Before hunting for sleepers and breakouts, you need the megastar of fantasy hockey. This season, the choice for first overall is unusually clear-cut. Nathan MacKinnon and Nikita Kucherov stand above the rest.

MacKinnon checks every box. He led the league in shots, racked up 74 assists and 30 power-play points, and scored 53 goals after last year's suggestion to hope for 51. He averaged 3.2 fantasy points per game, tied with Connor McDavid.

Kucherov, fresh off his second Hart Trophy, averaged 1.71 points per game, the best among regular skaters. He posted 44 goals and 86 assists in 76 games, with 3.1 fantasy points per game. After missing time earlier in his career, he's been durable, missing only 11 games in four seasons.

Kucherov enters a contract year with the salary cap rising, adding extra motivation. His power-play production could also rebound from last year's 37 points. After MacKinnon, Kucherov is the top pick, with a case for first overall based on his offensive ceiling.