The key to a successful ice hockey draft is customization. Player tiers are a powerful tool, but their effectiveness depends on your comfort level with them. The main goal is for you to feel confident and in control as the pressure of the draft progresses.
If analyzing projections or debating each player isn’t your thing, don’t worry. Even with minimal effort, you can transform a simple ranking list into flexible tiers that fit your draft’s development.
Drawing dividing lines in a spreadsheet can turn a basic list into an effective drafting tool, keeping you ahead of your competitors.
The easiest way to understand this is by analyzing a physical list:
Start by reading the names from the top.
Visualize the selection process for each player and evaluate your confidence level.
When you have doubts about the next choice, draw a line above their name. That is a level.
Use the team positions as a guide (line for number 1, defender number 2, etc.).
If a player makes you very uncomfortable, simply cross them out completely.
To know how to guide your draft strategy with your tier list, you can review the forward rankings.
An important reminder: 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.
Elite Defenses for Your Team
Level 1: Single Player
Cale Makar, D, Colorado Avalanche: (projected: 222.6, last season: 235.2)
Notes: At the top, Makar is unmatched in fantasy production from the blue line. Since 2009-10, Makar 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: Possible contenders
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: If anyone can compete with Makar in fantasy production from the blue line, these three are the best candidates. Weegar has been consistently elite in Calgary, Werenski showed what he’s capable of last season, and Dahlin has yet to reach his peak.
Level 3: The Harley of Defense
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 looks amazing at number five, but the stats are there: After Miro Heiskanen was injured on January 28, Harley was sixth among defensemen in fantasy points per game for the rest of the season. Can he do it while Heiskanen is healthy? Given his ability on the power play, yes.
Level 4: Number 1 Solid Defenders
Roman 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: They remain the number 1 fantasy defense if Josi can maintain a healthy campaign. There appears to be some risk in that hope, but given their advantage, Josi remains a top 10 pick.
Hughes has the offense to keep up with Makar, but his hits and blocked shots, or rather his almost total absence of them, hold him back in fantasy.
Level 5: Grand Central (good base, high potential)
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 tier gives me peace of mind if, for some reason, I end up avoiding defense early in any draft. Although they are ranked 13th to 16th, I feel that three of these four could easily generate elite fantasy stats, with Parayko being the exception, as he is not about to start running a power play.
Dobson is one of the few players for whom I felt the need to manually insert information into the projection process. Even with reduced production in 2024-25, he projects much stronger fantasy results than what has placed him at number 16 on this list. The Habs’ blue line is complicated this season: Dobson, Mike Matheson, and Lane Hutson could be power-play quarterbacks on their own team, but they will somehow be combined for the Canadiens. This makes his forecast difficult until we start to see some game action.
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: At this stage of the draft, players who have fewer points but more physical stats (hits and blocked shots) start to catch up. Guhle, LaCombe, Nurse, and of course Trouba collect enough fantasy points from their play without the puck to earn a spot on your team.
And it’s due to the uncertainty with Dobson, Hutson, and Matheson that Guhle actually ranks ahead of Hutson in my rankings; I’ll bet on those blocked shots and hits, rather than risk how the Habs deploy their power plays.
Theodore’s injury history holds him back, but note that this could be a breakout year if he stays healthy and Mitch Marner improves the Knights’ power play.
Jones could also have improved performance with a full season as the Panthers’ top offensive defender.
Did you get this far? Create your own league with your own rules and play against your friends today.
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 are you looking for? A reliable defenseman to collect fantasy points by throwing his body against people and in front of pucks? Consistent power-play defensemen who, while they get the job done, just won’t break into the elite threshold? A defenseman under 21 with massive potential, but with competition on the blue line from veterans? This tier has all that and more; we don’t even mention the Norris Trophy winner among them.
Nikishin is a wild card. He has the talent to be a true game-changer for fantasy, but I’ve tried to be conservative with his projection. The Hurricanes still have Shayne Gostisbehere, who, despite all his detractors at five-on-five, is a wizard on the power play.
Clarke is another young player with a wide range of possible outcomes. Depending on how 36-year-old Doughty performs, Clarke might not have the leeway he needs to meet this projection.
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, so the names to choose from extend far beyond this list. However, here are some players who get their fantasy boost from their teammate: Think Makar for Toews or Werenski for Fabbro. But that’s okay. There’s a reason why it’s them and not another player sharing the blue line with the superstar.
The Islanders are more complicated. Matthew Schaefer didn’t make the cut, but deserves a mention. In the last 15 years, no defenseman has finished a campaign with 18 years with more than four games played (Sergachev reached that mark in 2016-17). Aside from Schaefer, the Islanders still have power play specialist Tony DeAngelo and former quarterback Pulock competing for minutes. Someone will emerge, but the smart thing to do is wait and see instead of betting your draft pick on guessing correctly.
That’s the purpose of the levels: they give you structure, but leave room for your own instincts to take over. Use this as a guide, draw your own lines, and you’ll be ready for whatever your draft holds.
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