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.
Brock Boeser, RW, VAN vs. CGY (45% rostered) – FanDuel $5,500
Pretty cheap salary for the Canucks’ best right winger playing L1 and PP1 with Elias Pettersson. Boeser had a down season – who didn’t on the Canucks – but still managed to score 25 goals. He’s been excellent against the rival Flames throughout his career with 29 points in 36 games, and the Flames are playing the second game of a back-to-back and likely starting untested backup Devin Cooley.
Will Smith, C/RW, SJ vs. VGK (45% rostered) – FanDuel $5,000
This is an even better value play than Boeser for a similar situation. Smith is attached to Macklin Celebrini’s hip on L1 and PP1, and after moving to right wing last season finished strong with 32 points in 42 games. Vegas is playing the second game of a back-to-back and likely starting backup Akira Schmid, who has just 36 career starts through four NHL seasons.
Jared McCann, C/LW, SEA vs. ANA (31% rostered) – FanDuel $5,500
McCann missed some time in the preseason due to injury but he’s expected to ready for the opener. He’s been the Kraken’s leading scorer in every single season of their existence and it’ll likely be the same story this season. He’s averaging close to 30 goals and 200 shots a season and going up against an opponent that allowed the most shots per game last season. The Ducks defense hasn’t improved that much.
Marco Rossi, C, MIN at STL (27% rostered) – FanDuel $5,300
The Wild are going nuclear to start their season stacking Matt Boldy and Kirill Kaprizov on the same line, and Rossi has drawn the lucky straw. Yes, there’s a chance Rossi has a short leash and gets benched again, and the Blues are a tough opponent, but this is a really good value play for a young center with 60-point upside (minimum) playing with two elite wingers.
Josh Norris, C, BUF vs. NYR (26% rostered) – FanDuel $5,500
When Norris is healthy, he’s excellent, providing plenty of goal-scoring potential, shots and blocks. He’s slated to play PP1 and L1 with Tage Thompson on the right wing, and the Rangers looked awful in their season opener. Norris is averaging 30 goals and nearly 60 points on a pro-rated basis in his six-year career.
Evgeni Malkin, C, PIT vs. NYI (24% rostered) – FanDuel $5,000
An impressive season-opener performance by Malkin, who dished out two assists and looked very much in vintage form. Malkin has terrorized the Isles throughout his career with 94 points in 82 games, and his 37 goals are the most he’s scored against any team. I’m a little skeptical if Malkin can keep this up for an entire season, but why not strike while the iron’s hot.
Jimmy Snuggerud, RW, STL vs. MIN (22% rostered) – FanDuel $4,600
Tough matchup, but this is potentially a fantastic value play with L1/PP1 roles for Snuggerud. The former University of Minnesota standout is not afraid to shoot the puck and will be tasked with scoring goals playing alongside elite playmaker Robert Thomas. Snuggerud may be worth rostering long term in fantasy leagues.
Marco Kasper, C/LW, DET vs. MTL (21% rostered) – FanDuel
$5,000
Emmitt Finnie, C/LW, DET vs. MTL (0% rostered) – FanDuel n/a
Kasper and Finnie are two of the most intriguing plays I can think of for Thursday’s slate. Kasper can be an incredibly streaky player but retains his spot as the 2C between Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat. He’s not afraid to shoot the puck or block shots, which gives him a decent floor.
Finnie, a seventh-round pick, is the most surprising prospect to make an NHL team out of camp. He’s slated to play L1 with Lucas Raymond and Dylan Larkin, and he’s known for his smart, two-way play with some offensive skill. He’s a shot in the dark in very deep leagues, albeit a very calculated one, and unfortunately not available in FanDuel DFS play. The downside with Kasper and Finnie is that neither are slated to play on the power play.
Frank Nazar, C, CHI at BOS (18% rostered) – FanDuel $4,600
It the first game was any indication, it’s shaping up to be a breakout season for Nazar. He played 20:14 and finished with a goal and an assist, and the Hawks really seem comfortable giving him and Connor Bedard a lot of ice time. The Bruins are expected to start backup Joonas Korpisalo in the second game of a back-to-back.
Dmitri Voronkov, LW, CBJ at NSH (10% rostered) – FanDuel $4,500
Potentially really good value for Voronkov, who will play L1/PP2 and looking to build off a 23-goal last season. He averages about two shots per game and provides some potential for blocked shots. The Preds were one of the worst teams last season and didn’t overhaul their roster, so you wonder how good they really are even with a change in strategy.
Brady Martin, C, NSH vs. CBJ (2% rostered) – FanDuel $3,000
Early-season audition for Andrew Brunette or is there really something here? Martin is the most value of value plays of the night, slated to be 1C (!) for the season opener with Ryan O'Reilly and Filip Forsberg and play PP2. Martin had a great camp, but this is a really surprising decision considering Martin is only 18 years old with only two years of major junior experience and drafted fifth overall just a few months ago.
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