MacKinnon and Kucherov Lead Four Candidates for No. 1 in Fantasy Hockey Drafts

Nathan MacKinnon averaged 3.2 fantasy points per game last season, rifling home 53 goals and 74 assists for Colorado.

Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid led the NHL with 3.2 fantasy points per game in ESPN standard H2H points leagues last season. MacKinnon, the Colorado Avalanche center, secured the top spot by recording 53 goals, 74 assists, and 30 power-play points. His production was fueled by 350 shots on goal, marking the third consecutive year he led the league in that category. Under the ESPN scoring system, goals earn 2 points, assists 1, and special-teams points 0.5, while shots and hits contribute 0.1 each. MacKinnon’s 2023-24 campaign saw him reach 51 goals, a figure he surpassed this past year, establishing a baseline expectation of 45 to 53 goals for the upcoming 2026-27 season.

Nikita Kucherov enters the new season as the top-ranked winger after averaging 3.1 fantasy points per game. The Tampa Bay Lightning star led all regular skaters with 1.71 points per game in 2025-26, totaling 44 goals and 86 assists across 76 contests. Over the last three seasons, Kucherov has maintained a scoring rate of 1.68 points per game and has missed only 11 total games across the previous four years. The 33-year-old playmaker is entering a contract year as the salary cap increases, following a season where he recorded 37 power-play points. His career mean suggests a potential regression toward 50 power-play points, a mark he achieved through three prior campaigns.

Celebrini’s Sophomore Surge and Statistical Ceiling

Macklin Celebrini finished his second NHL season with 45 goals and 70 assists for the San Jose Sharks. The Ted Lindsay Award finalist achieved these numbers as a teenager while also competing in the Olympics. Celebrini’s 45 goals came on an expected goals rate (ixG) of 35, supported by a 15.7% shooting percentage. Analysts project the center to bank approximately 40 goals in 2026-27, though he is expected to eclipse the 300-shot mark for the first time. Defensively, he contributed 53 blocked shots, which earn 0.5 points each in standard fantasy formats.

The Sharks' roster evolution includes 21-year-old Will Smith, 20-year-old Igor Chernyshov, and 19-year-old Michael Misa. Coach Ryan Warsofsky may pair Celebrini with Ivar Stenberg, the 2026 second overall draft pick, at even strength and on the power play. This lineup adjustment follows the departure of William Eklund to Ottawa. Celebrini is ranked as the third preferred option for fantasy hockey drafts, positioned behind MacKinnon and Kucherov due to his high ceiling and physical maturation.

McDavid and Edmonton’s Special Teams Outlook

Connor McDavid remains a primary target for fantasy hockey drafts despite a projected shift in coaching philosophy under Mike Babcock. The Edmonton Oilers center averaged 3.2 fantasy points per game last year, matching MacKinnon for the league lead. McDavid’s recent production included 54 points on the power play, contributing to Edmonton’s league-best 30.6% success rate with the man-advantage. While he once recorded a career-high 71 power-play points in 2021-22, he has historically averaged approximately 0.5 power-play points per game.

Babcock, who was requested by McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, is expected to implement a system focused on defensive accountability and balanced ice time. This structural change may impact McDavid’s offensive volume, though he remains capable of reaching 140 points in an 84-game schedule. In 2025-26, McDavid flirted with the 140-point mark while Kucherov led the league in points-per-game efficiency. Fantasy managers must weigh the Oilers' potential regression from their 30.6% power-play conversion rate against McDavid’s consistent elite output when making the first overall selection.