DFS: Basic NHL Strategy - What to Look For in a Defenseman

Defensemen may be the least valuable players in daily fantasy hockey, but they’re still a pivotal part of any successful roster.

That said, it can be difficult to find a strong blue-line option while still saving enough salary to round out the roster with elite goaltending and forwards. A high-priced defenseman all but eliminates the possibility of adding a star forward and top-end goalie, forcing you to choose between the two.

Here are some tips on how to find value on the blue line:

Pay for minutes: First-pairing defensemen can rack up a ton of minutes, making them the most likely scoring options in 5-on-5 play. When deciding between two blue-liners at a similar price, consider time on ice per game one of the most important tiebreakers.

Plunder the power play: Not all power-play units are made up of high-priced defensemen. Seek out affordable options among those who see time with the man advantage - even if they toil on the second PP unit. All it takes is one good power play to see a return in value.

Take a shot on shots: Blue-liners may not score all that often, but that doesn’t prevent the majority of them from taking their shots. And as one of the few counting statistics in daily fantasy hockey, every attempt matters - so ignore shooting percentage and seek out bulk shots instead.

Plus is a plus: Some sites award positive points for players who are on the ice for their team’s even-strength goals, so look for mismatches and seek out low-cost defensemen with a strong potential for a good plus showing. This is a great way to rack up points on the cheap.

Durability matters. Some defensemen find a way to rack up 80+ games per season on a regular basis, while others appear incapable of doing so. Key in on durable blue-liners when deciding who to take; there isn’t much worse than losing a player to an in-game injury.

One other thing to keep in mind is that, like every other position in daily fantasy sports, mining value out of the blue line should be every player’s primary goal. That can prove trickier when you’ve decided to spend less on the position - which is why it may be acceptable to punt the position in certain cash-game scenarios.

Suppose you find yourself in a situation where you can afford Carey Price, Sidney Crosby and Steven Stamkos but are left with little money for your final blue-liner. The nature of the scoring system means that there will be plenty of low-value blue-liners on a given night - so why not lock in three studs and not waste any more money than need be on D?

It’s a risky proposition, but worth exploring in both formats; your studs will provide a solid floor in cash games, while connecting on a minimum-salaried defenseman will give you a decided edge in GPPs.