Please note, these players were chosen early in the day, so make sure to check Rotoworld’s player news for any lineup changes, injuries and potential changes in the crease for starting goaltenders.
Additionally, it is worth reminding everyone that FanDuel allows you to roster nine players (2C, 4W, 2D, 1G) with a salary cap of $55,000, while DraftKings has a cap of $50,000 for nine players (2C, 3W, 2D, 1G, 1UTIL).
Editor’s Note: If you’re on the hunt for rankings, projections, strategy and advice on how to dominate your drafts, check out the all-new Rotoworld NHL Draft Guide. Now mobile-optimized with a new look and feel, it’s never been easier to take our award-winning advice with you to your drafts for that extra competitive edge! Click here to learn more!
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Friday night’s slate has four games scheduled. There is a 2:00 p.m. ET game between Chicago and Philadelphia being played in Czech Republic, but for the purposes of this article, that game is being ignored.
Forwards:
Tomas Hertl (SJS) – C - $6,600 (FanDuel), $6,100 (DraftKings)
Hertl broke out last season with 35 goals and 74 points in 77 games. He’s had that kind of potential for a while, but everything came together in 2018-19 and that makes sense given that he’s entering his prime. He did get held off the scoresheet in the Sharks’ season opener, but it shouldn’t be long before he contributes offensively.
William Nylander (TOR) – W - $5,600 (FanDuel), $5,300 (DraftKings)
Nylander had just seven goals and 27 points in 54 contests last season, but a lot of that was him having a hard time getting up to speed after missing the first chunk of the season as a contract holdout. With that all behind him, Nylander should bounce right back in 2019-20. He already started the campaign off on the right foot by registering an assist in his season debut.
Lars Eller (WAS) – C - $4,800 (FanDuel), $4,200 (DraftKings)
Evgeny Kuznetsov is serving a three-game suspension to start the season, which has resulted in Eller opening the campaign on the second line. That gives him a short term opportunity, which he already took advantage of in the opener by registering two assists.
Bargain Bin: Jordan Eberle (NYI) - $6,100 (FanDuel)/$4,800 (DraftKings), Jack Hughes (NJD) - $5,500 (FanDuel)/$4,700 (DraftKings), Nikolaj Ehlers (WPG) - $4,700 (FanDuel)/$5,900 (DraftKings), Joe Thornton (SJS) - $4,400 (FanDuel)/$3,200 (DraftKings)
Defensemen:
P.K. Subban (NJD) – D - $5,600 (FanDuel), $5,100 (DraftKings)
Subban is always a pretty solid option, but I’m particularly interested to see how he does in his Devils debut. He’s going from Nashville where he was one part of a star-studded defense to a situation in New Jersey where he’s the undisputed number one blueliner. He was already getting big minutes in Nashville, but he’s likely to get an even bigger role with the Devils.
Jake Muzzin (TOR) – D - $4,100 (FanDuel), $4,100 (DraftKings)
Muzzin is typically good for about 40 points over the course of the season and the 2019-20 campaign should be more of the same in that regard. He opened the season paired with Tyson Barrie on the revamped Leafs’ defense.
Bargain Bin: Zach Werenski (CBJ) - $5,300 (FanDuel)/$4,500(DraftKings), Neal Pionk (WPG) - $3,700 (FanDuel)/$3,300 (DraftKings)
Goaltenders:
Ilya Samsonov (WAS) – G - $7,500 (FanDuel), $7,400 (DraftKings)
Samsonov is a clear gamble, but he’s one that could pay off nicely if you’re looking for a discount goaltender. The 22-year-old will be the Capitals’ backup goaltender this season and has the potential to eventually graduate to the starting role as early as next season depending on how things go in 2019-20.
Bargain Bin: Cory Schneider (NJD) - $7,300 (FanDuel)/$8,000 (DraftKings)
