The NHL season is upon us and we have an intriguing three-game slate to get the 2023-2024 campaign underway. The three contests include the Predators taking on the Lightning, the Blackhawks squaring off against the Penguins, and the Kraken going toe-to-toe with the Golden Knights.

I’m going to be playing a ton of daily fantasy hockey this season, and I’ll be posting my lineups to the Fantasy Pros website on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Let’s waste no time and check out the nine players I’m riding with on the ice tonight.

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Today’s NHL DFS Picks & Analysis

Lineup below is based on DraftKings, but FanDuel prices are also listed.

C1: Evgeni Malkin ($6,600 DK, $6,900 FD)

Well, if you want Sidney Crosby production without the Sidney Crosby price tag ($8,200), look no further than second-line center Evgeni Malkin. The star center finished just ten points off of Crosby’s pace last year, totaling 83 points on 27 goals and 56 assists.

These two essentially play identical roles, each racking up north of 18:30 minutes TOI/G while slotting in as linemates on the top power play. This is a favorable matchup against a Chicago organization that’s in shambles. The Blackhawks finished with the fourth-most shots against last year, and their backend doesn’t inspire much confidence heading into the new season.

C2: Cody Glass ($3,500 DK, $4,800 FD)

Aside from the expected beatdown in Pittsburgh, the other matchup I have an eye on is the Preds taking on the Bolts. Now, typically I’d be wary of fading Tampa on their home ice, but it’s confirmed that legendary netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy will be sidelined for at least the first eight weeks of the season. Tampa still has a couple of recognizable D-men in Victor Hedman and Mikhail Sergachev, but this defensive core is a shell of the Stanley Cup runs.

I’ll take this opportunity to back this Nashville squad that nearly made the playoffs last season. They finished the campaign by winning six of their final ten games. What does that have to do with tonight’s DFS contest? Enter Cody Glass, who emerged down the stretch and added some much-needed offensive production. The then-23-year-old added eight points (4G, 4A) over the final 11 games. That’s roughly a 59-point season when stretched out to 82 games. Add another full training camp and I think Glass makes for a solid cheap option tonight.

W1: Jonathan Marchessault ($5,300 DK, $6,100 FD)

The reigning champions will take on the Kraken once they finish raising their banner at T-Mobile Arena. Speaking of the Cup, I’ll add Conn Smythe winner Jonathan Marchessault to our roster as the top winger.

The 31-year-old is truly developing into a solid first-liner in the NHL. He’s a crafty player who works hard and grinds for his points. He picked up 57 (28G, 29A), and as you can see, they were basically split between goals and assists. Now he’ll get to play a full season alongside Jack Eichel. The duo will also get ample time on the main power play, which is very well-coached under Bruce Cassidy.

W2: Bryan Rust ($5,000 DK, $5,100 FD)

The second of the three Penguins that I’m locking into my lineup is RW Bryan Rust. The veteran forward is listed as the top winger on the roster, slotting in alongside Crosby and Jake Guentzel. Honestly, anytime you have the great Crosby dishing you the puck, I’ll give you a shot in my DFS lineup. Rust doesn’t have massive numbers in terms of point production, but he added 46 (20G, 26A) last season. He also occupies a role on the second power play unit.

W3: Ivan Barbashev ($3,800 DK, $4,900 FD)

Ivan Barbashev was rewarded for his dominant postseason by signing a five-year, $25 million contract, which kept him in Sin City. That type of payday makes him the top LW, slotting in with Eichel and Marchessault. He was bumped from the main power play, but will still get some man-advantage time on the second unit.

The Knights will face Philipp Grubauer tonight, who posted a 2.85 GAA (19th) and .895 SV% (39th) last year. He’s a respectable option for the Kraken, but I think the Knights will light the lamp a few times. I’ll take Barbashev as a cheap option to contribute to a goal.

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D1: Kris Letang ($6,700 DK, $5,300 FD)

The final Pittsburgh player that I’m adding to the roster is veteran defenseman Kris Letang. He played in just 64 games last season, but still managed to pick up 41 total points (12G, 29A). That includes 21 points (6G, 15A) on the man-advantage. Of course, the Pens will welcome Erik Karlsson to the power play, but Letang still managed to carve out a spot on the PP. I’m expecting a blowout in this game and I think Letang will make his way onto the scoresheet.

D2: Tyson Barrie ($4,800 DK, $4,200 FD)

Tyson Barrie returns to the Predators after getting traded 75% of the way through last season. The defenseman didn’t really find his footing with Nashville, adding just 12 points (3G, 9A) over 24 games. However, he has typically been a guy who can get you about 50 points over an 82-game stretch. You need fillers in your lineup and this is a guy who has potential to add a point or two against a backup Tampa netminder.

G: Juuse Saros ($7,300 DK, $7,400 FD)

Speaking of goalies, I’ll lock in the best goaltender available tonight. For a few reasons, Juuse Saros isn’t priced that way as there are three other backstops sitting above the $8,000 range.

Nashville is an organization that makes its bread by playing a defensive shell. It all starts with the Finnish goalie, who posted a 2.69 GAA (17th) and .919 (6th) SV% last season. He also added a pair of shutouts, which was the 17th-best mark in the NHL. He has a strong defense in front of him with Roman Josi, the aforementioned Barrie, Ryan McDonagh, and Luke Schenn. Look for Saros to turn in a solid outing against a top-heavy Bolts squad.

UTIL: (LW) Filip Forsberg ($6,900 DK, $7,300 FD)

One of the goaltenders that’s priced above Saros is Vasilevskiy’s replacement, Jonas Johansson ($8,100). I don’t understand the price difference considering Johansson doesn’t have nearly the amount of success as our guy. The 28-year-old has played in just 35 career games and owns a 3.35 GAA and .886 SV%.

He’s the reason I’m stacking my lineup with Predators tonight. I think it’s an opportunity to find some value, and we should see Nashville’s offense break out. Give me Filip Forsberg to round out the roster at the UTIL spot. The winger put up 42 points (19G, 23A) over 50 games last season. Forsberg will start on the top line alongside newcomer Ryan O’Reilly and Juuso Parssinen, while also getting minutes on the top power play.

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