NHL Building Blocks for October 2
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.
Oct 11, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (9) shoots against the St. Louis Blues during the second period at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
CASH
Forward: Jack Eichel
Eichel gives us a nice combination of floor and ceiling, and Vegas gets one of the better matchups on the slate against Anaheim. The home matchup and offensive role make him an easy cash-game target.
Defense: Miro Heiskanen
Heiskanen gives us exposure to a Dallas team I want to target without paying up for the obvious Stars forwards. He’s playing big minutes and brings enough shot, block, and assist upside to give us a strong cash floor.
Goalie: Jake Oettinger
This is the goalie spot I want for cash. Dallas is the biggest moneyline favorite on the slate at roughly -200 against St. Louis, and Oettinger is healthy and expected to start. The combination of win equity, home ice and Dallas’ defensive environment gives him the safest path on the board.
Nov 21, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (88) gets set for a face-off during the third period against the Utah Hockey Club at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
SINGLE ENTRY
Forward: David Pastrnak
Pastrnak gives us legitimate tournament-winning upside without having to pay for one of the more obvious top-end stacks. Boston-Winnipeg should have enough offensive potential for him to get there through goals, shots or both, especially without Hellebuyck in net for the Jets.
Defense: Adam Fox
Fox gives us a strong SE option at defense with plenty of offensive responsibility and PP1 exposure. Detroit is a matchup I’m comfortable attacking, and Fox’s assist upside gives him a nice ceiling without needing a goal to pay off.
Goalie: Carter Hart
Hart gives us a nice SE combination of win equity and potential save volume. Vegas is in a strong home matchup against Anaheim, and if Hart gets the start, I like the upside of pairing him with the Golden Knights without simply using the safest goalie on the slate. Anaheim lost some important pieces in the offseason as well.
Stack: BOS (Pastrnak-Lindholm-Peterka)
Boston is a good SE stack because Pastrnak brings the obvious ceiling while Peterka and Lindholm give us correlation that isn’t as straightforward as some of the more popular stacks on this slate. Winnipeg is only a slight favorite, so I’m not worried about the matchup being overly one-sided, and Boston already showed some offensive punch in its opener.
Jan 25, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin (8) handles the puck against the Vancouver Canucks in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
LARGE FIELD
Forward: Alex Ovechkin
Ovechkin is exactly the kind of large-field play I want on a five-game slate. Carolina is a difficult matchup, which should keep the ownership down, but he still has the one-shot-can-change-the-slate goal-scoring upside. He also has 110 points (53 goals) in 96 career games, and the Caps loaded up in the offseason for what is likely Ovie’s last ride.
Defense: Moritz Seider
Seider might be the best all-around defenseman in hockey, and given all the tumult in Detroit, no one will be on him. Even so, he’s capable of getting there through points and peripherals. He is solid as a one-off or if you want to mini-stack him.
Goalie: Logan Thompson
Thompson gives us a strong combination of talent and potential save volume against Carolina. The Hurricanes should generate chances, which creates some upside if Thompson can keep the game close while piling up saves, and we know how good he can be when he’s on his game.
Stack: FLA2 (Verhaeghe-Bennett-M. 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 this line a good MME target: enough scoring upside to break the slate, with the ability to get different elsewhere. This trio has a lot of experience playing together, and with Barkov out they’ll pick up additional responsibility while likely coming in well behind the slate’s more obvious stacks.
Unlock the Ultimate NHL DFS Edge!
Want access to the most advanced Daily Fantasy NHL content in the industry? Join DFS Army VIP and chat player picks and lineups with our DFS pros and a community of savvy players. Get exclusive projections, optimizer tools, and insider insights that give you the edge every slate.
Sign up today with promo code DARTH to grab 10% off your monthly membership. Don’t miss out — this is the best deal and the strongest DFS team you’ll find anywhere!
