ESPN’s preseason fantasy hockey primer lays out a clean, practical draft plan: anchor your squad with one of the star forwards (MacKinnon, Matthews, Draisaitl, or McDavid) if available, then mine value sleepers in later rounds. It urges smart goaltending, waiting for elite nets after the top skaters, and balancing positional and categorical needs. Bounce-back bets like Scheifele and Suzuki sit alongside breakout targets such as Zegras and Michkov, with mock drafts, dynasty formats, roster maintenance, and IR strategy all part of a comprehensive playbook.

Beyond drafting, the piece emphasizes league types, category weighting, and the value of mocks to reveal how others value players. It stresses staying adaptable, recognizing that sleepers and mid-round bangers can redefine rosters, and it covers dynasty/keeper nuances, daily roster maintenance, and the imperative to move off inactive assets at the right time. A practical, results-driven guide for fantasy hockey managers.