Blake breaks down the Top 10 fantasy hockey defencemen for 2026-27 in both Points leagues and Category leagues.

The rankings aren’t identical, and that’s the point. We look at how goals, assists, power-play production, shots, hits and blocks change the value of players like Cale Makar, Zach Werenski, Evan Bouchard, Quinn Hughes, Rasmus Dahlin, Matthew Schaefer and more.

We also dig into why some defencemen rise in category formats, why others are better suited to points scoring.

If you’re preparing for a 2026-27 fantasy hockey draft, this is your quick guide to the blue liners worth prioritizing.

Let's get to BIZ!!

🏒 Welcome to Apples and Ginos – Your Ultimate Fantasy Hockey Edge!Every week we dive deep into fantasy hockey insights, player analysis, waiver wire pickups, trade targets, lineup tips, and more to help you dominate your league. Hosted by Nate Groot Nibbelink and Blake Creamer, this channel is dedicated to giving you the tools you need to make smart, informed decisions all season long.🔔 Subscribe for weekly videos, rankings, and updates:https://www.youtube.com/@applesginos💬 Join the community:Discord: https://discord.gg/a3hZkJzK2aApples and Ginos on X: https://x.com/ApplesGinosBlake Creamer on X: https://x.com/BlakeCreamerAGInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/applesginos/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@applesandginos

** Buy the 2026-27 Apples & Ginos Fantasy Hockey Draft Guide on Patreon!**

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In this episode, Nate talks through eight players who could win you your league, but also might lose you your league if you're not careful.

Auston Matthews - 1:40

Brady Tkachuk - 6:18

Moritz Seider - 10:02

Jakob Chychrun - 12:59

Darren Raddysh - 16:46

John Carlson - 20:25

J.T. Miller - 23:27

Porter Martone - 25:38

** Sign up for the Apples & Ginos Patron League HERE: https://applesandginos.com/apl/ **

🍎 Apples & Ginos Fantasy Hockey

Fantasy hockey projections, rankings, strategy, sleepers, breakouts and everything you need to dominate your draft.

🏒 Welcome to Apples and Ginos – Your Ultimate Fantasy Hockey Edge!

Every week we dive deep into fantasy hockey insights, player analysis, waiver wire pickups, trade targets, lineup tips, and more to help you dominate your league. Hosted by Nate Groot Nibbelink and Blake Creamer, this channel is dedicated to giving you the tools you need to make smart, informed decisions all season long.

🔔 Subscribe for weekly videos, rankings, and updates:

https://www.youtube.com/@applesginos

💬 Join the community:

Discord: https://discord.gg/a3hZkJzK2a

Apples and Ginos on X: https://x.com/ApplesGinos

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/applesginos/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@applesandginos

🎧 Listen to the podcast:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4mVuWl51pWQ3SYGvXKuKe7?si=ebea8bc7c23046d0

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/apples-ginos-fantasy-hockey-podcast/id1592937637

All platforms: https://linktr.ee/applesandginos

#FantasyHockey #NHLFantasy #HockeyAdvice #WaiverWire #NHL #FantasyHockeyTips #ApplesAndGinos

Nate live streams Drafters best ball drafts, reviews his APL team, sneaks in a Yahoo mock draft, and takes questions from viewers.

** Buy the 2026-27 Apples & Ginos Fantasy Hockey Draft Guide on Patreon!**

Create a free account and purchase this post:

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Get a first time deposit match of up to $100 when using promo code "GINOS"!

** Join the Apples & Ginos Patron League wait list HERE: https://applesandginos.com/apl/ **

🍎 Apples & Ginos Fantasy Hockey

Fantasy hockey projections, rankings, strategy, sleepers, breakouts and everything you need to dominate your draft.

🏒 Welcome to Apples and Ginos – Your Ultimate Fantasy Hockey Edge!

