There are some early starts today for President’s day, but there are seven games total on the docket. Let’s take a look around at some of the leading candidates for the starting six of your NHL daily fantasy team:
C- Mark Arcobello, TOR
Mark Arcobello is genuinely one of the more fascinating players in the NHL in following his career. At 27, he has played for five different teams since the start of last season. He is not a star by any means, but one would think that his play would make him a bit more valuable. He is generally a positive possession player, accruing a 52.2% Corsi rating at 5v5 while playing for four different teams last year. This year, his first in Toronto, Arcobello has a 59.2% Corsi over 14 games. Small sample size, but it is impressive nonetheless. His scoring is generally pretty impressive as well. In 41 games with Edmonton in 2013-2014, he scored at 1.8 points/60 minutes. Last year, that number dipped to 1.3 points/60 minutes in 77 games. For frame of reference, that puts him in the same company as Henrik Zetterberg, Adam Henrique, and actually ahead of Chris Kunitz. Arcobello tallied twice against the Vancouver Canucks while skating on Toronto’s second line. The Leafs will be gunning for the upset over the Blackhawks tonight. Arcobello is someone to keep your eye on going forward.
LW- David Perron, ANA
David Perron has been a man reborn since his move from Pittsburgh to Anaheim. He is a point-per-game player, with five goals and six assists in 11 games. He has two goals and an assist in his last two games with eight shots on goal. He is a +10 as a Duck as well. Perron has transformed himself into a very solid fantasy player on the Ducks’ top line. He is skating with Ryan Getzlaf and Mike Santorelli. Getzlaf himself is on a torrid streak, notching four consecutive multi-point games. The Ducks will be traveling to Calgary to take on the Flames, who will be without their number one goaltender Karri Ramo. Former Duck Jonas Hiller will start in his place. Perron and company should be licking their chops. The Getzlaf-Perron dynamic is irresistible. Get him in your starting six tonight.
RW- Shane Doan, ARI
The longtime Arizona Coyotes captain broke the franchise record for points Wednesday against the Calgary Flames. Doan has been one of the few hot players on the Coyotes, as their youth scoring well has run a bit dry of late. He has 21 goals and 12 assists on the year, with four goals and two assists coming in his last five games. He has 19 shots on goal in that stretch as well, being a sparkplug for an otherwise flat offense. Arizona is coming home for three games, taking on the Montreal Canadiens tonight. The Habs are coming off a 6-4 loss to the Sabres. The Yotes desperately need a win, and Doan will have to continue to be a leader.
D- Roman Josi, NSH
Roman Josi has been a stalwart on the Predators’ blueline, lodging about 25 minutes a night in the last few weeks. Three of his past five games have been multi-point ventures, with a goal and six assists in that span. On the top pairing with Shea Weber, Nashville’s defense has taken quite a bit of time to return to form after a slump earlier in the calendar year. Now, Josi is picking up the slack and the Predators are a better team for it. Nashville will be getting into a shootout tonight against the Dallas Stars. Josi will surely find the scoresheet one way or another.
D- Brent Seabrook, CHI
Brent Seabrook was dropping bombs left and right in his last game against the Anaheim Ducks, grabbing two goals, one on the man advantage. Seabrook has three goals and an assist in his last five games with 14 shots on goal. Chicago will be taking on the Toronto Maple Leafs as the heavy favorites, and with good reason. Brent Seabrook will be prowling at the blueline and likely getting some great looks at the net. He’s a safe play. Get him in your starting lineup tonight.
G- Jakub Markstrom, VAN
Jakub Markstrom will be getting the start over Ryan Miller tonight against the Minnesota Wild. Markstrom is 5-0-1 in his last six starts, averaging just two goals allowed per game. The Canucks will be facing a Wild team that is fresh off their head coach, Mike Yeo, getting canned. This could mean that a fire will be lit under them. The circumstances do not seem to be in their favor though, as the problems they have been facing will not be solved overnight. They are still very banged up in their top six, their powerplay is still incoherent, and they are still on the road where they have struggled all year. Markstrom will likely be looking a low-scoring game in the face. Put him between the pipes in your daily fantasy lineup.
