Fantasy picks: Brady Skjei thriving at even strength

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 picks are for 10-game Saturday contests beginning at 7 p.m. ET.

TOP CENTER: Connor McDavid, EDM ($7,900)
McDavid is a daily threat for a multipoint game and faces the Detroit Red Wings, who are allowing the fourth-most DraftKings points per game to opposing centers. The Edmonton Oilers captain has 29 points in 28 home games and 12 in his past nine games. With so many value options available on this 10-game slate, you can afford to spend up for McDavid, an elite wing and the goalie of your choice.
VALUE CENTER: David Krejci, BOS ($5,200)
Since the Boston Bruins replaced Claude Julien with Bruce Cassidy on Feb. 7, Krejci has nine points in nine games. His scoring uptick is a direct result of having fantasy breakout David Pastrnak on his wing. Krejci has scored nine of his 12 power-play points at home, where he plays the New Jersey Devils on Saturday. The Devils have been outscored 89-72 on the road this season.

TOP WING: Patrik Laine, WPG ($7,100)
Laine, who has the highest goals per game average (0.55; minimum 10 games) by a rookie since Alex Ovechkin in 2005-06 (0.64), has a juicy matchup at home against the Colorado Avalanche, who are allowing the second-most DraftKings points per game to right wings. Laine has 12 points in his six-game point streak playing with Mark Scheifele, and 29 points in 25 Winnipeg Jets home games entering Friday.
VALUE WING: Kyle Palmieri, NJD ($4,600)
Palmieri has 25 points in 31 road games, a drastic difference from his home total of 15 in 30 games. He has one goal on 10 SOG in two games against the Bruins this season, and eight points and 27 SOG in his past eight games. He's on the Devils' top line and first power-play unit with Taylor Hall and Travis Zajac, and is quietly on pace for his second-straight season of more than 50 points.

TOP DEFENSEMAN: Kevin Shattenkirk, WSH ($5,000)
Shattenkirk does not have a point in his first two games with the Washington Capitals, but that should change against the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday at home. He had two points, two blocks and six SOG in two games for the St. Louis Blues against the Flyers (4.5 DraftKings points per game), and Philadelphia has a weak road penalty kill (79.6 percent, 20th).
VALUE DEFENSEMAN: Brady Skjei, NYR ($3,600)
Skjei leads rookie defensemen in even-strength points (27) by a wide margin; the next-highest scorer is Ivan Provorov (20) of the Flyers. Skjei has done most of his damage for the New York Rangers at home, where he has 20 of his 31 points. You can't beat that value for a defenseman priced in the mid-$3,000 range. His DraftKings points per game average has increased in his past 10 games (2.7) compared to his season average (2.2). He has one assist, four blocks and four SOG in two games against the Montreal Canadiens (3.0).

GOALIE SPOTLIGHT: Jonathan Quick or Ben Bishop, LAK ($8,300)
The Los Angeles Kings, in the midst of their Stanley Cup Playoff push, play the second game of a seven-game homestand against the Vancouver Canucks, and whichever goalie starts is a safe bet in daily fantasy. Quick has won two of three games since returning from a long injury absence and has a .937 save percentage in 31 games against the Canucks. Bishop is 6-2-2 in his past 10 games and returned value in his Kings debut, an overtime loss at the Calgary Flames (28 saves on 30 shots faced; 3.6 DraftKings points).
---
Check out DraftKings.com to play 1-Day Fantasy Hockey today. Entering is quick and simple: Sign up for a free account, enter the $3 1-Day Fantasy Hockey contest and set your lineup, catch the games and win!
DraftKings fantasy hockey contests are operated by DraftKings Inc. and are in no way sponsored or administered by the NHL and/or any of its affiliated entities. Prohibited and/or not available in AL, AZ, DE, GA, HI, IA, ID, LA, MT, NV and WA. Offered in IL and TX pending litigation. See terms for additional eligibility rules.