Top 200 Fantasy Hockey Rankings: How to Use the Board in 2025-26

NHL.com’s top 200 list for 2025-26 gives us a clear snapshot of where elite talent sits heading into the season. But rankings are only useful if you know how to apply them to trades, roster decisions and in-season management. Let’s break down what Nathan MacKinnon’s spot at the top really means, how to treat stars like Cale Makar in different formats, and where upside swings like Macklin Celebrini fit into your plans.

What’s New & Why It Matters

The headline from NHL.com’s board is that Nathan MacKinnon is ranked as the No. 1 fantasy option for 2025-26. As the top-line center and PP1 driver for the Colorado Avalanche, he’s being treated as the safest blend of ceiling and stability. In practical terms, that means you should treat any trade offer involving MacKinnon with extreme skepticism unless you’re getting a clear multi-piece haul.

On defense, Cale Makar sits at or near the top of the positional rankings. His role as a top-pair, PP1 quarterback for Colorado gives him rare category coverage from the blue line. In leagues that count shots, power-play points and overall volume, his high ranking justifies paying a premium in trades, especially if you’re thin on defense.

Rookie center Macklin Celebrini is a standout name on the list. Slotted highly for a first-year player, he’s projected to step right into a top-six role and PP1 usage for the San Jose Sharks. That combination of opportunity and talent is gold in dynasty and deeper formats, even if there’s some short-term volatility.

The rankings also flag risk profiles. Martin Necas is tagged as a high-value, top-six, PP1 forward but currently injured, which complicates his early-season value. Meanwhile, Sam Bennett is identified as a risky option due to his own injury concerns, despite his usual multi-category appeal for the Florida Panthers. Using the board correctly means weighing those health flags against your league settings and risk tolerance.

Fantasy Implications

Points-Only

In points-only leagues, the NHL.com list essentially functions as a value curve for pure scoring. MacKinnon’s placement at the top underscores his elite role and the expectation that he will be among the league leaders in points. If you roster him, you’re building around a true anchor piece; trading him away should only happen if you’re addressing multiple holes at once.

Makar’s lofty ranking among all skaters, not just defensemen, highlights how far ahead he is from most blueliners in raw point potential. In points-only formats, that separation matters more than his peripheral stats. He’s the rare defenseman who can keep pace with high-end forwards, which justifies aggressive trade offers if you’re chasing a title.

Celebrini’s strong position on the board signals that NHL.com expects him to contribute offensively right away. In points-only, he’s a calculated upside play: there may be growing pains on a rebuilding Sharks team, but his PP1 role and top-six usage give him a realistic path to impact scoring. He’s especially valuable if your league rewards patience and you can stash him through any early inconsistency.

Necas is a classic buy-low candidate in points-only leagues. The rankings still treat him as a high-value offensive piece when healthy, so any discount you get because of his current injury is an opportunity. Managers who can afford a slow start should be looking to acquire him before he’s fully ramped up.

Categories / Bangers

In multi-category formats, the rankings help you separate pure scorers from true category stuffers. MacKinnon’s elite placement still holds, but his value is even more pronounced if your league counts shots and power-play production, given his heavy usage and volume role for Colorado.

Makar’s profile is tailor-made for categories leagues. As a top-pair, PP1 defenseman, he contributes across goals, assists, power-play points and shots from the back end. His high ranking suggests that he can single-handedly stabilize your blue line, allowing you to focus other roster spots on forwards and banger types.

Bennett is where the rankings’ injury context becomes crucial. On paper, his top-six, PP2 role for the Florida Panthers usually brings hits, PIM and some secondary scoring. But with the list explicitly flagging his injury risk and recommending caution, he shifts from a priority multi-cat target to a player you only consider if the price is heavily discounted and you have IR flexibility.

Celebrini’s value in categories will depend heavily on how quickly he adapts to the NHL and what stats your league counts. The rankings view him as a high-upside asset, but his primary appeal is still offense rather than hits or blocks. Treat him as a scoring-focused piece rather than a banger, and build your roster accordingly.

Dynasty / Keeper

For dynasty and keeper formats, the top 200 list is a roadmap for long-term asset value. MacKinnon and Makar are foundational pieces; their combination of age, role and elite production means they should be nearly untouchable unless you’re executing a full rebuild and getting a king’s ransom in return.

Celebrini is the marquee dynasty takeaway. His high ranking as a rookie signals strong confidence in his long-term upside and immediate opportunity. In keeper and dynasty leagues, he’s the kind of player you overpay for early, accepting short-term volatility for multi-year payoff. If he’s somehow available, he should be a priority add or trade target.

Necas, despite his current injury, retains strong dynasty appeal. The rankings still view him as a top-six, PP1-caliber scorer, which suggests his long-term trajectory remains intact. In multi-year formats, that makes him an ideal buy-low: short-term uncertainty can translate into discounted acquisition cost.

Bennett’s flagged injury risk is a bigger concern in dynasty. Multi-year durability questions can erode long-term value, especially for players who rely on physical play. If you’re not contending, this is the type of profile you consider moving while he still carries name recognition, using tools like the NHL Trade Analyzer to gauge market value.

Who to Add / Stream / Watch

Nathan MacKinnon – Add/Hold (all formats): Elite, top-ranked anchor piece; build your roster around his top-line, PP1 production rather than shopping him lightly.
Cale Makar – Trade target (standard/categories): A true difference-maker at defense with multi-category impact; worth paying up for if you need a blue-line cornerstone.
Macklin Celebrini – Add (dynasty and deep redraft): High-ranking rookie projected for top-six and PP1 usage, offering significant upside if you can stomach some early volatility.
Martin Necas – Watchlist/Buy-low (all formats): Injury clouds his short-term outlook, but his top-six, PP1 profile makes him an appealing stash or trade target at a discount.
Sam Bennett – Avoid/Monitor (categories): Normally a useful multi-cat forward, but current injury concerns make him too risky unless the acquisition cost is minimal.

Fantasy Takeaways

NHL.com’s ranking of Nathan MacKinnon as the top overall player confirms him as a set-and-forget cornerstone you should only move for a massive overpay.
Cale Makar’s status as a premier defenseman justifies aggressive trade offers, especially in categories formats where his all-around production is irreplaceable.
Macklin Celebrini’s high placement as a rookie makes him a priority long-term add in dynasty and a worthwhile upside swing in deeper leagues.
Martin Necas’ injury creates a buy-low window; the rankings still view him as a high-value scorer once he’s healthy.
Sam Bennett’s flagged injury risk shifts him from useful multi-cat piece to a player you should generally avoid unless the price and format both make sense.

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