Sean AllenCloseSean AllenSpecial to ESPN.comSean Allen is a contributing writer for fantasy hockey and betting at ESPN. He was the 2008 and 2009 FSWA Hockey Writer of the Year. and Victoria MatiashCloseVictoria MatiashSpecial to ESPN.comVictoria Matiash is a contributing writer for fantasy hockey and betting at ESPN. Victoria has been a part of the fantasy team since 2010.Multiple AuthorsOct 23, 2026, 08:00 AM ETOpen Extended ReactionsAnother week, another No. 1 spot in our poll for the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes. But while there was no change at the top, there were substantial changes from Nos. 2 to 32 this week.Plus, do you need help maximizing your fantasy hockey team’s chances?You’re in luck, because Sean Allen (Eastern Conference) and Victoria Matiash (Western Conference) are here to identify one worthwhile pickup for all 32 clubs.And a reminder: It’s not too late to play ESPN Fantasy Hockey, with new leagues starting every Monday.How we rank: A panel of ESPN hockey commentators, analysts, reporters and editors sends in a 1-32 poll based on the games through Wednesday.
Those ballots are combined to come up with the rankings you see below.Note: Previous ranking for each team refers to the previous edition, published on Oct. 16. Points percentages are through Thursday’s games.1. Carolina HurricanesPrevious ranking: 1 Points percentage: 75%Jaccob Slavin, D, (1.67 fantasy points per game, 67.3% available in ESPN leagues): Slavin has 18 fantasy points without a goal or any real power-play time. That’s a floor built on peripherals and a 10-6 edge at 5-on-5 for a Carolina team allowing just 22.4 shots a game.
Long a real-hockey darling, he’s finally paying off in fantasy, too.Next seven days: @ STL (Oct. 24), vs. BOS (Oct. 27), vs. CBJ (Oct. 29)2. Edmonton OilersPrevious ranking: 3 Points percentage: 85%Devon Levi, G (2.72 FPPG, 61.5% available): Toss out the first two games of the season under new coach Mike Babcock, and the Oilers are icing the second-best defense in the NHL.
For which Levi deserves some personal credit through six appearances, as made evident by his 4.82 goals saved above expected (GSAx) metric, according to Evolving Hockey.Next seven days: vs. TOR (Oct. 24), vs. DET (Oct. 26), vs. CGY (Oct. 28)3.
Vegas Golden KnightsPrevious ranking: 2 Points percentage: 66.67%Adin Hill, G (3.91 FPPG, 78.6% available): After stumbling through 2025-26, the Vegas netminder looks back to his old solid self. Carrying a 4-0 record and 2.21 GAA into Thursday, Hill has been better than Carter Hart to date. It might not be too long before he gets more opportunities to backstop one of the best teams in the West.Next seven days: @ CBJ (Oct. 24), vs. OTT (Oct. 27)4.
Tampa Bay LightningPrevious ranking: 9 Points percentage: 77.78%Charle-Edouard D’Astous, D (1.54 FPPG, 96.8% available): D’Astous just earned a promotion worth noticing, as he has been on the ice for most of the Lightning’s power-play time over the past two games. A defender with top-unit access on a contender is worth a speculative add, especially at barely 3% rostered.Next seven days: @ COL (Oct. 23), @ UTA (Oct. 24), vs. WPG (Oct. 29)5. Boston BruinsPrevious ranking: 7 Points percentage: 77.27%James Hagens, C (1.94 FPPG, 86.8% available): Hagens is doing a lot with a little.
The rookie is averaging under 13 minutes a night, yet he has three goals in 10 games while skating with Elias Lindholm and Casey Mittelstadt lately, and Boston has outscored opponents 7-3 at 5-on-5 with him on the ice. More ice time is the only thing missing.Next seven days: vs. SJ (Oct. 24), @ CAR (Oct. 27), @ STL (Oct. 29)6. Utah MammothPrevious ranking: 4 Points percentage: 63.64%Kailer Yamamoto, RW (2.32 FPPG, 95.1% available): The winger is off to a hot start with two goals and three assists in five games.
Will this sizzling trend last? Absolutely not. But there’s still fantasy value to mine from Yamamoto in the meanwhile, as long as he’s seeing valuable minutes alongside Barrett Hayton and Anders Lee 5-on-5 and with the extra skater.Next seven days: vs. TB (Oct. 24), vs.
