2025-26 fantasy hockey rankings for top players: Complete draft guide and analysis

The 2025-26 NHL season has brought unprecedented scoring depth and parity across the league, making fantasy hockey rankings for top players more crucial than ever for draft success. With generational talents like Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon continuing to dominate, yet surrounded by emerging superstars and revitalized veterans, understanding the player hierarchy can make or break your championship aspirations.

As we approach the mid-season mark, updated projections and rest-of-season rankings reveal shifting values based on line combinations, power-play deployment, and injury situations. Dom Luszczyszyn of the Athletic notes that his projections are updated every other week to reflect the latest data, emphasizing that successful fantasy management requires adapting to evolving circumstances throughout the year.

Breaking down the 2025-26 fantasy hockey rankings for top forwards

The forward position continues to drive fantasy hockey championships, with elite scorers separating themselves from the pack through exceptional floor and ceiling combinations. This season’s projections showcase remarkable depth at the top, where a handful of players stand alone as true difference-makers.

The undisputed tier one elite

Connor McDavid remains the consensus number one overall selection in virtually every format, with his projected 135 points creating significant separation from the field. His combination of goal-scoring prowess (on pace for 45+ goals) and playmaking excellence makes him the safest bet for fantasy dominance. The Oilers captain’s power-play production remains unmatched, and his ability to contribute across all categories solidifies his status as the premier fantasy asset.

Nathan MacKinnon sits firmly in the second spot, with projections hovering around 118-120 points after his Art Ross Trophy campaign last season. The Avalanche center’s deployment and surrounding talent ensure a high floor, though McDavid’s projected 17-point advantage gives pause to anyone considering MacKinnon first overall. The Athletic’s projection model shows MacKinnon leading the NHL in assists with 84, highlighting his dual-threat capability.

The next wave of scorers

Nikita Kucherov (115 projected points) and Leon Draisaitl (114 projected points) represent the last of the true 110+ point threats. Kucherov’s consistency in Tampa Bay’s high-powered offense makes him a rock-solid top-five pick, while Draisaitl’s occasional deployment at wing alongside McDavid provides unique versatility in leagues with positional eligibility.

The drop-off after these four is noticeable but not severe. Kirill Kaprizov (109 points) and Jack Eichel (101 points) headline the next tier, with Kaprizov’s shot volume and power-play role in Minnesota giving him one of the highest ceilings outside the top four. Eichel’s first full season in Vegas has exceeded expectations, as he’s on pace for a career-high in points playing alongside Mark Stone.

For deeper analysis of how these offensive stars impact team success, check out our coverage of the NHL 2025-26 power rankings week 6, where surging offenses are reshaping the playoff picture.

Mid-tier forwards with upside

The 80-95 point range is where championships are often won through savvy drafting. Players like Jack Hughes (97 points), Mikko Rantanen (96 points), and Artemi Panarin (95 points) offer elite production with slightly less name recognition. This tier requires careful evaluation of peripheral categories—shots on goal, hits, and plus-minus can separate otherwise similar point totals.

Auston Matthews presents an interesting case study in value volatility. While his 91-point projection seems modest compared to his career highs, his 50-goal potential remains intact. In leagues that heavily weight goals or include categories like shots and faceoff wins, Matthews often outperforms his draft position. His health concerns have dropped him into the late first round in many drafts, creating potential value for risk-tolerant managers.

2025-26 fantasy hockey rankings for top defensemen: A changing landscape

The blueline hierarchy has undergone seismic shifts this season, with offensive defensemen commanding premium draft capital while traditional stay-at-home types fade from relevance in standard formats. The modern NHL demands fantasy production from the back end, making early-round defense selections increasingly important.

Offensive juggernauts leading the way

Cale Makar stands alone as the only defenseman projected to approach 95 points, cementing his status as a first-round fantasy pick. His power-play quarterback role on Colorado’s devastating unit, combined with elite skating and shooting, creates a floor that rivals many forwards. Makar’s 95-point projection from NHL.com reflects his ability to generate offense both as a shooter and facilitator.

Quinn Hughes (87 points) and Evan Bouchard (86 points) represent the next tier of elite offensive defensemen. Hughes has finally added consistent goal production to his elite passing, while Bouchard’s partnership with McDavid on Edmonton’s power play provides unmatched opportunity. Their 80+ point potential justifies second-round selections in most drafts.

The second tier of blueliners

Zach Werenski (84 points) leads a deep group of defensemen in the 60-70 point range, where slight edges in peripheral categories create significant value differences. Adam Fox (70 points) and Roman Josi (69 points) have seen their production dip slightly but remain safe bets for power-play points and strong plus-minus ratings. Victor Hedman (66 points) continues to defy age curves, though his projection reflects a more conservative workload management in Tampa Bay.

The real draft-day decisions emerge with players like Rasmus Dahlin (62 points) and Thomas Harley (62 points). Both offer 20-goal upside with power-play quarterback roles, but their defensive deficiencies can hurt in plus-minus leagues. This is where understanding your league’s specific scoring system becomes paramount—what appears as a reach in one format represents excellent value in another.

