DraftStreet NHL is Here! Lineup Strategy and Preview

by landsharkhockey Last Updated 2011-01-21 21:09:33

LandShark’s Lineup and Weekly Preview

About the Writer: ‘Chewy’ aka Gary Wilson, operates LandShark Hockey, and has been helping others dominate Fantasy Hockey Leagues for almost 20 years now. Landshark Hockey provides fantasy hockey fans with daily news, updates, and draft strategy including the LandShark Hockey War Room for Daily Fantasy Hockey Lineup Help.

DraftStreet NHL is Here!

It’s finally here… After much anticipation, DraftStreet opened up their site to NHL contests this week. Here are my thoughts on the launch, along with some advice on who to target as you get settled in on DraftStreet puck action.

The System

First off, when you’re getting familiar with the league, get to know the system. Rosters feature the usual 2 spots at all 4 skater positions (LW,RW,C,D), along with 1 goaltender. Draftstreet throws in a flex position that allows you to add any skater. Sorry, no doubling up on goaltenders.

The point system is well-balanced and doesn’t over-emphasize goalie wins or plus-minus (both are good features in my book). A quick run through the FPPG shows that, as usual, goalies tend to carry the most value (expect 7 FPPG on a decent night), while defensemen barely register (1 to 3 points). A decent forward with earn you 3 to 5 fantasy points a night. Of course, salaries also reflect points, so goalies will cost you much more than defense.

That said, your best general approach is always pick the goalie with the best chance of winning. However, with a high value on saves (.3) versus goals against (-1), it’s not a total loss to grab a goalie likely to get peppered with shots. Consider:

• A decent game – 30 save win, 2 GA —> 10 points
• A busy loss – 40 saves, 4 GA —> 8 points
• A bad game – 10 saves, 3 GA —> 0 points

There can be a huge variance in goalie salaries, so there is a balance to consider. On opening night (Tuesday), I was able to claim Anton Khudobin (MIN) for $5,831, while Tim Thomas (BOS) was going for $23,201. Both ended up being worthy picks last night, but I saved $15k to stock up elsewhere. That’s a rare situation, but there are obviously bargains to be found.

As for defense, I don’t recommend spending much coin. You’ll find plenty of decent options in the $5k to $7k territory, leaving you ample space to load up your roster with higher scoring forwards.

In general, pricing seems to be closely tied to past performance, versus projected performance. Grant Clitsome (D-COB) is just 16 games into his NHL experience (5 this season) and was the 3rd highest priced defenseman on opening night. That won’t last. In other words, don’t blindly assume the best players are the most expensive.

Assessing the Field

Of course, one of the keys to success on any site is finding value in your picks. There’s always a grossly undervalued gem, an overpriced defenseman to avoid (see above), and a handful of players worth targeting in the middle. Here are my early notes on who to target:

Goalies

Even though he’s just recovering from injury, Jimmy Howard is a good find at $15.6k. He’s expected back in action later this week, and if there’s not a price correction, keep him on your radar. Jonathan Quick is another somewhat surprising name to find at the bottom of your scroll list. The Kings have been losing lately, and Bernier’s been seeing more action, but Quick still has significant value at $15.5k.

Left Wing

Even though he comes at a high cost, I can’t stay away from Daniel Sedin. Target the twin every chance you get, then find some value with a few of these options:

• Ville Leino (PHI) – $7.9k
• Taylor Hall (EDM) – $8.1k
• Milan Lucic (BOS) – $7.7k
• James Neal (DAL) – $9.4k

And while he’s disappointed fantasy owners so far, I think the biggest steal at this position is Simon Gagne (TB) at a mere $5.2k. He’s starting to turn the corner, having scored 3 goals in his last 3 games. Expect his value to steadily climb, so use him while he’s cheap.

Right Wing

Generally, you should have plenty of cap to put at least one player over $10k, if not both. However, if you’re needing a more economic option, consider Claude Giroux ($8k). Come next season, he’ll be one of the priciest options for sure. As a rule, he’s undervalued on just about every site. Some others to target under $10k:

• Justin Williams (LA) – $9.9k
• Jason Pominville (BUF) – $7.8k – he continues to make up for his slow start
• Nathan Horton (BOS) – $8.6k
• Marian Gaborik (NYR) – $7.9k

Center

Regardless of the price, if Stamkos is on the schedule, he’s in my lineup. His opening price was a hefty $14.2k, but worth the investment. Here’s some cheaper alternatives for the other open slot:

• Mike Richards (PHI) – $9k
• Matt Duchesne (COL) – $9.4k
• Paul Stastny (COL) – $8.6k

Defense

Finally, here are some names in that $5k to $7k range to keep in mind while filling out your defense spots:

• Brent Burns (MIN) – $6.1k
• John Carlson (WAS) – $5.5k
• Drew Doughty (LA) – $6.7k
• John-Michael Liles (COL) – $6.5k
• James Wisniewski (MON) – $7.8k

Saturday Lineup

Salary cap for all games is $100k. No games running tonight on Draftstreet Friday night, so here is my lineup for tomorrow night. (NOTE: taking a guess at starting goalies, being so far out. Also note that in the early days, not all goalies are listed on the site yet.)