Studs and Stacks – October 17
As the 2025–26 NHL season kicks off, daily fantasy hockey enthusiasts are gearing up for the action on DraftKings and FanDuel. In this article, we spotlight today’s top NHL DFS studs and stack recommendations, focusing on high-upside players and synergistic line combinations that can elevate your lineups. Whether you’re targeting cash games or GPPs, these picks are designed to maximize value and exposure. Let’s dive into the matchups and identify the key players to target.
FORWARDS
The Stud: Kirill Kaprizov
Kap is living up to every bit of the contract he signed as he scored four times and added five helpers through four games, and he’s also shooting a ton with 19 shots so far.
The Pivot: Dylan Guenther
The Mammoth are the largest favorites on the slate by a good amount, and Guenther might be their best player. He’s got a good floor (averaging four shots per game) and he’s also averaging a point per contest thus far. Utah is at home, so the Sharks may have an issue in the altitude as well.
Mar 24, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Detroit Red Wings right wing Alex DeBrincat (93) warms up before a game against the Utah Hockey Club at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
The Low-Owned: Alex Debrincat
Cat has yet to score a goal, but he’s got 15 shots through four games and he’s been active offensively with six assists. If Raymond is out, he’ll get a few extra shifts as well, and he’ll be needed to keep up with an elite Tampa Bay offense.
The Value: Mason Appleton
Three goals (including two last game) in four games and is skating up on L1 with Raymond being out.
STACKS
The Full: MIN (Kaprizov-Boldy-Eriksson Ek-Buium)
It hasn’t mattered who they’ve been facing, the top power play unit for the Wild have been producing. 10 goals (out of the team’s 14) and 16 assists have come from this quartet (and mixing in Tarasenko adds another four helpers). Ride the hot streak while it lasts.
The Mini: CHI (Nazar-Teravainen)
I’ve written this duo a few times, and they seem to have something special going on here. Six points for each of them and they continue to be affordable, and the matchup isn’t anything worrisome, either. (You can mix in Bedard as a smaller stack as well since he’s getting hot).
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