Fantasy picks: Rookies providing value

Each day this season, NHL.com's fantasy staff will provide daily picks for DraftKings NHL contests. This lineup has been constructed with expensive and value picks and should be used as a basis for your roster decision-making.
C - Tyler Seguin, DAL ($7,700)
Seguin has five assists in two games this season and 17 points (four goals, 13 assists) in 18 career games against the St. Louis Blues. The previous time the Dallas Stars played the Blues at home (Nov. 3), they won 6-2 behind four assists and four shots on goal from Seguin. Coach Lindy Ruff has moved left wing Jamie Benn off Seguin's line, but that hasn't stunted his production; he has nine points in his past 10 games. The idea for this lineup is to pay up for elite centers, and Seguin fits the bill.

C - Evgeni Malkin, PIT ($7,500)
Speaking of elite centers, Malkin may appear to have a tough draw against the New York Rangers. But Malkin has 23 goals, 23 assists and 157 SOG in 49 career games against New York. Malkin has at least 3.5 DraftKings points in nine of his past 10 games and despite his three-game win streak, goalie Henrik Lundqvist may appear human against the Pittsburgh Penguins, who scored four goals on 17 shots against him on Nov. 23.

W - Brad Marchand, BOS ($6,400)
Marchand is tied with Malkin for the NHL lead with 38 SOG in the month of December. He has 18 SOG in his past three games to go with a goal, assist and two blocked shots. The New York Islanders are allowing the third-most shots per game (32.7) in the League, so expect another heavy volume from Marchand on Tuesday. He's been the Boston Bruins' most reliable scorer after getting a career-high 37 goals last season. Marchand isn't on pace to match that number, but that would only suggest he could be due for a goal-scoring purge.
W - Ryan Hartman, CHI ($3,600)
In order to pay up for Seguin and Malkin, you'll need to make some sacrifices. Hartman comes in at bargain pricing and has contributed nicely to the Chicago Blackhawks' five-game win streak, scoring a goal with three assists and 10 SOG. There's a chance Artem Anisimov could miss another game, but even his return could boost Hartman, who is skating on the second line with Vinnie Hinostroza and Marian Hossa. The rookie forward makes for a decent punt play for tournaments.
W - Miles Wood, NJD ($3,400)
If you're looking for not one, but two home-run plays for tournaments, Wood is coming off a goal, two blocks and six SOG (7.0 DraftKings points) against the Rangers on Sunday. Another rookie forward, Wood was promoted to the second line and showed Sunday that he deserves a longer look in the New Jersey Devils' top six group. The Nashville Predators will be on the second of a back-to-back and enter Monday having allowed 15 goals in their past four road games.

D - Aaron Ekblad, FLA ($4,700)
Who is behind Marchand and Malkin in SOG in December, you ask? Ekblad is third this month with 37 SOG in nine games for the Florida Panthers. He has 19 in his past four games and has played well against the Buffalo Sabres in his short career (seven assists in 10 games). The Panthers start a five-game homestand Tuesday, and Ekblad has scored three goals in 13 games at BB&T Center this season.
D - Troy Stecher, VAN ($4,200)
The Vancouver Canucks defense has been depleted by injuries to Alexander Edler and Erik Gudbranson, which has allowed Stecher to move into the role of point man on the first power play. The rookie leads Canucks defensemen in points (nine) and SOG (68) in 23 games. Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck has struggled on the road (3-6-0, 3.27 goals-against average, .885 save percentage), and the Jets' penalty kill ranks 28th in the League (75.4 percent).
G - Ryan Miller, VAN ($7,200)
If you're looking for a goalie for big tournaments, Miller has a decent amount going for him against the Jets. As mentioned above, Hellebuyck has not played well on the road, which gives Miller a shot at getting decent goal support for a potential win. The veteran goalie also has performed better at home, going 5-3-1 with a 2.41 GAA and .914 SV%. The key here is Miller's ownership percentage will be very low, and if he can avoid allowing more than three goals while getting a win he'll be worth the risk.

UTIL - Mikael Granlund, MIN ($5,200)
The Minnesota Wild offer plenty of affordable stack options at home against the Colorado Avalanche, who have allowed at least three goals in nine of their past 12 games (2-9-1). Meanwhile, the Wild will go for their eighth straight win and have scored 17 goals in the past four games. Granlund has a point in five of his past six games (two goals, four assists) and has at least 4.0 DraftKings points in four of six. His linemates are affordable; Mikko Koivu (C, $5,600) and Nino Niederreiter (W, $4,900).
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