Projecting the Elite: 2026-27 Fantasy Hockey First-Round Guide

The 2026-27 fantasy hockey season still starts with the same core question: who deserves the top overall pick? With Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid, and Nikita Kucherov all boasting elite resumes, the margin is razor thin. Add in positional outliers like Cale Makar on defense and Andrei Vasilevskiy in goal, and your first-round decision shapes the rest of your build. Let’s break down what’s changed, how to prioritize these superstars, and how to tailor your first-round choice to your league settings.

What’s New & Why It Matters

This season’s early projections tilt the No. 1 conversation slightly toward MacKinnon. His case is built on unmatched goal-scoring from the center position and a locked-in role as top-line, top power-play engine for the Colorado Avalanche. In formats that reward goals heavily or give bonuses for shots and power-play markers, that edge is meaningful.

McDavid, meanwhile, remains the safest floor in fantasy. As the offensive heartbeat of the Edmonton Oilers, he continues to dominate assists and overall point production. If your scoring leans toward total points, assists, or heavily rewards power-play production without over-weighting goals, McDavid can still be the optimal choice at the very top.

Kucherov enters the mix as a justifiable third overall pick, driving the top line and PP1 for the Tampa Bay Lightning. His combination of elite playmaking and scoring, plus the added motivation of a contract year, keeps him firmly in the first tier of forwards.

On defense, Makar stands alone. As a top-pair, PP1 quarterback in Colorado, he offers forward-like scoring from the blue line. That positional scarcity means he can be pushed into the back half of the first round in many builds, especially where defense scoring is amplified.

Finally, Vasilevskiy remains the premier early-round goalie. Tampa Bay’s workhorse starter still projects as a high-win, high-volume option. In leagues that require multiple goalies or weight wins and ratios heavily, he can sneak into the late first as a structural pick to stabilize your crease.

Fantasy Implications

Points-Only

In pure points formats, the conversation narrows to who can lead the league in scoring and who carries the safest floor. McDavid’s track record of massive point totals keeps him in the 1A/1B mix with MacKinnon. If you want maximum safety in raw points, McDavid remains the benchmark, especially with his role locked in on Edmonton’s top line and top power play.

MacKinnon’s argument in points-only is that his goal volume plus elite assist totals can still keep him right with McDavid, and in some seasons, ahead. If your league gives any bonus for goals or power-play goals, that nudges him to the top. Kucherov is the clear third in this format: his combination of playmaking and scoring on Tampa’s PP1 ensures he’s a threat to finish near the top of the scoring race.

Makar becomes especially interesting in points-only leagues that don’t devalue defensemen. If blue-liners score on the same scale as forwards, his ability to post forward-like totals from the back end makes him a legitimate first-rounder. He’s one of the few defensemen who can keep pace with elite forwards in raw points while giving you a massive edge at a thin position.

Vasilevskiy’s value is more format-dependent in points-only. If your league awards significant points for wins and shutouts, he can justify an early pick. If goalie scoring is modest, he’s better suited for the early second, but his stability still supports an anchor-goalie strategy.

Categories / Bangers

In multi-category and bangers formats, MacKinnon’s case strengthens. His shot volume and goal scoring typically translate into strong contributions in goals, shots, and often power-play points. As the offensive driver in Colorado, he rarely posts empty stat lines, which is crucial in head-to-head leagues.

McDavid remains elite in assists, points, and power-play production, and he’ll still contribute in shots, even if he doesn’t always match MacKinnon’s goal totals. If your league emphasizes power-play points, he can close any gap quickly. Kucherov thrives here too: his role on Tampa’s top unit means he’s a monster in assists, power-play points, and overall scoring, and he can still chip in solid goal totals.

Makar is a category-league cheat code at defense. He piles up points, power-play production, and shots from the blue line, and in some formats he’ll also help in plus-minus. If your league requires multiple defensemen or uses separate positional slots, locking in Makar early lets you chase value forwards later without sacrificing blue-line production.

Vasilevskiy’s category value is straightforward: wins, save percentage, and potentially shutouts. In leagues where you must start several goalies or where ratios are volatile, his consistency can be the difference between weekly wins and losses. Taking him in the first round is less about ceiling and more about stabilizing the most unpredictable position.

Dynasty / Keeper

In dynasty and long-term keeper formats, age and durability become bigger tiebreakers. MacKinnon and McDavid are both still firmly in their prime, and nothing in the current outlook suggests an imminent decline. Either can anchor a roster for multiple competitive windows, so your choice can come down to league scoring and personal risk tolerance.

Kucherov’s elite production keeps him in the first-round dynasty conversation, but his value is slightly more short- to mid-term compared to the younger centers. He’s still a fantastic centerpiece if you’re built to win now, especially with his ongoing role as Tampa’s offensive focal point.

Makar is arguably the most valuable dynasty defenseman in the game. His combination of age, role, and production from the back end makes him a foundational piece in any long-term build. If your league keeps a large portion of rosters, prioritizing Makar early can pay off for years.

Vasilevskiy remains a strong dynasty goalie, but the general volatility and shorter shelf life of elite goaltending compared to skaters means you should only push him into the first round if your format heavily rewards goalies or you’re already leaning into a win-now window.

Who to Add / Stream / Watch

Nathan MacKinnon – Add/Build Around: Priority top overall pick in most formats thanks to elite goal scoring and a locked-in PP1 role in Colorado.
Connor McDavid – Add/Build Around: Safest path to league-leading point totals as Edmonton’s offensive engine on the top line and top power play.
Nikita Kucherov – Add/Elite Core Piece: First-tier winger who can challenge for the scoring title while driving Tampa Bay’s PP1.
Cale Makar – Add/Positional Edge: Rare defenseman who scores like a forward, giving you a huge blue-line advantage in any format.
Andrei Vasilevskiy – Add/Anchor Goalie: High-win, workhorse starter in Tampa Bay who stabilizes your goalie categories from day one.

Fantasy Takeaways

MacKinnon deserves serious consideration as the top overall pick, especially in formats that lean toward goals and shot volume.
McDavid remains an elite, low-risk choice at the very top, particularly in total-points and power-play-heavy scoring systems.
Kucherov is a strong third option who can still challenge for the scoring lead while giving you elite wing production.
Makar’s forward-like scoring from defense makes him a justifiable first-rounder when positional scarcity is a factor.
Vasilevskiy is the premier early goalie target, offering rare stability and win potential if your format rewards goaltending heavily.

Source: Rotowire. See the original for full details.