If you’re playing NHL DFS on DraftKings or FanDuel, you already know goalies and stacks are high priority. But the secret edge to climbing tournaments is finding those sneaky defensemen who fly under the radar—the Horses & Heroes. In this article, I’ll reveal my favorite undervalued NHL defensemen plays for this slate, explain why they matter for DFS strategy, and show you how to plug these picks into your lineups. Join the DFS Army today and get full access to our Discord, tools, and analysis that back every recommendation.
Horse – A defenseman that is more chalky than others that is a catalyst for their team. These players usually have higher ceilings, and can be used as the glue to bring a stack together. They typically quarterback the top powerplay unit and log a ton of minutes.
Hero – A hero is a cheaper defenseman that will be a role player on their NHL team. They usually kill penalties and are the unsung heroes that block shots for their team. They typically garner low ownership, have high floors, and are the key pieces needed to take down tournaments.
Horses & Heroes: Top NHL Defensemen to Target for DFS Lineups
Axel Sandin-Pellikka – The guy we call ASP is starting his NHL career after developing in the Swedish Elite League. It looks like he is going to be in the top 4 for Detroit and run their 2nd powerplay unit, which is a tall task for such a young guy. ASP is talented and motivated enough to have a high ceiling and great year. He is my first hero of this slate in a pace-up matchup against the Habs on a back to back.
Tony Deangelo – Admittedly salaries are not out yet at the time I’m writing this, but Tony D is on the top pairing and is quarterbacking the top powerplay unit. Offensive upside has never been the issue with Tony D, it’s his demeanor and decision making that has hindered his career. He is a hero-like horse for me I guess, and the Penguins still suck; the Rangers simply laid a giant egg in MSG to start the season.
John Klingberg – He may not be what he was in his prime with the Stars, but he has had a career resurrection in Edmonton and now finds himself on the top pairing and top powerplay unit in San Jose. The Sharks don’t have any defensemen, so Klingberg might as well do it all. He is a horse at a hero’s price in a way.
Quinn Hughes – Obviously Hughes is a horse and is the captain of the Canucks. I am speculating here, but Calgary is on the second game of a back to back and the drop-off from Dustin Wolf to any other goalie on their roster is significant. Vancouver is in a super interesting spot here, and Quinn Hughes is always in the middle of everything for that team.
Mar 22, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes (43) skates against the New York Rangers during the second period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images
Jamie Oleksiak – The big rig was not someone I was expecting to write up this year, but I expect Seattle to evenly distribute their defensemen minutes. This hero is a shot blocking maestro and is on the top penalty kill unit for the Kraken.
Dmitri Simashev – The over-drafted rookie who the Mammoth took over Matvei Michkov appears to have cracked the roster. This rookie is a hero that is about a million feet tall and is on the top penalty kill unit. We are in wait and see mode, but if he is out there on defense, it’d be statistically improbable for the puck not to hit him.
Dante Fabbro – This hero is in a revenge game and has great chemistry with Zach Werenski on the top pairing for Columbus. Fabbro also kills penalties and is very active on both ends of the ice. Werenski pushes the pace of the game, and Fabbro plays perfectly off of him as a support guy.
🏁 Final Thoughts — Ride Your Edge
Every NHL slate is loaded with obvious plays, but it’s the sharp eye for undervalued Horses and Heroes that separates casual players from consistent winners. The best part? You don’t have to do it alone. Our members are crushing NHL DFS every season using the same projections, tools, and strategy chats that fuel this article.
👉 Join the DFS Army today and turn your lineups into weapons. Get full access to our NHL cheat sheets, optimizer, and private Discord coaching for every slate.
