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The top daily fantasy hockey lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on January 16, 2025. Brandon's NHL DFS goalies, value plays, stacks, and power play picks.
Welcome, RotoBallers! My name is Brandon, and I'll be writing both The First-Serve and The Kick-Off for tennis and soccer. 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, January 16, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. EST. Be sure also to check out RotoBaller's 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 X @df_solutions or in our premium Slack chat. Best of luck, and also, Happy New Year!
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NHL DFS Analysis and Picks for 1/16/25
Tonight, we have a thirteen-game slate and one team playing on a back-to-back, Edmonton. Tonight’s slate offers value across the board, offering creativity when building lineups.
The currently live top three highest implied team totals are Tampa Bay with 4.2, Columbus with 3.9, and Nashville with 3.8. I will do my best to guide you through this thirteen-game slate on DraftKings and FanDuel starting at 7:00 p.m. EST.
DISCLOSURE: Make sure to monitor the NHL news feeds for the latest player status and injury news.
DraftKings and FanDuel Goalies - NHL DFS Picks
Logan Thompson - DK $7.4K || FD $8.2K
Opponent - Ottawa Senators
Teammate and fellow netminder Charlie Lindgren is on IR, leaving Logan Thompson to carry the bulk of the starts moving forward for the Washington Capitals. The latter is also coming off a shutout in a 3-0 win versus the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday. Over his last five starts, he has a 4-0-1 record with a 1.91 Goals Against Average and a 0.934 Save Percentage. Diving deeper into his last ten away appearances, he has a 1.79 Goals Against Average, a 0.935 Save Percentage, and a 0.77 Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60.
The Ottawa Senators, in Per 60 metrics over their last ten home games, are bottom-ten in Goals but the second-best in Shots. As long as Thompson can get involved early, he has the opportunity to post back-to-back shutouts.
Others To Consider (Cash/GPP):
- Hellebuyck (DK $8.3K || FD $8.6K)
- Markstrom (DK $7.5K || FD $7.8K)
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DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NHL DFS Picks
Steven Stamkos - DK $5.1K || FD $5.6K
Opponent - Chicago Blackhawks
Steven Stamkos has begun firing on all cylinders after running dry for most of November. The veteran center/winger hybrid now has three goals, two assists, five shots, and two blocked shots in his last five outings. His shot volume is a major concern, however, it can also be slightly expected, playing on a line with both Filip Forsberg and Jonathan Marchessault (DK $5.8K || FD $6.8K). Nevertheless, Stamkos and the Predators are in a prime matchup tonight against the Chicago Blackhawks.
The visitors, in Per 60 metrics against, over their last ten away games, are playing better defense with the return of multiple players. Although, they remain a bottom-ten team in Shots and the worst in Goals. Expected starting netminder Petr Mrazek is not of much assistance either. Throughout his last ten away starts, he has a 4.1 Goals Against Average, a 0.874 Save Percentage, and a -1.47 Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60. Expect Stamkos to produce two shots and two points in what is projected to be a barn-burner of a game.
Matt Duchene - DK $5K || FD $6.7K
Opponent - Montreal Canadiens
Matt Duchene’s production has slowed recently, with two goals, two assists, eight shots, and one blocked shot. However, compared to most centers, he is still producing at an elite clip. With teammate and fellow center Roope Hintz going down with an injury that he did not return from on Tuesday, Duchene may be relied on even more.
The Montreal Canadiens’ form from home to away is like comparing night and day. They continue to play poor defense at home, however, when away, they are a completely different team, producing on both ends of the puck. This can be a goal-fest if Montreal settles back into its old ways. Expected starter Sam Montembeault is also not helping their case. In his last ten away starts, he has a 3.08 Goals Against Average, a 0.884 Save Percentage, and a -0.54 Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60. Down a player, Duchene and the rest of the ‘stars’ of Dallas will be relied on to pick up the slack.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Point (DK $8.7K || FD $8.4K)
- Barkov (DK $7.9K || FD $7.7K)
DraftKings and FanDuel Wings - NHL DFS Picks
Filip Forsberg - DK $7K || FD $7.3K
Opponent - Chicago Blackhawks
Skating back over to Nashville and Filip Forsberg is on absolute fire. The winger has produced three goals, four assists, 15 shots, and three blocked shots throughout his last five games. He is also currently on a three-game goal streak.
As mentioned above, Chicago is still playing poor defensively, and their expected goalie is one of the worst in the NHL for all goalies playing 80 minutes or more in their last ten away games. Expect Forsberg to maintain value and potentially post a ceiling performance tonight.
Logan Stankoven - DK $3.8K || FD $5.1K
Opponent - Montreal Canadiens
Logan Stankoven may benefit the most from the injury to teammate Roope Hintz. Stankoven immediately jumped to right wing on the second line for the Stars after playing in the bottom six for the last few months. He produced two goals, one assist, and four shots in that game. He is also on a two-game point streak.
Considering the Montreal Canadiens and their expected netminder and then Stankoven’s salary, he will have every opportunity to surpass value.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Kucherov (DK $9.8K || FD $9.1K)
- Marchenko (DK $7.3K || FD $7.8K)
DraftKings and FanDuel Defensemen - NHL DFS Picks
Miro Heiskanen - DK $5.3K || FD $5.8K
Opponent - Montreal Canadiens
Despite the off-and-on production from the two-way defenseman, Miro Heiskanen is projected to produce the second-best year of his career. In his last five games, he has one goal, one assist, 14 shots, and nine blocked shots.
Once again, Montreal is playing better, but their goaltending continues to be a bottleneck, depending on who is starting. Due to Heiskanen’s lack of point production, his salary continues to drop, and at $5.3K on DraftKings and his role for the Dallas Stars, he is one of the more optimal defenders on the slate.
Nate Schmidt - DK $2.6K || FD $3.7K
Opponent - Detroit Red Wings
Nate Schmidt has been on the top power-play unit for the Florida Panthers for two games now. The veteran defenseman has two assists in that time frame. He also has two blocked shots. In his last five games, he has two assists, four shots, and five blocked shots.
Despite the low peripheral totals, Schmidt is outplaying the five games before his promotion. For $100 above the minimum salary on DraftKings, Schmidt does not need much to maintain value.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Werenski (DK $9.6K || FD $7.7K)
- Martinez (DK $3.9K || FD $5.2K)
NHL DFS Top Power Plays and Stacks
- NSH1
- DAL1
- TB1
- CBJ1
- WAS1
- FLA1
NHL DFS Stacks of the Day
Brandon's Stack
- DAL: Benn-Duchene-Stankoven
Chalk Stack
- NSH: Forsberg-Stamkos-Marchessault
Sneaky Stack
- NJ: Meier-Hischier-Mercer
NHL DFS News and Injury Alerts
More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis
