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
Artyom Levshunov – This kid is the future of the Chicago Blackhawks and the organization is finally letting him grow. He has looked good so far with a few bumps along the way, but he is just a kid in a man’s league. Levshunov is playing a top pair and top powerplay unit role as a 20 year old, and they are giving him the green light. The industry pricing has not caught up to his role yet, so the point per dollar is still a great value here.
Rasmus Andersson – This Swedish horse is at home against a Detroit team that loves to give up goals. I like finding reasons to play Andersson because he is super active all around the ice, but when he is on the powerplay as well, I look extra hard. The pace, the activity, and the powerplay make Andersson a solid floor and ceiling combination across the board.
Apr 4, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Kings center Adrian Kempe (9) hits Calgary Flames defenseman Christopher Tanev (8) during the second period at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Niko Mikkola – Mikkola is a hero that is still very cheap around the industry and comes with a higher floor than normal for someone that salary. He plays a lot of minutes, kills penalties, and can chip in offensively occasionally by accident.
Adam Larsson – This hero plays on the top pair and top penalty kill unit for the Kraken. This is a small and weird slate, so we are going to get gross here. I see a decent floor here in this gross game, and if we need a random piece of a 3rd team in your lineup, Larsson may fit right in at this salary.
🏁 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.
