Spending lower in any daily fantasy lineup is a way to incorporate some diversity into your roster. In NHL DFS, there is typically more value in this strategy but also a good deal more risk. This is especially true on tonight's slate, where there are lots of lower-salaried plays. Plugging in these options will afford you more chances to play some studs, as well.
Friday night has four games overall on the slate. Let's look at some of those values!
Pius Suter, Center, Chicago Blackhawks
FanDuel Salary: $4,300
Center is a difficult position to gauge on Friday night for value plays. Does one assume a ton of risk or play things a bit safer?
Pius Suter is a bit safer because he is listed as a center on FanDuel. The Chicago Blackhawks forward is seeing top-line ice time (16-plus minutes in each of the last five games and 3.2 shots per contest), which makes him a value even with a slightly elevated salary.
Suter will play on the power-play a good bit with talents like Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat. That never hurts and can only help his bottom line as far as shots, scoring chances, and real-world point potential.
Philipp Kurashev ($3,800) might be a bottom-six value play also from Chicago, but his risk is extreme. Kurashev could produce double-digit FanDuel points or a bagel. One never knows.
Nils Hoglander, Wing, Vancouver Canucks
FanDuel Salary: $3,800
The Vancouver Canucks are not good defensively, but thankfully the Winnipeg Jets are not, either. Nils Hoglander has been bumped up to the top-line at mostly even-strength while seeing increasing amounts of power-play time. The results have been somewhat mixed, but in his last game, Hoglander dished out two helpers and showed the vision of a top-six facilitator.
Hoglander still has lessons to learn like puck pursuit and battles in corners, but even that is something the Vancouver winger is picking up quickly. What is more encouraging is the fact that the Vancouver forward is not afraid to shoot the puck. He has at least three or more shots on goal in his previous four games.
Winnipeg will allow its fair share of shots and scoring chances. Hoglander is fast enough to go up against the Jets' slightly less mobile top line and be able to excel. Warren Foegele ($3,200) is a high-risk option to look at if one is desperate at just $3,200.
Brett Pesce, Defenseman, Carolina Hurricanes
FanDuel Salary: $4,000
The defensive ideal is to look at players who normally do not get a spotlight. While most will look at the Carolina Hurricanes for Dougie Hamilton, we look a little lower down the salary list and see Brett Pesce. Pesce has five real-world points in his last six games. Also, he has two-plus shots in four of those six games and is averaging over two blocks a game in that span.
With the lesser slate and more favorable matchup against Chicago, Pesce becomes a good way to spend up at other positions on Friday night. It is likely also a more conservative approach given the salary point.
For a little dicier proposition, Filip Hronek ($3,700) plays 24 minutes a night for the Detroit Red Wings and plays in all situations.
Chris Wassel is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Chris Wassel also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username chriswassel. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his/her personal views, he/she may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his/her personal account. The views expressed in his/her articles are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.