2024-25 Fantasy Hockey Ranking & Projections ESPN

Forsling will be depended on to log heavy minutes as the Oilers will be arguably his most difficult matchup yet. At the end of the day, Zach Hyman is proving to be an elite goal scorer for the Oilers and a picture-perfect winger to play with the two superstars. He possesses an uncanny ability to get open in front of the net, knocking in passes on the backdoor and cleaning up rebounds in front in the process. It had been a few years since Kucherov dominated a regular season, but he got back to his ways last year, putting up 113 points and 83 assists. He was one of only two players to hit at least 80 helpers on the year, (McDavid was the other), en route to his third triple-digit points campaign. The Lightning winger is an elite playmaker who always finds himself among the league leaders in assists.

Fantasy Hockey Draft Rankings (2024-

With a near-point-per-game pace over his three years with the club, he has become their first-line center and has been strong defensively. There is still a bit more to hope for out of Eichel, but after his injuries and struggles, some time to get back on his feet was earned, and he is still an elite center. After scoring over 40 points in each of his first two seasons, defenseman Evan Bouchard had a monster year posting 82 points. The high-end Oilers forwards make offense a bit easier for all of their teammates, but that shouldn’t take away from how great Bouchard was. Not only did he finish fourth in defensive scoring last season, he finished fifth in Norris Trophy voting, and had good defensive numbers while playing 23 minutes per game.

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Also adding to the case file was that they seduced Matthew Wood, a former 1st round pick who has been a very strong collegiate performer, to transfer from UConn. With Snuggerud, Wood, and Oliver Moore up front, the Gophers boast three first round picks who have the ability to form what could be the conference’s best scoring line. Draisaitl trails only McDavid for the most points in the playoffs with 28 in 18 games. His 10 goals are tied for second out of all skaters, and his 14 power-play points rank first.

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If you’re wondering why goalies weren’t included in this ranking, that’s because we have a separate article for that position. Doughty’s leadership, experiences, and impact on every game make him a valuable asset, and he is still one of the top two-way defensemen in the game. He hasn’t had a true long-term partner for the majority of his career, and having an anchor on his pair could help propel his game even further. This site is not endorsed by, sponsored by, or affiliated with these schools or teams. Modern hockey emerged in England in the mid-19th century and was developed at private schools (like Eton) throughout the country.

Quentin Musty, LW, San Jose Sharks

As great as the Oilers are on offense, they do need to play some defense to win the Stanley Cup. Since joining Edmonton ahead of the 2023 trade deadline, Ekholm has provided some much needed stability on defense, and he has elevated his game in these playoffs. In his 321 minutes of ice time at five-on-five, the Oilers have controlled 57.2% of the expected goals and outscored opponents 19-11, per Natural Stat Trick. Those numbers are even more eye-popping when you consider Ekholm is tasked with slowing down the opposition’s top forwards. It’s probably safe to assume that Sam Reinhart and Carter Verhaeghe will get a heavy dose of Ekholm in this series. Artyom Levshunov has an incredibly exciting toolkit as a big, right-handed defender who skates incredibly well.

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Cale Makar, a defenseman with remarkable offensive talents, continues to impress with his vision and ability to control the game from the blue line, earning accolades and respect from fans and peers alike. The Edmonton blue liner’s 27 points only trail McDavid and Draisaitl out of all players, but it’s already the fifth-most points in a single playoff by a defenseman of all time. His six goals put him in a tie for the lead at his position in 2024, while his 21 assists rank second out of all skaters. Bouchard’s thunderous slap shot at the point makes him an exceptional weapon on the Edmonton power play, as he creates tons of offensive chances for the team. On top of all that, his 140 shot attempts are the most this postseason out of all skaters. He’s a center with a June birthday, meaning he’s one of the youngest players from the 2024 draft class, and will be just 18 years old for his entire rookie season in the NHL.

Artemi Panarin, LW, Rangers

Updated hourly, with analysis, commentary and features from hundreds writers worldwide, our articles are read over 5 million times every month. The Minnesota Wild have clearly identified Faber as their top defenseman, and moving forward they will be happy to have him there and build around him. Faber was acquired by the Wild in a trade that sent Fiala to the Kings, and since then, Faber’s development has been fantastic. While the Senators try to leave their rebuilding years, the defense has been one of the biggest issues of the roster.

