Perfect 2025 Fantasy Hockey Draft from Pick No.2

Welcome to the Perfect Draft Series, where we’ll walk through what the ideal draft looks like from every spot in a 12-team, 16-round snake draft. The goal is to provide you with a well-constructed strategy at each draft slot, along with a concise list of players to target in every round.

Each draft blueprint will follow Yahoo Standard roster constraints:

• 2 C
• 2 LW
• 2 RW
• 4 D
• 2 G
• 4 Bench

Holding the No.2 pick is one of the best spots in the draft. You’re guaranteed an elite cornerstone to build around, whether it’s Nathan MacKinnon, Nikita Kucherov, or Leon Draisaitl if Connor McDavid goes first. Starting your team with a player who brings league-winning upside sets the tone for the rest of your draft. The challenge is waiting through the long turn, but the payoff is starting with one of fantasy hockey’s true superstars.

Round 1, Pick 2: Nathan MacKinnon (COL – C)

With four players in the mix for the No.1 spot, you’re still guaranteed an elite talent at No.2. If Connor McDavid goes first (as his ADP suggests), MacKinnon is the best bet of the remaining three to challenge for No.1 overall thanks to his absurd shot volume. Over the last two seasons, MacKinnon has averaged:

• 1st in SOG (362.5)
• 2nd in points (128)
• 2nd in PPP (43)
• 3rd in assists (86.5)
• 8th in goals (41.5)

Elite production across the board, with league-best shot generation, makes him a rock-solid pick at No. 2.

Others to consider: Nikita Kucherov (TBL – RW), Leon Draisaitl (EDM – C/LW)

Round 2, Pick 23: Brayden Point (TBL – C)

Starting a draft with two centres isn’t usually the preferred approach, but in 2025, it’s a viable strategy thanks to the depth available at wing, defence, and goalie in the middle rounds. Pairing MacKinnon with Point at the 2/3 turn gives you an elite floor and ceiling combo that’s tough to pass on.

Point doesn’t get nearly enough credit for his consistency. Over the last three seasons, he’s averaged:

• 46.3 Goals (4th in the NHL, 139 total)
• 42.7 Assists (41st in the NHL, 128 total)
• 89 Points (13th in the NHL, 267 total)
• 31 PPP (13th in the NHL, 93 total)

Securing him here establishes high-end production across multiple categories and lays a dominant foundation down the middle.

Others to consider: Artemi Panarin (NYR – LW), Sergei Bobrovsky (FLA – G), Jason Robertson (DAL – LW/RW), Tage Thompson (BUF – C/RW), Sam Reinhart (FLA – C/RW)

Round 3, Pick 26: Artemi Panarin (NYR – LW)

After opening with two centres, securing a winger early in Round 3 was essential. Panarin, who carried a late-1st/early-2nd ADP last year, now finds himself slipping into the early 3rd, and the drop doesn’t make much sense.

In 2024-25, Panarin posted 37 goals and 52 assists (89 points) and has averaged 102 points (35G / 67A) per 82 games over the last four seasons. Following the Rangers’ acquisition of J.T. Miller in January, Panarin paced for 41 goals and 54 assists (95 points) despite New York owning one of the league’s worst power plays. His man-advantage production fell from 39 PPP (2022–24) to just 26 last year, a number that feels due for positive regression given the firepower around him.

If the Rangers’ power play bounces back even slightly, Panarin should return to the 95+ point tier, making him an early-3rd round steal.

Others to consider: Sergei Bobrovsky (FLA – G), Jason Robertson (DAL – LW/RW), Tage Thompson (BUF – C/RW), Matt Boldy (MIN – LW/RW), Jake Guentzel (TBL – LW), Rasmus Dahlin (BUF – D)

Round 4, Pick 47: Roman Josi (NSH – D)

Josi stands out as one of the clearest values when comparing my rankings to Yahoo ADP. Yes, he’s coming off a “down year” offensively and dealt with some health issues over the last seven months, but he’s fully participating in training camp and says he’s 100 percent heading into the season.

