If you follow the NHL, you already know all of the top players. Obviously, when playing DFS, those players will come at a high cost. In this article, we are looking to find the cheaper value plays to help you afford the superstars.
Filip Chytil, Center, New York Rangers
FanDuel Price: $4,600
While he was a bit of a surprise cut before the season, Filip Chytil has been great since being recalled. Chytil is showing that he should have been with the big club this entire season with seven goals and nine points in 12 games. The New York Rangers also have a decent matchup tonight as they host the Minnesota Wild.
The Wild have been terrible this year in that they sit 28th in points. However, they're at a not-as-terrible 49.15 CF%, which ranks 21st overall. Their possession numbers have been a bit better than their overall performance, but the issue is they struggle to keep the puck out of the net with 3.35 goals against per game — the seventh-most in the NHL.
Morgan Frost, Center, Philadelphia Flyers
FanDuel Price: $4,000
Three games is an incredibly small sample size, but two goals and three points along with nine shots through three NHL games certainly warrants a price higher than $4,000. Those are the numbers that Morgan Frost has put up as he breaks into the NHL playing on the top line with Claude Giroux and Travis Konecny.
The Philadelphia Flyers host the Vancouver Canucks — a team that has been surprisingly great from a possession standpoint this season. But since being assembled, this top line has been very good, and Frost is expected to be on the top power-play unit, as well, which gives him even more upside.
Kevin Labanc, Winger, San Jose Sharks
FanDuel Price: $4,700
After putting up 56 points in 82 games last season, Kevin Labanc bet on himself by signing a cheap one-year deal at $1 million per. This season has not gone that well for him as his 13 points though 24 games pace him at just 44 points for the season.
However, a matchup against the Los Angeles Kings is solid for Labanc, and he is expected to play alongside Timo Meier and Barclay Goodrow while spending time on the top power-play unit. The Kings have given up 3.43 goals against per game, which is the fifth-most in the NHL.
Mathew Dumba, Defense, Minnesota Wild
FanDuel Price: $3,900
Mathew Dumba has really struggled this season, with just 9 points in 23 games after putting up 22 in 32 games in his injury-shortened campaign last year. He actually has a pretty solid floor when you consider his shots on goal and blocked shots that he contributes. He is averaging 2.2 shots per game and 1.39 blocks per game to go along with his offensive upside, which has not been realized this season.
He still plays on the top power-play unit of a Wild team that converts on just 18.8 percent of their opportunities (ranked 18th). However, their matchup against the New York Rangers is great as the Rangers have given up 3.57 goals against per game, the third-most in the NHL.
Jacob Trouba, Defense, New York Rangers
FanDuel Price: $4,300
On the opposite side of this game, our second Rangers player makes this list. Jacob Trouba is another player who provides a ton of production outside of his offense. He is averaging an incredible 2.85 shots on goal and 2.05 blocks per game, which is fantastic.
His offensive upside is decent with 10 points in 21 games, and he also spends time on the team's second power-play unit. The Rangers actually have the 10th-best power play as it converts on 20.5 percent of their opportunities.
Ryan Sheppard is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Ryan Sheppard also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username donkshow_. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in his articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.