2021 Fantasy Hockey Left Winger Rankings

Chris Ransom follow @DraftUtopia Last Updated: December 9, 2020.
- Jamie Benn, LW, Dallas Stars
- Jamie Benn is my top left winger for Fantasy Hockey in 2021 as he had five really strong years from 2013-2017 before struggling in the regular season during his last two years in 2018-2019 and 2019-2020. Something tells me Benn rebounds and gets back to consistently posting 79 point seasons at some point in the near future, but it won't be in 2021. The Dallas Stars captain will need to lead the league in points if Dallas wants to maintain their high level of play without Tyler Seguin after leading the Dallas Stars to the 2020 Stanley Cup Finals. Something tells me that Benn accomplishes this which is why I have a first round grade on Jamie Benn in Fantasy Hockey.
- Alexander Ovechkin, LW, Washington Capitals
- Alexander Ovechkin was drafted first overall in 2004. He has been a cornerstone player on the Washington Capitals since being picked first overall over Evgeni Malkin. Ovechkin already won a Stanley Cup in 2018 as the Washington Capitals captain. Alexander Ovechkin is one of the NHL's most consistent point producers at left wing. He has a few 100 point seasons in four of his first five NHL seasons. Outside of Jamie Benn, he's the only left winger worthy of a first round pick in Fantasy Hockey.
- Brad Marchand, LW, Boston Bruins
- Brad Marchand is a top 3 left winger in the NHL. He plays on the Boston Bruins first line and is worth a second round pick in Fantasy Hockey. Brad Marchand had his first career 100 point season in 2018-2019 when Boston made the 2019 Stanley Cup Finals. I have a second round grade on Brad Marchand.
- Johnny Gaudreau, LW, Calgary Flames
- Johnny Gaudreau has been pretty consistent since he entered the NHL. He had a career high 99 points in 2018-2019 before the shortened Covid-19 season where he had a career low in points. Gaudreau got a minimum of 61 points per season prior to last year where he only had 58. Johnny Gaudreau is worth a second round pick in Fantasy Hockey due to how consistent he is.
- Claude Giroux, LW, Philadelphia Flyers
- Claude Giroux made the move from center to left winger last season after being the Philadelphia Flyers 2006 first round pick. He's also the team captain for the Philadelphia Flyers. He had 102 points in 2017-2018. He's worth a second round pick.
- Taylor Hall, LW, Buffalo Sabres
- Taylor Hall had 65 points and played all 82 games during Connor McDavid's rookie season in Edmonton in 2015-2016 which was Hall's final season with Edmonton. The career high for the former Windsor Spitfire drafted first overall in 2010 in the NHL is 80 points as Hall led Windsor to back-to-back Memorial Cups. He got traded to New Jersey. Then Arizona gave the Devils a 2020 first round pick to get Hall on a one-year prove it deal. Buffalo went out and signed Taylor Hall to a one-year prove it deal by getting the best overall forward in the 2020 NHL Free Agency period. Outside of McDavid's rookie year, Hall never played with an experienced elite top 5 center. That's one reason why I feel Hall will have a big year. Taylor Hall is worth a second round pick in Fantasy Hockey leagues.
- Gabriel Landeskog, LW, Colorado Avalanche
- The former Kitchener Ranger was drafted second overall by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. He's now the team captain of the Colorado Avalanche as he enters a contract year. Landeskog had 75 points in 73 games back in 2018-2019 before last years shortened season. He's worth a third round pick in Fantasy Hockey leagues.
- Jake Guentzel, LW, Pittsburgh Penguins
- Jake Guentzel improved his point total in each season except for last years shortened season. He contributed immediately as a rookie on a team that won back-to-back Stanley Cups capturing his first Stanley Cup in 2017. He played 82 games the next two seasons going from 48 points to 76 points. He had 40 goals, 36 assists, and 76 points in 2018-2019. This earned Guentzel a full-time promotion to the line 1 left winger role next to Sidney Crosby on Pittsburgh's top line. Guentzel will generate scoring chances and he's worth a fourth round pick in Fantasy Hockey leagues.
- Kyle Connor, LW, Winnipeg Jets
- Kyle Connor was a top 15 prospect in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. Connor was one of my favorite players in that draft class with McDavid, Eichel, and Barzal as I had Connor ranked as the eleventh best overall player in that draft. Calling the former Youngstown Phantoms left winger deadly is an understatement. Connor had point totals of 57, 66, and 73 in his last three seasons with the Jets after having only 5 points in 20 games as a rookie. Connor also improved his goal total in each of the last three seasons with 31, 34, and 38 goals in last years shortened season. Kyle Connor is a fourth round prospect on my board, but I'm not going to fault someone for taking him in the third round due to how consistent he's been so far in his young NHL career with a veteran top 10 center like Mark Schiefele complimenting him at center on Winnipeg's top line.
- Alex Debrincat, LW, Chicago Blackhawks
- I mocked Alex Debrincat to the Dallas Stars in the first round of my 2016 NHL Mock Draft as he played with Dylan Strome for two years on the Erie Otters spending 2014-2015 on the second line getting 51 goals, 53 assists, and 104 points in the OHL. The 5-7 161 lb winger improved defensively despite only having 50 goals, 51 assists, and 101 points in 2015-2016 on the Erie Otters top line with Strome. Debrincat fell to the Chicago Blackhawks in the second round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. He only needed one more year in the OHL before joining the Blackhawks in 2017-2018 after he was drafted.
- Alex Debrincat had back-to-back seasons where he played all 82 games. He played all 70 regular season games with the Chicago Blackhawks in the regular season before Covid-19 ended the NHL regular season. He's never missed a game in his young career, which is why Chicago has to feel confident that he can take over for Brandon Saad on Chicago's top line. Take Alex Debrincat if he's available in the fourth round of your Fantasy Hockey drafts.
- Andrei Svechnikov, LW, Carolina Hurricanes
- Andrei Svechnikov had fewer weaknesses than Rasmus Dahlin when watching the top two picks on tape in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. Dahlin had a slightly higher ceiling and was the consensus top prospect which is why Buffalo took Dahlin first. Carolina was supposed to pick at 13 in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, but they finished in the top 3 of the lottery moving up to 2. With the second overall pick in that draft, they took Barrie Colts left winger Andrei Svechnikov.
- Andrei Svechnikov had 20 goals, 17 assists, and 37 points playing all 82 games on the Carolina Hurricanes third line in 2018-2019. His strong play earned him a promotion to the second line where he had 24 goals, 37 assists, and 61 points. Now the third year player will finally play on the Carolina Hurricanes first line after showing he could get a hat trick against the New York Rangers in the qualifier round. Take Andrei Svechnikov in the fourth round of Fantasy Hockey drafts if he's available.
- Jonathan Huberdeau, LW, Florida Panthers
- Jonathan Huberdeau was drafted third overall by the Florida Panthers in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. He was one of the better two-way forwards with the versatility to play both center and left winger on the Saint John Sea Dogs in the QMJHL. Many criticized the teams decision to pass on him for Adam Larsson, but Huberdeau is still a Panther while the best defender in the 2011 NHL Draft went from New Jersey to Edmonton in the Taylor Hall trade when Hall was traded from Edmonton to New Jersey.
- Jonathan Huberdeau made the jump to the NHL in 2012-2013 after returning to the Saint John Sea Dogs for one more season. Huberdeau began to break out in 2014-2015. That's one year before Aleksander Barkov broke out in 2015-2016. Ever since then, Huberdeau has complimented Barkov on the Florida Panthers top line at left winger.
- Jonathan Huberdeau has had his best three years since entering his prime three years ago. Huberdeau has a minimum of 69 points in each of his last three seasons with the Florida Panthers. That sort of consistency makes Jonathan Huberdeau a safe pick. Take him if he's still there in the fourth round of your Fantasy Hockey draft.
- Filip Forsberg, LW, Nashville Predators
- Filip Forsberg is one of the NHL's best first line left wingers. He was my third best overall prospect in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. He fell to the Washington Capitals at 11, and got traded to the Nashville Predators since Washington had Ovechkin. Forsberg is a safe bet to get you points. The scary thing is he could get 70-90 points a year if you got someone better than Ryan Johansen or Matt Duchene at center. Filip Forsberg is a fourth round prospect on my board for Fantasy Hockey drafts and the final player on my board with a fourth round grade.
- Ondrej Palat, LW, Tampa Bay Lightning
- Ondrej Palat is the line 1 left winger on the Tampa Bay Lightning. He played at a high level regardless of whether Steven Stamkos or Brayden Point was on that top line. I would wait till the fifth round to take Palat, but if all the left wingers I mentioned are gone and it's still the foruth round, go ahead and reach for Palat if you haven't drafted at least one left winger yet.
- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, LW, Edmonton Oilers
- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was a playmaker center on the Red Deer Rebels before being taken first overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. He was the line 1 center on Edmonton until Connor McDavid's rookie season before being demoted to the second line. Leon Draisaitl took the second line job from Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, so Edmonton decided to move Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to the line 1 left winger role next to Connor McDavid last season.
- That move paid off. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had more success at left wing than he did at center. I would wait until the sixth round to draft Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in Fantasy Hockey. If the other fourteen left wingers that are ahead of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in my rankings are gone by the fifth round, go ahead and reach for Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in the fifth round.
- Jack Hughes, LW, New Jersey Devils
- Jack Hughes, the younger brother of Quinn Hughes was the first pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft after dominating with the United States National Team Developmental Program in the USHL. Hughes moved from center to left winger where he complimented Nico Hischier who went first overall in 2017 on New Jersey's top line. I have a sixth round grade on Jack Hughes, and the second year player on the New Jersey Devils may break out this season after a rough rookie season.
- Tomas Tatar, LW, Montreal Canadiens
- Tomas Tatar was a good role player on the Detroit Red Wings and he was a member of the Vegas Golden Knights expansion team that made it to the 2018 Stanley Cup Finals as an expansion team. Vegas could have kept Nick Suzuki and Tomas Tatar, but traded both of those players to Montreal where both have thrived.
- Tomas Tatar's two best seasons in his NHL career have been with the Montreal Canadiens as he's shown he can be a reliable first line left winger even with someone like Jesperi Kotkaniemi who got drafted third overall or Nick Suzuki complimenting him on Montreal's top line.
- Tomas Tatar's 58 points in 2018-2019 and 61 points in 2019-2020 are career highs. Tomas Tatar is worth a seventh round pick in Fantasy Hockey leagues if he makes it to the seventh round.
- Brady Tkachuk, LW, Ottawa Senators
- Brady Tkachuk, the youngest son of Keith Tkachuk came to the NHL right away after only one season at Boston University. He got the line 1 left winger job as a rookie with only 22 goals, 23 assists, and 45 points as a rookie. Tkachuk only had 21 goals, 23 assists, and 44 points in his second season.
- Brady Tkachuk is a seventh round pick in Fantasy Hockey right now. If he had a better center complimenting him, he'd bring more value to Fantasy Hockey owners. He's in the last year of his rookie contract which is why this may be Tkachuk's best season yet with him playing for a new contract. Players in contract years usually step up, which is why Tkachuk could be a good pick in the seventh round.
- Jonathan Marchessault, LW, Vegas Golden Knights
- Jonathan Marchessault and Max Pacioretty are both equally capable of playing left wing on the Vegas Golden Knights on the teams first line. Even though Marchessault is currently the first line left winger on Vegas, Max Pacioretty was the captain of the Montreal Canadiens and a top 10 left winger in the NHL before Vegas gave up Tomas Tatar and Nick Suzuki to get him. Both Jonathan Marchessault and Max Pacioretty are worth eighth round picks in Fantasy Hockey leagues if either winger falls to the eighth round.
