Week 9: Fantasy top 100 forward rankings for 2016-17

All season long, NHL.com will rank the top 100 forwards for standard Yahoo leagues (goals, assists, plus/minus, penalty minutes, power-play points, shots on goal). Players with long-term injuries have been removed from this list. Multiple positions indicate dual eligibility in Yahoo leagues.
These rankings are based on expectations for the rest of the season. Value is quantified by line combinations, power-play usage, past performance and overall upside in standard leagues. Changes in value each week are based on recent performance and/or lineup trends.

Stability can be a beautiful thing in fantasy sports. Fantasy owners who have invested in any of the Philadelphia Flyers' top forwards in recent seasons can certainly attest.
MORE FANTASY COVERAGE:
TOP 50 DEFENSEMEN
|
TOP 25 GOALIES
The Flyers' current nine-game win streak has reminded us how forwards Jakub Voracek, Claude Giroux and Wayne Simmonds belong among the fantasy elite, no questions asked. Philadelphia ranks fourth in goals per game (3.16) and second in power-play efficiency (24.1 percent) under their watch this season.
Just look at their consistency: Giroux leads the NHL in scoring since 2010-11 (472 points in 479 games), Simmonds ranks 13th in goals (147) since 2011-12 and Voracek joins Giroux among the top 12 point producers during the past three seasons combined (Giroux: 169, 11th; Voracek: 168, 12th). Voracek has swiftly bounced back from an abnormally low shooting percentage last season (5.2) and has already equaled his goal total (11 in 73 games) in 31 games this season.
Circling back to the shortened season of 2012-13 shows how dominant this trio has been on Philadelphia's first power-play unit, even with so many even-strength line changes. Giroux leads the NHL in power-play points (137) during the span, with Voracek (109, T-7th) and Simmonds (99, 11th) close behind. Brayden Schenn, who has four goals (three on the power play) in his past two games, has joined the party as well in the past two seasons; he has 79 points in his past 108 games, with 35 coming on the power play (same total as Simmonds in span).
Voracek, Giroux and Simmonds are among the top 13 forwards in this week's rankings, and no one can argue against such recognition. Deep-league fantasy owners can get a piece of Philadelphia's top six by considering rookie Travis Konecny (C/LW, 16 percent owned), who's on the second line with Simmonds and Schenn, or Michael Raffl (LW, 1 percent owned), who's on the top line with Giroux and Voracek.

TRENDING UP

Speaking of teams from Pennsylvania that are well-represented among the ranks of elite forwards, the Pittsburgh Penguins have won six straight after a 7-0 victory against the Arizona Coyotes on Monday. Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel continue to rack up points, combining for 30 in the span (10 each). Crosby (21 goals, first in NHL) has a three-goal lead on the rest of the pack despite missing his first six games because of a concussion. He is tied with Malkin, Voracek and Vladimir Tarasenko of the St. Louis Blues for second in the League in scoring (32 points). Kessel is one point behind them (31 in 29 games). Conor Sheary (LW/RW, 23 percent owned), mentioned in
this week's waiver wire watch
, is covering four of the six standard categories well on the left side of Crosby and Patric Hornqvist. Sheary had a power-play assist Monday and is there for the taking in most formats.

TRENDING DOWN

It's been an underachieving season for the Coyotes' sophomore class; Max Domi stood outside the top 150 in Yahoo prior to sustaining a hand injury, which reportedly will sideline him for six weeks. Anthony Duclair, a preseason fantasy sleeper candidate who had 20 goals and 44 points as a rookie, has been limited to one goal and four points in 25 games and has been a healthy scratch lately. Right now, the Coyotes have no forwards among NHL.com's top 100, with leading scorer and SOG producer Radim Vrbata (18 points, 86 SOG) being the only Arizona forward worth adding in deep leagues. Vrbata (RW, 12 percent owned) has played on the top line and first power-play unit with Martin Hanzal and Tobias Rieder in Domi's absence.

