NHL Building Blocks for November 3
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 is up to 24 points (nine goals and 15 assists) through 14 games, continuing to produce at an elite pace. He has two goals and five assists over his last three games, including a goal and an assist in Saturday’s 5–2 win over Calgary. Columbus is next, and MacKinnon’s combination of shot volume, playmaking and power-play responsibility makes him one of the strongest forward options on the slate.
Other: Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews
Winger: Kirill Kaprizov
Kaprizov has 25 points (15 goals, tops in the league, and 10 assists) through 16 games, putting him among the league’s leading scorers. He was held without a point Saturday against Vancouver, but still generated two shots and played nearly 24 minutes. Philadelphia is next, and Kaprizov’s goal-scoring ability gives him an elite ceiling regardless of matchup. He’s a strong option to get Minnesota’s offense going again.
Other: Nikita Kucherov, Cole Caufield
Nov 14, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) makes a save on a shot by the Boston Bruins during the third period at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Defense: Evan Bouchard
Bouchard has been outstanding offensively, recording 26 points (eight goals and 18 assists) through 15 games. He’s averaging nearly 26 minutes per night and has become a major part of Edmonton’s attack, contributing both at even strength and on the power play. New Jersey is a challenging opponent, but Bouchard’s workload and offensive involvement give him one of the highest ceilings among defensemen.
Other: Quinn Hughes, Cale Makar
Goalie: Jake Oettinger
Oettinger gets Washington after Dallas’ recent stretch of strong play, and the matchup offers a reasonable opportunity for another quality start. The Stars have been playing well defensively, which helps his win potential, while Washington should provide enough offensive pressure to give him some save opportunities. He’s a solid option if the salary fits, particularly for builds looking to pair a goalie with a team playing well overall.
Other: Jesper Wallstedt, Andrei Vasilevskiy
Value: Ryan O’Reilly
O’Reilly has nine points (three goals and six assists) through 15 games, and his value goes beyond the scoring column. He’s still handling important minutes for Nashville and brings faceoff production and a dependable all-around game. Carolina is a difficult matchup, so the appeal here is largely salary and role rather than a huge offensive ceiling. He’s more of a value consideration than a priority spend.
Other: Jackson Blake, Kent Johnson
Nov 3, 2024; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point (21) celebrates his first period goal with Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) against the Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre. Mandatory Credit: James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images
STACKS
Full: TB (Kucherov-Point-Guentzel)
This trio has combined for 18 points (seven goals and 11 assists) over Tampa Bay’s last five games. Kucherov leads the way with eight points (one goal and seven assists), while Guentzel has five points (four goals and one assist) and Point has added five (two goals and three assists). That’s excellent recent production from a group with plenty of power-play correlation and scoring upside. Kucherov’s playmaking combined with Guentzel’s finishing makes this an especially appealing stack.
Other: COL (MacKinnon-Lehkonen-Makar), MIN (Kaprizov-Boldy-Hughes)
Mini: CAR (Aho-Svechnikov)
Aho and Svechnikov offer a nice two-man combination, with Aho driving the playmaking and Svechnikov bringing the goal-scoring upside. Nashville is the opponent, and Carolina’s offensive depth should create opportunities for its top players. I like this pairing as a way to get exposure to the Hurricanes without committing to a larger stack.
Other: ANH (Carlsson-Sennecke), DAL (Rantanen-Johnston)
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