Leon Draisaitl, Oilers: Has Draisaitl now passed Connor McDavid as the top fantasy Oiler? Not so fast. Expect Draisaitl's totals to dip a bit in 2020-21.

Jack Eichel, Golden Knights: His shooting percentage spiked to a five-year high last season, far above his career baseline. Should some regression be expected?

Nathan MacKinnon, Avalanche: He may be the best keeper right now, and there is a strong argument for MacKinnon to go first in all non-keeper formats this year.

Connor McDavid, Oilers: He should still be the first pick in most non-keeper formats this year. A pass on McDavid would be fantasy suicide. Any questions?

Mika Zibanejad, Rangers: He registered 41 goals in '19-20 and was not regularly playing alongside Artemi Panarin. So, what would happen if he actually did?

Mathew Barzal, Islanders: While Barzal's production may struggle to match his rookie totals of 2017-18 (1.04 PPG), he remains a budding offensive superstar.

Anthony Cirelli, Lightning: As he enters his fourth pro season, expect Cirelli to flirt with the 50-point plateau. The key is his ability to score more goals.

Jack Hughes, Devils: The speedy Hughes likely got his “sophomore jinx” campaign out of the way a season early, so expect much better things in 2020-21.

Dylan Larkin, Red Wings: His production fell a bit last season but look for Larkin to get back to flirting with the point-per-game mark in '20-21. Get him.

Nick Suzuki, Canadiens: As is the case with most rookies, beware the dreaded sophomore jinx. That said, expect Suzuki to put up 40-50 points this season.

Aleksander Barkov, Panthers: His '19-20 production was drastically below the previous campaign, when he flirted with 100 points. Expect a rebound from Barkov.

Ryan Getzlaf, Retired: His production rate dipped for the second straight season in 2019-20 but do not shut the door on him completely in fantasy drafts.

Nazem Kadri, Flames: Although he missed time in the 2019-20 regular season to injury, Kadri's scoring pace neared 60 points. Draft him with confidence.

William Karlsson, Golden Knights: Fantasy leaguers betting on another 40-plus tallies from him are surefire Vegas gambling types. A bounce-back is possible, though.

Sean Monahan, Blue Jackets: Fantasy leaguers do not need to worry about what Monahan CANNOT do. All that matters is whether or not he bounces back in 2020-21.

Patrice Bergeron, Retired: Now 35 years of age, Bergeron could be starting his decline--although he should continue to score 25-30 goals for the time being.

Kirby Dach, Canadiens: Converting his vast physical gifts into real-time production is the next step. Dach has the goods to elevate to superstar status.

Tomas Hertl, Golden Knights: He is clearly a fantasy asset when healthy but Hertl's knee issues are troubling for fantasy leaguers. Do not draft him too early.

Kyle Turris, : He needs to rediscover what used to work for him, or he will find himself out of the NHL altogether in the not-too-distant future.

Sam Bennett, Panthers: Has Bennett finally figured it out at the NHL level? His postseason numbers (0.80 PPG) were encouraging, but that is not the norm.

Charlie Coyle, Blue Jackets: Expect 20 goals and 40 points from Coyle. At this point, anything more should be considered a bonus (though he can produce more).

Nick Schmaltz, Mammoth: A good source of assists in the Arizona lineup, he could fluff his totals with more quality minutes. He is a late-round sleeper.

Chris Tierney, : He is a serviceable player at the NHL level and also in deep fantasy formats. Tierney should mostly be a last-round consideration.

Teddy Blueger, Canucks: While he may still improve offensively, Blueger's upside is somewhat limited. Therefore, he should not be drafted in most formats.

Jason Spezza, Retired: His performance in 2019-20 earned the Toronto native a second act with his hometown squad. It will be a small but important role.

Evgeny Kuznetsov, : There is quite a bit of a fantasy gap between Kuznetsov's value when playing with and without Alex Ovechkin. Do not overrate him.

Brayden Point, Lightning: How high should he be picked this year? Keep in mind that he played through injury this past summer, so a slow start is possible.

Paul Stastny, Retired: Unless he is available in the last round of deeper drafts, it is hard to recommend Stastny at this time. Let someone else get him.

Ryan Strome, Ducks: He may be a tad too dependent on linemates but Strome is a decent bet to produce 45-50 points in '20-21--just do not overrate him.

Pierre-Luc Dubois, Capitals: His responsibilities are enormous and his team struggles to score goals regularly, but Dubois should still be drafted confidently.

