Yearly I like to consider crucial gamers of the Fantasy Hockey season. One of the simplest ways to do this is to call year-end All-Star rosters with standout performers from every of the 4 main positions. Typically there are classes to be realized. Different instances, it is about good tales. Here is who I believed stood out probably the most in 2024-25.
First Group All-Fantasy
Goalie – Connor Hellebuyck – WPG – Yahoo! ADP 24.1
Girls and gents, the 2024-25 Fantasy Hockey MVP. Nobody was featured on extra profitable rosters than Hellebuyck in both H2H or Rotisserie codecs. For those who drafted Hellebuyck, you drafted him someplace within the mid-second to early-third spherical and acquired simply the #1 goalie, if not the #1 total participant in Fantasy Hockey this season. That is nice worth. Hellebuyck led the league in Wins (47), and Shutouts (8), ending fourth in Saves (1539), and was first amongst starters in GAA (2.00) and second amongst starters in Save Proportion (0.925).
One might quibble with the slight little bit of wobble from Hellebuyck through the first spherical of the Fantasy Hockey playoffs. That value a number of groups. Nonetheless, he led plenty of groups to landslide common season success and gave you a one-in-four likelihood of profitable all of it when you drafted him. Arduous to complain about that. Typically instances you do not see the Vezina Trophy winner ship a repeat efficiency, not to mention crank it up one other degree. As an alternative, as Alex MacLean as soon as advised me, you drafted the high-end goalie for his excessive flooring. That you simply acquired Hellebuyck’s ceiling is simply gravy. You made him the primary or second goalie off the board and he rewarded your conviction. All that is left to surprise is how excessive this drives Hellebuyck’s ADP subsequent season, the place he’ll push to be a primary rounder.
Protection – Zach Werenski – CBJ – Yahoo! ADP 114.8
Not like in objective, we now have a number of candidates to think about on protection. Judging by Yahoo!’s MVPs function, Rasmus Dahlin was the defenseman featured on probably the most profitable groups in H2H and Rotisserie leagues. Judging purely off of ultimate stats Cale Makar was the Hellebuyck of defensemen. He was unilaterally the primary defenseman off the board and delivered, ending with the very best across-the-board stats.
However how a lot pure worth did you get out of both of these two? They have been anticipated to be superior, have been picked excessive and delivered. We like that. Werenski alternatively, was maybe the very best worth decide in Fantasy Hockey this yr with an ADP exterior the highest 100 and a closing rating inside the highest 20 in nearly any setup. That is worth we can not ignore and secures Werenski’s spot on First Group All-Fantasy.
The story of the tape for Werenski: second in defenseman factors (82), second in defenseman objectives (23), fourth in defenseman assists (59), eighth in defenseman PPP (25), first in defenseman SOG (298) by a large margin. He delivered over 100 blocked pictures and wasn’t a adverse in plus-minus regardless of the dire expectations and goaltending of the Blue Jackets. He solely had 19 hits, nevertheless it did not matter due to how beneficial he was elsewhere.
One of many largest causes Werenski was such a terrific worth: accidents. And he averted these this yr taking part in 81 video games, his first season hitting 80+ since 2018-19. Knock on wooden that this begins a run of fine well being for him. We love dependable well being round these elements.
Wing – Alexander Ovechkin – WSH – Yahoo! ADP 54.0
One of the best story in hockey this season was Ovechkin’s chase Wayne Gretzky’s All-Time objective scoring document, and it delivered. Any time you may hitch your Fantasy Hockey season to a narrative that transcends Fantasy Hockey, and sports activities typically you’ve got hit the large time. The truth that you took Ovechkin someplace within the fourth to sixth spherical and acquired close to first-round worth is good. The truth that the person broke his leg mid-season however returned like he by no means missed a beat is mesmerizing. The truth that he stole the zeitgeist and simply occurred to be delivering a historical past making efficiency within the midst of the Fantasy Hockey playoffs is so good it sounds made up.
Throughout the usual Yahoo! Fantasy Hockey playoffs Ovechkin delivered 8 objectives (tied for third within the league) and 14 factors (tied for sixth) and was his typical SOG and hit monster. On the season solely Leon Draisaitl scored extra objectives per sport.
