NHL Building Blocks for October 1
In this article, we spotlight today’s top NHL DFS studs and stack recommendations, focusing on high-upside players and synergistic line combinations that can elevate your lineups. Whether you’re targeting cash games or GPPs, these picks are designed to maximize value and exposure. Let’s dive into the matchups and identify the key players to target.
Feb 23, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) skates with the puck skates with the puck as Washington Capitals right wing Brandon Duhaime (22) defends in the second period at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
CASH
Forward: Connor McDavid
The ownership will be significant, but this is the kind of spot where I’m comfortable eating it. Edmonton gets Vancouver again after the Canucks gave up six goals Wednesday, and McDavid has the floor and ceiling to justify the chalk.
Defense: Evan Bouchard
The five-point opener will push his ownership up, but the role hasn’t changed: top pair and PP1 in an Edmonton offense I want exposure to. That’s enough for cash despite the price.
Goalie: Andrei Vasilevskiy
Tampa is a road favorite against the Rangers, and Vasilevskiy gives us a strong combination of win equity and save opportunity. He isn’t dependent on a shutout to have a useful score, but we know his ceiling.
Mar 29, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) looks on against the New York Islanders during the first period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
SINGLE ENTRY
Forward: Nikita Kucherov
Kucherov gives us elite individual upside while allowing us to move away from the most obvious Edmonton construction. He’s one of the very few skaters who can rival McDavid’s upside.
Defense: Quinn Hughes
Hughes gives us a nice SE pivot at defense with plenty of offensive responsibility and PP1 exposure. Nashville is a manageable matchup, and with Faber out, Hughes should have plenty of opportunity to rack up the production as he’ll (as usual) play heavy minutes.
Goalie: Jesper Wallstedt
Wallstedt gets the start in Nashville, and Minnesota is a modest road favorite in a 6.5-total game. He went 18-9-6 with a 2.61 GAA last season and enters this year as Minnesota’s #1 with Gustavsson out. The Wild also have enough defensive/offensive strength to give him a legitimate shot at the win.
Stack: TB (Kucherov-Point-Mikheyev)
Tampa is a good way to get different from the Edmonton chalk without reaching for a questionable matchup. Kucherov and Point provide the ceiling while Mikheyev keeps the stack reasonably priced. I like the idea of mixing in Carlson in his first game with the Bolts, and Guentzel is always viable for PP exposure.
Dec 4, 2025; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Minnesota Wild left wing Kirill Kaprizov (97) against the Calgary Flames during the first period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
LARGE FIELD
Forward: Kirill Kaprizov
Kaprizov is the expensive tournament piece I want to build around. Nashville is a much less intimidating matchup than the teams facing the obvious chalk, and Minnesota’s top line is now Kaprizov-Yurov-Shabanov. That creates a particularly interesting (and decently-priced) way to use Kaprizov without simply pairing him with every other Wild star, though stacking him with Boldy and Hughes gives a great ceiling option.
Defense: Zach Werenski
The reigning Norris-winner is a strong large-field defenseman because he gives us legitimate PP1 and offensive upside in a ton of minutes. Buffalo is a matchup I’m willing to attack with Columbus, and his ability to pile up points, shots and blocks gives him a nice ceiling if this game opens up.
Goalie: Jet Greaves
Greaves should see enough work to build a big save total facing a good Buffalo offense. He’s one of the goalies I’d want to take a few shots on in MME, and with Merzlikins gone, he’s the undisputed #1 in net.
Stack: FLA1 (Barkov-Reinhart-B. Tkachuk)
Florida gets a much friendlier matchup than Tuesday’s game against Carolina, but the Panthers should still come in behind some of the slate’s more obvious offensive stacks. That makes their top line a good MME target — enough scoring upside to break the slate, with the ability to get different elsewhere.
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