Nico Hischier, Devils: Already a quality keeper, Hischier could take the next step this season and become a fantasy mainstay (and early non-keeper pick).

Robert Thomas, Blues: He must be selected early in most keeper formats, and no later than the middle rounds in non-keeper leagues. He is the real deal.

Mitch Marner, Golden Knights (LW): He is a lock to lead the club in assists (and maybe total points as well) for years to come. Only 23, his best has yet to arrive.

Artemi Panarin, Rangers (LW): Simply put, he is one of the best players in the National Hockey League and should have several quality years left. Get him early.

Patrick Kane, Red Wings (RW): Do not bet against him leading the team in scoring again. Kane attracts smart fantasy money like he does pucks on the power play.

Nikita Kucherov, Lightning (RW): He will be among the first right-wingers selected in any league format, and an argument could be made for him to go first overall.

Mikko Rantanen, Stars (RW): Injuries and the pandemic pause prevented him from a third straight season of 80-plus points. Get him early in non-keeper formats.

Brock Boeser, Canucks (LW): Whether he lines up alongside wunderkind Elias Pettersson or captain Bo Horvat, Boeser displays plenty of fantasy appeal. Get him.

Nikolaj Ehlers, Hurricanes (LW): The slick winger has another production gear at the NHL level, so we may just see it on display this season. His stock is rising.

Kevin Fiala, Kings (LW): Is this the new normal for Fiala, after his great late-season run and point-per-game postseason performance vs. Vancouver? Maybe.

Andrei Svechnikov, Hurricanes (LW): His production jumped precipitously in his sophomore campaign, which bodes well for his fantasy fortunes. Draft Svechnikov early.

Kaapo Kakko, Kraken (RW): It might not take Kakko long to establish himself as a lethal weapon in the NHL. Choose him relatively early in non-keeper drafts.

Alex DeBrincat, Red Wings (LW): The odds of “Cat” bouncing back from the swoon in goal production are good. He should receive a ton of chances and must bury them.

Taylor Hall, Hurricanes (LW): In a best-case scenario, Hall will revisit the benchmarks he set with the Devils in 2017-18 (Hart Trophy). That is asking a lot.

Claude Giroux, Senators (RW): He is sure to bounce back from his subpar showing in 2019-20. That said, do not expect Giroux to go over the point-per-game mark.

Gabriel Landeskog, Avalanche (RW): He continues to be a high-scoring left-winger for an Avs franchise that generates a ton of offense every season. Draft Landeskog.

Jakub Voracek, Retired (RW): A return to a 70-point pace is plausible for Voracek, but reaching 20 goals again should be the key to his success down the road.

Zach Parise, Retired (LW): Despite advanced age, Parise could still chip in 45-50 points. That is good but fantasy leaguers must prepare for a steep decline.

Patric Hornqvist, Retired (RW): He is an injury risk and always has been, since his best asset is an ability to withstand constant punishment in front of the net.

Tyler Seguin, Stars (RW): Injuries and the Stars' defensive style may hinder Seguin significantly in '20-21. Do not draft him as an elite forward this year.

Vladimir Tarasenko, Wild (RW): He is now a major health risk because of his shoulder woes but do not forget about him on draft day. He may have late-round value.

Alexander Kerfoot, Mammoth (W): Declining trend lines for both power-play time and shooting percentage are crushing expectations for his goals and points totals.

Marcus Johansson, Wild (LW): His career is based on steady, second-level production in the 40-60 points range. Johansson is a staple of deeper roster leagues.

Sonny Milano, Capitals (LW): He is at the perfect age (24) and in the right place (rebuilding franchise) to enjoy a breakout performance in 2020-21. Draft him.

Zach Sanford, (LW): There is some risk with Sanford, but also enough upside to take a chance on him late in fantasy drafts. He is not a secure option.

Jonathan Drouin, Islanders (RW): Expect 45-55 points from Drouin and hope to be surprised with more. Do not draft him based solely on his incredible talent level.

Kevin Labanc, (RW): His play last season on an expiring contract was less than inspiring. Was his 56-point campaign in 2018-19 a mirage? He is risky.

Ilya Mikheyev, Blackhawks (RW): If he gets back to being a second-line scoring winger, Mikheyev could reach 50 points this season. He is less appealing on line 3.

Ivan Barbashev, Golden Knights (LW): His production rate continues to climb, as do his average minutes. Barbashev must now move up the lineup to become fantasy-worthy.

