Each day this season, NHL.com's fantasy staff will provide daily picks for DraftKings NHL contests. This article includes expensive and value plays and should be used as a basis for your roster decision-making.
NOTE: These recommendations are for five-game contests, excluding the 12:30 p.m. ET game between the Boston Bruins and Dallas Stars, and the 3 p.m. ET game between the Calgary Flames and Carolina Hurricanes.
Fantasy picks: Dion Phaneuf of Senators has value
Underrated Ottawa defenseman among Feb. 26 DFS options against Panthers
TOP CENTER: Jack Eichel, BUF ($7,400)
Although Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers is the highest-priced center ($8,400) and leading scorer in the NHL, it's worth taking Eichel, the second-ranked center in this contest. The Buffalo Sabres play the Arizona Coyotes, who are 29th in the League in goals-against per game (3.22). Eichel had 12 points (one goal, 11 assists) in his previous 10 games before playing Saturday at the Colorado Avalanche, and averaged 3.7 SOG per game in that span. Eichel was averaging 4.3 DraftKings points per game this season. He had more than 3.5 DraftKings points in all but one of his previous eight games entering Saturday.
VALUE CENTER: Martin Hanzal, ARI ($4,800)
Hanzal has 16 goals for the Coyotes, but six have come in his past eight games. He had a goal and eight SOG in a 5-2 loss to the Dallas Stars on Friday, when he had 7.0 DraftKings points. Hanzal also has at least a point in six of his past eight games, and provides solid category coverage in SOG (127) and blocks (45). He's playing at home, where he has 18 points (10 goals, eight assists) in 25 games, and faces the Sabres, who will be playing the second game of a back-to-back set.
TOP WING: Patrick Kane, CHI ($7,900)
Kane is the most valuable wing in the contest, and for good reason. The Chicago Blackhawks right wing is coming off the third hat trick of his NHL career in a 6-3 win against the Coyotes on Thursday (13.0 DraftKings points) and has eight goals and six points in his past 10 games. With 220 SOG and 63 points, he's worth the hefty price. Kane is averaging 4.3 DraftKings points this season and is always a threat. Chicago hosts the St. Louis Blues on Sunday, and Kane has 37 points (13 goals, 24 assists) in 31 home games and three points in four games against the Blues this season.
VALUE WING: Reilly Smith, FLA ($4,500)
The Florida Panthers have climbed back into the Stanley Cup Playoff race, and Smith has been producing, albeit quietly. He had two assists and three SOG (5.5 DraftKings points) in a 4-2 loss to the Calgary Flames on Friday, and has one goal and seven assists in his past 10 games. Although just eight of his 26 points have come at BB&T Center, where the Panthers play the Ottawa Senators on Sunday, the price tag makes him worth the risk. Smith has at least a point in five of seven games and is averaging 2.4 DraftKings points per contest this season.
TOP DEFENSEMAN: Seth Jones, CBJ ($5,600)
Jones has 34 points in 53 games for the Columbus Blue Jackets. His four-game point streak (six assists) ended in a 7-0 win against the New York Islanders on Saturday. Before being kept off the score sheet, he had 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in his previous 10 games. Jones has 114 SOG and 90 blocks, and he's had success against the New York Rangers, his opponent Sunday, in three games this season (two goals, one assist, 4.8 DraftKings points per game).
VALUE DEFENSEMAN: Dion Phaneuf, OTT ($4,400)
Phaneuf has not only been a solid shut down defender this season, but he's helped the Senators offensively as well. He has 26 points (nine goals, 17 assists) in 59 games and has triple-digit blocks (109) and SOG (124). He's averaging 3.0 DraftKings points per contest and has three goals and three assists in his past 10 games. He is ranked 15th in price but 12th in points per game among available defensemen. Phaneuf is second on the Senators in scoring among defenseman behind Erik Karlsson (52 points).
GOALIE SPOTLIGHT: Henrik Lundqvist, NYR ($7,900)
Lundqvist will start for the Rangers on Sunday after backup Antti Raanta played in a 4-3 overtime win against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday. In his past 10 games, Lundqvist is 7-1-1 with a 2.09 goals-against average and .937 save percentage, and is averaging a whopping 6.0 DraftKings points per game. He made 32 saves in a 2-1 shootout win against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday. It's worth noting he hasn't fared well against the Blue Jackets, his opponent on Sunday (1-1-0, 10 goals-against on 76 shots), but he's been on fire recently and is worth a play.
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