This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
This will be the normal day for the posting of this FanDuel values column. Last week was a bit odd because of the middle-of-the-week start, but unless something comes up, expect a bargain column on Tuesday for the rest of the season.
For those reading this for the first time, I look for bargain-priced players on FanDuel that DFSers can use for salary relief. The skaters will always be under $4,000, with one skater at each position and one (or two) cheap goalies. The skaters are usually chosen because of a situation change where underpricing can be common. The goalies are usually chosen because a team has suffered a goaltending injury, or are facing a back-to-back game situation the week ahead.
Center
William Karlsson (Columbus) - $3,200
One skater I was looking forward to watching this year was Columbus's third line centre, Alex Wennberg. He was slated to play (and had been playing) between Scott Hartnell and Cam Atkinson, two guys that know a thing or two about finishing plays.
Wennberg is now out of the lineup with an injury, and William Karlsson has taken his spot. Karlsson was the key skater coming back in the James Wisniewski trade last year. Though his NHL numbers haven't been eye-popping, I do like his new placement.
Playing between Atkinson and Hartnell provides Karlsson two playmakers right out of the gate. Also, the schedule for Columbus this week is pretty reasonable: Columbus has home games Wednesday and Friday against Ottawa and Toronto, respectively. Playing on that third line should get matchups against the bottom-half of both of those rosters, and that's a very good thing.
The slate on Wednesday is short, but packs a lot of star power from teams like Chicago, Philadelphia, Colorado, and Anaheim. Karlsson gives a lot of relief to DFSers wanting to load up on talent on a short night.
Left Wing
Zemgus Girgensons (Buffalo) - $3,300
In Buffalo's latest game, a home win against Columbus, Girgensons had more ice time at even strength than Ryan O'Reilly and Matt Moulson. He was also playing a regular shift on the "top line" with O'Reilly and Tyler Ennis. While he was moved on and off the power play, Girgensons will at least have a chance to put up points five-on-five.
The top line placement hasn't always been the case. Girgensons started the season on Buffalo's third line before graduating to the top line towards the end of their opener.
Girgensons actually had a decent year last season with 30 points in 61 games, considering Buffalo was trading almost anyone who dared score a goal or save a puck in an effort to tank for a top-two pick in the draft. Now that he's back with Ennis and O'Reilly, he'll have a chance to produce with actual NHL talent and actual NHL defencemen.
Later this week, the Sabres visit both Florida and Tampa Bay. For that reason alone, I wouldn't use Girgensons in a cash game; the downside of plus/minus is too risky. Given his new line mates and situation, though, a stack of Girgensons/Ennis/O'Reilly is the type of stack that would go widely unowned in tournaments.
Right Wing
Brandon Sutter (Vancouver) - $3,600
Sutter was traded from Pittsburgh in exchange from Nick Bonino (and other parts), and it was assumed Sutter would just take over the role as second line centre for the Canucks. It hasn't exactly worked out that way, as Sutter has been a mainstay next to Daniel and Henrik Sedin on Vancouver's top line.
At time of writing, which is before Monday night's late game between Vancouver and Anaheim, Sutter had averaged over 20 minutes a game through Vancouver's first two games (with two points). What's more is that Sutter is also playing on the top power play unit, as the Canucks are running four forwards that include the Sedins and Radim Vrbata.
I am still not a fan of Sutter's general talent as it relates to fantasy, but being the third wheel alongside the Sedins is still one of the best positions to be in for production.
The Canucks have a fairly tough schedule coming up, with games in Los Angeles and at home to St. Louis. On Sunday, however, Sutter is nearly a must-play in a home matchup against the Edmonton Oilers in a cash game (50/50s and head-to-head). Sutter is greatly underpriced given his situation and ice time allotment. So even if you don't believe in his talent, believe in his linemates.
Defense
Marek Zidlicky (NY Islanders) - $3,600
A late signee by the New York Islanders, Zidlicky has come to the team and been inserted on the top power play unit for the Islanders. That means the power play unit featuring John Tavares, and that is a very plush spot to be.
Though Zidlicky is up there in years (38), aging defencemen worry me less than aging forwards. He was pretty good last year for Detroit after being acquired for the stretch run, posting 11 points in 21 games, with eight of those points coming on the power play.
Zidlicky isn't getting a lot of ice time, but the ice time he's getting on the power play combined with his low cost is enough to overcome that. They face Nashville and San Jose later this week, but both are home games so he should be able to avoid tough matchups at five-on-five. Given his power play linemates, he could be a very cheap source of easy points.
Goalie
Thomas Greiss (NY Islanders) - $7,200
Greiss is the backup for the Islanders, filling in for the injured Jaroslav Halak. While Halak may be due back sometime this week, I doubt the Islanders push him too hard right out of the gate with two games in three nights.
While it was limited action (a little over 3,600 minutes), Greiss managed a .929 save percentage at five-on-five from 2009-2015 – a stellar mark. Considering his price, Greiss is well worth a shot in tournaments this week. Using him for cash games is a lot riskier, but if the savings can be used wisely, he may be worth the risk.
Karri Ramo (Calgary) - $6,500
I trust Ramo a lot less than Greiss, but the Calgary Flames do have a back-to-back situation this weekend. I would assume Jonas Hiller gets one start, and Ramo gets the other. Should Ramo get the second of those starts, it's a home game against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night. That team has looked like a bit of a mess without Jordan Eberle in the lineup; though, to be fair, they have for most of the last few years. In a home game, I don't mind Ramo for a tournament, but would stay far away in cash games.
