Fantasy hockey expert Jason Chen breaks down the trends, a hidden gem, top options and top three point projections for each NHL Central Division team.
With the fantasy season right around the corner, it’s time to take stock of your fantasy options for all 32 NHL teams.
For more in-depth team analysis, including projected even-strength lineups, power-play units, goalies and prospects to note, click on the team to see their 2023-24 fantasy preview.
You can also view the top 300 fantasy rankings for standard and banger leagues. The rankings will be updated regularly over the course of the season, with version 2.0 coming at the end of September at THN.com/fantasy.
Also check out the Pacific Division preview.
Central Division Predicted Finish
1. Dallas Stars
Dallas Stars
Trending: Definitely up, with a good chance to win the division
The Stars trailed the Avs by just one point in the divisional race, though it’s worth noting they led the Central with 39 regulation wins. Buoyed by a brilliant top line with Roope Hintz (ranked 40th in my fantasy rankings) between Jason Robertson (sixth) and Joe Pavelski (82nd), even with regression from Jamie Benn (130th), the Stars have a lot of depth. They have sophomore Wyatt Johnston (154th), Tyler Seguin (174th) and Matt Duchene (146th), a bargain pick-up for a 60-point player after he was bought out by the Preds.
They have the best young goalie in the division, too, with Jake Oettinger (19th) and Norris candidate Miro Heiskanen (88th) patrolling the blueline following a breakout 73-point season. The Stars have solid fantasy options everywhere and offer elite and quality depth options. Their depth and ability to stay healthy will be the difference-maker between winning the division title or watching the Avs win their fourth straight.
Hidden Gem:
Scott Wedgewood will be a solid streaming option all season, and Duchene can be a great value pick, but Thomas Harley interests me the most. The 18th overall pick in 2019, Harley’s a two-way defenseman with offense. Heiskanen will get the most minutes and PP1 duties, but Harley should be the obvious No. 2 choice to generate offense from the blueline. His 16:47 of time on ice per game last season will surely increase. Add him to the watch list.
The Hockey News Fantasy Guide Top 3 Point Projections:
Jason Robertson, 95 points
Roope Hintz, 74 points
Joe Pavelski, 70 points
Jason Chen’s Top 3 Ranked Stars:
6. Jason Robertson, LW
19. Jake Oettinger, G
40. Roope Hintz, C
Colorado Avalanche
Trending: Sideways, but that’s good enough for now
The Avs will be without captain Gabriel Landeskog once again, though that didn’t hinder them last season when they claimed their third straight division title. The Avs have three elite-tier fantasy players – Nathan MacKinnon (second), Mikko Rantanen (10th) and Cale Makar (17th) – and the only thing that can throw them off-track is their health.
The Avs lost key players to free agency – Evan Rodrigues (209th) and J.T. Compher (267th), among them – but replenished that depth by acquiring Ryan Johansen (188th), Ross Colton (296th), Jonathan Drouin (300th) and, most recently, Tomas Tatar. With arguably the league’s best defensive corps, the Avs should be a regular-season juggernaut once again and offer up plenty of fantasy options at every position.
Hidden Gem:
Sticking with the theme of staying healthy… Bowen Byram (298th) has played just 91 games over three seasons. But in those 91 games, Byram has proven to be an offensive force, and last season, he was on pace to score 46 points. He doesn’t shoot the puck very much, which is surprising for his roving style of play, and his path to PP1 is blocked by Makar. But the Avs are an elite offensive team, and Byram will get his points as long as he stays healthy.
The Hockey News Fantasy Guide Top 3 Point Projections:
Nathan MacKinnon, 116 points
Mikko Rantanen, 102 points
Cale Makar, 85 points
Jason Chen’s Top 3 Ranked Avalanche:
2. Nathan MacKinnon, C
10. Mikko Rantanen, RW
17. Cale Makar, D
Minnesota Wild
Trending: Slightly up, as their new core emerges
The Wild are still a very competitive team even though they’re hampered by big buyout penalties to Ryan Suter, now with division rival Dallas, and Zach Parise. Kirill Kaprizov (ninth) is an elite fantasy player, but joining him in the first few rounds now are Joel Eriksson Ek (106th) and Matt Boldy (57th). Mats Zuccarello (115th) remains an ageless wonder, and Ryan Hartman (126th) has proven to be a very reliable, multi-category contributor in banger leagues.
The continued improvement from the younger players should push the Wild higher, and that group also includes Marco Rossi, who has proven he can play at the AHL level, and Calen Addison, a deep sleeper pick as the potential quarterback for their top power play.
Hidden Gem:
Not many players average the most ice time of their career in their age-35 season, but Mats Zuccarello has been an ageless wonder. His production slipped to “just” 67 points in 78 games last season, but that also came with an increased shot volume to a career-high 198 shots. As long as Zuccarello is attached to Kaprizov’s hip – and there’s no reason to think he won’t – the undrafted Norwegian is going to be a great source of points with significant even-strength and power-play minutes.
The Hockey News Fantasy Guide Top 3 Point Projections:
Kirill Kaprizov, 100 points
Mats Zuccarello, 78 points
Matt Boldy, 69 points
Jason Chen’s Top 3 Ranked Wild:
9. Kirill Kaprizov, LW
57. Matt Boldy, LW/RW
106. Joel Eriksson Ek, C
Winnipeg Jets
Trending: Sideways… for now
The Jets enter uncharted territory with a core that’s on the verge of breaking up. Blake Wheeler (228th) was stripped of the ‘C’ and bought out, Pierre-Luc Dubois (58th) was traded, and Mark Scheifele (68th) and Connor Hellebuyck (21st) are UFAs at the end of the season. As it stands, the Jets are a playoff contender, but at some point, they’re going to have to either extend or trade Scheifele and Hellebuyck or risk losing them for nothing. Their uncertain future extends to their fantasy value, and it will certainly have an impact on the playing time of younger players such as Gabriel Vilardi (173rd) and Cole Perfetti (226th).
The risky propositions even include highly regarded veteran left winger Nikolaj Ehlers (83rd) due to his limited ice time, and it remains to be seen if newcomers Vilardi and Alex Iafallo (271st) will leapfrog him on the depth chart considering Rick Bowness’ stubborn refusal to play Ehlers. Josh Morrissey (134th) is a candidate to see a major regression in his production after an outlier career year.
Hidden Gem:
If the Jets indeed move forward with a younger core, be sure to target Cole Perfetti. He’s their most NHL-ready prospect, having scored 30 points in 51 games last season, and is well ahead of Chaz Lucius, Brad Lambert and Colby Barlow on the depth chart. Perfetti has a chance to secure top six minutes as the season progresses.
The Hockey News Fantasy Guide Top 3 Point Projections:
Kyle Connor, 82 points
Mark Scheifele, 75 points
Josh Morrissey, 60 points
Jason Chen’s Top 3 Ranked Jets:
21. Connor Hellebuyck, G
22. Kyle Connor, LW
68. Mark Scheifele, C
St. Louis Blues
Trending: Up if you’re optimistic, stagnant if you’re not
To say the Blues underperformed last year would be an understatement. They boasted a balanced lineup with four 60-point scorers and 50 points from Justin Faulk (229th), but their goaltending was a huge issue. Jordan Binnington (155th) was more pre-occupied with punching various members of the Wild at any opportunity rather than stopping pucks, and if the Blues keep having to fish pucks out of their own net, it’s not going to be a productive fantasy season for any of their players.
It's a bit of a shame because this roster should be improved, especially after acquiring Kevin Hayes (206th) for half-price, and both Robert Thomas (98th) and Jordan Kyrou (54th) look like legit first-line players, albeit flawed ones because one doesn’t shoot and the other doesn’t bother on defense. Until their games become more well-rounded, they’re players you take begrudgingly in the middle rounds because they offer little else other than points.
Hidden Gem:
Pavel Buchnevich (84th) has finished above a point per game in each of the past two seasons. It doesn’t sound like much, but it’s exceedingly rare for the Blues since they usually don’t have an elite superstar to drive their offense and prefer well-rounded 60-point players. In the Cap Era, there have been only six instances where a Blue has finished the season averaging over a point per game, and Buchnevich is the only player to have done it twice.
