NHL's 2025 top-25 blends proven stars with budding stars and splits the difference between regular-season dominance and playoff pedigree. Panarin’s drop sparks debate about whether goals alone outrun clutch moments, while Hedman, Slavin and Heiskanen anchor a defense-first core that could tilt where players land this season.

Tampa Bay kept its core and added depth pieces to bolster the bottom six, notably Pontus Holmberg, Sam O’Reilly, and Jacob Pelletier, in a season framed as a smart, not splashy, retool. The goal is to shore up depth that wore down the roster and keep the high-end talent healthy enough to pressure the Florida Panthers.

Health and youth are the X-factors: Mitchell Chaffee and JJ Moser could see bigger roles, while the defense behind Hedman and the goalie tandem must hold the line if injuries pop up. If those pieces pay off and the stars stay healthy, Tampa Bay remains a threat in a tough Atlantic.

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.

This week's discussion focuses on the top ten defensemen to target in the upcoming fantasy hockey season. Analysts emphasize the value of defensemen not just for their points but also for their peripheral stats such as hits, blocks, and overall impact on their respective teams. The conversation kicks off with Victor Hedman, who, despite aging, continues to be a reliable option with his performance metrics. Lane Hudson's impressive offensive capabilities place him at number nine, while Brandon Montour is recognized for his versatility and contribution on the blue line. The importance of power play involvement among defensemen is also highlighted, with predictions for emerging young stars like Jake Sanderson and Moritz Seider potentially defining their teams' defensive cores in the near future.