Every week we dive deep into fantasy hockey insights, player analysis, waiver wire pickups, trade targets, lineup tips, and more to help you dominate your league. Hosted by Nate Groot Nibbelink and Blake Creamer, this channel is dedicated to giving you the tools you need to make smart, informed decisions all season long.

🔔 Subscribe for weekly videos, rankings, and updates:

https://www.youtube.com/@applesginos

💬 Join the community:

Discord: https://discord.gg/a3hZkJzK2a

Apples and Ginos on X: https://x.com/ApplesGinos

Blake Creamer on X: https://x.com/BlakeCreamerAG

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/applesginos/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@applesandginos

🎧 Listen to the podcast:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4mVuWl51pWQ3SYGvXKuKe7?si=ebea8bc7c23046d0

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/apples-ginos-fantasy-hockey-podcast/id1592937637

All platforms: https://linktr.ee/applesandginos

#FantasyHockey #NHLFantasy #HockeyAdvice #WaiverWire #NHL #FantasyHockeyTips #ApplesAndGinos

The Hidden Gems series rolls into the Metropolitan Division.

Blake is joined once again by Louis Boulet of LB-Hockey to break down eight players who may not be obvious fantasy hockey draft targets right now, but have something under the hood worth paying attention to. We’re digging into the microstats, skill sets, deployment questions and specific fantasy triggers that could turn these names into legitimate assets.

This episode features:

• Kent Johnson — CBJ: Can the skill and transition game re-emerge after a nightmare 22-point season?
• Logan Stankoven — CAR: An elite underlying profile playing on one of hockey’s best 5v5 lines.
• Arseny Gritsyuk — NJD: Speed, controlled entries, rush creation and relentless forechecking, even if the immediate top-six path has become murkier.
• Emil Heineman — NYI: An elite one-timer, strong finishing profile and 247 hits make him a fascinating category-league option.
• Gabe Perreault — NYR: A cerebral playmaker whose patience and passing could help replace some of New York’s lost offensive creativity.
• Tyson Foerster — PHI: A legitimate goal scorer who could take another step if the shots and PP1 opportunity arrive.
• Tommy Novak — PIT: Top-six-looking transition and creation numbers trapped inside a 14-minute, PP2 role.
• Ryan Leonard — WSH: Heavy shot, interior offence, physicality and a fantasy toolkit that could force its way up the depth chart.

These aren’t all sleepers, and we’re not telling you to draft every one of them. The goal is to know the names before the opportunity arrives.

Who has the best chance to make the leap this season?

Let’s get to BIZ.

🏒 Welcome to Apples and Ginos – Your Ultimate Fantasy Hockey Edge!Every week we dive deep into fantasy hockey insights, player analysis, waiver wire pickups, trade targets, lineup tips, and more to help you dominate your league. Hosted by Nate Groot Nibbelink and Blake Creamer, this channel is dedicated to giving you the tools you need to make smart, informed decisions all season long.🔔 Subscribe for weekly videos, rankings, and updates:https://www.youtube.com/@applesginos💬 Join the community:Discord: https://discord.gg/a3hZkJzK2aApples and Ginos on X: https://x.com/ApplesGinosBlake Creamer on X: https://x.com/BlakeCreamerAGInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/applesginos/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@applesandginos

Join Evan and Nate as we break down the various draft day strategies! Is there one specific strategy to win your league? Do playoff schedules and off-nights really matter? Are elite defensemen really worth the high draft capital? Tune in to find out!

** Buy the 2026-27 Apples & Ginos Fantasy Hockey Draft Guide on Patreon!**Create a free account and purchase this post:https://www.patreon.com/applesginos/posts/2026-27-apples-168262832

ADP Battles are back!

Blake kicks off our annual 4-part series with Elan Dubrofsky from the Keeping Karlsson Fantasy Hockey Podcast to tackle some of the toughest decisions you’ll face on draft day.

The premise is simple: two players being drafted around the same ADP, one pick. Who are you taking?