The Hockey News Fantasy Guide Top 3 Point Projections:
Jordan Kyrou, 81 points
Pavel Buchnevich, 73 points
Robert Thomas, 69 points
Jason Chen’s Top 3 Ranked Blues:
54. Jordan Kyrou, C/RW
84. Pavel Buchnevich, C/LW
98. Robert Thomas, C
Arizona Coyotes
Trending: Definitely up
They finally have an elite scorer in Clayton Keller (41st), and another one is soon to join the ranks in top prospect Logan Cooley (189th). Seriously, the Coyotes are – for once – offering up some really great fantasy options. Nick Schmaltz (108th) has quietly scored at a 75-point pace for two straight seasons. Jason Zucker (201st) and his new-found game with 197 hits make him a great banger league option (162nd in banger league rankings). Matias Maccelli (224th) might regress, but he’s potentially a keeper in deep leagues, and Lawson Crouse (222nd) is like the coming of Tom Wilson but with more goals.
Hidden Gem:
Someone has to run their power play, which will likely feature their vaunted top line and Cooley, and it’s Sean Durzi’s (277th) job to lose. Acquired from the Kings, he’s put up 31 power-play points over the past two seasons despite playing behind Drew Doughty, and with more minutes and an unchallenged spot on the top unit, Durzi’s sure to set new career highs.
The Hockey News Fantasy Guide Top 3 Point Projections:
Clayton Keller, 93 points
Nick Schmaltz, 68 points
Barrett Hayton, 64 points
Jason Chen’s Top 3 Ranked Coyotes:
41. Clayton Keller, LW/RW
108. Nick Schmaltz, C/RW
137. Karel Vejmelka, G
Nashville Predators
Trending: Changing course, and hopefully for the better
The intrigue with the Preds this season lies in their new up-tempo style under coach Andrew Brunette. If it works, the Preds will offer some sneaky fantasy options for depth. If it doesn’t, the Preds will end up a low-scoring team offering only a smattering of streamers behind Juuse Saros (30th), Roman Josi (50th) and Filip Forsberg (75th).
They’re not a playoff contender, and many of the changes they made in the off-season were about charting a different course for a franchise that had been known to play a more stifling, grind-it-out style of hockey. Without a top center and any elite wingers beyond Forsberg, it’s tough to see where the goals will come from. Only five forwards were ranked in the fantasy rankings.
Hidden Gem:
Tommy Novak (147th) offers up some really intriguing upside following a breakout season with 43 points in 51 games. He’s leapfrogged Cody Glass as a scoring pivot, and if Ryan O’Reilly (205th) is used in defensive matchups, it’s going to open a lot more offensive-zone opportunities for Novak. He’ll likely have either Forsberg or dark-horse Calder candidate Luke Evangelista (230th) on his wing. The worry is a regression in his inflated 18.3 shooting percentage, though that can be offset with increased ice time and more shots on goal. Novak’s a late bloomer but certainly in his prime at 26 years old.
The Hockey News Fantasy Guide Top 3 Point Projections:
Roman Josi, 70 points
Filip Forsberg, 70 points
Ryan O’Reilly, 56 points
Jason Chen’s Top 3 Ranked Predators:
30. Juuse Saros, G
50. Roman Josi, D
75. Filip Forsberg, LW
Chicago Blackhawks
Trending: Up, but not up enough
You know that part in Up where Carl starts tying balloons to his house to make it fly? Connor Bedard (63rd) is the first balloon – a massive one at that – but the Blackhawks will need a lot more than just Bedard.
He is, of course, the top fantasy option on a team bereft of noteworthy scorers, and that’s including Taylor Hall (145th), who’s more role player than first-line material at this point of his career. Bedard’s arguably the best pick you can make in a keeper league, depending on your league’s settings and term limits, though he’ll be facing an uphill to score more than 70 to 75 points this season due to the lack of a strong supporting cast.
Hidden Gem:
Look out for Lukas Reichel (151st), the Hawks’ most NHL-ready prospect before Bedard’s arrival. He’s a proven scorer in the AHL and last season racked up 15 points in 23 games. He’s either going to center the second line or play on Bedard’s left wing; in either scenario, Reichel’s going to have a ton of offensive opportunities, and that, in turn, will boost his fantasy value. He’s worth a late-round flier and carries little risk relative to his potentially modest upside.
The Hockey News Fantasy Guide Top 3 Point Projections:
Connor Bedard, 74 points
Taylor Hall, 58 points
Seth Jones, 52 points
Jason Chen’s Top 3 Ranked Blackhawks:
63. Connor Bedard, C
145. Taylor Hall, LW
151. Lukas Reichel, LW