Owen Power, D, Buffalo Sabres

His superb skating allows him to break down opposing defenses before making his move and charging to the middle or making a clever pass to an open teammate. Mateychuk’s production and confidence have only grown since his draft year and he’s been absolutely torching the WHL since then, and should find himself in the NHL next season with the Blue Jackets. Jett Luchanko is going to be a fan favorite in the NHL someday, with an impressive tenacity and work ethic. Luchanko has good skill with the puck and skates quite well, making him a dangerous player with the puck in transition. However, he’s always willing to give up some of the glory by making another pass and finding a better option if it’s there.

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• He is a bit of a hot-and-cold player with his offense, but over the course of a season, he has proven he can be relied upon for 50+ points regularly, he could even challenge the point-per-game mark soon.
• After a bit of a production dip in his sophomore season, Seth Jarvis came into his third season and took huge strides offensively scoring 67 points.
• He is a very intelligent offensive player and can make these great reads and plays at full speed.
• TJ Hughes’ point totals may take a step back because Michigan’s PP likely won’t be the most efficient PP in modern NCAA history, but you scan this lineup and see a lot of guys with the potential to give you 8-12 goals.
• In the age of up-and-coming stars taking over the league, the 36-year-old Penguins captain remains one of the most consistent performers at both ends of the ice.
• He is a great skater, which makes him a pest on the forecheck where he does a lot of damage both with his high motor and his large frame.
• Gavin Brindley is a 5-foot-9 forward who was excellent in the NCAA as an 18-year-old freshman in his draft year.
• Yegor Surin is a hardworking, offensive player, constantly fighting through checks and winning innumerable puck battles.

The knock on the Maple Leafs is their playoff performances, but with Nylander, he has been one of the best players for them come the post-season. Scoring goals, going into the tough spots of the ice, and playing well defensively are all the highlights of an average game by Chris Kreider. He is the heartbeat of the forward group on the Rangers and provides leadership on and off the ice. Kreider is seventh in goals over the last three seasons, including his one and only 50-goal campaign. A big offensive step forward for Lucas Raymond has him relatively high on this list. Having a strong top-six, like Caufield, will help Raymond take an even bigger step this season.

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Joshua Roy has proven just about everyone wrong ever since he was drafted 150th overall in the 2021 Draft. He became one of the best goalscorers in the entire CHL in his final seasons there and was excellent for Team Canada at the World Juniors, winning two Gold medals. Roy is incredibly competitive, responsible defensively, and protects the puck extremely well. He has shown that he only gets better when the games get important, which is an invaluable attribute to have as someone who projects as a top-nine winger in the NHL. There was a time when Joakim Kemell was seen as the second-best prospect in the 2022 Draft.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Edmonton Oilers

His playmaking and shot aren’t exceptional, but they’re both good enough to be reasonably effective in the NHL someday. Sam Dickinson is a big two-way defender with a tool kit that NHL General Managers dream of. He’s a 6-foot-3 defender who defends well, has shown flashes of great puck skills, and competes incredibly hard. Dickinson skates well for his size which bodes well for his NHL projection, though he will need to put in some work for his offensive game to be worthy of power play minutes in the NHL someday.

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The No. 1 pick from 2017 has always been touted as a responsible, two-way center that excels in the faceoff dot. However, last season, the Devils captain proved he can get it done at both ends of the ice, hitting 31 goals and 80 points. The duo of Hischier and Hughes down the middle for New Jersey is flat-out terrifying.

Alex DeBrincat, Detroit Red Wings

Silayev is 6-foot-7, but he moves like he’s 6-foot-2, and he has shown great two-way play so far in the KHL. He scored six points in his first six games, but slowed down significantly, finishing the season with 11 points after 63 regular season games. There’s a very real chance that he ends up as the top defender in this class given the massive potential his frame and agility provide. The Montreal Canadiens were lucky to snag Lane Hutson near the end of the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft because many expected he’d be drafted much, much earlier. He battles well against larger players and his low center of gravity makes him harder to knock off the puck than you would expect.

