Just when you thought the Fantasy Hockey season was done, it’s Playoff Pool time!

NHL Playoff pools are unique because the quality of the team a player plays for can be more important than the individual’s production level. For example, 24 games of Anton Lundell were 3x better than having five games of Brayden Point last year.

To help identify the best players for the 2025 NHL Playoffs, I used the betting odds to create probabilities of each team advancing through each round. I calculated the expected number of games played for each team using those probabilities. Once you have expected games played, I plugged it into my regular season projections model to generate projections for every skater in the postseason. I used the same probabilities to help generate team goalie projections as well.

The rankings below are based on the following pool format and scoring system:

12 Teams
10 Skaters
1 Team Goalie
Goal: 1 Point
Assist: 1 Point
Team Win: 1 Point

Team Probabilities

Skaters

Rank	Player	Team	Pos	Games	Goals	Assists	Points
1	Connor McDavid	EDM	F	11.6	5.3	13.1	18.5
2	Nikita Kucherov	TBL	F	11.7	5.4	12.6	18.0
3	Nathan MacKinnon	COL	F	12.0	5.9	12.1	17.9
4	Leon Draisaitl	EDM	F	11.6	7.2	9.0	16.3
5	Mitch Marner	TOR	F	11.6	3.9	9.8	13.7
6	Matthew Tkachuk	FLA	F	12.3	4.8	8.7	13.5
7	Auston Matthews	TOR	F	11.6	6.7	6.6	13.4
8	Cale Makar	COL	D	12.0	3.8	9.4	13.2
9	Jack Eichel	VGK	F	11.9	4.7	8.3	13.0
10	Aleksander Barkov	FLA	F	12.3	3.6	9.1	12.8
11	Brayden Point	TBL	F	11.7	6.4	5.8	12.2
12	Sebastian Aho	CAR	F	12.8	5.1	7.1	12.2
13	William Nylander	TOR	F	11.6	5.9	6.3	12.2
14	Sam Reinhart	FLA	F	12.3	6.3	5.7	12.1
15	Alex Ovechkin	WSH	F	12.5	6.8	5.3	12.1
16	Mikko Rantanen	DAL	F	11.6	4.4	7.6	12.1
17	Martin Necas	COL	F	12.0	3.9	8.2	12.1
18	Kyle Connor	WPG	F	11.5	5.4	6.4	11.8
19	Jake Guentzel	TBL	F	11.7	5.4	6.3	11.7
20	Jason Robertson	DAL	F	11.6	4.8	6.9	11.6
21	Brandon Hagel	TBL	F	11.7	4.4	6.9	11.2
22	Mark Stone	VGK	F	11.9	3.5	7.5	11.0
23	Mark Scheifele	WPG	F	11.5	4.9	6.1	10.9
24	Seth Jarvis	CAR	F	12.8	5.3	5.5	10.8
25	Dylan Strome	WSH	F	12.5	3.8	6.8	10.6
26	Kirill Kaprizov	MIN	F	8.5	5.0	5.6	10.6
27	John Tavares	TOR	F	11.6	5.1	5.4	10.5
28	Valeri Nichushkin	COL	F	12.0	5.4	4.6	10.0
29	Matt Duchene	DAL	F	11.6	3.8	6.2	10.0
30	Roope Hintz	DAL	F	11.6	4.4	5.4	9.9
31	Tyler Seguin	DAL	F	11.6	4.4	5.4	9.9
32	Wyatt Johnston	DAL	F	11.6	4.5	5.2	9.7
33	Shea Theodore	VGK	D	11.9	1.3	8.2	9.4
