Here are theScore's defensemen value rankings for Sunday's six-game slate.
Value Rankings
Top Options
| Name | Opponent | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Aaron Ekblad (FLA) | vs. VAN | 7 |
| John Moore (NJ) | at BOS | 7 |
| Dan Boyle (NYR) | vs. WAS | 7 |
Ekblad quarterbacks Florida's power play, which gets a visit from struggling Vancouver Sunday. He provides a solid floor thanks to his 2.55 shots and just under one block per game.
Moore and Boyle do the same on their respective clubs, but don't have great matchups, somewhat limiting the upside on their low prices. Still, both team's power plays rank in the top 10, giving Moore and Boyle a good chance to factor into a goal or two.
Best of the Rest
| Name | Opponent | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Kris Russell (CGY) | at DET | 6 |
| Victor Hedman (TB) | vs. OTT | 6 |
| Duncan Keith (CHI) | vs. SJ | 6 |
| Brent Seabrook (CHI) | vs. SJ | 6 |
| John Carlson (WAS) | at NYR | 6 |
| Torey Krug (BOS) | vs. NJ | 6 |
| Mike Green (DET) | vs. CGY | 5 |
| Erik Karlsson (OTT) | at TB | 5 |
| Brent Burns (SJ) | at CHI | 5 |
Russell, the NHL's blocks leader, also has five points in his last four games, despite being shut out Saturday. He's the best value of Calgary's defense corps.
Carlson, Karlsson and Burns all need multi-point games and three to four shots to return value on their high prices. While the trio has been playing well of late, none have great matchups. Burns, in particular, has been excellent, with five points, five blocks and 13 shots in his last two games.
Nothing to See Here
| Name | Opponent | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Mark Giordano (CGY) | at DET | 4 |
| Keith Yandle (NYR) | vs. WAS | 4 |
| Dougie Hamilton (CGY) | at DET | 4 |
Yandle is pricier than teammate Boyle, and will likely face Washington goalie Braden Holtby, whose 1.92 GAA leads the NHL.
Giordano is the most expensive member of a Flames defense corps that provides five fantasy-relevant options nightly. Hamilton has six points in eight games, but is relatively far down the team's pecking order in terms of minutes and power play time.
