This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
Hockey is finally back! As such, DraftKings is back in full swing with their first slate of the season Wednesday. Here are my recommendations…
CENTER
Auston Matthews, TOR vs. MON ($7,000): You can't go wrong with Matthews or John Tavares, but Matthews shoots the puck far more often, and unlike the previous season, will play on the de facto top power-play unit. Both of them will feast on the Habs because they have zero depth at center and Shea Weber will not be playing. Matthews has seven goals in seven career games against the Habs.
Elias Pettersson, VAN vs. CGY ($4,700): He represents more upside than anyone else in this tier based on talent alone, and he's so fun to watch it's a good excuse to watch the Canucks play. He's on home ice, the Flames have an absurd habit of losing their season openers and their goaltending can implode at any moment. Pettersson will be featured heavily on the power play.
WING
Brock Boeser, VAN vs. CGY ($6,300): Boeser didn't have a strong preseason but the Canucks will force-feed him anyway. He's the main trigger-man on the power play against a team that has a potential disaster in net if Mike Smith falters. Boeser won't be as efficient as he was last year with defenses focusing on him, but he's a high-volume shooter who can make up for it in quantity.
Evander Kane, SJ vs. ANH ($6,100): Big things are in store for Kane if he can stay healthy. He's a bruising power forward with a pretty wicked shot, and he's playing on the best team he's ever played for. The Sharks have plenty of playmaking centers who can set up Kane, and the Ducks enter the season limping with injuries to key players. Only thing in his way is John Gibson.
Jake DeBrusk, BOS at WAS ($4,700): DeBrusk will start on the second line with the underrated Danton Heinen and David Krejci, and they'll be counted on to provide some much-needed secondary scoring. The Caps defense is tough but DeBrusk has 30-goal potential. Jakub Vrana is a good choice but plays a smaller role on his team, and Sven Baertschi and Troy Terry are only worthwhile if they play with top players.
DEFENSE
Morgan Rielly, TOR vs. MON ($5,800): Rielly is a dark-horse Norris candidate who will power one of the league's most lethal power plays, and he should be able to pick apart a team that will be without their best defender. Rielly isn't a household name in fantasy but he's going to play in all situations and with the Leafs' added firepower he could set a career high in assists this season.
Brandon Montour, ANH at SJ ($3,800): This is a great price for someone who will potentially run the power play ahead of Cam Fowler ($5,100). Montour is a more traditional quarterback and provides a lot of very good value at this price. Of the nine goals Montour scored last year, five came with the man advantage.
GOALIE
John Gibson, ANH at SJ ($7,200): He has a higher chance of winning his game than Carey Price ($7,000), and he's definitely better than Jacob Markstrom ($7,400). There aren't any great deals in net for opening night, but Gibson has the ability to steal a game. He has a career .924 save percentage against the Sharks.