34	Victor Hedman	TBL	D	11.7	1.9	7.5	9.4
35	Andrei Svechnikov	CAR	F	12.8	3.7	5.6	9.3
36	Carter Verhaeghe	FLA	F	12.3	4.2	5.0	9.3
37	Brad Marchand	FLA	F	12.3	3.9	5.4	9.3
38	Evan Bouchard	EDM	D	11.6	2.0	7.2	9.2
39	Josh Morrissey	WPG	D	11.5	1.8	7.4	9.2
40	Ryan Nugent-Hopkins	EDM	F	11.6	3.1	5.9	9.0
41	Zach Hyman	EDM	F	11.6	5.5	3.6	9.0
42	Tomas Hertl	VGK	F	11.9	4.2	4.8	9.0
43	Brock Nelson	COL	F	12.0	4.3	4.7	9.0
44	Gabe Vilardi	WPG	F	11.5	4.5	4.3	8.8
45	Robert Thomas	STL	F	8.5	2.4	6.3	8.7
46	Jonathan Drouin	COL	F	12.0	2.4	6.2	8.6
47	Mikael Granlund	DAL	F	11.6	2.3	6.2	8.5
48	Pierre-Luc Dubois	WSH	F	12.5	3.0	5.5	8.5
49	Adrian Kempe	LAK	F	9.6	3.9	4.5	8.4
50	Jesper Bratt	NJD	F	8.4	2.5	5.8	8.3
51	Artturi Lehkonen	COL	F	12.0	4.3	3.9	8.2
52	Tim Stützle	OTT	F	8.6	2.6	5.5	8.1
53	Tom Wilson	WSH	F	12.5	4.3	3.7	8.0
54	Pavel Dorofeyev	VGK	F	11.9	5.3	2.7	8.0
55	John Carlson	WSH	D	12.5	1.3	6.6	7.9
56	Kevin Fiala	LAK	F	9.6	3.6	4.2	7.8
57	Shayne Gostisbehere	CAR	D	12.8	1.5	6.4	7.8
58	Anze Kopitar	LAK	F	9.6	2.4	5.3	7.7
59	Nico Hischier	NJD	F	8.4	3.4	4.2	7.6
60	William Karlsson	VGK	F	11.9	2.8	4.7	7.5
61	Sam Bennett	FLA	F	12.3	3.5	4.0	7.5
62	Mason Marchment	DAL	F	11.6	3.2	4.2	7.4
63	Miro Heiskanen	DAL	D	11.6	1.3	6.0	7.3
64	Matthew Knies	TOR	F	11.6	3.5	3.8	7.3
65	Anthony Cirelli	TBL	F	11.7	3.3	4.0	7.3
66	Jakob Chychrun	WSH	D	12.5	2.7	4.5	7.3
67	Ivan Barbashev	VGK	F	11.9	3.1	4.2	7.3
68	Matt Boldy	MIN	F	8.5	2.9	4.2	7.1
69	Aliaksei Protas	WSH	F	12.5	2.4	4.8	7.1
70	Brady Tkachuk	OTT	F	8.6	3.6	3.6	7.1
71	Oliver Bjorkstrand	TBL	F	11.7	2.9	4.2	7.1
72	Connor McMichael	WSH	F	12.5	3.3	3.7	7.1
73	Nikolaj Ehlers	WPG	F	8.6	2.6	4.4	7.0
74	Thomas Harley	DAL	D	11.6	2.2	4.8	7.0
75	Nick Suzuki	MTL	F	7.3	2.6	4.3	6.9
76	Devon Toews	COL	D	12.0	1.5	5.4	6.9
77	Jordan Kyrou	STL	F	8.5	3.4	3.5	6.9
78	Jamie Benn	DAL	F	11.6	2.2	4.7	6.9
79	Viktor Arvidsson	EDM	F	11.6	3.1	3.7	6.8
80	Mats Zuccarello	MIN	F	8.5	1.9	4.8	6.7
81	Jake Walman	EDM	D	11.6	1.6	5.1	6.7
82	Dylan Holloway	STL	F	8.5	2.8	3.9	6.6
83	Gabriel Landeskog	COL	F	9.0	3.1	3.5	6.6
84	Drake Batherson	OTT	F	8.6	2.6	4.1	6.6
85	Jeff Skinner	EDM	F	11.6	3.3	3.2	6.6
86	Pavel Buchnevich	STL	F	8.5	2.5	4.0	6.6
87	Logan Stankoven	CAR	F	12.8	2.6	3.9	6.5
88	Cole Perfetti	WPG	F	11.5	2.4	4.0	6.4
89	Jackson Blake	CAR	F	12.8	2.7	3.7	6.4
90	Morgan Rielly	TOR	D	11.6	1.0	5.4	6.4
91	Charlie Coyle	COL	F	12.0	2.8	3.6	6.3
92	Anton Lundell	FLA	F	12.3	2.5	3.8	6.3
