Friday's Defenseman Value Rankings
Here are theScore's defenseman value rankings for Friday, April 15:
Top Options
| Name | Opponent | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Alex Pietrangelo (STL) | vs. CHI | 9 |
| Roman Josi (NAS) | at ANA | 8 |
| Sami Vatanen (ANA) | vs. NAS | 8 |
Pietrangelo finished the season hot, and was able to add a helper on C David Backes' fluky game winner in game one. He will cost, but it's best to hedge and spend up or go for a deep bargain. Josi, likewise, will cost dearly but finished the season strong with 11 points in 10 games. He's one of the most dependable options at the position.
Best of the Rest
| Name | Opponent | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Hampus Lindholm (ANA) | vs. NAS | 6 |
| Shea Weber (NAS) | at ANA | 6 |
| Kevin Shattenkirk (STL) | vs. CHI | 5 |
Lindholm and Vatanen are steady options, and if Predators G Pekka Rinne plays like the mediocre version of himself from much of the year, things could be looking up. Weber will block a few shots, making up for his lower offensive production compared to teammate Josi.
Shattenkirk has goal-scoring upside, but is prone to streaks. He's more of a coin-flip compared to Pietrangelo.
Nothing to See Here
| Name | Opponent | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Victor Hedman (TB) | vs. DET | 4 |
| Calvin de Haan (NYI) | at FLA | 4 |
| Brent Seabrook (CHI) | at STL | 3 |
Instead of sinking valuable salary into these names, look for bargains to allow spending up at forward or in net. Hedman and de Haan are solid plays, and though de Haan will block a few shots, but neither will consistently score high enough in DFS to warrant their salaries. Hedman's four goals in seven games is likely a mirage due to a much higher shooting percentage.