This episode’s battles:

• Leon Draisaitl vs. Macklin Celebrini
• Tim Stützle vs. Clayton Keller
• Brandt Clarke vs. Mikhail Sergachev
• Ivan Demidov vs. Jimmy Snuggerud
• Linus Ullmark vs. Jesper Wallstedt in the ZeroG Round
• Matt Coronato vs. Cole Perfetti in the Sleeper Round

Blake and Elan dig into projections, deployment, power-play roles, peripheral production, team environment, upside and risk to figure out which side they’re taking in each matchup.

Some are easy. Some are painful. And there may be a few disagreements along the way.

Let the Battle BEGIN.

Stay tuned for three more ADP Battles with some of the best minds in the fantasy hockey BIZ as we get you ready for your 2026-27 drafts.

Finding a sleeper isn’t only about chasing the perfect breakout. The best late-round targets also provide enough of a floor that your pick won’t become a complete whiff if everything doesn’t go according to plan.

In this episode, we reveal 10 fantasy hockey sleepers who possess the underlying process, opportunity and upside to significantly outperform their 2026-27 draft positions.

We break down:

• Quinton Byfield’s post-Kopitar opportunity under Peter Laviolette

• Anton Frondell’s immediate role while Connor Bedard is sidelined

• Alexis Lafrenière’s path to PP1 without Artemi Panarin

• Matt Coronato’s outstanding microstat profile

• Egor Chinakhov’s breakout potential in Pittsburgh

• JJ Peterka’s upside alongside David Pastrnak

• Luke Hughes’ bounce-back case in New Jersey

• Why the Summer of Matvei Michkov is officially underway

• Viktor Arvidsson’s reunion with Todd McLellan

• Jackson Blake’s opportunity to replace Seth Jarvis on Carolina’s PP1

Which sleepers provide legitimate league-winning upside—and which still return value if their best-case scenarios don’t materialize?

Timestamps:

Byfield - 02:56

Frondell - 10:30

Lafrenière - 14:52

Coronato - 20:51

Chinakhov - 25:15

Peterka - 29:41

Hughes - 33:53

Michkov - 29:25

Arvidsson - 45:18

Blake - 49:42

Let us know your favourite sleeper in the comments!

All advanced statistics referenced in this episode come from Natural Stat Trick. Microstats come from Corey Sznajder’s All Three Zones project.

🏒 Welcome to Apples and Ginos – Your Ultimate Fantasy Hockey Edge!

Every week we dive deep into fantasy hockey insights, player analysis, waiver wire pickups, trade targets, lineup tips, and more to help you dominate your league. Hosted by Nate Groot Nibbelink and Blake Creamer, this channel is dedicated to giving you the tools you need to make smart, informed decisions all season long.

🔔 Subscribe for weekly videos, rankings, and updates:

https://www.youtube.com/@applesginos

💬 Join the community:

Discord: https://discord.gg/a3hZkJzK2a

Apples and Ginos on X: https://x.com/ApplesGinos

Blake Creamer on X: https://x.com/BlakeCreamerAG

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/applesginos/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@applesandginos

🎧 Listen to the podcast:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4mVuWl51pWQ3SYGvXKuKe7?si=ebea8bc7c23046d0

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/apples-ginos-fantasy-hockey-podcast/id1592937637

All platforms: https://linktr.ee/applesandginos

#FantasyHockey #NHLFantasy #HockeyAdvice #WaiverWire #NHL #FantasyHockeyTips #ApplesAndGinos

** Buy the 2026-27 Apples & Ginos Fantasy Hockey Draft Guide on Patreon!**

Create a free account and purchase this post:

https://www.patreon.com/applesginos/posts/2026-27-apples-168262832

In this episode, Nate talks through the #ZeroG draft strategy and walks through his goalie tiers and rankings for the 2026-27 season.