93	Quinton Byfield	LAK	F	9.6	2.5	3.8	6.3
94	Seth Jones	FLA	D	12.3	1.6	4.6	6.2
95	Taylor Hall	CAR	F	12.8	2.7	3.3	6.0
96	Brent Burns	CAR	D	12.8	1.5	4.5	6.0
97	Andrei Kuzmenko	LAK	F	9.6	2.5	3.5	6.0
98	Aaron Ekblad	FLA	D	12.3	1.1	4.9	6.0
99	Nick Paul	TBL	F	11.7	3.1	2.8	6.0
100	Marco Rossi	MIN	F	8.5	2.4	3.6	5.9
101	Noah Hanifin	VGK	D	11.9	1.5	4.4	5.9
102	Reilly Smith	VGK	F	11.9	1.9	4.0	5.9
103	Dougie Hamilton	NJD	D	8.4	1.6	4.3	5.9
104	Joel Eriksson Ek	MIN	F	8.5	2.7	3.2	5.8
105	Timo Meier	NJD	F	8.4	3.1	2.7	5.8
106	Cole Caufield	MTL	F	7.3	2.9	2.9	5.8
107	Mattias Ekholm	EDM	D	11.6	1.6	4.2	5.8
108	Jake Sanderson	OTT	D	8.6	1.2	4.6	5.8
109	Mackie Samoskevich	FLA	F	12.3	2.6	3.1	5.7
110	Nicolas Roy	VGK	F	11.9	2.4	3.3	5.7
111	Max Domi	TOR	F	11.6	1.2	4.4	5.6
112	Lane Hutson	MTL	D	7.3	0.5	5.1	5.6
113	Drew Doughty	LAK	D	9.6	1.4	4.2	5.6
114	Yanni Gourde	TBL	F	11.7	1.6	4.0	5.6
115	Brett Howden	VGK	F	11.9	3.3	2.3	5.6
116	Evander Kane	EDM	F	8.7	3.1	2.4	5.5
117	Ivan Demidov	MTL	F	7.3	2.1	3.3	5.5
118	Trevor Moore	LAK	F	9.6	2.6	2.9	5.4
119	Phillip Danault	LAK	F	9.6	1.5	3.9	5.3
120	Brandon Saad	VGK	F	11.9	2.7	2.6	5.3
121	Alex Pietrangelo	VGK	D	11.9	0.7	4.7	5.3
122	Evgenii Dadonov	DAL	F	11.6	2.4	2.9	5.3
123	Neal Pionk	WPG	D	11.5	1.2	4.1	5.3
124	Ross Colton	COL	F	12.0	2.6	2.6	5.3
125	Evan Rodrigues	FLA	F	12.3	2.1	3.2	5.3
126	Jordan Staal	CAR	F	12.8	2.0	3.3	5.3
127	Jordan Martinook	CAR	F	12.8	2.2	3.1	5.3
128	Claude Giroux	OTT	F	8.6	1.6	3.6	5.2
129	Darren Raddysh	TBL	D	11.7	0.8	4.4	5.2
130	Gustav Forsling	FLA	D	12.3	1.6	3.5	5.2
131	Nino Niederreiter	WPG	F	11.5	2.5	2.5	5.1
132	Alex Laferriere	LAK	F	9.6	2.3	2.8	5.1
133	Dylan Cozens	OTT	F	8.6	1.9	3.1	5.0
134	Brayden Schenn	STL	F	8.5	1.9	3.2	5.0
135	Jesperi Kotkaniemi	CAR	F	12.8	2.0	3.1	5.0
136	Adam Henrique	EDM	F	11.6	2.3	2.7	5.0
137	Adam Lowry	WPG	F	11.5	2.1	2.9	5.0
138	Vladislav Namestnikov	WPG	F	11.5	1.4	3.5	5.0
139	Darnell Nurse	EDM	D	11.6	1.1	3.8	4.9
140	Bobby McMann	TOR	F	11.6	3.0	1.9	4.9
141	Luke Hughes	NJD	D	8.4	0.8	4.0	4.8
142	Thomas Chabot	OTT	D	8.6	1.2	3.6	4.8
143	Warren Foegele	LAK	F	9.6	2.4	2.4	4.8
144	Dmitry Orlov	CAR	D	12.8	1.0	3.7	4.7
145	Jaccob Slavin	CAR	D	12.8	1.0	3.7	4.7
146	Shane Pinto	OTT	F	8.6	2.2	2.4	4.6
147	Patrik Laine	MTL	F	7.3	2.6	2.0	4.5
148	Cam Fowler	STL	D	8.5	0.9	3.6	4.5
149	Alex Iafallo	WPG	F	11.5	2.0	2.5	4.5
150	Rasmus Sandin	WSH	D	12.5	0.7	3.8	4.5
151	Jimmy Sunggerud	STL	F	8.5	2.1	2.4	4.4
