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
Ivan Provorov – Provorov is a hero for the CBJ who are very desperate here. He plays on the top pair with Werenski, as well as kills penalties, and shows up on the 2nd powerplay unit He has been scoring points recently and playing a ton, and I expect him to be blocking a ton of shots against Vegas who loves to shoot. Provorov is also one of the league leaders in ice time as well.
Jackson LaCombe – The Ducks can score goals and the Devils can give them up. LaCombe is a horse that does a little bit of everything, including quarterbacking the top powerplay unit for the Ducks. My man is a very talented young player and he is due for a few pop-off games here soon. He has shown signs of expanding his game, and the Devils have been really struggling the last 10 days or so. I expect a speedy game with solid scoring chances, so I think LaCombe’s upside has a chance of hitting here.
Morgan Rielly – Toronto is coming off a loss in overtime to the Sharks, and this game may be an absolute banger here. Rielly is a pure upside play with powerplay responsibilities and raw offensive talent. The Oilers can concede goals, and Toronto should be scoring more of them than they have recently. This is just angreat game environment and I am not going to overthink it. With Mermis, Ekman-Larsson, Carlo, and Tanev all on the shelf on defense for the Leafs, these remaining guys carry a lot of weight on their shoulders.
Oct 28, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Tavares (91) and forward Auston Matthews (34) celebrate a goal by forward Matthew Knies (23) against the Calgary Flames during the third period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Troy Stecher – Stecher has played great for the Leafs since he has been claimed off of waivers from Edmonton. Like I said above in the Morgan Rielly description, the Leafs are decimated on their blue-line and Stecher was already playing a ton. Since Stecher was already found money for Toronto, I am expecting a win/win situation here where the Leafs have to ride this guy, and Stecher wants to show his abilities and prolong his NHL career. Will the challenge be accepted? Who knows, but opportunity looms here for the undrafted journeyman.
Moritz Seider – Chicago is playing in a back to back and Seider simply is in a great game environment here. The young German is a horse that thrives in the pond-hockey style that the young Blackhawks want to play. Detroit already plays a loosey goosey style, so I expect them to feed into the chaos here a little bit. I expect the over to hit in this game, with plenty of goals to go around. Seider is the rare player that can hit both the shots on goal and blocked shot bonuses, as well as find the scoresheet.
🏁 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.
