Fantasy hockey managers, it’s time to take a hard look at your rosters. The first in-season rankings for the 2024-25 NHL campaign have arrived, and there are some major movers and shakers in the top 250. Most notably, Winnipeg Jets netminder Connor Hellebuyck has surged from his preseason rank of No. 38 all the way up to the No. 2 spot overall.
Hellebuyck’s Meteoric Rise
It’s not often that a goalie cracks the top 5 in fantasy rankings, let alone claims the No. 2 position. But Hellebuyck’s stellar play to start the season has been impossible to ignore. The 31-year-old American has been a brick wall between the pipes, boasting a league-leading .935 save percentage and 1.98 goals against average through his first 15 starts.
“Connor has been absolutely locked in from day one,”
– said a source close to the Jets organization
If Hellebuyck can maintain this level of play, he’ll be a league-winning asset for fantasy managers lucky enough to have him rostered. But even a slight regression would still position him as an elite option in all formats.
Top 10 Overview
While Hellebuyck’s ascent is the biggest storyline in the top 10, he’s not the only notable climber. Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon has overtaken Connor McDavid for the No. 1 spot, while Auston Matthews, Nikita Kucherov, and Cale Makar round out the top 5.
- Nathan MacKinnon (COL)
- Connor Hellebuyck (WPG)
- Auston Matthews (TOR)
- Nikita Kucherov (TB)
- Connor McDavid (EDM)
Other notables in the top 10 include Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin at No. 11, Maple Leafs winger Mitchell Marner at No. 28, and 2023 first overall pick Matvei Michkov cracking the list at No. 44 in his rookie season.
Risers and Fallers
Moving outside the top 10, some other big risers include Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin (up to No. 36), Rangers center Vincent Trocheck (No. 34), and Wild rookie blueliner Brock Faber (No. 105). On the flip side, falling stars include Capitals aging veteran Alex Ovechkin, who slips to No. 68, and Flames newcomer Jonathan Huberdeau at No. 132.
Impact Rookies and Sophomores
In addition to Michkov and Faber, several other young guns are making noise in the early rankings. Logan Cooley (No. 187), Leo Carlsson (No. 167), and Adam Fantilli (No. 191) are all looking like solid middle-round selections, while sophomores Owen Power (No. 205) and Matty Beniers (unranked) will need to pick up the pace to match their rookie year hype.
Goalie Landscape
Between the pipes, Hellebuyck leads a strong contingent of fantasy-relevant netminders, with Shesterkin, Andrei Vasilevskiy (No. 73), Jake Oettinger (No. 33), and Ilya Sorokin (No. 60) all ranking as clear-cut No. 1 options. Just beware of reaching too early for goalies, as several of last year’s studs like Jacob Markstrom (No. 144) and Thatcher Demko (No. 246) have struggled mightily out of the gate.
Injury Watch
Finally, don’t forget to stay on top of the ever-evolving injury landscape. Managers stashing the likes of Aleksander Barkov (No. 59), Aaron Ekblad (No. 140), and Tom Wilson (No. 113) could reap major rewards once these difference-makers return to action in the coming weeks.
Remember, these rankings are based on projections from this point forward and do not factor in stats already accrued. Whether you’re flying high or struggling early, be sure to check back often as we update the rankings to help guide your rest-of-season moves. Happy hunting, fantasy hockey fans!