152	Andrew Mangiapane	WSH	F	12.5	2.3	2.2	4.4
153	Juraj Slafkovsky	MTL	F	7.3	1.6	2.8	4.4
154	Oliver Ekman-Larsson	TOR	D	11.6	0.8	3.5	4.3
155	Jake Neighbours	STL	F	8.5	2.4	1.9	4.3
156	Ryan McDonagh	TBL	D	11.7	0.4	3.8	4.3
157	David Perron	OTT	F	8.6	1.9	2.3	4.2
158	Mark Jankowski	CAR	F	12.8	2.4	1.7	4.2
159	Corey Perry	EDM	F	11.6	2.3	1.8	4.1
160	Eetu Luostarinen	FLA	F	12.3	1.6	2.5	4.1
161	Nicholas Robertson	TOR	F	11.6	2.3	1.8	4.1
162	Mason Appleton	WPG	F	11.5	1.7	2.4	4.1
163	Nic Dowd	WSH	F	12.5	2.2	1.9	4.1
164	Anthony Beauvillier	WSH	F	12.5	1.9	2.2	4.1
165	Ryan Hartman	MIN	F	8.5	1.8	2.3	4.1
166	Eric Robinson	CAR	F	12.8	1.7	2.3	4.0
167	Stefan Noesen	NJD	F	8.4	1.9	2.2	4.0
168	Samuel Girard	COL	D	12.0	0.6	3.4	4.0
169	Jake McCabe	TOR	D	11.6	0.7	3.3	4.0
170	Matt Roy	WSH	D	12.5	0.7	3.2	3.9
171	Mike Matheson	MTL	D	7.3	0.8	3.1	3.9
172	Fabian Zetterlund	OTT	F	8.6	1.8	2.1	3.9
173	Gage Goncalves	TBL	F	11.7	1.5	2.3	3.9
174	Taylor Raddysh	WSH	F	12.5	1.3	2.5	3.8
175	Justin Faulk	STL	D	8.5	0.5	3.3	3.8
176	Dawson Mercer	NJD	F	8.4	2.0	1.8	3.8
177	Logan O’Connor	COL	F	12.0	1.8	2.0	3.8
178	Josh Manson	COL	D	12.0	0.7	3.1	3.8
179	Brandt Clarke	LAK	D	9.6	0.6	3.2	3.8
180	Mavrik Bourque	DAL	F	11.6	1.7	2.1	3.8
181	Marcus Johansson	MIN	F	8.5	1.3	2.4	3.7
182	Brock Faber	MIN	D	8.5	1.0	2.8	3.7
183	Lars Eller	WSH	F	12.5	1.7	2.0	3.7
184	Sam Steel	DAL	F	11.6	1.1	2.5	3.7
185	Zack Bolduc	STL	F	8.5	1.9	1.6	3.6
186	Colton Parayko	STL	D	8.5	1.4	2.2	3.6
187	Ridly Greig	OTT	F	8.6	1.4	2.2	3.6
188	Esa Lindell	DAL	D	11.6	0.8	2.8	3.5
189	Calle Jarnkrok	TOR	F	11.6	1.0	2.5	3.5
190	Keegan Kolesar	VGK	F	11.9	1.5	2.0	3.5
191	Tanner Pearson	VGK	F	11.9	1.5	2.0	3.5
192	Jack Drury	COL	F	12.0	1.3	2.2	3.4
193	Jared Spurgeon	MIN	D	8.5	0.6	2.8	3.4
194	Jesper Boqvist	FLA	F	12.3	1.6	1.8	3.4
195	Vasily Podkolzin	EDM	F	11.6	1.1	2.2	3.3
196	Dylan DeMelo	WPG	D	11.5	0.4	2.9	3.3
197	Ondrej Palat	NJD	F	8.4	1.5	1.9	3.3
198	Will Carrier	CAR	F	12.8	1.8	1.5	3.3
199	J.J. Moser	TBL	D	11.7	0.6	2.7	3.3
200	Martin Fehervary	WSH	D	12.5	0.7	2.5	3.2
201	Pontus Holmberg	TOR	F	11.6	1.3	1.9	3.2
202	Brandon Tanev	WPG	F	11.5	1.4	1.8	3.2
203	Frederick Gaudreau	MIN	F	8.5	1.5	1.7	3.2
204	Jonas Brodin	MIN	D	8.5	0.7	2.4	3.2
205	Erik Haula	NJD	F	8.4	1.5	1.7	3.1
206	Nick Perbix	TBL	D	11.7	0.7	2.5	3.1
207	Jordan Spence	LAK	D	9.6	0.4	2.8	3.1
208	Ryan Lindgren	COL	D	12.0	0.5	2.6	3.1
209	Cody Ceci	DAL	D	11.6	0.6	2.5	3.1
