Top 15 Fantasy NHL Defensemen 2025/26
2025–26 Season Review & 2026–27 Fantasy Outlook
The 2025–26 NHL season produced one of the deepest and most compelling defenseman classes in recent memory — headlined by a record-setting performance at the top, a historic rookie campaign at the bottom, and a blockbuster mid-season trade that reshuffled the entire landscape. What follows is a comprehensive review of the fifteen most productive fantasy defensemen from the past season, with a forward-looking analysis of what each player means to your roster heading into 2026–27.
#1. Evan Bouchard | RD — Edmonton Oilers
82 GP | 21G | 74A | 95 PTS
2025–26 Season Review
The conversation about where Evan Bouchard ranks among the elite defensemen in the NHL is over. His 95-point season — played across all 82 games — was the most productive campaign by an NHL blueliner in years, and it cemented Bouchard as the unquestioned No. 1 fantasy defenseman in the game. His 74 assists led all defensemen by a significant margin. He was a key figure in multiple power-play records for the Oilers and was the engine behind Edmonton’s blue line in every situation. Despite the Oilers’ disappointing first-round exit against Anaheim, Bouchard’s individual performance was beyond reproach — he was one of Edmonton’s best players throughout the series and had four points across six playoff games.
Fantasy Outlook
There is nothing complicated about Bouchard’s fantasy outlook heading into 2026–27. He is the first defenseman off the board in every format. He plays 82 games, he anchors a first power play with two of the greatest players in the world, and he has now posted 80-plus points in back-to-back seasons. Barring injury or a dramatic roster upheaval in Edmonton, another 85-to-95-point season is the expectation. Draft him in the first round of every fantasy league, full stop.
#2. Zach Werenski | LD — Columbus Blue Jackets
75 GP | 22G | 59A | 81 PTS
2025–26 Season Review
Werenski’s ascent to the top tier of NHL defensemen was the story of the 2025–26 season at the position. His 81 points in 75 games represented a career-best performance and placed him squarely in Norris Trophy contention. The Columbus Blue Jackets — an organization still rebuilding toward playoff relevance — relied on Werenski for over 26 minutes of ice time per night, and he delivered across all situations. His 22 goals were tied for the most among all NHL blueliners. He also won Olympic gold with Team USA at the Milano Cortina 2026 Games. The combination of volume, quality, and the sheer workload he carried for a non-playoff team made his season one of the most impressive individual performances by a defenseman in recent memory.
Fantasy Outlook
Werenski is a genuine top-two fantasy defenseman and the primary challenger to Bouchard’s throne. The Columbus situation is the only caveat — as the Blue Jackets improve and add players around him, his point-per-game rate should hold. If Columbus continues to develop into a playoff contender, his production runway is elite. Draft him with confidence immediately after Bouchard.
#3. Cale Makar | RD — Colorado Avalanche
75 GP | 20G | 59A | 79 PTS
2025–26 Season Review
Cale Makar is still the most complete defenseman on the planet — and 79 points in 75 games, a top-three finish in scoring among all blueliners, and the best advanced metrics of any defenseman in the league confirm it. Makar led all defensemen in on-ice expected goals differential at five-on-five and was the anchor of a Colorado blue line that continued to punch above its weight. His play was arguably the most two-way dominant of any campaign in this class, even as the raw point total placed him third. The absence of several games and the improvement of those around him at the top of the list is the only reason he does not rank higher.
Fantasy Outlook
Makar is the safest pick in fantasy hockey regardless of position. He hits the scoresheet in bunches, he is trusted in every situation, and he plays on a Colorado team that remains one of the Western Conference’s elite. He has never posted fewer than 79 points in a healthy season. A return to 85-plus points in 2026–27 is a realistic and conservative projection. He belongs in the conversation for one of the top picks in fantasy drafts and should never slip out of the first round.
#4. Lane Hutson | LD — Montréal Canadiens
82 GP | 12G | 66A | 78 PTS
2025–26 Season Review
Lane Hutson’s sophomore season was a full-throated statement that his Calder Trophy rookie year was no fluke — it was an opening act. The 21-year-old posted 78 points across all 82 games, finishing fourth among all NHL defensemen in scoring, and his 66 assists were second among blueliners leaguewide. His on-ice expected goals differential at five-on-five was elite, and Montréal’s possession numbers with Hutson on the ice were among the best in the league. He earned legitimate Norris Trophy consideration and was the foundation upon which a rapidly improving Canadiens team built their successful playoff push. His point-per-game consistency — he never went more than three consecutive games without registering a point — was exceptional.
