This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
As is customary on Tuesdays, this is the bargain bin column for FanDuel NHL games.
Last week was a bit of a disaster. Most of the players mentioned (Paquette, Donskoi, Weber) had their situation changed as the week wore on, and that's bad for DFS. Remember that a lot of the reason for many recommendations is a change in situation that hasn't been reflected into the price. Things like a third pairing defenceman getting power play time or a third liner being moved to his team's top line drastically alters a player's value. This takes time to be reflected in pricing algorithms, and the time it takes is the value sweet spot
There will be one skater listed for each position, and priced at $4,000 or less. There will also be a couple of goalies at the end.
Centre
Andreas Athanasiou (Detroit) - $3,000
While definitely not a household name – and maybe someone who never will be – Athanasiou has an opportunity right now with the Red Wings. He has been skating on the third line for the Wings, playing alongside Teemu Pulkkinen. For those not familiar with Pulkkinen, he has a shot that sounds as terrifying coming off his stick as it looks. As for Athanasiou, he's a fourth round pick from 2012, and has 18 goals in 65 career AHL games.
The stretch of games this week for the Wings is real tough. They are at home to the Capitals on Wednesday, the Kings on Friday, and then visit the Blues on Saturday. Those are arguably three of the top five or six teams in the NHL.
What is nice about Athanasiou - and by extension, Pulkkinen - is they will not be getting the tough matchups out of these games. That means avoiding Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Anze Kopitar, Jeff Carter, Vladimir Tarasenko, and so on. That should limit the downside of taking a minus. I would prefer to use him in tournaments, and particularly against the Blues on Saturday.
Right Wing
Leon Draisaitl (Edmonton) - $3,200
Avoiding repeats in this column is always a goal. In reality, it's impossible to avoid Leon Draisaitl right now. The third overall pick from 2014 has 13 points in eight games (not a typo), and is playing 18:46 per game on the top line with Taylor Hall. It really is just not smart to stay away from him.
The Oilers only have two games this week, but they're both at home: one against Chicago on Wednesday and New Jersey on Friday. Those tend to be lighter game nights of the week, and considering his production, Draisaitl's ownership should be extensive. All the same, for cash games he's nearly a must-play, regardless of matchup. Just an even-strength assist can get him doubling his value.
As long as Draisaitl stays on that top line, he's playable in both cash games and tournaments. At his price, the salary relief alone is immense and the upside is through the roof.
Left Wing
Melker Karlsson (San Jose) - $3,800
Last week, Joonas Donskoi was in this column as a value play, as he was playing on the top line in San Jose with Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski. Donskoi was eventually supplanted on the top line by Melker Karlsson, and the latter responded with a goal on Friday against Detroit.
Karlsson had a pretty good rookie year last year, posting 24 points in 53 games, with 23 of those points coming at even strength. In fact, Karlsson managed a higher point per 60 minutes rate at five-on-five last year than Patrick Marleau and Tomas Hertl.
Obviously, the duo of Thornton and Pavelski go a long way in supporting Karlsson's numbers; but all the same, they scored more often with Karlsson on their line (2.94 goals per 60 minutes) than without him (2.26) last year.
The Sharks are on an East Coast swing this week, starting with Boston on Tuesday. I would avoid Karlsson in that game as that line should be matched against Patrice Bergeron's line. After that, though, they're in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Columbus. Those first two teams have been horrific defensively this year, and I would use Karlsson particularly against the Flyers in cash games and the Penguins in tournaments.
Defence
Shayne Gostisbehere (Philadelphia) - $3,000
The kid known as 'Ghost' was called up by the Flyers as defenceman Mark Streit will miss some time with surgery to repair a pubic plate displacement (that sounds extremely painful). All the same, that left a gap on the blue line for Philadelphia's top power play unit, and that spot has been filled by Gostisbehere.
This is a gifted defenceman: in 21 AHL games, he has 15 points, and the third round pick looks to be an important piece on the blue line moving forward for the Flyers. In his first game for the Flyers this year, he managed an assist and two shots on goal.
The Flyers have not been good on the power play this year, but they still have loads of skill on the top unit with Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek. They also get San Jose and Ottawa later this week. By percentage, respectively, those teams are 20th and 29th on the penalty kill this year, and 18th and 26th by scoring chances allowed while short handed. Ghost is in a good spot to produce this week, and is a min-priced player.
Goalie
James Reimer (Toronto) - $7,400
There is almost no goalie on a hotter streak right now than James Reimer. On the season, he is sporting a .925 save percentage, and has a .949 over his last four games.
The public perception right now is that the Leafs are not a good team, and they very well may not be. With that said, it's not uncommon for goalies to go on a run lasting half a season (Devan Dubnyk last year) or even the majority of a season (Mike Smith in 2011-12). I don't like riding hot streaks for skaters, but for goalies, I have no problem at all. At home on Tuesday against Colorado is a perfect spot to use Reimer in a tournament.
Jacob Markstrom (Vancouver) - $7,000
Having recently been reinstated from injury, Markstrom seems to be in line to get a real nice matchup this coming Sunday. The Canucks have a back-to-back situation this coming weekend, with Chicago coming in on Saturday and New Jersey on Sunday. Assuming Markstrom is the goalie getting the easier matchup, his price and situation makes him a great tournament option.