I have zero hesitation drafting him. Since his 2022 breakout, Josi has averaged 20 goals and 54 assists (74 points) per 82 games. Even last year, if you extrapolate his numbers over a full season, his production was nearly identical to Josh Morrissey’s 2024-25 output, and Morrissey is being drafted 12 spots earlier.

If Josi bounces back, you’ll be thrilled you landed him at a discount.

Others to consider: Mark Scheifele (WPG – C), Brandon Hagel (TBL – LW/RW), Shea Theodore (VGK – D)

Round 5, Pick 50: Brandon Hagel (TBL – LW/RW)

Hagel and Anthony Cirelli formed one of the league’s most effective 5v5 duos last season, driving play to the tune of 3.2 GF/60 with a 60.8 xGF%. That dominance translated into Hagel finishing tied for third in the NHL in 5v5 points (56) and 12th in 5v5 goals (23).

Yes, his 84.9 IPP at 5v5 suggests some moderate regression is likely, but there’s plenty of room for growth on special teams to balance it out. Despite generating 4.23 expected goals on the power play, Hagel didn’t score a single PPG, leaving him with the 14th-highest “goals below expected” mark in the NHL. His 32.4 IPP on the man advantage (8th lowest among 253 qualified skaters) also screams positive regression.

Because Hagel wasn’t a household name before last season, many will chalk up his production as unsustainable. In reality, the underlying numbers suggest it may be even more repeatable, and possibly better.

Others to consider: Roman Josi (NSH – D), Mark Scheifele (WPG – C), Shea Theodore (VGK – D), Adrian Kempe (LAK – RW), Cole Caufield (MTL – LW/RW), Wyatt Johnston (DAL – C/RW), Thomas Harley (DAL – D), Darcy Kuemper (LAK – G)

Round 6, Pick 71: Lucas Raymond (DET – RW)

Raymond has already proven himself as a productive NHLer, but there’s still room for a true breakout. We saw signs of it after Todd McLellan took over behind the bench following the Christmas break. From that point on, Raymond was on pace for 56 assists and 214 shots, both of which would be career highs. His shooting percentage dipped below his career norm during that time, but if he clears 200 shots, a 30-goal, 60-assist season is well within reach.

At 5v5, the underlying numbers point to growth. After Christmas, Raymond ranked 31st in ixG, yet shot just 7.5% and finished 3.5 goals below expected. His on-ice xGF/60 also spiked from 2.13 to 2.99 under McLellan, a top-40 rate league-wide and comparable to the quality of looks generated by Nikita Kucherov’s line. Pair that with Raymond’s proven power-play production, and there’s a clear path to him taking the next step in 2025-26.

Others to consider: Sebastian Aho (CAR – C), Matvei Michkov (PHI – RW), Dylan Larkin (DET – C)

Round 7, Pick 74: Matvei Michkov (PHI – RW)

Michkov put together an impressive rookie campaign with 26 goals and 37 assists (63 points) in 80 games. The real excitement comes from how he closed the season. After John Tortorella’s dismissal, Michkov erupted for 12 points (6G, 6A) in nine games under Brad Shaw, while averaging 20:36 TOI, over four minutes more than he saw under Tortorella.

Even if new head coach Rick Tocchet settles him closer to 18 minutes per night, that’s still enough runway for Michkov to push 250+ shots and 30+ goals. His rookie-year 5v5 production already graded out as top-50 in the league, so if the Flyers can improve on their 15.0% power play (third-worst in the NHL last year), there’s even more room for growth.

In Round 7, Michkov offers high-end upside at a discount. Comparable wingers like Jesper Bratt (ADP 37.5) and Cole Caufield (57.3) go two to three rounds earlier. While they have the track record, Michkov could deliver that same tier of production at a fraction of the draft cost.

Others to consider: Sebastian Aho (CAR – C), Lucas Raymond (DET – RW), Dylan Larkin (DET – C), Alex DeBrincat (DET – LW/RW), Jordan Kyrou (STL – RW), Nikolaj Ehlers (CAR – LW/RW)

Round 8, Pick 95: Brandon Montour (SEA – D)

Montour stands out as one of the biggest gaps between my rankings and Yahoo ADP. He’s currently sidelined after undergoing ankle bursa removal on September 17, but is expected to return by the end of the month.

