Greg Wyshynski is ESPN's senior NHL writer. The start of the NHL regular season brings optimism, and fantasy hockey is no different. Players are projected and ranked, and we draft with hope. But there are players who should deliver -- and even level up beyond their draft rankings.

The 10 players discussed here are the ones on whom I plant my rhetorical flag for the 2026-27 NHL season. Some are the best of the best. Others are consistent contributors. A few will either make me look very smart or very stupid. My selections are based on ESPN Fantasy standard scoring: Skaters: goals = 2 points; assists = 1 point; shots and hits = 0.1 points; blocked shots and special teams points = 0.5 points. Goaltenders: wins = 4 points; OT losses = 1 point; shutouts = 3 points; saves = 0.2 points; goals against = -2 points.

Macklin Celebrini, C, San Jose Sharks: There are essentially the same seven players at the top of every fantasy rankings list. Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid are either first or second overall. Nikita Kucherov, Leon Draisaitl and David Pastrnak are right behind them. Cale Makar is the token nonforward, as the best defenseman on the planet. And then there's the 20-year-old kid from San Jose that has played himself into this rarified company. Celebrini had 115 points, including 45 goals, in his second NHL season to finish fourth in the MVP balloting. He had 33 power-play points. I think Celebrini levels up again this season. Most rankings and league drafts had Celebrini around fourth overall. By the end of the season, we might be wondering how he wasn't everyone's top choice.

Matthew Schaefer, D, New York Islanders: Putting Schaefer on your fantasy team is worth it for the vibes alone. But last season's Calder Trophy winner is more than vibes. He's projecting to be an incredibly valuable fantasy point producer. Schaefer had 59 points in 82 games last season. That was with 18 power-play points, so even a reasonable improvement could push him to 70 points. His 23 goals last season were the most for a rookie defenseman since Brian Leetch scored 23 with the New York Rangers in 1988-89. Schaefer had 111 blocked shots last season to lead all rookies.