Sharpen your NHL skills with out fantasy hockey previews.

I’m going to go team-by-team and break down the players I love and hate for daily fantasy this season in my fantasy hockey preview. I’ll be pointing out the dandies and donkeys from each team along the way.

Anaheim Ducks

Dandies: Matt Belesky will benefit greatly from skating alongside Cory Perry and Ryan Getzalf. This is the best or second best opportunity for a “role player” to produce fantasy numbers like a star. With the defense focused on the two studs, Belesky will almost certainly draw the attention of the opposing Centerman as opposed to the defensemen. The assist opportunities will be there every shift and Belesky should come at a bargain basement price to start the season.

Cam Fowler should also be in for a huge season. I expect him to see all of the power play time with the explosive top unit. Only six goals last year to go along with 30 assists is unacceptable from a player with this talent.

I am very weary about the goalies on this team. Gibson is expected to get the nod opening night but I feel it will be a 50/50 split throughout the first month or two of the season. Be sure you check who is starting before rostering one of them. Both will have value and are good targets for daily fantasy because the win for the goalie is huge.

San Jose Sharks

Dandies: Joe Thornton is criminally underowned by fantasy players. He’s more of a cash game play as he seems to have lost the ability to find the back of the net multiple times per game. Still one of the best play makers in the league, he is good for a point per game. Jumbo Joe will be motivated this season after having his captain’s C revoked after the playoff collapse (once again). He’s as consistent as they come for cash games.

Logan Couture does not get talked about enough. This kid is an absolute superstar. A great two-way player which will lead to him getting increased ice time as the season moves along. There is nothing bad to say about this kid. I will really look to exploit the matchups on the road when the home team will do everything they can to have the top defensive pairing on the ice for the Thornton line.

Feel free to target anyone on this team’s top two skating lines, and any of the defensemen. It is often tough to predict where the scoring comes from on this team but it comes in groups. Take the hot hand or the cheapest one to get exposure to this team on a lot of nights.

Los Angeles Kings

Dandies: Drew Doughty is the best defenseman in the league in my humble opinion. He’s always in consideration when there is salary cap left over. Doughty will make an excellent early pick in the live drafts as his projected points will be much higher than any other defensemen.

Marion Gaborik lit the world on fire in the post season. 14 goals were four more than anyone else in the playoffs last year. I look for him to stay red hot this year. Forgotten by many fantasy players due to injury and playing in Columbus for the majority of last season, Gaborik should make for a nice contrarian play in large tournaments early on.

Wildcards: Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson played a big part in the King’s title run. Both youngsters proved they deserve a spot on the roster. Keep a close eye on both of these guys. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them turn into real fantasy contributors.

Arizona Coyotes

Dandies: Mikkel Boedker has earned a soft spot in my heart. I love this speedster, as he’s a phenomenal skater with improving talent. This is the year Mikkel makes a name for himself around the league.

Keith Yandle/Oliver Ekman-Larsson are two offensive studs on the blue line. It is impossible to predict which will have the better game night-to-night though. I find myself rostering both when the team is in a great position. They don’t skate together at even strength but do on the team’s top power play unit.

Vancuver Cannucks

Donkeys: Henrik/Daniel Sedin (by default). I love these two but father time has hit them hard. I don’t love anything about this team right now.

I have no idea what direction this team is trying to go. and their offseason moves have been confusing. They let Ryan Kesler walk and then signed Ryam Miller to a huge deal when Eddie Lack is the future between the pipes. I will not be rostering anyone from his team until it is all figured out. Best advice is to just stay away.

Calgary Flames

Dandies: Unless something drastic changes, the only player I will roster all season may very well be Mark Giodano. A true stud that shocked the league with his performance in the 2nd half of last season. No defenseman was better for fantasy purposes.

Curtis Glencross is in play on very short game slates if the price drops to where it was most of last season. You’re better off just avoiding this team 90% of nights they play.

Edmonton Oilers

Dandies: Taylor Hall is a stud. He’s always in play for tournaments as he can score with the best of them. This puts his line mates in play as well as they greatly benefit from the assists. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jordan Eberle are the two I am talking about. For tournaments I often stack this entire line and just watch the $ roll in.

Justin Schultz should see all ice time on the power play, which is an excellent position to be in for a value play.