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
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.
Oct 20, 2024; San Jose, California, USA; Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (8) warms up on the ice before the game between the San Jose Sharks and the Colorado Avalanche at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images
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, and I give him the label as a gamer. In Toronto is a big divisional game and venue, and Seider is a guy that performs well in big moments.
Ryan Lindgren – Seattle is at home against the Islanders and they need to right the ship. Somehow the Kraken find themselves in the playoff race, and they will not want to lose back to back home games here. Lindgren is a solid middle pairing defenseman that kills penalties and he isn’t afraid to fire pucks on net. He is playing solid minutes, and is going to be a forgotten hero on this slate.
Zach Whitecloud – Assuming he plays, this is going to be this hero’s Calgary Flames debut, and it is at home. He is responsible defensively, but I think there is a little more upside to his game if he is given the minutes. I think Calgary wants to play him a ton of minutes the rest of the year, and I think Whitecloud chips in with fantasy production with those extra minutes.
🏁 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.
