NHL DFS Values Plays (12/22/22): Patrice Bergeron, Tristan Jarry & More
Although there are eight games including the daytime Leafs and Flyers game, we will be sifting through my favorite DFS values on the DraftKings seven-game main slate which begins at 7 PM EST. As a reminder, I’m always talking in terms of DraftKings salary while trying to find the best values of the slate at each position which can be used for either or both in terms of cash games and guaranteed prize pools. The players I talk about here do not necessarily reflect players that appear in my lineup, although some of them more than likely will. Let's get after it here as this is the second to last slate before the three-day NHL holiday break.
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Best NHL DFS Values On DraftKings
I always say that every slate is different, and the context matters in DFS. Although a lot of my favorite values tend to be lower in salary and allow you to have more salary to spend elsewhere, this will not always be the case. When we have a larger slate, I tend to value the difference in a much more favorable matchup more than I would on a smaller slate.
This is what I would call a moderately sized slate and, as always, a lot can potentially change between now and puck drop. Because of this, I always advise you to keep up on beat writers for the teams on Twitter, so you know the team lines and roles are what we expect them to be.
Forwards To Target
Patrice Bergeron, Center, Boston Bruins ($6.9K)
Literally, the only thing that maybe scares me a tiny bit here is just the simple fact that last time out, he went full ceiling mode on us, eclipsing 40 fantasy points on DraftKings. Right now, the Bruins are sporting the highest implied team total at 3.7, so one must consider how you want exposure to them. For me, it will have to probably be Bergeron or Pastrnak.
Jordan Staal, Center, Carolina Hurricanes ($2.9K)
This one feels like chasing it, as he has got on the scoresheet in each of his last two games played, having a nice two-point night in the last one. However, down at this salary, we don’t technically need him to hit the scoresheet so long as he can come out with some shots plus blocks, we will be happy campers here. If Stastny still occupies Aho’s top-line spot, I also don’t mind the value skating between Svechnikov, and Necas brings at just $3.5K.
Trevor Moore, Wing, Los Angeles Kings ($4.5K)
Moore comes into this one having hit three or more shots on goal in eight of his last nine games played! I’d like to see him get more run than the second line and second power play, but at this price point, it allows us to feel pretty good about it and allows you to get up to stud wingers like Ovechkin and Pastrnak potentially as well.
Oliver Bjorkstrand, Wing, Seattle Kraken ($3.7K)
Bjork-God is no stranger to the DFS streets for me. While he was second line, second power play last time out, I encourage checking if Seattle has a morning skate and what his role will be to confirm a decision on playing him, although I think even at second line, second power play this is a very fair price to pay for him.
Stud Wings To Target
Alex Ovechkin ($8.2K), David Pastrnak ($9.1K), Kirill Kaprizov ($8.8K)
This group I figure to project the top three on the night in points at the Wing position and extremely close in points as well. For value, Ovechkin would be my favorite and first injected into a cash game build of the three. Kaprizov laid an egg last night and is on a back-to-back, so I think you may be able to take advantage of him being lower owned than he should be tonight potentially as well in tournaments.
Defensemen To Target
Tonight kind of strikes me as a slate where you may need a value defenseman or two that’s priced down, but if you wish to maybe play a third who’s mid to high salary, these two can certainly help get you there.
Chris Tanev, Calgary Flames ($2.5K)
Tanev recently drew back into the Flames lineup on Tuesday after missing a little time with a head injury. While this is kind of scary, he’s probably my favorite minimum-salary punt play in GPPs or cash if you need it to free up the salary as he has had three or more combined shots plus blocks in four of his last six games played, playing on the second pair for Calgary.
Vince Dunn, Seattle Kraken ($3.9K)
Here we get a top pair, second power play, first penalty kill defenseman averaging 24 minutes of ice-time on the season in what I consider to be a very good matchup versus this Vancouver team I’ve talked about before in terms of how they can both score and give up a lot as well. I think all the above bodes well for a defenseman under $4K. He’s playable in any format contest for sure. If you cannot get to him, I do not mind confirming Schultz will man the top power play at $3.4k.
Goalies To Target
Tristan Jarry, Pittsburgh Penguins ($7.9K)
This is a play from my flow chart of DFS, which goes back multiple seasons and is still true this season so far. I say this because the Canes are known for their elite possession metrics, often resulting in a ton of shots on goal, but not necessarily the highest quality shots, which bodes well for Jarry in any format tonight.
Ilya Sorokin, New York Islanders ($7.3K)
I was honestly very surprised to see his salary down here, especially after he cleared 40 points in Colorado the other night in the 1-0 shootout loss. I think we get another decent opportunity to see him hit the save bonus here and have him firmly in play in any format.
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