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
Neal Pionk – Assuming Josh Morrissey is out, we need to find out who the powerplay quarterback is here in Winnipeg. Pionk would normally be the guy, but he was injured before the Olympic break as well. I am going manifest Pionk being healthy enough to play, and if he is, he is probably the best defenseman play on the slate. Pionk is a very talented defenseman that loves to shoot and get up in the play. Vancouver stinks and doesn’t scare me, and Pionk is just too cheap here for the floor/ceiling combination that he provides. This is a horse play at a hero price-point.
Adam Larsson – This play is basically matchup proof, quite simply because of the player and the team he is on. Larsson is on a boring Kraken team and plays a ton of minutes while killing penalties. This guy is a hero for his team that is still in the playoff race somehow, and he is simply way too cheap across the industry.
Nov 11, 2024; Buffalo, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin (26) looks to pass the puck in the second period against the Montreal Canadiens at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images
Rasmus Dahlin – Dahlin is a horse that has had time to rest after Sweden’s quarterfinal loss in the Olympics. Conversely, Jack Hughes who is Dahlin’s primary shutdown target may not play, and if he does, he will be beyond hungover. Dahlin is just an amazing player and he is way too cheap on Draftkings here at $6300.
Nick Seeler – The Capitals love to shoot the puck, and Seeler would block shots with his teeth if he could. Seeler is a hero for his team, and this is just a great spot for a guy with a high floor like him. Another bonus is that Travis Sanheim may be jetlagged from his trip from Italy, so coach Tocchet may lessen Sanheim’s minutes in his first game back; which in turn could allocate some extra ice time to our hero Nick Seeler.
🏁 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.