- Max Pacioretty, LW, Vegas Golden Knights
- Jonathan Marchessault and Max Pacioretty are both equally capable of playing left wing on the Vegas Golden Knights on the teams first line. Even though Marchessault is currently the first line left winger on Vegas, Max Pacioretty was the captain of the Montreal Canadiens and a top 10 left winger in the NHL before Vegas gave up Tomas Tatar and Nick Suzuki to get him. Both Jonathan Marchessault and Max Pacioretty are worth eighth round picks in Fantasy Hockey leagues if either winger falls to the eighth round.
- Evander Kane, LW, San Jose Sharks
- San Jose has two left wingers that warrant ninth round grades in Evander Kane and Timo Meier. Both of these left wingers on San Jose are the teams most effective players as far as generating scoring chances.
- Timo Meier, LW, San Jose Sharks
- San Jose has two left wingers that warrant ninth round grades in Evander Kane and Timo Meier. Both of these left wingers on San Jose are the teams most effective players as far as generating scoring chances. Timo Meier may end up playing in a line 1 right winger role due to how thin San Jose is at right winger.
- Jeff Skinner, LW, Buffalo Sabres
- Jeff Skinner will be a line 2 left winger on Buffalo's second line. Skinner is now re-united with his former teammate in Carolina Eric Staal. Jeff Skinner is a good tenth round pick for Fantasy Hockey owners. Skinner had 40 goals, 23 assists, and 63 points in 82 regular season games in 2018-2019. He had a bit of a down year in 2019-2020, but his numbers should improve in 2021 with Eric Staal on the roster.
- Jason Zucker, LW, Pittsburgh Penguins
- Pittsburgh gave the Minnesota Wild a 2021 first round pick at the 2020 NHL Trade Deadline to get Jason Zucker, the biggest steal of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Zucker now compliments Evgeni Malkin on Pittsburgh's second line. Jason Zucker had 20 goals, 21 assists, and 41 points in 60 NHL games. Jason Zucker is worth a tenth round pick in Fantasy Hockey leagues.
- Nino Niederreiter, LW, Carolina Hurricanes
- Nino Niederreiter is a soli second line left winger. He's worth a tenth round draft pick in Fantasy Hockey leagues.
- Jake DeBrusk, LW, Boston Bruins
- The Boston Bruins 2015 first round pick is one of the best players on the Boston Bruins. Jake DeBrusk has enough upside to be a tenth round pick. His point total has declined in each of his first three seasons with the Boston Bruins which is why he's an eleventh round pick.
- Jaden Schwartz, LW, St. Louis Blues
- The fourteenth pick in the 2010 NHL Draft is one of the most consistent players on the St. Louis Blues. Schwartz is one of the most consistent left wingers in the NHL. He's not someone who will dominate. I would wait until round 12 to get Schwartz.
- Anders Lee, LW, New York Islanders
- Anders Lee compliments Matthew Barzal as the line 1 left winger on the New York Islanders. I got a thirteenth round grade on Anders Lee. He's consistent like Schwartz, but he's not a guy that will take over a game.
- Tyler Bertuzzi, LW, Detroit Red Wings
- Tyler Bertuzzi's point total has increased in each season since arrived on the Detroit Red Wings. He's the line 1 left winger that compliments Dylan Larkin on Detroit's top line. I got a fourteenth round grade on Tyler Bertuzzi in Fantasy Hockey.
- Brandon Saad, LW, Colorado Avalanche
- Brandon Saad was a first line left winger and second line left winger on Chicago for many years. Brandon Saad won two Stanley Cups in Chicago. Like team captain Gabriel Landeskog, Saad enters a contract year. Saad doesn't dominate like Landeskog, but he's consistent. You could also make the case that Saad is one of the most durable left wingers in the NHL. I got a fourteenth round grade on Brandon Saad in Fantasy Hockey.
- Nikolaj Ehlers, LW, Winnipeg Jets
- Winnipeg drafted Nikolaj Ehlers in the first round of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. Ehlers can get 80 points in an 82 game season. He rebounded in 2019-2020 after a rough 2018-2019 season. Ehlers is worth a fourteenth round pick in Fantasy Hockey Leagues.