WORTH NOTING

-- The Nashville Predators welcomed back top forward James Neal on Dec. 6, but it's been a rough couple of games after he scored a goal in his return. Neal is minus-4 in his past two games, lopsided road losses to the Dallas Stars and Coyotes. He has played most frequently on a line with Ryan Johansen and Viktor Arvidsson, an underrated fantasy contributor. Arvidsson (LW, 22 percent owned) is tied for third on the Predators in scoring (17 points in 27 games) and leads them in SOG (90).
-- Stars forward Tyler Seguin, NHL.com's 10th-ranked fantasy forward, gained right wing eligibility (now C/RW) in Yahoo's latest position eligibility update. He was skating alongside Jamie Benn and Cody Eakin of late, but the return of Jiri Hudler (C/RW, 7 percent owned) caused coach Lindy Ruff to shake up his lines (again) Sunday against the Chicago Blackhawks. With Patrick Sharp (concussion) out, Benn and Seguin are back with slumping Patrick Eaves (RW, 33 percent owned), and Eakin is centering Jason Spezza and Hudler.

-- There have been two notable top-line trials in the past week. Edmonton Oilers rookie Drake Caggiula (C/LW, 3 percent owned) has skated alongside NHL scoring leader Connor McDavid and left wing Milan Lucic in recent games. The Florida Panthers, currently without Jonathan Huberdeau (injured reserve) and Jonathan Marchessault (day to day) because of injuries, have placed Seth Griffith (owned in fewer than 1 percent of leagues) onto their first line with Aleksander Barkov and Jaromir Jagr. Each situation is likely a short-term development, but is worth monitoring.

