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

When drafting at No.1, you have to be willing to reach for players that you like at the turn, because there are 22 picks in between your picks. With Pick No. 1, we’re officially on the clock.

Round 1, Pick 1: Connor McDavid (EDM – C)

The first overall pick isn’t as cut-and-dry as it used to be, but I have McDavid ranked No. 1, and he’s also the top player in the Daily Faceoff Consensus Rankings. Even though McDavid has 25 fewer goals and 30 fewer points than Nikita Kucherov and Nathan MacKinnon over the last two seasons, no one can match his combination of floor and ceiling. Over the past four years, he’s averaged an incredible 45 goals and 92 assists (137 points) per 82 games. McDavid is the safest pick at No. 1 and the ultimate cornerstone to build your team around.

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

Round 2, Pick 24: Artemi Panarin (NYR – LW)

At pick No. 24, or anywhere in the second round, Artemi Panarin is as obvious as it gets. Last season, he carried a late-1st/early-2nd ADP, but he’s slipping into the early-3rd this year for reasons that don’t add up.

Panarin put up 37 goals and 52 assists (89 points) in 2024-25 and has averaged 102 points (35G, 67A) per 82 games over the last four seasons. After the Rangers acquired J.T. Miller in January, Panarin was pacing for 41 goals and 54 assists (95 points) despite New York having one of the league’s worst power plays. His power-play production dipped from 39 PPP (2022–24) to just 26 last year, a number that feels primed to bounce back given the talent around him.

If the Rangers’ power play rebounds even slightly, Panarin is right back in the 95+ point conversation, making him a steal in the second round.

Round 3, Pick 25: Sergei Bobrovsky (FLA – G)

If you pass on a goalie at the 2–3 turn, your next real chance comes at the 4–5 turn, where you’re likely looking at Darcy Kuemper or Filip Gustavsson. Both are fine options, but I’d much rather grab Bobrovsky in the third and load up on skaters in the 4th/5th.

Bobrovsky is one of the best values in drafts this year. He’s in the same tier as Jake Oettinger, Mackenzie Blackwood, or Igor Shesterkin, but is going two to three rounds later. Over the last four seasons, Bobrovsky ranks:

5th in wins (33 per season)
6th in shutouts (15)
T-11th in GAA (2.62)
T-14th in SV% (.909)

He plays behind the best team in hockey, is favoured almost every night, and no goalie was more insulated defensively last year. Florida allowed just 22.4 scoring chances against per 60 at 5v5, the lowest in the league. Bobrovsky isn’t just safe, he’s undervalued.

Others to consider at 2-3 turn: Brayden Point (TBL – C), Mackenzie Blackwood (COL – G), Jason Robertson (DAL – LW/RW), Tage Thompson (BUF – C/RW)

Round 4, Pick 48: Roman Josi (NSH – D)

Like Panarin and Bobrovsky, Josi stands out as one of the most obvious values when you compare my rankings to Yahoo ADP. Yes, he’s coming off a down year offensively and dealt with some health concerns over the last seven months, but Josi is fully participating in training camp and says he’s 100 percent heading into the season.

I have no reservations about drafting him, and if he delivers a vintage year, you’ll be thrilled you did. Since his breakout in 2022, Josi has averaged 20 goals and 54 assists (74 points) per 82 games. Even last season, if you extrapolate his “down year” over a full schedule, his production looks almost identical to Josh Morrissey’s 2024-25 season, and Morrissey is going 14 picks earlier.

Round 5, Pick 49: Shea Theodore (VGK – D)

There are plenty of strong mid-round wingers available, and with McDavid already locked in at C, this is the perfect spot to build an edge on defence. There are only a limited number of true PP1 quarterbacks in the NHL, so pairing Theodore with Josi provides elite upside on the blue line.

With Alex Pietrangelo sidelined for the entire 2025-26 season (and possibly longer), Theodore should see a bump in even-strength usage and have PP1 locked down. The only concern has been durability; he’s missed 77 games over the last three years, but when healthy, his production speaks for itself: 68 points (10G, 58A) per 82 games.

This feels a lot like the bet we made on Zach Werenski last year. Despite his injury history, Werenski played 81 games and turned in a league-winning season. Theodore has the potential to do the same in 2025-26.

Others to consider at 4-5 turn: Sebastian Aho (CAR – C), Mark Scheifele (WPG – C), Brandon Hagel (TBL – LW/RW), Adrian Kempe (LAK – RW), Cole Caufield (MTL – LW/RW), Wyatt Johnston (DAL – C/RW)

Round 6, Pick 72: Matvei Michkov (PHI – RW)

Michkov delivered a strong rookie campaign, posting 26 goals and 37 assists (63 points) in 80 games. What really fuels excitement for 2025-26, though, was how he finished the season. After John Tortorella was relieved of his duties, Michkov erupted for 12 points (6G, 6A) in nine games under Brad Shaw, while averaging 20:36 TOI, a jump of more than four minutes per game compared to his usage under Tortorella.

