The dawn of a new NHL season also signals the exciting return of ESPN Fantasy Hockey. While the Florida Panthers bask in the glory of their second consecutive Stanley Cup championship, teams across the league have been actively preparing for the upcoming 2025-26 season.
Offseason headlines include major moves such as the New York Islanders selecting Matthew Schaefer with the first overall pick in the draft, the Vegas Golden Knights acquiring Mitch Marner via trade, and long-time veteran Brent Burns signing with the Colorado Avalanche. These significant roster changes mean many prominent players will be wearing new colours.
It`s always beneficial to get an early start on planning your fantasy draft strategy, whether you`re considering keeper decisions or preparing for your draft day. Stay ahead of the competition by consulting the latest set of fantasy hockey rankings.
These rankings forecast fantasy points based on expectations for the entire 2025-26 NHL season using the standard ESPN Fantasy scoring system. For skaters, points are awarded as follows: goals = 2, assists = 1, shots and hits = 0.1, blocked shots and special-teams points = 0.5. For goaltenders: wins = 4, overtime losses = 1, shutouts = 3, saves = 0.2, and goals against = -2.
- Nathan MacKinnon, Col (C1)
- Auston Matthews, Tor (C2)
- Connor Hellebuyck, Wpg (G1)
- David Pastrnak, Bos (RW1)
- Connor McDavid, Edm (C3)
- Matthew Tkachuk, Fla (LW1)
- Cale Makar, Col (D1)
- Brady Tkachuk, Ott (LW2)
- Filip Forsberg, Nsh (RW2)
- Leon Draisaitl, Edm (C4)
- Jake Oettinger, Dal (G2)
- Nikita Kucherov, TB (RW3)
- Andrei Vasilevskiy, TB (G3)
- William Nylander, Tor (C5)
- Artemi Panarin, NYR (LW3)
- Macklin Celebrini, SJ (C6)
- Kyle Connor, Wpg (LW4)
- Kirill Kaprizov, Min (LW5)
- Igor Shesterkin, NYR (G4)
- Filip Gustavsson, Min (G5)
- Jack Hughes, NJ (C7)
- Mikko Rantanen, Dal (RW4)
- Alex Ovechkin, Wsh (LW6)
- Cole Caufield, Mon (RW5)
- Roman Josi, Nsh (D2)
- Jack Eichel, VGK (C8)
- Sergei Bobrovsky, Fla (G6)
- Dustin Wolf, Cgy (G7)
- Steven Stamkos, Nsh (C9)
- Jake Guentzel, TB (LW7)
- MacKenzie Weegar, Cgy (D3)
- Kirill Marchenko, CBJ (LW8)
- Adin Hill, VGK (G8)
- Brayden Point, TB (C10)
- J.T. Miller, NYR (C11)
- Tim Stutzle, Ott (C12)
- Sidney Crosby, Pit (C13)
- Adrian Kempe, LA (C14)
- Sam Reinhart, Fla (RW6)
- Jason Robertson, Dal (LW9)
- Rasmus Dahlin, Buf (D4)
- Darcy Kuemper, LA (G9)
- Martin Necas, Col (C15)
- John Tavares, Tor (C16)
- Tage Thompson, Buf (C17)
- Evan Bouchard, Edm (D5)
- Zach Werenski, CBJ (D6)
- Elias Pettersson, Van (C18)
- Clayton Keller, UTA (RW7)
- Victor Hedman, TB (D7)
- Matt Coronato, Cgy (LW10)
- Nazem Kadri, Cgy (C19)
- Matt Boldy, Min (LW11)
- Dylan Guenther, UTA (RW8)
