This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
It's the big night.
Seth Jones will make his debut with the Blue Jackets and Ryan Johansen will make his with the Predators. It's a new beginning for both budding young stars and franchise-altering moments for both teams.
It's difficult to say which team got the better deal because Jones and Johansen play vastly different positions and they've got long careers ahead of them, but there's no doubt that the two of them will be put in No. 1 roles.
Johansen will be the No. 1 center the Preds have tried to obtain after years of experimenting with David Legwand, Jason Arnott and Peter Forsberg with varying results. Johansen's last shift in Columbus, in which he seemed to avoid the puck in the faceoff and allowed Minnesota's Mikael Granlund to win the draw clean and ice the game with an empty-net shot from center ice, was indicative of the way he's been playing, and though John Tortorella gets a lot of flak, his criticism of Johansen's play isn't unwarranted.
Peter Laviolette's Flyers squad during the Mike Richards-Jeff Carter era got into some hot water for their hard partying ways, leading observers to question the discipline and commitment of its athletes, so it'll be interesting to see if he can get Johansen to give a little more.
In Jones, the BJ's get the No. 1 defensemen they never had. Peak Rusty Klesla and Jack Johnson may be the closest they ever got, but now they have a right-handed first-pairing defenseman that 28 other teams in the league covet, with only Nashville deeming him expendable because they have already have an elite right hander in Shea Weber and two other top-four defensemen in Mattias Ekholm and Ryan Ellis.
GOALIE
Jake Allen, STL at ANH ($38) - The Blues should have the upper hand, but this game could be a nightmare to figure out. John Gibson ($38) could shut the door anytime, and if you're one of those "home team" guys, then he's not a bad choice, but know that the Blues are very, very good. Corey Crawford ($42) is the best bet for a win, but comes at a premium.
Goalie to Avoid
Semyon Varlamov, COL vs. NSH ($36) - The Avs are the only team in the Central Division who are below .500 at home, which already tells you something, even though they're coming off two straight wins and a struggling Nashville team. However, the Preds do have a brand new weapon in Ryan Johansen and they'll want to make a strong statement.
CENTER
Matt Duchene, COL vs. NSH ($22) - He was named to the All-Star Game and has been on a tear recently with three goals and three assists in his past five games. Nashville isn't normally easy to score on, but little can stop hot hands.
Center to Avoid
Eric Staal, CAR vs. CLS ($20) - After scoring four points in two games against the Caps and Devils, Staal went without a point for the next three games, with the 'Canes losing all of them. The Blue Jackets will have an elite No. 1 defenseman in the making in Seth Jones, and you can bet that John Tortorella will lean on him heavily. You could argue that Joonas Korpisalo is an easy target, but why not go for Victor Rask ($18) instead?
WINGERS
Taylor Hall, EDM vs. TB ($28) - The Lightning aren't scaring anybody anymore, but the Oilers offense certainly will. With just one goal in nine games, Hall is in a bit of a slump, but he's too talented not to score and it's not without a lack of trying; he's fired at least four shots on goal in five of his past six games.
Patrick Kane, CHI vs. BUF ($34) - It's hard to find any reasons to leave Kane out of any fantasy lineup. He'll face off against his hometown team, one that has been without their unproven No. 1 goalie, Robin Lehner, since the season opener. The Sabres are vastly improved, but Patrick Kane will do Patrick Kane things whoever the opponent.
Wingers to Avoid
Alexander Steen, STL at ANH ($24) - He has just one goal in six games and is a career minus-8 in 22 matchups with the Ducks. His numbers against them aren't very flattering, even though he's a solid player, and there's the added risk that Gibson has a great game.
James Neal, NSH at COL ($21) - He hasn't scored in four games and with the addition of Johansen, you wonder how many of Neal's shots will go to him. Johansen is an all-round offensive player who doesn't mind setting up his wingers, but he's at his best when he's shooting the puck, so that's what Peter Laviolette may ask him to do.
DEFENSEMEN
Justin Faulk, CAR vs. CLS ($21) - He's the Hurricanes' best player and with the Preds struggling, Shea Weber and Roman Josi don't seem like such attractive picks, especially when they're going against an Avs team that can score. The BJ's are starting Korpisalo as well, which is good for Faulk because he shoots a lot.
Tyson Barrie, COL vs. NSH ($22) - There has been no news on a contract extension, but Barrie is doing all he can to increase his value. He has five points in his past two games, including four points against the Kings and a one-assist performance against the Blues when he skated 29:01. The Preds' defense will be weaker without Seth Jones.
Defensemen to Avoid
Kevin Shattenkirk, STL at ANH ($28) - Normally, he's a great pick, but the Ducks' goaltending could get hot and they boast the league's best penalty kill, which kind of renders Shattenkirk's special ability kind of moot. Neither he nor Roman Josi, two of the most expensive defenseman for Friday's slate, are attractive picks.
Victor Hedman, TB at EDM ($18) - He might seem like a good value pick, especially against a team that allows goals all the time, but the big Swede has not scored a point in six games and has just 18 this season. He's still on pace for more than 30 points, but it's hard to lean on him when he scores so infrequently.
