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 eveal 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
Adam Pelech – This hero is an unsung guy that blocks shots, kills penalties, and plays big minutes as well. When you play a high powered offense like Edmonton, this is exactly the type of guy you need to to win and play an unsexy role. I see a high floor with blocks in this game for Pelech.
Dylan Demelo – Copy and paste the description for Pelech and put it here for Demelo. Same player essentially, as well as the same role, just a different team. Similar spot too, against a high powered offense in the Minnesota Wild.
Lane Hutson – This is the must watch game of the night for me. Buffalo is streaking and Lane Hutson can fly. This game environment is begging for fantasy production, and Hutson is someone that can fill the stat sheet in a hurry quarterbacking this powerplay.
Mar 28, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson (48) looks on against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
Mattias Samuelsson – This guy is an absolute unit of a man and plays a ton of top pairing minutes as well as kills penalties. He is super active in regards to shooting and blocking shots, which in turn, creates a high floor of fantasy points.
Cam York – This dude is sort of a horse/hero hybrid for me. He is usually cheap around the industry and is slated on the top pair, top powerplay, and the top penalty kill. That is a big role for a guy that has flashes of talent. On the road in Pittsburgh is a good spot to accrue fantasy points as well, because the Penguins play a fast and loose type of 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.
