Fantasy picks: Dougie Hamilton brings rare coverage

Each day this season, NHL.com's fantasy staff will provide daily picks for DraftKings NHL contests. This lineup has been constructed with expensive and value picks and should be used as a basis for your roster decision-making.

C - Logan Couture, SJS ($6,400)
Couture brings a unique element to the table in daily fantasy; he's tied for fifth among forwards in blocked shots with nearly one per game (53 in 55). He's centering the San Jose Sharks' second line with Patrick Marleau and plays on the first power-play unit with Brent Burns. Couture scored against the Florida Panthers on Nov. 10 and leads the Sharks with seven power-play goals. He has 10 points in his past 10 games (3.9 DraftKings points per game).
C - Patrik Berglund, STL ($4,300)
Entering Tuesday, Berglund was tied for the most goals in the NHL since Dec. 15 (16 in 26 games). With Paul Stastny (lower body) on injured reserve, Berglund should remain in a top-six role alongside mostly Jaden Schwartz. The St. Louis Blues play the Detroit Red Wings, who are allowing the third-most DraftKings points to opposing centers. You usually don't want to spend too much on a player in the game following a hat trick, but that doesn't apply to the extremely affordable Berglund.

W - Wayne Simmonds, PHI ($6,100)
Simmonds had two points, three blocks and three SOG (8.0 DraftKings points) for the Philadelphia Flyers against the Calgary Flames on Nov. 27. He has scored in back-to-back games and is playing alongside Claude Giroux and Brayden Schenn lately at even strength. That line thrived last season with each forward scoring at least 59 points. Simmonds, who has 19 points in 26 road games, provides $700 in DraftKings savings compared to Flames wing Johnny Gaudreau, even with Simmonds averaging more DraftKings points per game (3.6) than Gaudreau (3.3).
W - Jonathan Huberdeau, FLA ($5,400)
Huberdeau is three games into his season after a lengthy injury absence, but hasn't missed a beat with at least one point in each game and an average of 6.2 DraftKings points per game (most among wings). He has five points and 13 SOG and is moderately priced on the road against the Sharks. He's in a great spot on the Florida Panthers' first line and power-play unit with Aleksander Barkov and Jaromir Jagr.

W - William Nylander, TOR ($5,200)
The Toronto Maple Leafs will be on the second leg of a back-to-back set against the Columbus Blue Jackets, and Nylander provides cheap exposure to a potentially high-scoring game. He has been outstanding on the road with 25 points in 28 games and has scored 13 of his 16 power-play points away from home. Nylander had a goal and an assist against the New York Islanders on Tuesday and has eight points and 35 SOG in his past 10 games alongside Nazem Kadri.
D - Dougie Hamilton, CGY ($5,600)
Hamilton is one of three defensemen with at least 30 points (33), 150 SOG (160) and 50 blocks (72); the others are Brent Burns and Dustin Byfuglien. Whether the Flames have been hot or cold, Hamilton has been consistent, averaging 3.4 DraftKings points per game at home and on the road. He had a good game against the Flyers earlier in the season with two assists (one shorthanded), two blocks and two SOG (7.0 DraftKings points).

D - Morgan Rielly, TOR ($4,200)
Rielly is long overdue for a road goal with none on 52 SOG this season, and he could get it Wednesday against the Blue Jackets, who have allowed 12 goals in their past four home games. Since returning from an ankle injury, Rielly has four points, six blocks and 16 SOG in eight games. He doesn't see much power-play time but is averaging 22:10 per game on the season and offers exposure to the Maple Leafs' top-nine forward group.
G - Carter Hutton, STL ($8,000)
There isn't a slam-dunk goalie option on this four-game slate, so your best bet is to ride the hot hand with St. Louis on the road in Detroit. The Blues have outscored their opponents 20-8 in six games since replacing coach Ken Hitchcock with Mike Yeo on Feb. 1. Hutton gets the call against the Red Wings in the first leg of a back-to-back set. Three of Hutton's four road wins have been shutouts, including a 26-save performance in a 2-0 win at the Flyers on Feb. 6.
UTIL - Tomas Hertl, SJS ($4,600)
The Sharks struggled during their recent four-game road trip but earned a point in three of the four games (1-1-2) thanks to a secondary scoring boost from Hertl. He had one goal, two assists, two blocks and 14 SOG in the four games for an average of 3.8 DraftKings points per game. The Sharks wrapped up their trip Sunday afternoon and should be fresh at home against the Panthers after two days of rest.
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