Fantasy Hockey: Defense Tier Guide, Strategy, and Key Players

Key Strategies for Your Fantasy Hockey Draft

Let’s delve into the details of how to create your own tier list for your fantasy hockey draft. The key is to customize it according to your preferences and comfort level. The main goal is for you to feel confident and in control as the pressure of the draft increases. If you don’t have time to analyze projections or debate over each player, don’t worry. You can delve into the process, calculating drops, percentages, or decay rates of the projections, which can be fun if you like. The good news is that even with minimal effort, you can transform a basic ranking list into flexible tiers that adapt as the draft progresses. Even dedicating five minutes to drawing dividing lines on a cheat sheet can turn a simple list into a powerful tool that keeps you ahead of your competition. The easiest way to see how easy this can be is to analyze a physical list:

• Start by reading the names from the top.
• Imagine yourself selecting each player and evaluating your comfort level.
• When you feel doubts about the next selection, draw a line over their name. That is a level.
• Use the positions in the squad as a guide (line No. 1, defense No. 2, etc.).
• If a particular player makes you uncomfortable, simply cross them out completely.

To find out how to let your tier list guide your strategy on draft day, check out the forward tiers. A quick reminder before we dive in: these are not the rankings or projections you’ll see in your draft room. As with the forwards, these are my own numbers based on a combination of custom projections, not the game’s default list. Note: Points based on the standard scoring system of Alofoke Deportes.

Defense Levels: Analysis and Strategies

Level 1: A Featured Player

Cale Makar, D, Colorado Avalanche: (projected: 222.6, last season: 235.2) Notes: Makar excels in fantasy production from the blue line. Since 2009-10, he has three of the top 11 results in total fantasy points by a defenseman, and four of the top 16 results in fantasy points per game.

Level 2: Candidates to challenge

MacKenzie Weegar, D, Calgary Flames: (projected: 211.0, last season: 203.0) Zach Werenski, D, Columbus Blue Jackets: (projected: 207.5, last season: 216.2) Rasmus Dahlin, D, Buffalo Sabres: (projected: 203.7, last season: 174.8) Notes: These three are the best candidates to challenge Makar in fantasy production from the blue line. Weegar has been consistently elite in Calgary, Werenski showed his potential last season, and Dahlin has yet to reach his peak.

Level 3: Defense with potential

Thomas Harley, D, Dallas Stars: (projected: 196.2, last season: 148.9) Moritz Seider, D, Detroit Red Wings: (projected: 191.9, last season: 193.7) Jake Sanderson, D, Ottawa Senators: (projected: 186.9, last season: 190.9) Notes: Harley stands out, statistics back up his projection. After Miro Heiskanen’s injury, Harley was sixth among defensemen in fantasy points per game for the rest of the season. His performance with a healthy Heiskanen is key.Level 4: Solid defense in fantasyRoman Josi, D, Nashville Predators: (projected: 185.7, last season: 122.2) Quinn Hughes, D, Vancouver Canucks: (projected: 181.7, last season: 160.5) Evan Bouchard, D, Edmonton Oilers: (projected: 180.0, last season: 174.6) Mikhail Sergachev, D, Utah Mammoth: (projected: 178.1, last season: 169.3) Victor Hedman, D, Tampa Bay Lightning: (projected: 176.3, last season: 182.5) Notes: Josi is a top player, but health is key to his performance. Hughes has offensive potential, but his lack of hits and blocked shots could affect him.

Level 5: Great potential

Adam Fox

Josh Morrissey, D, Winnipeg Jets: (projected: 173.7, last season: 165.8) Adam Fox, D, New York Rangers: (projected: 172.5, last season: 153.0) Colton Parayko, D, St. Louis Blues: (projected: 170.4, last season: 149.8) Noah Dobson, D, Montreal Canadiens: (projected: 165.2, last season: 143.7) Notes: This level offers security, but three of these four players could generate elite fantasy statistics. Dobson is one of the few players for whom information was manually inserted into the projection process. The Habs’ defense is complicated this season, as Dobson, Mike Matheson, and Lane Hutson could combine to play on the power play.