- Joel Kiviranta, LW, Dallas Stars
- Joel Kiviranta was clutch in the 2020 NHL Playoff Bubble. He's worth a fifteenth round pick in Fantasy Hockey.
- Jakub Vrana, LW, Washington Capitals
- Jakub Vrana was a first round pick with the Washington Capitals in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. Vrana improved his point total in each season with the Washington Capitals. That's why he's worth a fifteenth round pick in Fantasy Hockey.
- Alexandre Texier, LW, Columbus Blue Jackets
- Alexandre Texier is now the line 1 left winger on Columbus despite being a 2017 second round draft pick. He may finally be due for a breakout season. Take him with a fifteenth round pick.
- J.T. Miller, LW, Vancouver Canucks
- J.T. Miller is the line 1 left winger on the Vancouver Canucks. J.T. Miller had a career high 27 goals, 45 assists, and 72 points in 2019-2020. I have a fifteenth round pick on J.T. Miller because it felt like Miller peaked with a career season.
- Alex Killorn, LW, Tampa Bay Lightning
- Alex Killorn had a career high in points last season. With Steven Stamkos on the first line, he will get more chances to score playing with Brayden Point on the second line. Especially if teams lock in on Point which will allow Killorn to get his scoring chances. I have a fifteenth round pick on Alex Killorn.
- Oskar Lindblom, LW, Philadelphia Flyers
- Oskar Lindblom is a line 2 left winger. I have a sixteenth round grade on Oskar Lindblom.
- James Neal, LW, Edmonton Oilers
- James Neal is a journeyman. He's a good line 2 left winger, but he's not the player he once was. I have a sixteenth round grade on James Neal.
- Chris Kreider, LW, New York Rangers
- Chris Kreider, Artemi Panerin, and Alexis Lafreniere are all talented enough to be the first line left winger. Kreider is the projected line 1 left winger, Panerin is the projected line 2 left winger, and Lafrenierre is the projected line 3 left winger. The reason it's so difficult to project which left winger gets the most minutes is because Lafreniere has the highest potential in terms of ceiling despite being the projected third line left winger. Artemi Panerin has the second highest ceiling with Kreider having the best floor, but lowest ceiling despite his skill set. I have a seventeenth round pick on Kreider and Panerin.
- Artemi Panerin, LW, New York Rangers
- Chris Kreider, Artemi Panerin, and Alexis Lafreniere are all talented enough to be the first line left winger. Kreider is the projected line 1 left winger, Panerin is the projected line 2 left winger, and Lafrenierre is the projected line 3 left winger. The reason it's so difficult to project which left winger gets the most minutes is because Lafreniere has the highest potential in terms of ceiling despite being the projected third line left winger. Artemi Panerin has the second highest ceiling with Kreider having the best floor, but lowest ceiling despite his skill set. I have a seventeenth round pick on Kreider and Panerin.
2021 Fantasy Hockey Left Winger Rookies For Dynasty Leagues
- Alexis Lafreniere, LW, New York Rangers
- The first overall pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft dominated with the Rimouski Oceanic. He already signed his rookie deal and will get minutes in the NHL. He's got a higher ceiling than teammates Chris Kreider and Artemi Panerin despite being the projected third line left winger. Lafreniere will probably get promoted to the second line by his second year in the league, and eventually take over the first line left winger role by his third year in the league as he makes the necessary adjustments to be a sure-fire success in the NHL.
- Alexis Lafreniere will be on an NHL roster right out of the gate unlike the other rookies. He's someone you can draft for both standard leagues as well as dynasty leagues. He has all the tools to be a future line 1 left winger at some point on the New York Rangers after being a team captain on the Rimouski Oceanic. Lafreniere was an alternate captain in 2018-2019 before being promoted to captain in 2019-2020. Alexis Lafreniere will be a cornerstone player on thew New York Rangers for years to come.
