, and Sam Reinhart. In part due to his own play and in part due to Conner McDavid’s slow season, Hyman has seen a massive drop-off in production.

He’s currently sitting on just 27 goals, half of his 2024–25 total. Likewise, he’s only posted 44 points and may not even hit the 50-point mark in a full season for the first time since 2019. If you drafted Hyman as one of your first forwards, you’re not too pleased.

Chris Kreider – W – N.Y. Rangers

ADP: 40 | Current rank: 284

Like Hyman, Chris Kreider’s ADP was almost certainly inflated due to his huge 2023–24 season. He was a big-time risk coming into the year, and the risk didn’t pay off. Kreider and the Rangers both had massive fall-offs in 2024–25, and his value in fantasy hit its lowest point of his entire career.

After putting up 35 goals last year, Kreider has just five on the year in 2024–25. His point totals also fell off a cliff, going from 75 to only 25 at the moment. If you drafted Kreider, chances are that he ended up on the waiver wire at some point this season.

Falling and flailing in fantasy

In a season filled with unexpected twists, the 2024–25 fantasy campaign reminded us just how unpredictable this game can be. While some managers struck gold, others were left scratching their heads as big-name stars turned into major disappointments.

From goalies who couldn’t stop a beach ball to early-round forwards who vanished when it mattered most, these busts tanked more than a few title hopes. If you managed to survive with one of these guys on your roster, hats off to you—but for most, they were the anchors that dragged a once-promising season straight to the bottom.