DraftKings, FanDuel Daily Fantasy Hockey Picks (10/14/23): Today's Top NHL DFS Lineups

1 year ago by Brandon Wampler

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Welcome, RotoBallers! If you do not know me, my name is Brandon and I write both The First-Serve and The Kick-Off for tennis and soccer, respectively. If you have not checked those out, make sure you do! It is the return of the NHL season, which means it's time to sharpen our skills and partake in NHL DFS! As always, I'll give you the best tools to succeed and the info you need to build the best lineups possible for your GPP and cash game NHL contests on both DraftKings and FanDuel.

Today, I'll be bringing you my NHL lineup picks, analysis, and advice for NHL DFS contests on DraftKings and FanDuel on Saturday, October, 14, 2023, at 7:00 PM EDT. Be sure to also check out our awesome NHL tools, including our Lineup Optimizer, Research Station, Projections, and DFS Cheat Sheets!

If you have any questions on today's slate, bankroll management, GPP strategy, cash game strategy, or anything else, don’t hesitate to email me at [email protected], via Twitter @df_solutions, or in our premium Slack chat. Good luck, RotoBallers!

NHL DFS Analysis and Picks for 10/14/23

We have finally made it! The 2023-2024 season is upon us and we welcome the next generational talent, Connor Bedard to the front and center! With many big moves over the offseason – Karlsson to Pittsburgh – and many signings during Free Agency, this season will make for yet another interesting race to Lord Stanley!

Tonight we have a 12-game slate and one team playing on a back-to-back, Pittsburgh. The currently live top-three highest implied team totals are: Vegas with 4.4, Edmonton with 4.2, and Colorado with 4.1. I will do my best to guide you through this twelve-game slate on DraftKings and FanDuel starting at 7:00 p.m. EDT.

DISCLOSURE: Make sure to monitor the NHL news feeds for the latest player status and injury news.

DraftKings and FanDuel Goalies - NHL DFS Picks

Ilya Sorokin - DK $7.9K || FD $8.2K

Opponent - Buffalo Sabres

The Sabres were stymied in a big way in their season opener at home by Igor Shesterkin and the New York Rangers, seeing 24 of their 25 shots stopped. Now they get to go up against the New York Islanders who have similar if not better goaltending. Last season, Sorokin carried the Islanders in every way possible and finished in the top ten in Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60 – 0.68 – and is the top goalie on the slate in the category.

Keep in mind that the Isles did surrender too many High-Danger Chances Against Per 60, however, they did make some additions to their defense and Buffalo is the fifteenth-worst in High-Danger Chances For Per 60 – 11.85 –. As the seventh-highest salaried goalie on the slate and playing at home, Sorokin has a solid shot at being one of the top value goalies on the slate.

Others To Consider (Cash/GPP):

Shesterkin (DK $8.2K || FD $8.6K)
Nedeljkovic (DK $7.3K || FD $7.2K)

Want more NHL DFS tools and content? Our NHL Premium package includes our daily DFS Cheat Sheets, Research Station, Lineup Optimizer and access to our VIP Discord Chatrooms. Doug Shain (@BanksterDFS) joins the NHL team in 2023 with his proven track record - join in on the winning!

Back to back @DraftKings Fantasy Hockey World Championship trips! Let’s get the main prize this year! Thank you to @banksterdfs for the amazing daily fantasy content! @NHL pic.twitter.com/dONSvJMtIR

— 🇺🇦Shockmain (@Shockmain) January 6, 2023

DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NHL DFS Picks

Filip Chytil - DK $4.3K || FD $5.5K

Opponent - Columbus Blue Jackets

Unfortunately, the second line of the Philadelphia Flyers did not come through as much as the article needed them in their season debut against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday. However, they were still productive and Chytil and company should see the Blue Jackets second line as well in this matchup.