Fantasy Outlook
Hutson is the most exciting long-term fantasy asset at the defenseman position. He is 21 years old, he plays on a Montréal team that is trending toward genuine contention, he quarterbacking a first power play, and his assist totals rival the best playmaking blueliners in the league’s history at his age. An 80-to-85-point season in 2026–27 is entirely achievable. Draft him in the first round of every format.
#5. Quinn Hughes | LD — Minnesota Wild
74 GP | 7G | 69A | 76 PTS
2025–26 Season Review
Quinn Hughes’ 2025–26 season will be remembered as one of the most dramatic mid-season storylines in recent NHL history. After 7 seasons as Vancouver’s franchise cornerstone, Hughes was traded to the Minnesota Wild in a blockbuster December deal — Minnesota sending Marco Rossi, Zeev Buium, Liam Ohgren, and a 2026 first-round pick to acquire him. His impact was immediate: he scored a goal 54 seconds into the third period of his Wild debut and averaged nearly 28 minutes per night across the second half. His 69 assists led all NHL defensemen on the season, and his 76 points across 74 combined games represented another elite campaign from the 2024 Norris Trophy winner. He helped Minnesota advance in the playoffs and was everything the Wild hoped for and more.
Fantasy Outlook
Hughes is a premier fantasy defenseman and one of the most important offseason storylines in the NHL. He is a pending UFA after 2026–27, and speculation about whether he joins brothers Jack and Luke in New Jersey is the dominant rumour of the summer. Wherever he lands, he will be an elite fantasy asset — his 69 assists this season were the second most by any defenseman in the league. Draft him as a top-five defenseman in all formats and monitor his contract situation closely.
#6. Rasmus Dahlin | LD — Buffalo Sabres
77 GP | 19G | 55A | 74 PTS
2025–26 Season Review
Rasmus Dahlin’s 2025–26 campaign was the season Buffalo fans have been waiting for since the Sabres made him the first overall pick in 2018. He posted 74 points in 77 games — a career high — while anchoring a Sabres blue line that helped end the franchise’s 15-year playoff drought. His advanced metrics were the best of his career, and he earned genuine Norris Trophy consideration in national polling. His 19 goals reflected the full range of his offensive ability, and his average ice time of over 24 minutes per night — in all situations — established him as one of the most valuable two-way defensemen in the Western Conference.
Fantasy Outlook
Dahlin is 25 years old, he just helped end a franchise’s historic playoff drought, and he is only getting better. With Buffalo trending toward genuine contention in the Atlantic Division, his production runway over the next four to five seasons is elite. A 75-to-80-point campaign is a reasonable projection for 2026–27. He is a first-round fantasy defenseman and one of the most compelling long-term holds in dynasty leagues.
#7. Darren Raddysh | RD — Tampa Bay Lightning
73 GP | 22G | 48A | 70 PTS
2025–26 Season Review
The most surprising performer in the entire defenseman class, Darren Raddysh went from a reliable top-four blueliner to one of the ten most productive defensemen in the NHL almost overnight. The catalyst was Victor Hedman’s season-long injury, which thrust Raddysh into the No. 1 role — and he ran with it. His 22 goals tied for the third most among all NHL defensemen, and his 70 points nearly doubled his previous career best. He averaged over 22 minutes per night with significant power-play time and delivered the kind of breakout season that changes a player’s market value permanently.
Fantasy Outlook
The critical question for Raddysh heading into 2026–27 is Hedman’s availability. If the veteran Swede returns healthy and reclaims his role as Tampa’s primary defenseman, Raddysh’s ice time and power-play minutes will contract meaningfully. A 50-to-55-point season is the more realistic floor under that scenario. If Hedman remains limited, Raddysh maintains his current value. Draft him in the second tier of defensemen with that uncertainty baked in — do not pay first-tier prices for a player whose role is dependent on another’s health.
