This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Wednesday's five-game slate will likely see many new additions from the trade deadline in action with their new teams for the first time. Let's see where the values fall with these new pieces in mind...
Goalie
Jacob Markstrom, VAN vs. NYR ($30)
The Canucks and Rangers were both sellers prior to the deadline, but nobody lost more roster talent during trade season than the Blueshirts, having shipped off Rick Nash, Ryan McDonagh, and a host of other key players. This could spell good news for Markstrom, who has been playing nicely of late anyway, having racked up two wins and a .942 save percentage in his last five appearances, one of which was in relief.
Goalie to Avoid
Carter Hutton, STL vs. DET ($38)
Hutton's run as the Blues' top goalie option was fun while it lasted, but it would appear that the good times are now over -- after posting a .945 save percentage in all of his games through January, the Ontario native shows a pitiful .904 save percentage with just two wins in February and may have lost the starting job back to Jake Allen. None of this rationale should justify him as the top-priced goalie option on the board Wednesday.
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Center
Dylan Larkin, DET @ STL ($16)
Larkin has thrived on unfamiliar ice this season, racking up 25 of his 47 points this season in away games despite playing in six fewer ones than at home. After seeing sparse scoring production in the middle part of February, the 21-year-old southpaw could be heating up again after posting three assists in his last two contests, so be sure to catch him while he's on the upswing.
Center to Avoid
Brayden Point, TB vs. BUF ($23)
The argument against Point here is that he's too streaky and that makes him predictable -- since the start of November, the Calgary native has had just two games of zero points that were followed up by a game with at least one point. In other words, when he gets cold, he gets cold for multiple games. Considering he didn't crack the scoresheet Monday against Toronto, you shouldn't reach at this price.
Wings
Daniel Sedin, VAN vs. NYR ($17)
Sedin continues to play hot as the month of February draws to a close, as he currently has six goals and 10 points to show for his efforts in the last eight games. As mentioned, the Rangers got a lot weaker at the trade deadline, especially on defense, so the fact that they are allowing 3.38 goals per away game on the season makes the younger Sedin twin all the more appealing Wednesday.
Max Pacioretty, MON vs. NYI ($17)
Despite lots of chatter that he would be wearing a new sweater after the trade deadline, Pacioretty remains a Hab for now and very well may be worth buying low on due to his advantageous price and situation Wednesday. The University of Michigan product has been the leader of a Montreal power play that has converted 25 percent of its chances in February and that will have the opportunity to improve against one of the league's worst penalty kills.
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Wings to Avoid
Mikko Rantanen, COL vs. CGY ($20)
Rantanten's offensive prowess lately has been very much offset by the negative stats he's brought to the table -- over the last eight contests, the Finnish forward has recorded 13 shots on goal and a minus-7 rating, which has led to four fantasy outings of zero points or fewer over that span. That sort of lack of opportunity and penchant for getting roasted on defense could get him into trouble against a hot Calgary team.
Vladislav Namestnikov, NYR @ VAN ($20)
Namestnikov was one of the pieces that came back to the Rangers as part of their fire sale and it's unclear at this point where he'll fit in immediately with his new team. Therefore, while he wasn't unproductive by any means during his time in Tampa Bay, it may be best to take a wait-and-see approach with the young Russian considering he wasn't exactly an offensive dynamo even with some of the league's best offensive talent by his side.
Defensemen
Ryan Pulock, NYI @ MON ($18)
While Pulock's offensive numbers aren't extravagant, what you'll be paying for Wednesday is his nice floor built on a foundation of peripheral stats. A facial injury suffered on Jan. 5 hasn't stopped the 23-year-old from blocking shots, as he's averaged over two per game in February, a fact that will play to his advantage against a shot-happy Montreal squad that fires 33.9 per game. Additionally, Pulock's high shot volume provides additional fantasy points and real scoring opportunities.
Tyson Barrie, COL vs. CGY ($17)
Barrie is a candidate to attain fantasy points in the more conventional sense by scoring and he'll have ample opportunity to do so Wednesday against a Calgary squad that is prone to allowing lots of goals on the road. The British Columbia native dropped a five-point bomb in Vancouver on Feb. 20 and added another point when his team played in Calgary on Saturday. The defense rolls through Barrie with Erik Johnson (upper body) still injured, so he's worth paying for.
Defensemen to Avoid
Alex Pietrangelo, STL vs. DET ($25)
Pietrangelo finally found twine in Tuesday's loss to Minnesota, but it's still a terrible sign that he's posted a hideous minus-10 rating over his last seven contests. The Blues' captain isn't getting the type of scoring output you'd expect from a defenseman priced this high on the board, so you can comfortably pass while he goes against a Detroit team that ranks 13th in the league in away goals allowed per game.
Rasmus Ristolainen, BUF @ TB ($19)
Ristolainen has been a decently productive scorer of late, but the fact that he's consistently been getting beat on the defensive end could crush him Wednesday. The Lightning's extremely effective offense could make quick work of the Sabres' top minutes logger, while their recently bolstered defense, highlighted by the arrival of McDonagh, should make it difficult for him to score. All of this combined could add up to another tough fantasy day for the Finn.
