Matt Larkin’s 2023 fantasy hockey top 150 playoff rankings: a tiered system

Credit: Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid (© Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports)

The goal in fantasy hockey is pretty simple, right? You assemble the strongest team you can, consisting of the best players you can find, hoping they’ll amass the statistics you need to triumph…

…In the regular season, that is. The goal in playoff fantasy pools isn’t so straightforward. You want to amass the most points, yes, put the path to get there doesn’t always involve picking the best players, does it? Volume is king in playoff formats, meaning the goal isn’t just to find great players, but also to find great players on teams you expect to go deep. Last season, I ranked Colorado Avalanche players No. 1, 2, 3 and 4 in my Top 150 fantasy playoff rankings for that reason. Where it gets particularly interesting: sometimes depth scorers and role players on elite teams can exceed the values of superstars on teams that bomb out early. Case in point: in the 2022 playoffs, the likes of Artturi Lehkonen, Frank Vatrano and Andrew Copp outscored Auston Matthews, Matthew Tkachuk and Sidney Crosby.

With that principle in mind: playoff fantasy rankings have a much higher degree of subjectivity. You have to bake in your own opinions on how far each team will go and how difficult its projected path to a Stanley Cup will be. Ideally, I want to draft players I expect to reach the final four. This year I have a preference for the historically dominant Boston Bruins and fantasy-fertile Edmonton Oilers as my two primary teams to back in fantasy. I also like the well-rounded Dallas Stars and the defending champion Colorado Avalanche. They might have to go through each other, but I can see one of them reaching the final. Meanwhile, you can toss the Carolina Hurricanes, New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers in a blender. It’s anyone’s guess as to who emerges from the Metro bracket, so I’m a bit more wary of ranking players from those teams too highly.

With the understanding that you can adjust the rankings based on how you fill out your bracket: I present a tiered system of fantasy rankings reflecting the player types and paths you should seek during your draft.

A couple quick disclaimers:

– Scoring system: goals and assists for skaters, wins for goalies, one point per category. Playoff pools are typically far more casual and often eschew the extra categories such as hits, blocks and shots.

– Players marked with asterisks are expected to return from injury in time for, or early in, the playoffs and are, in some cases, placed a tier below where they’d be if unquestionably 100 percent healthy (i.e. Mathew Barzal).

TIER 1: Superstar Player, Elite Team, Easier Path

These are your early first-round picks, superstars playing on top Stanley Cup contenders with strong odds to reach the final four or better.

Connor McDavid, C, Oilers

Leon Draisaitl, C, Oilers

David Pastrnak, RW, Bruins

Linus Ullmark, G, Bruins

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, LW, Oilers

TIER 2: Superstar Player, Elite Team, Difficult Path

These players deserve early-round consideration, and many are top-tier picks in traditional fantasy pools. But before taking the plunge, ask yourself: how many rounds will his team win? Don’t forget: only one of the Stars and Avalanche can reach the third round.

Nathan MacKinnon, C, Avalanche

Mikko Rantanen, RW, Avalanche

Jason Robertson, LW, Stars

Cale Makar, D, Avalanche

Jake Oettinger, G, Stars

Alexandar Georgiev, G, Avalanche

TIER 3: Superstar Player, Good Team

These players are fantasy monsters in the regular season. Most are worthy of early-round picks. But how many games will they give you in the playoffs? They carry some risk. If you’re bullish on their teams, bump them up to the next tier.

Jack Hughes, C, Devils

Andrei Vasilevskiy, G, Lightning

Nikita Kucherov, RW, Lightning

Auston Matthews, C, Maple Leafs

Mitch Marner, RW, Maple Leafs

Igor Shesterkin, G, Rangers

TIER 4: Elite Player, Elite Team

These players produce in the point-per-game range on teams with potential to make deep runs. Those on the easy-path teams, such as Zach Hyman, have a chance to outproduce fantasy superstars in the tier above.

Zach Hyman, RW, Oilers

Brad Marchand, LW, Bruins

Patrice Bergeron, C, Bruins

Joe Pavelski, RW, Stars

Roope Hintz, C, Stars

Miro Heiskanen, D, Stars

Charlie McAvoy, D, Bruins

Evander Kane, LW, Oilers

Tier 5: Elite Player, Good Team

These players anchor regular-season fantasy teams and are usually more valuable than the Tier-4 guys on a game-to-game basis. But they’re at risk of playing fewer games.