Taking a look at Yahoo!’s MVPs function, it would not appear to be too many individuals who had Ovechkin this season really received their league. Definitely, there have been extra productive seasons, and higher worth seasons, however nobody was extra enjoyable to have in your Fantasy Group than Ovechkin. Someway, in 12 months 20 he nonetheless delivered. We have been spoiled by this man’s hockey splendor for twenty years and this season was a cherry on prime. Typically, it is good when you may have enjoyable in Fantasy Hockey even when you aren’t profitable. Ovechkin’s season was palms down probably the most enjoyable in a very long time.
Middle – Robert Thomas – STL – Yahoo! ADP 114.0
The simplest place to fill in Fantasy Hockey can be the place most troublesome to face out in. What do you care about most right here? Pure manufacturing? Most worth? Most clutch? I’ve settled on the man who supplied probably the most worth and was most clutch in Thomas.
For the reason that 4 Nations Faceoff nobody scored extra factors than Thomas’ 40. Throughout the usual Yahoo! Fantasy Hockey playoffs nobody scored extra factors than Thomas’ 20. His second half tear was lovely music. No, Thomas would not do peripheral classes. He would not even actually do something however assists, however he delivered assists like a metronome at crucial time of the season, and he did it as a participant you took exterior the highest 100.
If there is a caveat right here it is that Thomas wasn’t precisely a price play within the first half. Between harm, inconsistency and an absence of peripherals Thomas examined many Fantasy Managers’ endurance. In shallow leagues you could have dropped him. In deeper leagues you could have traded him. Those that caught it out or pounced have been rewarded with a league-tilting second half.
Second Group All-Fantasy
Goalie – Darcy Kuemper – LAK – Yahoo! ADP 110.7
On reflection it appears all too straightforward. Goalie with stable observe document however some harm woes bounces again after a commerce to the league’s greatest defensive group. But when it have been actually that straightforward Kuemper would not have been picked so late. These of you with the imaginative and prescient to see the potential or the daring to take the swing have been rewarded with arguably the second-best Fantasy Goalie.
Kuemper completed the season second amongst starters in GAA (2.02), tied for third amongst starters in Save Proportion (0.921), tied for sixth in Wins (31), and tied for fourth in shutouts (5). He did not see sufficient begins to grade excessive in Saves, however that is our solely quibble. An incredible worth and total season. Kuemper reminds us that there’s worth to be discovered on the goalie place when you wait and hit it proper.
Protection – Cale Makar – COL – Yahoo! ADP 9.0
We teased it within the First Group part, however Makar was picked first amongst defensemen and completed first by nearly any measure. We love that. Makar has been the primary defenseman off the board for years and he delivered with a wholesome and productive season to match ending first amongst defensemen in Objectives (30), Assists (62), Factors (92), PPP (35) and second amongst defensemen in SOG (246).
That kind of efficiency was prime 10 no matter place. That you simply acquired it out of a defenseman was an enormous benefit and a giant payoff on your first-round funding. After back-to-back 90-point seasons and a few outdated dependable forwards combating accidents we would see Makar going prime 5 subsequent season.
Wing – Nikita Kucherov – TBL – Yahoo! ADP 4.8
Kucherov was the Makar of wingers. He was picked first at his place and delivered main the league in Assists (84 tied with MacKinnon) and Factors (121) for the second consecutive season. He additionally led the league in PPP (46). Absolutely Fantasy Managers have been involved about how Kucherov would possibly fare with out Steven Stamkos to feed. It seems, Kucherov was the motive force right here and succeeded with out Stamkos. Actually, the Lightning struggled to discover a fourth ahead to fill Stamkos’ spot on the facility play all season and it nonetheless did not matter.
Better of all for Fantasy Managers, Kucherov delivered within the Fantasy Playoffs ending second to Thomas in factors (19) throughout the usual Yahoo! Fantasy Playoffs. He was additionally second to Thomas in factors (39) because the 4 Nations Faceoff. You took him excessive, and he delivered, particularly when it mattered most. Incredible!
Middle – Nick Suzuki – MTL – Yahoo! ADP 114.2
We as soon as once more look to worth and clutch efficiency at Fantasy Hockey’s deepest place and solely Robert Thomas supplied extra worth and clutch play than Suzuki did this season. One other man you have been capable of draft exterior the highest 100 and acquired prime 20 worth from.
Suzuki finally completed 13th in Factors (89) nevertheless it was how he completed that basically will get excessive marks. After the 4 Nations faceoff he was fourth in Factors (37) and through the usual Yahoo! Fantasy Playoffs he was tied for fourth in Factors (14).
