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
Tyler Tucker – This is my first time calling on this hero all year. This kid is a big boy that can fight, which makes him a risk for a floor of zero. He is however now slated in the Blues’ top 4 defensemen and is on the top penalty kill unit. This usually leads to more minutes and blocked shots, and they will need that against a very talented Lightning team.
Cale Makar – A fairly straight forward horse here. The best player at his position , on the best team, is at home against an inferior opponent. Pretty cut and dry. He has the highest ceiling and can be mix and matched in many different types of Avalanche stacks.
Jan 12, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin (71) heads to the bench after celebrating his power play goal against the Seattle Kraken with forward Alex DeBrincat (93), forward Lucas Raymond (23), and defenseman Moritz Seider (53) during the second period at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images
Vincent Iorio – This hero is playing for his career and is playing a solid role for a playoff contending San Jose Sharks team that is surprising all hockey fans this year. Iorio kills penalties and is playing more minutes on the second pair. On a small slate, I think he can be a sneaky micro-owned low cost play.
Moritz Seider – This horse is Mr Everything for his top of the Atlantic Red Wings team. Top powerplay unit, big minutes, top penalty kill unit, and he can reach all three bonuses on Draftkings. He is just a very good overall play, at home, and the Sharks are playing in a back to back with travel.
🏁 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.