Artemi Panarin, LW, Rangers

Brayden Point, C, Lightning

Mika Zibanejad, C, Rangers

Steven Stamkos, C, Lightning

William Nylander, RW, Maple Leafs

Jack Eichel, C, Golden Knights

John Tavares, C, Maple Leafs

Kirill Kaprizov, LW, Wild

Adam Fox, D, Rangers

Kevin Fiala, LW, Kings*

Dougie Hamilton, D, Devils

Sebastian Aho, C, Hurricanes

Nico Hischier, C, Devils

Jesper Bratt, RW, Devils

Chris Kreider, LW, Rangers

Timo Meier, LW, Devils

TIER 6: Good Player, Elite Team

Players in here are strong mid-round contributors in standard fantasy formats but could be stars in your playoff pool, capable of putting up 15 points if their teams make deep runs. Make sure you grab a few players from this tier.

Stuart Skinner, G, Oilers

Pavel Zacha, LW, Bruins

Valeri Nichushkin, RW, Avalanche

Artturi Lehkonen, LW, Avalanche

Evan Bouchard, D, Oilers

Jake DeBrusk, RW, Bruins

J.T. Compher, C, Avalanche

David Krejci, C, Bruins

Darnell Nurse, D, Oilers

Jamie Benn, LW, Stars

Hampus Lindholm, D, Bruins

Devon Toews, D, Avalanche

TIER 7: Superstar or Elite Player, Underdog Team

They’re too good to go undrafted. They might even get you 10 points in a seven-game series. But they have long odds to go deep, so you don’t want to take many of them.

Matthew Tkachuk, RW, Panthers

Ilya Sorokin, G, Islanders

Connor Hellebuyck, G, Jets

Aleksander Barkov, C, Panthers

Kyle Connor, LW, Jets

Josh Morrissey, D, Jets

Mark Scheifele, C, Jets

Brandon Montour, D, Panthers

TIER 8: Good player, Good Team

The Stanley Cup playoffs are unpredictable. Every season, a team outside the elite tier makes a surprising run. If you have a hunch about a team you like – such as the Devils, for instance – grab a few guys from this tier. If you’re right, you likely win your pool.

Vladimir Tarasenko, RW, Rangers

Anze Kopitar, C, Kings

Timo Meier, LW, Devils

Adrian Kempe, LW, Kings

Martin Necas, C, Hurricanes

Vitek Vanecek, G, Devils

Brent Burns, D, Hurricanes

Vincent Trocheck, C, Rangers

Frederik Andersen, G, Hurricanes

Brandon Hagel, LW, Lightning

Patrick Kane, RW, Rangers

Dawson Mercer, RW, Devils

Ilya Samsonov, G, Maple Leafs

Victor Hedman, D, Lightning

Joonas Korpisalo, G, Kings

Filip Gustavsson, G, Wild

Matt Boldy, LW, Wild

Laurent Brossoit, G, Golden Knights

Shea Theodore, D, Golden Knights*

Mikhail Sergachev, D, Lightning

Marc-Andre Fleury, G, Wild

Alex Killorn, LW, Lightning

Drew Doughty, D, Kings

Jonathan Marchessault, LW, Golden Knights

Chandler Stephenson, C, Golden Knights

Alex Pietrangelo, D, Golden Knights

Michael Bunting, LW, Maple Leafs

Morgan Rielly, D, Maple Leafs

Mark Stone, RW, Golden Knights*

Joel Eriksson Ek, C, Wild*

TIER 9: Depth Player, Elite Team

These players wouldn’t be drafted in most shallow leagues and maybe even some medium leagues during the regular season but are good late-round playoff picks because they could accumulate volume. Do you want 4-7 games of a superstar on an underdog team, or 20-plus games from one of these players? Pick the team you’re backing to go all the way and load up on depth guys from that team with your last few selections.

Tyler Bertuzzi, LW, Bruins

Dmitry Orlov, D, Bruins

Charlie Coyle, C, Bruins

Taylor Hall, LW, Bruins

Bowen Byram, D, Avalanche

Tyler Seguin, C, Stars

Wyatt Johnston, C, Stars

Evan Rodrigues, C, Avalanche

Mattias Ekholm, D, Oilers

TIER 10: The Leftovers

These players are perfectly draftable in most competitive regular-season leagues, but whether you pick them for your 2022 playoff pool will depend on whether you think their teams have a chance.