The way in which he levelled up from being a dependable ~70-point man with respectable peripherals to one of many prime scorers down the stretch will guarantee he ceases to be a excessive worth decide. Count on to succeed in for Suzuki subsequent season however anticipate him to be value it. He has nonetheless by no means missed a sport. We love that reliability.
Third Group All-Fantasy
Goalie – Andrei Vasilevskiy – TBL – Yahoo! ADP 34.9
There was a time when Vasilevskiy held the goalie belt because the undisputed #1. And even when he did not all the time have the very best fantasy seasons you picked him excessive due to his reliability and the reliability of the Lightning. Worn down by accidents, lengthy playoff runs and attrition we might misplaced our religion in Vasilevskiy. He bounced again with a vengeance.
Lastly wholesome, and with Ryan McDonagh again as a shutdown presence, Vasilevskiy delivered a classic efficiency. On common he was the fifth goalie off the board however completed second in Wins (38), Saves (1580), tied for second in Shutouts (6), fourth amongst starters in GAA (2.18) and tied for fourth amongst starters in Save Proportion (0.921).
If not for the sheer worth of Kuemper or outright dominance of Hellebuyck, Vasilevskiy could be again on prime of the goaltending throne.
Protection – Lane Hutson – MTL – Yahoo! ADP 170.3
Hutson went from being a late-round flyer and even undrafted to one of many highest scoring defensemen within the league. He isn’t a multi-cat man, however the sheer scoring is unattainable to not have fun right here. Hutson completed tied for sixth in defensemen Factors (66), tied for second in defensemen Assists (60), and tied for fifth in defensemen PPP (26). He was particularly prolific down the stretch ending second in defensemen Factors (12) throughout the usual Yahoo! Fantasy Playoffs and third in defensemen Factors (25) because the 4 Nations Faceoff.
We have seen prolific pop-up seasons from undersized defensemen like this earlier than. Suppose Shayne Gostisbehere, Justin Schultz, Erik Gustafsson, Adam Fox, Tyson Barrie, Torey Krug, Mark Streit. A few of these have had endurance. Others haven’t. One will get the sensation that Hutson’s going to be a prime producer for a very long time.
Wing – Brandon Hagel – TBL – Yahoo! ADP 104.4
After seeking to the very best story and greatest efficiency to fill out the First and Second Group Wingers we glance to the very best pure worth for the Third Group All-Fantasy Wing. Nobody represented higher worth than Hagel on the wing this season. He went from a decide exterior the highest 100 to ending someplace between the highest 10 and prime 30 performers relying in your scoring system. On pure scoring Hagel completed tied with Clayton Keller for 11th with 90 (sure 90!) Factors. He will be the most shocking 90-point scorer since Jonathan Cheechoo’s Joe Thornton fueled 05/06 season.
If you wish to quibble with Hagel’s fantasy efficiency, he would not do a ton in a number of the banger classes and simply would not ship on the facility play. Actually, he is the one 90-point scorer within the cap period with lower than 20 PPP and he in some way managed solely 11 with zero power-play objectives. How one can skate so many minutes on the facility play with Nikita Kucherov and never rating a objective is past me, however in a way, it makes Hagel’s season much more spectacular. He additionally delivered in a bunch of different peripheral classes like rating tied for eighth in plus-minus (plus-33) and tied for second in SHP (7).
Backside line, when you drafted Hagel, you landed a 90-point scorer exterior the highest 100, which is a uncommon prevalence. Let’s all experience how simply how surprising this was.
Middle – Nathan MacKinnon – COL – Yahoo! ADP 2.4
How is MacKinnon merely on Third Group All-Fantasy after ending second in scoring (116 factors)? MacKinnon was merely good scoring 29 factors in 22 video games after the 4 Nations Faceoff and simply 12 factors in 10 video games throughout the usual Yahoo! Fantasy Playoffs. You picked MacKinnon prime three, typically #2 and anticipated him to tilt the season for you. For probably the most half he delivered, however you needed extra from him down the stretch. Nonetheless a monster season value celebrating, particularly in a yr when so many prime picks have been outright injured for the stretch run. With that in thoughts let’s point out a number of different MacKinnon stats. He completed the season tied for first in Assists (84), second in PPP (38) and first in SOG (320). He was distinctive and you take him prime three once more.
The 2024-25 All-Fantasy Groups
Who would make your squad? Remark your All-Fantasy Groups beneath!
