Way-Too-Early 2026-27 Fantasy Hockey Rankings: How to Value McDavid, MacKinnon and More

Early 2026-27 fantasy rankings are out, and they already shape how you should think about trades, keepers and long-term planning. With Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon again at the top, the real edges come from how you handle elite defense, risky goalies and emerging stars like Macklin Celebrini. Let’s unpack what these early lists really mean for your fantasy strategy.

What’s New & Why It Matters

The headline is familiar: McDavid sits first overall, with MacKinnon right behind him. That confirms what most managers already know—your league still runs through these two centers. The more interesting shifts are lower down the board, where blue-line offense and goalie volatility are being repriced.

Evan Bouchard is ranked as the top defenseman, reflecting how valuable a true PP1 quarterback with elite forwards can be. If the market follows that signal, you’ll need to treat him like a cornerstone rather than a luxury. On the flip side, goalies such as Mackenzie Blackwood are flagged as volatile, reminding you not to overcommit to uncertain crease situations.

The other big storyline is the aggressive placement of Celebrini. His early ranking suggests that the market expects a rapid impact in San Jose, especially in dynasty and deeper formats. That creates opportunity—either to get ahead of a breakout or to sell into hype if expectations overshoot reality.

Fantasy Implications

Points-Only

In pure scoring leagues, the takeaway is simple but important: McDavid and MacKinnon remain in a tier of their own. McDavid’s combination of goals, assists and power-play dominance justifies paying a premium in any trade talks. If someone in your league is even slightly fatigued by his name value, you should be exploring a package built around multiple very good assets for his singular ceiling.

MacKinnon’s second-overall status underscores how safe his offensive environment in Colorado is. You don’t need to force a move for him if the cost is prohibitive, but you absolutely should treat him as a foundational “do not move” piece if he’s already on your roster. Any trade away from MacKinnon should only happen if you’re getting multiple top-tier scorers back.

Bouchard’s ranking as the top defenseman is a major signal in points-only. Defensemen who can hang with forwards in raw points are rare, and his role with Edmonton’s top unit gives him that path. If your league undervalues defense, this is your chance to exploit the gap—acquire Bouchard at a “good defenseman” price for what could be near-elite forward-level scoring from the blue line.

Celebrini’s high placement is more nuanced. In points-only keepers, he’s a premium stash with the potential to become a core scorer, but you should still price in the usual rookie adjustment period. He’s a player you want to acquire where timelines allow, but not one you must force into a contending lineup if it means sacrificing current production.

Categories / Bangers

In multi-category formats, the top of the board still favors McDavid and MacKinnon, but the gap can narrow slightly depending on how heavily your league weights shots, hits or special-teams scoring. The rankings confirm that both remain multi-cat monsters—you’re not just getting points, you’re getting volume and consistency that stabilize your weekly matchups.

Bouchard’s rise is even more important in categories leagues. A defenseman who drives power-play points, shots and overall ice time is a cheat code on the back end. Treat him like a premium asset in leagues that count PPP, SOG and even plus-minus if Edmonton continues to be a strong team environment. If you can swap a high-end but one-dimensional winger for Bouchard, that kind of positional rebalancing can win categories over a full season.

Goalie rankings highlight risk management. Blackwood being tagged as an avoid in points-only hints at volatility that also matters in categories—especially save percentage and goals-against average. In head-to-head formats, a single bad week from an unstable starter can sink you. Use these early rankings as a reminder to prioritize stable workloads and team context over chasing name recognition in net.

For peripherals, Celebrini is more of a long-view play. Rookies often take time to build shot volume and special-teams usage. In bangers leagues, you should be more patient and treat him as a luxury upside piece rather than a core categories anchor in year one.

Dynasty / Keeper

Dynasty managers can lean more heavily on these early rankings, since they’re explicitly projecting forward. McDavid remains the gold standard; if you’re rebuilding, he’s the type of player you consolidate assets to acquire, knowing he anchors your roster for years. Use tools like the NHL Trade Analyzer to sanity-check any blockbuster offers involving him.

MacKinnon’s second-place status tells you he’s still a long-term building block with minimal downside. Unless your league’s scoring skews heavily away from his strengths, you should be extremely reluctant to move him, even in multi-asset deals.

Celebrini is the key swing piece in dynasty. A high ranking signals that his perceived upside is already enormous. If you’re rebuilding, he’s exactly the kind of player you want to target before he fully breaks out. If you’re contending and already roster him, you have options: hold and enjoy the potential star, or explore selling high to a manager who fully buys into the ranking and will overpay in current production.

Bouchard’s status as the top defenseman is a green light to treat him as a long-term cornerstone. Elite offensive defensemen tend to age well in fantasy because their value is tied more to role and skill than to physical dominance. Lock him in as a keeper wherever possible.

Conversely, Blackwood’s flagged volatility is a warning for dynasty: don’t build your crease around him. He can still be useful as a secondary or streaming option, but you should be constantly looking for more stable long-term answers in goal.

Who to Add / Stream / Watch

Connor McDavid – Trade target (all formats): Still the clear top option; if there’s any discount at all, aggressively explore a blockbuster.
Nathan MacKinnon – Hold / trade for only at a premium: Second overall in early rankings; treat him as a franchise piece, not trade bait.
Evan Bouchard – Priority add/target in categories and points-only: Ranked as the top defenseman, with elite offensive upside from the blue line.
Macklin Celebrini – Watchlist / stash in dynasty: High ranking signals star potential; ideal for rebuilding teams and patient managers.
Mackenzie Blackwood – Avoid as a primary starter: Early rankings highlight volatility; better left as a depth or streaming option, not your crease anchor.

Fantasy Takeaways

McDavid’s spot at the top of the rankings reinforces him as the premier trade target and long-term building block in any format.
MacKinnon remains a near-untouchable asset; only move him if you’re clearly upgrading your overall roster depth and balance.
Bouchard’s rise to top defenseman status means elite offensive blue-liners should be valued closer to star forwards, especially in categories leagues.
Celebrini’s aggressive placement makes him a prime dynasty stash, but you should still bake in rookie growing pains for short-term expectations.
Blackwood’s flagged inconsistency is a reminder to de-emphasize risky goalies and prioritize stability and team context in net.

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