Carter Verhaeghe, LW, Panthers

Jared McCann, LW, Kraken

Nikolaj Ehlers, LW, Jets

Mats Zuccarello, RW, Wild

Pierre-Luc Dubois, C, Jets

Matty Beniers, C, Kraken

Viktor Arvidsson, RW, Kings

Brock Nelson, C, Islanders

Mathew Barzal, C, Islanders*

Vince Dunn, D, Kraken

Phillip Danault, C, Kings

Alex Lyon, G, Panthers

Sam Reinhart, RW, Panthers

Noah Dobson, D, Islanders

Reilly Smith, RW, Golden Knights

Ondrej Palat, LW, Devils

Teuvo Teravainen, LW, Hurricanes

Filip Chytil, C, Rangers

Anders Lee, LW, Islanders

Evgenii Dadonov, RW, Stars

Tomas Tatar, LW, Devils

K’Andre Miller, D, Rangers

Sam Bennett, C, Panthers*

Aaron Ekblad, D, Panthers

Alexis Lafreniere, LW, Rangers

Jesperi Kotkaniemi, C, Hurricanes

Jacob Trouba, D, Rangers

Nick Paul, C, Lightning

Ivan Barbashev, LW, Golden Knights

Gabe Vilardi, C, Kings*

Kaapo Kakko, RW, Rangers

Ryan O’Reilly, C, Maple Leafs

Anthony Cirelli, C, Lightning

Luke Hughes, D, Devils

Martin Jones, G, Kraken*

Calle Jarnkrok, LW, Maple Leafs

Jordan Eberle, RW, Kraken

William Karlsson, C, Golden Knights

Kailer Yamamoto, RW, Oilers

Andre Burakovsky, LW, Kraken*

Jeremy Swayman, G, Bruins

Jonathan Quick, G, Golden Knights

Yanni Gourde, C, Kraken

Daniel Sprong, RW, Kraken

Samuel Girard, D, Avalanche

Trevor Moore, LW, Kings

Oliver Bjorkstrand, RW Kraken

Alex Iafallo, LW, Kings

Ryan Hartman, C, Wild

Jaden Schwartz, LW, Kraken

Trent Frederic, RW Bruins

Too Long, Didn’t Read: OVERALL TOP 150

1. Connor McDavid, C, Oilers

2. Leon Draisaitl, C, Oilers

3. David Pastrnak, RW, Bruins

4. Linus Ullmark, G, Bruins

5. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, LW, Oilers

6. Nathan MacKinnon, C, Avalanche

7. Mikko Rantanen, RW, Avalanche

8. Jason Robertson, LW, Stars

9. Cale Makar, D, Avalanche

10. Jake Oettinger, G, Stars

11. Alexandar Georgiev, G, Avalanche

12. Jack Hughes, C, Devils

13. Andrei Vasilevskiy, G, Lightning

14. Nikita Kucherov, RW, Lightning

15. Auston Matthews, C, Maple Leafs

16. Mitch Marner, RW, Maple Leafs

17. Igor Shesterkin, G, Rangers

18. Zach Hyman, RW, Oilers

19. Brad Marchand, LW, Bruins

20. Patrice Bergeron, C, Bruins

21. Joe Pavelski, RW, Stars

22. Roope Hintz, C, Stars

23. Miro Heiskanen, D, Stars

24. Charlie McAvoy, D, Bruins

25. Evander Kane, LW, Oilers

26. Artemi Panarin, LW, Rangers

27. Brayden Point, C, Lightning

28. Mika Zibanejad, C, Rangers

29. Steven Stamkos, C, Lightning

30. William Nylander, RW, Maple Leafs

31. Jack Eichel, C, Golden Knights

32. John Tavares, C, Maple Leafs

33. Kirill Kaprizov, LW, Wild

34. Adam Fox, D, Rangers

35. Kevin Fiala, LW, Kings*

36. Dougie Hamilton, D, Devils

37. Sebastian Aho, C, Hurricanes

38. Nico Hischier, C, Devils

39. Jesper Bratt, RW, Devils

40. Chris Kreider, LW, Rangers

41. Timo Meier, LW, Devils

42. Stuart Skinner, G, Oilers

43. Pavel Zacha, LW, Bruins

44. Valeri Nichushkin, RW, Avalanche

45. Artturi Lehkonen, LW, Avalanche

46. Evan Bouchard, D, Oilers

47. Jake DeBrusk, RW, Bruins

48. J.T. Compher, C, Avalanche

49. David Krejci, C, Bruins

50. Darnell Nurse, D, Oilers

51. Jamie Benn, LW, Stars

52. Hampus Lindholm, D, Bruins

53. Devon Toews, D, Avalanche

54. Matthew Tkachuk, RW, Panthers

55. Ilya Sorokin, G, Islanders

56. Connor Hellebuyck, G, Jets

57. Aleksander Barkov, C, Panthers

58. Kyle Connor, LW, Jets

59. Josh Morrissey, D, Jets

60. Mark Scheifele, C, Jets

61. Brandon Montour, D, Panthers

62. Vladimir Tarasenko, RW, Rangers

63. Anze Kopitar, C, Kings

64. Adrian Kempe, LW, Kings

65. Martin Necas, C, Hurricanes

66. Vitek Vanecek, G, Devils

67. Brent Burns, D, Hurricanes

68. Vincent Trocheck, C, Rangers

69. Frederik Andersen, G, Hurricanes

70. Brandon Hagel, LW, Lightning

71. Patrick Kane, RW, Rangers

72. Dawson Mercer, RW, Devils

73. Ilya Samsonov, G, Maple Leafs

74. Victor Hedman, D, Lightning

75. Joonas Korpisalo, G, Kings

76. Filip Gustavsson, G, Wild

77. Matt Boldy, LW, Wild

78. Laurent Brossoit, G, Golden Knights

79. Shea Theodore, D, Golden Knights

80. Mikhail Sergachev, D, Lightning

81. Marc-Andre Fleury, G, Wild

82. Alex Killorn, LW, Lightning

83. Drew Doughty, D, Kings

84. Jonathan Marchessault, LW, Golden Knights

85. Chandler Stephenson, C, Golden Knights

86. Alex Pietrangelo, D, Golden Knights

87. Michael Bunting, LW, Maple Leafs

88. Morgan Rielly, D, Maple Leafs

89. Mark Stone, RW, Golden Knights*

90. Joel Eriksson Ek, C, Wild*

91. Tyler Bertuzzi, LW, Bruins

92. Dmitry Orlov, D, Bruins

93. Charlie Coyle, C, Bruins

94. Taylor Hall, LW, Bruins

95. Bowen Byram, D, Avalanche

96. Tyler Seguin, C, Stars

97. Wyatt Johnston, C, Stars

98. Evan Rodrigues, C, Avalanche

99. Mattias Ekholm, D, Oilers

100. Carter Verhaeghe, LW, Panthers

101. Jared McCann, LW, Kraken

102. Nikolaj Ehlers, LW, Jets

103. Mats Zuccarello, RW, Wild

104. Pierre-Luc Dubois, C, Jets

105. Matty Beniers, C, Kraken

106. Viktor Arvidsson, RW, Kings

107. Brock Nelson, C, Islanders

108. Mathew Barzal, C, Islanders*

109. Vince Dunn, D, Kraken

110. Phillip Danault, C, Kings

111. Alex Lyon, G, Panthers

112. Sam Reinhart, RW, Panthers

113. Noah Dobson, D, Islanders

114. Reilly Smith, RW, Golden Knights

115. Ondrej Palat, LW, Devils

116. Teuvo Teravainen, LW, Hurricanes

117. Filip Chytil, C, Rangers

118. Anders Lee, LW, Islanders

119. Evgenii Dadonov, RW, Stars

120. Tomas Tatar, LW, Devils

121. K’Andre Miller, D, Rangers

122. Sam Bennett, C, Panthers*

123. Aaron Ekblad, D, Panthers

124. Alexis Lafreniere, LW, Rangers

125. Jesperi Kotkaniemi, C, Hurricanes

126. Jacob Trouba, D, Rangers

127. Nick Paul, C, Lightning

128. Ivan Barbashev, LW, Golden Knights

129. Gabe Vilardi, C, Kings*

130. Kaapo Kakko, RW, Rangers

131. Ryan O’Reilly, C, Maple Leafs

132. Anthony Cirelli, C, Lightning

133. Luke Hughes, D, Devils

134. Martin Jones, G, Kraken*

135. Calle Jarnkrok, LW, Maple Leafs

136. Jordan Eberle, RW, Kraken

137. William Karlsson, C, Golden Knights

138. Kailer Yamamoto, RW, Oilers

139. Andre Burakovsky, LW, Kraken*

140. Jeremy Swayman, G, Bruins

141. Jonathan Quick, G, Golden Knights

142. Yanni Gourde, C, Kraken

143. Daniel Sprong, RW, Kraken

144. Samuel Girard, D, Avalanche

145. Trevor Moore, LW, Kings

146. Oliver Bjorkstrand, RW Kraken

147. Alex Iafallo, LW, Kings

148. Ryan Hartman, C, Wild

149. Jaden Schwartz, LW, Kraken

150. Trent Frederic, RW Bruins

ON THE BUBBLE

Anthony Duclair, RW, Panthers

Cole Perfetti, RW, Jets*

Quinton Byfield, LW, Kings

Jared Spurgeon D, Wild

Damon Severson, D, Devils

Ross Colton, C, Lightning

Brady Skjei, D, Hurricanes

Nino Niederreiter, RW, Jets

Eetu Luostarinen, C, Panthers

Sergei Bobrovsky, G, Panthers

Seth Jarvis, C, Hurricanes

Gustav Forsling, D, Panthers

Joseph Woll, G, Maple Leafs

Corey Perry, RW, Lightning

Eeli Tolvanen, RW, Kraken

Shayne Gostisbehere, D, Hurricanes

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