NHL Building Blocks – January 1
Happy New Year, everyone! We celebrate the first day of 2025 with a showdown tonight. Let’s dive in!
The premise of each article in this series is to feature starting spots (building blocks) for your lines. These are plays that are cash-viable as well as GPP-worthy and can be considered in all contest formats.
Starting Lineup – January 1
The Goalie: Darcy Kuemper
On paper, this could end up a defensive battle with both teams in the top five of goals allowed and top three in shots allowed per game; the Kings rank second and third, respectively. With the Devils on the second half of a road back-to-back, I lean Kuemper (9-2-5 / 2.43 / .910) in this one, and as New Jersey is sixth in shots per game, he could face a good number if the Kings’ defense doesn’t come to play.
The Center: Anze Kopitar
Four goals in his last five games and is a good way to get off of the more high-profile Devils chalk.
The Wing: Jesper Bratt
Leads the team in scoring with 47 points (14 goals) and plays all three situations as well.
The Defenseman: Dougie Hamilton
Like the volume Hamilton brings as he is third on the team in shots on goal with 112; has 24 points in 39 games.
The Value: Ondrej Palat
Three goals and a helper in his last three games; plays all three situations and is the overlooked piece of the Hughes-Bratt even strength line.
The Stack: LAK (Kopitar-Kempe)
This duo is together in all three situations, and in a single-gamer like this, I like that little bit of extra correlation. 29 goals and 45 assists between them on the season; mix in Fiala and Laferriere as secondary pieces.
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Nov 29, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; New Jersey Devils left wing Jesper Bratt (63) handles the puck during the first period against the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bradshaw Sevald-Imagn Images
