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
Jackson LaCombe – A Horse in his own right, but not priced like one. LaCombe is playing over 25 minutes a game, is the powerplay quarterback, and just signed a giant contract. Pittsburgh are frauds and LaCombe starts producing in this spot.
Zeev Buium – Draftkings is still copy/pasting the same salaries over and over. If you need a description look at every article all season so far. Top powerplay unit for the Wild and is just starting his career.
Dmitry Orlov – A hero who is playing around 22 minutes a night and doing all the little things. This is a revenge game as well, because Orlov probably feels betrayed a little bit by Carolina.
Zayne Parekh – A min-priced rookie with tons of talent. 17 minutes in his debut on the 3rd pairing, but he also is on the 2nd powerplay unit as well. My favorite stone minimum player on the slate, but his floor is 0, like always. Rookies want to leave impressions, and Zayne is a confident kid.
Apr 24, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly (44) and center John Tavares (91) defends Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Brandon Hagel (38) during the first period of game four of the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Morgan Rielly – Still cheap and playing big minutes and quarterbacking the top powerplay for the Leafs. The Leafs want to get back in the win column, and Rielly has been in the middle of everything for the Leafs.
Shane Gostisbehere – Carolina stacks will be popular, and if stacking them, we might as well over-stack for their top powerplay guy who plays over 20 minutes a game.
🏁 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.
