Fantasy Forward Rankings: How to Use the Top 100 for 2025-26

NHL.com’s new top-100 forward list for 2025-26 gives us a clear snapshot of where the elite and emerging scorers stand. The key for fantasy managers isn’t memorizing every slot, but understanding what these rankings say about roles, risk, and upside. Let’s break down how to apply this list to your roster decisions, with a focus on stars like Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid, and high-upside options such as Macklin Celebrini.

What’s New & Why It Matters

The headline change is at the very top: MacKinnon is ranked as the premier fantasy forward, edging out McDavid. That reflects his combination of massive volume, elite linemates, and locked-in PP1 usage in Colorado. It doesn’t mean McDavid is suddenly a consolation prize; it simply underscores that both are foundational anchors with near-unmatched ceilings.

The list also pushes Celebrini aggressively into elite territory. Being placed among the very best forwards signals that NHL.com expects him to step into a top-six role with immediate PP1 exposure in San Jose. For fantasy, that’s a green light to treat him as more than a speculative rookie — especially in leagues that reward pure scoring.

Injury context is another major driver. Jack Hughes remains highly regarded despite his current health issues, which suggests that once he’s back, his top-line, PP1 role for New Jersey should quickly restore his value. On the other side, Aleksander Barkov is effectively written off for this season due to a likely season-long absence, making him a non-factor in redraft formats.

Further down the list, names like Wyatt Johnston and Brady Tkachuk are highlighted for very different reasons. Johnston’s ranking in the low-elite range reflects confidence in his scoring growth in Dallas’ top six, while Tkachuk’s value is driven by his physical profile and PP1 role in Ottawa, making him a category monster in bangers formats even if his pure scoring lags behind the very top names.

Fantasy Implications

Points-Only

In points-only leagues, the rankings mostly reinforce what we already know about MacKinnon and McDavid: you build your offense around them and don’t overthink it. Their combination of top-line deployment, PP1 time, and team context means they’re essentially matchup-proof. Treat them as untouchable holds unless you’re getting multiple elite assets back via the NHL Trade Analyzer.

Celebrini’s lofty placement is where managers need to make a decision. A top-five rank among forwards implies near-immediate star-level production. In points-only, that makes him a priority trade target in leagues where a manager is nervous about rookie volatility. His expected top-six and PP1 role in San Jose gives him a clear path to heavy usage, even on a weaker team.

Hughes’ ranking, despite his injury, is a reminder to be patient. As long as he’s projected to return this season, his upside as New Jersey’s top-line, PP1 driver justifies an IR stash. Dropping him in a points-only league would likely hand a rival a league-winning asset for free.

Johnston’s spot inside the top dozen forwards indicates that his scoring profile is being taken seriously. In standard points-only formats, that moves him from fringe breakout to core piece. If he’s still treated as a mid-tier name in your league, this is a window to buy before his reputation fully catches up to his ranking.

Categories / Bangers

In multi-cat formats, the list highlights how different profiles carry different types of value. MacKinnon and McDavid are still elite, but their edge is mostly in points, shots, and power-play production. They’re automatic holds, but they don’t single-handedly win you hits or PIMs.

This is where Tkachuk’s ranking becomes critical. Even if he’s not near the very top in pure scoring, his combination of top-line minutes, PP1 exposure, hits, and PIMs makes him a cheat code in bangers leagues. Treat him as an elite multi-cat asset you can stream aggressively in shallower formats or hold in deeper ones, especially during heavy-schedule weeks.

Johnston’s value in categories leagues is more scoring-centric. He helps in goals, points, and likely shots, but you’ll need to surround him with heavier hitters if your league emphasizes physical stats. Use the rankings as a reminder that he’s a scoring piece, not a banger anchor.

For Hughes, the calculus is similar to points-only: stash on IR wherever possible. Once healthy, his shot volume and power-play production will help in goals, assists, PPP, and SOG, even if he doesn’t bring much in hits or PIMs.

Dynasty / Keeper

Dynasty managers should read this list a bit differently. Celebrini’s top-five placement is a clear signal to treat him as a franchise cornerstone. A rookie forward being ranked alongside established superstars suggests both immediate and long-term upside. If you can acquire him at a slight discount to that valuation, you should strongly consider it.

MacKinnon and McDavid remain the gold standard in keepers. Their roles as top-line, PP1 centers on elite offenses in Colorado and Edmonton give them multi-year stability. Unless you’re rebuilding and can extract a massive haul of young assets, they should remain locked on your roster.

Hughes’ injury is a buying opportunity in dynasty. Managers in contention may be frustrated by his absence; if the cost is meaningfully below his ranking among the top forwards, you can profit long-term by absorbing the short-term pain.

Johnston’s rise into the low-elite tier is particularly important for dynasty. It confirms that his trajectory is upward and that Dallas sees him as a long-term scoring driver in their top six. He’s exactly the kind of player you target before he fully breaks into the true superstar conversation.

Barkov, by contrast, is a special case. With an expected season-long absence, he’s a clear avoid in redraft. In dynasty, the decision depends on your window: rebuilding teams might be willing to stash him if the price collapses, while contenders may have to move on if they can’t afford a dead roster spot.

Who to Add / Stream / Watch

Macklin Celebrini – Trade target (all formats, priority in dynasty): Ranked among the very top forwards and projected for top-six, PP1 usage, he’s a high-upside cornerstone if you can acquire him before he fully explodes.
Jack Hughes – Hold/stash (all formats): Injury clouds the short term, but his top-line, PP1 role in New Jersey makes him a must-hold on IR for his eventual return.
Wyatt Johnston – Add (standard and deep points leagues): Elevated ranking into the elite tier reflects real scoring growth in Dallas’ top six, making him underpriced wherever he’s still available or undervalued.
Brady Tkachuk – Short-term stream / hold (bangers): Top-line, PP1 deployment plus heavy hits and PIMs make him a premium multi-cat weapon, especially useful during busy schedule stretches.
Aleksander Barkov – Avoid (redraft): With a likely season-long absence, he’s not worth a roster spot outside of very deep dynasty stashes.
Nathan MacKinnon – Anchor hold (all formats): Ranked as the top forward, he’s a set-and-forget superstar you only move for an overwhelming multi-asset return.
Connor McDavid – Anchor hold (all formats): Still one of the most dominant fantasy players; treat him as untouchable unless you’re reshaping your entire roster with multiple elite pieces.

Fantasy Takeaways

MacKinnon and McDavid remain unquestioned cornerstone holds; build your roster around them rather than shopping them lightly.
Celebrini’s aggressive top-five ranking makes him a prime acquisition target, especially in dynasty and keeper formats.
Hughes should be stashed on IR wherever possible; his projected role and ranking make dropping him a major long-term mistake.
Barkov’s expected season-long absence pushes him off the radar in redraft, limiting him to speculative dynasty stashes only.
Johnston and Tkachuk offer different kinds of upside: Johnston as a rising scorer, Tkachuk as a multi-category hammer in bangers leagues.

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