Crafting a fantasy hockey draft tier starts with your own comfort and control. A quick, flexible tiering approach can turn a simple list into a powerful draft tool in minutes, letting you adapt as picks unfold. The top blueliners anchor the early tiers, with Makar leading a cohort that includes Weegar, Werenski and Dahlin; Harley and Seider shape the next block, while solid veterans fill the middle. The method keeps you confident and ahead without overloading projections.

Seth Jones, 30, is the lone Olympic-hopeful defender who brings a rare two-threaded path: he attended the 2013 USA orientation camp and earned a spot on the 2022 Olympic team before the NHL withdrew. Now chasing Milan 2026, Jones sits in a shifting USA defense core alongside Fox, Slavin, Werenski, Hughes and McAvoy, eyeing a chance to cap a career arc that includes a Stanley Cup triumph and a father-driven skating and skill lineage.

As USA Hockey reshapes its blue line, Jones’s background and Cup pedigree underscore the blend of veteran poise and youthful opportunity the 2026 squad will demand. Watching the 4 Nations from home highlighted the depth at defense, with Jones positioned as a potentially pivotal piece in Milan.

Mikhail Sergachev’s Norris Trophy ceiling centers on offensive surge and zone-entry efficiency. Utah Mammoth’s top-liner logged heavy minutes, ran the power play, and led PK duties, but Norris voters prize all-around offense. To enter the Norris conversation, Sergachev would likely need a 80-to-90-point surge and fewer zone-entry concessions, signaling a true 1D duo capable of driving both ends of the ice.

His path mirrors elite contemporaries: Hedman’s steadiness, Werenski’s breakout, and McDonagh’s leadership. If Sergachev augments offense while tightening transition play, Utah’s rebuild could tilt toward contention as he anchors both leadership and production, reshaping fantasy value and playoff outlook.