2026 Playoff Fantasy Rankings: Skaters, Goalies and Risky Fades

The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs demand a different mindset than the regular season. Volume shrinks, matchups tighten and one hot goalie can swing an entire pool. Using NHL.com's latest playoff pool rankings as a guide, let's break down how to attack skaters, goalies and risky names so you can squeeze maximum value out of every roster spot.

What’s New & Why It Matters

The headline from these rankings is how aggressively elite talent and team context are being weighted. Nathan MacKinnon sits at the top of the skater board as the premier playoff asset, reflecting not just his regular-season dominance but also his heavy usage in all situations and first-unit power-play role. On defense, Cale Makar is treated as the clear premium blueline option, reinforcing how scarce true difference-makers are on the back end in short playoff formats.

In net, Scott Wedgewood is ranked as the top goalie, a nod to both his expected workload and the confidence in his team’s ability to win multiple rounds. That’s a big shift from regular-season fantasy, where volume alone can buoy mid-tier goalies; in playoff pools, advancing equity and win potential are everything.

There’s also a notable push for upside forwards like Logan Stankoven, who grades out highly despite being less established. His top-six role and offensive ceiling give him a path to outproduce more familiar names if his team goes on a run. On the flip side, the rankings flag injury landmines such as Mark Stone, who carries enough health risk to be labeled a fade despite his proven playoff track record when fully available.

Finally, rookie goalie Jakub Dobes cracking the top options underscores how playoff pools can reward speculative bets in net. If he grabs a crease and his team gets hot, he can swing categories and points alike, especially in smaller brackets where each win is magnified.

Fantasy Implications

Points-Only

In points-only playoff formats, you’re chasing raw scoring and team longevity. MacKinnon is the prototype here: a top forward on the first power-play unit for a contender that can realistically push deep into the postseason. He should be one of the first names you prioritize when building around a single team core.

Martin Necas, highlighted as a high-value forward in the source rankings, fits the mid-tier sweet spot. He offers strong offensive upside without the absolute top-tier price tag, making him ideal when you need secondary scoring behind a MacKinnon or another superstar. Pairing forwards from the same potent offense can amplify your ceiling if that team advances.

On the blue line, Cale Makar’s value in points-only pools is enormous. True PP1 quarterbacks on elite offenses are scarce, and Makar’s combination of even-strength production and power-play involvement makes him worth prioritizing over many mid-range forwards. If your format allows for flexible positions, treating him almost like a premium forward is justified.

Stankoven becomes more interesting the deeper your pool goes. In shallow points-only leagues, you may not need to reach for his upside. But in larger pools where differentiation matters, his top-six role and offensive potential give him a realistic chance to outperform more established but lower-ceiling options on weaker teams.

Categories / Bangers

In multi-category playoff formats, goalies and peripherals gain importance. Wedgewood’s ranking as the top goalie reflects not only win equity but also the potential to rack up saves and strong ratios over a compressed schedule. If your format heavily rewards wins and shutouts, anchoring your crease with him can be a tournament-defining edge.

Jakub Dobes is more volatile but intriguing. As a rookie, his floor is lower, but if he earns the starting job and his team gets hot, he can provide an outsized share of your goalie stats. In categories leagues, that kind of leverage is valuable, especially if you pair him with a safer option.

Among skaters, MacKinnon and Makar both bring strong category coverage: shots, power-play points and, in some formats, even a bit of physicality. They’re not just pure scorers; they help you across multiple columns, which is crucial when every game is high leverage.

Mark Stone is the cautionary tale. Healthy, he’s exactly the kind of multi-cat playoff beast you want: hits, takeaways in some formats, and clutch scoring. But the rankings’ injury tag is a red flag. In categories leagues, burning a roster spot on an uncertain health situation can be fatal when there are so few games to make up ground. Unless your format has generous IR flexibility, he’s better left to someone else.

Dynasty / Keeper

For dynasty and long-term keeper formats that incorporate playoff scoring, these rankings offer a glimpse of who could be foundational pieces for years. MacKinnon and Makar are already franchise anchors, and their continued presence at the top of playoff value lists reinforces their long-term stability.

Stankoven is the standout dynasty riser. Being ranked highly among skaters for a playoff pool as a young forward signals real confidence in his role and trajectory. If he delivers in high-pressure games, his perceived value in dynasty circles will spike. This is the type of player you try to acquire before the breakout is fully priced in.

Dobes is the classic goalie stash. Cracking top playoff goalie rankings as a rookie is no small feat. Even if his immediate playoff impact is modest, the fact that he’s already on the radar as a potential difference-maker suggests he’s worth a protected spot in deeper keeper and dynasty formats. If your league allows offseason trading, monitor his playoff usage closely and be ready to move before or after a hot stretch depending on your contention window.

Stone, meanwhile, is trending toward a tough dynasty decision. Persistent injury concerns make him harder to build around long term, even though his per-game impact remains strong. Contenders might still ride the risk for short-term upside, but retooling teams should explore moving him using tools like the NHL Trade Analyzer to gauge market value.

Who to Add / Stream / Watch

Nathan MacKinnon – Add (all formats): Top-ranked playoff skater with massive usage and PP1 time on a contender.
Scott Wedgewood – Add (all formats): Ranked as the premier playoff goalie, combining win equity with strong volume potential.
Cale Makar – Add (all formats): Elite PP1 defenseman whose scoring rivals many forwards, especially valuable in shallow D pools.
Martin Necas – Short-term core piece: High-value forward who can provide strong secondary scoring behind your top stars.
Logan Stankoven – Watchlist / Upside add (deeper leagues): Highly ranked top-six forward with breakout potential if his team goes on a run.
Jakub Dobes – Watchlist / speculative add: Rookie goalie with enough upside to swing a bracket if he seizes the crease.
Mark Stone – Avoid (most formats): Injury risk outweighs upside in short playoff pools without ample IR spots.

Fantasy Takeaways

Build around Nathan MacKinnon as a premier playoff cornerstone in both points-only and categories formats.
Prioritize Scott Wedgewood among goalies; win equity and workload matter more than sheer volume in playoff pools.
Treat Logan Stankoven as a high-upside swing in deeper or larger pools where you need differentiation.
Fade Mark Stone unless your format has strong injury protection; the health risk is too steep in short tournaments.
In dynasty and keeper leagues, monitor Jakub Dobes closely as a potential long-term riser if he delivers in the playoffs.

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