NHL Building Blocks for October 4
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 19, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) follows the play against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the first period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
CASH
Forward: Jack Eichel
Vegas has the best win equity on the slate and Eichel is still the focal point of their attack. Vancouver is coming off a 6-5 overtime game and remains without Thatcher Demko, so I’m comfortable paying for Eichel’s combination of opportunity and floor.
Defense: Adam Fox
Fox is the defenseman I trust most for cash. Utah is a manageable opponent, and Fox continues to quarterback New York’s first power play while playing massive minutes. He doesn’t need to score to give us a useful night.
Goalie: Carter Hart
Hart gets the biggest favorite on the slate in Vegas, which puts him firmly on my cash radar despite some early-season shakiness. The Golden Knights are around -235 against Vancouver, and that kind of win equity is difficult to ignore on a four-game slate. The 6.5 total does introduce some risk, so I’m less interested in chasing him at high ownership in tournaments. If the salary works, though, he’s a perfectly reasonable cash-game anchor.
Oct 28, 2024; Buffalo, New York, USA; Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) controls the puck during the third period against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
SINGLE ENTRY
Forward: Matthew Tkachuk
Barkov being out changes the Florida offense considerably, and I want to take advantage before the field fully adjusts. Tkachuk is now on PP1 alongside brother Brady, Bennett and Reinhart, and Anaheim is one of the better matchups available. This has multi-point potential at what should be a more reasonable ownership level than the obvious Vegas names.
Defense: Mikhail Sergachev
Sergachev has quickly become the engine of Utah’s blue line, and the Rangers aren’t a matchup that scares me away from him. He’s also skating on the Mammoth’s first power play with Keller, Schmaltz and Guenther, giving us strong correlation without paying up for the slate’s most obvious defensemen.
Goalie: Igor Sheskterkin
The combination of a 5.5 total, home ice and New York being around a -135 favorite gives Shesterkin the cleanest overall profile on the slate. Utah is coming off a game Saturday, while the Rangers should have the fresher legs. He doesn’t need a massive save total if New York controls the game, and I prefer that balanced win/GA environment to chasing the higher-total Florida or Vegas games.
Stack: FLA (Tkachuk-Reinhart-Tkachuk)
Florida is exactly the kind of large-field stack I want after the Barkov news. The old Barkov construction is dead, but Brady Tkachuk, Reinhart and Matthew Tkachuk are now getting more responsibility, and Florida’s PP1 has become extremely concentrated. I particularly like using the Panthers against the Vegas chalk and hoping their power play is where the scoring comes from.
Feb 27, 2026; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA;Utah Mammoth right wing Clayton Keller (9) celebrates scoring a goal against the Minnesota Wild during the second period at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
LARGE FIELD
Forward: Clayton Keller
Keller is where I’d look when I don’t want to simply follow the Vegas chalk. Utah’s top line gets a favorable matchup with the Rangers, and Keller brings both PP1 usage and enough individual shot volume to give him a real ceiling.
Defense: Seth Jones
Jones is an interesting MME option because Florida’s post-Barkov reshuffling has pushed him onto PP1 with the Tkachuks, Reinhart and Bennett. Anaheim is a matchup I want exposure to, and Jones gives us a cheaper route into what could be a concentrated Florida power play.
Goalie: Lukas Dostal
Dostal is the kind of goalie I want in a big-field tournament because Florida should make him work. The Panthers are favored, but Anaheim just knocked off Vegas behind 27 saves from Dostal, so there’s at least some evidence that this isn’t an automatic mismatch. The 6.5 total creates significantly more save and ceiling potential than the 5.5 games. He needs the Ducks to pull off the upset, but if that happens, Dostal could be the goalie that separates you from the field.
Stack: UTA (Keller-Schmaltz-Guenther-Cooley)
Yes, they played last night, but the Utah offense looks really good this season, and that plus the matchup against Shesty could keep their ownership low enough. There’s enough offensive talent here to win a contest if the Mammoth’s top unit gets rolling.
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