Top 250 Fantasy Hockey Rankings: How to Attack the 2026-27 Board

NHL.com’s new top 250 fantasy rankings for 2026-27 give us a clear snapshot of where the market is on elite stars, emerging rookies, and workhorse goalies. Instead of memorizing a long list, you should be using these ranks to build a plan: when to prioritize superstars like Connor McDavid, how aggressively to chase upside with Macklin Celebrini, and where to slot goalies such as Andrei Vasilevskiy and Logan Thompson. Let’s translate the rankings into concrete strategy for every format.

What’s New & Why It Matters

The rankings confirm a few core truths and introduce some important wrinkles for 2026-27. McDavid remains the clear top forward, reflecting his unmatched combination of scoring, power-play production, and floor across all categories. That stability at the very top means you don’t need to overthink the first pick in any format that counts points.

On defense, Cale Makar is treated as the premier blueliner, which reinforces the idea that true difference-makers on the back end are scarce. His heavy offensive role and power-play usage with the Colorado Avalanche give him a ceiling few defensemen can match. If you want a true anchor on defense, you’ll likely need to pay up where he’s ranked.

The list also pushes emerging talent like Macklin Celebrini into prominent territory. His placement signals that the market expects him to step into a major role quickly for San Jose, especially in dynasty and keeper setups. That aggressive ranking has ripple effects: managers in long-term leagues will need to decide whether to pay full freight for upside that’s still largely theoretical.

In goal, Andrei Vasilevskiy is still treated as a top-tier option for Tampa Bay, emphasizing his reliability in wins and save percentage. At the same time, Logan Thompson’s inclusion as a projected starter for Washington highlights a new potential volume play. The rankings are effectively telling you that you can secure elite stability early with Vasilevskiy or hunt for breakout value later with Thompson.

Fantasy Implications

Points-Only

In points-only formats, the rankings lean heavily into pure scoring upside. McDavid’s status as the top-ranked forward is straightforward: he’s the safest bet for massive point totals, with elite linemates and a locked-in role on Edmonton’s top power-play unit. Building around him gives you a high baseline that lets you take more risk later.

Macklin Celebrini’s placement is more nuanced. In a points-only league, his value is tied to how quickly he can become a primary offensive driver for San Jose. The rankings suggest optimism about his immediate impact, but you should still factor in rookie volatility. He’s ideal as a high-upside core piece if you’re comfortable absorbing some early inconsistency.

On defense, Makar’s lofty ranking underlines how valuable a true offensive defenseman is in points-only. He effectively scores like a top forward from the blue line, which lets you stay flexible with your forward group later. If you secure Makar, you can afford to wait on other defensemen and focus on forwards with complementary skill sets.

For goalies, Andrei Vasilevskiy’s rank in points-only formats is more about team strength and volume than peripheral categories. His presence on a strong Tampa Bay team means a steady stream of wins, which still matter in many points-based scoring systems. Logan Thompson, meanwhile, is more of a secondary option: his value hinges on Washington’s ability to support him with enough offense to convert starts into wins.

Categories / Bangers

In multi-category leagues, the rankings highlight players who can dominate across several columns. McDavid remains a foundational piece because he doesn’t just score—he drives shots, power-play points, and often plus-minus, which is critical in standard category sets. His ranking reflects that he can single-handedly tilt multiple categories each week.

Makar’s value is even more pronounced in categories. Beyond points, he contributes heavily in shots and power-play production from the blue line, and his ice time with Colorado’s top unit means he’s constantly in high-leverage situations. The rankings are effectively telling you that he’s not just a defenseman; he’s a category-winner at a scarce position.

Vasilevskiy’s placement near the top of the goalie pool is driven by his track record in wins and save percentage. In categories leagues, locking in a workhorse goalie with strong ratios lets you be more aggressive streaming your second or third netminder. His ranking suggests he’s still one of the few goalies you can trust to start heavily without torpedoing your percentages.

Logan Thompson is more of a swing in categories formats. If he holds Washington’s starting job, he could pile up volume in saves and potentially wins, but there’s more risk in his ratios. The rankings flag him as a watchlist or late goaltending option rather than a foundational piece, which is how you should treat him in competitive categories leagues.

Dynasty / Keeper

Dynasty and keeper formats are where the rankings diverge most from redraft value. McDavid remains a long-term cornerstone, but the gap between him and other elite forwards narrows slightly when you consider age and contract windows. Still, his combination of current dominance and remaining prime years keeps him near or at the top in any long-term build.

Macklin Celebrini is the biggest dynasty storyline in these rankings. His aggressive placement signals that the market is willing to pay for his projected future as a franchise forward. In dynasty, that makes him a prime trade chip: if you’re rebuilding, you can justify paying up to acquire him; if you’re contending, you might consider moving him for more immediate production while his perceived value is sky-high.

Makar’s dynasty profile is elite: a young, offensive defenseman locked into a major role with a powerhouse team is exactly what you want as a long-term anchor on the blue line. His ranking reflects both his current production and the expectation that he’ll remain a top-tier fantasy defenseman for years.

In goal, Vasilevskiy still carries strong dynasty value thanks to his track record and situation in Tampa Bay, but the position’s volatility means you should be careful about overcommitting. Thompson, on the other hand, is a classic dynasty lottery ticket. His projected starting role in Washington gives him a path to long-term relevance, but you should treat him as a flexible asset—someone you can stash, then potentially flip if he pops early.

Who to Add / Stream / Watch

Connor McDavid – Add (all leagues): Clear top overall building block with unmatched scoring and power-play upside.
Cale Makar – Add (all leagues): Premier offensive defenseman who gives you forward-level production from the blue line.
Andrei Vasilevskiy – Add (categories/points): Workhorse goalie on a strong team, stabilizing wins and save percentage.
Macklin Celebrini – Add (dynasty/keeper, watch in redraft): High-upside rookie projected for a major role in San Jose, ideal long-term piece.
Logan Thompson – Watchlist / Late add: Projected starter in Washington with breakout potential if he seizes heavy volume.

Fantasy Takeaways

McDavid’s placement at the top of the rankings confirms he should be your priority cornerstone in any format that values scoring.
Makar’s status as the premier defenseman underscores how scarce true offensive blueliners are—be willing to pay up if you want that edge.
Vasilevskiy remains one of the few goalies worth building around thanks to his consistent wins and strong save percentage profile.
Celebrini’s aggressive ranking makes him a prime dynasty asset, but in single-season leagues you should still weigh rookie risk against proven producers.
Thompson’s projected starting role in Washington gives him sneaky upside; monitor his early-season workload and be ready to pounce if he runs with the job.

Use these rankings as a guide, not a script: combine NHL.com’s board with your league settings and tools like the NHL Trade Analyzer to find value pockets and trade opportunities all season long.

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