Injuries are never good, but they can be navigated. There is a slight advantage to be had with the timing of injuries to upper-tier fantasy defenders Miro Heiskanen, Noah Dobson and goaltender Jacob Markstrom: Much of the time they will be on the mend, the NHL will be taking a break for the 4 Nations Face-Off. So stash them on your IR, grab Thomas Harley, Tony DeAngelo or Jake Allen, and ride out the injuries.
These rankings are based on expectations of fantasy points produced from Friday, Jan. 31, until the end of the season. Fantasy points are based on the ESPN Fantasy standard game (for skaters: goals = 2 points, assists = 1 point, shots and hits = 0.1 points, blocked shots and special-teams points = 0.5 points; for goaltenders: wins = 4 points, OT losses = 1 point, shutouts = 3 points, saves = 0.2 points, goals against = -2 points).
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1. Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs, C1
2. Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning, RW1
3. Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche, C2
4. Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers, C3
5. Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers, C4
6. Roman Josi, Nashville Predators, D1
7. Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche, D2
8. Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets, G1
9. Filip Forsberg, Nashville Predators, LW1
10. Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets, D3
11. Mikko Rantanen, Carolina Hurricanes, RW2
12. Brayden Point, Tampa Bay Lightning, C5
13. Sam Reinhart, Florida Panthers, RW3
14. Mitch Marner, Toronto Maple Leafs, RW4
15. Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks, D4
16. Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals, LW2
17. Jake Guentzel, Tampa Bay Lightning, LW3
18. Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights, C6
19. Moritz Seider, Detroit Red Wings, D5
20. J.T. Miller, Vancouver Canucks, C7
21. Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning, D6
22. Kyle Connor, Winnipeg Jets, LW4
23. Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo Sabres, D7
24. MacKenzie Weegar, Calgary Flames, D8
25. Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa Senators, LW5
26. David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins, RW5
27. Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers, C8
28. Tage Thompson, Buffalo Sabres, C9
29. Artemi Panarin, New York Rangers, LW6
30. William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs, RW6
31. Jack Hughes, New Jersey Devils, C10
32. Elias Pettersson, Vancouver Canucks, C11
33. Mark Scheifele, Winnipeg Jets, C12
34. Adrian Kempe, Los Angeles Kings, RW7
35. Seth Jones, Chicago Blackhawks, D9
36. Brandon Hagel, Tampa Bay Lightning, LW7
37. Adam Fox, New York Rangers, D10
38. Mikhail Sergachev, Utah Hockey Club, D11
39. Clayton Keller, Utah Hockey Club, LW8
40. Alex Tuch, Buffalo Sabres, RW8
41. Logan Thompson, Washington Capitals, G2
42. Colton Parayko, St. Louis Blues, D12
43. Vincent Trocheck, New York Rangers, C13
44. Matthew Tkachuk, Florida Panthers, RW9
45. Jason Robertson, Dallas Stars, LW9
46. Mark Stone, Vegas Golden Knights, RW10
47. Tom Wilson, Washington Capitals, RW11
48. Steven Stamkos, Nashville Predators, C14
49. Tim Stutzle, Ottawa Senators, C15
50. Dylan Larkin, Detroit Red Wings, C16
51. Stuart Skinner, Edmonton Oilers, G3
52. John Carlson, Washington Capitals, D13
53. Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins, C17
54. Nick Suzuki, Montreal Canadiens, C18
55. Dylan Guenther, Utah Hockey Club, RW12
56. Rasmus Andersson, Calgary Flames, D14
57. Patrik Laine, Montreal Canadiens, RW13
58. Jake Sanderson, Ottawa Senators, D15
59. Sebastian Aho, Carolina Hurricanes, C19
60. Igor Shesterkin, New York Rangers, G4
61. Evan Bouchard, Edmonton Oilers, D16
62. John Tavares, Toronto Maple Leafs, C20
63. Travis Konecny, Philadelphia Flyers, RW14
64. Connor Bedard, Chicago Blackhawks, C21
65. Jakob Chychrun, Washington Capitals, D17
66. Lucas Raymond, Detroit Red Wings, LW10
67. Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings, C22
68. Bo Horvat, New York Islanders, C23
69. Tomas Hertl, Vegas Golden Knights, C24
70. Dougie Hamilton, New Jersey Devils, D18
71. Jake Oettinger, Dallas Stars, G5
72. Jesper Bratt, New Jersey Devils, RW15
73. Jonathan Marchessault, Nashville Predators, RW16
74. Seth Jarvis, Carolina Hurricanes, RW17
75. Bryan Rust, Pittsburgh Penguins, RW18
76. Cole Caufield, Montreal Canadiens, LW11
77. Rickard Rakell, Pittsburgh Penguins, RW19
78. Kirill Marchenko, Columbus Blue Jackets, LW12
79. Matt Boldy, Minnesota Wild, LW13
80. Josh Morrissey, Winnipeg Jets, D19
81. Roope Hintz, Dallas Stars, C25
82. Shea Theodore, Vegas Golden Knights, D20
83. Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings, D21
84. Robert Thomas, St. Louis Blues, C26
85. Alexander Romanov, New York Islanders, D22
86. Josh Norris, Ottawa Senators, C27
87. Jordan Kyrou, St. Louis Blues, RW20
88. Mats Zuccarello, Minnesota Wild, RW21
89. Timo Meier, New Jersey Devils, LW14
90. Dylan Strome, Washington Capitals, C28
91. Darnell Nurse, Edmonton Oilers, D23
92. Anthony Cirelli, Tampa Bay Lightning, C29
93. Alex DeBrincat, Detroit Red Wings, LW15
94. Alex Pietrangelo, Vegas Golden Knights, D24
95. Matt Duchene, Dallas Stars, C30
96. Jonathan Huberdeau, Calgary Flames, LW16
97. Anders Lee, New York Islanders, LW17
98. Martin Necas, Colorado Avalanche, RW22
99. Frank Vatrano, Anaheim Ducks, RW23
100. Zach Hyman, Edmonton Oilers, RW24
101. Matthew Knies, Toronto Maple Leafs, LW18
102. Jake Middleton, Minnesota Wild, D25
103. Gabriel Vilardi, Winnipeg Jets, C31
104. Kevin Fiala, Los Angeles Kings, LW19
105. Macklin Celebrini, San Jose Sharks, C32
106. Charlie McAvoy, Boston Bruins, D26
107. Nikolaj Ehlers, Winnipeg Jets, LW20
108. Tony DeAngelo, New York Islanders, D27
109. Radko Gudas, Anaheim Ducks, D28
110. Nazem Kadri, Calgary Flames, C33
111. Jackson LaCombe, Anaheim Ducks, D29
112. Ryan O'Reilly, Nashville Predators, C34
113. Drake Batherson, Ottawa Senators, RW25
114. Joel Eriksson Ek, Minnesota Wild, C35
115. Brock Boeser, Vancouver Canucks, RW26
116. Thomas Chabot, Ottawa Senators, D30
117. Mathew Barzal, New York Islanders, C36
118. Andrei Svechnikov, Carolina Hurricanes, LW21
119. Vince Dunn, Seattle Kraken, D31
120. Wyatt Johnston, Dallas Stars, C37
121. Mika Zibanejad, New York Rangers, C38
122. Jake Walman, San Jose Sharks, D32
123. Dmitri Voronkov, Columbus Blue Jackets, LW22
124. Brad Marchand, Boston Bruins, LW23
125. Brock Nelson, New York Islanders, C39
126. Ilya Sorokin, New York Islanders, G6
127. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Edmonton Oilers, C40
128. Ryan Pulock, New York Islanders, D33
129. Sam Bennett, Florida Panthers, C41
130. Patrick Kane, Detroit Red Wings, RW27
131. Chris Kreider, New York Rangers, LW24
132. Travis Sanheim, Philadelphia Flyers, D34
133. Jacob Trouba, Anaheim Ducks, D35
134. Logan Cooley, Utah Hockey Club, C42
135. Artturi Lehkonen, Colorado Avalanche, LW25
136. Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning, G7
137. Nick Schmaltz, Utah Hockey Club, RW28
138. Thatcher Demko, Vancouver Canucks, G8
139. Darcy Kuemper, Los Angeles Kings, G9
140. Jamie Benn, Dallas Stars, LW26
141. Connor Murphy, Chicago Blackhawks, D36
142. Brandt Clarke, Los Angeles Kings, D37
143. Ian Cole, Utah Hockey Club, D38
144. Blake Coleman, Calgary Flames, RW29
145. Jared Spurgeon, Minnesota Wild, D39
146. Morgan Rielly, Toronto Maple Leafs, D40
147. Mackenzie Blackwood, Colorado Avalanche, G10
148. Kris Letang, Pittsburgh Penguins, D41
149. Troy Terry, Anaheim Ducks, C43
150. Neal Pionk, Winnipeg Jets, D42
151. Esa Lindell, Dallas Stars, D43
152. Erik Karlsson, Pittsburgh Penguins, D44
153. Lane Hutson, Montreal Canadiens, D45
154. Mikael Granlund, San Jose Sharks, LW27
155. Brayden McNabb, Vegas Golden Knights, D46
156. Pierre-Luc Dubois, Washington Capitals, C44
157. Jake McCabe, Toronto Maple Leafs, D47
158. Jake DeBrusk, Vancouver Canucks, RW30
159. Chris Tanev, Toronto Maple Leafs, D48
