Fantasy Hockey Players You Should Be Drafting at Their ADP: Makar, Caufield and More

Hey folks. Fantasy hockey drafts are getting underway, which means it is time to start figuring out which players are worth targeting when the draft clock starts ticking. Rankings are useful, but I always want to know where players are actually being drafted because that is where we can find some real value.

In this article, I am looking at five players whose current ADP stands out to me. These aren't necessarily players I think should be drafted in the first round or even the earliest possible spot. Instead, these are players where I look at where they are currently going and think; "Yeah, I'll take him there." Let's dive in.

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Cale Makar - Colorado Avalanche

Makar is a must take anywhere in the top 10 for me. He is hands down the best defensemen in the league, and I have no problem taking him ahead of plenty of forwards who may have similar overall fantasy value.

The reason is simple. Defensemen are much harder to replace than forwards. The difference between an elite defensemen and an average one is massive, especially when it comes to powerplay production. There is only one true powerplay quarterback on each team, and getting one of those players is vital in fantasy hockey. A late-round forward can still give you useful production, but a late-round defensemen isn't going to come close to replacing what an elite option like Makar gives you.

Makar is also in the perfect situation. Colorado is a deep team that is firmly in win-now mode, and he is going to continue playing a massive role in every situation. He is also a keeper in every format for me, which makes taking him this early even easier to justify. If Makar is sitting there anywhere in the top 10, I'm taking him and feeling very good about it.

Cole Caufield - Montreal Canadiens

Caufield could be a 100-point player this season. He has taken another step forward every year, and last season was a career year that saw him break records and eclipse the 50-goal mark. At his current ADP of 12, I am more than willing to bet on another step forward from a player who is just entering his prime.

"Goal" Caufield has an amazing group of young talent around him, and he has become the engine that keeps the offensive production going in Montreal. He is a top-line player who is stapled to captain Nick Suzuki and is a lock for the top powerplay unit. That combination gives him an incredibly high floor, while his continued development gives him plenty of upside.

Caufield also shoots the puck a ton and scores goals like nobody's business, which is exactly the type of player I want early in a fantasy draft. He is playing on one of the youngest and most dynamic teams in the league, and I think another jump in production is very possible. If Caufield is still available at 12, I am happily taking him and betting that we haven't seen his ceiling yet.

William Nylander - Toronto Maple Leafs

The Leafs sucked last year. That's a big reason they ended up drafting Gavin McKenna after winning the draft lottery. Captain Auston Matthews was hurt, Morgan Rielly continued to struggle to establish himself as the top defensemen on the team, and the whole situation in Toronto felt like it was going nowhere. I don't expect a repeat of that this season.

Matthews is healthy again, Darren Raddysh has joined the chat, and Nylander should have a lot less pressure on him and more freedom to just do his thing. Willy Styles has been a point-per-game player for the past five years, and I think this is the season where Matthews gets back to being a dominant goal scorer and Nylander starts hunting for 100 points. He is still a top six forward, remains locked onto the No. 1 powerplay, and should be playing alongside John Tavares and McKenna. All systems go for Willy this year.

At an ADP of 32, I think Nylander is a steal. We are talking about a player who has already shown he can produce at a point-per-game pace, is entering the season in what I believe is a much better situation, and has legitimate 100-point upside. I have no problem taking him outside the top 30.

Adam Fox - New York Rangers

Fox has great value at his current ADP. The Rangers have struggled over the last couple of years, but that doesn't change the fact that Fox is still one of the most elite defensemen in the league. His deployment is unbelievable. He eats minutes, moves the puck, is the unquestioned quarterback of the top powerplay, and even gets used on the penalty kill.

Fox also brings great peripherals to the table, which makes him even more valuable in leagues that count more than just goals and assists. The Rangers may not have been very good recently, but Fox still has elite talent around him and should have plenty of opportunities to put the puck in the right places. With Pavel Dorofeyev joining the top line, Fox could have a new dynamic offensive weapon to feed the puck to.

At an ADP of 77, I think Fox is one of the best values on the entire board. You're getting a defensemen with elite deployment, powerplay quarterback duties and strong peripheral production well into the middle rounds. I would be very happy to make Fox one of my starting defensemen at this price.

Nazem Kadri - Colorado Avalanche

Kadri is an interesting pick at this point in the draft. Being on a Colorado roster is enough to bring some value, but a top six forward getting top powerplay time takes this pick to another level. I believe Kadri will take Brock Nelson's place in the lineup at both even strength and on the powerplay, which sadly isn't great news for Nelson owners. Nelson is likely to see second unit powerplay time and be pushed down to the third line, while Kadri gets the better deployment.

Kadri also gets to spend a full season back with the team that he won a Stanley Cup with, and the talent around him is a huge bonus. He wants to be in Colorado, and unlike his time in Calgary, he won't be under the same pressure to be the elite offensive player. He is free to just be Kadri, provide secondary scoring, and bring the physical, gritty style that has always made him useful in fantasy hockey.

At an ADP of 116, that's exactly the kind of player I want to take a shot on. Kadri doesn't need to return to his best career form to provide value here. He just needs to take advantage of his role alongside elite talent like Nathan MacKinnon and Makar. Getting a top six forward with top powerplay deployment this late, especially on a team like Colorado, makes Kadri a very appealing late-round pick.