Matt Rogers 
What does the ‘Return to Ice’ plan look like for FanDuel NHL?
On May 26th, Gary Bettman announced a ‘Return to Ice’ plan for the 2019-2020 season. Sheesh, Fall 2019 feels like a decade ago! In summary, the season is considered concluded and the top 12 teams from each conference enter a 24-team playoff format. So when can we start playing FanDuel NHL again?
In the first half of July, we saw the upswing in training camps begin to hum for all 24 teams, depending on where their COVID case status is at the time.
Starting on Tuesday, July 28th, there are three days of exhibition games schedule.
Finally, starting on Saturday, August 1st the NHL will begin a four-team Round Robin tournament for top seeding, in two separate cities for each Conference. Additionally, there will be a ‘Best of 5’ Qualifying round for the remaining eight teams.
For a deeper look into the ‘Return to Play’ format, take a look at Zak’s Puck Picks post for The NHL Returns to the Ice details. Also, the NHL Round Robin and Best of 5 Series were announced on July 14th on the league site.
It remains to be season if FanDuel NHL will be available for the exhibition games. Historically, they have not. However, this is a unique circumstance. Though, we do know for a fact they should have salaries ready, soon, for the weekend of August 1st. Get excited!
Where are the Two Hub Cities Located?
According to practically everyone covering the NHL, the two hub cities are Edmonton and Toronto. I suspect, Canada is currently a preferred location as COVID cases are unpredictably flaring up all over parts of the US right now. Canada appears to have a lower case rate right now. So, it likely feels like the safest move for the NHL.
However, it wouldn’t take much for this unpredictable situation to change, quickly.
That said, it is beginning to feel safe to assume our FanDuel NHL player options will be skating in Edmonton, in the Western Conference, and Toronto, in the Eastern Conference.
So, while we’re preparing for the revised FanDuel NHL season conclusion, it makes sense to look at who the top fantasy hockey options are when playing in each area.
I plan to have a series of FanDuel NHL posts focused on the potential fantasy hockey outcomes for this playoff format, to prepare you for your FanDuel NHL plays this summer.
We’re going to start it off by looking at the skaters with the best offensive statistics while visiting each arena.
While reviewing game logs isn’t the most effective way to win fantasy hockey plays, and the opponents defense and game lines are a huge factor as well, it’s also helpful to know who’s most comfortable in each ice location.
Let’s take a look…
Top Fantasy Hockey Plays for FanDuel NHL in Edmonton and Toronto
Top Scorers Visiting Rogers Place (Edmonton) this Season
| NAME | SEASON | TEAM | GP | P | G | A | +/- |
| Tanner Pearson | 2019-20 | VAN | 2 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Andrew Mangiapane | 2019-20 | CGY | 2 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Alex Pietrangelo | 2019-20 | STL | 2 | 4 | 1 | 3 | -1 |
| Blake Wheeler | 2019-20 | WPG | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Jared Spurgeon | 2019-20 | MIN | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Tyler Seguin | 2019-20 | DAL | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Elias Lindholm | 2019-20 | CGY | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| Bo Horvat | 2019-20 | VAN | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| Kyle Connor | 2019-20 | WPG | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
Note: Data is obtained at Statmuse and includes only those skaters in the Western Conference with three or more points in Rogers Place Area this season.
First of all, looking at this chart, Alex Pietrangelo is an immediate high-value defensive play in Edmonton. Pietrangelo was already having a fantastic year for fantasy hockey, but he is also getting pricey for FanDuel NHL.
If we can afford him, though, he’s a great top D-man play in almost any match-up.
Both Tanner Pearson and Andrew Mangiapane also stick out, not just because they each have five total points in only two games played in Edmonton this season.
Pearson and Mangiapane have often been a solid value play all year, although their salaries, too, were beginning to climb pre-COVID. Still, they should each be at the top of your list when play opens up on August 1st.
The rest of this list isn’t all that surprising, as they’re some of the most well known top fantasy hockey players this past season.
I’d still peg them for your FanDuel NHL top plays list as there’s now a differentiation between all of the well-known top fantasy hockey players in this tournament, in the Western Conference.
Top Scorers Visiting Scotiabank Area (Toronto) this Season
| NAME | SEASON | TEAM | GP | P | G | A | +/- |
| Martin Necas | 2019-20 | CAR | 2 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Nikita Kucherov | 2019-20 | TBL | 2 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Ryan Strome | 2019-20 | NYR | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Steven Stamkos | 2019-20 | TBL | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| Alex Ovechkin | 2019-20 | WSH | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Lucas Wallmark | 2019-20 | CAR | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | -1 |
| Mark Pysyk | 2019-20 | FLA | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Brayden Point | 2019-20 | TBL | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Artemi Panarin | 2019-20 | NYR | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Mike Matheson | 2019-20 | FLA | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Brad Marchand | 2019-20 | BOS | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Erik Haula | 2019-20 | CAR | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Brendan Gallagher | 2019-20 | MTL | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Charlie Coyle | 2019-20 | BOS | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Blake Coleman | 2019-20 | TBL | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Anthony Cirelli | 2019-20 | TBL | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Nicklas Backstrom | 2019-20 | WSH | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
Note: Data is obtained at Statmuse and includes only those skaters in the Eastern Conference with three or more points in Scotiabank Area this season.
The Eastern Conference list for play in Toronto is amazing for so many reasons. First of all, there are a LOT of skaters with three or more points in Toronto. Some of that has to do with the fact that the Maple Leafs defense hasn’t been tremendous at home…or, anywhere.
Still, it’s quite clear off-the-radar fantasy hockey options like the Canes Martin Necas is clearly comfortable with Scotiabank Arena. Necas had a decent total of 36 points (16 goals, 20 assists) in 64 games this season.
But those are not dominating stats. Yet, in just two games in Scotiabank, he piled up three goals and three assists, for MONSTER FanDuel NHL plays. So, Necas, is a name you need to be aware of for value plays. He’s clearly comfortable in Toronto.
Mark Pysyk jumps off the table as a great defensive play, but unlike Pietrangelo, Pysyk isn’t well known and will likely be dirt-cheap by August 1st.
Ryan Strome, Charlie Coyle, and Blake Coleman are three mid-salary range plays I’ve been using all FanDuel NHL season, this year. However, Coleman was most effective with the Devils. It’s hard to known, still, how he fits into the Bolts lines for this playoff format.
Again, this isn’t a locked list of great FanDuel NHL DFS plays for this playoff format. But, it’s one of several tools I hope to provide you as we quickly march to a ‘Return to Play’ NHL DFS season in early August.
A combination of these pieces of information, should yield you solid returns this summer. Summer…I can’t believe we’re writing about live Fantasy Hockey in the Summer! What a bizarre year 2020 has been so far! Make sure to check out WinDailySports.com for more content in the near future, follow us on Twitter at @WinDailySports, and hop into our Expert Chat for one on one conversations!
