The 2026-27 NHL season is almost here, with the regular season scheduled to begin on September 29, 2026. Because the puck has not dropped on the new campaign yet, the latest fantasy hockey rankings are preseason evaluations built from projected production, expected roles, line combinations, power-play usage, team situations, injuries and other fantasy factors.
One important detail is that there is no single universal ranking. NHL.com, Daily Faceoff and other fantasy analysts use similar statistical foundations, but their player values can differ because they weigh upside, positional scarcity, risk, peripherals and scoring settings differently. Daily Faceoff’s September 23 consensus, for example, places Nathan MacKinnon first and Connor McDavid second, while NHL.com’s September 21 standard-league list has McDavid first and MacKinnon second.
That difference is useful rather than confusing. It shows why fantasy managers should understand the scoring system and the reasoning behind a ranking instead of blindly following one list.
Current Top 20 Fantasy Hockey Rankings
For a current preseason snapshot, the following order comes from Daily Faceoff’s September 23, 2026 consensus Top 250. Its consensus combines four analyst boards using a value-based method rather than simply averaging rank numbers.
- Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
- Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
- Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning
- Macklin Celebrini, San Jose Sharks
- Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers
- David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins
- Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche
- Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota Wild
- Evan Bouchard, Edmonton Oilers
- Martin Necas, Colorado Avalanche
- Jason Robertson, Dallas Stars
- Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning
- Quinn Hughes, Minnesota Wild
- Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets
- Mikko Rantanen, Dallas Stars
- Brady Tkachuk, Florida Panthers
- Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs
- Matt Boldy, Minnesota Wild
- Wyatt Johnston, Dallas Stars
- Cole Caufield, Montreal Canadiens.
The most obvious takeaway is how concentrated the top of the board is with established superstars, elite offensive defensemen and a rapidly rising young core. Celebrini’s No. 4 position is particularly notable because he has already moved into the first-round fantasy conversation after an extraordinary early NHL career.
At the same time, the difference between rankings should not be mistaken for a disagreement over whether these players are valuable. NHL.com’s current top 10 starts McDavid, MacKinnon, Kucherov, Celebrini, Draisaitl, Pastrnak, Makar, Kaprizov, Robertson and Bouchard, demonstrating that the same core group dominates the top tier across major sources.
Why McDavid and MacKinnon Lead the Debate
Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon remain the defining names at the top of most fantasy draft boards, but the order depends on methodology.
NHL.com’s latest standard-league rankings place McDavid No. 1, while Daily Faceoff’s consensus has MacKinnon No. 1. Matt Larkin’s Daily Faceoff rankings also put MacKinnon first and McDavid second, describing both as legitimate candidates for the top selection.
Projected point totals help explain why both players remain in the conversation. NHL.com’s 2026-27 projections give McDavid 135 points and MacKinnon 130. Nikita Kucherov is projected for 125, while Macklin Celebrini is projected for 122 and Leon Draisaitl for 117.
Those numbers are point projections rather than complete fantasy rankings. NHL.com specifically notes that its fantasy rankings also consider peripheral categories, which can change the overall order even when projected points are similar.
Macklin Celebrini Has Entered the First-Round Conversation
Celebrini is one of the biggest developments in the current fantasy landscape.
The San Jose center ranks fourth in both NHL.com’s overall list and Daily Faceoff’s consensus. NHL.com projects him for 122 points in 2026-27, placing him behind only McDavid, MacKinnon and Kucherov in its forward projection.
His fantasy appeal is not based solely on age or potential. Analysts are already treating him as a proven high-end offensive player, while his continued development creates additional upside. That makes him especially interesting in leagues where elite scoring and long-term value carry substantial weight.
The Defensemen Who Can Change a Fantasy Draft
Defense is where fantasy rankings become especially important because elite offensive defensemen can provide categories that are difficult to replace later.
NHL.com’s current positional rankings put Cale Makar first among defensemen, followed by Evan Bouchard, Quinn Hughes, Zach Werenski, Lane Hutson, Rasmus Dahlin and rookie Matthew Schaefer.
Makar’s combination of scoring, power-play involvement and high-end production keeps him near the top of overall fantasy drafts. Bouchard also benefits from his offensive role in Edmonton, while Hughes and Werenski provide strong production from the blue line. Lane Hutson is another particularly interesting name because he has rapidly established himself among the premier fantasy defense options.
Rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer is another name worth monitoring. NHL.com has him seventh among defensemen and 37th overall in its Top 250, illustrating how quickly a young player can move into valuable fantasy territory when expected opportunity and skill align.
Goalie Rankings Require a Different Approach
Goalies are more difficult to evaluate than skaters because wins depend partly on team quality, while save percentage and goals-against average can move significantly with workload and defensive performance.
NHL.com’s September 20 rankings currently place Andrei Vasilevskiy first, followed by Logan Thompson, Ilya Sorokin, Jake Oettinger and Igor Shesterkin.
The supporting projections tell a slightly different story. NHL.com’s estimated goalie wins have Vasilevskiy at 39, Oettinger at 38, Thompson at 35, Jesper Wallstedt at 34 and Karel Vejmelka at 34.
That difference demonstrates an important fantasy lesson: projected wins alone should not determine a goalie’s value. NHL.com’s overall goalie rankings also account for goals-against average, save percentage and shutouts, along with expected workload, team situation, injury concerns and possible regression.
Standard Categories Versus Points Leagues
Before using any ranking list, check the scoring settings in your league.
NHL.com’s standard fantasy framework for skaters includes goals, assists, power-play points, shots on goal, hits and blocked shots. Its goalie categories include wins, goals-against average, save percentage and shutouts.
That matters because a player who is superb in a points-only league may not have exactly the same value in a categories league.
For example, shots, hits and blocks can raise the value of players who consistently contribute outside the traditional scoring column. A defenseman who produces points while also generating shots and blocks may become more valuable than his raw point total suggests.
Conversely, in a points-only league, projected scoring can become a much larger part of the decision. NHL.com’s current point projections are therefore useful as a separate reference rather than a replacement for the complete fantasy rankings.
ADP Is Not the Same as Rankings
Average draft position, or ADP, tells you when other fantasy managers are selecting a player. A ranking tells you how valuable the player is according to a particular analyst or model.
Those two numbers can be very different.
Daily Faceoff’s September 23 consensus compares its rankings with ADP, while Forecheck Fantasy publishes rankings alongside Yahoo Fantasy ADP. For example, Daily Faceoff’s consensus has Evan Bouchard ninth while his listed ADP is 16.1, showing a significant gap between analyst valuation and where he was actually being selected in drafts.
This type of gap can help fantasy managers identify potential value. However, a lower ADP should not automatically be interpreted as a bargain. League settings, roster requirements and current news can all affect the appropriate draft price.
Rookies Worth Watching in 2026-27
The 2026-27 rookie class adds another layer to the rankings.
NHL.com’s fantasy rookie rankings have Porter Martone at No. 1, while the broader NHL prospect picture is led by Toronto Maple Leafs forward Gavin McKenna.
Martone entered his NHL career with 15 points in his first 19 games across regular-season and playoff action, while NHL.com’s current projections give him 68 points for 2026-27.
McKenna is another major fantasy storyline. NHL.com projects 63 points for him in his first NHL season and says he is already ranked among its top 100 overall players for standard fantasy redraft leagues.
Anton Frondell, James Hagens, Konsta Helenius and rookie defenseman Cole Hutson are also among the young players drawing attention for their potential opportunities. NHL.com notes that Frondell could receive center minutes in Chicago while Connor Bedard recovers from offseason shoulder surgery.
How to Use Fantasy Hockey Rankings on Draft Day
Rankings work best as a guide rather than an automatic draft script.
Start by identifying your league’s scoring categories and roster requirements. Then look for players whose profiles match those settings. In a standard categories format, a high-end scorer with strong peripheral production can offer a different type of value from a player who primarily accumulates points.
Pay close attention to power-play roles and line combinations during the final days before your draft. NHL.com’s rankings explicitly consider projected line combinations, defense pairs, power-play usage, team goalie situations, injuries, age and upside.
Also watch preseason developments. The NHL season does not begin until September 29, and several current rankings already include injury or availability notes. For example, NHL.com’s latest overall list marks Brady Tkachuk and Connor Bedard as injured, while Connor Hellebuyck is listed as suspended in connection with his training-camp situation.
Late news can therefore change draft value quickly. A player moving onto a first power-play unit, gaining top-line linemates or becoming a team’s clear starting goalie may deserve more attention than an older ranking suggests.
What Makes a Strong Fantasy Hockey Ranking?
A useful ranking considers more than last season’s point totals.
The strongest evaluations combine historical production with expected role, ice time, special-teams usage, team environment, durability, category coverage and upside. NHL.com’s methodology explicitly considers these factors, while Daily Faceoff’s analysts similarly incorporate categories such as goals, assists, power-play points, shots, hits and blocks for skaters and wins, goals-against average, save percentage and shutouts for goalies.
That is why two players with similar real-life reputations can have very different fantasy values.
Fantasy hockey is ultimately about translating player performance into the scoring system of your specific league. A ranking is most useful when it helps you make that translation quickly.
Final Thoughts on the 2026-27 Rankings
The current preseason landscape has a familiar group of elite stars at the top, led by names such as McDavid, MacKinnon, Kucherov, Celebrini, Draisaitl, Pastrnak and Makar. The exact order differs between reputable sources, but the broader picture is remarkably consistent.
The biggest opportunities beyond the obvious stars may come from understanding context: positional scarcity, power-play deployment, goalie workload, ADP differences, rookie opportunity and late preseason news.
The 2026-27 season begins September 29, so these rankings should be treated as a current preseason snapshot rather than a permanent list. As line combinations, injuries, roster decisions and early-season performance develop, fantasy values will move with them.
For draft preparation, the most useful approach is to combine a current overall board with positional rankings, projections and your league’s exact scoring settings. That gives you a much clearer picture than relying on one number beside a player’s name.
