NHL Players You Have To Take This Season In Your Hockey Draft

If you're going to be playing NHL Fantasy hockey this season and drafting a team, there are few players you should really consider taking if you can.

From stars who could let you run away with your league to players no one else is thinking about but could be your sleeper winners of the year, there are a few wise choices. Finding the right combination and knowing who to pick and when to pick them is the key to finding success.

We won't pretend to know what your league rules will be, but we'll consider a few things that most leagues will count and ways to take advantage of whatever format you decide.

Connor McDavid

If you get the first pick, or if for some crazy reason someone passes over him and he falls to second or third, scoop up Connor McDavid. Two 100-point seasons and he could be one of the very few people to accomplish three straight.

There will be plenty of people who get tons of points, so this won't necessarily win you the draft, but unless he's injured, it will keep you there no matter who else you take and what other bonehead picks you might make. There is a very good chance he leads the NHL in points again and nobody should pass up the opportunity to take him.

Rasmus Dahlin

There are a lot of strong defensemen in the NHL and many who are point producers. Most NHL fantasy drafts require at least one defenseman but not more than two so if you have fewer than 10 players, there will be some strong players left off the board. Don't let that be a reason to stop you from taking rookie Rasmus Dahlin.

While other fantasy players are looking at proven blueliners, Dahlin is going to get a boatload of opportunity in Buffalo and he likely won't be slowed down much by the transition to the NHL style of play. He's an easy 30-plus point getter.

Tyler Seguin

It's always good to try and take someone on a contract year. Seguin may be the player with the most to benefit if he has a good season. There's no doubt he'll get paid this coming summer but if he's strong and has at least 70 or more points, he stands to be the John Tavares of 2019 and have teams bidding on him. He stands to lose a cool $20 million over seven years if he's doesn't perform well.

He's in Dallas where he's still the top-line center and playing with Jamie Benn. He'll produce. But, if for some reason Seguin is able to pot 90 or more points, and he'll be motivated to do so, he's the big winner in the offseason. Seguin was ranked as the 16th best player but don't be afraid to take him in the Top 10 if he doesn't have a new deal before the season starts.

Patrick Maroon

There might not be a lot of people who think about Patrick Maroon, but if you have a deep fantasy draft with a lot of players, he's a good name to consider later in the draft. He's heading home to play in St. Louis on a one-year that should have been a multi-year contract. Perhaps no one has more to prove this season than Maroon.

He should get plenty of opportunity with the Blues and if he has a good year, should get that long-term deal he wants. He's not a player you take in your Top 50 players but if he's around when you pick in the last two or three spots, there's a good chance he gets you 20 goals and at least 25 assists. That's good value.

NEXT: PATRICK MAROON MISSES OUT ON BIGGER CONTRACT WITH ST. LOUIS