Fantasy Hockey 2025 By the Numbers: MacKinnon, McDavid and the New Elite
With the 2025 fantasy season in the books, the numbers tell a clear story: a few superstars separated from the pack, a breakout sniper crashed the party, and one goalie quietly stabilized entire rosters. Let’s unpack what Nathan MacKinnon’s dominance, Connor McDavid’s efficiency, Morgan Geekie’s breakout, Cale Makar’s blue-line edge, and Darcy Kuemper’s goaltending surge mean for your rest-of-season planning, trades, and keeper decisions.
What’s New & Why It Matters
Nathan MacKinnon didn’t just have a strong year; he set the pace for the entire fantasy landscape, leading the league in overall fantasy points and shot volume. That combination of elite scoring and relentless shooting is exactly what separates a good first-round type from a true league-winner in points-heavy formats.
Connor McDavid ceded the top overall spot but remained the most efficient scorer on a per-game basis, especially on the power play. His points-per-game edge and power-play production kept him firmly in the conversation for the most valuable asset in category leagues that reward special-teams damage.
The biggest twist came from Morgan Geekie, who erupted as a top goal-scorer for the Boston Bruins. His high shooting percentage and chemistry with a top offensive winger turned him from depth filler into a legitimate fantasy starter, especially in leagues that reward goals more heavily than assists.
On the back end, Cale Makar once again separated himself from the defense field. As the top defenseman in points and overall fantasy impact, his role on the Colorado Avalanche top pair and first power-play unit gave him forward-like upside from the blue line.
In net, Darcy Kuemper quietly posted elite numbers for the Los Angeles Kings, leading goalies in save percentage and goals-against average. For fantasy managers, that meant a rare combination of ratios stability and strong category coverage whenever he was in the crease.
Fantasy Implications
Points-Only
In points-only formats, MacKinnon is the clear benchmark. His league-leading fantasy total, driven by both raw points and massive shot volume, gives him a higher floor than almost anyone else. Even when he doesn’t score, he’s generating enough chances that the points follow quickly. If you can acquire him via trade, it’s worth paying a premium because he anchors your scoring in a way few others can.
McDavid’s value in points-only remains elite because of his efficiency and power-play role. His points-per-game dominance means that even if he misses a bit of time or his team has a lighter schedule, he can still outproduce most stars in fewer games. He’s a classic “don’t overthink it” hold: you only move him if you’re getting multiple top-tier assets back.
Geekie’s breakout as a 50-goal scorer with a sky-high shooting percentage is trickier. In points-only, that goal total is gold, but the underlying efficiency screams regression. Expect some pullback, but his demonstrated chemistry with a top winger and top-six role in Boston suggest he should still be a meaningful contributor. Treat him as a strong middle-tier scorer rather than assuming a repeat of his peak goal total.
Makar’s offensive dominance from the blue line is a cheat code in points-only leagues. Leading all defensemen in points means he often outproduces many forwards, giving you a positional edge that’s hard for opponents to match. If your league weights defensemen equally to forwards, Makar belongs in the absolute top tier of overall assets.
Categories / Bangers
In multi-category formats, MacKinnon’s shot volume is as important as his scoring. High shot totals fuel goals, help in shots-on-goal categories, and stabilize his weekly output. He’s the kind of player who can swing multiple categories—goals, points, shots, and often plus-minus—almost by himself.
McDavid’s category value leans heavily on power-play points and assists, with strong contributions in goals and shots as well. If your league emphasizes special-teams scoring, his power-play dominance keeps him neck-and-neck with MacKinnon. In leagues that count fewer finesse categories, MacKinnon’s shot volume may give him the slight edge.
Geekie is a prime example of a category specialist whose value depends on your scoring settings. In leagues that reward goals, shooting percentage, and possibly game-winning goals, his profile is extremely attractive. But if your format emphasizes volume stats like shots and secondary categories like hits or blocks, his reliance on efficiency is a risk. He’s still an asset, but you should price in some regression and avoid overpaying in trades.
Kuemper’s elite save percentage and goals-against average made him a category league star. Even without leading the league in wins, his ratios alone could carry you in goalie categories. He’s best deployed as a high-impact start in matchups where his team isn’t badly outgunned, making him ideal for weekly streaming or tandem setups where you can protect his starts.
Dynasty / Keeper
In dynasty and keeper formats, the hierarchy at the top doesn’t change much: MacKinnon and McDavid remain foundational pieces. Age and wear-and-tear are always considerations, but their current level of dominance and clear roles as top-line centers and PP1 anchors keep them among the safest long-term bets in fantasy.
Makar might be the single most valuable defenseman in dynasty. His role on Colorado’s top pair and first power-play unit isn’t going anywhere, and his ability to lead all defensemen in points suggests several more elite seasons are likely. If you can acquire him in a keeper or dynasty league, he’s worth targeting even at a steep cost due to the scarcity of truly elite offensive defensemen.
Geekie is a classic boom-or-bust dynasty asset. On one hand, a 50-goal season at any shooting percentage proves he can finish at a high level when given opportunity and quality linemates. On the other, maintaining that level of efficiency is unlikely. In dynasty, he’s an excellent hold or speculative buy if the price reflects some regression; just don’t pay like you’re locking in perennial top-10 goal totals.
Kuemper’s dynasty value is more modest because goalie performance can be volatile and age hits the position differently. His current elite ratios make him a strong short- to medium-term hold, but in longer windows you should be careful about overcommitting assets. Think of him as a high-end bridge goalie rather than a long-term cornerstone.
Who to Add / Stream / Watch
- Nathan MacKinnon – Trade target (all formats): League-leading fantasy production and shot volume make him worth a massive offer via the NHL Trade Analyzer.
- Connor McDavid – Hold (all formats): Elite points per game and power-play dominance mean you only move him for a haul of multiple top assets.
- Morgan Geekie – Add (standard and deep leagues): Breakout goal-scoring and top-six usage in Boston justify a firm roster spot despite likely shooting regression.
- Cale Makar – Trade target / cornerstone (points-only, dynasty): Leading all defensemen in points gives you a massive positional edge for years.
- Darcy Kuemper – Short-term stream (categories): Elite save percentage and GAA make him a prime ratios stabilizer when the matchup is favorable.
Fantasy Takeaways
- Nathan MacKinnon’s combination of league-best fantasy totals and shot volume justifies aggressive trade offers if there’s any window to acquire him.
- Connor McDavid remains a set-and-forget cornerstone, especially in formats that heavily reward power-play production and points per game.
- Morgan Geekie’s breakout goal total is real value, but his extreme shooting efficiency suggests you should expect some regression and price him accordingly.
- Cale Makar’s offensive edge from the blue line makes him a priority asset in both points-only and dynasty leagues due to his rare positional impact.
- Darcy Kuemper’s elite ratios make him an ideal streaming or tandem option in categories leagues, particularly when you can pick his spots.
Source: NHL.com. See the original for full details.