Fantasy Hockey 2022: 1st-Round NHL Mock Draft and Top Team Names

It's been nearly three months since the Colorado Avalanche captured the Stanley Cup by winning a six-game series against the Tampa Bay Lightning to end the 2021-22 NHL season. Now, it's almost time for the return of hockey.

The 2022-23 NHL campaign will get started Oct. 7, when the Nashville Predators and San Jose Sharks will play the first of two games in Prague (the second of which will then be played Oct. 8). It should be an exciting start to the season, and it will mark the first time the NHL has held games in Europe since 2019.

Before that time arrives, fantasy hockey fans will need to be sure to hold their drafts and assemble their teams for the upcoming season. And if you haven't played fantasy hockey in the past, it's not too late to find a league, do some research and dive in.

To help, here are some team names for fantasy managers to consider using, followed by a first-round mock draft and breakdown.

Toews in the Water

D'yer Makar

Oshie's Eleven

Eichel Tower

To Kirill A Mockingbird

Giroux Your Own Way

The Kessel Run

Semyon Says

Happy Kuempers

The McFleurys

Kraken A Cold One

1. Connor McDavid, C, Edmonton Oilers

2. Leon Draisaitl, C/LW, Edmonton Oilers

3. Auston Matthews, C, Toronto Maple Leafs

4. Andrei Vasilevskiy, G, Tampa Bay Lightning

5. Nathan MacKinnon, C, Colorado Avalanche

6. Cale Makar, D, Colorado Avalanche

7. Kirill Kaprizov, LW, Minnesota Wild

8. Nikita Kucherov, RW, Tampa Bay Lightning

9. Mikko Rantanen, C/RW, Colorado Avalanche

10. Alex Ovechkin, LW, Washington Capitals

11. Jonathan Huberdeau, LW, Calgary Flames

12. Victor Hedman, D, Tampa Bay Lightning

If you have either the No. 1 or No. 2 pick in a fantasy draft this year, there's a good chance you'll be taking an Oilers player. Because Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are again likely to be the first two players selected in many leagues.

Last season, McDavid led the NHL in points with 123, marking the fourth time in six years that he paced the league in scoring. However, he reached yet another level during the 2021-22 campaign, setting new career highs in goals (44), assists (79) and points.

McDavid can always be counted on to put up huge scoring numbers. So he's a pretty obvious choice at No. 1 overall in fantasy hockey drafts.

Draisaitl ranked fourth in points (110) and second in goals (55) in the NHL last season. He's also been incredibly consistent in recent years, as he's tallied 105 or more points in three of the past four seasons. That included the 2019-20 campaign in which he led the league with 110 points.

The Oilers are a strong offensive team, and McDavid and Draisaitl are big reasons why. They're both safe, reliable stars to anchor a fantasy roster.

For the most part, you should be considering top centers and wingers in the first round. But there are a few exceptions.

The Colorado Avalanche's Cale Makar is a great defenseman to have on a fantasy team because he can put up big scoring numbers. Last season, he set career highs in goals (28), assists (58) and points (86). He's also only 23, so he should continue to get better.

Another non-offensive player to consider in the first round is Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy. He's led all NHL netminders in wins each of the past five seasons, and he's never had a save percentage lower than .916 or a goals against average worse than 2.62 over that span.

The 28-year-old Vasilevskiy continues to lead the Lightning to success, and he should reward fantasy managers who draft him early. He's the best goaltender to have, and that's why it'll cost an early selection to land him.

But unless you're in a spot near the middle or end of the first round, when either Makar or Vasilevskiy would provide great value, it's best to pick an offensive star who could put up big scoring numbers to help carry your team.