Fantasy top 250 rankings for 2018-19

NHL.com's top 250 player rankings are based on past production and expectations for next season in standard Yahoo leagues, which now include hits (instead of penalty minutes). Fantasy owners should use these updated rankings as a basis for team evaluation, keeper decisions and offseason draft research.
These rankings will be updated throughout the offseason after other signings, trades, injury and prospect news, training camp, NHL Preseason games, fantasy mock drafts and any other developments. For more fantasy coverage, visit NHL.com/Fantasy.

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POSTIONAL RANKINGS:
Top 100 F
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C
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LW
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RW
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D
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G
2018-19 PROJECTIONS:
Forward points
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D-man points
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Goalie/team wins

HITS BECOMES STANDARD YAHOO CATEGORY:

-- There was no shortage of changes to NHL.com's top 250 rankings after Yahoo implemented hits as a standard fantasy category (replacing PIMs). Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin jumped Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid for the top spot having had five times as many hits last season (Ovechkin: 139; 2.6 per game in NHL career; McDavid: 28; 0.4). Dallas Stars forward Jamie Benn, who retained dual eligibility (C/LW) in Yahoo, moved into the top five overall because of his track record of category coverage, high ceiling in every offensive category and hits prowess (140 last season; 1.7 in NHL career).
Benn wasn't the only elite forward to keep his position flexibility in Yahoo leagues; Claude Giroux (C/LW, PHI) and Blake Wheeler (C/RW, WPG) also remained dual eligible. Giroux and Wheeler jumped Benn's teammate Tyler Seguin (potential 2019 unrestricted free agent), who is one of the most consistent forwards in the game but lost RW eligibility (now C only). Other players in the top 50 overall to lose dual eligibility include Mitch Marner (TOR; lost C; now RW only) and Artemi Panarin (CBJ; lost C; now LW only). Two other players in the top 50 to keep dual eligibility are Joe Pavelski (C/RW, SJS) and Leon Draisaitl (C/RW, EDM).
Read:
Yahoo position eligibility updates for 2018-19
-- The St. Louis Blues are expected to start center Ryan O'Reilly on a line with right wing Vladimir Tarasenko, prompting a bump for O'Reilly in these rankings into the top 130 overall. Brayden Schenn, who developed chemistry with Tarasenko and left wing Jaden Schwartz last season, is likely to start as the second-line center but could be moved back up with Tarasenko at any time. Schenn loses dual eligibility (lost LW; now C only) but jumped 15 spots in these rankings because of hits (154 last season; 2.3 per game in NHL career).
-- As if a spot on McDavid's line wasn't appealing enough, forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins gains significant value from now having dual eligibility (C/LW). Nugent-Hopkins is a breakout candidate and lands in an intriguing pack of flexible forwards with Sam Reinhart, (C/RW, BUF), Pierre-Luc Dubois (C/LW, CBJ) and Alex DeBrincat (LW/RW, CHI).
-- Outside of the top 50 overall players who are also strong in hits, here are some other hits-producing forwards and defensemen attainable in middle rounds who moved up significantly in the rankings as a result of Yahoo's category change:
Forwards: Patric Hornqvist, Rickard Rakell, Wayne Simmonds, Vincent Trocheck, Gabriel Landeskog, Max Pacioretty, T.J. Oshie, Jake Guentzel, Anders Lee, Chris Kreider, Dustin Brown, J.T. Miller, Tom Wilson, Timo Meier
Defensemen:Kris Letang, Mark Giordano, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Ivan Provorov, Rasmus Ristolainen, Mathew Dumba, Colton Parayko, Jake Muzzin, Ryan Pulock, Josh Manson, Nikita Zadorov

PLAYERS WHO JOINED THE LIST:

-- Prospects Miro Heiskanen (D, DAL) and Brady Tkachuk (LW, OTT) are expected to compete for full-time roster spots and have joined the top 250 rankings based on upside for the upcoming season. With new coach Jim Montgomery, the Dallas Stars are likely to prioritize their young defensemen, making Heiskanen a dark horse Calder Trophy candidate within a high-powered offense that includes Benn, Seguin, defenseman John Klingberg and right wing Alexander Radulov. Tkachuk, who signed an entry-level contract with the Ottawa Senators on Monday, could feasibly play on the top line with center Matt Duchene and right wing Mark Stone if he excels in training camp and his NHL trial.
-- With Montreal Canadiens defenseman Shea Weber (knee surgery) expected to be out until at least December, Jeff Petry joins the rankings because of his points ceiling (NHL career-high 42 last season), first power-play usage (23 power-play points) and hits prowess (167; 2.0 per game in career). Petry, who filled in last season when Weber missed significant time, quietly finished 153rd in Yahoo leagues with standard categories (including hits)
-- Forwards Boone Jenner (C/LW, CBJ) and Milan Lucic (LW, EDM) have top-nine roles for their respective teams and have joined the top 250 rankings near the bottom because of their specialty in hits. Jenner, who remains dual-eligible in Yahoo, had 205 hits last season and Lucic, who could play on the second line with Draisaitl, had 254 last season. Jenner and Lucic are averaging 2.8 hits per game over their NHL careers.

TOP 250 PLAYER RANKINGS FOR 2018-19

Standard Yahoo categories now include goals, assists, plus/minus, power-play points, shots on goal and hits for skaters and wins, goals-against average, save percentage and shutouts for goalies. Forward positions indicate Yahoo eligibility for 2018-19 season (subject to additions but never subtractions at Yahoo's discretion). ... Value has been quantified based on factors including but not limited to past production, projected line combinations, power-play usage, injury history, sleeper upside, anticipated regression or bounce-back candidacy, age and contract status (current restricted free agents are listed with RFA). ... Any potential 2019 UFAs (\) and RFAs (\\) are also noted below. ... INJ. indicates players with injury concerns. Yahoo pre-rank (if applicable) is listed in parentheses next to each player.
1. Alex Ovechkin, LW, WSH (3)
2. Connor McDavid, C, EDM (1)
3. Sidney Crosby, C, PIT (4)
4. Jamie Benn, C/LW, DAL (15)
5. Nikita Kucherov, RW, TBL (2)
6. Evgeni Malkin, C, PIT (13)
7. Patrik Laine, RW, WPG\* (6)
8. Auston Matthews, C, TOR\\ (11)
9. John Tavares, C, TOR (9)
10. David Pastrnak, RW, BOS (12)
11. Brad Marchand, LW, BOS (5)
12. Steven Stamkos, C, TBL (17)
13. Nathan MacKinnon, C, COL (8)
14. Blake Wheeler, C/RW, WPG (18)
15. Claude Giroux, C/LW, PHI (20)
16. Tyler Seguin, C, DAL* (10)
17. Andrei Vasilevskiy, G, TBL (14)
18. Connor Hellebuyck, G, WPG (22)
19. Taylor Hall, LW, NJD - INJ. (16)
20. Patrick Kane, RW, CHI (7)
21. Dustin Byfuglien, D, WPG (39)
22. Brent Burns, D, SJS (23)
23. Evgeny Kuznetsov, C, WSH (28)
24. Anze Kopitar, C, LAK (31)
25. Vladimir Tarasenko, RW, STL - INJ. (29)
26. Mark Scheifele, C, WPG (44)
27. Victor Hedman, D, TBL (21)
28. Patrice Bergeron, C, BOS - INJ. (34)
29. Johnny Gaudreau, LW, CGY (26)
30. Drew Doughty, D, LAK (58)
31. Mitchell Marner, RW, TOR\\ (36)
32. Jack Eichel, C, BUF (38)
33. Artemi Panarin, LW, CBJ* (27)
34. Phil Kessel, RW, PIT (30)
35. Frederik Andersen, G, TOR (37)
36. Erik Karlsson, D, OTT* (40)
37. Braden Holtby, G, WSH (24)
38. Filip Forsberg, LW, NSH (32)
39. Aleksander Barkov, C, FLA (43)
40. Jonathan Quick, G, LAK (35)
41. P.K. Subban, D, NSH (67)
42. Sergei Bobrovsky, G, CBJ* (25)
43. Joe Pavelski, C/RW, SJS* (53)
44. Ryan Getzlaf, C, ANA (54)
45. Evander Kane, LW, SJS (46)
46. Leon Draisaitl, C/RW, EDM (42)
47. Jakub Voracek, RW, PHI (48)
48. Tuukka Rask, G, BOS (33)
49. Pekka Rinne, G, NSH* (19)
50. John Klingberg, D, DAL (72)
51. Martin Jones, G, SJS (41)
52. Patric Hornqvist, RW, PIT (92)
53. Roman Josi, D, NSH (61)
54. Alexander Radulov, RW, DAL (47)
55. Seth Jones, D, CBJ (55)
56. Matt Murray, G, PIT (63)
57. Marc-Andre Fleury, G, VGK (50)
58. Ilya Kovalchuk, LW/RW, LAK (81)
59. William Karlsson, C/LW, VGK\\ (59)
60. Sean Monahan, C, CGY - INJ. (65)
61. Mathew Barzal, C, NYI (45)
62. Nicklas Backstrom, C, WSH (51)
63. Sebastian Aho, C/LW, CAR\\ (57)
64. Brock Boeser, RW, VAN - INJ.\\ (64)
65. John Gibson, G, ANA (95)
66. Ben Bishop, G, DAL - INJ. (60)
67. Rickard Rakell, LW/RW, ANA (68)
68. Brayden Schenn, C, STL (78)
69. Jonathan Marchessault, C/LW, VGK (52)
70. John Carlson, D, WSH (99)
71. Matthew Tkachuk, LW, CGY - INJ.\\ (69)
72. Wayne Simmonds, RW, PHI - INJ.* (86)
73. Shayne Gostisbehere, D, PHI (71)
74. Dougie Hamilton, D, CAR (91)
75. Vincent Trocheck, C, FLA (70)
76. Sean Couturier, C, PHI - INJ. (80)
77. Torey Krug, D, BOS (83)
78. William Nylander, C/RW, TOR - RFA (85)
79. Nikolaj Ehlers, LW/RW, WPG (56)
80. Mikko Rantanen, RW, COL\\ (62)
81. Kris Letang, D, PIT (87)
82. Mark Giordano, D, CGY (131)
83. Logan Couture, C/LW, SJS (79)
84. Mikael Granlund, C/RW, MIN (74)
85. Clayton Keller, LW/RW, ARI (77)
86. Gabriel Landeskog, LW, COL (89)
87. Jeff Skinner, LW, BUF* (88)
88. Keith Yandle, D, FLA (121)
89. Rasmus Dahlin, D, BUF (139)
90. Brayden Point, C, TBL\\ (82)
91. Viktor Arvidsson, RW, NSH (66)
92. Jonathan Huberdeau, LW, FLA (73)
93. Devan Dubnyk, G, MIN (76)
94. Max Pacioretty, LW, VGK (100) -
Pacioretty trade spin
95. Antti Raanta, G, ARI (170)
96. Oliver Ekman-Larsson, D, ARI (129)
97. Tyson Barrie, D, COL (108)
98. Teuvo Teravainen, LW/RW, CAR\\ (106)
99. Ryan Johansen, C, NSH (102)
100. Charlie McAvoy, D, BOS\\ (148)
101. Ivan Provorov, D, PHI - INJ.\\ (143)
102. T.J. Oshie, RW, WSH (107)
103. James van Riemsdyk, LW, PHI (93)
104. Jake Guentzel, LW, PIT\\ (97)
105. Jake Allen, G, STL (84)
106. Mike Hoffman, LW/RW, FLA (98)
107. Rasmus Ristolainen, D, BUF (152)
108. Cam Atkinson, RW, CBJ (101)
109. Jeff Carter, C, LAK (90)
110. Kyle Connor, LW, WPG\\ (96)
111. Eric Staal, C, MIN* (94)
112. Alex Pietrangelo, D, STL (116)
113. Zach Werenski, D, CBJ - INJ.\\ (115)
114. Cam Talbot, G, EDM* (75)
115. Morgan Rielly, D, TOR (124)
116. Ryan Ellis, D, NSH (122)
117. Nazem Kadri, C, TOR (109)
118. Sam Reinhart, C/RW, BUF - RFA (123)
119. Pierre-Luc Dubois, C/LW, CBJ (113)
120. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, C/LW, EDM (118)
121. Alex DeBrincat, LW/RW, CHI (105)
122. Dylan Larkin, C, DET (103)
123. Matt Dumba, D, MIN (114)
124. Mike Smith, G, CGY* (157)
125. Mikhail Sergachev, D, TBL (163)
126. Aaron Ekblad, D, FLA (119)
127. Anders Lee, LW, NYI* (323)
128. Chris Kreider, LW, NYR (141)
129. Ryan O'Reilly, C, STL (137)
130. Mika Zibanejad, C, NYR (128)
131. Dustin Brown, RW, LAK - INJ. (189)
132. Corey Crawford, G, CHI - INJ. (161)
133. J.T. Miller, C/RW, TBL (151)
134. Jake Gardiner, D, TOR* (178)
135. Andrei Svechnikov, RW, CAR (142)
136. Tom Wilson, RW, WSH (167)
137. Reilly Smith, LW/RW, VGK (104)
138. Roberto Luongo, G, FLA (166)
139. Nino Niederreiter, LW/RW, MIN (149)
140. Carey Price, G, MTL (49)
141. Jaden Schwartz, LW, STL - INJ. (126)
142. Mark Stone, RW, OTT - INJ.* (136)
143. Semyon Varlamov, G, COL - INJ.* (160)
144. Philipp Grubauer, G, COL (181)
145. Evgenii Dadonov, LW/RW, FLA (112)
146. Nico Hischier, C, NJD - INJ. (125)
147. Carter Hutton, G, BUF (172)
148. Henrik Lundqvist, G, NYR - INJ. (153)
149. Tomas Hertl, C/LW/RW, SJS (147)
150. Alex Galchenyuk, C/LW, ARI (138)
151. James Neal, RW, CGY (171)
152. Jonathan Toews, C, CHI - INJ. (110)
153. Jordan Eberle, RW, NYI* (146)
154. Matt Duchene, C, OTT* (162)
155. Pavel Buchnevich, RW, NYR\\ (179)
156. Nick Leddy, D, NYI (190)
157. Cory Schneider, G, NJD - INJ. (165)
158. Travis Konecny, LW/RW, PHI\\ (127)
159. Jason Zucker, LW/RW, MIN (111)
160. Tyler Toffoli, RW, LAK (133)
161. Yanni Gourde, C/RW, TBL* (117)
162. Filip Zadina, LW, DET (213)
163. Ryan Suter, D, MIN - INJ. (156)
164. Zach Hyman, LW, TOR (158)
165. Colton Parayko, D, STL (200)
166. Jake Muzzin, D, LAK (173)
167. Brendan Gallagher, RW, MTL (130)
168. Corey Perry, RW, ANA (135)
169. Ryan Pulock, D, NYI (207)
170. Anthony Mantha, LW/RW, DET (140)
171. Nolan Patrick, C, PHI (120)
172. Nick Bjugstad, C/RW, FLA (177)
173. Patrick Marleau, C/LW, TOR (185)
174. Bo Horvat, C, VAN (145)
175. Timo Meier, LW, SJS\\ (164)
176. Kevin Shattenkirk, D, NYR - INJ. (193)
177. Anthony Beauvillier, C/LW, NYI\\ (194)
178. Brandon Montour, D, ANA (168)
179. Erik Johnson, D, COL - INJ. (198)
180. Alex Tuch, RW, VGK\\ (225)
181. Kyle Palmieri, RW, NJD (132)
182. Valeri Nichushkin, RW, DAL (216)
183. Josh Manson, D, ANA (252)
184. Will Butcher, D, NJD\\ (196)
185. Petr Mrazek, G, CAR* (210)
186. Robin Lehner, G, NYI* (202)
187. Mattias Ekholm, D, NSH (214)
188. Nick Schmaltz, C/LW, CHI\\ (188)
189. Duncan Keith, D, CHI (212)
190. Shea Theodore, D, VGK - RFA (211)
191. Elias Pettersson, C, VAN (N/R)
192. Jack Roslovic, C, WPG (222)
193. Casey Mittelstadt, C, BUF (150)
194. Jakub Vrana, LW/RW, WSH\\ (218)
195. Derick Brassard, C, PIT* (197)
196. Derek Stepan, C, ARI - INJ. (154)
197. Mike Matheson, D, FLA (219)
198. Mike Green, D, DET - INJ. (205)
199. Kevin Fiala, LW/RW, NSH\\ (144)
200. Valentin Zykov, LW/RW, CAR (228)
201. Cam Fowler, D, ANA - INJ. (223)
202. Nikita Zadorov, D, COL\\ (N/R)
203. Justin Faulk, D, CAR - INJ. (209)
204. Elias Lindholm, C/RW, CGY (233)
205. David Perron, LW, STL (231)
206. Tyler Myers, D, WPG* (244)
207. Ondrej Palat, LW, TBL (250)
208. Joe Thornton, C, SJS - INJ.* (208)
209. Jake DeBrusk, LW, BOS (184)
210. Ondrej Kase, RW, ANA (229)
211. Mats Zuccarello, RW, NYR* (169)
212. Craig Smith, RW, NSH (155)
213. Ryan McDonagh, D, TBL (248)
214. James Reimer, G, FLA (242)
215. Justin Schultz, D, PIT (217)
216. Juuse Saros, G, NSH (N/R)
217. Tyler Johnson, C/RW, TBL (195)
218. Eeli Tolvanen, RW, NSH (227)
219. Kailer Yamamoto, RW, EDM (N/R)
220. Daniel Sprong, RW, PIT (240)
221. Colin Miller, D, VGK (N/R)
222. Sami Vatanen, D, NJD - INJ. (N/R)
223. David Krejci, C, BOS (241)
224. Kyle Turris, C, NSH (206)
225. Mikko Koivu, C, MIN (204)
226. Miro Heiskanen, D, DAL - NEW(237)
227. Nick Foligno, C/RW, CBJ (226)
228. Josh Bailey, RW, NYI (182)
229. Darnell Nurse, D, EDM - RFA (N/R)
230. Esa Lindell, D, DAL\\ (N/R)
231. Erik Haula, C/LW, VGK (230)
232. Brandon Saad, LW, CHI (192)
233. Oliver Bjorkstrand, RW, CBJ (234)
234. Zdeno Chara, D, BOS* (N/R)
235. Jeff Petry, D, MTL - NEW(N/R)
236. Aaron Dell, G, SJS (N/R)
237. Noah Hanifin, D, CGY (N/R)
238. Jared Spurgeon, D, MIN (N/R)
239. Sven Baertschi, LW, VAN - INJ. (N/R)
240. Alexander Steen, RW, STL (243)
241. Danton Heinen, LW/RW, BOS\\ (N/R)
242. Brady Tkachuk, LW, OTT - NEW(N/R)
243. Boone Jenner, C/LW, CBJ - NEW(N/R)
244. Kyle Okposo, RW, BUF (224)
245. Oscar Klefbom, D, EDM - INJ. (N/R)
246. Alex Kerfoot, C, COL\\ (N/R)
247. Milan Lucic, LW, EDM - NEW(N/R)
248. Thomas Chabot, D, OTT (N/R)
249. Michael Rasmussen, C, DET (N/R)
250. Martin Necas, C, CAR (N/R)
Dropped out: Alexander Wennberg, C, CBJ; Vince Dunn, D, STL (INJ.); Jakob Silfverberg, LW/RW, ANA\; Max Domi, C/LW, MTL; Mikael Backlund, C, CGY
Key injuries: Henrik Zetterberg, C, DET; Ryan Kesler, C, ANA; Shea Weber, D, MTL*
READ: Fantasy top 250 rankings for PIMs leagues