#8. Erik Karlsson | RD — Pittsburgh Penguins
75 GP | 15G | 51A | 66 PTS
2025–26 Season Review
Erik Karlsson continues to defy age, injury history, and every reasonable expectation for a 36-year-old defenseman coming off multiple serious surgeries. His 66 points in 75 games were the highest total of his Pittsburgh tenure and made this his fifth career 60-point season — a distinction shared among active defensemen only with Brent Burns and himself. He was Pittsburgh’s most valuable player for much of the season and carried the Penguins’ offensive blue line almost single-handedly. His 15 goals included several power-play one-timers that remain among the most dangerous plays in the league when he is in full flight. He also recorded the first hat trick of his 17-year career during a win in Anaheim late in the season.
Fantasy Outlook
Karlsson is a UFA this summer at age 36, which introduces legitimate uncertainty about his next destination and workload. If he re-signs in Pittsburgh — or lands with a competitive team — he remains a viable second-tier fantasy defenseman with excellent point production. Dynasty leagues should treat him as a one-to-two-year hold at best. In standard formats, he is a strong value pick in the middle rounds with an upside profile that his age alone cannot erase.
#9. Miro Heiskanen | LD — Dallas Stars
77 GP | 9G | 54A | 63 PTS
2025–26 Season Review
Miro Heiskanen’s 63 points in 77 games were quietly one of the most impressive performances in this entire class when placed in context. His advanced metrics remained among the very best of any defenseman in the league, and Dallas’ possession and defensive numbers with him on the ice were elite. He was the backbone of a Stars blue line that pushed deep into the playoffs before falling to the Wild in the first round. His assist total of 54 ranked seventh among all NHL blueliners. The concern this season — as in prior years — was an injury that cost him a handful of games, continuing a pattern that has become a legitimate part of his fantasy risk profile.
Fantasy Outlook
When Heiskanen plays, he is a top-five fantasy defenseman. The problem is that he has now missed time in multiple consecutive seasons, and that trend must be built into his draft value. A realistic projection for 2026–27 is 65-to-70 points over 75-plus games — if he stays healthy. Draft him in the second tier of the position with eyes open to his injury history, and do not reach for him in the first round if you are not comfortable absorbing that risk.
#10. Charlie McAvoy | RD — Boston Bruins
69 GP | 11G | 50A | 61 PTS
2025–26 Season Review
Charlie McAvoy is one of the most consistently underrated fantasy defensemen in the league, and his 61 points in 69 games continued a pattern of quiet, reliable excellence that defines his career. He averaged over 25 minutes of ice time per night across all situations, was Boston’s most important defensive player, and expanded his offensive role as the Bruins retool around their core. His 50 assists reflected a player whose playmaking ability is genuinely elite, even if his lower goal total keeps him out of the highest fantasy tier. The games missed — 13 in total — were the primary reason he ranks where he does rather than higher on this list.
Fantasy Outlook
McAvoy is the quintessential safe pick — consistent, durable over the course of a full season, and locked into one of the NHL’s most stable organizations. His production should climb in 2026–27 as Boston continues to lean on him offensively. A 65-to-70-point season over 80-plus games is a realistic projection. He is excellent value in the second wave of defenseman picks and a high-floor option in all formats.
#11. John Carlson | RD — Anaheim Ducks
71 GP | 14G | 46A | 60 PTS
2025–26 Season Review
John Carlson’s 2025–26 season was one of the most fascinating individual stories of the year. After spending his entire 17-year NHL career as a Capital, Carlson was dealt to the Anaheim Ducks at the trade deadline — a shocking transaction that sent one of Washington’s all-time franchise defensemen to a young, ascending Pacific Division team. Before the trade, he had been quietly building toward his fifth career 60-point season in Washington. After the trade, he was electric — recording eight points in his first five games as a Duck, earning NHL Third Star of the Week honours, and cementing himself as Anaheim’s power-play quarterback down the stretch. He finished with 60 points on the season across both stops, a remarkable achievement for a 36-year-old who also dealt with a lower-body injury mid-season.
Fantasy Outlook
Carlson is a pending UFA this summer and his future is one of the most compelling storylines of the offseason. The Ducks have expressed interest in an extension, and his playoff performance for Anaheim — including during their first-round upset of Edmonton — will only strengthen his leverage. If he re-signs in Anaheim and maintains his current role, he is a legitimate 55-to-60-point fantasy asset on a young, improving team. At 36, he is a one-to-two-year window — but the production is real.
