Artemi Panarin, LW (NHL.com rank: 5) -- Panarin finished tied with David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins for third in the NHL in scoring last season (NHL career-high 95 points in 69 games), behind Edmonton Oilers forwards Leon Draisaitl (110) and Connor McDavid (97). Panarin led the NHL in even-strength points (71), set NHL career highs with 32 goals and 63 assists, and tied his best with 24 power-play points. Panarin thrived on the second line with center Ryan Strome and first power play with elite center Mika Zibanejad, and could have an even higher gear this season with potential exposure to rookie forward
Alexis Lafreniere
(No. 1 pick in 2020 NHL Draft) and/or Kaapo Kakko (No. 2 pick in 2019 NHL Draft) in different situations.
Mika Zibanejad, C (18) -- Zibanejad led the NHL in goals per game (0.72) last season, just ahead of Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (0.71), and set NHL career highs in goals (41) and points (75) despite being limited to 57 of New York's 70 games. Panarin (1.38; third) and Zibanejad (1.32; seventh) were among the NHL leaders in points per game playing on separate lines at even strength and together on the Rangers power play, which was seventh in the NHL at 22.9 percent. You'll need to reach for Panarin in the first round of any fantasy draft, but Zibanejad is a worthwhile pick in the second round with a chance to play on an even-strength line with either Lafreniere or valuable left wing Chris Kreider.
Rangers 31 IN 31: [Season preview | 3 Questions | Top prospects | Behind the Numbers]
Igor Shesterkin, G (36) -- Shesterkin emerged as the Rangers No. 1 goalie last season with a 10-2-0 record and a .932 save percentage in his first 12 NHL regular-season games. Shesterkin is one of the most valuable fantasy goalies (sixth) in NHL.com's rankings, the highest ranked rookie-eligible player and part of a top 10 goalie duo with reliable backup Alexandar Georgiev.
Chris Kreider, LW (91) -- Kreider finished among the top 75 overall fantasy players (62nd in standard leagues) last season and tied his best points-per-game average (0.71) and power-play points total (13) from 2016-17. Kreider, who played on the top line with Zibanejad and right wing Pavel Buchnevich and on the first power play with Panarin and Zibanejad, could lose some fantasy appeal with New York being loaded at left wing (Panarin, Lafreniere), but remains valuable because of his coverage of goals (24; third on Rangers), plus/minus (plus-13) and hits (1.8 per game).