160. Dustin Wolf, Calgary Flames, G11
161. Carter Verhaeghe, Florida Panthers, LW28
162. Filip Gustavsson, Minnesota Wild, G12
163. Mike Matheson, Montreal Canadiens, D49
164. Aaron Ekblad, Florida Panthers, D50
165. Justin Faulk, St. Louis Blues, D51
166. Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida Panthers, G13
167. Brandon Montour, Seattle Kraken, D52
168. Marco Rossi, Minnesota Wild, C45
169. Vladislav Gavrikov, Los Angeles Kings, D53
170. Cam Fowler, St. Louis Blues, D54
171. Ivan Barbashev, Vegas Golden Knights, LW29
172. Thomas Harley, Dallas Stars, D55
173. Jared McCann, Seattle Kraken, RW31
174. Brayden Schenn, St. Louis Blues, C46
175. Devon Toews, Colorado Avalanche, D56
176. Shayne Gostisbehere, Carolina Hurricanes, D57
177. Dante Fabbro, Columbus Blue Jackets, D58
178. Owen Power, Buffalo Sabres, D59
179. Elias Lindholm, Boston Bruins, RW32
180. Matt Roy, Washington Capitals, D60
181. Owen Tippett, Philadelphia Flyers, RW33
182. Bowen Byram, Buffalo Sabres, D61
183. Linus Ullmark, Ottawa Senators, G14
184. Pavel Buchnevich, St. Louis Blues, RW34
185. Claude Giroux, Ottawa Senators, RW35
186. Jason Zucker, Buffalo Sabres, LW30
187. Nick Seeler, Philadelphia Flyers, D62
188. Mattias Ekholm, Edmonton Oilers, D63
189. Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota Wild, LW31
190. Boone Jenner, Columbus Blue Jackets, C47
191. Jonas Brodin, Minnesota Wild, D64
192. Tyler Myers, Vancouver Canucks, D65
193. Noah Hanifin, Vegas Golden Knights, D66
194. Brock Faber, Minnesota Wild, D67
195. Dylan Holloway, St. Louis Blues, C48
196. Artem Zub, Ottawa Senators, D68
197. Joey Daccord, Seattle Kraken, G15
198. Adam Fantilli, Columbus Blue Jackets, C49
199. Jean-Gabriel Pageau, New York Islanders, C50
200. Juuse Saros, Nashville Predators, G16
201. Damon Severson, Columbus Blue Jackets, D69
202. Ben Chiarot, Detroit Red Wings, D70
203. Dylan Cozens, Buffalo Sabres, C51
204. Joseph Woll, Toronto Maple Leafs, G17
205. Conor Garland, Vancouver Canucks, RW36
206. Alec Martinez, Chicago Blackhawks, D71
207. Ryan McDonagh, Tampa Bay Lightning, D72
208. Martin Fehervary, Washington Capitals, D73
209. Adam Pelech, New York Islanders, D74
210. Yegor Chinakhov, Columbus Blue Jackets, RW37
211. Kyle Palmieri, New York Islanders, RW38
212. Juraj Slafkovsky, Montreal Canadiens, LW32
213. Ross Colton, Colorado Avalanche, LW33
214. Kiefer Sherwood, Vancouver Canucks, LW34
215. Jake Neighbours, St. Louis Blues, LW35
216. Ivan Provorov, Columbus Blue Jackets, D75
217. Phillip Danault, Los Angeles Kings, C52
218. Tyler Bertuzzi, Chicago Blackhawks, LW36
219. Nick Paul, Tampa Bay Lightning, C53
220. Anton Lundell, Florida Panthers, LW37
221. Frederik Andersen, Carolina Hurricanes, G18
222. Fabian Zetterlund, San Jose Sharks, RW39
223. Tyler Toffoli, San Jose Sharks, RW40
224. Nico Hischier, New Jersey Devils, C54
225. Pavel Dorofeyev, Vegas Golden Knights, RW41
226. Alex Laferriere, Los Angeles Kings, RW42
227. Connor McMichael, Washington Capitals, C55
228. Mason McTavish, Anaheim Ducks, C56
229. Eeli Tolvanen, Seattle Kraken, LW38
230. Alexis Lafreniere, New York Rangers, LW39
231. Teuvo Teravainen, Chicago Blackhawks, RW43
232. Valeri Nichushkin, Colorado Avalanche, RW44
233. Kent Johnson, Columbus Blue Jackets, C57
234. Will Cuylle, New York Rangers, LW40
235. Pyotr Kochetkov, Carolina Hurricanes, G19
236. Chandler Stephenson, Seattle Kraken, C58
237. JJ Peterka, Buffalo Sabres, RW45
238. Jaden Schwartz, Seattle Kraken, LW41
239. Trevor Moore, Los Angeles Kings, LW42
240. Jordan Binnington, St. Louis Blues, G20
241. Jeremy Swayman, Boston Bruins, G21
242. Brandon Tanev, Seattle Kraken, LW43
243. William Eklund, San Jose Sharks, LW44
244. Shane Pinto, Ottawa Senators, C59
245. Mason Marchment, Dallas Stars, LW45
246. Cam Talbot, Detroit Red Wings, G22
247. Anthony Stolarz, Toronto Maple Leafs, G23
248. Adin Hill, Vegas Golden Knights, G24
249. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Buffalo Sabres, G25
250. Charlie Lindgren, Washington Capitals, G26