The NHL season continues Wednesday with five games on the schedule, and four of the five games have a goal total of six so we could see plenty of offense. Five of the top six point-producers from last season are in action, leaving plenty of options to choose from for your DFS lineups.
I’ve listed my favorite plays at each position as well as a couple underrated players who could be the difference in your lineups due to the multiplier at SuperDraft.
Center
Connor McDavid/Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers (vs. VAN)
It’s hard to fade McDavid or Draisaitl with Nathan MacKinnon and Auston Matthews ruled out of their games. Mika Zibanajed and John Tavares are interesting, but McDavid and Draisaitl combined for 189 points last season. McDavid had a ridiculous 33 goals and 105 points in 56 games in 2020-21. In 10 games against the Canucks, McDavid racked up eight goals, 22 points (10 power play points) and 48 shots. He had four three-point games against them and registered at least five shots in half of those games. The Canucks improved their roster in the offseason but they’re still going to have issues on defense. I’ll be playing McDavid, and I plan on getting different elsewhere.
John Tavares, Toronto Maple Leafs (vs. MTL)
Tavares will take Matthews’ spot on the No. 1 line and he has a 1.45X multiplier. The Canadiens will be without Shea Weber, Carey Price and Joel Edmundson. They’ll also be adjusting to life without Phillip Danault, who was a big reason he was able to keep Toronto’s big boys off the score sheet during last season’s playoffs. Tavares should flirt with 20 minutes and could put four or five pucks on goal. The Habs will be a team to attack in fantasy all season long.
Nazem Kadri, Colorado Avalanche (vs. CHI)
Like Tavares, Kadri will play on the first line and get first PP responsibilities with MacKinnon inactive. The Blackhawks will be more competitive this season, but they’ll still be among the leaders in shots and scoring chances allowed. They surrendered the most shots and most high danger chances at 5v5 per 60 minutes in 2020-21. Vancouver was the only team that allowed more scoring chances and they were the only squad that had a higher expected goals against rate at 5v5 than Chicago. Kadri has a 1.65X multiplier.
Honorable mentions
Mika Zibanejad, Jonathan Toews, Nick Suzuki
Winger
Kyle Connor, Winnipeg Jets (@ ANH)
Connor’s 98 goals since the start of 2018-19 rank six in the NHL. His 26 goals last season were tied for the ninth-most and he finished inside the top 20 in shots on goal with 166. The Ducks are not an improved hockey team and they ranked inside the top 10 in shots, scoring chances, high-danger chances and goals allowed at 5v5/60 last season.
Mikko Rantanen, Colorado Avalanche (vs. CHI)
Rantanen has a very appealing 1.6X score multiplier in what is a great spot against Chicago. Rantanen has tournament winning potential even without MacKinnon. Don’t be surprised if he plays 22 minutes and finishes with as many as five shots on goal.
Zach Hyman, Edmonton Oilers (vs. VAN)
Hyman scored a goal and picked up an assist in his first game with McDavid and they’ll skate together in Edmonton’s first game. He’ll also get power play time with McDavid which is great for his upside. The Oilers have had the number one power play in each of the past two seasons. Hyman checks in with a 1.65X multiplier.
Cole Caufield, Montreal Canadiens (@ TOR)
Caulfield had four goals and five points in his first 10 regular season games last season and picked up 12 points in 20 playoff games. He registered eight goals and 78 shots in 30 games. He opens up the 2021 season on the number one line and power play in Montreal. The rookie is favored to win the Calder Trophy because of his ability to score goals. He’s a sniper and loves to shoot the puck. Target as many volume shooters on SuperDraft as you can. Caulfield may get overlooked and he has a 2X multiplier.
Honorable mentions
Artemi Panarin, Patrick Kane, Jesse Puljujarvi, Nick Ritchie, Connor Garland
Defense
Morgan Rielly, Toronto Maple Leafs (vs. MTL)
Rielly has a surprising 1.7X multiplier making him a terrific value. The Maple Leafs’ defenseman has a 72-point season on his resume and has 64 points in his last 102 games with 19 of those points coming on the man advantage.
Jeff Petry, Montreal Canadiens (@ TOR)
Petry finished third among defensemen in goals with 12, and his 42 points ranked seventh. He did that in 55 games, which is unsustainable, but he’ll get all the ice he can handle with Weber out, including number one PP time. Petry has had double-digit goals and 40 points in four straight seasons. The shots and blocks will pile up if he gets north of 22 minutes, which is very likely.
Honorable mentions
Darnell Nurse, Adam Fox, Cale Makar, Seth Jones, Tyson Barrie
Goalie
Marc-Andre Fleury, Chicago Blackhawks (@ COL)
Hellebuyck and Campbell are safer options, but Fleury could finish with more fantasy points given the 1.35X multiplier. The reigning Vezina winner set career highs across the board last season with Vegas and while it’s not fair to expect similar ratios in Chicago, you get points for saves on SuperDraft and he’ll see plenty of rubber this year. As mentioned, the Blackhawks ranked among the leaders in shots against and you get .4 fantasy points for a save. Consider Fleury in contests where you fade the Avalanche as the upset is very much in play for Chicago.
Honorable mentions
Connor Hellebuyck, Jack Campbell, Darcy Kuemper
This article expresses the personal views of the writer and does not reflect the view(s) of SuperDraft in any way.
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