Spending lower in any daily fantasy lineup is a way to incorporate some diversity into your roster. In NHL DFS, there is typically more value in this strategy -- but also a good deal of risk, too. The right low-salary plays can give you good production while affording you more chances to roster high-salary studs.
Thursday night grants us eight games on the schedule. It is time to save a bit of salary.
Filip Chytil, Center, New York Rangers
FanDuel Salary: $4,100
The New York Rangers' center is worth at least a flier on Thursday night.
Washington does not quite have the defense that can slow down higher-paced teams. Even the New York bottom-six has some dangerous players who can expose the Caps' soft underbelly.
This makes Filip Chytil a decent choice. He has a goal and eight shots in his last three games since returning from injury.
There are two downsides. The pivot typically plays only 12 to 13 minutes a night, and coach Gerrard Gallant has been known not to deploy Chytil in long stretches in games.
However, the potential is there for Chytil to have a good night against the Capitals if he sees solid minutes.
Max Domi, Wing, Columbus Blue Jackets
FanDuel Salary: $4,100
Will Max Domi have another bagel on Thursday night? That does seem doubtful against the Florida Panthers.
Domi has nine goals and 15 assists in 40 games this season -- including a goal and two assists over his last three games.
While the Columbus forward plays around 15 minutes a night of late, he does see some man-advantage time.
The Blue Jackets will need all offensive hands on deck against a Florida team that scores more than four goals a game at home.
Travis Hamonic, Defenseman, Vancouver Canucks
FanDuel Salary: $4,000
Travis Hamonic has been a sneaky wave to ride for the Vancouver Canucks. Continue to surf this one to shore.
He is more rested than most any defenseman right now (just 13 games). Harmonic has only a goal in his last three games, but he has blocked 12 shots and fired nine shots on goal.
With enough ice time, Hamonic can pile up some FanDuel Points with a nice floor on Thursday night against the Calgary Flames. There is a chance that the defenseman will again be able to block a lot of shots versus a Calgary side that is riding high right now (10-game win streak).
Kaapo Kahkonen, Goalie, Minnesota Wild
FanDuel Salary: $7,500
Goaltending has been a bit of a weak link for Minnesota when Cam Talbot has been in goal. Kaapo Kahkonen has performed more like the number-one goalie of late.
Last year was tough for the Finnish goaltender, but over the last 10 starts, Kahkonen has seven wins, a 2.53 goals-against average and a .927% save percentage.
This is a daunting matchup for Minnesota as Toronto is 18-5-1 at home with a power-play that converts at slightly better than a 34% clip. However, Minnesota has defeated Toronto before (on December 4th).
Kahkonen has been much better with rebound control this season and should see good save volume tonight. He has the ability to foil Toronto -- like other goalies have lately.
Chris Wassel is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Chris Wassel also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username chriswassel. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his/her personal views, he/she may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his/her personal account. The views expressed in his/her articles are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDu