Week 9: NHL fantasy hockey team power rankings for 2018-19

NHL.com has updated the fantasy hockey team power rankings based on the latest top 200, with added emphasis put on top 100 players. Other factors taken into account include rank of goalie(s) and power play, lineup and injury trends and overall upside and team security for standard leagues.
Fantasy owners should use these rankings as a basis for team evaluation, add/drop decisions and trade proposals. For more fantasy coverage, visit NHL.com/Fantasy.

MORE FANTASY COVERAGE:
Top 200
|
50 'D'
|
Top 25 lines
|
Waiver wire
|
Daily proj. lineups, starting goalies

#

TRENDING UP

Detroit Red Wings: Center Dylan Larkin is on pace for an NHL career-high 74 points (31 goals, 42 assists). His linemate, right wing Gustav Nyquist (26 percent owned in Yahoo), is also on pace for 74 points (20 goals, 54 assists); his previous high is 54 in 2014-15. Defenseman Mike Green has seven (two goals, five assists) and is plus-7 in his past seven games. Goalie Jimmy Howard is 8-1-2 with a .924 save percentage in his past 12 games and is among NHL.com's top 20 goalies. Center Frans Nielsen quietly has 18 points (four goals, 14 assists) in 25 games, including a hat trick Tuesday, making the Red Wings an increasingly intriguing fantasy team.
Vegas Golden Knights: Defenseman Nate Schmidt has four points (two goals, two assists) and is plus-4 in his past five games. Since Schmidt's season debut Nov. 18, the Golden Knights are 8-2-0 and tied with the Tampa Bay Lightning for second in points (16). Forward Reilly Smith continues to trend up with 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) and 30 shots on goal in the past 10 games. After a slow start, left wing Max Pacioretty has 15 points (eight goals, seven assists), five on the power play, in the past 11 games. Second line center Cody Eakin (six points in past five games) continues to be a quality streaming option with Paul Stastny and Erik Haula out with lower-body injuries.

OTHER TRENDS

Toronto Maple Leafs:Forward William Nylander made his season debut against the Red Wings on Thursday. He skated 12:29 mostly in a third line role with center Nazem Kadri and left wing Patrick Marleau, but could rejoin his lineup placement from seasons past with elite center Auston Matthews. Nylander's return should have a positive impact on defenseman Jake Gardiner, who had a slow start (10 points in 26 games) but now has five points (one goal, four assists) in the past three games. The addition of Nylander could negatively impact forwards Andreas Johnsson and Kasperi Kapanen if the Maple Leafs eventually go with the Marleau-Matthews-Nylander line, but Toronto has the most players of any team in NHL.com's top 200 for now.
Washington Capitals: Right wing Tom Wilson (concussion) missed their game against the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday, and wing Andre Burakovsky had a goal skating on the top line with center Nicklas Backstrom and left wing Alex Ovechkin. Burakovsky is worth streaming in DFS contests as a value play if Wilson remains out against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday. Wing Jakub Vrana has three goals in his past two games skating on the second line with center Evgeny Kuznetsov. If this lineup placement sticks, Vrana is worth owning in all formats despite not playing on the top power-play unit. Wing T.J. Oshie (upper body), who has been out of the lineup since Nov. 14, has resumed skating and could return next week.

FANTASY TEAM POWER RANKINGS FOR 2018-19

1. Toronto Maple Leafs (SAME)
   2. Tampa Bay Lightning (SAME)
   3. Winnipeg Jets (SAME)
   4. Colorado Avalanche (SAME)
   5. Vegas Golden Knights (+2)
   6. Nashville Predators (-1)
   7. Washington Capitals (-1)
   8. Boston Bruins (SAME)
   9. Columbus Blue Jackets (SAME)
   10. Minnesota Wild (SAME)
   11. San Jose Sharks (+1)
   12. Pittsburgh Penguins (-1)
   13. Buffalo Sabres (SAME)
   14. Calgary Flames (+1)
   15. Florida Panthers (+1)
   16. Dallas Stars (-2)
   17. Anaheim Ducks (+2)
   18. Arizona Coyotes (-1)
   19. Edmonton Oilers (-1)
   20. Philadelphia Flyers (SAME)
   21. Montreal Canadiens (SAME)
   22. Vancouver Canucks (+3)
   23. Detroit Red Wings (+6)
   24. Ottawa Senators (SAME)
   25. Carolina Hurricanes (-2)
   26. St. Louis Blues (-4)
   27. New York Rangers (SAME)
   28. Chicago Blackhawks (-2)
   29. New York Islanders (-1)
   30. Los Angeles Kings (+1)
   31. New Jersey Devils (-1)
       Read: Week 8 Fantasy team power rankings