NHL Power Rankings: Fantasy Hockey Playoff Pickups for 2026

As the 2025-26 NHL regular season nears its conclusion on April 16, fantasy hockey managers are gearing up for the postseason, which begins on Monday in ESPN Fantasy standard leagues. This week’s updated ESPN NHL Power Rankings identify players available in most leagues who can bolster rosters for a playoff push.

Power Rankings & Fantasy Insights

A panel of ESPN hockey commentators, analysts, reporters, and editors generates the master list based on a 1-32 poll through games played as of Wednesday, March 11, 2026.

1. Winnipeg Jets

Previous Ranking: 1

Points Percentage: 75.8%

Fantasy Pickup: Valeri Nichushkin, F (1.5 fantasy points per game, 70.9% available in ESPN leagues). Despite a history of inconsistency, Nichushkin is currently seeing top-six minutes with Artturri Lehkonen and Gabriel Landeskog sidelined, and is shooting and scoring.

Next Seven Days: @ WPG (March 14), vs. PIT (March 16), vs. DAL (March 18)

2. Washington Capitals

Previous Ranking: 2

Points Percentage: 70.8%

Fantasy Pickup: Mavrik Bourque, F (1.1 FPPG, 94.0% available). Skating on a top line while Mikko Rantanen recovers, Bourque is averaging a point per game with significant ice time. Veteran forward Matt Duchene is also a notable option in leagues that heavily reward power-play points.

Next Seven Days: vs. DET (March 14), vs. UTA (March 16), @ COL (March 18)

3. Dallas Stars

Previous Ranking: 5

Points Percentage: 67.7%

Fantasy Pickup: Frederik Andersen, G (-0.31 FPP60, 57.1% available). Andersen is regaining his starting role in the Hurricanes crease, earning more starts and fantasy points than Brandon Bussi. Regular starts on a winning team can quickly translate to fantasy success.

Next Seven Days: @ TB (March 14), @ CBJ (March 17), vs. PIT (March 18)

4. Washington Capitals

Previous Ranking: 4

Points Percentage: 66.7%

Fantasy Pickup: Mats Zuccarello, F (1.8 FPP60, 60.5% available). Zuccarello continues to quietly contribute alongside Kirill Kaprizov, maintaining a 0.85 point-per-game pace and exceeding all other Wild forwards in power-play production aside from Kaprizov and Matt Boldy.

Next Seven Days: vs. NYR (March 14), vs. TOR (March 15), @ CHI (March 17), vs. CHI (March 19)

5. Buffalo Sabres

Previous Ranking: 6

Points Percentage: 65.2%

Fantasy Pickup: Josh Norris, F (1.72 FPPG, 71.8% available). The Sabres have a favorable schedule for forwards in the first round of the playoffs, but it becomes more challenging in the final round starting March 30.

Next Seven Days: vs. TOR (March 14), @ VGK (March 17), @ SJ (March 19)

6. Tampa Bay Lightning

Previous Ranking: 5

Points Percentage: 65.6%

Fantasy Pickup: Oliver Bjorkstrand, F (1.25 FPPG, 85.9% available). The Lightning face opponents who allow a high number of power-play goals in the first round of the fantasy playoffs, providing Bjorkstrand with opportunities on the top power-play unit.

Next Seven Days: vs. CAR (March 14), @ SEA (March 17), @ VAN (March 19)

7. Montreal Canadiens

Previous Ranking: 7

Points Percentage: 64.1%

Fantasy Pickup: Jakub Dobes, G (1.77 FPP60, 76.5% available). Montreal offers the most upside for goaltenders in the East, with opponents allowing a high number of fantasy points to goalies.

Next Seven Days: vs. SJ (March 14), vs. ANA (March 15), vs. BOS (March 17), @ DET (March 19)

8. Pittsburgh Penguins

Previous Ranking: 8

Points Percentage: 60.8%

Fantasy Pickup: Egor Chinakhov, F (1.14 FPPG, 94.4% available). With Sidney Crosby sidelined, Chinakhov has responded with strong offensive production and has the opportunity to maintain a top-line role.

Next Seven Days: @ UTA (March 14), @ COL (March 16), @ CAR (March 18)

9. Novel York Islanders

Previous Ranking: 10

Points Percentage: 60.8%

Fantasy Pickup: Brayden Schenn, F (1.29 FPPG, 71.5% available). Schenn has found a home on the Islanders’ top power play and benefits from a favorable schedule in the final stretch of the playoffs.

Next Seven Days: vs. LA (March 13), vs. CGY (March 14), @ TOR (March 17), @ OTT (March 19)

10. Boston Bruins

Previous Ranking: 11

Points Percentage: 60.0%

Fantasy Pickup: Pavel Zacha, F (1.61 FPPG, 68.2% available). Zacha has been a consistent fantasy performer, with 2.2 FPPG since the Olympic break, including four goals and eight points in seven games.

Next Seven Days: @ WSH (March 13), @ NJ (March 16), @ MTL (March 17), vs. WPG (March 19)

Further Down the Rankings (11-32)

The remaining teams and their corresponding fantasy pickups are as follows:

• 11. Chicago Blackhawks: Ben Chiarot, D (1.62 FPPG, 66.8% available)
• 12. Columbus Blue Jackets: Ivan Provorov, D (1.62 FPPG, 74.7% available)
• 13. Anaheim Ducks: Lukas Dostal, G (1.4 FPPG, 38.6% available)
• 14. Ottawa Senators: Shane Pinto, F (1.70 FPPG, 59.8% available)
• 15. Utah (formerly Arizona) Coyotes: Sean Durzi, D (1.7 FPPG, 48.8% available)
• 16. Florida Panthers: Connor Murphy, D (1.2 FPPG, 97.9% available)
• 17. Vegas Golden Knights: Adin Hill, G (-0.8 FPPG, 47.1% available)
• 18. Carolina Hurricanes: Pierre-Luc Dubois, F (1.47 FPPG, 70.6% available)
• 19. Philadelphia Flyers: Jamie Drysdale, D (1.30 FPPG, 96.2% available)
• 20. Seattle Kraken: Joey Daccord, G (1.8 FPPG, 31.1% available)
• 21. Los Angeles Kings: Anze Kopitar, F (1.4 FPP60, 54.4% available)
• 22. New Jersey Devils: Seth Jones, D (1.79 FPPG, 28.4% available)
• 23. San Jose Sharks: Alex Nedeljkovic, G (1.2 FPPG, 98.4% available)
• 24. New York Rangers: Jacob Markstrom, G (0.95 FPP60, 57.7% available)
• 25. Edmonton Oilers: Matthew Wood, F (1.2 FPPG, 98.2% available)
• 26. Winnipeg Jets: Eric Comrie, G (1.1 FPPG, 98.9% available)
• 27. Toronto Maple Leafs: Jake McCabe, D (1.75 FPPG, 45.2% available)
• 28. Minnesota Wild: Alexis Lafreniere, F (1.54 FPPG, 84.2% available)
• 29. St. Louis Blues: Jimmy Snuggerud, F (1.6 FPPG, 89.3% available)
• 30. Chicago Blackhawks: Frank Nazar, F (1.5 FPPG, 66.7% available)
• 31. Calgary Flames: Ryan Strome, F (0.7 FPPG, 93.0% available)
• 32. Vancouver Canucks: Filip Hronek, D (1.7 FPPG, 43.1% available)