Brock Faber finished the season averaging just shy of 25 minutes per game, which ranks sixth in the entire league. Not only was he a minute-eating rookie with offensive upside, but he played a strong defensive game, including his 150 blocked shots, which ranked 50th in the league. He wasn’t very physical, landing just 65 registered hits, but as he continues to develop, his 6-foot-1 frame could allow him to play a more physical game. What a shock it is to see the best hockey player in the world at the top of this list. McDavid simply plays the game at a different speed than everyone else, and that has been clear in these playoffs. He has 26 assists in just 18 games after posting 100 assists in the regular season, and he is feeding teammates in high-danger areas.
Fantasy hockey rankings, picks, 2024 season simulation
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.
24 fantasy hockey draft kit: Strategy, advice, more25dESPN Fantasy
Next year’s NHL rookie class is rightfully earning a lot of early attention, with a massive group of talented youngsters who each have a chance at the NHL’s Calder Memorial Trophy for the league’s best rookie. From Macklin Celebrini and Matvei Michkov, to Logan Stankoven and Will Smith, the NHL is experiencing a massive influx of young talent once again this season. Before we get into the top 100 prospect ranking update, here are a few notes on the criteria and content of this list.
Andrew Cristall, LW, Washington Capitals
Ivan Demidov is an incredibly talented offensive player, with great hands, a zippy shot, and some sneaky-good playmaking instincts. He spent last season in the MHL, Russia’s top junior league, where he was dominant as a 17-year-old rookie, scoring 64 points in 44 games (third most points in the league). Stankoven’s offensive skills have translated incredibly well to the pro game and the Dallas Stars are going to need to find a permanent spot for him in the lineup very soon.
Matthew Tkachuk, Florida Panthers
He was great in the MHL last year, even earning himself a five game tryout in the KHL as a 17-year-old. Chernyshov plays a very direct style, charging the net frequently whether he has the puck or not. He has had a rather slow start to this year production-wise, but his skill set looks well designed for the pro game with the ability to make strong plays and smart decisions at a higher pace than most teenagers. With two high-end center prospects in Celebrini and Will Smith both coming in at 6-feet tall, adding wingers with size has clearly been a priority for the Sharks.
Zach Hyman, F, Edmonton Oilers
- What makes Draisaitl so key in this series is that, although he’s earned a reputation as a prolific goal-scorer, he’s no pushover in the physicality department.
- Luca Fantilli, who may suit up as the 7th D or could be on the third pair, is also a junior.
- Byfield is still young at just 22 years old, and he has proven that he has the skills to take a big jump in production and could use his size as an advantage.
- Gabe Perrault looks like someone who could be a power play specialist at the next level with great skill and smarts in the offensive zone.
- 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.
- He has scored 80+ points in each of the last three seasons and has back-to-back 40-goal seasons.
- If it hadn’t been for McDavid’s outrageous scoring pace, Barkov would have won the Conn Smythe Trophy as he received second-place votes on 15 out of the 17 ballots.
- Fraser Minten has developed very well since being drafted 38th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs back in the 2022 Draft.
- Honzek has played and succeeded on both special teams and his size and strength have made him too much for opposing defenders to handle on more than a few occasions.
There is still a lot of faith that he can bounce back after last season, and with his shooting and utilization of his size, there isn’t much reason to think 56 points is going to be a regular season for him. When he was drafted first overall, the offense was known to be his biggest asset, but his defensive play has become much stronger and he is now able to take control over a game at both ends of the ice. 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 couple of dominant years in a row, Mika Zibanejad took a bit of a step back in his goal-scoring and point production last season.
- Selected eighth overall in 2021, Clarke can take control of a shift or lead a rush chance whenever he’s on the ice with his skating and speed.
- His ability to anticipate the play and make the right play to maximize the scoring chance for his team is remarkable.
- The LA Kings have built their defensive structure around him for well over a decade, and he is still a crucial part of their team.
- He’s a minute muncher who can provide 50 points from the back end while being a leader off the ice as well.
- And with Thatcher Demko still unavailable to start this NHL season, he has the potential to become the Canucks starting goaltender.
Miro Heiskanen, D, Dallas Stars
After ranking sixth last year, Victor Hedman tumbled down the list to No. 23 this year. Hedman’s Tampa Bay Lightning teammate Andrei Vasilevskiy also tumbled out of the top 10, checking in at No. 19 after placing seventh last year. Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey.
Goals Against Average
Defenseman Gustav Forsling will likely consistently be matched up with the Oilers’ top line during the series. Forsling has tallied 31 hits, 23 blocked shots, and 14 takeaways up to this point in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The veteran blue-liner isn’t afraid to sacrifice his body as he’s averaging 3.49 blocks throughout the postseason. On top of his defensive prowess, Forsling is a gifted offensive option on the blue line as he’s registered 11 points (four goals & seven points) this postseason.
Ranking NHL’s Top 50 players for 2023-24 season
Although he isn’t the generational type of prospect Connor Bedard is, he still has all the makings of a quality player and core peace for the San Jose Sharks. He was the youngest player to win the Hobey Baker Award and had a draft-year production similar to that of Jack Eichel and Adam Fantilli. He will automatically be a top-six center for the Sharks and show many fans his dynamic two-way ability with the potential to become a franchise player. Arturs Silovs made an incredible debut in the NHL playoffs last season after being called up to relieve the injured Thatcher, Demko and Casey Smith in the playoffs for the Vancouver Canucks.
