The trade deadline has come and gone. We are officially in the home stretch of the NHL season. The major moves yesterday include Kreider staying in New York, Pageau traded and signed with the Islanders, Athanasiou and Ennis dealt to the Oilers, Vatanen and Skjei sent to Carolina, Lehner to Vegas, and Gustafsson to the Flames. With a quiet schedule on trade deadline day, there are thirteen contests tonight in the NHL. Let’s take a look at some DFS options.
Center
Tyler Seguin (DAL): $6,800 @ CAR
It has by no means been a career season for Tyler Seguin, but he is still one of the best players in the league. He has 15 goals, 32 assists, for 47 points on the season. He is ninth in the league in shots on goal. He has seven points in his previous seven games. Tonight the Stars head to Carolina to take on a Hurricanes team that has no goaltenders left. After injuries to Peter Mrazek and James Reimer, Carolina was forced to call up both of their AHL goaltenders in Alex Nedeljkovic and Anton Forsberg. It may not be a Zamboni driver in net tonight, but it will not be a goalie with much NHL experience. I expect the Stars to get after them tonight.
Wing
Andreas Athanasiou (EDM): $4,500 @ ANH
This could be a slightly popular play tonight, but I don’t care. Don’t let Athanasiou’s stats in Detroit shield the fact that he is a wonderful player. One of the fastest players in the league now paired with the fastest player in the league in Connor McDavid. The chemistry here could take time, but I’m looking to catch lightning in a bottle tonight against a Ducks team that is finished. Athanasiou scored 30 goals last season, and it wouldn’t surprise me one bit if he returned to that pace in Edmonton.
Kyle Palmieri (NJD): $5,900 @ DET
Palmieri was one of those players we expected to see get dealt yesterday. However, this morning the Devils interim GM Tom Fitzgerald came out and said; “Why would I want to trade a 30 goal scorer?”. I think he made the right choice. Palmieri is signed for another year at a modest $4.65M. This season, Palmieri has 22 goals and 20 assists in 57 games. He is playing on the top line with Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes. He is also on the top power-play unit. Tonight the Devils visit Detroit to play a Red Wings team that surrenders the most goals per game in the league, by a lot. I hope that Palmieri can exhale now that he knows he is not being traded anywhere. This is a great spot for him to get on the board.
Defense
Roman Josi (NSH): $7,300 vs OTT
I do not usually spend a big portion of my budget on defenseman, but this time it felt appropriate. Josi is putting together a Norris trophy season. He leads his team in scoring by a wide margin, with 14 goals, 43 assists, for 57 points in 61 games played. He also leads his team in shots on goal with 224, blocked shots with 98, and plus-minus as a +21. Truly remarkable. Tonight the Predators welcome a depleted Ottawa Senators team to town who are playing on a back to back, after losing to the Blue Jackets last night. The Senators should be tired and playing with half an AHL roster. I expect the Predators to score and I expect Josi to be involved all over the place.
Goalie
MacKenzie Blackwood (NJ): $7,800 @ DET
I have been riding Blackwood a lot lately and I’m going to stick with him tonight. Blackwood has won his last six starts. Over that span, he has saved 229 of 236 shots for a stunning .970 SV% and a 1.13 GAA. Tonight he’ll face off against a Red Wings team that scores the fewest goals per game in the league. The Red Wings also just dealt away Andreas Athanasiou and Mike Green, so they will be shorthanded this evening.
Chris Genova is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Chris, check out his archive and follow him @FantasyOneTimer.
