DFS: Thursday's Center Value Rankings
Here are theScore's center value rankings for Thursday, October 22:
| # | PLAYER | OPPONENT | RISK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mikael Granlund (MIN) | vs CLB | Low |
| 2 | Joe Thornton (SJ) | vs LA | Low |
| 3 | Travis Zajac (NJ) | at OTT | Low |
| 4 | Mikko Koivu (MIN) | vs CLB | Low |
| 5 | Joe Pavelski (SJ) | vs LA | Low |
Eleven of the 16 teams playing Thursday are top-15 in the NHL in lowest goals against per game, so there aren't many obvious goalies and teams to target. Of the 16 teams playing, the highest goals against averages belong to Minnesota and Columbus; target cheap players like Granlund and Koivu and hope for a shootout in St. Paul.
| # | PLAYER | OPPONENT | RISK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Ryan Johansen (CLB) | at MIN | Medium |
| 7 | Aleksander Barkov (FLA) | at CHI | Medium |
| 8 | Evgeni Malkin (PIT) | vs DAL | Medium |
| 9 | Brandon Sutter (VAN) | vs WAS | Medium |
| 10 | Martin Hanzal (ARI) | at NYR | Medium |
| 11 | Artem Anisimov (CHI) | vs FLA | Medium |
| 12 | Max Domi (ARI) | at NYR | Medium |
| 13 | Kyle Turris (OTT) | vs NJ | Medium |
| 14 | Jonathan Toews (CHI) | vs FLA | Medium |
| 15 | Nick Backstrom (WAS) | at VAN | Medium |
| 16 | Sydney Crosby (PIT) | vs DAL | Medium |
| 17 | Mika Zibanejad (OTT) | vs NJ | Medium |
| 18 | Henrik Sedin (VAN) | vs WAS | Medium |
| 19 | Mike Fisher (NAS) | vs ANA | Medium |
| 20 | Oscar Lindberg (NYR) | vs ARI | Medium |
| 21 | Jacob Josefson (NJ) | at OTT | Medium |
| 22 | Nick Bjugstad (FLA) | at CHI | Medium |
| 23 | Jason Spezza (DAL) | at PIT | Medium |
| 24 | Ryan Getzlaf (ANA) | at NAS | Medium |
| 25 | Antoine Vermette (ARI) | at NYR | Medium |
| 26 | Brandon Dubinsky (CLB) | at MIN | Medium |
| 27 | Mike Ribeiro (NAS) | vs ANA | Medium |
| 28 | Ryan Kesler (ANA) | at NAS | Medium |
| 29 | Derick Brassard (NYR) | vs ARI | Medium |
| 30 | Evgeny Kuznetsov (WAS) | at VAN | Medium |
| 31 | Jussi Jokinen (FLA) | at CHI | Medium |
Similarly, Johansen is a a good bet against the Wild, though there are questions about the Blue Jackets' game plan under new coach John Tortorella. There are no sure things in this tier with many talented forwards needing to solve goalies such as Henrik Lundqvist, Roberto Luongo and Pekka Rinne to return value on their salaries.
| # | PLAYER | OPPONENT | RISK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | Derek Stepan (NYR) | vs ARI | High |
| 33 | Anze Kopitar (LA) | at SJ | High |
| 34 | Jeff Carter (LA) | at SJ | High |
| 35 | Tyler Seguin (DAL) | at PIT | High |
Seguin is one of the top players in the league at the moment but against a Penguins team that has allowed just 1.83 goals per game (second to only Montreal), it will be hard for the Stars' top center to break even on what has been one of the highest salaries across all DFS platforms. Additionally, avoid the slumping Kings against the upstart Sharks.