Blackhawks rookie Bedard debuts on TSN’s top 50 players
- Zeev Buium is a complete defenseman who has had a ton of success early in his collegiate career, scoring well above a point-per-game as a freshman defender.
- 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.
- Not only did he not have the offensive output they were hoping for, but his defensive game wasn’t as strong in Ottawa either.
- Solberg doesn’t project to have a ton of NHL offense, but he can make a solid first pass and his mobility will help carry him to the next level.
- Draisaitl gives the Oilers a truly elite finisher, both at five-on-five and on the power play.
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.
Marco Kasper, C, Detroit Red Wings
Considering how off the map his numbers were compared to previous years, Ullmark is a prime candidate for regression, but he’s still a solid option in the crease. The Rangers’ acquisition of Zibanejad a few years ago from the Senators continues to age like fine wine. The New York center is an elite driver on offense and has a wicked shot that helps put pucks in the back of the net.
- Lane will wow many fans this season with his vision and skill for the Montréal Canadiens.
- At one point, he was looked at as a fairly good scoring center who was horrible defensively, but under Rick Tocchet, his game has become very well-rounded.
- After getting his first full season under his belt, Byfield’s 55 points and his superstar projections earned him a big contract that will allow the LA Kings to plan ahead and have him as a staple in their top-six group.
- He has proven himself as one of the top-scoring wingers in the league and is starting to get recognition for it.
- They landed some great prospects with each pick, but my favorite of the bunch, Jiri Kulich, was the last one they selected at 28th overall.
- He missed 22 games last year with injury, but still managed to finish top-10 in defensemen scoring (66 points) and one of only two blue liners to put up a point-per-game (1.10).
- While Bedard scores by shooting a wrister as hard as possible, trying to punch a hole through the goalie, Michkov will outsmart the defense and score by finding holes in coverage.
- 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.
- Hunter Brzustewicz is an offensive defender who skates incredibly well and has a lot to give offensively.
- He is the heartbeat of the forward group on the Rangers and provides leadership on and off the ice.
He brings great offensive skills and has some of the best possession metrics on his team last season. Playing with some more high-end forwards on the Predators will likely see his goal total drop to closer to 30 goals, but he will be in a great position to set personal point-total records. Sanderson will likely jump higher on this list over the next few years, and he has decent offense with 70 points in his first two years, but his skating and defending are his best assets.
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.
The 12th overall pick in the 2022 QMJHL Draft was excellent in the USHL as a rookie, and was able to improve on those numbers significantly in his draft season. Boisvert is a big center (6-foot-2) with tons of skill with the puck and above average skating. He looks like a pro and has a ton of qualities, including a really dangerous shot, that make me confident he’ll find a role in the middle-six forward group of an NHL team someday.
There is no denying that the Wild have become immensely more fun to watch since Kaprizov came over from Russia. The slippery winger dealt with injuries last year that kept him out of 15 games, but he still managed to record 40 goals and 75 points. Kaprizov has incredible vision and hands, and he https://gambibet.org/ has been the engine behind the Wild offense. There is very little that separates the three, so Isles fans, don’t read into it too much. Some will argue that Sorokin deserved the Vezina last year over Linus Ullmark, but it’s only a matter of when, not if, the New York goaltender earns the honor.
Fantasy Hockey Defenseman Tiers
Augustine’s return gives MSU a high floor, because they can project to get very solid goaltending most nights from one of the more talented NHL goalie prospects in the world. Augustine was a huge piece of MSU’s success as I was not terribly high on the defense they played in front of him and returning the netminder is a coup. Losing Levshunov, who signed with the Blackhawks after being drafted (may spend the year in the AHL), was a big blow and will be the big challenge for Nightingale’s staff.
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.
He can jump up in the rush to provide offense, he can find breakout passes into the neutral zone, and he is exceptional with his stick defensively, either breaking up plays or blocking passing lanes. Forsling has four goals and 11 points in these playoffs, more than both Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour, two of his teammates considered to be extra offensive-minded. The Finnish center played an integral part in Florida’s run to the Stanley Cup Final, leading all players in faceoff wins. His 78 points in 68 games in the regular season marked the third consecutive point-per-game season and fourth in the last five. Marner has always been dynamic on offense, but over the last couple of seasons, the winger has developed into a legitimate defensive threat. For the first time in his career, the Maple Leafs star was a finalist for the Selke, finishing third in voting behind Patrice Bergeron and Nico Hischier.
The projection is tantalizing, but the reason people are hesitant about Geekie is that his skating is average at best. He will need to keep putting work into his ability to play at a fast pace but his length and skill combo should make him an effective middle-six player for Tampa Bay regardless. He also seems to have a knack for unleashing the full weight of that extra gear when it matters most. Perhaps it was because he began his NHL career in the post-season that Makar feels so at home in the grind of the playoffs. Just 25 years old, fresh off a career 21-goal, 90-point season, the question isn’t whether Makar can maintain his current level — it’s how much higher he’ll have raised it when all is said and done.