NHL DFS Slate Summary: Thursday, February 29th
Welcome to the RotoGrinders NHL DFS Slate Summary. In this article, we’ll concentrate on the key elements of DFS success while delivering analysis on the upcoming slate of NHL games for DraftKings and FanDuel. We’ll discuss today’s NHL DFS player projections, player correlations and NHL stacking, NHL starting lineups, differentiation tactics using NHL projected ownership, and recommendations on ways to create lineup diversity if entering multiple lineups using LineupHQ.
NHL DFS Picks: Slate Summary for Thursday, February 29th
Slate Overview
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It’s another 12-gamer, and it’s even more exhausting than the last one. There are 4 teams with implied team totals of 3.9 or more, which is double what we see on a normal slate. The Maple Leafs, Hurricanes, Panthers, and Avalanche are the 4 teams up top, with the Lightning squeezing into their own middle tier. After that, it’s a fairly significant dropoff, and I’d expect the majority of ownership will aggregate on those five teams. Then we have a late-night hammer opportunity between two of the worst teams in the league, the Ducks and the Sharks.
The need to monitor news is equally high tonight, with several high-profile names in jeopardy of potentially missing out. These include Carter Verhaeghe, Filip Forsberg, and Troy Terry. Clayton Keller and Adrian Kempe will remain out.
There’s a lot to cover, so let’s get into it.
Top Skaters
Nathan MacKinnon
DraftKings $10,300
I understand it’s boring to have MacKinnon here night after night, but that’s the reality of how much better he is than just about everyone else right now. He is the perfect blend of floor and ceiling due to his ability to generate shots, score goals, and pick up assists. His “worst” game in his last 6 was a 3-assist game against the Maple Leafs, where he finished with 22.3 DK points.
Tonight, he has a dream matchup against the Blackhawks. For a stretch when Connor Bedard was out, the team seemed content to lose in close, low-scoring games, but since he returned they appear to be allowing goals at their usual pace. He has a slate-best projection and goalscoring prop (-145). The only minor negative is that it’s on the road, but the talent and matchup make that largely a nonevent. I think he’ll be owned, but on a slate this large with plenty to choose from, I’m not sure it gets too crazy.