NHL GPP Plays: Tuesday, December 29th
Every Tuesday and Thursday I am going to give you my top tournament plays for all Daily Fantasy Hockey GPPs (guaranteed prize pool). GPPs are a general term used across the industry for your big money tournaments.
GPPs are very different from your cash games and you use a different strategy with them. In our GPPs we are not interested in safe plays, since GPPs are all about UPSIDE. We want players who can explode, as all-or-nothing type players can become GPP gold, and your value players are just as important as your star players. You need your players to have huge nights in order to take down these big tournaments.
My goal is to provide players who will be under-owned and have that big game upside you are looking for. I will also try to find as much value as I possibly can. Now, let’s get to the NHL GPP plays!
Goaltenders
Make sure to check the RotoGrinders Starting Goalies Page prior to game time, to confirm that the goalies listed below are starting.
Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets – Jets rookie goaltender Connor Hellebuyck has been very good between the pipes in his young career (2.12 GAA, .926 SV%), and he has been sensational on home ice (1.98 GAA, .935 VS%). The Detroit Red Wings are not an easy opponent, but they will be on the road playing their second game in as many nights. Dollar for dollar, Hellebuyck is your best option in GPPs tonight.
Other Goalies To Target – Jonathan Quick, Cam Ward, Anders Nilsson, Karri Ramo
Forwards
James van Riemsdyk, Toronto Maple Leafs – James van Riemsdyk is playing his best hockey of the season right now. In his last seven contests, he has racked up six goals and 34 shots on net. The Maple Leafs’ top line is really clicking these days and JVR has multi-goal upside.
Josh Bailey, New York Islanders – The Toronto Maple Leafs have struggled all season long against opposing teams top lines. With the Islanders’ number one ice cold and on the road, they should fly under the radar in tournament play. Playing alongside John Tavares at both even strength and on the Islanders’ top power play unit, Bailey should see plenty of scoring opportunities in this game.
Leon Draisaitl and Teddy Purcell, Edmonton Oilers – The Los Angeles Kings are not a team I look to pick on, however they are playing in back-to-back games and the Oilers’ top line can light up the best of them. Both Leon Draisaitl and Teddy Purcell are great inexpensive options with big game upside.
Artem Anisimov, Chicago Blackhawks – I plan to have heavy exposure to the Chicago Blackhawks‘ second line in GPPs this evening. The Desert Dogs remain a poor defensive team and they will be starting sieve Anders Lindback in goal. Despite his linemates, Anisimov continues to get overlooked in large field tournaments.
Other Forwards To Target – Leo Komarov, Jeff Skinner, Andrew Shaw, Mikkel Boedker, Gustav Nyquist, Tyler Toffoli, Anze Kopitar, Mika Zibanejad, Adam Henrique
Defense
Niklas Kronwall, Detroit Red Wings – The Detroit Red Wings may be playing their second game in as many nights, but we can still target their top power play unit. The Winnipeg Jets are a very undisciplined team, which has resulted in the third-most penalty minutes per game. Niklas Kronwall is a power play specialist and I love his price and upside against the Jets 26th ranked penalty kill.
Other Defensemen To Target – P.K. Subban, Nick Leddy, Cam Fowler, Noah Hanifin, Damon Severson, Dmitry Kulikov