This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
It's a busy week in the NHL, with the league coming off the recently-completed Christmas break that saw no games played over a three-day period. That gives every team in the league at least three games this week, which makes for a heavy daily fantasy schedule.
As usual, listed below are players that can make good punt plays in either cash games, tournaments, or perhaps both. It is either because their price hasn't adjusted to reflect their reality, or their situation has changed recently, and that means a low price, too. All skaters will be under $4,000 (as of Tuesday morning), while the goalie will be a cheap tournament play.
Center
Markus Granlund, Calgary ($3,000)
The younger brother of Minnesota's Mikael Granlund, Markus is starting to make a name for himself on the Flames.
Drafted in the second round in 2011, Granlund spent a few years in the Finnish senior league before coming to North America last year. After spending the majority of the season in the AHL for the 2013-14 season, Granlund started began there this year as well, but it wasn't long before he joined the big club.
In 27 games so far this year, Granlund has 13 points. That might not sound like a huge total -- and it isn't -- but he's done so while averaging just over 15 minutes a game. While ice time can often be in flux, he hasn't been below 13 minutes in ice time in 10 straight games. One big reason for Granlund's low ice time is that he doesn't play the power play, which is a bit of a hit to his value.
Where Granlund is drawing his value right now is in playing between Jiri Hudler and Johnny Gaudreau at even strength. That's about as good a spot as possible to be in for a player on the Flames. So far this year, Granlund is third among Calgary forwards in points per 60 minutes at five-on-five, trailing his two linemates. For reference on where Granlund's 1.89 points per 60 minutes stand in the NHL, it's tied with Andrew Ladd, and ahead of Nathan MacKinnon. With Edmonton coming up on Wednesday, that would be an ideal day to use Granlund as a punt play at center in cash games.
Left Wing
Jiri Sekac, Montreal ($3,300)
It has been an up-and-down year for the import from the Czech Republic. At times, Sekac has been relied upon for 17 to 18 minutes a night, demonstrating high skill levels and a two-way game (at times). Other nights, he plays under 10 minutes or is just an outright healthy scratch. That can be expected for a rookie sometimes.
For the month of December, it's been more good than bad. In 11 games this month, Sekac has four goals and three assists, but is still seeing his ice time swing wildly. That indicates that he doesn't have the full trust of his coach, and though that might be the complete wrong view to hold, it's the view held by the man who decides Sekac's ice time.
One thing that will hurt Sekac's production is that he's getting buried with zone starts (because why not use a rookie heavily in the defensive zone when he's so unreliable to the coach that he sometimes can't play 10 minutes a night?). Montreal does have New Jersey and Pittsburgh later this week, though, and both teams are going through a lot of turmoil right now for different reasons. Sekac makes a good punt play in tournaments.
Right Wing
Colton Sceviour, Dallas ($3,300)
For about the sixth time this year, it's time to write about the revolving door that is the third horseman on the top line in Dallas with Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin. Of late, that spot has gone to Sceviour.
If Sceviour's name isn't familiar, it's because he only played 28 games (with 13 points) in his career before this year. He's been a depth player for the Dallas Stars, but of late has found his way to playing on the top line. What's interesting is this (small sample alert): so far in his time with Tyler Seguin, Sceviour is driving the play more than Seguin is as measured by shot attempts. A lot of this has to do with Sceviour getting easier matchups when he and Seguin aren't playing together, but it also indicates that he's not just a warm body on the wing.
Dallas has a home game against Arizona on Wednesday, which is a tasty matchup. They also get the Wild on the weekend, a team that is fighting injuries and infections left and right. That's potentially two good matchups, and I wouldn't hesitate to just plug Sceviour as a punt play in cash games.
Defenseman
Zach Redmond, Colorado ($3,400)
It won't be very often that Colorado players will be recommended here; in fact, if I recall correctly, this is just the third time all year. The big reason for that is that they aren't very good, and plus/minus becomes a huge concern in that situation.
Redmond is worth the plunge this week. Colorado -- this can't be stated enough -- isn't a very good team, but they get Edmonton, Philadelphia, and Columbus for the rest of the week, and none of those teams are very good either. Redmond is having a fine season for himself so far with 10 points in 25 games, by far his most productive year to date.
What makes Redmond especially intriguing is this: of those three teams that Colorado has yet to play this week, all rank in the bottom half of the NHL in penalty-kill efficiency, with Philadelphia at the bottom. Redmond has been getting second-unit power-play duties, which makes him a good punt play on defense in either cash or tournament games all week.
Goaltender
Niklas Svedberg, Boston ($7,100)
It was a rough weekend for Svedberg, as the backup goalie was pulled in Boston's game against Columbus after allowing three goals on 15 shots. That's what really makes me like him this upcoming weekend.
On Saturday and Sunday, Boston plays back-to-back games against the Senators and Hurricanes. Almost assuredly, Svedberg will get one of those games. With the hopes that he turned off a lot of daily players from his performance last weekend, he could be a low-owned, high-percentage goalie for tournaments. I would be tempted in cash games, but it really would depend which day he plays (which changes the volume of the slate).
Good luck this week!
