The 2021 NHL season is coming up fast, with the puck dropping on Jan. 13 and training camps underway everywhere. That means fantasy hockey is in the air once again, and it's draft season for all you poolies out there.
With that in mind, we've collected everything you need to prepare for your drafts. From fantasy hockey guru Nick Alberga, Sportsnet presents our 2021 fantasy draft package, complete with rankings, players to target and avoid, and more. You can get it all below.
PLAYER RANKINGS
Who should you draft first? How should you weigh players in the middle rounds? Nick presents his list of the top 250 players for fantasy this season, followed by more detailed breakdowns of the top five at each position in the videos below.
SLEEPER TARGETS
If you are able to pick enough players in the middle or later rounds who exceed expectations, you'll be putting yourself on a path to success this season. Nick tries to help you mine gold with a few sleeper targets to think about grabbing.
PLAYERS WITH BUST POTENTIAL
As important as it is to make the right picks at the top of the draft and find value throughout, it's just as important to steer clear of potential landmines in your roster. Nick looks at a selection of players you should avoid at the draft table this season.
ROOKIES TO THINK ABOUT TAKING
Rookies don't always make a smooth transition to the NHL, but some of them hit it big right away. And it's not always scorers either -- this year there are a few rookie netminders who might help you in your quest for a fantasy championship. Nick takes a look at 10 rookies who will be in the spotlight this season that you should think about drafting -- just don't overdo it!
HOW TO APPROACH THE CANADIAN DIVISION
The North Division, as it's being called, is home to all sorts of great storylines and top scorers who will have plenty of fantasy relevance. In a year where the schedule will be stranger than ever, as teams play only within these realigned divisions, how should you approach taking players from Canada's seven teams? Nick breaks down the big picture.
CONTRACT YEAR CONSIDERATIONS
Nick is a big believer in contract year motivation, and he makes a case why you should consider targeting a few players with a little extra to play for this season.
