2026-27 Fantasy Hockey Rankings: Mock Draft Lessons by the Numbers

The latest NHL.com mock for 2026-27 gives us an early look at how the fantasy market views elite forwards, defensemen and goalies. Connor McDavid is still the clear 1.1, but there are big shifts behind him, from Mitch Marner’s surge to Connor Hellebuyck’s slide and Jesper Wallstedt’s sleeper buzz. Let’s translate those mock-draft results into actionable rankings and strategy for every format.

What’s New & Why It Matters

The headline is simple: Connor McDavid remains the unquestioned top overall asset. The mock reinforced that he’s in his own tier, and you should build your roster assuming he’s gone by the first pick in every competitive league.

Behind him, several storylines shift the board:

Mitch Marner was taken earlier than usual, signaling that managers are buying a higher ceiling in Vegas and are willing to pay up for his scoring and playmaking.
Connor Hellebuyck slid because of a suspension and a trade request, pushing him out of the early-goalie comfort zone and into risk/reward territory.
Jesper Wallstedt is being treated as a legitimate breakout candidate, with Minnesota’s goalie injuries opening a path to a heavy workload.
Connor Bedard is discounted due to injury concerns, forcing managers to weigh elite upside against a potentially slow start.
Cale Makar was the first defenseman off the board, reaffirming his status as the clear D1 building block.

These shifts matter because they change how you should prioritize positions and manage risk. The mock shows where the crowd is leaning; your edge comes from knowing when to follow that consensus and when to fade it.

Fantasy Implications

Points-Only

In pure scoring formats, the mock confirms a familiar structure: McDavid in his own tier, then a cluster of elite forwards and a small group of game-breaking defensemen led by Cale Makar.

Connor McDavid is the automatic top pick. There’s no justification for passing on him in points-only unless your league has extremely unusual scoring.
Mitch Marner benefits from a more offensive environment in Vegas. His earlier selection suggests managers are treating him as a true cornerstone winger rather than a secondary star.
Cale Makar going as the first defenseman reinforces that he’s the one blueliner worth aggressively prioritizing if you want an edge at D without sacrificing too much scoring.
Connor Bedard is where risk tolerance comes in. In points-only, you care more about total season output than peripherals, so any missed time early hurts. Still, his long-term scoring upside keeps him firmly in the premium forward mix once you’re comfortable with the injury discount.

Goalies matter less in points-only, but the mock still tells you something: the room is discounting Connor Hellebuyck because of uncertainty. Unless your format heavily rewards goalie wins or shutouts, you don’t need to chase him aggressively given the off-ice risk.

Categories / Bangers

In multi-cat leagues, the same players shift in value based on volume and category coverage.

Connor McDavid is still the top overall option, but the gap narrows slightly in leagues that weigh shots, hits, and special-teams production more evenly. He’s still your cornerstone, just with a bit less separation than in pure points.
Mitch Marner moving up the board is a positive sign for his shot volume and power-play role in Vegas. If he adds even a modest bump in peripherals, he becomes a safer early building block in categories formats.
Connor Hellebuyck is where categories managers need to be cautious. Suspension plus trade noise introduces volatility in wins and potentially save percentage. He can still anchor your goalie stats, but you should pair him with a safer second option and avoid overpaying.
Jesper Wallstedt is a high-upside categories play. If he grabs Minnesota’s starting job, he could provide strong volume and counting stats at a fraction of the cost of established starters.
Connor Bedard remains appealing in categories because of his likely shot volume and power-play usage once healthy. The injury risk just means you need to balance him with safer, high-floor skaters.

Dynasty / Keeper

For long-term leagues, the mock is especially revealing about how the market values young stars and emerging goalies.

Connor McDavid is still the premier dynasty asset. Age, role, and production all line up; nothing in the mock suggests any erosion in his long-term value.
Connor Bedard sliding due to injury is a buying opportunity. Short-term availability questions don’t change his franchise-player profile in dynasty. If your league mates are spooked, this is a spot to be aggressive via trade.
Jesper Wallstedt is the big dynasty winner. The mock treating him as a potential top goalie for Minnesota accelerates his timeline from “future starter” to “could be a relevant starter now.” He’s a priority stash if you have farm spots.
Mitch Marner rising in the mock hints that managers believe his current situation in Vegas will sustain or enhance his prime years. That makes him a stable, high-end keeper with both floor and ceiling.
Connor Hellebuyck is trickier in dynasty. Suspension and a trade request introduce uncertainty about his next few seasons. He’s still a proven workhorse, but you should factor in the possibility of short-term turbulence when valuing him in trades.

Who to Add / Stream / Watch

Connor McDavid – Add / Build Around (all leagues): Clear top overall option; every strategy starts with assuming he’s gone and planning accordingly.
Mitch Marner – Priority Target (points-only, categories): Earlier mock selection suggests rising offensive ceiling in Vegas; treat him as a safe early cornerstone.
Connor Hellebuyck – Risk-Reward Target (categories): Suspension and trade request push him down boards, creating a discount if you can stomach volatility.
Jesper Wallstedt – Sleeper Add (deep, dynasty): Injuries in Minnesota open a path to a starting role; stash now before his price spikes.
Connor Bedard – Upside Target (points-only, dynasty): Injury risk is real, but elite long-term scoring upside makes him worth the gamble once the price drops.
Cale Makar – Premium Anchor (all formats): First defenseman off the board; still the one blueliner worth paying up for to gain a true edge at D.

Fantasy Takeaways

Connor McDavid remains the unquestioned top overall fantasy asset across formats; plan your early strategy around not having him.
Mitch Marner’s earlier selection in the mock signals a real rise in market value, especially in points-heavy leagues.
Connor Hellebuyck’s suspension and trade request make him a discounted but volatile goalie anchor; pair him with stability.
Jesper Wallstedt is a priority sleeper in deep and dynasty leagues with a realistic path to Minnesota’s starting job.
Connor Bedard’s injury-driven slide is a buying opportunity in dynasty, while Cale Makar remains the clear D1 to target aggressively.

Source: NHL.com. See the original for full details.