NHL Building Blocks for October 24
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.
SKATERS
Center: Connor McDavid
McDavid is coming off a ridiculous five-point night against Carolina, recording two goals and three assists in Edmonton’s 6–5 shootout win. He now has 31 points through 10 games, including a record-setting 23 assists, and he’s been piling up multi-point performances all season. Toronto is the matchup, but with McDavid driving nearly every part of Edmonton’s offense, I’m not looking to fade this ceiling lightly.
Other: Jack Eichel, Sebastian Aho
Winger: David Pastrnak
Pastrnak erupted for two goals and two assists in Thursday’s 6–0 shutout of Nashville, giving him 16 points through 10 games. He’s shown the ability to take over a game as both a shooter and distributor, and Boston’s offense is rolling with a seven-game point streak. San Jose is next, and after that four-point performance, Pastrnak is an obvious high-upside option.
Other: Kirill Kaprizov, William Nylander
Jan 5, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes (43) warms up prior to the game against the Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Defense: Quinn Hughes
Even without a point in his latest game, Hughes played more than 31 minutes against Calgary, which tells you everything about his role. He has 13 points (2 goals, 11 assists) through 11 games and remains Minnesota’s primary offensive catalyst from the blue line. Seattle is the matchup, and Hughes’ heavy workload plus power-play involvement gives him multiple paths to production.
Other: Evan Bouchard, Rasmus Dahlin
Goalie: Jeremy Swayman
Swayman enters the San Jose matchup with a 1.98 GAA and .928 save percentage, along with six wins and a shutout in eight appearances. He did give up three goals in his last start against Dallas, but Boston bounced back with a 6–0 win over Nashville. The Sharks can generate plenty of shots, which offers save potential, and Swayman’s season-long numbers make him a strong option if Boston controls the game.
Other: Jesper Wallstedt, Dylan Garand
Value: Easton Cowan
Cowan has scored in consecutive games, following his three-point breakout against Columbus with another goal in Thursday’s 5–4 win over the Rangers. That puts him at 11 points through 12 games, and he’s becoming a legitimate source of offense rather than just a salary-saving punt. Edmonton can turn this into a high-scoring game, giving Cowan some sneaky appeal as a value play on Toronto’s side.
Other: Emmett Finnie, Max Shabanov
Oct 19, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) skates against Detroit Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson (77) in the third period at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
STACKS
Full: EDM (McDavid-Draisaitl-Podkolzin)
This is an expensive stack built around Edmonton’s explosive top-end production. McDavid and Draisaitl each put up five points against Carolina, and both are now producing at a historic pace; Podkolzin joins them on the top line at even strength. Bouchard adds a key power-play connection with the two superstars if you want to go even further or if you want to mix and match. Toronto is the opponent, and after Edmonton’s 6–5 shootout win on Thursday, I’m comfortable leaning into the Oilers’ scoring upside.
Other: MIN (Kaprizov-Boldy-Hughes), TOR (Matthews-Nylander-Marchenko)
Mini: CAR (Stankoven-Blake)
Stankoven and Blake both scored against Edmonton, and their recent production makes this a compelling lower-cost alternative to Carolina’s more obvious stars. Stankoven has three goals and four points over his last two outings, while Blake has 12 points on the season (two goals and 10 assists) and added four shots against the Oilers. They head to St. Louis next, with Blake’s playmaking and Stankoven’s finishing offering a nice mix of upside.
Other: DET (DeBrincat-Raymond), UTA (Guenther-Keller)
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