Mikhail Grigorenko, - (LW): Consider Grigorenko a super-sleeper, as he owns the size and talent to succeed (and he matured greatly as a performer in the KHL).

Brett Howden, Golden Knights (LW): His first two seasons in the NHL were nondescript from a fantasy perspective. Howden's role should ultimately determine his fate.

Jamie Benn, Stars (LW): After a strong Stanley Cup playoff performance in 2019-20, expect him to revert back to 25-plus goals and 55-plus points. Get him.

Ondrej Palat, Devils (LW): He is a bit too dependent on his linemates, so do not draft Palat based on his 2020 playoff numbers. Get him in the later rounds.

Kasperi Kapanen, Oilers (RW): Because of his high profile and potential linemates, Kapanen might be overvalued in some drafts this season. Do not overrate him.

Joe Pavelski, Retired (RW): Can he maintain the same level of production from last summer's playoffs (0.70 PPG) for a full regular schedule at age 36? Beware.

Alexander Radulov, - (RW): He is a bounce-back candidate this season, but is unlikely to hit 70 points. Draft him towards the latter rounds just to be safe.

Bryan Rust, Penguins (RW): Will the clock strike midnight on Rust in '20-21, turning him into a fantasy pumpkin? He should still be drafted but buyer beware.

Anthony Beauvillier, Capitals (LW): He enjoyed his most productive campaign to date in 2019-20, and his production increased in the tighter checking of the playoffs.

Anthony Mantha, Penguins (LW): The strapping winger certainly looks poised for a breakout campaign in '20-21. If healthy, Mantha may challenge the 80-point mark.

Zach Hyman, Oilers (RW): Never underestimate an overachiever; Hyman's recent addition to the power play potentially sets the stage for career-best results.

Pavel Buchnevich, Blues (W): He seems primed for a breakout campaign on a squad that will just keep getting better and better. Draft him in the middle rounds.

Dillon Dube, (W): There is a chance that the 22-year-old Dube could ride the momentum of his strong 2019-20 playoff effort into 2020-21. Draft him.

John Carlson, Capitals: He is an elite fantasy defenseman playing with an elite scorer (Alex Ovechkin), as part of an elite power play in D.C. Questions?

Victor Hedman, Lightning: Few D-men (if any) should be selected over Hedman in 2020-21. With that said, he is even better in reality than in fantasy hockey.

Seth Jones, Panthers: He is one of the best defensemen in the league and a perennial Norris Trophy candidate. Pick Jones with confidence in all formats.

Roman Josi, Predators: He will once again be among the top defensemen in the NHL, so do not hesitate to take him early. Josi is among the fantasy elite.

Zach Werenski, Blue Jackets: He could be one of the first D-men off the board in most fantasy leagues in '20-21. Do not be afraid of his team's offensive woes.

Adam Fox, Rangers: His long-range fantasy value is quite stout, though it would be even better with more top-unit minutes on the Rangers power play.

Samuel Girard, Avalanche: As long as Cale Makar plays ahead of him on the Colorado power play, Girard's fantasy value will always come with untapped upside.

Miro Heiskanen, Stars: There should not be too many defensemen taken before Heiskanen this season--in any league. Draft him relatively early in 2020-21.

Quinn Hughes, Canucks: There is an argument to be made for Hughes to be the very first defenseman selected in some non-keeper drafts this year. Amazing!

Cale Makar, Avalanche: He is already an elite keeper and should be one of the first defensemen taken in all non-keeper formats. What is Makar's ceiling?

Tyson Barrie, Retired: His porous showing in Toronto could dramatically drop his draft position this time around. Do not forget him in the later rounds.

Thomas Chabot, Senators: He is on the short list of top fantasy blueliners and could remain there for the next decade. He is a keeper and mid-round steal.

Erik Karlsson, Penguins: He is due for a healthy campaign, is he not? Perhaps Swedish veteran Karlsson enters 2020-21 as an undervalued fantasy commodity.

Morgan Rielly, Maple Leafs: His status is unchanged despite the drop in '19-20. He could bounce back smartly from career lows. Draft Rielly smartly in '20-21.

P.K. Subban, Retired: Prior to '19-20, his career low in points was 31 (in 63 games with Nashville in '18-19). Last season must have been an aberration.

Alexander Edler, Retired: His power-play minutes should continue to decrease as he gets older. He remains a decent option for the bottom of fantasy rosters.

Cam Fowler, Blues: He is obviously worth drafting in virtually all league formats but beware Fowler's lengthy injury history. Do not pick him early.