The line of Panarin-Chytil-Lafreniere instantly showed chemistry after an offseason of question marks surrounding Alexis Lafreniere and his lack of production. The Blue Jackets last season were the worst in Goals Against Per 60, the third-worst in High-Danger Chances Against Per 60 and the second-worst in both Shots Against Per 60 and Scoring Chances Against Per 60. For under $4.5K on DraftKings, Chytil is one of the top value plays of the slate.

Nathan MacKinnon - DK $9.2K || FD $10.3K

Opponent - San Jose Sharks

MacKinnon and company dominated the ice in their season debut in Los Angeles, winning 5-2 on Wednesday. The centerman had 1 goal, 2 assists, and 4 shots and now he gets a much friendlier matchup In San Jose against the Sharks. In the Sharks’ season debut and home opener, they conceded 1 assist and 6 shots to top line centerman, Jack Eichel during the 4-1 thumping by the Vegas Golden Knights. A similar outing is expected from MacKinnon in one of the slate’s top matchups.

Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):

Eichel (DK $7.9K || FD $7.7K)
Zibanejad (DK $7.3K || FD $7.3K)

DraftKings and FanDuel Wings - NHL DFS Picks

Cole Caufield - DK $4.7K || FD $5K

Opponent - Chicago Blackhawks

There is a plethora of ‘value’ wingers on the slate tonight and there is also a bulk of wingers around the $4K salary range. The one player that stands out amongst the rest though is Cole Caufield due to his drive and willingness to score. Last season in his short stint – 46 games –, Caufield averaged 3.43 shots per game, and his lonely shot in his season debut is an outlier through and through. The Blackhawks are now down Taylor Hall for the unforeseen future and they just conceded 33 shots to the Boston Bruins who have Pavel Zacha and Charlie Coyle as their top six centers. In Montreal’s home opener, expect Caufield to be energized and ready to bag at least one goal.

Alexis Lafreniere - DK $3.4K || FD $4.5K

Opponent - Columbus Blue Jackets

To stay with the Rangers’ second line, we have right winger Alexis Lafreniere. As mentioned above, Lafreniere, along with teammate Kaapo Kakko had question marks surrounding their lack of production and drive since becoming a Ranger. In three seasons and 216 games for Lafreniere, he had 47 goals, 44 assists, 312 shots, and 65 blocked shots.

Yes, the bulk of that he played in the bottom six, however, he was offered numerous opportunities to produce in a top six role. With all of that aside, the winger came to play in his season debut, notching 1 goal and 3 shots. Aforementioned, the Blue Jackets have an awful defense at best and goaltending tandem and Lafreniere will have many opportunities to produce in this contest.

Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):

Stone (DK $6K || FD $6.3K)
Drouin (DK $4.5K || FD $5.3K)

DraftKings and FanDuel Defensemen - NHL DFS Picks

K’Andre Miller - DK $3.7K || FD $4.4K

Opponent - Columbus Blue Jackets

As a surprise addition to the Rangers stack and someone who makes a perfect power-play stack – wink, wink –, K’Andre Miller has stolen the show. In the season debut 5-1 victory in Buffalo, Miller saw 23:30 TOI. That is two full minutes longer than pairing-mate Jacob Trouba and three and a half minutes longer than blueline star Adam Fox! Miller also had the most time on the power-play out of all defensemen too. Now again, it is one game and things could change, however, it is a very promising start and he followed up his team-high TOI with 1 assist, 3 shots, and 2 blocked shots. In a soft matchup against the Blue Jackets, Miller is a ‘lock’ at defense.

Mike Matheson - DK $5.3K || FD $5.7K

Opponent - Chicago Blackhawks

Do it all for you Matheson is already starting and it is only the first game of the season. The two-way defender quarterbacks the top power-play unit for Montreal and he offers a strong peripheral game. His salary is starting to creep closer to the $6K range but for the time being, he is still ‘affordable’. In the opening 6-5 loss to Toronto, he had 1 assist, 2 shots, and 5 blocked shots. Chicago won’t be the most thrilling of matches but with Matheson’s role on both the power-play and the penalty-kill, he will see every opportunity to produce possible.

Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):