- Tim Stutzle, LW, Ottawa Senators
- Tim Stutzle was taken third overall by the Ottawa Senators out of Germany. He's expected to play left wing on the second line behind Brady Tkachuk this season. It will not surprise me if he eventually becomes the line 1 left winger on Ottawa since I believe his ceiling is much higher than Brady Tkachuk.
- Cole Perfetti, LW, Winnipeg Jets
- Winnipeg has Kyle Connor, Nikolaj Ehlers, and Andrew Copp as their top three left wingers for quite a while. Cole Perfetti could either end up as a third line center or fourth line left winger in 2021-2022. He won't see any NHL time this season as he goes back to the Saginaw Spirit in the OHL while he continues to develop. Perfetti was a top 10 prospect in this draft who got picked by Winnipeg at tenth overall after once being a consensus top 5 prospect.
- Jake Neighbours, LW, St. Louis Blues
- When the St. Louis Blues won the 2019 Stanley Cup they had Vladimir Tarasenko with Ryan O'Reilly at center on their first two lines. St. Louis also had Jaden Schwartz as their line 1 left winger, but they won't have Alexander Steen their line 2 left winger, who chose to retire, so there is a window of opportunity to Neighbours to emerge as the second line left winger on St. Louis at most point. Jaden Schwartz is in a contract year in 2021 after losing their team captain Alex Pieterangelo to the Vegas Golden Knights. Keep an eye on the Blues 2020 first round pick Jake Neighbours since he was my fourth best left winger in the 2020 NHL Draft. Neighbours goes back to Edmonton to develop with the Oil Kings, but could find himself on one of the top two lines with the St. Louis Blues in 2021-2022.
- Rodion Amirov, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs
- Toronto does need a line 1 left winger to compliment their centers and right wingers. Toronto has two very good centers and right wingers on their top two lines, but a left winger is still needed. Toronto got Rodion Amirov from the KHL with the fifteenth pick that they received in a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins for Kasperi Kapanen. Amirov is a nice pick for Dynasty Leagues.
- Dylan Holloway, LW, Edmonton Oilers
- Dylan Holloway got picked fourteenth overall. He's currently playing at Wisconsin on a Hockey Scholarship in the NCAA. He's now a sophomore at Wisconsin and has three more years of NCAA eligibility before he has to sign his rookie deal with the Edmonton Oilers. Edmonton has Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and line 2 left winger James Neal until Holloway develops. Neal is just a stop gap until Holloway cracks the NHL lineup.
- John Jason-Peterka, LW, Buffalo Sabres
- John Jason-Peterka is still developing in Germany. Taylor Hall, Buffalo's first line left winger only has a one-year deal so it's possible, but unlikely that John Jason-Peterka does enough to become the first or second line left winger for the 2021-2022 NHL Season. John Jason-Peterka had a late first round grade despite falling to Buffalo in the second round.
- Luke Evangelista, LW, Nashville Predators
- Luke Evangelista was a line 1 left winger on the London Knights in the OHL. Honestly, I think he's got enough talent to develop into a good second line left winger behnd Filip Forsberg at some point with the right development.
- Carter Savoie, LW, Edmonton Oilers
- Edmonton got three good left wingers in Dylan Holloway, Carter Savoie, and Tyler Tullio in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. They have these three guys developing as future wingers behind Ryan-Nugent Hopkins unless Edmonton decides to move on from both Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and James Neal at some point. Holloway, Savoie and Tullio were all mocked in the first two rounds of my 2020 NHL Mock Draft. Carter Savoie, the older brother of Matthew Savoie dominated in the AJHL on the Sherwood Park Crusaders. He also scored the game-winning power play goal for the Denver Pioneers against a number one ranked North Dakota team a few days ago meaning Edmonton has a bright future at left wing with the prospects they got from the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.
- Luke Tuch, LW, Montreal Canadiens
- Luke Tuch played left wing on the United States National Team Developmental Program. He's the ideal player to develop to succeed Montreal's current first line left winger Tomas Tatar who is now 30-years-old. That's why Luke Tuch rounds out the rookies from the 2020 NHL Entry Draft in my Dynasty League rookie rankings.
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