He’s a massive power forward (6-foot-3, 205 pounds) who is incredibly quick and difficult to knock off the puck. His size advantage is part of what makes him a nearly immovable object in the WHL, but he also has great hands, a strong shot, and really good puck protection instincts. His defensive game has looked significantly improved over the years and I think his offensive totals would have earned him a bit more attention this season if he hadn’t dealt with consecutive finger and back injuries. Logan Stankoven is a fearless competitor who is willing to make tough, physical plays and isn’t shy about throwing his body around either. He played full time in the AHL last season for the Texas Stars and looked dominant as a first year pro. Not only did he scoring more than every other top prospect in that league in his time there, but he was actually the leading scorer for the entire league in January before earning a run of play in the NHL.

Jason Robertson, F, Dallas Stars

• Stephen Halliday led OSU in scoring in each of the last two years and he has now signed a contract with the Ottawa Senators.
• The Winnipeg goaltender was in trade rumors this offseason after the two sides could not come together to a contract extension, but he’s still their starting goaltender entering this year.
• Liam Greentree is a big winger who looks like he could be a great all-round player in the NHL someday if he can make some improvements to his speed and acceleration.
• Players like these two don’t come around often, and where Brady thrives is in the physicality department.

Firkus is so quick to adapt to what the defense is showing him that bigger and stronger defenders don’t often have much of an advantage despite his 5-foot-11 frame. Bradly Nadeau had a dominant draft season in the BCHL, with the goals and points accumulating until they were impossible to ignore. He led the league in goals, assists, and points as a 17-year-old and he’s got a wicked shot and the speed to be an absolute terror in transition. The only thing standing in the way of Nadeau becoming a goalscoring top-six winger will likely be his size, standing at 5-foot-10, though his skating and compete level give me hope that he could make it work. Nadeau’s game has translated well to the NCAA so far, scoring 46 points in 37 games played. Sacha Boisvert is another in a growing line of Canadian prospects who opted for the USHL/NCAA route rather than playing in the CHL.

25 Boston College Men’s Hockey Player Profile: Brady Berard

No, for Pastrnak, it was never a question of how high he might reach — it was simply whether his success was a product of his environment or whether that environment was a product of him. In one sense, it’s no surprise Sidney Crosby remains among the game’s best, even after all these years. In another, it is a signature achievement, one more in an absurdly long line of them, https://gambibet.org/ that the Pittsburgh Penguins captain has managed to stay at this level for this long. No. 87 has made a habit of authoring resurgent campaigns just when the hockey world begins to write him off. It’s what he did when injuries threatened to derail him early in his big-league tenure, Crosby eventually returning with a century season that earned him his second Art Ross.

• He has a really well-rounded tool kit as a 6-foot-1 center who skates well, has excellent skill with the puck and can create chances at will in the USHL.
• The Russian dynamo is the easy favorite behind Macklin Celebrini to be in contention for the Calder trophy.
• He’s a pain to play against, which is what makes the big-bodied Tkachuk so effective.
• Artyom Levshunov has an incredibly exciting toolkit as a big, right-handed defender who skates incredibly well.
• Forward James Hagens topped off the rankings at No. 1, followed by forwards Ryan Leonard at No. 2 and Gabe Perreault at No. 3.
• He isn’t the biggest defenseman (just under 6-feet) but he competes hard and defends well as a result of his energy and skating.

He’s an athletic winger who can beat goalies with his hard shot or by crashing the net and scoring in tight. He doesn’t project to be much of a factor defensively, but his shot and playmaking are his best tools and they could make him a great NHL player someday. Tanner Molendyk was one of the best skaters in the 2023 draft, with excellent edgework and speed. Molendyk’s edgework makes him incredibly mobile in all directions, capable of acting on new information at a moment’s notice. He isn’t the biggest defenseman (just under 6-feet) but he competes hard and defends well as a result of his energy and skating.