Level 6: Physical game on display

Kaiden Guhle, D, Montreal Canadiens: (projected: 161.0, last season: 104.0) Jackson LaCombe, D, Anaheim Ducks: (projected: 160.6, last season: 146.8) Jakob Chychrun, D, Washington Capitals: (projected: 160.2, last season: 141.8) Seth Jones, D, Florida Panthers: (projected: 159.9, last season: 131.4) Darnell Nurse, D, Edmonton Oilers: (projected: 159.3, last season: 142.3) Miro Heiskanen, D, Dallas Stars: (projected: 159.1, last season: 88.5) Rasmus Andersson, D, Calgary Flames: (projected: 158.2, last season: 164.4) Jacob Trouba, D, Anaheim Ducks: (projected: 156.7, last season: 146.3) Dougie Hamilton, D, New Jersey Devils: (projected: 155.6, last season: 124.8) Brandon Montour, D, Seattle Kraken: (projected: 155.0, last season: 145.9) John Carlson, D, Washington Capitals: (projected: 153.5, last season: 150.2) Lane Hutson, D, Montreal Canadiens: (projected: 153.2, last season: 158.5) Shea Theodore, D, Vegas Golden Knights: (projected: 152.2, last season: 127.9) Jake Walman, D, Edmonton Oilers: (projected: 151.5, last season: 146.0) Charlie McAvoy, D, Boston Bruins: (projected: 151.1, last season: 91.7) Notes: Players with fewer points but with more physical stats (hits and blocked shots) are starting to stand out. Guhle, LaCombe, Nurse, and Trouba are earning fantasy points for their play without the puck. The uncertainty with Dobson, Hutson, and Matheson puts Guhle ahead of Hutson in the rankings. Theodore’s injury history could affect him, but he could have a big year if he stays healthy and Marner improves the Knights’ power play. Jones could have an improved performance.

Level 7: Choose Your Poison

Travis Sanheim, D, Philadelphia Flyers: (projected: 148.5, last season: 147.3) Vince Dunn, D, Seattle Kraken: (projected: 148.0, last season: 112.1) Jake Middleton, D, Minnesota Wild: (projected: 146.6, last season: 127.0) Brandt Clarke, D, Los Angeles Kings: (projected: 145.2, last season: 118.3) Thomas Chabot, D, Ottawa Senators: (projected: 145.2, last season: 154.1) Alexander Romanov, D, New York Islanders: (projected: 144.6, last season: 131.6) Morgan Rielly, D, Toronto Maple Leafs: (projected: 144.4, last season: 135.8) Neal Pionk, D, Winnipeg Jets: (projected: 142.9, last season: 129.6) Philip Broberg, D, St. Louis Blues: (projected: 142.6, last season: 103.5) Alexander Nikishin, D, Carolina Hurricanes: (projected: 142.5, last season: N/A) Alex Vlasic, D, Chicago Blackhawks: (projected: 142.5, last season: 135.2) Matt Roy, D, Washington Capitals: (projected: 140.0, last season: 103.3) Erik Karlsson, D, Pittsburgh Penguins: (projected: 138.6, last season: 140.5) Notes: What do you prefer? A reliable player to accumulate fantasy points, a consistent defenseman who won’t reach the elite threshold, or a defenseman under 21 with great potential? This level has it all; even the Norris Trophy winner isn’t mentioned among them. Nikishin has the talent to change the game in fantasy, but the projection is conservative. Clarke is another young player with a wide range of possible outcomes.

Level 8: Completing the template

Noah Hanifin, D, Vegas Golden Knights: (projected: 138.3, last season: 125.7) Adam Larsson, D, Seattle Kraken: (projected: 137.8, last season: 130.5) Brayden McNabb, D, Vegas Golden Knights: (projected: 136.6, last season: 132.2) Devon Toews, D, Colorado Avalanche: (projected: 136.1, last season: 124.8) Simon Edvinsson, D, Detroit Red Wings: (projected: 135.9, last season: 127.7) Mike Matheson, D, Montreal Canadiens: (projected: 135.5, last season: 147.3) Justin Faulk, D, St. Louis Blues: (projected: 134.0, last season: 116.2) Andrew Peeke, D, Boston Bruins: (projected: 133.5, last season: 100.5) Cam York, D, Philadelphia Flyers: (projected: 132.9, last season: 96.5) Dante Fabbro, D, Columbus Blue Jackets: (projected: 131.4, last season: 122.1) Sean Durzi, D, Utah Mammoth: (projected: 130.6, last season: 47.4) Ivan Provorov, D, Columbus Blue Jackets: (projected: 129.9, last season: 119.3) K’Andre Miller, D, Carolina Hurricanes: (projected: 129.7, last season: 111.6) Radko Gudas, D, Anaheim Ducks: (projected: 128.7, last season: 140.6) Ryan Pulock, D, New York Islanders: (projected: 128.4, last season: 127.2) Notes: At this stage, you are ideally adding one or two defensemen to your bench. These players get their magic from their partner. The Islanders are more complicated. Someone will emerge, but the smart play is to wait and see. The purpose of the levels is to give structure and space to your instincts. Use this as a guide, draw your own lines and you’ll be ready for whatever the draft holds.