3 NHL FanDuel Studs to Target on Friday 10/15/21
In any daily fantasy lineup, spending up in any daily fantasy lineup is how to get the superstars and the highest upside players in your lineup.
In NHL DFS, it’s different from paying up in sports like NBA or NFL. Someone can be one of the highest salaried players at his position and put up a total dud of a performance, and paying that much for him would be a huge mistake. Let’s make sure we are paying up in the right spots when building our lineups tonight.
Friday night offers up three more contests with the NHL slate. Let's take a look at a few studs to build around.
Jack Hughes, Center, New Jersey Devils
FanDuel Salary: $6,300
The New Jersey Devils' center is ready to break out after COVID impacted his season significantly last year. Even then, Jack Hughes still had 31 points in 56 games, and Hughes may be undervalued a bit in projections early this season.
The matchup is a good one. Chicago yielded more than its fair share of scoring chances on Wednesday night (11 -- all of the high-danger variety). That was just at even strength. New Jersey's top-six excels at attacking the puck and could cause matchup fits versus the 'Hawks. That is headlined by Hughes, who is one of the best at zone-entrance rates with the puck.
Elsewhere, the Edmonton Oilers have the highest implied goal total on the night, at 3.38. That alone is reason to target McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and the rest of their helpers.
Patrick Kane, Wing, Chicago Blackhawks
FanDuel Salary: $7,900
Patrick Kane is an easy choice on Friday because of New Jersey's penalty kill and injury situation. With Ty Smith and Damon Severson out of the lineup. Kane and Alex DeBrincat should be able to generate plenty of opportunities. Also, with Mackenzie Blackwood recovering from off-season ankle issues, Jonathan Bernier will be in the net. That may be a further boost.
While Kane did not look the greatest against Colorado, he had several medium and high-danger scoring chances.
Chicago faces a New Jersey team that ranked 31st on the penalty kill a year ago. The Blackhawks' power play misfired against Colorado when Kane was on the ice. That may not happen again on Friday night.
Stacking the Blackhawks is plenty viable tonight.
Dougie Hamilton, Defenseman, New Jersey Devils
FanDuel Salary: $6,500
Dougie Hamilton makes his long-anticipated debut for the Devils on Friday night as they entertain the Blackhawks. Hamilton brings an offensive edge to even-strength play, but his role on the power play could be even more vital for a team that was 30th on the power play during the second half of last season.
The blueliner will be heavily utilized with the Jack Hughes line. In their limited time during the pre-season, Hughes and Hamilton looked to be on the same page. The biggest beneficiary might be Hughes, to be honest, but Hamilton projects for 15.3 fantasy points on Friday night -- per our model -- which leads all defensemen by a good margin.
Seth Jones, for better or for worse, needs to be on our radar, as well.