The move from Florida to Seattle didn’t seem promising for his fantasy outlook, yet Montour still finished 4th among defensemen in goals (18), 4th in shots (231), and T-24th in points (41) last season. Since his 2023 breakout, he’s consistently hovered around 230 shots per year, making him a strong bet for 15+ goals annually.

A baseline of 15 goals and 25 assists is excellent value for a defenseman being drafted as a low-end No.2 option. Add in over one hit and one block per game in multi-cat formats, and Montour becomes a sneaky value in the middle rounds.

Others to consider: Kevin Fiala (LAK – LW), Dylan Guenther (UTA – RW), Juuse Saros (NSH – G), Travis Konecny (PHI – LW/RW), Kirill Marchenko (CBJ – RW)

Round 9, Pick 98: Juuse Saros (NSH – G)

Saros was a staple top-3 round pick in fantasy drafts, but this year he’s sliding all the way into Round 9 as the 18th goalie off the board. That drop comes after two disappointing seasons where he ranked 33rd in GAA (2.92), 35th in SV% (.901), and 39th in GSAx/60 (-0.113) among qualified netminders.

Still, I’m happy to buy the dip. Saros has been a true workhorse, ranking 2nd in games started (122), T-9th in wins (55), and T-7th in shutouts (7) over the last two seasons. There’s little reason to believe he’s suddenly lost his form, and with Nashville projected to improve by nearly 20 points in the standings, he has a clear path back to top-12 goalie status. That makes Saros the perfect target for fantasy managers who prefer to wait on drafting their first netminder.

Others to consider: Kevin Fiala (LAK – LW), Dylan Guenther (UTA – RW), Brandon Montour (SEA – D), Travis Konecny (PHI – LW/RW), Kirill Marchenko (CBJ – RW)

Round 10, Pick 119: Carter Verhaeghe (FLA – LW)

Verhaeghe jumps out as one of the clearest positive regression candidates for 2025-26. We already saw signs of it in the 2025 Playoffs, where he finished T-3rd in scoring with 23 points (7G, 16A) in 23 games.

Over the last three seasons, Verhaeghe has been a shot-volume machine, ranking 16th in the NHL with 764 shots, a 263 SOG pace per 82 games. In 2025, he converted at just 8.3%, well below his 14.9% career average from his first five seasons. At his usual efficiency, that shot volume translates to nearly 40 goals, alongside four straight seasons of 31+ assists.

With an already strong floor and added opportunity early in the season while Matthew Tkachuk recovers, Verhaeghe is one of the best value picks on the board in all of Fantasy Hockey.

Others to consider: Pavel Dorofeyev (VGK – LW/RW), Mika Zibanejad (NYR – C/RW), Stuart Skinner (EDM – G), JJ Peterka (UTA – LW/RW)

Round 11, Pick 122: Stuart Skinner (EDM – G)

If you want to wait until the double-digit rounds for your second goalie, Skinner is the perfect target. He isn’t the most consistent netminder, but playing behind one of the NHL’s top teams gives him a chance to win almost every time he starts.

After posting a 2.68 GAA and .909 SV% across the 2022 and 2023 seasons, there’s reason to believe the 2024-25 disappointment was the outlier. His quality start rate dipped from 60%+ to 50%, but if he rebounds and logs 50+ starts for a team projected for 107+ points, he’s well-positioned to reach the 30-win plateau.

For context, over the last three years, an average of just 9.3 goalies per season have reached 30 wins. Pairing Skinner with Saros could give you two of them.

Others to consider: Pavel Dorofeyev (VGK – LW/RW), Mika Zibanejad (NYR – C/RW), JJ Peterka (UTA – LW/RW), Erik Karlsson (PIT – D)

Round 12, Pick 143: Frederik Andersen (CAR – G)

Andersen is inexplicably dropping down draft boards, but it makes him a perfect No.3 fantasy goalie target. While he’s been limited to just 38 starts over the last two seasons and locked into a 50/50 split, he continues to provide reliable ratios and strong win equity.

Carolina enters the 2025-26 season projected to finish near the top of the NHL standings, alongside Florida and Edmonton. Pairing Andersen with Saros and Skinner gives you massive win potential, while also stabilizing your goalie splits if the other two hit rough patches.