- Wyatt Johnston, Dal (C20)
- Adam Fantilli, CBJ (C21)
- Vincent Trocheck, NYR (C22)
- Alex DeBrincat, Det (RW9)
- Mark Scheifele, Wpg (C23)
- Mitch Marner, VGK (RW10)
- Dylan Larkin, Det (C24)
- Quinn Hughes, Van (D8)
- Brandon Hagel, TB (LW12)
- Jesper Bratt, NJ (LW13)
- Dylan Holloway, StL (C25)
- Jordan Kyrou, StL (RW11)
- Bo Horvat, NYI (C26)
- Moritz Seider, Det (D9)
- Pavel Dorofeyev, VGK (LW14)
- Connor Bedard, Chi (C27)
- Sebastian Aho, Car (C28)
- Anthony Stolarz, Tor (G10)
- Nick Suzuki, Mon (C29)
- Mika Zibanejad, NYR (C30)
- Seth Jarvis, Car (RW12)
- Matvei Michkov, Phi (RW13)
- Ilya Sorokin, NYI (G11)
- Nico Hischier, NJ (C31)
- Joey Daccord, Sea (G12)
- Alex Tuch, Buf (RW14)
- John Carlson, Wsh (D10)
- Logan Thompson, Wsh (G13)
- Brock Nelson, Col (C32)
- Kevin Fiala, LA (LW15)
- Lucas Raymond, Det (RW15)
- Frank Vatrano, Ana (LW16)
- Logan Cooley, UTA (C33)
- Joel Eriksson Ek, Min (C34)
- Travis Konecny, Phi (RW16)
- Rickard Rakell, Pit (C35)
- Jake Sanderson, Ott (D11)
- Timo Meier, NJ (LW17)
- Jordan Binnington, StL (G14)
- Jackson LaCombe, Ana (D12)
- Mackenzie Blackwood, Col (G15)
- Josh Morrissey, Wpg (D13)
- Alex Laferriere, LA (RW17)
- Aleksander Barkov, Fla (C36)
- Carter Verhaeghe, Fla (C37)
- Roope Hintz, Dal (C38)
- Chris Kreider, Ana (LW18)
- Mikhail Sergachev, UTA (D14)
- Erik Karlsson, Pit (D15)
- Sam Montembeault, Mon (G16)
- Adam Fox, NYR (D16)
- Juuse Saros, Nsh (G17)
- Jonathan Marchessault, Nsh (LW19)
- JJ Peterka, UTA (RW18)
- Drake Batherson, Ott (RW19)
- Brandon Montour, Sea (D17)
- Mike Matheson, Mon (D18)
- Cutter Gauthier, Ana (LW20)
- Anders Lee, NYI (LW21)
- Frederik Andersen, Car (G18)
- Tomas Hertl, VGK (C39)
- Dylan Strome, Wsh (C40)
- Bryan Rust, Pit (RW20)
- Marco Kasper, Det (C41)
- Will Cuylle, NYR (LW22)
- Thatcher Demko, Van (G19)
- Nikolaj Ehlers, Car (LW23)
- Noah Dobson, Mon (D19)
- Rasmus Andersson, Cgy (D20)
- Zach Hyman, Edm (RW21)
- Tom Wilson, Wsh (RW22)
- Tyler Toffoli, SJ (RW23)
- Jared McCann, Sea (LW24)
- Mason Marchment, Sea (LW25)
- Owen Tippett, Phi (RW24)
- Brock Faber, Min (D21)
- Brad Marchand, Fla (LW26)
- Matthew Knies, Tor (LW27)
- Kris Letang, Pit (D22)
- Gabriel Vilardi, Wpg (C42)
- Andrei Svechnikov, Car (RW25)
- Robert Thomas, StL (C43)
- Charlie McAvoy, Bos (D23)
- Dmitri Voronkov, CBJ (C44)
- Mason McTavish, Ana (C45)
- Stuart Skinner, Edm (G20)
- Seth Jones, Fla (D24)
- Neal Pionk, Wpg (D25)
- Marco Rossi, Min (C46)
- Jakob Chychrun, Wsh (D26)
- Brock Boeser, Van (RW26)
- Ryan O`Reilly, Nsh (C47)
- Darnell Nurse, Edm (D27)
- Jacob Markstrom, NJ (G21)
- Fabian Zetterlund, Ott (LW28)
- Thomas Harley, Dal (D28)
- Sam Bennett, Fla (LW29)
- Colton Parayko, StL (D29)
- Evander Kane, Van (LW30)
- Miro Heiskanen, Dal (D30)
