Today's NHL DFS Lineup Picks for DraftKings, FanDuel (10/17/24)

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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 17, 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 10/17/24

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 an eleven-game slate and two teams playing back-to-back, Buffalo and Los Angeles. The currently live top-three highest implied team totals are. The currently live top-three highest implied team totals are New York Rangers with 3.6, Seattle with 3.5 and Buffalo with 3.5. 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

Sam Montembeault - DK $6.9K || FD $7.4K

Opponent - Montreal Canadiens

There are a few value options in the net tonight; however, Sam Montembeault makes a case for the most optimal play. Last year, the goaltender landed in the top 35 goalies in Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60 for those who played 120 minutes or more.

In Per 60 stats last season, the Los Angeles Kings were in the bottom 15 in Goals For and the third-best in Shots For. Furthermore, the visitors are the second-best value team in Shots Per Goal Per 60 on the slate. As long as Montembeault can continue his form, he will make a case for ‘Goalie Of The Knight.’

Others To Consider (Cash/GPP):

Shesterkin (DK $8K || FD $7.9K)
Tarasov (DK $7.5K || FD $7.1K)

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

Connor Bedard - DK $7.5K || FD $8.6K

Opponent - San Jose Sharks

Despite San Jose looking ‘okay,’ they are far from it. Thanks to their goaltending, they sit outside the bottom ten in Goals Against Per 60, although they are in the bottom three in every other meaningful metric against. Bedard has one goal, four assists, 14 shots, and three blocked shots in four games this season.

Considering how poorly San Jose is playing and that Bedard is averaging six shots in two of his four games, he is expected to perform well. For under $8K on DraftKings, he could become one of the value plays of the slate.

Vincent Trocheck - DK $6.5K || FD $8K

Opponent - Detroit Red Wings

After goalie Ville Husso was pulled in his season debut, Cam Talbot has been the go-to starter for the Detroit Red Wings. Last season, he was in the top half of the league in Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60. In Per 60 stats against, the Red Wings were also the fifth-worst in all metrics, excluding High Danger Chances.

Vincent Trocheck has one goal, one assist, 11 shots, and three blocked shots in his first three appearances of the season. He and his linemates are currently carrying the bulk of the Rangers' offensive production, and a similar outcome is not out of the question in this matchup. Trocheck is expected to produce two shots, one blocked shot and one point.

Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):

Monahan (DK $4.5K || FD $6K)
Byfield (DK $3.8K || FD $5.9K)

DraftKings and FanDuel Wings - NHL DFS Picks

Leon Draisaitl - DK $8.1K || FD $8.3K

Opponent - Nashville Predators

Until Leon Draisaitl is moved off the top line of the Oilers and or his salary surpasses $9K on DraftKings, he is a MUST. It is no secret that the Edmonton Oilers have struggled to start the season, and bench boss Kris Knoblauch has officially paired Draisaitl and teammate Connor McDavid (DK $9.6K || FD $9.2K) together once again.

In one game, paired with McDavid, Draisaitl has one goal, one assist, and five shots. In his three appearances prior, he had one goal, five shots, and two blocked shots. The Nashville Predators are drastically underperforming in their net, and Draisaitl will have numerous opportunities to produce in this matchup.

Yegor Chinakhov - DK $4.4K || FD $5.9K

Opponent - Buffalo Sabres

The Columbus Blue Jackets may not be the best team defensively, but they will put on a show. Winger Yegor Chinakhov has one goal, four assists, 11 shots, and two blocked shots in three appearances.

The Buffalo Sabres are expected to start Devon Levi tomorrow after they lost 6-5 in overtime with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. In two appearances for Levi, he has a 1-1 record with a 2.57 Goals Against Average and a 0.919 Save Percentage. For only $4.4K on DraftKings, Chinakhov has the potential to ‘easily’ surpass his value and ceiling.

Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):

Lafreniere (DK $5.4K || FD $6.6K)
Teravainen (DK $4.3K || FD $6.3K)

DraftKings and FanDuel Defensemen - NHL DFS Picks

Brandt Clarke - DK $3.4K || FD $5.3K

Opponent - Montreal Canadiens

Brandt Clarke didn’t take long to have his first big performance of the season. The young defenseman produced three assists, one shot, and two blocked shots in the 8-7 loss in Ottawa at the weekend. Now he and the Kings get to travel to Montreal. The hosts are the worst team in Shots Against Per 60 and Scoring Chances Against Per 60.

If Clarke continues his form from this weekend in what is projected to be one of the highest-scoring games on the slate, he could skate past his floor and ceiling quickly.

Lane Hutson - DK $3.2K || FD $4.7K

Opponent - Los Angeles Kings

On the other end of the ice, we have Lane Hutson and the Canadiens. The rookie has yet to disappoint, with four assists, two shots, and eight blocked shots in his first four games. The Kings are coming off a 6-2 loss in Toronto last night and may be forced to play David Rittich again in the net.

In a fast-paced matchup with the Los Angeles Kings, Hutson is expected to exceed his value.

Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):