Top 100 Fantasy Forwards

These rankings were last updated Dec. 13
1. Connor McDavid, C, EDM (+1)
2. Sidney Crosby, C, PIT (+1)
3. Patrick Kane, RW, CHI (-2)
4. Vladimir Tarasenko, RW, STL (SAME)
5. Alex Ovechkin, LW, WSH (SAME)
6. Joe Pavelski, C/RW, SJS (SAME)
7. Evgeni Malkin, C, PIT (+1)
8. Jakub Voracek, LW/RW, PHI (+6)
9. Nikita Kucherov, RW, TBL (-2)
10. Tyler Seguin, C/RW, DAL (SAME)
11. Mark Scheifele, C, WPG (SAME)
12. Wayne Simmonds, RW, PHI (+4)
13. Claude Giroux, C, PHI (+5)
14. Jamie Benn, LW, DAL (-5)
15. Patrik Laine, LW/RW, WPG (-3)
16. Phil Kessel, RW, PIT (+1)
17. Artemi Panarin, LW, CHI (-4)
18. John Tavares, C, NYI (-2)
19. Corey Perry, RW, ANA (SAME)
20. Brad Marchand, LW, BOS (SAME)
21. David Pastrnak, RW, BOS (+3)
22. Alexander Radulov, LW/RW, MTL (+3)
23. Nicklas Backstrom, C, WSH (+3)
24. Blake Wheeler, RW, WPG (-3)
25. Taylor Hall, LW, NJD (+3)
26. Auston Matthews, C, TOR (-4)
27. Johnny Gaudreau, LW, CGY (+6)
28. Jack Eichel, C, BUF (-5)
29. Patric Hornqvist, RW, PIT (SAME)
30. Logan Couture, C, SJS (SAME)
31. Aleksander Barkov, C, FLA (SAME)
32. Ryan Kesler, C, ANA (SAME)
33. James Neal, RW, NSH (NR - INJ.)
34. Jeff Carter, C, LAK (+2)
35. Ryan Getzlaf, C, ANA (-8)
36. Cam Atkinson, RW, CBJ (+2)
37. Max Pacioretty, LW, MTL (+7)
38. Nathan MacKinnon, C/RW, COL (-2)
39. Matt Duchene, C/RW, COL (+1)
40. Anze Kopitar, C, LAK (-5)
41. Ryan Johansen, C, NSH (-3)
42. Jeff Skinner, LW, CAR (+1)
43. Milan Lucic, LW, EDM (+5)
44. Marian Hossa, RW, CHI (+9)
45. Ryan O'Reilly, C/LW, BUF (+7)
46. Tyler Toffoli, C/RW, LAK (-6)
47. Jonathan Toews, C, CHI (NR - INJ.)
48. Kyle Okposo, RW, BUF (DTD)
49. Mitch Marner, C/RW, TOR (-8)
50. Joe Thornton, C, SJS (SAME)
51. Nick Foligno, LW/RW, CBJ (DTD)
52. Leon Draisaitl, C/RW, EDM (+23)
53. Jordan Eberle, RW, EDM (SAME)
54. James van Riemsdyk, LW, TOR (-6)
55. Patrice Bergeron, C, BOS (-11)
56. Alex Wennberg, C, CBJ (-11)
57. Mike Hoffman, LW, OTT (-3)
58. Nikolaj Ehlers, LW/RW, WPG (-3)
59. Evgeny Kuznetsov, C, WSH (SAME)
60. Brayden Schenn, C/LW, PHI (+6)
61. Daniel Sedin, LW, VAN (-1)
62. Brendan Gallagher, RW, MTL (SAME)
63. Brandon Saad, LW/RW, CBJ (SAME)
64. Rick Nash, LW/RW, NYR (DTD)
65. Artem Anisimov, C, CHI (SAME)
66. J.T. Miller, C/LW/RW, NYR (+1)
67. Filip Forsberg, LW, NSH (-9)
68. Chris Kreider, LW, NYR (+3)
69. Sean Monahan, C, CGY (+13)
70. Eric Staal, C, MIN (+3)
71. William Nylander, C/RW, TOR (-14)
72. Jason Spezza, C/RW, DAL (-11)
73. Jaden Schwartz, C/LW, STL (+6)
74. Alexander Steen, LW/RW, STL (-5)
75. T.J. Oshie, RW, WSH (NR - INJ.)
76. Victor Rask, C, CAR (+1)
77. Jaromir Jagr, RW, FLA (+3)
78. Robby Fabbri, C/LW, STL (+6)
79. Rickard Rakell, C/LW, ANA (+6)
80. Jonathan Drouin, LW/RW, TBL (+7)
81. Derek Stepan, C, NYR (+7)
82. Zach Parise, LW, MIN (-12)
83. Michael Cammalleri, LW, NJD (-19)
84. Tyler Johnson, C, TBL (-16)
85. Kevin Hayes, C/RW, NYR (+1)
86. Gabriel Landeskog, LW, COL (NR - INJ.)
87. Marcus Johansson, LW/RW, WSH (+6)
88. Charlie Coyle, C/RW, MIN (-10)
89. Mats Zuccarello, RW, NYR (-8)
90. Bryan Little, C, WPG (+6)
91. Jonathan Marchessault, C/LW, FLA (DTD)
92. Travis Zajac, C, NJD (-18)
93. Jakob Silfverberg, RW, ANA (+7)
94. Sam Reinhart, C/RW, BUF (-11)
95. Mark Stone, RW, OTT (-6)
96. Nazem Kadri, C, TOR (-6)
97. Travis Konecny, C/LW, PHI (-6)
98. David Backes, RW, BOS (-6)
99. Henrik Zetterberg, C/LW, DET (-5)
100. Andrew Shaw, C/RW, MTL (NEW)
Dropped out: Kyle Palmieri (RW, NJD), Patrick Eaves (RW, DAL), Kyle Turris (C, OTT), David Perron (LW/RW, STL)
Just missed: Tomas Plekanec (C, MTL), Sam Gagner (C/RW, CBJ), Mikko Koivu (C, MIN), Conor Sheary (LW/RW, PIT), Sam Bennett (C/LW, CGY), Radim Vrbata (RW, ARI), Dylan Larkin (C/RW, DET), Evander Kane (LW, BUF), Josh Bailey (LW/RW, NYI), Viktor Arvidsson (LW, NSH)
Key injuries: Steven Stamkos (C, TBL), Alex Galchenyuk (C, MTL), Mika Zibanejad (C/RW, NYR), Patrick Sharp (LW/RW, DAL), Tomas Hertl (C/LW, SJS), Jonathan Huberdeau (LW, FLA), Max Domi (LW, ARI)
READ: Last week's Top 100 forward rankings