2025-26 season preview: Mock draft 1.0

Nick, Jake, Pete and Means project the first round of a fantasy hockey draft for the 2025-26 season and also debate various players at each position in their tiers. The guys debate Connor McDavid with Nathan MacKinnon and Nikita Kucherov at the top, the Lightning vs. the Golden Knights for the most stacked fantasy team and also where to take two-time reigning Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck. Other topics include contract year storylines and ceilings, Jack Hughes vs. Sidney Crosby, where to take players like Mackenzie Blackwood, Shea Theodore's ceiling with Alex Pietrangelo out for the season, the Rangers' bounce-back appeal and some must-have players for the mid-to-late rounds.