Daily Fantasy Hockey 2015: DraftKings NHL Optimal Lineup for Oct. 17

It's Saturday night in the young NHL season, and that means there's a sizable card for fantasy players to find the best nine-man team.

Twenty teams are in action, and the competing players include superstars such as Sidney Crosby, Steven Stamkos, John Tavares, Alex Ovechkin, Patrick Kane, P.K. Subban and Duncan Keith.

But in DraftKings fantasy hockey, it's not usually the superstars who make the difference. You might be able to fit one or two big-name salaries on your roster, but you only have $50,000 to spend. That means you must spend wisely and your second- and third-tier players must produce.

Here's a look at the lineup we are proposing for Saturday night's action. We think this a group that has the balance and talent to win the big prize.

Position	Player, Team	Opponent	FPPG	Salary
C	Jonathan Toews, Chicago	Columbus	2.0	$6,300
C	Alex Galchenyuk, Montreal	Detroit	2.6	$4,600
W	Max Pacioretty, Montreal	Detroit	5.3	$7,600
W	Jaromir Jagr, Florida	Dallas	5.3	$5,600
W	Filip Forsberg, Nashville	Ottawa	4.0	$6,100
D	Torey Krug, Boston	Arizona	3.6	$4,800
D	Brent Seabrook, Chicago	Columbus	2.2	$3,800
G	Braden Holtby, Washington	Carolina	4.6	$8,000
U	Trevor Daley, Chicago	Columbus	1.5	$3,200

Centers: Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks ($6,300) and Alex Galchenyuk, Montreal Canadiens ($4,600)

The defending Stanley Cup champion, the Chicago Blackhawks, has lost two games in a row, and based on his history, that's about the point when Jonathan Toews' blood starts to boil.

The captain has led the Blackhawks to three Stanley Cups and has also been a part of two gold medal-winning teams in the Winter Olympics. He almost always makes his first priority playing air-tight defense, but when the Blackhawks start to struggle, he knows how to turn on the offensive part of his game. 

Look for him to do that on Saturday night when the Blackhawks host the Columbus Blue Jackets. Toews has just two assists through his first five games, but his track record says he is going to score between 25 and 35 goals this year. The Blackhawks are rested, while the Blue Jackets lost at home to Toronto on Friday. Toews will have a big night.

No team is playing better than the Montreal Canadiens, as the Habs have reeled off five straight wins. While goalie Carey Price is the backbone of the team, the Canadiens have received timely scoring through their first five games, and Alex Galchenyuk has been a big part of it.

Galchenyuk has scored a goal and three assists so far, but more than the numbers, he has been around the net, and his experience is starting to show in the fourth year of his career. At the age of 21, Galchenyuk is starting to understand what it takes to succeed in the NHL, and he should be ready for a big game at home against the Detroit Red Wings.

Detroit lost at home to Carolina on Friday night, while the Habs are rested. Galchenyuk will have a big night against the Red Wings.

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Wings: Max Pacioretty, Montreal Canadiens ($7,600), Jaromir Jagr, Florida Panthers ($5,600) and Filip Forsberg, Nashville Predators  ($6,100)

We already talked about the Canadiens' hot start, and Max Pacioretty is a goal-scoring machine who can rip shots in from long distance or make sharp moves when he is in tight to score artful goals.

The feeling is when Pacioretty is on the ice, he has the ability to turn momentum in Montreal's favor. Pacioretty is off to a brilliant start with four goals and two assists. Pacioretty has scored 76 goals in the past two seasons, and he should approach 40 goals this year. He will score at least one goal against the Red Wings.

Jaromir Jagr may be 43 years old, and the big winger may no longer skate the way he did in his heyday, but he is still a factor when it comes to putting the puck in the net. He has been rejuvenated since moving to Florida late in the 2014-15 season.

The Panthers are a young team with high hopes for making the playoffs this year, and Jagr is one of the leaders. He has four goals and two assists in his first four games, and he could be in the middle of a high-scoring game when the Panthers host high-scoring Dallas. Look for Jagr to score at least a goal and get off three or four shots on net.

Filip Forsberg has already taken on a key role for the Nashville Predators even though he is just 21 years old. He arrived as a legitimate scorer last year, notching 26 goals and 37 assists. This season, he has a chance to become a true star.

Forsberg is one of those players who appears to make the game slow down. He is one of the Predators' playmakers, and he has scored two goals and two assists in his first four games. Look for the crisp Forsberg to get on the board at Ottawa on Saturday night.

Winslow Townson/Associated Press

Defensemen: Torey Krug, Boston Bruins ($4,800) and Brent Seabrook, Chicago Blackhawks ($3,800)

Torey Krug and the Boston Bruins have gotten off to a tough start. They beat the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday night in Denver, and that was their first win after losing three straight games at home. Krug has taken on a more important role with the Bruins because they have suffered some key defensive losses.

Krug appears to be a bit better than he had been on the defensive side, but his contributions on the offensive end are vital. He can carry the puck up ice, is a pinpoint passer and has a wicked shot. Krug has four assists in his first four games, and it's just a matter of time before he rams home his first goal. We think it will happen on Saturday night at Arizona.

The Blackhawks may not have won any of their Stanley Cups without defenseman Brent Seabrook. He is a solid defenseman with a cannon of a shot. Seabrook has just one goal in his first five games, but he scored 41 points in 2013-14 and 31 points last year. The Blackhawks have a chance to end their two-game losing streak against the winless (0-5-0) Blue Jackets, and Seabrook has an excellent chance to get on the board against them.

Alex Brandon/Associated Press

Goalie: Braden Holtby, Washington Capitals ($8,000)

We are spending big money on goalie Braden Holtby, who is the second-highest-priced goalie on the board behind Price. Holtby became an elite goalie last year, leading the league by playing in 73 games. That's the kind of total goalies played in the pre-expansion era of the 1960s, but Holtby thrived with all the work. He had a 41-20-10 record with a 2.22 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage. He also had nine shutouts.

Holtby is 2-1-0 this year with a 2.40 GAA and a .914 save percentage. He could possibly come up with a shutout as the Caps host the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday night.

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