210	Marcus Foligno	MIN	F	8.5	1.4	1.7	3.1
211	Michael Amadio	OTT	F	8.6	1.5	1.6	3.1
212	Vladislav Gavrikov	LAK	D	9.6	0.6	2.4	3.0
213	Brendan Gallagher	MTL	F	7.3	1.6	1.4	3.0
214	Philip Broberg	STL	D	8.5	0.5	2.5	3.0
215	Alexandre Texier	STL	F	8.5	1.5	1.5	3.0
216	Trevor van Riemsdyk	WSH	D	12.5	0.2	2.7	3.0
217	Gustav Nyquist	MIN	F	8.5	1.1	1.8	3.0
218	Brayden McNabb	VGK	D	11.9	0.6	2.4	3.0
219	Sean Walker	CAR	D	12.8	1.0	2.0	2.9
220	Jalen Chatfield	CAR	D	12.8	1.1	1.8	2.9
221	Alex Newhook	MTL	F	7.3	1.5	1.5	2.9
222	Nico Sturm	FLA	F	12.3	1.4	1.5	2.9
223	Mitchell Chaffee	TBL	F	11.7	1.8	1.1	2.9
224	Cody Glass	NJD	F	8.4	1.0	1.9	2.9
225	Brett Kulak	EDM	D	11.6	0.7	2.2	2.9
226	Dylan Samberg	WPG	D	11.5	0.7	2.2	2.9
227	Nate Schmidt	FLA	D	12.3	0.7	2.1	2.8
228	Scott Laughton	TOR	F	11.6	1.0	1.8	2.8
229	Jake Evans	MTL	F	7.3	0.9	1.9	2.8
230	Alex Turcotte	LAK	F	9.6	0.9	1.8	2.8
231	Joel Kivirata	COL	F	12.0	1.6	1.1	2.8
232	Erik Cernak	TBL	D	11.7	0.3	2.4	2.7
233	Connor Brown	EDM	F	11.6	1.1	1.6	2.7
234	Mattias Janmark	EDM	F	11.6	0.7	2.0	2.7
235	Tomas Tatar	NJD	F	8.4	1.0	1.6	2.7
236	Chris Tanev	TOR	D	11.6	0.3	2.3	2.7
237	Brandon Duhaime	WSH	F	12.5	1.1	1.5	2.6
238	Justin Brazeau	MIN	F	8.5	1.5	1.1	2.6
239	Oskar Sundqvist	STL	F	8.5	0.8	1.8	2.6
240	Christian Dvorak	MTL	F	7.3	1.0	1.5	2.6
241	Mikey Anderson	LAK	D	9.6	0.6	2.0	2.6
242	Niko Mikkola	FLA	D	12.3	0.6	2.0	2.6
243	Dmitry Kulikov	FLA	D	12.3	0.5	2.1	2.6
244	Morgan Barron	WPG	F	11.5	1.3	1.2	2.5
245	Joel Armia	MTL	F	7.3	1.3	1.3	2.5
246	Emil Lilleberg	TBL	D	11.7	0.2	2.3	2.5
247	Ty Emberson	EDM	D	11.6	0.2	2.2	2.5
248	Paul Cotter	NJD	F	8.4	1.4	1.0	2.4
249	Adam Gaudette	OTT	F	8.6	1.0	1.4	2.4
250	Josh Anderson	MTL	F	7.3	1.3	1.0	2.3

Goalies

Rank	Team	Starter / Backup	Wins
1	CAR	Frederik Andersen / Pyotr Kochetkov	7.3
2	WSH	Logan Thompson / Charlie Lindgren	7.0
3	FLA	Sergei Bobrovsky / Vitek Vanecek	6.8
4	COL	Mackenzie Blackwood / Scott Wedgewood	6.5
5	VGK	Adin Hill / Ilya Samsonov	6.4
6	TBL	Andrei Vasilevskiy / Jonas Johansson	6.2
7	EDM	Stuart Skinner / Calvin Pickard	6.1
8	DAL	Jake Oettinger / Casey DeSmith	6.1
9	TOR	Anthony Stolarz / Joseph Woll	6.1
10	WPG	Connor Hellebuyck / Eric Comrie	6.0
11	LAK	Darcy Kuemper / David Rittich	4.1
12	OTT	Linus Ullmark / Anton Forsberg	3.1
13	MIN	Filip Gustavsson / Marc-Andre Fleury	3.0
14	STL	Jordan Binnington / Joel Hofer	3.0
15	NJD	Jacob Markstrom / Jake Allen	2.9
16	MTL	Sam Montembeault / Jakub Dobes	1.8