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
Rasmus Dahlin – The Sabres are an absolute wagon and on top of the Atlantic Division. They can’t stop scoring goals, and Dahlin can’t stop finding the scoresheet. This dude is a Swedish stallion and this home game against the Sharks should have one of the highest totals on the slate. This should be a fast-paced and skilled game of pond hockey.
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
Kevin Bahl & Yan Kuznetsov – Both are heroes for the Flames that both play big top pairing minutes, as well as penalty kill minutes together. Bahl is slotted in on the second powerplay unit, but on a bad Flames team, is only the smallest of boosts. Kuznetsov probably has a slightly higher floor as a more experienced shot blocker. The matchup is irrelevant because the Flames should be underdogs in essentially every game they play.
Parker Wotherspoon – This dude is a hero for the Penguins that plays on the top pair with Karlsson, and is the best penalty killer on the team. The Penguins are in Carolina who always leads the league in shot attempts, so the block bonus should be a thing here.
🏁 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.
