DFS: 5 Elite NHL Players to Avoid Early in the Season

Elite players may be less susceptible to struggling, but occasionally they do. Here are five top-tier DFS options players should avoid in the early going:

LW Rick Nash, New York Rangers

The past few years in Nash’s career have been tumultuous. Below are his season-by-season stats dating back to 2011:

The past two years in particular have been polar opposites for Nash, who put up a disappointing 39 points in 2013-14 but rebounded to average nearly a point per game last season. If you go deeper into his career point totals, Nash’s career climaxed with four-straight 65-point seasons from 2007 to 2011, suggesting last year may have been an outlier.

Though Nash had a great 2014-15, it would be quite surprising to see him follow up a near career-year with a similar campaign as he continues to age. Although Nash is a top-line forward, his average ice time has dipped from the 19-20 minute range to the 17-minute mark in the past few years, further cutting into his point-producing ability.

C Jiri Hudler, Calgary Flames

Though Hudler - the first of two Flames on the list - posted career numbers at 31 years old, this spark can mostly be attributed to burgeoning linemates Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan.

Outside of these three, the next highest scoring forward on the Flames ranked eighth in team scoring (Lance Bouma, 34 points). The 28-point difference between Monahan (62) and Bouma highlights the lack of offensive depth on the Flames, a trait that will undoubtedly be exploited by opposing teams.

This year, expect foes to try and lock down Gaudreau and Monahan, therefore hindering Hudler's production.

LW Nick Foligno, Columbus Blue Jackets

Columbus was decimated by injuries last season, elevating Foligno into a more prominent role. He thrived there, establishing career highs in goals (31) and assists (42) while racking up nearly 19 minutes of ice time per night.

This year, Columbus has more depth with the acquisition of Brandon Saad and a healthy Brandon Dubinsky. Furthermore, you have to expect Columbus will not be as affected by the injury bug as they were in 2014-15. The combination of these factors should result in less production from Foligno.

D Dennis Wideman, Calgary Flames

Last year, Wideman totalled career-highs in goals (15), assists (41) and points (56) at the age of 31. Though Wideman has been a consistent offensive defenseman throughout his career, he has been more of a 0.5 points per game player rather than the 0.7 PPG option he was last year.

With Dougie Hamilton joining the Flames back end, Calgary now has one of the best defensive units in the league - a corps that includes Mark Giordano, T.J. Brodie, Kris Russell, Wideman and now Hamilton. This defensive depth will mean less ice time, opportunities and points for Wideman.

G Tuukka Rask, Boston Bruins

The Bruins saw significant regression last season, stumbling to a ninth-place finish in the Eastern conference. The plunge to mediocrity was fueled by a back-end that allowed 30 more goals than it had the previous season.

Rask took a major hit in value, with goals allowed counting as negative points in DFS. His 156 goals against ranked as sixth-most in the league - and looks especially bad when compared to his 2013-14 total of 115.

Making things worse for 2015-16, the Bruins will be without Hamilton, Johnny Boychuk, and Milan Lucic. Furthermore, Dennis Seidenberg is out the first eight weeks due to back surgery and Zdeno Chara is returning from a PCL tear. The Bruins face a long season, and Rask will bear the brunt of it.