MIN (Oct. 27), @ PIT (Oct. 29)7. New York RangersPrevious ranking: 5 Points percentage: 62.5%Gabe Perreault, RW (1.75 FPPG, 65.9% available): Perreault has settled in with Mika Zibanejad and Alexis Lafreniere, and the trio has yet to be scored on at 5-on-5 (4-0 in 96 minutes together). He’s at 1.88 FPPG over his past 10 games and is still available in about two-thirds of leagues.Next seven days: @ OTT (Oct. 24), vs. LA (Oct. 26)8.
Minnesota WildPrevious ranking: 8 Points percentage: 63.64%Jared Spurgeon, D (2.40 FPPG lately, 72.8% available): Expected to make his return soon, Spurgeon once again projects to fill a prominent role on a blue line that’s missing Brock Faber for the foreseeable future. Before suffering an upper-body injury, the veteran defender punched out five points, seven shots, and 14 blocked shots in six contests.Next seven days: @ SEA (Oct. 24), @ VAN (Oct. 25), @ UTA (Oct. 27), vs. NYI (Oct. 29)9. Ottawa SenatorsPrevious ranking: 12 Points percentage: 63.64%Tyler Kleven, D (2.03 FPPG, 75.5% available): Kleven is producing like a top fantasy defender without a whiff of power-play time, logging more than 21 minutes a night and lately pairing with Jordan Spence.
Expect some cooling, but peripheral-driven production tends to hold better than a hot shooting streak.Next seven days: vs. NYR (Oct. 24), @ VGK (Oct. 27), @ LA (Oct. 29)10. Dallas StarsPrevious ranking: 17 Points percentage: 65%David Perron, RW (N/A FPPG, 99.8% available): A true fantasy wild card, the veteran winger signed with the Stars only days ago. If he eventually carves out a spot in the top six and secures a role on the power play, Perron could prove productive enough to deserve a spot on deeper fantasy rosters.
Since Dallas ranks in the bottom quarter in league scoring, coach Glen Gulutzan is guaranteed to at least give the 38-year-old opportunities.Next seven days: vs. NYI (Oct. 25), vs. NJ (Oct. 27), vs. MTL (Oct. 29)11.
Florida PanthersPrevious ranking: 13 Points percentage: 54.55%Eetu Luostarinen, LW (1.21 FPPG, 97.6% available): Slim pickings in Florida. Luostarinen’s selling point is the role: nearly 16 minutes a night alongside Anton Lundell and Sandis Vilmanis, plus second-unit power-play time. He’s a deep-league play, but he’s available almost everywhere.Next seven days: @ CHI (Oct. 25), @ WPG (Oct. 27)12. Colorado AvalanchePrevious ranking: 6 Points percentage: 55%Gabriel Landeskog, LW (1.77 FPPG, 70.8% available): Skating on a second line and secondary power play, Colorado’s captain boasts a rather quiet haul of three goals in his most recent string of four games.
It might not be long before coach Jared Bednar has Landeskog back on his top unit with the extra skater in lieu of rookie T.J. Hughes.Next seven days: vs. TB (Oct. 23), @ NSH (Oct. 25), vs. NJ (Oct. 28)13.
Seattle KrakenPrevious ranking: 10 Points percentage: 68.18%Jordan Eberle, RW (2.11 FPPG, 41.9% available): On a Kraken team that scores by committee, Eberle is kicking in his fair share at even strength and with the extra skater. Competing on a top unit and No. 1 power play with Jared McCann, Eberle provides bonus fantasy points with shots on goal and blocked shots. It all adds up.Next seven days: vs. MIN (Oct. 24), vs.
TOR (Oct. 28)14. New York IslandersPrevious ranking: 22 Points percentage: 60%Logan Stanley, D (1.58 FPPG, 86.7% available): Riding shotgun with Matthew Schaefer has its perks. Stanley is logging 20:45 a night next to the rookie, and the Islanders have outscored opponents 4-1 at 5-on-5 with the pair together. His job is to keep the puck out, which drives a steady source of plus-minus for fantasy managers.Next seven days: @ DAL (Oct. 25), @ NSH (Oct. 27), @ MIN (Oct. 29)15.
Washington CapitalsPrevious ranking: 15 Points percentage: 55.56%Ryan Leonard, RW (1.97 FPPG, 64.9% available): Leonard’s even-strength role is modest — barely 14 minutes a
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