Daily Fantasy Hockey 2015: DraftKings NHL Optimal Lineup for December 10

There are few players who mean more to their respective teams than Jonathan Toews, who may just be the biggest winner in the game today.

He has captained the Chicago Blackhawks to three Stanley Cup wins, and he has also been a part of two Gold medal-winning Canada teams at the Olympics.

Toews is so strong in the defensive zone and in the face-off circle his scoring doesn't always get the recognition it should. Toews can score from anywhere in the offensive zone, but he is especially tough when he has the puck near the front of the net. Toews has scored eight goals and eight assists this season, and we expect him to play a key role on his team’s trip to face the Nashville Predators on Thursday night.

Toews comes at a salary of $6,000, and we consider him to be a bargain at that price. Look for Toews to score a goal and an assist to get our team going in the right direction.

Position	Player	Team	FPPG	Salary
C	Jonathan Toews	Chicago	2.9	$6,000
C	David Backes	St. Louis	2.7	$4,900
W	Vladimir Tarasenko	St. Louis	4.6	$7,700
W	Wayne Simmonds	Philadelphia	2.8	$5,300
W	Jiri Hudler	Calgary	2.3	$4,600
D	Roman Josi	Nashville	4.4	$6.600
D	T.J. Brodie	Calgary	2.8	$4.700
G	Karri Ramo	Calgary	4.0	$6,900
U	Mike Ribeiro	Nashville	1.7	$3,300

Centers: Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks ($6.000) and David Backes, St. Louis Blues ($4,800)

David Backes may not be as dynamic for the St. Louis Blues as Toews is for the Blackhawks, but he is also a gritty player who will go into the corners, take the tough hit and come away with the puck so he can make a decisive play.

Billy Hurst-USA TODAY Sports

Backes has quick hands and the ability to put the puck in the net with a quick wrist shot or a whip-like backhander. Backes has seven goals and seven assists this season, and he could find plenty of open ice as the Blues host the Philadelphia Flyers. Look for him to get on the board here.

Wings: Vladimir Tarasenko, St. Louis Blues ($7,700), Wayne Simmonds, Philadelphia Flyers ($5,300) and Jiri Hudler, Calgary Flames ($4,600)

Hockey fans have seen the continued development of a scoring star in the Vladimir Tarasenko this year. Tarasenko is one of the game's most dynamic shooters, as he can unfurl the puck to the top corner with his magic pair of wrists.

When he is given time and space, Tarasenko can pick out a spot and hit it as well as any shooter in the league. Tarasenko has 16 goals and 11 assists in the Blues' first 27 games, and there's no reason why he can't better his point-per-game production against the Flyers. Look for him to score at least one goal here.

Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

The Flyers’ Wayne Simmonds is a hard-nosed and talented scorer himself, and he can fill up the net when he gets on a roll. Simmonds is equally adept with the forehand and the backhand, and he has scored seven goals and eight assists this season. He has scored four goals in his last 10 games, and Philadelphia will be counting on him to do the heavy lifting—and scoring—against the Blues.

Jiri Hudler is a sneaky player for the Calgary Flames. He makes a point of hiding on the ice and finding the soft spots where he can take advantage of his speed and deft touch. Hudler measures how the opposing defense is playing and then attacks between the faceoff circles. He has five goals and 12 assists so far, and he should have an opportunity to score because the Flames are hosting the Buffalo Sabres, who struggle on the road.

Defensemen: Roman Josi, Nashville Predators ($6,600) and T.J. Brodie, Calgary Flames ($4,700)

Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Roman Josi is playing as well as any defenseman in the league right now. He is a brilliant skater who makes sure he does not leave opponents with any openings in the Predators' defensive zone, and he attacks brilliantly on the rush.

Josi has scored seven goals and 14 assists this season, and three of his goals have come on the power play. He had a two-goal night at Boston on Monday, and he should be ready to make the Blackhawks pay in the Honky Tonk on Thursday night.

T.J. Brodie helps make the Calgary Flames  attack go from the back end. Brodie handles the puck well and excels at getting the puck out to the Calgary zone. He has two goals and nine assists this year, but he has been starting to get hot with seven points in his last 10 games. He should be in a good position to add to his offensive numbers against the Sabres.

Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

Goalie: Karri Ramo, Calgary Flames ($6,900)

We are bypassing higher-priced goalies such as Corey Crawford and Pekka Rinne because Ramo should be in an excellent position to hold the Sabres to one or two goals and pick up the victory.

Buffalo has young legs and the Sabres play with enthusiasm, but that won't be enough to get the win in Calgary. Ramo has a 9-6-1 record this season with a 3.00 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage. However, he has a 2.56 GAA and a .912 save percentage in his last 10 games. Ramo picks up the win here

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