Even if new head coach Rick Tocchet deploys him closer to 18 minutes per night, that workload should be enough for Michkov to push 250+ shots and 30+ goals. If the Flyers can improve on their abysmal 15.0% power play (third-worst in the NHL last season), Michkov has even more room to grow, building on what was already top-50 5v5 production as a rookie.

Round 7, Pick 73: Mikhail Sergachev (UTA – D)

In the middle rounds, Sergachev stands out as one of the few remaining true PP1 quarterbacks. In his first year in Utah, he produced 53 points (15G, 38A) while logging a massive 25:07 TOI per game.

That kind of usage on an up-and-coming team with a potential top-10 offence makes Sergachev an excellent No. 2 fantasy defenseman. On this roster, he slides in as the No. 3 D, giving us a huge edge over the field, all while still leaving room to scoop up value wingers in rounds eight through twelve.

Others to consider at 6-7 turn: Lucas Raymond (DET – RW), Dylan Larkin (DET – C), Alex DeBrincat (DET – LW/RW), Jordan Kyrou (STL – RW), Nikolaj Ehlers (CAR – LW/RW), Jacob Markstrom (NJD – G)

Round 8, Pick 96: Kevin Fiala (LAK – LW)

Fiala sliding to the ninth round doesn’t make sense. I have him graded as a sixth-rounder, which makes this exceptional value, and one of the reasons I don’t mind loading up on defence or other positions earlier in drafts.

Fiala is coming off a career-high 35 goals, but his assist totals cratered. That’s not a long-term concern. He averaged 48 assists per season across the three years prior, and last season’s dip was fueled by just three secondary assists at even strength and an IPP drop from the mid-70s to 63.6%.

With clear bounce-back potential, Fiala is a flat-out steal at the 8/9 turn.

Round 9, Pick 97: Dylan Guenther (UTA – RW)

Landing two high-upside wingers at the 8/9 turn feels like a home run. Guenther was one of my favourite sleepers last year and delivered 60 points (27G, 33A) in 70 games. He missed nearly a month in January, but after returning in early February, he played at a 30-goal, 40-assist, 290-shot, 36-PPP pace.

The most encouraging number in that stretch was his 18:58 ATOI, a big step forward in usage. Heading into 2025-26, Guenther is poised for top-line minutes alongside Logan Cooley and newcomer JJ Peterka. All three were breakout picks on the DFO Fantasy Show Positional Preview episodes, and I’m expecting big things from the young Mammoth trio.

Others to consider at 8-9 turn: Carter Verhaeghe (FLA – LW), Juuse Saros (NSH – G), Zach Hyman (EDM – LW/RW), Kirill Marchenko (CBJ – RW), Andrei Svechnikov (CAR – LW/RW)

Round 10, Pick 120: Stuart Skinner (EDM – G)

If you want to wait until the double-digit rounds for your second goalie, Skinner is the perfect target. He’s not the most consistent, but he plays on one of the best teams in the NHL and has a chance to win almost every time he starts.

After posting a 2.68 GAA and .909 SV% during the 2022 and 2023 seasons, there’s a good chance 2024-25 was the outlier season. His quality start rate dropped from over 60% to 50%, but if he bounces back and starts 50+ games for a team projected for 107+ points, he should reach 30 wins.

For context, over the last three seasons, an average of just 9.3 goalies per year have hit that 30-win mark. Pairing Bobrovsky and Skinner could give you two of them, and that’s a massive advantage.

Round 11, Pick 121: Mika Zibanejad (NYR – C/RW)

As I mentioned with Panarin, the Rangers were a different team after the Miller trade, but the biggest beneficiary might have been Mika Zibanejad. After moving to the wing alongside Miller, the duo clicked immediately, producing 3.2 GF/60 at 5v5.

That chemistry helped Zibanejad transform his season. He went from a 48-point pace (15G, 33A in 50 games) to an 84-point pace (28G, 56A in 32 games) down the stretch. With a full season next to Miller and the possibility of an improved Rangers power play, Zibanejad looks poised for a major bounce-back in 2025-26.

Others to consider at the 10-11 turn: Pavel Dorofeyev (VGK – LW/RW), JJ Peterka (UTA – LW/RW), Nazem Kadri (CGY – C), Joel Eriksson Ek (MIN – C), Erik Karlsson (PIT – D)

Round 12, Pick 144: Quinton Byfield (LAK – C/LW)

Byfield has put together back-to-back seasons of nearly identical production, averaging 22 goals and 33 assists (55 points), solid, but unspectacular. Things seemed to finally click after the 4 Nations Faceoff, as he closed the year with 12 goals and 13 assists (25 points) in 28 games while logging nearly 20 minutes per night (19:58 ATOI).

