2026 NHL Playoff Pool Rankings: Building Around the Right Cores

The NHL postseason is a different fantasy game. Volume of games, not just talent, decides playoff pools, so your rankings need to blend team odds with individual upside. Using the latest outlooks, we’ll walk through how to build around elite cores like Nathan MacKinnon, when to lean into studs like Nikita Kucherov, why Cale Makar is a cheat code on defense, and how to treat riskier options such as an injured Leon Draisaitl. Think of this as a strategy layer on top of a basic cheat sheet.

What’s New & Why It Matters

This year’s playoff pool landscape is shaped heavily by Stanley Cup odds and a few key injuries. Colorado and Buffalo project as strong bets for long runs, which pushes their stars up the board. That’s why MacKinnon headlines the center group and Makar sits atop the blue line rankings. Tampa Bay’s outlook keeps Kucherov firmly in the elite winger tier, while Scott Wedgewood emerges as a top goalie target thanks to expected workload on a contender.

On the flip side, managers have to wrestle with risk around players like Leon Draisaitl, whose lower-body injury clouds both his health and his team’s ability to survive multiple rounds. In playoff pools, an early exit can erase even elite per-game production, so these injury and team-context flags matter more than they would in a standard regular-season league.

Because most playoff formats are shallow and competitive, you can’t simply chase names. You need to prioritize players whose teams have a realistic path to three or four rounds, then layer in positional scarcity. That’s why a workhorse defenseman like Makar or a clear No. 1 goalie like Wedgewood can be as valuable as many star forwards once the bracket starts shrinking.

Fantasy Implications

Points-Only

In points-only playoff pools, your first priority is maximizing total games played from your top scorers. MacKinnon is the prototype here: a top-line center on a powerhouse Colorado team, driving the offense at even strength and on the top power play. If Colorado lives up to expectations, he can separate from the pack simply by playing more games than other elite centers.

Kucherov fills a similar role on the wing. As Tampa Bay’s offensive engine, he brings multi-point upside in any given night, and his team’s experience in deep playoff runs keeps him near the top of any rankings. Building a forward core around MacKinnon and Kucherov gives you a strong base of scoring volume with high ceilings every round.

On defense, Makar is the rare blue liner who can keep pace with top forwards in a playoff setting. He logs massive minutes, quarterbacks the top power play, and contributes in all situations. In points-only formats, that makes him worth pushing up your board ahead of many second-tier forwards, especially if you believe Colorado will be one of the last teams standing.

At goalie, Wedgewood’s value comes from being projected as a starting option on a team with legitimate Cup aspirations. In points-only formats that count wins and shutouts, a deep run can turn a solid goalie into a league-winner. The risk is that if his team stumbles early, you’re left with a dead roster spot, so he’s best paired with at least one other netminder from the opposite side of the bracket if your format allows.

Draisaitl is the trickiest call in points-only. Healthy, he’s a top-tier playoff asset with multi-point upside every game. But with a lower-body injury already in play, you have to weigh the possibility of limited minutes or missed games against his name value. In tight pools, that risk can be the difference between winning and finishing in the middle of the pack.

Categories / Bangers

In multi-category playoff formats, the same core names still matter, but their value shifts slightly. MacKinnon’s shot volume and offensive usage give him a strong floor in categories like shots and power-play points, even in lower-scoring games. That makes him safer than many other centers if Colorado runs into a defensive series.

Kucherov’s strength is concentrated in assists, power-play production, and overall point totals. If your format de-emphasizes hits and penalty minutes, he remains a premier asset. In more physical scoring systems, you may want to complement him with wingers who bring more grit, but his offensive categories are elite enough to justify an early investment regardless.

Makar’s category profile is outstanding for a defenseman. Heavy minutes translate into strong totals in shots, power-play points, and often plus-minus on a strong team. In leagues that count blocked shots, his workload also gives him a meaningful floor there, making him one of the few defensemen who can anchor multiple categories by himself.

For goalies, Wedgewood’s category value is tied to volume and team strength. If your format counts save percentage and goals-against average, a deep run on a strong defensive team can provide elite ratios along with wins. However, if your pool punishes goals allowed heavily and offers no backup spots, you need to be confident he won’t be in a short leash situation.

Draisaitl’s injury risk is even more concerning in bangers formats. If he’s not at full strength, you may see dips in shots, physical play, and time on ice, which can drag down multiple categories at once. That doesn’t mean you avoid him entirely, but you should price in the chance that he’s not the all-situations monster you’re used to during the regular season.

Dynasty / Keeper

Most playoff pools are redraft-style, but if you’re in a dynasty or keeper format that includes postseason scoring, this year’s rankings still offer useful signals. Players like MacKinnon, Kucherov, and Makar are already established cornerstones; their high placement in playoff rankings simply reinforces that they’re long-term anchors you build around in any format.

For goalies, Wedgewood’s status as a top playoff option highlights how quickly a netminder’s value can rise when they seize a starting role on a contender. In keeper leagues, that makes him an intriguing hold or trade chip if your league rewards playoff production, but you should still evaluate his long-term job security before overcommitting.

Draisaitl’s situation is a reminder that even elite players carry injury risk. In dynasty, a single playoff injury doesn’t change his long-term outlook, but it can create short-term buying windows if a frustrated manager overreacts. Use tools like the NHL Trade Analyzer to gauge whether the discount you’re getting actually compensates for the risk.

Who to Add / Stream / Watch

Nathan MacKinnon – Add (all playoff pools): Top-ranked center on a premier contender; elite scoring volume with deep-run upside.
Nikita Kucherov – Add (all playoff pools): Premier winger and focal point of Tampa Bay’s attack, with massive power-play and multi-point potential.
Cale Makar – Add (all playoff pools): Best offensive defenseman on the board, capable of matching top forwards in total playoff production.
Scott Wedgewood – Add/Watch (depending on goalie depth): Projected starting goalie on a strong team; a priority if your format heavily rewards wins.
Leon Draisaitl – Risky Add (upside swing): Elite ceiling if healthy, but lower-body injury makes him a volatile early investment.

Fantasy Takeaways

Build your playoff pool core around Nathan MacKinnon at center; his combination of role and team strength gives him a path to tournament-winning volume.
Nikita Kucherov is the winger to chase early, offering elite scoring on a team with a proven playoff track record.
Cale Makar’s offensive workload and team context justify taking him ahead of many high-end forwards, especially in formats that reward defensemen heavily.
Scott Wedgewood is a priority goalie target if you expect his team to make a deep run and your scoring system leans on wins and shutouts.
Treat Leon Draisaitl as a high-risk, high-reward play; injury concerns should push him below fully healthy superstars in tight playoff pools.

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