Shayne Gostisbehere, Hurricanes: Do not give up on Gostisbehere entirely, since he is only two seasons removed from a 13-goal, 65-point effort in 2017-18. Rebound?

Mike Matheson, Canadiens: The Penguins hope Matheson can provide some offense from the back. However, it is his defense that is of greater concern. Beware.

Ryan McDonagh, Lightning: Defense is his calling card but McDonagh can also put up points. He did less of that last season, so was it the start of a trend?

Jake Muzzin, Retired: While hardly depleted as an NHLer, years of wear and tear are bound to take a toll. Expect some modest regression in his numbers.

Mattias Ekholm, Oilers: Draft Ekholm with the knowledge that he is likely to post 30-45 points yet again this season. There is a ton of reliability here.

Erik Gustafsson, Red Wings: His value in fantasy leagues rests with his power-play time on ice, so there is risk here. Gustafsson is worth a late-round flier.

Darnell Nurse, Oilers: He has averaged 37 points the last two seasons, so he does have some fantasy appeal. He should not be selected too early, though.

Dmitry Orlov, Sharks: He is a solid fantasy defenseman, albeit a depth option as opposed to a key cog for fantasy rosters. Draft him in the last round.

Colton Parayko, Blues: He is not an elite rearguard but Parayko does not hurt fantasy rosters because he can score goals and reach the 35-point plateau.

Brent Burns, Avalanche: It is likely too soon to start digging Burns' fantasy grave. That said, he is now 35 so 65-plus points may be a thing of the past.

Dougie Hamilton, Devils: The good news? Hamilton may be completely healthy when '20-21 begins. The bad? He is unlikely to match his '19-20 production rate.

Neal Pionk, Jets: Was the 2019-20 campaign a true indication of Pionk's talent level (and fantasy chops)? A larger sample size would be preferable.

Ivan Provorov, Blue Jackets: He should continue to grow as an offensive defenseman, although he needs to do a better job of hitting the net with his hard shot.

Nate Schmidt, Mammoth: He can continue to be picked in most leagues, despite the fact he will not play ahead of Quinn Hughes on the Vancouver power play.

Rasmus Dahlin, Sabres: Close to half of his career points have come with the man advantage. Dahlin is in the must-have category in all fantasy formats.

Charlie McAvoy, Bruins: Perhaps no other defenseman is poised to bust out in the entire NHL as much as McAvoy, so do not hesitate to draft him this year.

Mikhail Sergachev, Mammoth: He is likely on the verge of his first 50-point season in the NHL, so Sergachev is a must-own defenseman in virtually all formats.

Shea Theodore, Golden Knights: Very few defensemen should be drafted ahead of Theodore this year. His 2020 playoff performance was a harbinger of things to come.

Connor Hellebuyck, Jets: He is one of the top netminders in the NHL, so Hellebuyck should be one of the first goaltenders off most draft boards this year.

Andrei Vasilevskiy, Lightning: Perhaps some fantasy leaguers will NOT pick Vasilevskiy as the No. 1 netminder in their drafts...but those individuals are wrong.

Jack Campbell, -: The 2010 11th overall draft pick has intriguing upside as a starter, despite already being 28 years of age. He is a late bloomer.

Thatcher Demko, Canucks: He owns plenty of keeper appeal and should be a mid-round selection as a result. Demko is beginning to display his full potential.

Carter Hart, Golden Knights: He should be among the top three goaltenders selected in non-keeper formats, and is quite likely already owned in keeper leagues.

Tristan Jarry, Penguins: Draft Jarry in all league formats, as he is still young and improving. He should see a new career high in games played in 2020-21.

Joonas Korpisalo, Bruins: He came of age during the summer postseason tournament, and Columbus is a stout defensive squad. Draft Korpisalo with confidence.

Sergei Bobrovsky, Panthers: Expect “Goalie Bob” to be better this season but Florida's shaky defense is definitely cause for concern. Do not draft him early.

John Gibson, Red Wings: He is among the most reliable fantasy goaltenders, despite his team's poor showing in '19-20. Once the Ducks get better, look out!

Braden Holtby, -: He should continue to be drafted in all league formats that deploy the goaltending position. He is a solid bounce-back candidate.

Matt Murray, Kraken: Draft Murray as a good rebound candidate in '20-21. However, keep in mind that he has never played more than 50 games in a season.

Corey Crawford, -: He posted remarkable regular-season statistics behind a rather porous defense last season, but questions remain about his health.

