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Over the next few weeks, RotoBaller will be kicking off the NHL offseason with a feature breaking down the top 100 player rankings heading into the 2018-2019 fantasy hockey season.
The top 100 rankings will be released in six segments, starting from the bottom (100-81) and concluding with a two-piece set featuring our top 20 players for next season. The rankings are subject to change throughout the off-season as the NHL Entry Draft and ensuing free agency period can alter player outlooks.
Note: Rankings are determined considering a standard Yahoo league format (goals, assists, plus-minus, power play points, shots on goal and hits for skaters; wins, goals-against average, save percentage and shutouts for goalies).
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Top 100 Fantasy Hockey Rankings for 2018-2019 (40-21)
Much of Evgeny Kuznetsov’s production increase in 2017-2018 can be attributed to a significant spike in power play usage (3:27 which was up from just 1:59 two seasons ago). The Russian-born center capitalized on his increased ice time on the man advantage with 31 power play points, raising his point total to a career-high 83 points (27 goals, 56 assists). Kuznetsov’s outstanding playmaking ability paired nicely with the game’s most lethal goal scorer, Alexander Ovechkin (the two shared the ice for nearly 50% of their EV time on ice). Of course, the Capitals have another great puck distributor in Nicklas Backstrom, so Kuznetsov’s rise into elite fantasy territory will depend on which center will line up next to Ovechkin most next season.
Despite turning 33-years-old this past May, Ryan Getzlaf has proven he has no intentions of slowing down. Regarded as one of the NHL’s finest puck distributors (with more than 45 assists in each of his last five seasons. Getzlaf consistently returns values for those who select him on draft day. The Saskatchewan native registered 61 points (11 goals, 50 assists), a plus-20 rating, 117 shots, and 96 hits despite missing 26 games due to a severe facial injury in 2017-2018. Getzlaf is a model of consistency in fantasy hockey and his ability to rack up numbers in all standard categories should make him another solid draft selection this time around too.
While we can’t deny how polarizing P.K. Subban is amongst the hockey community, it’s hard to find a fantasy hockey owner who wouldn’t love to have the electric defenseman on his squad. Subban had an excellent second season in Nashville in 2017-2018, providing value in all standard categories with his 59 points (16 goals, 43 assists), +18 rating, 82 penalty minutes, 25 power play points, 207 shots, and 111 hits. Currently checking in at #67 in Yahoo’s pre-season rankings (despite finishing 22nd overall last season), Subban will become quite a bargain to the fantasy owners that are able to grab him this fall.
37) Aleksander Barkov (C, FLA)
Alexander Barkov silenced those doubting his ability to withstand a full 82 game season in 2017-2018. The Finnish center suited up for 79 of his team’s 82 games and posted 78 points (27 goals, 51 assists), a +9 rating, 17 power play points, and 256 shots on goal. Barkov is an immense talent who certainly has all of the offensive tools that could elevate him to be considered as one of hockey’s best players. Barkov's ceiling is through the roof and he might be able to explode through it with another full, healthy season under his belt in 2018-2019.
Taken as the second overall pick in the 2015 NHL draft, Jack Eichel burst into the league with an impressive 56-point (24 goals, 32 assists) rookie season. Eichel’s flashes of completely taking over games at such a young age have left fantasy owners longing for him to finally bust into true super-stardom. Unfortunately, there has been one thing holding the Boston University product back: untimely ankle injuries. In the two seasons since that respectable rookie campaign, Eichel has posted at least 24 goals, 57 points, and 245 shots on goal, but hasn't hit the 70 games played mark yet. Buffalo should be better this season with Eichel’s new goal-scoring linemate Jeff Skinner. If Eichel can stay healthy, we’ll be sure to see a point-per-game/300 shot season from him this year.
For the second consecutive season, Mark Scheifele closed out 2017-2018 as a point-per-game player (60 points in 60 games). The Ontario native demonstrated an ability to drive offense as the Jets’ top line center – turning Winnipeg into one of the most dangerous teams in the league. Scheifele provides solid cross-category production; last season, he produced a plus-19 rating, 16 power play points, and 57 hits (to go along with those 60 points). With all that said, Scheifele should be a candidate to hit the 80-point mark in 2018-2019. But in order for the young center to leap up into elite fantasy hockey territory, he’ll need to generate more shots on net (160 shots in 2016-2017, 125 shots in 2017-2018).
For much of Patrice Bergeron's career, the two-way center seemed to be one of those players whose fantasy value would never quite match his value in real-life. Bergeron, known for his great impact in all three zones, had only eclipsed the 0.80 points-per-game mark just once prior to the 2017-2018 season. Last season, however, Bergeron formed excellent chemistry with David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand, launching his points-per-game number up to a career-high 0.98 pts/g. Despite missing 18 games due to a groin injury, the four-time Selke winner finished the year with 63 points (30 goals, 33 assists) to go along with a plus-21 rating, 224 shots on goal, and 21 power play points. With the Bruins top trio all entering training camp healthy, expect Bergeron to sustain similar production in 2018-2019.
In an attempt to free up cap space last summer, the Chicago Blackhawks shocked the hockey world by sending Artemi Panarin to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Headed into the season, analysts expected Panarin to take a step back offensively without his magical connection with Patrick Kane. Instead, he posted a career-best 82 points (27 goals and 55 assists). Entering into a contract year in 2018-2019 (with reports that he wants to find another home next summer), look for Panarin to at least replicate last season’s offensive totals.
Since entering the league as an undersized 21-year-old, Johnny Gaudreau has maintained a reputation as one of the game's most electrifying players with the puck. The former Boston College product has posted at least 60 points in each of his first four seasons and set career-highs in assists (60), points (84), power play points (24) and shots (227) in 2017-2018. Obviously, Gaudreau's small stature (5'9", 157 pounds) will always limit his ability to add much value in physical categories but the left-winger should sit near the top in scoring at his position once again next season.
Prior to suffering a mid-season hand injury, Filip Forsberg seemed prime to shatter his career-highs in just about every scoring category in 2017-2018 season. The injury cost the Swedish winger 15 games, but Forsberg returned and still registered 64 points (26 goals, 38 assists), a plus-27 rating, 21 power play points, and 179 shots on goal. Playing on a deeply talented Nashville team, the 24-year-old’s game astoundingly still has room to grow. Having established great chemistry on the Preds' top line with Ryan Johansen and Viktor Arvidsson, Forsberg might be due for an 80-point season in 2018-2019.
When Sergei Bobrovsky is healthy, there's no questioning he's one of the NHL's best goaltenders. After battling injury issues for a decent part of his first five NHL seasons, Bobrovsky is putting those durability concerns behind him with two consecutive seasons of 60 or more starts. Over that same two-year time span, the Russian netminder has topped all goaltenders (with a minimum 80 starts) in all standard fantasy goaltending categories with 78 wins, a 2.24 goals-against average, a .926 save percentage, and 12 shutouts. If Bobrovsky can stay healthy for the third consecutive year, you likely won't find a better puckstopper.
At 28-years-old, Drew Doughty is almost universally regarded as the game's most complete defenseman. Doughty possesses a unique blend of physicality, offensive production, and durability that consistently places him in conversation for the Norris each season. In 2017-2018, the Ontario native even took his fantasy value to a new level, posting 60 points (10 goals, 50 assists), 20 power play points, 205 shots, and 127 hits. Having played in all 82 games in each of the last four seasons, it'll be hard to find a safer pick in the third round of fantasy drafts next season.
When Anze Kopitar's point total dropped to 52 (12 goals, 40 assists) in 2016-2017, some wondered if the two-time Stanley Cup winner's best days were behind him. Two Stanley Cups. Two Selke trophies. Five seasons of recording 70 points or more. Not a bad run. Well, folks, Anze Kopitar is not done yet. No longer bound by a defense-first system, the Slovenian center went out and put up the best statistical season of his career in 2017-2018. Kopitar set career-highs in goals (35), assists (57), and finished seventh in league scoring. Granted, it should be noted that Kopitar might not touch the 90-point mark that was inflated by a 17.5% shooting percentage (12.6% over his career), but a 75-80 point season seems perfectly reasonable.
En route to capturing his first Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goaltender last season, Pekka Rinne impressed the hockey world with 42 wins, a 2.31 goals-against average, a .927 save percentage, and eight shutouts in 59 starts. At 35-years-old, Rinne has established himself as one of the most consistent elite goaltenders over the last decade. Concerns aside, (poor 2017-2018 playoffs and age), if you consider his body of work over the entirety of last season, it'll be difficult to suggest he isn't primed to finish as a top-five goaltender once again this year.
With Yahoo's recent move to include hits as a standard category in fantasy leagues, Dustin Byfuglien has shot up the rankings. The hulking blueliner has a unique ability to play an incredibly physical game, yet still, produce excellent offensive numbers each year. In fact, Byfuglien has amassed at least 45 points and 110 hits in every single full season he’s suited up during this decade. You probably shouldn't bet on Byfuglien capturing any defenseman scoring titles any time soon, but you can sure count on him to stack numbers in categories unlike any other blueliner in the league today.
It's exceptionally rare to see a player of Erik Karlsson's caliber dominate offseason trade rumors like he has this summer. The generational defenseman's days in Ottawa seem to be numbered (set to be a free agent in the summer of 2019) and analysts would love for him to get traded soon in order to appropriately gauge his value. Despite playing on a poor Senators team in 2017-2018, Karlsson once again put up elite numbers from the back end (9 goals, 52 assists, 18 power play points, and 196 shots on net in 71 games played) and should record better numbers considering that he's now fully healthy.
24) Connor Hellebucyk (G, WPG)
Connor Hellebucyk was not expected to provide much value last season. Headed into the 2017-2018 season, the Winnipeg Jets had just signed Steve Mason to a two-year, $8.2 million deal and the young netminder was coming off a fairly atrocious sophomore season. Well, it sure didn't take long for Hellebucyk to exceed such expectations. The Michigan native not only grabbed control of the starting role early on, he elevated his game to become a Vezina Trophy candidate backed by his 44 wins, 2.36 goals-against average, .924 save percentage, and six shutouts. Turning 25-years-old this past May, Hellebucyk is just entering his prime and plays for one of the league's top teams. He should push for Vezina consideration once again in 2018-2019.
It's hard to suggest that a player ranked seventh in the entire NHL in goals since 2010 (234 markers in 622 games) could ever be under-appreciated in fantasy circles. Pure goal scorers are often valued the highest, yet Phil Kessel surprisingly sits at #30 in Yahoo!'s pre-draft rankings. It's not common for a player who just posted a career-high 92 points last season to fall to the mid-third round in drafts. The Minnesota native finished the 2017-2018 season as the 19th most valuable player in most formats and happens to play alongside Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin. Considering this, it's certainly not outrageous to think Kessel could close out next season with a similar ranking to this past campaign.
Over his past three seasons, Victor Hedman ranks fourth in goals (43), fourth in assists (139), second in plus/minus (+56), and fourth in power play points (70) amongst all NHL defensemen. The giant, smooth-skating defender creates value in non-scoring categories as well (54 penalty minutes and 139 hits over the course of the 2017-2018 season). Hedman checked in at the top spot in overall defenseman rankings last season and should push to reclaim the throne of blueliners again in 2018-2019 with his excellent category coverage.
21) Vladimir Tarasenko (RW, STL)
With just 66 points (33 goals, 33 assists) in 80 games last season, Vladimir Tarasenko had a disappointing fantasy season for a player selected in the first round of most fantasy drafts. The talented winger was victimized by a drop in shooting percentage (10.8% vs. career average of 12.7%) and power play production (down six points). Considering Tarasenko's immense talent level and the amount of offensive weapons now surrounding him in St. Louis, he should jump back into his typical 75-80 point range next season. At his current #29 pre-draft ranking in Yahoo!, Tarasenko could be one of the biggest steals of the draft.
Stay tuned for the continuation of our weekly countdown of the top 100 players for 2018-2019 fantasy hockey.
