This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
Friday's NHL schedule features six games, which is a rare number. Typically, there are approximately 10 games on busy nights, and four or fewer on a lighter evening. The player pool presents depth, but you still need to be conscious to avid spreading out your tournament selections across too many teams. That said, here are a number of players presenting nice value to consider while filling out your DraftKings lineups Friday.
GOALIE
Cam Talbot, EDM at VAN ($7,700): The Canucks have lost three consecutive games, and their five-on-five shooting percentage has plummeted all the way down to 4.7 for the year. Typically, there would be a case for positive regression, but Vancouver's roster is weak and worth targeting by using opposing goalies. The Canucks also have an underwhelming 12.5 power-play percentage. Talbot, on the other hand, is playing extremely well (.927 save percentage to start the year), and the Oilers have a sixth-ranked 58.6 goals-for percentage at five-on-five.
CENTER
Sean Monahan, CGY vs. OTT ($5,900): Somehow, Monahan has started the season with an 88.4 PDO and 45.4 CorsiFor percentage despite beginning 62.1 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone. With consecutive 60-point showings on his resume, the offensive production is coming for Monahan. And while home-road splits aren't dogmatic in predicting results, Ottawa traveled worse than any team in the league last year (3.32 goals allowed per game). The Sens are also turning the crease over to Andrew Hammond, who has only a .910 save percentage dating back to the beginning of 2015-16.
Pavel Zacha, NJD vs. CHI ($3,800): The 20-year-old pivot clicked in his first opportunity with Taylor Hall and Kyle Palmieri last time out, and he's projected to stick in that top-line role for Friday's test against Chicago. It might be difficult for Zacha to post another two-assist night, but this price is low enough for him to hit value even without a multi-point game. Zacha is also skating with the No. 1 power-play unit, and the Blackhawks own a league-worst 46.2 penalty-killing percentage thus far.
WING
Patrik Laine, WPG at COL ($6,400): With six goals through his first seven games and top offensive minutes in all situations, Laine's salary is still a little low given his nightly upside and early production. He's averaging 19:12 per night with 3:48 of power-play time, and his high shot volume (3.29 shots per game) presents an excellent fantasy floor for the points to pile on top of.
Mike Hoffman, OTT at CGY ($5,900): Dating back to the 2014-15 season, Hoffman has been an elite scorer at five-on-five with a fifth-ranked 2.33 points per 60 minutes among skaters with at least 2,000 minutes of ice time. Last season, he grabbed an uptick in power-play time and scored 13 power-play points, so his slow start this year -- three assists over six games -- shouldn't extend too much longer. He's also a high-volume shooter with an average of 3.16 shots per game dating back to the beginning of last year.
Mikhail Grigorenko, COL vs. WPG ($3,500): Grigorenko was sneaky productive in a supporting role last season, as his 1.25 assists per 60 minutes ranked 36th among skaters with at least 750 minutes at five-on-five last year. He's expected to play with Nathan MacKinnon in all situations against Winnipeg on Friday. Grigorenko already has three helpers -- two on the power play -- this season and has averaged 16:35 of ice time over his past two games. His role is expanding, and his offensive efficiency could actually increase now that he's skating with better players more consistently. This salary opens up plenty of cap space, too.
DEFENSE
Tyson Barrie, COL vs. WPG ($4,900): This salary is too low for Barrie. His 1.75 points per 60 minutes among defenseman with at least 2,000 minutes since the 2014-15 season is the sixth highest mark in the league. He can be a little hit-or-miss in the shot and block columns, but through 78 games last year, Barrie had 172 shots and 84 blocked shots. With those peripherals and his average 22:33 of ice time to start 2016-17, there's a respectable fantasy floor built in here.
Damon Severson, NJ vs. CHI ($3,600): As noted, the Blackhawks penalty kill is reeling, and at this salary, Severson's a worthy low-priced flier given his four power-play points and 2:57 of man-advantage time per night through his past four games. He's expected to stick with the No. 1 power-play unit for Friday's game against Chicago. Among defensemen with at least 200 power-play minutes since Severson entered the league in 2014-15, his 4.08 assists per 60 minutes rank 11th in the league.
