NHL Building Blocks for October 25
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: Nathan MacKinnon
MacKinnon put up another four-point performance Friday against Tampa Bay, finishing with a goal and three assists in Colorado’s 6-3 win. He’s now at 20 points (seven goals and 13 assists) through 11 games, with production coming from both his finishing and playmaking. Nashville is next today, and the Avalanche’s top-end offense gives MacKinnon one of the slate’s strongest ceilings (plus he shoots a ton, so his floor is secure).
Other: Mark Scheifele, Elias Pettersson
Winger: Kirill Kaprizov
Kaprizov got Minnesota off to a fast start Saturday, scoring just 26 seconds into the game before adding an assist in a 5–1 win over Seattle. His goal was his 12th of the season, tying him for the league lead, and he added four shots on goal. Minnesota heads to Vancouver next, and Kaprizov’s combination of elite shooting volume and consistent scoring makes him tough to leave out of consideration.
Other: Kyle Connor, Cole Caufield
Oct 13, 2025; Buffalo, New York, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) celebrates his goal during the first period against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
Defense: Quinn Hughes
Hughes returns to Vancouver for the first time since being traded last season, adding a little extra intrigue to an already appealing matchup. He picked up an assist Saturday against Seattle and now has 14 points (two goals and 12 assists) this season. With heavy minutes and a central role on Minnesota’s power play, he has plenty of upside in his return to his former home rink.
Other: Cale Makar, Matthew Schaefer
Goalie: Jake Oettinger
Oettinger has been outstanding, carrying a 1.23 goals-against average, .939 save percentage and three shutouts into Sunday’s matchup with the Islanders. He’s won three straight starts, including Thursday’s 3–2 overtime victory over Winnipeg, where he stopped 17 of 19 shots. New York has been playing well defensively, so this could be a tighter game, but Oettinger’s form and Dallas’ league-leading defensive numbers make him a strong play.
Other: Jacob Fowler, Scott Wedgewood
Value: Oliver Kapanen
Kapanen is more of a salary-relief play than a proven high-floor option at this point. He’s still working his way back into the lineup after an injury and hasn’t produced a point in his first couple of appearances, so I’d want the price to be right. The appeal is his scoring touch from last season, when he finished with 22 goals, but his limited recent workload makes him a riskier option against Winnipeg.
Other: Joel Kiviranta, Max Shabanov
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
STACKS
Full: MIN (Kaprizov-Boldy-Hughes-Eriksson Ek)
Minnesota’s top-end talent delivered again Saturday in a 5–1 win over Seattle, with Kaprizov scoring and assisting, Eriksson Ek adding a goal and an assist, and Boldy picking up an assist. Hughes also assisted on Kaprizov’s opening goal, connecting the blue-line piece to the forward group right away. Kaprizov is tied for the NHL lead with 12 goals, and this stack brings together his finishing, Boldy’s scoring upside, Eriksson Ek’s net-front presence and Hughes’ playmaking. They’re together on L1 and PP1 for ultimate correlation.
Other: COL (MacKinnon-Necas-Lehkonen-Makar), MON (Caufield-Slavkovsky-Kapanen-Hutson)
Mini: WPG (Connor-Scheifele)
Connor and Scheifele make an appealing two-man pairing for Winnipeg’s Heritage Classic matchup against Montreal. Scheifele has eight points through 10 games and is coming off a two-assist performance against Dallas, while Connor remains the key finishing threat in this duo. Winnipeg has dropped four straight, so there’s some risk in backing the offense, but that losing streak could also keep ownership down on a pairing with plenty of established scoring ability.
Other: DAL (Rantanen-Johnston), NSH (Forsberg-Josi)
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!
