Top 200 Fantasy Hockey Rankings: How to Use Them for 2025-26

NHL.com’s new top 200 list for 2025-26 is a great snapshot of the fantasy landscape, but the real edge comes from how you apply it. Rather than treating rankings as a script, use them to spot value gaps, injury landmines, and breakout windows. Let’s walk through the biggest fantasy angles around stars like Nathan MacKinnon, elite blueliners such as Cale Makar, emerging names like Macklin Celebrini, and how to react when injuries hit your roster.

What’s New & Why It Matters

The rankings are built for standard leagues and factor in recent production, power-play roles, and team context. At the top, Nathan MacKinnon is graded as the premier fantasy option, edging out other superstars like Connor McDavid thanks to his combination of elite scoring, shot volume, and top-unit deployment on a powerhouse Colorado Avalanche attack. That top spot reinforces that he’s a set-and-forget anchor in any format.

On defense, Cale Makar stands out as the clear premium option. His placement near the very top of the overall board underlines how scarce true PP1 workhorses are on the back end. In many leagues, the gap between him and the next tier of defensemen is wide enough that he functions like a first-line forward in your lineup, especially in leagues that reward power-play points and shots.

In goal, Connor Hellebuyck is highlighted as the top-ranked netminder. That signals confidence in his workload and stability, which is crucial in a position defined by volatility. A goalie with a locked-in starter’s role on a competitive team is a major stabilizer for your weekly matchups.

The rankings also flag key injuries. Auston Matthews and Quinn Hughes are noted as currently sidelined, while Aleksander Barkov is described as likely out for the season. This matters because rankings often lag your league’s waiver wire; if managers are still holding long-term injuries in shallow formats, you can gain an edge by being more aggressive with drops and adds.

Finally, the inclusion of Macklin Celebrini and Wyatt Johnston in strong spots on the list signals that the market expects significant growth from younger players. That’s a green light to pursue them in trades or stash them in deeper formats before the breakout fully hits.

Fantasy Implications

Points-Only

In points-only leagues, the rankings essentially function as a rest-of-season value board. Nathan MacKinnon being at the very top confirms that you never overthink starting him; he’s your weekly pace-setter and a player you should be extremely reluctant to move unless you’re getting multiple top-tier assets back.

Connor McDavid remains in that ultra-elite tier as well, and the presence of both at the top of the list suggests that high-end forwards still drive the majority of scoring value. If your roster is light on that level of offense, consider packaging mid-tier pieces for a true superstar and use the rankings as a guide to avoid overpaying.

On the back end, Cale Makar is effectively a cheat code in points-only. His ranking underscores that he should be treated like a top forward in trade talks. If you can acquire him by paying a price similar to a borderline first-line winger, that’s a win, especially if your league counts power-play production heavily. Quinn Hughes’ injury note, meanwhile, is a reminder to temper expectations and, if necessary, explore short-term replacements until he’s fully healthy.

Macklin Celebrini’s strong placement on the list is one of the more actionable notes. For a player just emerging at the NHL level, being ranked this highly implies both opportunity and talent. In points-only formats, that’s exactly the profile you want to gamble on: top-six usage, PP1 upside, and room for his numbers to climb as he adjusts. If he’s somehow still available, he’s a priority add; if he’s rostered, he’s a reasonable trade target before the production fully matches the hype.

Categories / Bangers

In multi-cat leagues, the rankings highlight players who can contribute across the board, not just on the scoresheet. Cale Makar is singled out as especially valuable in categories formats because of his power-play impact. That combination of PPP, shots, and strong plus-minus makes him a foundational piece; if you’re light on defensemen who contribute in multiple categories, targeting him via trade is a smart move.

Connor Hellebuyck’s status as the top goalie is particularly important in categories leagues where wins, save percentage, and goals-against average all matter. A high-volume, reliable starter lets you avoid streaming goalies aggressively, which reduces the risk of ratio blowups. If you roster him, you can afford to be more aggressive streaming skaters instead.

Aleksander Barkov being described as likely out for the season is a clear directive in categories leagues: you can’t afford to sit on dead roster spots unless you have ample IR space. The opportunity cost of holding him is too high when you could be streaming healthy players who contribute hits, shots, and special-teams points every week. Use the rankings to identify replacement-level options that are still available in your league.

The list also reinforces the value of players who earn consistent PP1 time. If you’re unsure how to weigh that, check out our guide on how to value PP1 time; the short version is that a forward or defenseman locked into the top unit can punch above their even-strength talent level purely through opportunity.

Dynasty / Keeper

For dynasty and keeper formats, the rankings offer a snapshot of how the market views both current stars and rising talent. Wyatt Johnston’s strong placement suggests that his trajectory is pointed firmly upward. In long-term leagues, that means you should be patient and treat him as a core piece rather than a sell-high; his best seasons are likely still ahead.

Macklin Celebrini’s emergence in the rankings is even more significant in dynasty. A young player already being valued this highly implies a potential franchise cornerstone. If you’re rebuilding, he’s exactly the type of player to overpay for, as his value could climb dramatically over the next couple of seasons.

On the flip side, injuries to stars like Auston Matthews and Quinn Hughes require nuance in dynasty. Short-term absences shouldn’t push you into panic trades, but if your contention window is now and you’re desperate for healthy production, you can use the rankings plus our NHL Trade Analyzer to gauge whether moving an injured star for multiple healthy assets makes sense.

Finally, the continued dominance of players like Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid at the top of the board is a reminder that true superstars retain elite value deep into their careers. In keeper formats with limited slots, they remain automatic holds, even as younger talent emerges.

Who to Add / Stream / Watch

Nathan MacKinnon – Trade target (all leagues): Ranked as the top overall option, he’s worth consolidating depth pieces to acquire if your roster lacks a true cornerstone.
Cale Makar – Trade target (categories/points): His elite ranking among defensemen and PP1 role make him a difference-maker in both scoring and multi-cat formats.
Macklin Celebrini – Add (standard/points-only): His high placement on the list signals breakout potential, making him a priority add where available.
Wyatt Johnston – Watchlist or buy-low (dynasty): A strong ranking for his age suggests long-term upside; monitor closely or try to acquire before his next step forward.
Connor Hellebuyck – Trade target (categories): As the top-ranked goalie, he stabilizes your goalie stats and lets you focus streaming on skaters.
Aleksander Barkov – Drop (shallow categories): With a likely season-ending outlook, you’re better off replacing him with a healthy contributor unless you have spare IR room.
Auston Matthews – Hold (all formats): Despite being sidelined, his elite ceiling means you stash rather than sell low if your roster can absorb the short-term hit.
Quinn Hughes – Short-term bench/IR (all formats): His ranking confirms high long-term value; treat the injury as a temporary setback, not a reason to move on.

Fantasy Takeaways

Nathan MacKinnon sits atop the rankings and should be treated as an untouchable core piece in any format.
Cale Makar is a premium trade target, especially in categories leagues where his power-play production and volume separate him from other defensemen.
Macklin Celebrini’s strong placement signals breakout potential, making him a priority add in points-only and a cornerstone in dynasty.
Use the injury notes on Auston Matthews, Quinn Hughes, and Aleksander Barkov to make clear decisions on who to stash, who to bench, and who to drop.
Connor Hellebuyck’s status as the top goalie provides rare stability at a volatile position; build around him rather than chasing risky streams.

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