Calum Ritchie has great puck skills and sometimes it looks like he’s glued the puck to his stick while carving through defenders or when he’s on a breakaway. His tools make him very well suited as a center at the next level with good size, a coveted right-handed shot, good defensive habits (kills penalties quite well), and solid faceoff results. He has the tools to be a top-6 forward, but his offensive game will need to continue to grow if he wants to reach that level of play in the NHL. Ritchie missed pieces of the past two seasons with injuries, but his play down the stretch in the OHL last season was phenomenal. Despite missing nearly all of his draft-1 season to injury, Michael Hage has established himself as a high end prospect, and was drafted 21st overall. He has a really well-rounded tool kit as a 6-foot-1 center who skates well, has excellent skill with the puck and can create chances at will in the USHL.

What I’ve seen from him this year is a natural progression of him getting bigger and stronger, allowing him to dominate the WHL. It’s not just his improved finishing that makes him exciting, it’s his strength, speed, and motor. Columbus already has Adam Fantilli as their 1C of the future, and adding Lindstrom who could conceivably fill the 2C spot will be a huge answer for the team’s future.

Oliver Bonk is a strong two-way defender who has the size and skating NHL teams look for, and the hockey sense to be a meaningful contributor in the modern NHL. He anticipates play really well, and is vocal with his teammates, coordinating play at both ends of the ice. Bonk isn’t a highly skilled defender so I don’t think he’ll be fighting for lots of power play minutes with Jamie Drysdale, but I expect he’ll be a strong second pairing defender who can tilt the ice in Philly’s favor. He has the size that NHL general managers dream of, and he has great puck skills and shooting mechanics for a player of his size. His skating has grown on me over the past two seasons, with enough speed and agility to really use his size to his advantage, powering through defenders and protecting the puck well. It may be a little while before we see him playing in the NHL, but I’m sure Utah is more than willing to wait as they look to establish themselves in the league.

Florida will no doubt try to lay the lumber on Edmonton’s stars, but Draisaitl has a unique knack for getting the puck in the net one way or another. Demidov isn’t quite at the same level as top 2023 Draft prospect Matvei Michkov, but he is a legit top-end talent who has clear top-line potential in the NHL. One thing he and Michkov have in common is a difficulty earning minutes in the KHL as a draft eligible player. Demidov sat out many games to start the year and played full time in the MHL for the rest of the season.

Yegor Surin is a hardworking, offensive player, constantly fighting through checks and winning innumerable puck battles. He was one of the MHL’s top scorers and added over 100 penalty minutes over the course of the season. He’ll surely be a fan favorite type in the NHL someday, likely as a middle-six winger or a bottom-six center. The excitement of the 2024 NHL season has fans buzzing as they watch the incredible skill and athleticism of the league’s top players.

The roots of the game stretch back to antiquity, as records show an early form of the sport practised 4,000 years ago in Egypt, with variations played in what is now Ethiopia (1000 BC) and Iran (2000 BC). Smith had a phenomenal season in the NCAA last year, and is set to join a San Jose Sharks team in great need of high end talent. The young trio of Macklin Celebrini, William Eklund, and Smith will give Sharks fans a really great view at the bright future the team is building, especially at forward. With Celebrini looking like the team’s future 1C, Smith will get the chance to feast on easier competition on the second line which I think will benefit him greatly. Next, select your favourite teams and leagues and we’ll show you their latest news and scores in the My Favourites section of the home page.

Throw him on the left wing, or the right, or down the middle — regardless, Rantanen’s proven able to get to his game and inflict his offensive will . And yet, plying his trade in the shadow of two superstars in Colorado, you could argue he’s flown under the radar relative to what he’s done in this league. Players like these two don’t come around often, and where Brady thrives is in the physicality department. He provides strong offense, and set a new career-high in goals last season, but took a bit of a step back in point production after some nagging injuries throughout the season.

Like the other elite, young blue-liners who’ve lit up the league over the past few seasons, it took only one night under the bright lights of the NHL for the hockey world to see that Makar was something special. He was quick and rangy and daring right from the start, scoring his first goal in his first game, in the post-season no less. In the half-decade since, he’s collected the second-most points in the league from the blue line, Roman Josi earning a pair more, albeit in far more games. On paper, it may be difficult to pull apart why exactly Makar stands out from the other new-school rovers in the league, the Hugheses and the Foxes.