Nathan McKinnon lands at third in a high-variance 10-team format, with McKinnon and McDavid sitting in a tight top tier. Auston Matthews surges at the 8th pick, showcasing a two-way profile and near-50-goal pace that keeps him fantasy anchor material even when lineups shift. Connor Hellebuyck looms as a bold zero-G favorite from the sixth slot, while Jaromir-style patience on goalies surfaces as a viable path in this format.

The duo of Bedard and Raymond anchor the forward corps as breakout bets, with Bedard representing the long-term ceiling and Raymond poised for sustained top-line production in Detroit. The back end leans on Hedman as a first defenseman, with Hedman’s durability and power-play impact key to balanced builds. Nashville’s Saros and Tampa’s Bobrovsky appear as late-round upside bets in this goalie-heavy field, emphasizing value over panic.

Across the table, the mock emphasizes a forward-first cadence, with careful budget allocation to defensive studs like Harley and Morsy and a willingness to ride top-line wings into the playoffs. The session underscores the strategic tilt: maximize forwards early, secure a reliable goalie trio later, and exploit positional flexibility to shore up every category.

Connor McDavid sits at the top of fantasy hierarchy, followed by Leon Draisaitl, Nathan MacKinnon, Kale Makar and Nikita Kucherov. McDavid’s per-60 pace and scoring ceiling render him an absolute cornerstone, while Draisaitl’s two-way brilliance sustains multi‑cat value even as Edmonton’s offense evolves. MacKinnon combines power and speed for league‑leading iso nights, Makar brings 100‑point upside from the blue line, and Kucherov’s creative execution keeps Tampa’s offense explosive when healthy.

Kaprizov enters the top-five conversation if Minnesota’s attack takes off; Barkov gets honorable‑mention for elite all‑around impact; Matthews remains a top‑ten anchor with upside, and Eichel plus Hellebuyck surface as strong value in goalie‑heavy formats. The chat also hints at a shifting pecking order, with emerging talents like Kaprizov threatening to challenge the established five as the season approaches.

Five through six is a real-estate grab in this Monday mock draft, with Cale Makar and Kirill Kaprizov pegged as the obvious core pieces to anchor a title-run. The convo leans into a heavy-forward build, wary of spending early picks on goalies, and leans on elite peripherals from players like Pastrnak, McDavid, and MacKinnon to fuel counting stats. The boys dissect positional balance, the zero-goalie approach, and late-round value plays like Wyatt Johnston, Tage Thompson, and Noah Dobson, crafting a blueprint for a competitive lineup even before preseason has begun. The banter stays sharp on risk: rising stars, injury considerations, and the inevitable snipe picks that shift rosters in a flash.

Nikolai Ehlers’ arrival gives Carolina a shot of elite speed and scoring punch at the top of the lineup, addressing a long-running need for more dynamic offense. The Hurricanes also added a pair of veterans and depth pieces that should push their blue line and special-teams without sacrificing their identity. Frederik Andersen enters as the presumed No. 1 netminder, but health remains the x-factor. The offseason chatter centers on whether the new pieces meld quickly enough to elevate Carolina from a perennial playoff team to a true championship contender.

The conversation around Burns’ exit and Miller’s acquisition frames a broader rebuild-on-the-fly, where Carolina leans on a deep defensive corps and a forward group built to push tempo. The rest of the roster is tasked with sustaining depth scoring beyond their top six and keeping goaltending healthy enough to sustain a run. Fantasy managers should weigh Ehlers’ ceiling against Andersen’s health volatility and the blue-line’s ability to maintain strong puck control and penalty-kill impact.

This week’s episode of Locked On NHL tackled the intricacies of roster building in the NHL under the constraints of a salary cap, encouraging listeners to think strategically about player value versus cost. The hosts, Nick Seraris and Hunter, exchanged ideas while each constructed an ideal team comprised of players from various franchises. Emphasis was placed on the importance of securing star players, with Nick selecting Jack Hughes and Kirill Kaprizov as cornerstones for his team. Hunter countered with established stars like Connor McDavid and Cale Makar, showcasing different strategies in roster construction.

Amidst discussions about player value, the hosts highlighted the need for balanced offensive and defensive units, debating the merits of choosing offensive talent versus defensive depth. They emphasized that while star players often command high salaries, the challenge lies in maximizing overall team performance while adhering to the cap. The episode provided insights into how teams can best utilize their budget to build competitive rosters, making it invaluable for fantasy enthusiasts and serious sports bettors alike.