Byfield is expected to start the year back on a line with Fiala and Alex Laferriere, a trio that dominated at 5v5 last year with 3.5 GF/60. If that line continues to roll, a Fiala-Byfield stack could deliver some massive weeks. Plus, Byfield’s dual-position eligibility gives you extra roster flexibility.

Round 13, Pick 145: Frederik Andersen (CAR – G)

Andersen’s slide down draft boards is a little puzzling, but it makes him the perfect No. 3 fantasy goalie. Yes, he’s been limited to just 38 starts over the last two seasons and is locked into a 50/50 timeshare, but he still provides stable ratios and high win equity.

Sportsbooks have Carolina projected at the top of the standings, with Florida and Edmonton right behind. Pairing Andersen with Bobrovsky and Skinner gives you massive win potential and one of the strongest goalie trios in fantasy.

Others to consider at the 12-13 turn: Logan Cooley (UTA – C), Zayne Parekh (CGY – D), Zeev Buium (MIN – D), Bo Horvat (NYI – C), Patrick Kane (DET – RW), Mark Stone (VGK – RW), Matt Coronato (CGY – RW)

Round 14, Pick 168: Adam Fantilli (CBJ – C)

I don’t think there’s a player I’ve talked about more this preseason than Fantilli. He’s appeared in my Sleepers and Must-Draft lists and will likely be a key feature in the Perfect Draft series. Last year, I waited on centers and targeted Macklin Celebrini in the 13th and Nazem Kadri in the 14th. Fantilli fits that exact mould this year with massive breakout potential.

From January 1 through the end of the 2024-25 season, Fantilli produced 39 points in 44 games, with an impressive 92.3% of that production coming at even strength.

During that stretch, he ranked:

2nd in the NHL in even-strength goals (22)
T-18th in even-strength points (36)
26th in shots on goal (101)

On an 82-game pace, that equals 67 even-strength points — tying Kyle Connor and Mitch Marner for seventh in the NHL, behind only David Pastrnak, Nathan MacKinnon, Nikita Kucherov, Leon Draisaitl, Brandon Hagel, and Connor McDavid.

If Fantilli gets even a modest bump in power-play production, he’s set up for a massive year.

Round 15, Pick 169: Sam Rinzel (CHI – D)

With three reliable defensemen already locked in, Rinzel is the perfect high-upside sleeper to take a swing on in the late rounds. He turned pro after a strong sophomore year at Minnesota, where he posted 32 points (10G, 22A) in 40 games, and then impressed during a nine-game audition in Chicago.

In that short stint, Rinzel registered five assists, 22 shots, and 12 hits while averaging 23:22 TOI. Now in training camp, he’s skating in the top-4 and on PP1, setting him up to build on that strong finish and potentially deliver sneaky late-round value.

Others to consider at the 14-15 turn: Marco Kasper (DET – C/LW), Brock Boeser (VAN – RW), Jonathan Huberdeau (CGY – LW), Tyler Toffoli (SJS – LW/RW), Cutter Gauthier (ANA – LW)

Round 16, Pick 192: Leo Carlsson (ANA – C)

With the final pick of the draft, there aren’t many options that offer true upside from Day 1, but Carlsson could be that guy. I’ll take a late-round lottery ticket on a former No. 2 overall pick, who turns 21 in December and closed last season with 29 points (11G, 18A) in his final 31 games.

He won’t sustain the 20.4% shooting he posted during that stretch, but he averaged just 17:37 TOI/gm, leaving plenty of room for his ice time to grow. If it does, Carlsson could be a breakout steal. If not, you simply treat this as a streaming spot moving forward.

The Roster:

Pick	Pos	Player	Team	Eligibility	ADP
1	C	Connor McDavid	EDM	C	1.1
121	C	Mika Zibanejad	NYR	C/RW	133.6
24	LW	Artemi Panarin	NYR	LW	27.3
96	LW	Kevin Fiala	LAK	LW	102.3
72	RW	Matvei Michkov	PHI	RW	85.9
97	RW	Dylan Guenther	UTA	RW	105.4
48	D	Roman Josi	NSH	D	52.1
49	D	Shea Theodore	VGK	D	60.1
73	D	Mikhail Sergachev	UTA	D	79.8
169	D	Sam Rinzel	CHI	D	171.1
25	G	Sergei Bobrovsky	FLA	G	45.8
120	G	Stuart Skinner	EDM	G	131.9
144	BN	Quinton Byfield	LAK	C,LW	147.9
145	BN	Frederik Andersen	CAR	G	157.8
168	BN	Adam Fantilli	CBJ	C	171.6
192	BN	Leo Carlsson	ANA	C	–