NHL Power Rankings: Fantasy Playoff Pickups Amid the Regular Season Stretch

The 2025-26 NHL regular season winds down toward its April 16 conclusion, but for fantasy managers in ESPN standard leagues, the playoffs kick off this week. ESPN’s latest power rankings, compiled from a panel of experts through games on Wednesday, highlight the top teams chasing the Stanley Cup while spotlighting waiver-wire gems to bolster rosters. Colorado Avalanche remain entrenched at No. 1 with a dominant 75.8% points percentage, but the race tightens behind them as playoff positioning intensifies.[1]

Fantasy analysts Sean Allen and Victoria Matiash have zeroed in on one key pickup per team, focusing on availability in ESPN leagues and upcoming schedules ripe for exploitation. With head-to-head matchups starting Monday, these recommendations emphasize players with favorable slates, injury-related opportunities, and power-play roles. Managers should prioritize streamers who can deliver across categories like points, shots, hits, and blocks during this critical stretch.

Top 5: Elite contenders lead the pack

Colorado Avalanche hold steady at No. 1, their points percentage underscoring a balanced attack fueled by depth scoring. Valeri Nichushkin emerges as the fantasy darling here, posting 1.5 fantasy points per game while 70.9% available. With Artturi Lehkonen and Gabriel Landeskog sidelined post-Olympics, he’s logging top-six minutes and firing shots as a power forward. The Avs face Winnipeg, Pittsburgh, and Dallas next—matchups that could pad his stats further.

Dallas Stars sit at No. 2 with 70.8% points, unmoved from last week. Mavrik Bourque, a 2020 first-rounder, shines at 1.1 FPPG and 94% available, centering the top line amid Mikko Rantanen’s absence. Paired with Roope Hintz’s extended recovery, Bourque averages a point per game with heavy ice time. For power-play leagues, Matt Duchene adds veteran upside. Their schedule—Detroit, Utah, at Colorado—offers streaming potential.

Carolina Hurricanes round out the podium at No. 3, 67.7% points percentage intact. Goaltender Frederik Andersen, 57.1% available, is reclaiming the crease over Brandon Bussi post-Olympics, stacking wins and points despite modest per-60 output. A winning team like the Canes amplifies his value in the fantasy playoffs. Upcoming games at Tampa Bay, Columbus, versus Pittsburgh align with their strong form.

Minnesota Wild cling to No. 4 at 66.7%, with Mats Zuccarello (60.5% available) as the pickup at 1.8 FPPG. The veteran linemate to Kirill Kaprizov excels at even strength and extra-attacker shifts, pacing 0.85 points per game and leading Wild forwards in power-play production outside Kaprizov and Matt Boldy. Four games next week—Rangers, Toronto, two versus Chicago—boost his appeal. Our March power rankings breakdown noted their steady climb.

Buffalo Sabres jump to No. 5 from sixth, 65.2% points reflecting forward-friendly fantasy schedules in round one. Josh Norris (71.8% available) delivers 1.72 FPPG against weak penalty kills in four games. Caution the late-season slate toughens, but early matchups versus Toronto, Vegas, San Jose provide immediate juice. Sabres’ surge mirrors trends in ESPN’s prior poll.

Mid-pack movers: Opportunities in the scrum

Tampa Bay Lightning slip to No. 6 but boast soft power-play matchups, with Oliver Bjorkstrand (85.9% available, 1.25 FPPG) locked on the top unit. Eight first-round games include four against bottom-27 penalty kills. Montreal Canadiens at No. 7 (64.1%) offer Eastern upside for goalies like Jakub Dobes (76.5% available), facing opponents seventh in fantasy points to netminders.

Pittsburgh Penguins hold No. 8 (60.8%), Egor Chinakhov exploding at 1.91 FPPG sans Sidney Crosby. New York Islanders rise to ninth, Brayden Schenn thriving on the top power play against weak kills like Ottawa and Montreal. Boston Bruins climb to 10th, Pavel Zacha’s 2.2 FPPG post-break making him a must-add before availability vanishes.

Detroit Red Wings drop to 11th, but Ben Chiarot pairs well with Justin Faulk for hits and blocks. Columbus Blue Jackets at 12th highlight Ivan Provorov’s top-four role in a D-friendly early schedule. Anaheim Ducks (13th) back Lukas Dostal in net after his recent shutout form. As detailed in our fantasy playoff guide, these mid-tier teams pack waiver value.

Ottawa Senators surge to 14th, Shane Pinto’s blocks and points shining independently. Utah Mammoth steady at 15th, Sean Durzi poised to rebound. Edmonton Oilers (16th) tout Connor Murphy’s blocks with scoring upside on a high-octane club.

Lower tiers: Streaming gold in unlikely spots

Vegas Golden Knights fall to 17th, Adin Hill a Cup-proven gamble despite recent struggles. Washington Capitals (18th) feature Pierre-Luc Dubois, but beware their brutal late schedule. Philadelphia Flyers (19th) aid D-men like Jamie Drysdale on a blueliner-friendly slate.

Seattle Kraken (20th) ride Joey Daccord’s .910 save percentage since December. Los Angeles Kings rise to 21st, Anze Kopitar ramping up with Artemi Panarin and Adrian Kempe. Florida Panthers (22nd) await Seth Jones’ power-play return against weak kills.

San Jose Sharks (23rd) lean on Alex Nedeljkovic over Yaroslav Askarov. New Jersey Devils (24th) test Jacob Markstrom amid tough goalie matchups. Nashville Predators (25th) hinge on Matthew Wood centering Filip Forsberg.

Winnipeg Jets drop to 26th, Eric Comrie’s .949 save streak a streamer. Toronto Maple Leafs (27th) offer Jake McCabe blocks. New York Rangers (28th) benefit from Alexis Lafreniere’s lighter schedule. St. Louis Blues (29th) boost Jimmy Snuggerud top-line. Chicago Blackhawks (30th) unleash Frank Nazar. Calgary Flames (31st) scrape with Ryan Strome. Vancouver Canucks languish at 32nd, Filip Hronek leading scorers.

Fantasy implications and schedule edges

These pickups target the fantasy playoffs’ first rounds, where schedules matter most. Eastern teams like Buffalo and Tampa feast on poor penalty kills, while Western goalies in Montreal and Seattle project volume. Availability hovers 50-95% in ESPN leagues, urging quick adds.

• Top forwards: Nichushkin (COL), Bourque (DAL), Zuccarello (MIN), Norris (BUF)
• Key D-men: Durzi (UTA), Chiarot (DET), Provorov (CBJ), Drysdale (PHI)
• Goalie streamers: Andersen (CAR), Dobes (MTL), Dostal (ANA), Daccord (SEA)

Quotes from the analysts underscore urgency: “Regular starts on a winning team can snowball into fantasy fortunes quickly,” notes Allen on Andersen. Matiash adds on Bourque, “Averaging a point per game with loads of on-ice minutes.”

As the real NHL playoffs loom, power rankings signal Colorado and Dallas as Cup favorites, but fantasy success pivots on these hidden gems. Monitor injuries like Crosby’s and schedules—many turn tougher post-March 30. What it means for your league: Act now to stack favorable weeks and ride the momentum into titles.