Welcome, RotoBallers! If you do not know me, my name is Brandon, and I am writing both The First-Serve and The Kick-Off for tennis and soccer. 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 for Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. 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/X @df_solutions or in our premium Slack chat. Good luck, RotoBallers!
NHL DFS Analysis and Picks for 10/15/24
We have finally made it! The 2024-2024 NHL Season has BEGUN!! Can Florida and Edmonton repeat in the Stanley Cup Finals? Will Utah rise to the occasion, playing in front of a new crowd and in a new barn?
Tonight, we have a nine-game slate and two teams playing back-to-back, Florida and New Jersey. The currently live top-three highest implied team totals are. The currently live top-three highest implied team totals are Dallas with 4, Edmonton with 4, and Florida with 3.8. I will do my best to guide you through this nine-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
Goalies
Jacob Markstrom - DK $7.4K || FD $7.5K
Opponent - Carolina Hurricanes
Jacob Markstrom will have big shoes to fill after teammate Jake Allen recorded a 3-0 shutout against the Utah Hockey Club yesterday. In three appearances for Markstrom this season, he has a 2-1 record with a 2.71 Goals Against Average and 0.906 Save Percentage. Last season, in 48 starts for the Calgary Flames, Markstrom landed in the top 20 in Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60. Projected in the top three in saves on the slate, Carolina has suffered in the goal department to start the season. If New Jersey can manage their own on the second half of a back-to-back, Markstrom could make a case for ‘Goalie Of The Night.’
Others To Consider (Cash/GPP):
- Saros (DK $8.1K || FD $8.1K)
- Merzlikins (DK $7.2K || FD $7.2K)
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DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NHL DFS Picks
Sam Bennett - DK $5.6K || FD $6.9K
Opponent - Columbus Blue Jackets
Sam Bennett has been lights out to start the season with three goals, one assist, 11 shots, and three blocked shots in three games. After teammates Aleksandar Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk went down with injuries, Bennett is now the team's focal point. In Per 60 stats last season, the Columbus Blue Jackets were the fourth-worst in Goals Against, Scoring Chances Against, and High-Danger Chances Against; they were also the second-worst in Shots Against. They are in the bottom ten in all mentioned metrics to start the season.
If Florida can pick up a road win in Columbus, Bennett will be at the center of their offense. He is expected to record three shots, one blocked shot and two points.
Wyatt Johnston - DK $5.5K || FD $7.6K
Opponent - San Jose Sharks
The Dallas Stars' top line is expected to see heavy ownership in a prime matchup at home against San Jose. However, their third line is expected to see a fraction of said ownership, making them an optimal tournament option. Wyatt Johnston is the exception of the mentioned third line, with a top power-play role, making him a ‘CASH’ viable player.
The center-winger hybrid has one goal, two assists, five shots, and three blocked shots in his first three games. In Per 60 stats last season, San Jose was the worst team in all meaningful metrics and they are in the bottom five to start the season, excluding Goals Against. Johnston is expected to produce two shots, one blocked shot and one point.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- McDavid (DK $9.5K || FD $9.1K)
- Backlund (DK $3.9K || FD $4.8K)
DraftKings and FanDuel Wings - NHL DFS Picks
Jeff Skinner - DK $4.8K || FD $5.9K
Opponent - Philadelphia Flyers
Is Jeff Skinner officially reborn? The veteran winger recorded one goal and six shots in his first game on a line with teammates Connor McDavid – mentioned in ‘Others To Consider’ above and Zach Hyman (DK $7.6K || FD $7.6K). Before that, Skinner had one assist and six shots in his first two games with the Edmonton Oilers.
The Philadelphia Flyers did not struggle metric-wise last season. However, their goaltending did. Expected starter Samuel Ersson was in the bottom ten in Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60. For under $5K on DraftKings, playing next to Connor McDavid, Skinner is expected to exceed his value quickly, and he is also expected to see north of twenty percent ownership.
Evgenii Dadonov - DK $2.9K || FD $3.9K
Opponent - San Jose Sharks
Evgenii Dadonov may be one of the highest-owned players on a given slate tonight all season. The veteran winger has rotated with teammate Logan Stankoven (DK $4.5K || FD $7K) onto the top line of the Dallas Stars. In Dadonov’s first three games, he has eight shots and one blocked shot.
As mentioned, San Jose was the worst team defensively last season, and they are currently in the bottom five through three games. For almost the minimum salary on DraftKings, Dadonov only needs a single point to exceed value.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Guentzel (DK $7.5K || FD $8K)
- Mangiapane (DK $3K || FD $3.9K)
DraftKings and FanDuel Defensemen - NHL DFS Picks
Thomas Harley - DK $4.5K || FD $5.5K
Opponent - San Jose Sharks
The final piece of the Dallas Stars puzzle is defenseman Thomas Harley. Like teammate Evgenii Dadonov, Harley has bounced around the lineup to start the season. The defenseman is now on the top pairing with teammate Miro Heiskanen (DK $5.8K || FD $6.3K). Harley has two assists, ten shots, and five blocked shots in three games for Harley.
Harley will have every opportunity to reach value with a role on the top defensive pairing, the second power play, and the second penalty kill.
Adam Boqvist - DK $4.2K || FD $3.9K
Opponent - Columbus Blue Jackets
After being struck in the face in the 6-4 season-opening win, Boqvist sat out the 3-1 loss in Ottawa. However, he returned in the 5-2 loss in Buffalo. Through his two games this season he has four shots and one blocked shot. This will be the offensive defenseman’s first game against the Blue Jackets. Chicago drafted Boqvist and traded him in the Seth Jones trade with Columbus.
Boqvist has yet to live up to his drafted potential, although his role as quarterback on the top power play for the Florida Panthers could change that quickly. With a premium matchup and a narrative in play, Boqvist could make a run at ‘Player Of The Night.’
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Faulk (DK 5.4K || FD $6.1K)
- Raddysh (DK $3.1K || FD $3.9K)
NHL DFS Top Power Plays and Stacks
- FLA1
- DAL1
- EDM1
- CGY1
NHL DFS Stacks of the Day
Brandon's Stack
- DAL: Benn-Johnston-Stankoven
Chalk Stack
- DAL: Robertson-Hintz-Dadanov
Sneaky Stack
- WAS: Milano-Lapierre-Protas
NHL DFS News and Injury Alerts
More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis