Fantasy keeper, dynasty league rankings for 2018-19

NHL.com's keeper league rankings are based on team security, contract status, draft position, standard Yahoo category production and age entering the 2018-19 regular season. For more fantasy coverage, visit NHL.com/Fantasy.

FORWARDS

The top 10 forwards include Vancouver Canucks rookie center Elias Pettersson (keeper forward No. 9). After breaking Kent Nilsson's Swedish Hockey League U-20 scoring record (passing Peter Forsberg, Nicklas Backstrom), Pettersson's ceiling looks to be the highest among NHL rookies this season. … Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Mitchell Marner joined the top five overall after displaying chemistry with center John Tavares in the preseason. The duo should be one of the best fantasy duos over the next few years, making Marner well worth a first-round pick in a long-term league. … Montreal Canadiens rookie center Jesperi Kotkaniemi cracked the top 25 and is worth drafting in early rounds, even if he doesn't make the team this season. The Canadiens void at center is no secret, and Kotaniemi will be relied on heavily to generate offense for seasons to come. … A forward that's worth a late-round flier is Dallas Stars left wing Roope Hintz, who looks to be NHL ready this preseason. If he makes the team, Hintz could fill a much-needed secondary scoring role for the Stars. He has seen time at center this preseason on a line with Jamie Benn and Alexander Radulov.

DEFENSEMEN

Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy joined the top 10 overall with his high ceiling and potential to chip away at Torey Krug's power-play time this season. Defenseman is a scarce position, and keeper/dynasty league owners should target one of McAvoy, Ivan Provorov (Philadelphia Flyers) or Mikhail Sergachev (Tampa Bay Lightning) in early rounds. … Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks is returning to University of Michigan this season but worth a top-50 pick based on the likelihood of him becoming a staple on Vancouver's power play next season, which should feature high-end forwards Brock Boeser and Pettersson. … Another intriguing keeper defenseman to stash is Adam Boqvist of the Chicago Blackhawks (No. 8 overall pick in 2018 NHL Draft). Boqvist was returned to London of the Ontario Hockey League this season but is worth stashing on your bench as he is primed to eventually quarterback the Blackhawks power play, taking over for veterans Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook.

GOALIES

With the addition of goalies in this expanded keeper/dynasty rankings update, Flyers goalie Carter Hart leads the position with a chance to make the team as early as this season. The 20-year-old looks to be the answer to the Flyers' perennial goalie inconsistency and could blossom into a true No. 1 workhorse option, especially with Brian Elliott and Michal Neuvirth being potential 2019 unrestricted free agents. … Ilya Samsonov of the Washington Capitals and Thatcher Demko of the Vancouver Canucks were also ranked in the top 40 based on the chance each could play in the NHL this season. Samsonov could back up Braden Holtby, a spot that was fantasy-relevant last season (Philipp Grubauer). Demko could compete with Jacob Markstrom and Anders Nilsson for playing time for the young Canucks.

FANTASY KEEPER / DYNASTY RANKINGS FOR 2018-19

NOTES: Skaters who will be 22 years or younger at the start of the 2018-19 NHL season are eligible for this list. … Prospects selected in the 2018 NHL Draft or earlier or any players that have yet to play a regular season game have been included. Prospects not expected to have full-time NHL roles this season (e.g. Quinn Hughes) or who have been sent to the American Hockey League but are worth stashing are noted (\). Goalies have been added to these rankings in this expanded update.
1. Connor McDavid, C, EDM
2. Auston Matthews, C, TOR
3. Patrik Laine, RW, WPG
4. Rasmus Dahlin, D, BUF
5. Mitchell Marner, RW, TOR
6. David Pastrnak, RW, BOS
7. Jack Eichel, C, BUF
8. Charlie McAvoy, D, BOS
9. Mathew Barzal, C, NYI
10. Brock Boeser, RW, VAN
11. Elias Pettersson, C, VAN
12. Clayton Keller, LW/RW, ARI
13. Ivan Provorov, D, PHI
14. Matthew Tkachuk, LW, CGY
15. Miro Heiskanen, D, DAL
16. Leon Draisaitl, C/RW, EDM
17. Mikko Rantanen, RW, COL
18. Carter Hart, G, PHI\
19. Mikhail Sergachev, D, TBL
20. Sebastian Aho, C/LW, CAR
21. Andrei Svechnikov, RW, CAR
22. Filip Zadina, LW, DET*
23. Brady Tkachuk, LW, OTT
24. Alex DeBrincat, LW/RW, CHI
25. Jesperi Kotkaniemi, C, MTL
26. William Nylander, C/RW, TOR - RFA
27. Brayden Point, C, TBL
28. Nikolaj Ehlers, LW/RW, WPG
29. Nico Hischier, C, NJD
30. Ilya Samsonov, G, WSH*
31. Zach Werenski, D, CBJ
32. Eeli Tolvanen, RW, NSH*
33. Kyle Connor, LW, WPG
34. Dylan Larkin, C, DET
35. Quinn Hughes, D, VAN*
36. Kailer Yamamoto, RW, EDM
37. Martin Necas, C, CAR
38. Thatcher Demko, G, VAN
39. Nolan Patrick, C, PHI
40. Filip Chytil, C, NYR
41. Aaron Ekblad, D, FLA
42. Pierre-Luc Dubois, C/LW, CBJ
43. Jack Roslovic, C, WPG
44. Casey Mittelstadt, C, BUF
45. Jesse Puljujarvi, RW, EDM
46. Samuel Girard, D, COL
47. Lias Andersson, C, NYR*
48. Kevin Fiala, LW/RW, NSH
49. Jake DeBrusk, LW, BOS
50. Thomas Chabot, D, OTT
51. Sam Reinhart, C/LW/RW, BUF
52. Timo Meier, LW, SJS
53. Adam Boqvist, D, CHI*
54. Anthony Beauvillier, C/LW, NYI
55. Travis Konecny, LW/RW, PHI
56. Ryan Donato, LW/RW, BOS
57. Jakub Vrana, LW/RW, WSH
58. Michael Rasmussen, C, DET
59. Noah Hanifin, D, CGY
60. Jordan Kyrou, C, STL*
61. Alex Tuch, RW, VGK
62. Sammy Blais, LW, STL
63. Henrik Borgstrom, C, FLA*
64. Robert Thomas, C, STL
65. Jesper Bratt, LW/RW, NJD
66. Ethan Bear, D, EDM
67. Nick Schmaltz, C/LW, CHI
68. Erik Brannstrom, D, VGK*
69. Kristian Vesalainen, LW/RW, WPG
70. Owen Tippett, RW, FLA*
71. Ty Smith, D, NJD*
72. Alexander Nylander, RW, BUF*
73. Marcus Davidsson, C/RW, BUF*
74. Jonathan Davidsson, RW, CBJ*
75. Cale Makar, D, COL*
76. Jake Oettinger, G, DAL*
77. Kieffer Bellows, C/LW, NYI*
78. Evan Bouchard, D, EDM*
79. Gabriel Vilardi, C, LAK*
80. Noah Dobson, D, NYI*
81. Juuso Valimaki, D, CGY*
82. Colin White, C, OTT
83. Cody Glass, C, VGK*
84. Jonathan Dahlen, LW, VAN*
85. Nick Suzuki, C, MTL*
86. Alex Formenton, LW, OTT
87. Roope Hintz, LW, DAL
88. Oliver Wahlstrom, RW, NYI*
89. Olli Juolevi, D, VAN*
90. Linus Soderstrom, G, NYI*
91. Jakob Chychrun, D, ARI
92. Vitaly Abramov, RW, CBJ*
93. Barrett Hayton, C, ARI
94. Dylan Strome, C, ARI
95. Conor Timmins, D, COL*
96. Morgan Frost, C, PHI*
97. Sam Steel, C, ANA*
98. Kirill Kaprizov, LW, MIN*
99. Igor Shestyorkin, G, NYR*
100. Adam Fox, D, CAR\
Just missed: Luke Kunin, C, MIN; Logan Brown, C, OTT\; Aleksi Heponiemi, C, FLA\; Cal Foote, D, TBL\; Philippe Myers, D, PHI\
READ:* Keeper / dynasty league rankings for August 2018