On every game day this season, THN Fantasy will highlight players and goalies for fantasy managers to stream or roster for the rest of the season. The recommended players and goalies are rostered in less than 50 percent of Yahoo leagues and can be selected in standard fantasy leagues and/or for daily fantasy games.
Matthew Schaefer, NYI vs. WAS, (53% rostered) - FanDuel $4,000
Schaefer, the first overall pick in this year's draft, made his NHL debut Thursday. He notched an assist on the Islanders' first goal of the game, finishing with that one point and a plus-one rating while skating 17:15 in the contest. Schaefer is likely to remain on the Island for the entire season moving up to quarterback the team's power play before the end of the season.
Justin Faulk, STL @ CGY, (19% rostered) - FanDuel $4,500
Faulk is already in the sixth season of the seven-year, $45.5 million contract extension with the Blues in September of 2019. He struggled his first two seasons with the Blues before posting 47 and 50 points the following two campaigns. Faulk regressed again the next two season, notching 30 points in 2023-24 and 32 last season. Despite that decline, Faulk is still a valuable member of the team's blueline and should notch 80+ hits and 100+ blocked shots.
Aaron Ekblad, FLA vs. OTT, (85% rostered) - FanDuel $4,200
Most fantasy prognosticators penciled in Seth Jones as the first unit power play quarterback prior to the start of the season. As we saw Tuesday, that is the case to a certain extent, as Jones was joined by Ekblad on the point. Ekblad, the first overall pick in 2014, lit the lamp Thursday, and if he remains in that position - and healthy - he should be in line for a rebound season offensively.
Lian Bichsel, DAL @ COL, (24% rostered) - FanDuel $2,600
Bichsel's inclusion in this column are for those DFS players with hits as a category. In 38 games last season, Bichsel dished out 155 hits. He averaged close to 15 minutes a game last season and is penciled onto Dallas' third pairing. Dishing out four hits a game does not appear to be an aberration, and his $2,600 price is more than reasonable for what he will supply in that category.
Vince Dunn, SEA vs. LV, (84% rostered) - FanDuel $5,400
Dunn's game played and points scored decline the last two seasons after he posted 64 points in 81 contests in 2022-23. He is the team's #1 blueliner, both at even-strength and on the man-advantage. Dunn notched a goal Thursday and if he can remain on the ice, a rebound campaign certainly might be in order. His FanDuel price is reasonable for a possible top d-man.
All stats courtesy of naturalstattrick.com, moneypuck.com, hockeyviz.com, allthreezones.com, hockey-reference.com, eliteprospects.com unless otherwise noted.