Goaltender rankings for 2025-26 fantasy hockey: Stability amidst uncertainty

Goalie performance continues to be the most volatile aspect of fantasy hockey, with team defensive structure often mattering more than individual talent. The 2025-26 season has reinforced this trend, as elite netminders on mediocre teams struggle to accumulate wins despite strong ratios.

The consensus top tier

Andrei Vasilevskiy returns to the top spot in most rankings after a healthy offseason and Tampa Bay’s defensive upgrades. His projected workload (60+ starts) and the Lightning’s continued competitiveness make him the safest goalie investment. Vasilevskiy’s ability to maintain elite ratios while racking up wins separates him from the field.

Logan Thompson’s rise to the number two ranking reflects Washington’s defensive resurgence more than any dramatic improvement in his underlying numbers. The Capitals’ structured system limits high-danger chances, allowing Thompson’s athleticism to shine. With 55+ win potential, he’s a legitimate first-round consideration in goalie-heavy formats.

Igor Shesterkin and Jake Oettinger round out the elite tier, with both offering proven track records on competitive teams. Shesterkin’s slight dip in save percentage last season appears to be correcting itself, while Oettinger’s massive frame and technical proficiency provide a safe floor on a Dallas team built from the net out.

Mid-tier values and sleepers

The middle rounds present fascinating dilemmas for fantasy managers. Sergei Bobrovsky (ranked fifth) continues to defy age expectations in Florida, though his playoff workload raises regular-season durability questions. Ilya Sorokin’s excellence on a struggling Islanders team showcases the wins-versus-ratios tradeoff that defines fantasy goaltending strategy.

For those seeking value beyond the top tier, our analysis of top 10 NHL backup goaltenders for 2025 reveals several 1B situations offering substantial hidden value. Scott Wedgewood’s role in Colorado and Filip Gustavsson’s timeshare in Minnesota represent opportunities to secure quality starts at a fraction of the cost.

Rookie and breakout candidates

Yaroslav Askarov’s arrival in San Jose creates one of the most intriguing fantasy storylines. While the Sharks remain in rebuild mode, Askarov’s pedigree suggests he could post respectable ratios despite limited win potential. Similarly, Jesper Wallstedt’s eventual takeover in Minnesota could provide late-season value for patient managers.

The injury landscape has also reshuffled the deck. Connor Hellebuyck’s absence opens opportunities in Winnipeg, while the uncertainty surrounding Juuse Saros’s future in Nashville makes him a risky investment despite his talent. These situations require monitoring up until draft day.

Draft strategy and key takeaways from 2025-26 fantasy hockey rankings

Translating these rankings into draft success requires more than simply picking the highest-ranked player available. Understanding positional scarcity, category balance, and schedule volume creates edges that compound throughout the season.

Balancing floor and ceiling

The early rounds demand high floors—players like Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar who deliver elite production regardless of variance. As drafts progress into the middle rounds, ceiling becomes more important. Selecting players like Macklin Celebrini (83 projected points) or Matvei Michkov (70 projected points) introduces volatility but also league-winning upside.

Category specialists require careful evaluation. Brady Tkachuk’s hit totals justify a higher draft position in banger leagues, while his point production alone might not. Conversely, Nick Suzuki’s balanced profile across points, shots, and faceoffs makes him more valuable than raw point totals suggest.

Positional draft timing

Most experts recommend securing at least one elite forward and one elite defenseman within the first three rounds. The forward depth in rounds 4-7 allows for flexibility, while the defensemen cliff becomes steep after the top 12-15 options. Goaltending strategy remains polarizing—some advocate early investment for stability, while others prefer streaming and playing matchups.

The 2025-26 season’s compressed schedule due to the new CBA’s Olympic provisions creates additional rest days, potentially depressing starter workloads. This makes the true workhorses—Vasilevskiy, Thompson, and Oettinger—even more valuable relative to their peers.

Final thoughts on 2025-26 fantasy hockey rankings for top players

The 2025-26 season represents a fascinating inflection point for fantasy hockey, where established superstars coexist with a generational rookie class and revitalized veterans. The rankings reflect this balance, with proven production commanding premium prices but significant value emerging in the middle rounds.

Success this season requires embracing both data and context. While McDavid and MacKinnon provide unmatched safety, championships will be won by managers who correctly identify which mid-tier players break out and which goaltending situations overperform expectations. The 2025-26 fantasy hockey rankings for top players serve as a starting point, but continuous roster management and waiver wire aggression remain essential.

As we approach the fantasy playoffs, monitor backup goaltender situations closely—the compressed schedule means more rests for starters and more opportunities for the quality backups we highlighted in our season-long analysis. Similarly, watch for teams jockeying for playoff positioning, as motivation and lineup stability become crucial factors in rest-of-season value.

The window for making up ground is narrowing, but the depth of talent across the league means opportunities remain abundant. Stay active, trust the process, and remember that fantasy hockey championships are rarely won on draft day—they’re earned through relentless optimization from now until the final buzzer.