Hello everyone and welcome to the latest Top 10! I'm Eli Feldman.

While goals, assists, and powerplay points often command the spotlight in fantasy hockey, there is perhaps no statistic more underrated than reliability. Injuries are ubiquitous during the NHL's 82-game grind, but each year a select group of players run the marathon flawlessly.

The following list highlights the NHL's Top 10 active iron men, ranked by their current consecutive games played streaks. These players combine durability with fantasy impact, making them some of the safest fantasy options for the 2025-2026 NHL season.

10. David Pastrnak (246 Games)

While David Pastrnak is one of the league's premier goal scorers, far less discussed is his incredible durability. For a player who logs heavy minutes each night for Boston, Pastrnak has managed to avoid the injury bug for exactly three consecutive seasons (he missed Game 82 in 2021-2022). A top 10 pick based on production alone, Pasta's added durability makes him easily one of the most intriguing fantasy options this season.

9. Wyatt Johnston (246 Games)

Wyatt Johnston is still in the early stages of his NHL career, but he's already carved out a reputation as one of Dallas' most reliable forwards. Johnston's unique blend of goal scoring and strong possession play helps him shine each game. While veterans on this list have proven their longevity over time, Johnston's impressive iron man streak foreshadows what could become a career as one of the NHL's steadiest contributors.

8. Vincent Trocheck (248 Games)

During his stint in the Big Apple, Vincent Trocheck has cemented himself as the Rangers' two-way backbone and a key contributor across the fantasy spectrum: faceoff wins, hits, scoring, and top-six minutes. Despite Vinny's gritty, confrontational style, he's been a fixture in New York's lineup for 248 consecutive games and counting. For fantasy managers, Trocheck's durability means just one thing – dependable multi-cat value.

7. Nazem Kadri (252 Games)

Nazem Kadri is no stranger to physical play, which makes his current iron man streak that much more impressive. At 252 games, Calgary's veteran centre has proven that his heavy playing style doesn't equate to fragility. Naz blends steady point production with faceoff wins and strong peripheral stats (e.g., hits and penalty minutes). His reputation as an agitator largely overshadows the fact that Nazem Kadri is one of the most reliable centres in the entire NHL.

6. Drake Batherson (256 Games)

Since joining the Senators in 2018, Batherson has quietly carved out a reputation as one of Ottawa's most durable forwards. Despite missing some time earlier in his career, Batherson has remained healthy over the past three seasons, helping him emerge as a bona fide fantasy option. His blend of size, skill, and vision has helped Ottawa accelerate its rebuild, while his reliability makes him a valuable depth option on any fantasy team.

5. William Nylander (259 Games)

Since arriving in Toronto, William Nylander's reputation has evolved from "streaky scorer" to "dependable superstar". Over the past decade, Willy's durability has been huge for fantasy managers, all of whom rely on his steady stream of points, shots, and powerplay contributions. While the offseason departure of longtime teammate Mitch Marner puts additional pressure on Willy this season, his continued durability will give him every opportunity to thrive in 2025-2026.

📢 advertisement:

4. Jason Robertson (292 Games)

During Robo's meteoric rise in Dallas, one of the secret ingredients fueling his success has been his reliability. At 292 consecutive games, Robertson hasn't missed a game in three years and missed just missed eight games four seasons ago. As a cornerstone fantasy piece, managers can draft Robo confidently knowing they'll benefit from his presence in the lineup every night.

3. Moritz Seider (328 Games)

Without missing a single game in his NHL career thus far, Moritz Seider has emerged as Detroit's defensive anchor and a top-notch fantasy asset. For a workhorse defenseman logging heavy minutes against top competition each night, Seider's durability is extraordinary. While his elite category coverage (including hits, blocks, powerplay production) makes him one of the most valuable fantasy defensemen in fantasy hockey, his durability adds yet another layer of appeal.

2. Alex DeBrincat (374 Games)

At just 5'8", DeBrincat has faced questions about his ability to handle the rigors of the NHL throughout his career. Cat's response, however, has been emphatic – to the tune of 374 consecutive games and counting. Along with his reliable goal scoring, DeBrincat offers powerplay punch in a top-six role. Cat's combo of production and durability makes him a key part of Detroit's rebuild and one of the most dependable wingers around.

1. Nick Suzuki (455 Games)

Nick Suzuki tops this list with a extraordinary iron man streak of 455 games and counting. As Montreal's leader, Suzuki shoulders massive responsibility without missing a shift. He logs heavy minutes in all situations, contributes offensively, and offers strong faceoff and special teams numbers. For fantasy managers, Suzuki's iron man streak is pure gold. While durability at the NHL level is rare, Nick Suzuki is quickly becoming the modern-day embodiment of an NHL iron man.

***

That's it for this week! Stay tuned for the next Top 10 on Monday, September 8. Have a great week everyone!