Victoria Matiash Sep 8, 2026, 10:00 AM ET Close Victoria Matiash is a contributing writer for fantasy hockey and betting at ESPN. Victoria has been a part of the fantasy team since 2010. Let's go! Coming off a long summer following one of the most exciting hockey seasons ever, on and off the NHL ice, we're ready to re-embrace the game we love, as both fans and invested fantasy managers.

Whether you're a wily veteran or brand new to the game, we're here to help you not only compete but give yourself a solid shot at victory. Starting with this primer that serves as an introduction for newbies and a refresher for those more well-versed. More: Sign up for free | Rankings | Projections | League types The draft The most important two hours of your entire fantasy hockey season.

But don't sweat it! A little research and preparation is all it takes to cobble together a competitive roster. To start, don't overcomplicate matters, take the best player available. This year, that's Nathan Mac Kinnon, Nikita Kucherov, Macklin Celebrini, or Connor Mc David (yes, even under new defensive-minded head coach Mike Babcock).

Once that elite quartet is off the board, turn to the second tier of elite forwards including Leon Draisaitl, Jason Robertson, and David Pastrnak. Your blue line and net can wait a moment. Cale Makar isn't fetching you fantasy points for dollars earned and there are enough good-to-great goalies even once Andrei Vasilevskiy is off the table.

Grab your big scorer up front, first and foremost. These are the skaters who can average 3.0-plus per game in ESPN standard points leagues. Play 1:32 Leon Draisaitl's top moments of the 2025-26 season Use the next few early rounds to acquire at least one premiere fantasy defenseman and a top-tier netminder (more on those positions below), while always keeping an eye out for the remaining gems up front.

Don't fret about filling positional requirements at this stage and continue to grab the heavy hitters. I promise the fantasy math will eventually work out in your favor. Okay, once the best players are off the board, and your top-tier goalie is secured, now start working to satisfy positional and categorical needs.

Too many right-wingers will result in too many quality performers stuck on your bench on busier nights. While a dearth at another position is also frustratingly limiting. Of course, if your league adheres to the overarching (F) classification, continue to draft the best player available.

In later rounds, it's time to really focus on sleepers, bounce-back and breakout contenders. These potential pleasant surprises can truly alter a roster for the better. Back to the importance of research and preparation, as usual, we're here to help with preseason previews covering all matters fantasy hockey right up until your draft and beyond.

ESPN Fantasy Hockey is the fun, free way to get inside the game. Draft your players, set your lineups and earn points when the pros do. Sign up today! Bounce-back and breakout candidates With the top center in San Jose serving as the poster child for breakout candidates in 2025-26, Celebrini wasn't alone in taking a leap forward.

The Anaheim Ducks' Cutter Gauthier impressed us with his 41-goal statement season just as (then) Tampa Bay Lightning defender Darren Raddysh won over alert managers by finishing 11th in fantasy points, despite missing nine games. Cole Caufield followed linemate Nick Suzuki's lead from the previous season by exploding for 88 points, including 51 goals. Will linemate Juraj Slafkovsky be next in busting through the 80-point mark? Meanwhile in Philadelphia, Dan Vladar proved he does indeed have the chops to serve as a No. 1 netminder.

Easier said than done, but spotting these characters before they erupt can go a long way to ameliorating your fantasy squad. Zach Benson of the Buffalo Sabres could ...