Marc-Andre Fleury, Retired: Despite his declining performance and advanced age, Fleury may have one or two good seasons left in him. Can he rebound in '20-21?

Henrik Lundqvist, Retired: At this point, it is hard to recommend the 38-year-old goaltender as a viable fantasy option for 2020-21. He is close to the end.

Pekka Rinne, -: He is no longer a fantasy goaltender to count on for victories, so at most Rinne can be a decent handcuff netminder this campaign.

Mike Smith, -: There is no reason to draft Smith this year. If he gets hot during the campaign, he can always be picked up in plenty of leagues.

Cal Petersen, Wild: Is Petersen ready to become the No. 1 goalkeeper on rebuilding Los Angeles? Neither Petersen nor Jonathan Quick should be trusted.

James Reimer, -: He is a classic fantasy handcuff, and a pretty good one. Just do not expect anything more from Reimer at this point in his career.

Alex Stalock, Retired: It is risky business to consider Stalock a legitimate No. 1 fantasy netminder, so perhaps some caution is required in most drafts.

Anton Khudobin, Retired: Were the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs Khudobin's coming-out party? Or will it be all downhill from there? Best not to overdraft him.

Petr Mrazek, Ducks: He is talented enough to be an impact fantasy goaltender but his lack of consistency is holding him back. Do not overrate Mrazek.

Philipp Grubauer, Kraken: He should be selected in all formats because of his talent; just be aware of his lack of durability and reliability on draft day.

Ilya Samsonov, : Some fantasy leaguers might be wary of Samsonov in non-keeper drafts due to him missing the 2020 postseason. Grab him if you can.

Juuse Saros, Predators: He may be among the first 10 goaltenders taken in most non-keeper drafts this year. In keeper leagues, he should already be owned.

Linus Ullmark, Senators: He should top the depth chart as the undisputed starter after cashing in on a career-best season--albeit one shortened by injury.

Barrett Hayton, Mammoth (C): He is still blocked by veterans on the depth chart but the long-term plan remains in place so draft and stash in keeper leagues.

Peyton Krebs, Sabres (C): He should be one of the first keepers selected if still available in some league formats. Wait until 2021-22 in non-keeper drafts.

Jack Studnicka, Panthers (C): He is a player to select in the later rounds of shallow keeper formats, but he may be too risky for non-keeper leagues in 2020-21.

Tim Stutzle, Senators (C): He needs to be selected early in most keeper leagues but fantasy leaguers could wait until the later rounds in non-keeper formats.

Kirill Kaprizov, Wild (LW): An obvious keeper, Kaprizov may be taken as high as the middle rounds in a lot of non-keeper drafts this year. Is that too early?

Grigori Denisenko, (RW): He never really broke out in the KHL so Denisenko's rookie campaign in the big league may produce his best totals ever...anywhere.

Morgan Geekie, Bruins (RW): He should definitely be taken in keeper leagues this year. Otherwise, Geekie may be worth a late-round pick in very deep formats.

Alexis Lafreniere, Rangers (RW): He is the likely top pick in most keeper drafts this year. In yearly formats, pick Lafreniere in the middle rounds--not too late.

Nicholas Robertson, Maple Leafs (RW): Just what Toronto needs: another gifted natural goal scorer. He could finesse his way into a top-six winger position this season.

Gabriel Vilardi, Jets (RW): Calder alert! Vilardi proved late last season that he was ready for the challenge of the National Hockey League. Grab him early.

Ville Heinola, Jets (D): The Jets might be asking a lot of Heinola at a young age but he seems to have the goods. Do not select him in non-keeper formats.

Olli Juolevi, (D): He will not make the same rookie impact that teammate Quinn Hughes enjoyed last campaign, but Juolevi possesses some draft appeal.

Alexander Romanov, Islanders (D): He could be Montreal's future No. 1 D-man in the mold of former Habs minute muncher Andrei Markov, but there may be growing pains.

Juuso Valimaki, Mammoth (D): While he has a ton of upside, Valimaki's torn ACL last year is a concern. The risk-takers should draft him in deep keeper leagues.

Ville Husso, Ducks (G): He owns a little fantasy keeper potential but Husso should mostly be drafted by Jordan Binnington owners as a handcuff in 2020-21.

Igor Shesterkin, Rangers (G): He is arguably the top keeper-league goaltender in the NHL today and could be an early draft selection in most non-keeper formats.

Ilya Sorokin, Islanders (G): He is clearly one of the big favorites to earn Calder Trophy consideration in '20-21. Draft him as a No. 1 'tender in all formats.