Fantasy Hockey Top 5 ADP, Including Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid and More

Hey folks! Today, we are continuing our deep dive on each player who is likely to be selected in the top 10, this time focusing on the top-five picks for your fantasy league draft this year. This will have a lasting impact on your team if you are in a keepers league, or be your biggest decision if in a full re-draft league.

Depending what your strategy is, and where your draft position is, you need to know what each of these players is going to bring to the table, and how they performed last year, to give you a taste of what you might get.

In my last article, we took a look at players ranked 6-10 in our Average Draft Position.

Make sure to check out our Fantasy Hockey Average Draft Position (ADP) tool. You can select the amount of teams in your league, number of rounds, your pick position, and even select keepers. Do a mock draft, and be ready for your draft!

No. 5: Cale Makar - Colorado Avalanche

Hands down the best defensemen not only in the league today, but in a generation. Head and shoulders above the rest of the defensemen in the league, he is often compared to Bobby Orr, there is no surprise that Makar is making this top-five list.

Depending what strategy you are following, Makar could be drafted higher, but for all intents and purposes, we have him at No. 5.

Makar is coming off of consecutive 90+-point seasons as a blueliner, on one of the most stacked teams in the league. There is literally no downside with Makar. He is an over a point per game player, and isn't a forward! He has 395 career games played while putting up an impressive 428 points.

The beauty of being a defenseman is that Makar is also stacking hits and blocked shots, while also being available in the slot and on the blueline to pound shots on goal to boot. Makar is without a doubt the total package, in a coveted position.

Makar had 30 goals, 62 assists, and 35 powerplay points in 80 games played as a defenseman. He also had 246 shots on goal, 51 hits, and 128 blocked shots.

No. 4: Connor Hellebuyck - Winnipeg Jets

Getting the elephant out of the room right away, fantasy hockey only counts the regular season so we are going to set the monumental postseason collapse aside and highlight the hall of fame season Hellebuyck put up last year.

How many awards did he win last year? Two himself, becoming the first player in Jets history to win the Hart Memorial Trophy, while also bringing home the Vezina for the third time in his career. He also helped the Jets win the Presidents Trophy.

With almost video game-like numbers, Hellebuyck almost had 50 wins, with over 60 starts and put up an impressive eight shutouts. He had the best record among goaltenders for shutouts, wins, games played, and goals against average. He was also top five in every other category that matters while letting in two or less goals in 40 of his starts last year.

Absolute nutter butters statistics, and beyond his postseason appearance, there is no reason to believe that Hellebuyck won't repeat this regular season. If nothing else, we know he has the talent, ability, and drive to win games and prove the doubters. We also know he will have another monster year for games started, with a competitive team in front of him. If your strategy involves goalies, I would be picking Hellebuyck up if he is available without hesitation.

Hellebuyck had 47 wins in 61 games started as a goaltender last year. He also had a .925 save percentage, two goals against average, and eight shutouts.

No. 3: Auston Matthews - Toronto Maple Leafs

Matthews had the fewest goals scored in a season in his career last season. Yes, you read that right, including and going back to his rookie season, and another season where he only played 52 games, he scored just 33 goals last year.

Far from his three-time Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy campaigns, there has been a lot of talk over injuries, not playing at 100%, and jokes about him only playing at 34% of his ability.

All of that said, Matthews is a generational superstar, with a goal-scoring ability unlike any other player in the league today. His ceiling has not yet been hit, he is still in his prime at just 27 years of age, and a compete level that drives him forward and puts the team on his back.

Under new head coach Craig Berube, the Maple Leafs play a more defensive style which has taken away from Papi's goal scoring, but solidified his 200-foot game and made him an all around player who is defensively responsible and highly trusted - something we had not seen from him under Sheldon Keefe.

One huge notable for this year is Matthews will be without his career playmaking winger, Mitch Marner, and this could impact his offensive prowess, however that position is likely to be filled by William Nylander, whom he has had great success with before.

If nothing else, Matthews is and/or has the potential to win the “Rocket” every year and put up close to 70 goals if healthy. He is a top-three pick in every league format and if available should be on auto-draft.

Matthews had 33 goals, 45 assists, and 25 powerplay points in 67 games played as a forward. He also had 261 shots on goal, 45 hits, and 89 blocked shots.

No. 2: Connor McDavid - Edmonton Oilers

The best player in the world, and most prolific playmaker since Wayne Gretzky, we are really not surprised to see McDavid here on the list. Some may ask why he is not slotted as number one, and it simply comes down to statistics and format differences.

MacKinnon hits and blocks more, and had an up trending year with more success, while McDavid had a down trending year with less success.

McDavid has put up nearly 1,100 points in just over 700 games, and has eight of his 10 seasons in the league scoring 100 or more points. He has an unmatched hockey IQ and sees plays unfold on the ice in what seems like slow motion. 

He truly is the player of a generation, and stands alone without question as the greatest player in the NHL today. What more can we say, other than he is the best? He's the best. Pick him. Keep him. Period.

McDavid had 26 goals, 76 assists, and 31 powerplay points in 67 games played as a forward. He also had 196 shots on goal, 40 hits, and 18 blocked shots.

No. 1: Nathan MacKinnon - Colorado Avalanche

Nate Mack is the ultimate fantasy league player. This maritimer plays a physical game, scores goals, is an elite playmaker, and has been the face of a powerhouse hockey club for years.

He is one of the top players, nevermind forwards in the league and is surrounded by more elite players than you can shake a Sherwood at. Longtime best friend of Sidney Crosby, MacKinnon has the work ethic and drive of a prairie farmer.

Mack is coming off of three 100+-point seasons, and that's after he helped lead the Avs to a Stanley Cup.

Again, there is not much more you can say about MacKinnon. While he may not be the best player in the league, he is easily arguably the best fantasy player in the league. The lowest he should ever be selected is second, and we have him on top with recency bias.

MacKinnon had 32 goals, 84 assists, and 38 powerplay points in 79 games played as a forward. He also had 320 shots on goal, 37 hits, and 58 blocked shots.