- Evgeni Malkin, Pit (C48)
- Dougie Hamilton, NJ (D31)
- Conor Garland, Van (RW27)
- Jonathan Huberdeau, Cgy (LW31)
- Charlie Lindgren, Wsh (G22)
- Tyson Foerster, Phi (RW28)
- Trevor Zegras, Phi (C49)
- Anze Kopitar, LA (C50)
- Zack Bolduc, Mon (C51)
- Barrett Hayton, UTA (C52)
- Mathieu Olivier, CBJ (RW29)
- Jake DeBrusk, Van (LW32)
- Will Smith, SJ (C53)
- Lane Hutson, Mon (D32)
- Matt Duchene, Dal (C54)
- Kyle Palmieri, NYI (RW30)
- Lukas Dostal, Ana (G23)
- William Eklund, SJ (LW33)
- Dylan Cozens, Ott (C55)
- Nick Schmaltz, UTA (RW31)
- Pierre-Luc Dubois, Wsh (C56)
- Brayden Schenn, StL (C57)
- Kiefer Sherwood, Van (LW34)
- Anthony Cirelli, TB (C58)
- Morgan Rielly, Tor (D33)
- Gustav Forsling, Fla (D34)
- Eeli Tolvanen, Sea (LW35)
- Linus Ullmark, Ott (G24)
- Kent Johnson, CBJ (C59)
- Elias Lindholm, Bos (C60)
- Mathew Barzal, NYI (C61)
- Tristan Jarry, Pit (G25)
- Ryan Donato, Chi (C62)
- Jake Walman, Edm (D35)
- Elvis Merzlikins, CBJ (G26)
- Noah Hanifin, VGK (D36)
- Pavel Buchnevich, StL (LW36)
- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Edm (C63)
- Blake Coleman, Cgy (C64)
- Juraj Slafkovsky, Mon (LW37)
- Oliver Bjorkstrand, TB (RW32)
- Mats Zuccarello, Min (RW33)
- Warren Foegele, LA (LW38)
- Joseph Woll, Tor (G27)
- Drew Doughty, LA (D37)
- Devon Toews, Col (D38)
- Brady Skjei, Nsh (D39)
- John Gibson, Det (G28)
- Morgan Geekie, Bos (C65)
- K`Andre Miller, Car (D40)
- Logan Stankoven, Car (C66)
- Sean Durzi, UTA (D41)
- Matias Maccelli, Tor (LW39)
- Lawson Crouse, UTA (LW40)
- Patrick Kane, Det (RW34)
- Jacob Trouba, Ana (D42)
- Troy Terry, Ana (RW35)
- Aliaksei Protas, Wsh (C67)
- Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Buf (G29)
- Kaiden Guhle, Mon (D43)
- Karel Vejmelka, UTA (G30)
- Adam Larsson, Sea (D44)
- Boone Jenner, CBJ (LW41)
- Valeri Nichushkin, Col (LW42)
- Brandt Clarke, LA (D45)
- Jason Zucker, Buf (LW43)
- Jaden Schwartz, Sea (LW44)
- Leo Carlsson, Ana (C68)
- Simon Edvinsson, Det (D46)
- Sean Monahan, CBJ (C69)
- Jamie Benn, Dal (C70)
- Jake Neighbours, StL (LW45)
- Quinton Byfield, LA (C71)
- Brent Burns, Col (D47)
- Mikael Backlund, Cgy (C72)
- Jared Spurgeon, Min (D48)
- Teuvo Teravainen, Chi (LW46)
- Shea Theodore, VGK (D49)
- Shane Wright, Sea (C73)
- Cole Perfetti, Wpg (LW47)
- Mattias Ekholm, Edm (D50)
- Tyler Bertuzzi, Chi (LW48)
- Alex Vlasic, Chi (D51)
- Jackson Blake, Car (RW36)
- Thomas Chabot, Ott (D52)
- Michael Bunting, Nsh (LW49)
- Connor McMichael, Wsh (C74)
- Matty Beniers, Sea (C75)
- Claude Giroux, Ott (C76)
- Travis Sanheim, Phi (D53)
- Luke Hughes, NJ (D54)
- Shayne Gostisbehere, Car (D55)
- Taylor Hall, Car (LW50)
- Ryan Hartman, Min (RW37)
- Pyotr Kochetkov, Car (G31)
- Tyler Seguin, Dal (C77)
