Top 200 Fantasy Hockey Rankings: How to Attack 2025-26

NHL.com’s new top-200 fantasy rankings for 2025-26 give us a clear early roadmap for how the elite tiers stack up. Rather than just reading the list, fantasy managers need to understand why

What’s New & Why It Matters

The headline change is that Nathan MacKinnon is graded as the most valuable overall fantasy asset for 2025-26. That nod reflects his combination of elite scoring, massive shot volume, and locked-in role on Colorado’s top line and power play. It also effectively places him on equal footing with other perennial 1.01 candidates like Connor McDavid, creating a true debate at the very top of any rankings or trade value list.

Behind them, the list confirms that Cale Makar remains in his own tier among defensemen. Being the clear offensive engine on Colorado’s blue line with prime power-play deployment makes him the rare defenseman who can keep pace with high-end forwards in total value. That positional edge is crucial in leagues where top defensemen are scarce and expensive to acquire.

In goal, Andrei Vasilevskiy still carries an elite-starter label, but his injury situation is explicitly flagged. That uncertainty pushes him out of the unquestioned top goalie spot and forces managers to weigh early-season risk versus long-term upside. If he misses time or starts slowly, you’ll need a stronger streaming plan in net.

The rankings also shine a spotlight on upside youth. Macklin Celebrini is highlighted as a high-upside rookie with a chance to contribute right away, while players like Connor Bedard (mentioned in the takeaways) are framed as cornerstone dynasty pieces. That combination of established superstars and emerging talent is what makes the top 200 so valuable for both win-now and long-view builds.

Fantasy Implications

Points-Only

In pure scoring formats, the rankings essentially confirm a top-forward axis built around MacKinnon and McDavid. MacKinnon’s placement as the top overall option signals that his environment and usage in Colorado are viewed as slightly safer or more explosive than anyone else’s. If you’re choosing between them in trades, the gap is small enough that league settings and roster needs should decide, but MacKinnon’s edge in shots and goal-scoring potential can be a difference-maker in leagues that reward volume.

McDavid’s status as an elite scorer is unchanged; he remains a foundational piece you simply build around. The key takeaway is that you no longer have to treat him as the automatic top asset in every format. If another manager values him as untouchable while MacKinnon is treated as a slight tier below, that’s a trade window you can exploit using the NHL Trade Analyzer to balance value.

On the back end, Makar’s ranking reinforces the idea that he should be treated more like a top-10 overall skater than “just” the first defenseman off the board. In points-only leagues where defense scoring is weighted similarly to forwards, his power-play role and offensive ceiling justify aggressive acquisition prices. If you’re stacked at forward and thin on defense, paying a premium for Makar can actually raise your team’s overall ceiling.

Celebrini’s high placement for a rookie suggests expectations of meaningful minutes and prime offensive opportunity in San Jose. In points-only formats, that makes him more than a stash; he’s a viable starting option if he lands on a top line and first power-play unit. Just be prepared for typical rookie inconsistency.

Categories / Bangers

In multi-cat leagues, MacKinnon’s top ranking becomes even more understandable. His shot volume, goals, and power-play production all stack up, and he’s not a drag in peripheral categories. That well-rounded profile is exactly what you want from your cornerstone skater in standard categories formats.

Makar’s value is also amplified in bangers leagues where defensemen who contribute across the board are at a premium. While he’s primarily an offensive weapon, his minutes and usage still translate into strong totals in shots, power-play points, and often blocks. When you combine that with his position, he can anchor your blue line in a way very few players can.

Vasilevskiy’s situation is trickier. In categories formats that count wins, save percentage, and goals-against average, his ceiling remains among the highest at the position. But the rankings’ injury note is a clear signal: you can’t treat him as a set-and-forget workhorse without a backup plan. If you invest heavily in him, you’ll need to prioritize a strong second goalie and be ready to stream favorable matchups off the waiver wire guide early in the season.

For rookies like Celebrini, categories managers should temper expectations a bit. The ranking highlights his scoring upside, but rookies often lag in peripherals like shots, hits, and special-teams volume. He’s still a strong upside play, just less of a lock to be a multi-category monster out of the gate.

Dynasty / Keeper

In long-term formats, the rankings confirm that MacKinnon and McDavid remain the gold standard for building around elite forwards in their prime. Both are still in their peak years, and there’s no indication of role erosion or declining opportunity. If anything, MacKinnon’s top ranking suggests his situation in Colorado is viewed as the most stable of any superstar.

Makar is arguably the single most valuable defenseman in dynasty. His combination of age, role, and production makes him a player you simply do not move unless you are overwhelmed by an offer that transforms your roster at multiple positions.

Celebrini’s high ranking as a rookie is especially important for dynasty managers. It signals that expectations are not just long-term but also near-term: he’s being viewed as a player who can contribute quickly and grow into a franchise cornerstone. That makes him a priority target in any rebuild and a high-upside swing for contenders who can absorb some short-term volatility.

The injury notes on Vasilevskiy and Elias Pettersson (mentioned in the takeaways) are more nuanced in dynasty. Short-term availability concerns matter less than long-term talent and situation. If their rankings dip in your league’s perception due to immediate health worries, that can create buy-low windows where you trade present-day depth for future elite production.

Who to Add / Stream / Watch

Nathan MacKinnon – Add / Trade target (all leagues): Ranked as the top overall player, he’s worth aggressive trade offers if his manager undervalues that edge.
Connor McDavid – Hold (all leagues): Still an elite scorer and foundational piece; only move him if you’re getting multiple top-tier assets back.
Cale Makar – Trade target (standard & categories): The clear top defenseman; paying up for his positional advantage can reshape your blue line.
Andrei Vasilevskiy – Watch / Buy-low (categories): Injury concerns create risk, but his upside as an elite starter makes him a classic high-reward buy-low.
Macklin Celebrini – Add / Prospect watch (dynasty & deep redraft): A highly ranked rookie with immediate-impact potential if he lands in a top offensive role.
Elias Pettersson – Cautious add (all formats): Injury flags suggest discount opportunity; target him if the price bakes in early-season risk.

Fantasy Takeaways

Nathan MacKinnon’s placement at the top of the rankings confirms him as a justifiable 1.01-level asset and premium trade target in any format.
Andrei Vasilevskiy remains an elite goalie, but his flagged injury status means you must pair him with depth and streaming options in net.
Macklin Celebrini’s aggressive ranking signals real short-term upside, making him a priority stash in dynasty and a high-upside swing in deeper leagues.
Connor Bedard and other young stars should be treated as long-term anchors in dynasty, with rankings backing their franchise-level upside.
Elias Pettersson’s injury note suggests a risk discount; if the market overreacts, he becomes an appealing buy for managers willing to absorb early volatility.

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