Daily Fantasy Hockey 2015: DraftKings NHL Optimal Lineup for Oct. 8
The second night of the NHL season brings us seven games on the card and a great chance to find some explosive scoring.
The best opportunity for scoring comes in Dallas, where the Stars host the Pittsburgh Penguins. Right off the top, we will have a chance to see Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin facing off against Tyler Seguin and new acquisition Patrick Sharp.
While we expect that game to be a high-scoring affair, the goals could come in St. Louis, where the Blues host Connor McDavid and the new-look Edmonton Oilers.
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Since we are at the beginning of a new season, let's explain the basics of the DraftKings NHL game. We have nine roster spots on our fantasy team, and all nine players must fit in under our $50,000 salary cap. Since we have a limited amount of money to spend, we can't go for a roster filled with superstars, as we won't be able to fill our spots. Our roster includes two centers, three wings, two defensemen, a goalie and a utility player (any non-goaltender).
We have to include second- and third-tier players if we want to stay within our budget.
A sharp daily fantasy sports player can make good use of the second- and third-tier players. Finding players who excel at all aspects of the game is vital to succeeding. Defensive-minded players have value because you accumulate points for blocked shots as well as goals, assists, shots on goal and short-handed points. (Here's a look at the complete breakdown of how you can score points in DraftKings fantasy hockey.)
Here's a look at our lineup for Thursday's games:
| Position | Player, Team | Opponent | FPPG (2014-15) | Salary |
| C | Tyler Seguin, Dallas | Pittsburgh | 4.9 | $8,000 |
| C | David Krejci, Boston | Winnipeg | 2.4 | $4,800 |
| W | Blake Wheeler, Winnipeg | Boston | 3.7 | $6,100 |
| W | Jaden Schwartz, St. Louis | Edmonton | 3.6 | $5,500 |
| W | James Neal, Nashville | Carolina | 3.4 | $5,800 |
| D | Torey Krug, Boston | Winnipeg | 2.9 | $4,800 |
| D | Jacob Trouba, Winnipeg | Boston | 2.7 | $4,200 |
| G | Brian Elliott, St. Louis | Edmonton | 4.4 | $7,000 |
| Utility | Mike Ribeiro, Nashville | Carolina | 2.4 | $3,700 |
Centers: Tyler Seguin, Dallas Stars ($8,000), and David Krejci, Boston Bruins ($4,800)
The 23-year-old Seguin is starting his sixth season in the NHL and his third with the Stars. Since being traded by the Boston Bruins prior to the 2013-14 season, Seguin has scored 37 goals in back-to-back seasons. This is the year he should bust through the 40-goal mark and make a run at the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's leading scorer.
Seguin gets a chance to compete against Crosby in this game. Look for Seguin to score at least a goal and an assist as he gets his season off to a great start.
David Krejci had an injury-plagued season in 2014-15, and if the Bruins are going to get back to the playoffs, they need Krejci to remain healthy and regain his scoring touch. Krejci played in just 47 games last year, and he scored just seven goals and 24 assists. However, he wasn't completely healthy in those 47 games, as he played with a series of nagging injuries.
Krejci is healthy coming into the start of the season, and he is generally acknowledged to be the Bruins' best offensive player. We are betting he is still at that level and will write a nice opening chapter against the Winnipeg Jets.
Wings: Blake Wheeler, Winnipeg Jets ($6,100), Jaden Schwartz, St. Louis Blues ($5,500), and James Neal, Nashville Predators ($5,800)
The 29-year-old Blake Wheeler is a big bull of a wing who can use his size and strength (6'5", 225 lbs) to play the physical game, and he combines that with surprising speed and skill. Wheeler has improved quite a bit the last two years, as he has put 54 goals in the last two seasons. Wheeler will be around the net when the Jets open the season in Boston, and he will score at least one goal on Tuukka Rask of the Bruins.
Jaden Schwartz had a breakthrough season in 2014-15 for the St. Louis Blues, and the 23-year-old left-hander could exceed the 28 goals and 35 assists he had last year. Schwartz gets his wrist shot away quickly, and he is a huge factor on the power play. He had eight man-advantage goals last year and could reach double digits this year. The Blues host the Edmonton Oilers in their opener, and Schwartz could score multiple points in this game.
James Neal had a decent goal-scoring year in his first season with the Predators, as he found the back of the net 23 times. However, Neal is capable of much more because he has reached the 40-goal mark in the past. Neal, 28, would like to score 30 goals or more, and he is streaky scorer who can carry a team when he gets hot. Look for Neal to open the season with a big night against the lowly Carolina Hurricanes.
Defensemen: Torey Krug, Boston Bruins ($4,800), and Jacob Trouba, Winnipeg Jets ($4,200)
The Bruins have made a lot of changes on the blue line in the past couple of years, and trading away Johnny Boychuk and Dougie Hamilton was not necessarily productive. If the Bruins are going to bounce back this year, they need some of their players to exceed expectations, and one of those players is Torey Krug.
He is a productive offensive defenseman with an excellent shot who is also an accurate passer. Krug has scored 79 points in the past two seasons, and he has the instincts to lead the power play. He had 14 power-play points last year, and he will score in the opener against the Jets.
When the Jets drafted Jacob Trouba in 2012, they did it with the idea that he would become a team leader and an elite defenseman. He scored 10 goals and 19 assists in his first full season with the Jets, and while he dipped a bit last year with seven goals and 15 assists, look for his numbers to improve in 2015-16. Trouba also plays with a mean streak, and that should give him a little extra room to operate when carrying the puck. Look for Trouba to get the year started with a productive night against the Bruins.
Goalie: Brian Elliott, St. Louis Blues ($7,000)
Brian Elliott played 46 games with the St. Louis Blues last year, and he did an excellent job with a 26-14-3 record, a 2.26 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage. Elliott had five shutouts during the season, and he gets a chance to open the year at home against the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers have a lot of bright young talent—McDavid, Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Nail Yakupov—but it will take these players a while to mature. They may not play their best in the opener, and Elliott will come away with a solid win.
Enter the DraftKings $1.5M Play-Action Contest this weekend. Use Promo Code BLEACHER REPORT when you sign up.