Others to consider: Logan Cooley (UTA – C), Quinton Byfield (LAK – C/LW), Bo Horvat (NYI – C), Zayne Parekh (CGY – D), Thomas Chabot (OTT – D)

Round 13, Pick 146: Zayne Parekh (CGY – D)

With two steady veterans already anchoring the blueline, this is the spot to swing for upside, and Parekh offers plenty. The 19-year-old finished 5th in OHL scoring with 107 points (33G, 74A) in 61 games last season and projects as one of the most dynamic young defensemen in hockey.

The parallels to Lane Hutson a year ago are striking. Both posted an identical NHLe of 43 in their Draft+1 seasons (via hockeyprospecting.com), and both looked like natural fits to quarterback their team’s top power play. Hutson had to wait for Montreal to replace Mike Matheson on PP1, and Parekh faces a similar hurdle with MacKenzie Weegar in Calgary. But just like Hutson, it feels inevitable that Parekh will take over PP1 duties, and once he does, he may never look back.

Others to consider: Logan Cooley (UTA – C), Quinton Byfield (LAK – C/LW), Bo Horvat (NYI – C), Frederik Andersen (CAR – G), Thomas Chabot (OTT – D)

Round 14, Pick 167: Adam Fantilli (CBJ – C)

I don’t think there’s a player I’ve talked about more this preseason than Adam Fantilli. He’s already shown up in my Sleepers and Must-Draft lists, and he’ll be a key piece of the Perfect Draft series.

From January 1 through the end of the 2024-25 season, Fantilli recorded 39 points in 44 games, with 92.3% of that production coming at even strength. During that stretch, he ranked:

• 2nd in the NHL in ES goals (22)
• T-18th in ES points (36)
• 26th in SOG (101)

On an 82-game pace, that works out to 67 even-strength points, tied with Kyle Connor and Mitch Marner for seventh in the NHL, trailing only David Pastrnak, Nathan MacKinnon, Nikita Kucherov, Leon Draisaitl, Brandon Hagel, and Connor McDavid—pretty good company.

If he gets even a modest bump in power-play production, Fantilli is set up for a massive breakout season.

Others to consider: Sam Rinzel (CHI – D), Marco Kasper (DET – C/LW), Cutter Gauthier (ANA – LW), Will Smith (SJS – C/RW), Jared McCann (SEA – C/LW), Brock Boeser (VAN – RW)

Round 15, Pick 170: Sam Rinzel (CHI – D)

Why stop at Parekh? Let’s grab another high-upside rookie with long-term PP1 upside in 2025-26. Rinzel turned pro after a strong sophomore season at Minnesota, where he tallied 32 points (10G, 22A) in 40 games, and then impressed during a nine-game audition in Chicago.

In that brief stint, Rinzel posted five assists, 22 shots, and 12 hits while averaging a hefty 23:22 TOI. Fast forward to training camp, and he’s already skating in the top-4 and on PP1. That usage gives him a legitimate chance to build on last year’s momentum and provide sneaky late-round value.

Others to consider: Adam Fantilli (CBJ – C), Marco Kasper (DET – C/LW), Cutter Gauthier (ANA – LW), Will Smith (SJS – C/RW), Brock Boeser (VAN – RW)

Round 16, Pick 191: Troy Terry (ANA – RW)

In the final round, you can swing on upside or lock in proven production, Terry gives you both. He’s a plug-and-play option who can contribute right away, with the potential to stick as a long-term piece on your roster.

Over the last three seasons, Terry has averaged 21 goals and 35 assists (56 points), with the potential for more, as evidenced by his 37-goal performance in 2022. With the Ducks expected to take a step forward under new head coach Joel Quenneville, Terry is locked into a top-6 role and PP1 usage, making him an immediate value pick to close out your draft.

Others to consider: Leo Carlsson (ANA – C), Matias Maccelli (TOR – LW), Jackson Blake (CAR – RW), Mackie Samoskevich (FLA – RW), Jeff Skinner (SJS – LW), Maxim Shabanov (NYI – RW)