NHL DFS Value Plays (12/15/22): Can Mikko Rantanen Continue To Flourish?
After a massive 12-game slate on Tuesday, we are ready to do it again tonight as we have yet another. As a reminder, I’m always talking in terms of DraftKings salary while trying to find the best values of the slate at each position which can be used for either or both in terms of cash games and guaranteed prize pools. The players I talk about here do not necessarily reflect players that appear in my lineup, although some of them more than likely will.
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Top NHL DFS Value Plays On DraftKings
I always say that every slate is different, and the context matters in DFS. Although a lot of my favorite values tend to be lower in salary and allow you to have more salary to spend elsewhere, this will not always be the case. When we have a larger slate, I tend to value the difference in a much more favorable matchup more than I would on a smaller slate.
This is a huge slate with a lot of options and as always, a lot can potentially change between now and puck drop. Because of this, I always advise to keep up on beat writers for the teams on Twitter, so you know the team lines and roles are what we expect them to be.
Forwards
**I think McDavid and Matthews are usually in play in cash on any slate if you have enough value elsewhere. For that reason, I’m looking at four other forwards to help you sift through.**
Brayden Point, Center, Tampa Bay Lightning ($6.3K)
Point comes in riding a four-game point streak (five goals, one assist) and is getting an average of about 20 minutes of ice time per game this season, 19 minutes in the last 10 games. Columbus ranks down on the fringe of the bottom third in most defensive metrics and I also expect this game to be high scoring. It also doesn’t hurt that Tampa has the highest implied team total tonight.
Mikko Rantanen, Center, Colorado Avalanche ($7.6K)
I thought he was a wing. Yeah normally, but he’s listed at Center because right now he has Lehkonen and Nichuskin both skating with him since MacKinnon has been out. He’s among the top scorers in the league yet priced just a touch below where he probably should be in this high-paced and favorable matchup with the Sabres, who also score at will in a game that will go back and forth a lot.
Josh Anderson, Wing, Montreal Canadiens ($3.7K)
Although he and his team are on a back-to-back and he’s on the third line, Anderson also skates on the second power play unit and penalty kill unit as well for the Habs, and the Ducks are as ideal a matchup as it gets in the NHL.
Kyle Connor, Wing, Winnipeg Jets ($7.2K)
This guy shows us time and time again how matchup-proof and consistent he is. He’s usually on the second line and top power play, as the primary trigger. He gets a Preds team coming in toward the bottom third in the NHL defensively.
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Defensemen
Esa Lindell, Dallas Stars ($3.2K)
Having hit the shot blocks bonus in three of his last five, you could certainly do a lot worse in this price range. I would think coupled with the way the Capitals are getting zone time and firing on the net could only help this cause, and anything beyond that is very nice.
Daniil Miromanov, Vegas Golden Knights ($2.7K)
Although we need confirmation he’s playing and at no reduced role from the last game, he’s going to be on everyone’s radar in all formats after posting a goal and two assists last time out at Winnipeg. Not to mention, Vegas has the third-highest team-implied total tonight versus a very poor defensive team in Chicago.
Sean Walker, Los Angeles Kings ($2.5K)
Yes, minimum salary Walker and his Kings are at Boston tonight in a brutal matchup but I do think he holds some value at this salary, having hit three shots on goal his last two games. He’s seeing anywhere from 13-17 minutes a night, which I think is probably based on how many penalties the Kings are killing off as he is also on the second penalty-kill unit.
Goalie
Tristan Jarry, Pittsburgh Penguins ($7.8K)
The Pens travel to Florida to take on the Panthers, and I think both teams will get their fair share of shots and chances in this one. Shot volume from the opponent is the first thing I look for in a goalie on DraftKings in short, due to the way the scoring is structured. At under 8K, Jarry can be considered in any format lineup you want to make, certainly in a cash build.
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