#12. Jakob Chychrun | LD — Washington Capitals
80 GP | 26G | 34A | 60 PTS
2025–26 Season Review
Jakob Chychrun’s 26 goals led all NHL defensemen outright and were a career high by nine — a remarkable leap for a player who had never before topped 17. As John Carlson’s eventual departure to Anaheim cleared the runway, Chychrun grew into the clear-cut No. 1 blueliner on a Capitals team still competing in the twilight of Alexander Ovechkin’s era. His shot volume was elite and his power-play deployment gave him prime scoring opportunities night after night. He signed an eight-year, $72 million extension in March — locking himself into Washington long-term at $9 million AAV — which removes any contract uncertainty going forward.
Fantasy Outlook
Twenty-six goals from a defenseman is a number that invites regression, and it will come. A return to 18-to-20 goals and a total around 55-to-58 points is the more sustainable expectation. But the role is secure, the contract is done, and Washington remains a competitive environment. He has emerged as a genuine first-tier fantasy option and should be drafted accordingly — in the middle of the defenseman first round with the understanding that the goal total will normalize.
#13. Moritz Seider | RD — Detroit Red Wings
82 GP | 10G | 50A | 60 PTS
2025–26 Season Review
Moritz Seider’s 60 points in all 82 games were a career high and represented the most complete two-way season of his career. At 24, the Calder Trophy winner from 2022 is rounding into the form that made him a top-seven overall pick, and Detroit’s improving organizational depth around him has amplified his offensive role. His 50 assists reflected elite playmaking instincts from the back end, and his average ice time of 24-plus minutes in all situations placed him among the league’s most trusted blueliners. He received Norris Trophy consideration in midseason polling, and Detroit’s playoff push — while ultimately falling short — gave him meaningful high-leverage experience.
Fantasy Outlook
Seider is entering his prime and his production trajectory is pointing upward in a straight line. With Detroit trending toward the playoff conversation in 2026–27, his offensive deployment should increase, and a 65-to-70-point season is a realistic ceiling. He is an excellent mid-tier fantasy defenseman with room to grow into a first-round pick. In dynasty leagues, he should be treated as a rising asset.
#14. Mikhail Sergachev | LD — Utah Mammoth
78 GP | 10G | 49A | 59 PTS
2025–26 Season Review
Mikhail Sergachev’s second season in Utah confirmed that his relocation from Tampa Bay was the best thing that could have happened to his individual development. As the unquestioned franchise defenseman for the Utah Mammoth, Sergachev posted 59 points in 78 games — a career-best total — while averaging over 24 minutes per night across all situations. He was Utah’s most important player, anchoring their power play and serving as the primary driver of their transition game. His skating, physicality, and vision from the back end are the full package of what teams want in a No. 1 defenseman, and his role is not going anywhere.
Fantasy Outlook
Sergachev is 26 years old, he is in the prime of his career, and he has the most secure usage of any defenseman in the second tier of this list. As Utah continues to build around him and add offensive talent, his point totals should continue to climb. A 60-to-65-point season is a realistic projection for 2026–27. He is an excellent value pick in the second wave of fantasy defensemen.
#15. Matthew Schaefer | LD — New York Islanders
82 GP | 23G | 36A | 59 PTS
2025–26 Season Review
The most historic rookie season by a defenseman in a generation. Matthew Schaefer, selected first overall in the 2025 NHL Draft, broke Phil Housley’s NHL record for points by an 18-year-old defenseman, set a new NHL record for goals by a rookie defenseman, and tied Brian Leetch’s rookie defenseman goals record. At 18 years old, he logged over 24 minutes of average ice time — leading the Islanders by a wide margin — and finished the season as the overwhelming Calder Trophy favourite. His 23 goals were the most by any rookie defenseman in the modern era, and the underlying metrics backed up every bit of his production. He also received Norris Trophy consideration in final polling — a remarkable achievement for a player who was not eligible to drive a car in most U.S. states at the start of the season.
Fantasy Outlook
Schaefer is the most exciting long-term fantasy asset of the entire 2025–26 season, and it is not particularly close. He is 18 years old, he is already one of the fifteen most productive defensemen in the league, and he has the metrics to suggest his ceiling has barely been touched. An 80-plus-point season within two years is not a projection — it is a reasonable expectation. In dynasty leagues, he is an untouchable cornerstone. In standard leagues, draft him as a top-eight defenseman and prepare to be rewarded for years.
-Nathan Add – The Add List +