Milano Cortina 2026 Fantasy Hockey Rankings: Building Around the Elite Core

Olympic fantasy pools are a different puzzle than your usual NHL leagues: tiny schedules, stacked rosters, and brutal variance. With NHL.com’s top 100 list for Milano Cortina 2026 as a backbone, you can still create an edge by understanding roles, formats, and medal paths. Let’s break down how to build around the elite core of Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid, Cale Makar, Macklin Celebrini, and Connor Hellebuyck in different fantasy setups.

What’s New & Why It Matters

NHL.com’s Olympic rankings blend NHL dominance, projected international roles, and medal odds into one board. That means it’s not just about who the best players are, but who is most likely to play huge minutes, drive their country’s offense, and go deep into the tournament.

Nathan MacKinnon sits at the very top, edging out McDavid in the overall list. That suggests confidence in his role as Canada’s offensive engine and in Canada’s chances to play a full slate of games. Connor McDavid follows immediately behind, reinforcing that most pools will be won or lost on how you manage exposure to Canada’s top forwards.

On the back end, Cale Makar is the premier defenseman option, ranked among the very best skaters overall. His presence changes how you value defense in Olympic formats: instead of punting the position, you can treat Makar almost like a forward in terms of raw scoring impact.

The rankings also push Macklin Celebrini aggressively into the elite tier despite his emerging status. That’s a clear signal that upside and opportunity on a powerhouse roster matter as much as proven NHL volume in a short tournament. Finally, Connor Hellebuyck headlines the goalie group for Team USA, reflecting both his individual talent and the expectation that the Americans will contend for medals.

Fantasy Implications

Points-Only

In points-only Olympic pools, you’re chasing raw scoring and games played. The rankings make it clear that Canada’s top forwards are the safest foundation. MacKinnon being ranked first overall means you can treat him as the centerpiece of any build: if your format allows stacking, pairing him with another Canadian star like McDavid maximizes exposure to the tournament’s most explosive offense.

McDavid’s second-place slot underscores that there’s no wrong answer between the two; the nuance is schedule and positional scarcity. If your pool requires multiple defensemen, prioritizing Makar early can be a cheat code. He’s ranked among the very top skaters, so you’re not sacrificing much raw scoring while locking up a position where most other teams will be thin.

Celebrini’s lofty placement (inside the top 10) tells you that upside and role on Canada may trump NHL track record. In points-only formats, that makes him an ideal high-ceiling piece if you miss on MacKinnon or McDavid, or as a complementary Canadian if you’re leaning into that roster.

For goalies, Hellebuyck’s status as the top-ranked American netminder makes him a priority if your scoring system heavily rewards wins and shutouts. In many Olympic pools, you’ll only roster one or two goalies; anchoring that spot with the USA starter who’s expected to see the bulk of meaningful games is a strong, low-variance play.

Categories / Bangers

In multi-category Olympic formats, the rankings hint at who can fill the box score, not just the scoresheet. Makar is the standout here. As a top defenseman ranked near the very top overall, he’s expected to provide elite production in offensive categories while still contributing in peripheral stats that some formats count (shots, blocks, plus-minus).

MacKinnon and McDavid remain foundational because their shot volume and power-play usage typically translate to strong category coverage even in small samples. If your scoring includes shots on goal or power-play points, they’re essentially irreplaceable.

Hellebuyck’s value jumps in categories leagues that reward save percentage or shutouts. As the top USA goalie, he’s projected to start the biggest games, which means more chances for high-save outings and clean sheets. The flip side: in very small tournaments, one bad start can hurt, so consider pairing him with a lower-ranked goalie from a medal contender if your format allows it.

Celebrini is more volatile in categories because emerging talents can see their role swing based on early performance. However, his ranking signals that if he lands in a prime scoring role for Canada, he could deliver strong shot and power-play category value relative to where he’s typically selected in casual pools.

Dynasty / Keeper

Olympic performance can reshape dynasty perception, and the rankings already bake in some of that future value. Celebrini is the clearest dynasty storyline: being ranked this high for Milano Cortina suggests that evaluators expect him to be a central piece for Canada by 2026. In dynasty leagues that mirror international play or give bonuses for tournament stats, he’s a premium stash and a potential buy-high if your league-mates are slow to adjust.

MacKinnon and McDavid are already dynasty cornerstones, but a dominant Olympic showing can further cement their long-term value and make them nearly untradeable without a massive haul. If your league allows Olympic stats to count or uses them as tiebreakers, you should treat them as foundational assets rather than trade chips.

Makar’s ranking as the top defenseman reinforces his status as the premier long-term blueliner in fantasy. In any keeper structure that differentiates by position, locking him in for the long haul is a priority. Hellebuyck’s placement as the top USA goalie also supports his ongoing status as a high-end starter in dynasty formats, especially in leagues that reward volume and efficiency.

Who to Add / Stream / Watch

Nathan MacKinnon – Add/start in all formats: Ranked first overall and projected to drive Canada’s offense, he’s the safest elite building block for Olympic pools.
Connor McDavid – Add/start in all formats: Second in the rankings and a focal point for Canada, he offers unmatched offensive ceiling in a short tournament.
Cale Makar – Add/start, priority D: The top-ranked defenseman, he scores like a forward while filling a scarce position, especially valuable in categories leagues.
Macklin Celebrini – Watchlist / upside add: Ranked inside the top 10 as an emerging talent, he’s a high-upside swing if he lands in a prime role for Canada.
Connor Hellebuyck – Add as primary goalie: Top USA goalie and a key to their medal hopes, he’s an ideal anchor in formats that reward wins and shutouts.

Fantasy Takeaways

MacKinnon’s number-one ranking makes him a priority start in any points-focused Olympic pool, with Canada’s deep run potential boosting his floor.
McDavid remains a must-start centerpiece, and pairing him with another Canadian star can give you a huge edge in small-slate formats.
Makar’s status as the top defenseman means you should treat him like an elite forward who just happens to fill a scarce blue-line slot.
Celebrini’s aggressive ranking signals breakout potential; he belongs on every dynasty manager’s radar and is a strong upside play in Olympic pools.
Hellebuyck is the go-to USA goalie, and his combination of talent and team strength makes him a high-confidence start where goalie stats matter.

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