Fantasy hockey drafts are won and lost on the margins. Every manager knows the stars in the first couple of rounds, but the real difference-makers are often the players who provide value at the right draft slot. That’s what our MUST-DRAFT picks are all about: spotlighting the skaters and goalies that are highlighted on our draft lists, and should be on your list too. These are players whose production, opportunity, and upside make them nearly impossible to pass on at their current average draft position (ADP). Whether it’s a proven star who is undervalued, a breakout candidate ready to explode, or a steady contributor who’s better than the name recognition suggests, these are the MUST-DRAFT players who can tilt your league in your favour.

More Must-Draft Player Lists:

• Brock Seguin’s Must-Draft Players
• Matt Larkin’s Must-Draft Players
• Beebs Bondy’s Must-Draft Players
• Dylan Berthiaume’s Must-Draft Players

Martin Necas | Colorado Avalanche | RW | ADP: 50.5

After a remarkable start to the 2024-25 season with the Carolina Hurricanes, scoring 55 points (16G / 39A) in 49 games, Necas was expected to erupt after being traded to the high-flying Colorado Avalanche. Although his 28 points (11G / 17A) in 30 games with the Avalanche were nothing to scoff at, the totals were somewhat underwhelming. His performance in the playoffs left even more to be desired, being held off the scoresheet in four of seven games. As such, Necas is being cautiously drafted in the third round of most fantasy formats, a far cry from the usual place of Colorado’s top guns. 

In two of his previous three seasons with a lower-scoring Carolina team that prides itself on depth and defensive responsibility, Necas led them in point production with near point-per-game totals. Now he gets to showcase his talents for a full season playing on a Colorado team that rides its top offensive players. Necas will play alongside superstar Nathan Mackinnon, whose top winger has averaged well over a point-per-game in each of the last five campaigns. Entering a contract season, it’s not unreasonable to think that the 26-year-old Czech forward will not only have a career year, but could also end the season as the NHL’s second most productive right winger behind Nikita Kucherov. 

Jason Robertson | Dallas Stars | LW/RW | ADP: 33.5

Following the blueprint for Martin Necas, Robertson is entering a contract season while being drafted in the third round of most fantasy formats. Just two years removed from being a top-10 fantasy draft pick after a 109-point season (46G / 63A), Robertson has tapered off to less electric but still impressive back-to-back 80-point campaigns. Listing Robertson as a “Must-Draft” player may seem redundant, but his upside makes him someone to emphasize. It’s rare to find an elite player that can break 90 points outside of the first round, let alone the third, and Robertson could provide that league-winning value. 

The 26-year-old Robertson has exceeded being situationally motivated in the past, including being one of the NHL’s top goal scorers last season after being left off of Team USA at the 4Nations Faceoff, going on an elite stretch with 54 points (26G / 28A) in 41 games between December and April. This season, he will be doubly motivated, as he attempts to prove himself again to Team USA for the Olympics and secure himself a lucrative new contract. All of this, while getting the chance to play alongside Mikko Rantanen, an elite playmaker for the first time in his career, could result in Robertson breaking the 90-point plateau for the second time.

Kirill Marchenko | Columbus Blue Jackets | RW | ADP: 112.0

Marchenko established himself as the Blue Jackets’ top offensive forward last season, scoring an impressive 74 points (31G / 43A) in 79 games. The fourth-year forward saw his production dip slightly in the latter half of the 2024-25 campaign when Sean Monahan suffered a multi-week wrist injury. Still, he was dynamic for most of the season, including a 31-game stretch between December and February when he scored 36 points (14G / 22A). As a player whose career trajectory suggests a point-per-game season in 2025-26, Marchenko provides massive value at his current ADP on a young, talented, and motivated Columbus team that narrowly missed the playoffs last season.  

Jordan Binnington | St. Louis Blues | G | ADP: 105.5

As someone who typically follows a zero-goalie strategy in fantasy hockey, firmly believing that goalies can’t be trusted, suggesting one of the most inconsistent goalies of the last half-decade as a “Must-Draft” player may seem counterintuitive. The 32-year-old Binnington ended the 2024-25 campaign with a serviceable 2.69 GAA and .900 SV% in 56 outings (28-22-5); the definition of average. However, upon closer examination of Binnington’s statistics, a tale of two seasons emerges. 

The Blues started the 2024-25 season as one of the NHL’s worst teams, prompting a coaching change, with Jim Montgomery taking over in late November. After the coaching switch, the Blues went 35-18-7, the eighth-best in the league. During that stretch, Binnington posted a 22-13-4 record with three shutouts and had a top-10 GAA (2.53) and SV% (.905) among goalies that played 30 games. Even with Binnington’s past inconsistencies, given his low ADP, he remains a low-risk, high-reward option. With Montgomery, a proven regular-season tactician, at the helm, Binnington could return to his form as a top-10 netminder.