ZeroG Refresher - 2:58

Tier 1: Vasi - 6:32

Tier 2: Top Guys - 7:37

Tier 3: Big Potential - 10:50

Tier 4: Take Your Pick - 15:59

Tier 5: Roll The Dice - 21:24

Tier 6: Could Draft - 23:37

Tier 7: Don't Draft - 25:11

Tier 8: Yikes - 27:32

Tier 9: They Exist - 28:23

** Sign up for the Apples & Ginos Patron League HERE: https://applesandginos.com/apl/ **

🍎 Apples & Ginos Fantasy Hockey

Fantasy hockey projections, rankings, strategy, sleepers, breakouts and everything you need to dominate your draft.

🏒 Welcome to Apples and Ginos – Your Ultimate Fantasy Hockey Edge!

Every week we dive deep into fantasy hockey insights, player analysis, waiver wire pickups, trade targets, lineup tips, and more to help you dominate your league. Hosted by Nate Groot Nibbelink and Blake Creamer, this channel is dedicated to giving you the tools you need to make smart, informed decisions all season long.

🔔 Subscribe for weekly videos, rankings, and updates:

https://www.youtube.com/@applesginos

💬 Join the community:

Discord: https://discord.gg/a3hZkJzK2a

Apples and Ginos on X: https://x.com/ApplesGinos

Blake Creamer on X: https://x.com/BlakeCreamerAG

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/applesginos/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@applesandginos

🎧 Listen to the podcast:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4mVuWl51pWQ3SYGvXKuKe7?si=ebea8bc7c23046d0

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/apples-ginos-fantasy-hockey-podcast/id1592937637

All platforms: https://linktr.ee/applesandginos

#FantasyHockey #NHLFantasy #HockeyAdvice #WaiverWire #NHL #FantasyHockeyTips #ApplesAndGinos

The Hidden Gems series is back.

Blake is joined by friend of the show Louis Boulet of LB-Hockey to dig into eight Atlantic Division players who may not be obvious fantasy draft targets right now, but absolutely deserve to be on your radar.

We break down what the underlying data says, where the opportunity could come from, and what would need to happen for each player to become genuinely fantasy relevant.

This episode features:

Oliver Kapanen — MTL
Marco Kasper — DET
JJ Peterka — BOS
Jordan Spence — OTT
Dominic James — TBL
Josh Doan — BUF
Brad Marchand — FLA
Jack Roslovic — TOR

From Kapanen’s potential fit with Ivan Demidov, to Kasper’s rebound case, Peterka’s move to Boston, Spence’s hidden offensive ceiling, Dominic James’ transition numbers, Josh Doan’s chaos game, Marchand continuing to defy Father Time, and Roslovic potentially landing beside Auston Matthews — there is a lot bubbling under the surface in the Atlantic.

These aren’t necessarily sleepers. They’re players of interest — names to keep on your watchlist before the rest of your league catches up.

The 2026-27 Apples & Ginos Fantasy Hockey Draft Guide is also available now, featuring 230 pages of team previews, projections, sleepers, injury analysis, draft strategy and more.

And there’s still time to join the APL before the season gets underway.

Let’s get to BIZ.

🏒 Welcome to Apples and Ginos – Your Ultimate Fantasy Hockey Edge!Every week we dive deep into fantasy hockey insights, player analysis, waiver wire pickups, trade targets, lineup tips, and more to help you dominate your league. Hosted by Nate Groot Nibbelink and Blake Creamer, this channel is dedicated to giving you the tools you need to make smart, informed decisions all season long.🔔 Subscribe for weekly videos, rankings, and updates:https://www.youtube.com/@applesginos💬 Join the community:Discord: https://discord.gg/a3hZkJzK2aApples and Ginos on X: https://x.com/ApplesGinosBlake Creamer on X: https://x.com/BlakeCreamerAGInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/applesginos/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@applesandginos

Join the Trade Talks Trio as they navigate a live mock draft to get ready for the Apples and Ginos Patron League, the most competitive fantasy hockey league in the world! Let's get to Biz!