Mitch Marner arrives in the 17–32 tier with Vegas, pairing him with Jack Eichel and Pavel Dorofeyev to boost multi-category upside and power-play production. Braden Point and Sam Reinhardt offer solid two-way floors on balanced teams, while Sidney Crosby remains a durable, 80+ point anchor with steady peripherals. Artemi Panarin and Clayton Keller provide high-end scoring ceilings in top-six roles, with Jake Gensel and Roope Hintz offering reliable 80–90 point ranges and solid peripherals as late-round seeds.

Rasmus Dahlin stands out as a high-floor defenseman who contributes across categories, and Andre Vasilevskiy remains the keystone goalie behind a strong Tampa Bay core. This slice favors high-volume shooters and elite PP specialists, with the Vegas stack a realistic pivot for leverage. The goaltending slate should be navigated with Vasilevskiy as a reliable anchor in this phase of drafts.

Overall, this second-round window rewards players who carry multi-cat appeal, top-line assignments, and strong power-play upside, while balancing health and team context as the season looms.

Kale Makar sits atop a sprawling, offense-heavy era for defensemen, with Quinn Hughes nudging him as the session’s closest challenger. Adam Fox anchors the Rangers’ puck-driving backbone, and Thomas Harley’s breakout season is a marquee storyline for Dallas. Charlie McAvoy, Evan Bouchard, and Zack Werenski form a formidable mid-range tier, while Gustav Forsling, Rasmus Dahlin, Jacob Slavin, and Erik Karlsson round out a defensive corps that now defines fantasy value as much by transition play as by shut-down ability.

The dialogue underscores that the Norris conversation is as much about skating, gap control, and power-play impact as raw points. Heiskanen and Karlsson surface in lighter spots, reminding us mobility and IQ still swing fantasy upside, even if pure totals don’t always shout. Oilers fans especially should note Bouchard’s ascent, a reminder that elite defensemen now pace the fantasy game from the back end.

In practice, owners should lean into players who eat minutes, run the top power play, and push transition plays. The top five or six names are likely to be the season-long anchors, with the rest offering robust complementary value depending on team context and minutes. This top-10 map signals a shift: offense now defines a defenseman’s fantasy ceiling as much as his defensive chops did a decade ago.

Rising rookies to watch for 2025-26 include Matthew Schaefer, Michael Misa, Ivan Demidov, Jimmy Snuggerud, and Isak Rosen. Schaefer could crack the Islanders’ lineup and see power-play time, offering immediate keeper-league upside. Misa in San Jose brings elite offensive instincts with a long-term ceiling, while Demidov projects as a premium two-way asset for dynasty formats. Snuggerud has size and scoring ability that could translate into early fantasy points, and Rosen adds late-round upside for Buffalo if his role grows.

Two hosts run a mock draft focused on best-available value, weighing a bold early goalie pick against a stacked forward core. Matthews appears as a late-first-round value, Hellebuyck anchors a zero-G strategy, and the duo pairs Eichel, Nylander, and Robertson with high-upside wingers. They highlight dual-eligibility plays, Montreal’s young back-end, and Philly/Carolina pivot points, while outlining signup details for listener leagues and the September windows to enter.