FanDuel NHL: Wednesday Value Plays

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Updated on October 3, 2018 10:43AM EST

Welcome back! Did you miss the NHL? I sure did, but now a new season is upon us. That means daily fantasy hockey is back as well. There are four games Wednesday to open the season, and here are my recommendations for your lineup…

GOALIE

Frederik Andersen, TOR vs. MON ($8,400): Andersen faced a ton of shots last season, which is why he had a 2.81 GAA despite an impressive .918 save percentage. Maybe this year, with the Leafs youngsters a little older, and John Tavares in the mix, the shots will be less plentiful. The Canadiens were only 29th in goals per game last year, and since then they've traded Max Pacioretty and seen Shea Weber lost to injury. The offense could remain punchless to start the season.

CENTER

Sean Monahan, CGY at VAN ($7,300): Monahan put up big numbers last year, as he notched 31 goals in only 74 games. Over the last four seasons he's scored at least 27 goals. The Canucks had a 3.16 GAA as a team, and last year Jacob Markstrom had a .912 save percentage in his first year as their regular starter.

Bo Horvat, VAN vs. CGY ($6,100): With the Sedins having retired, Horvat is now the clear top center for the Canucks. He had 22 goals and 22 assists last year in only 64 games, and he had a big role on the power play — averaging 2:42 of ice time with the extra man while notching 10 goals there. Mike Smith got off to a good start last year but posted an .886 save percentage in his last 14 games.

WING

Rickard Rakell, ANA at SAN ($7,000): Rakell is simply one of the better goal-scorers in the league at this point, as he has 33 and 34 goals over his last two seasons. He also started 54.7 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone last year, most among Anaheim's regulars.

Mitch Marner, TOR vs. MON ($6,600): Marner was already a good player, posting 22 goals and 69 points in his sophomore season, and the addition of John Tavares should only improve things. Marner also tallied 27 of his points on the power play, and the Canadiens ranked 30th on the penalty kill last year.

Jake DeBrusk, BOS at WAS ($4,900): DeBrusk had a surprising rookie season, posting 16 goals and 27 assists in 70 games. He was certainly helped by the fact he started 70.0 percent of his shift in the offensive zone, most among Boston regulars. If he does that again, it will help his offensive potential. Braden Holtby is likely to bounce back, but that doesn't change the fact he had a .907 save percentage last season.

DEFENSEMEN

Jeff Petry, MON at TOR ($4,700): Petry had a breakout season last year, notching 42 points, including 23 on the power play. That would seem odd given that he was 29 last year, but there is a clear reason for it. Shea Weber missed a lot of the season, and Petry stepped into his role. Weber is still out, so Petry's still the main defensemen — and power-play point man — for the Habs.

T.J. Brodie, CGY at VAN ($4,300): With Dougie Hamilton gone, Brodie will be paired once again with Mark Giordano as the top defensemen for the Flames. That will help Brodie and could help him positively regress from a dismal 2017-18 shooting percentage of 3.4.

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Chris Morgan plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: cmorgan3, DraftKings: cmorgan3.