Here are theScore's defenseman value rankings for Wednesday, January 6's five-game slate:
Top Options
| Name | Opponent | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Alex Pietrangelo (STL) | at COL | 9 |
| Alexander Edler (VAN) | vs. CAR | 8 |
Both have enhanced value in formats that count blocked shots. Edler will not return value if it is not a counting stat. Pietrangelo has some offensive upside, though his salary has dropped because he hasn't fully lived up to expectations...yet.
Best of the Rest
| Name | Opponent | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Kris Letang (PIT) | at CHI | 7 |
| Francois Beauchemin (COL) | vs. STL | 6 |
| Justin Faulk (CAR) | at VAN | 6 |
| Kevin Shattenkirk (STL) | at COL | 6 |
| Brent Seabrook (CHI) | vs. PIT | 6 |
| Tyson Barrie (COL) | vs. STL | 6 |
| Duncan Keith (CHI) | vs. PIT | 5 |
When Letang ends up on the score sheet, he rips it up. Case in point, he has eight points in his last three games. He seems healthy, so he could be a good choice, especially since there are a few more expensive options, including Shattenkirk and Faulk.
Nothing to See Here
| Name | Opponent | Value |
|---|---|---|
| P.K. Subban (MTL) | vs. NJ | 3 |
| Andrei Markov (MTL) | vs. NJ | 3 |
| Colton Parayko (STL) | at COL | 2 |
Subban's had a nice three-game point streak, but he's not at the level he ought to be consistently. Markov has been silent and Parayko has been a non-entity since Shattenkirk returned.
