NHL 2026-27 season previews feature player and team rankings

As the 2026-27 NHL season approaches, analysts have released early consensus rankings for both fantasy hockey players and team power rankings.

In fantasy hockey forward rankings, Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche is positioned slightly ahead of Connor McDavid. Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks has emerged as a top-tier prospect, ranked fourth. Other notable mentions include Nikita Kucherov, Kirill Kaprizov, and Jack Hughes, with discussions focusing on player consistency and multi-category production.

Regarding team power rankings, the Carolina Hurricanes enter the season as the No. 1 ranked team and defending Stanley Cup champions. They are categorized as an elite Cup contender alongside the Florida Panthers. The rankings utilize a six-tier system to evaluate all 32 teams based on previous performance and off-season roster changes.