Sidney Crosby should be a regular in your DFS lineups

The start of the NHL season is here and we will break down the Thursday night slate with some of our top plays at each position. Teams that I like for stacking options are Pittsburgh, Dallas, Tampa Bay and St. Louis. Each position will start with the higher-salaried options followed by mid-tier and then cheaper options allowing you to find good plays at all salary levels. Don’t forget to always look at the starting goalies each night and check in before game time just in case thereare last-minute injuries.

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Left Wing

Jamie Benn – DAL – $8300
Benn had the most points in the NHL last year and benefits from playing with Seguin. They welcome Crosby and company to Dallas and this game has the potential to be a high-scoring affair. Expect both top lines to be on the scoresheet plenty in this matchup.

Zach Parise – MIN – $8100
I think Parise is often overshadowed by the bigger names in the NHL but he has no problem finding the back of the net. He is a top-tier power play option in Minnesota and scored 11 of his 33 goals last year with the man advantage. He is a shooter and will contribute to your team in one way or another.

Alexander Steen – STL – $7300
Refer to Stastny. I really like the looks of a Blues stack tonight.

Chris Kunitz – PIT – $6200
With Pittsburgh it is going to be hard to find who contributes on the scoresheet each night. But with Kunitz playing on the left of Sidney Crosby, arguably the best player in the NHL, at $6200, how could you not have him in your lineup?

Evander Kane – BUF – $5900
With a fresh start in Buffalo after coming off a good preseason I think Kane will be a nice choice in your lineup until his salary catches up with his production. Kane could be lower-owned but one of the higher point totals at the end of the night at LW.

Cheaper Options

• Mike Hoffman – OTT – $4700
• David Perron – PIT – $4500
• Jonathan Drouin – TB – $4400

Right Wing

Vladimir Tarasenko – STL – $8200
St. Louis has the welcome mat down to Mcdavid and the Oilers. I think they will have their hands full with St. Louis who scored the 5th most goals in the NHL last year and had one of the top power play units. Sure they lost T.J Oshie but Tarasenko and Steen were the go to 5-on-5 goal scorers.

Phil Kessel – PIT – $7900
Finally Kessel gets some top-tier support in the likes of Crosby. Dallas gave up the 5th most goals in the NHL last year, traded one of their top defensemen and replaced him with Oduya. I don’t expect Kessel and Crosby to be off the scoresheet opening night.

Nikita Kucherov – TB – $6500
Kucherov will open up on the second line with Johnson and Palat. He sees time on the power play and gets the odd chance to play with Stamkos. Tampa has well-balanced scoring, and I expect them to put up a few goals opening night.

James Neal – NSH – $6400
Neal struggled with injury last year but still found his way on the scoresheet in plenty of games. Playing against a weak Carolina team he makes for a great play who might not be highly owned for your bigger tournaments.

Cheaper Options

• Tyler Ennis – BUF – $4900
• Carl Soderberg – COL – $4800
• Marcus Foligno – BUF – $3500

Center

Sidney Crosby – PIT – $9000
After Pittsburgh acquired Kessel I couldn’t wait to roll out Sid the Kid. With a natural goal-scoring winger like Kessel, both of their production is going to skyrocket. Until hell freezes over or something more drastic I can’t see a reason not to have Crosby in your starting lineups on FanDuel any night they are playing.

Tyler Seguin – DAL -$8600
Seguin was well on his way to leading the league in points last year until he came down with an injury. This game is set at 5.5 on the over/under. I wouldn’t want to be a goalie on either end of the ice as Dallas scored the 2nd most goals in the NHL last year. If Seguin finds his way in your lineup he makes a great play with Jamie Benn.

Steven Stamkos – TB -$8500
I think Stamkos could benefit from Crosby’s new-found winger by being a lower-owned option but still capable of having a big night. Tampa Bay scored the most goals last year in the NHL. With this game set at 5.5 on the over/under, my money is on the over.

Paul Stastny – STL – $5200
Welcome to the NHL Connor Mcdavid! I think Edmonton is in for a rude awakening in spite of all there changes. They play the St. Louis Blues who scored the 5th most goals last year in the NHL. Stastny is expected to center Steen and Tarasenko both who find the back of the net on a night to night basis and make for a great stacking option. I don’t think Stastny will see big ownership numbers and makes for a good play while not breaking your salary cap.

David Krejci – BOS – $5800
Speaking of low-owned, I think Krejci could make a great play. He gets power play time in Boston playing with Pastrnak and Beleskey.

Cheaper Options

• Ryan Spooner – BOS – $4500
• Jack Eichel – BUF – $5000
• Cody Eakin – DAL – $4500

Defensemen

Erik Karlsson – OTT – $7200
Karlsson is basically a 4th forward on the ice for the Ottawa Senators. He can score 5-on-5 or can rack up power play points. Against a weak-looking Buffalo back end expect him to lead the rush when he can with his slick skating ability.

Kris Letang – PIT – $6100
The same as for Karlsson could almost be said about Letang, however Karlsson doesn’t have the likes of Crosby, Kessel and Malkin on his team to benefit from. Letang will have his share of assists and goals regardless of who is on the ice for Pittsburgh.

Kevin Shattenkirk – STL – $5800
Shattenkirk could be overlooked Thursday night and he could very well be the highest scoring defenseman. He gets plenty of time on the power play and benefited from one of the best such units in the NHL last year.

Cheaper Options

• Anton Stralman – TB – $4300
• Ryan Suter – MIN – $4300

Goalies

Pekka Rinne – NSH – $9100
I think Rinne probably has the easiest matchup and the best potential for a shutout. He plays a lackluster Carolina Hurricanes team who didn’t improve much over the offseason.

Brian Elliott – STL – $8300
Can you tell I like St. Louis in this game? Yes, Edmonton has changed their team but St. Louis will remain one of the top clubs in the West this year. They can score and keep the puck out of the net.

Cheaper Option

• Robin Lehner – BUF – $6600

Enter tonight’s featured NHL contest at FanDuel. $100K in prizes up for grabs!