Saturday's Center Value Rankings
Here are theScore's center value rankings for Saturday, December 19's eight-game slate (the afternoon games between the Chicago Blackhawks and Buffalo Sabres as well as between the Calgary Flames and St. Louis Blues aren't included on the main DFS slate):
Top Options
| Name | Opponent | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Anze Kopitar (LA) | at TOR | 9 |
| Mikko Koivu (MIN) | at NAS | 9 |
| Claude Giroux (PHI) | at CLB | 8 |
| Jeff Carter (LA) | at TOR | 8 |
| Victor Rask (CAR) | at PIT | 8 |
Kopitar has a four-game point streak, including a goal in his most recent game. He's totaled 11 shots on goal during the streak, including two games with four shots. Only four teams allow more shots per game than Toronto, setting up nicely for Kopitar and the rest of the Kings.
Rask may be on the second half of a back-to-back, but so will the Penguins. He was held point-less Tuesday, for the first time in five games, but he still managed another two SOG.
Best of the Rest
| Name | Opponent | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Tyler Seguin (DAL) | vs. MTL | 7 |
| Evgeni Malkin (PIT) | vs. CAR | 7 |
| Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (EDM) | at COL | 7 |
| Mikael Granlund (MIN) | at NAS | 6 |
| John Tavares (NYI) | at ARI | 6 |
Seguin went point-less in two of his past three games, but he scored twice in the other game. He has three multi-point games in his past 10, and that's what he needs to return value against the Canadiens.
Nugent-Hopkins was promoted to the Oilers' top line with Taylor Hall and Leon Draisaitl, upping his potential while his price remains the same.
| Name | Opponent | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Nazem Kadri (TOR) | vs. LA | 5 |
| Leon Draisaitl (EDM) | at COL | 5 |
| Nathan MacKinnon (COL) | vs. EDM | 5 |
| Boone Jenner (CLB) | vs. PHI | 5 |
| Jason Spezza (DAL) | vs. MTL | 4 |
Kadri would be having a breakout season if it weren't for a career-low shooting percentage of 4.7%. Only six teams allow fewer shots per game than the Kings, limiting Kadri's upside, as well as his normally high floor.
Nothing to See Here
| Name | Opponent | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Matt Duchene (COL) | vs. EDM | 3 |
| Tomas Plekanec (MTL) | at DAL | 3 |
| Ryan Johansen (CLB) | vs. PHI | 2 |
| Sidney Crosby (PIT) | vs. CAR | 2 |
| Ryan Getzlaf (ANA) | at NJ | 1 |
While Getzlaf and Crosby's stats should positively regress toward their career norms at some point, they remain too expensive to experiment with in cash games. Johansen should be back in the Blue Jackets' lineup after serving as a healthy scratch, but it's undetermined how long of a leash he'll be given by head coach John Tortorella.