DFS: Mystery Men - Thursday's Top Sleeper Picks
Here are Thursday's top sleeper picks for use in tournament play (GPP) formats.
G Andrew Hammond, Senators (vs. Devils)
He's back! Last year's rookie revelation will look to prove that his heroics in leading Ottawa to the playoffs last spring were no fluke when he makes his season debut Thursday against New Jersey.
The late-blooming Hammond won an incredible 20 of 23 starts with a 1.79 GAA and .941 save percentage upon being called up to the Senators in the final quarter of 2014-15. Despite being awarded a new three-year contract, he began this season as the backup to Craig Anderson.
The "Hamburglar" couldn't be in a better position to steal a win in his first start of the season. The Sens face the punchless Devils, who rank 26th with an average of 1.83 goals per game and are tied for 27th in shots per game.
W Viktor Tikhonov, Blackhawks (vs. Panthers)
Tikhonov is the latest unheralded Blackhawk to ascend to the team's top line alongside Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa, following Bryan Bickell and Ryan Garbutt. The former first-round pick of the Arizona Coyotes franchise returned to the NHL this summer after spending the last four seasons in Russia.
Tikhonov has failed to register a point in four games, recording a -3 rating and six shots on goal in around 10 minutes of ice time per game. Still, the opportunity to play alongside Toews and Hossa should afford him much more of an opportunity to make an impact, especially with Chicago looking for a spark after a middling start to the season.
Tikhonov's bargain-basement price and considerable upside makes him a worthwhile addition to a GPP lineup.
C Alexander Wennberg, Blue Jackets (at Wild)
Wennberg centered the second line between Scott Hartnell and Brandon Saad on Tuesday in his return from a concussion, a positive development for the 2013 first-round pick's offensive prospects. Sadly, though, his presence wasn't enough to prevent Columbus from being shut out and coach Todd Richards from being fired after an 0-7-0 start.
Thursday marks Columbus' first game under new coach John Tortorella, a road matchup against a Wild team that has allowed 15 goals in five games. Wennberg is much cheaper than his linemates, and if you're a believer in the "dead cat bounce" of a team briefly receiving a boost from firing its coach, the young Swede makes an intriguing GPP option.
D Trevor Daley, Blackhawks (vs. Panthers)
While franchise defenseman Duncan Keith's contributions are irreplacable, offseason acquisition Daley (seen above in a Dallas uniform) will attempt to take on an increased power play role in the wake of the Keith being placed on long-term injured reserve this week.
The former Star, who came to Chicago in the Patrick Sharp trade, has only one assist in six games this season, but registered 16 goals and 22 assists in 68 games with Dallas in 2014-15. With Keith out of action, Daley should see time on the Blackhawks' top power-play unit and get a chance to showcase his offensive skills.