Leon Draisaitl, Oilers: There are few fantasy options better than Draisaitl. He is probably unavailable in keeper leagues, and a top-five pick otherwise.
Nathan MacKinnon, Avalanche: If given an opportunity to draft MacKinnon, all fantasy leaguers should take it! MacKinnon may be the first pick in some leagues.
Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs: Only Alex Ovechkin has registered more than Matthews' 368 goals since the latter came into the NHL in 2016. Draft him very early.
Connor McDavid, Oilers: At 27, McDavid has done everything but win a Stanley Cup. It would be a surprise if he is not the No. 1 pick in all yearly drafts.
Brayden Point, Lightning: He has established himself as one of the NHL's top goal scorers. The 28-year-old Point is unlikely to last beyond the third round.
Connor Bedard, Blackhawks: A 35-goal, 75-point sophomore season could be well within reach for Bedard in '24-25. Plan a fairly early selection in all drafts.
Leo Carlsson, Ducks: The Ducks are counting on Carlsson to become a cornerstone for their rebuild. He should be especially helpful in a keeper league.
Macklin Celebrini, Sharks: The 18-year-old projects as a top-level NHL center. He should go early in most keeper leagues but is a mid-round option otherwise.
Logan Cooley, Mammoth: The maturing 20-year-old may be the franchise's best short-term shot at having an elite player. He looks like a nice keeper pick.
Wyatt Johnston, Stars: There is no reason not to draft Johnston this year. He should exceed last season's scoring numbers, so he may not last very long.
Mason McTavish, Ducks: The future is very bright for McTavish, especially if the Ducks improve as a collective. His offensive totals should keep spiking.
Matty Beniers, Kraken: The 21-year-old must produce the way he did as a rookie. Assume that Beniers will, so he could be a good mid-round pick in '24-25.
Dylan Cozens, Senators: The Sabres need Cozens to rediscover his offensive touch. Expect him to bounce back nicely, with 30-plus goals and 70-plus points.
Tomas Hertl, Golden Knights: If the 30-year-old is healthy again, 25-30 goals and 60-70 points are realistic marks. However, Hertl is among the riskiest picks.
Josh Norris, Sabres: Since his value is tied to his health, Norris could end up being a solid late-round sleeper pick if his shoulder issues are over.
Elias Pettersson, Canucks: The talented Swede remains a dangerous offensive catalyst, so he is not likely to last beyond the first two rounds of many drafts.
Tim Stutzle, Senators: The 22-year-old from Germany has the tools to be a perennial fantasy star–if he is healthy. He might not last very long this year.
Filip Chytil, Canucks: The Czech forward could be a 25-goal, 50-point No. 3 center, but he needs to remain healthy. He might be a good late-round gamble.
Sean Couturier, Flyers: The 31-year-old is a shadow of his former self; he was even a healthy scratch twice in 2023-24. Couturier is a risky proposition.
Pierre-Luc Dubois, Capitals: The 26-year-old has the talent to be a 30-goal, 65-point forward but has never reached either mark. He should bounce back, right?
Chandler Stephenson, Kraken: The 30-year-old can match up against top-six forward rivals defensively but not always on offense. Do not draft Stephenson early.
John Tavares, Maple Leafs: Toronto's skipper enters his 16th NHL season as a steady fantasy performer. In some leagues, draftees might get him as a bargain.
Jack Drury, Avalanche: The son of former NHLer Ted Drury still has work to do to get himself into more of an offensive role. He is a fantasy dark horse.
Morgan Frost, Flames: Fantasy leaguers are still waiting for the 2017 first-round pick to blossom as a scorer. He has some worth as a late-round choice.