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 Thursday, October 10, 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!
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NHL DFS Analysis and Picks for 10/10/24
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, Toronto and Pittsburgh. The currently live top-three highest implied team totals are Minnesota with 4, Boston with 3.8, and New Jersey with 3.6. 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
Linus Ullmark - DK $7.4K || FD $7.6K
Opponent - Florida Panthers
Value at the goalie position will be challenging to predict tonight, with many ‘close’ matchups and numerous home season debuts. However, Linus Ullmark is an optimal play at the position, making his debut with his new team, the Ottawa Senators, and they will be making their home season debut.
Tuesday night, the Florida Panthers stunned many touts with a 6-4 win against Boston—their first game since they won the Stanley Cup last season. They also drastically outproduced Boston, 30 to 18 in Scoring Chances, 16 to seven in High-Danger Chances, and 27 to 15 in Shots, courtesy of NaturalStatTrick.com. Ullmark is projected to see over 30 shots in this matchup, and if he can shut down Florida early, he has the potential to be the goalie of the slate.
Others To Consider (Cash/GPP):
- Gustavsson (DK $8.4K || FD $7.4K)
- Ingram (DK $7.2K || FD $7.5K)
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DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NHL DFS Picks
Marco Rossi - DK $3.4K || FD $4.9K
Opponent - Columbus Blue Jackets
It is still being determined if Marco Rossi and teammate Joel Eriksson Ek (DK $7.5K|||FD $7.7K) will stay at their projected first and second line roles, respectively, this season or if they will rotate through like they did last year. However, until Rossi moves, he is massively ‘underpriced.’ Especially when considering his matchup tonight.
In Per 60 stats last season, Columbus was the fourth-worst in Goals Against, Scoring Chances Against and High Danger Chances Against and they were the second-worst in Shots Against. Minnesota ran through numerous injury problems, which hindered their true offensive production–bottom ten in Goals For. However, in a season home debut match against a team known for its poor defending, Minnesota is expected to generate one of the highest goal totals on the slate. Project Rossi to produce double-digit fantasy points.
Quinton Byfield - DK $3.6K || FD $6K
Opponent - Buffalo Sabres
Quinton Byfield will get a long leash to start the season as he gets his official chance to lead his own line. Centering teammate Kevin Fiala (DK $5.7K|||FD $7.3K) and new teammate Warren Foegele (DK $3.7K|||FD $4.5K), this new look second line for the Kings will be a mix of grit and speed.
Considering what New Jersey did to Buffalo in their back-to-back Global Series, Los Angeles’s second and third lines are projected to produce similar output. For under $4K on DraftKings and a premium matchup, Byfield could surpass his ceiling.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Lindholm (DK $5.9K || FD $6.2K)
- Malkin (DK $5.1K || FD $6.7K)
DraftKings and FanDuel Wings - NHL DFS Picks
Mats Zuccarello - DK $5.1K || FD $6.6K
Opponent - Columbus Blue Jackets
Swinging back over to Minnesota, we have Marco Rossi’s linemate, Mats Zuccarello. The veteran winger struggled last season with injuries. Despite playing fewer games than in prior seasons, he produced the third-best season of his career with 12 goals, 51 assists, and 173 shots in 69 games.
As mentioned above, Columbus’s defense is poor in all facets of the game and Zuccarello will have every opportunity to produce. Expect the winger to generate three shots and one point.
Maxim Tsyplakov - DK $2.6K || FD $3.3K
Opponent - Utah Hockey Club
After an impressive 2023-2024 campaign with Spartak Moskva of the KHL–Kontinental Hockey League–the New York Islanders threw a dart on Maxim Tsyplakov. The winger notched 31 goals, 16 assists, and a 12 plus/minus in 65 appearances as the team’s Assistant Captain. He may still need time to adjust to the smaller North American rinks. Although, he did receive praise from many staff during the preseason.
He also finds himself on the Islanders’ most dynamic offensive line to start the season. In Per 60 stats last year for the Utah Hockey Club, they were a bottom ten team. Tsyplakov is the optimal ‘punt’ play of the slate, with the sky as the limit for bottom-bin pricing.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Pastrnak (DK $9.1K || FD $8.8K)
- Texier (DK $2.7K || FD $3.9K)
DraftKings and FanDuel Defensemen - NHL DFS Picks
Brock Faber - DK $5K || FD $5.7K
Opponent - Columbus Blue Jackets
Take this and RUN! This will be the last time Brock Faber is $5K or less on any platform. The young defenseman produced eight goals, 39 assists, 136 shots, and 150 blocked shots last season in his first full season in the NHL. Not only does he get a home matchup to open up the season, but he also has a prime matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
As mentioned repeatedly, Columbus is not a defensively solid team, and Faber will get his fair share of chances. Expect the two-way defenseman to produce three shots, two blocked shots, and two points.
Justin Faulk - DK $4.8K || FD $5.8K
Opponent - San Jose Sharks
Justin Faulk took no time off in opening his account this season after he produced two assists and one blocked shot in their season-opening 3-2 win at Seattle. Considering his role with the Blues, his zero shots are concerning, but it can be chalked up as an outlier for the moment. Last season, Faulk generated two goals, 28 assists, 132 shots, and 104 blocked shots in 60 appearances.
Tonight, he gets an even better matchup than he had to start the season, traveling to SAP Center. In Per 60 stats last season, the San Jose Sharks were the worst team in all meaningful metrics, and it wasn’t a competition either. Furthermore, expected starter Mackenzie Blackwood was in the bottom 25 in Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60. Faulk will be expected to produce at least three shots and two points.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Letang (DK $4.7K || FD $6K)
- Broberg (DK $3.2K || FD $3.6K)
NHL DFS Top Power Plays and Stacks
- MIN1
- STL1
- BOS1
- PIT1
NHL DFS Stacks of the Day
Brandon's Stack
- MIN: Kaprizov-Rossi-Zuccarello
Chalk Stack
- STL: Texier-Buchevich-Kyrou
Sneaky Stack
- LA: Jeannot-Danault-Moore
NHL DFS News and Injury Alerts
More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis