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
Kevin Bahl – A top 4 giant D-man that kills penalties and eats pucks. That is what we want for cheap, and that is what this hero does. The guy his teammates love and casual fans don’t know.
Andrew Peeke – A carbon copy of the same exact role as the aforementioned Kevin Bahl. The Bruins want to get in the way of everything, and this is Andrew Peeke’s game to a tee. This hero even has random explosion games out of nowhere at times.
Morgan Rielly – This horse is back on the top powerplay unit for the Leafs with Marner in Vegas now. Morgan has admitted to poor play last year and lost weight and went hard this offseason. This is a big opportunity for Rielly to rebrand his career with the same franchise.
Mar 28, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Montreal Canadiens right wing Cole Caufield (13) center Nick Suzuki (14) and left wing Juraj Slafkovský (20) talk against the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
Alexandre Carrier – He is a bottom pairing guy, but he is very masterful at blocking shots, and he also loves to shoot the pill every time he has a chance to. This gives him a high floor, and this hero also kills penalties.
Shea Theodore – This horse gets to punish the Kings on a back to back in Vegas for their home opener. Theodore is one of the most under-rated offensive defensemen in the game, and he has as high of a ceiling as anyone on that top powerplay unit that now features Mitch Marner.
Mackenzie Weegar – This guy is an absolute horse that shoots every puck he gets in the offensive zone, and blocks tons of shots with his active stick on D. He is on the top powerplay unit and top pairing for a hopeful Calgary team, and he wants to give himself a shot at cracking the Canadian Olympic team.
🏁 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.
