NHL DFS (4/8/2025)

The top daily fantasy hockey lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on April 8, 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 bring my NHL lineup picks, analysis, and advice for NHL DFS contests on DraftKings and FanDuel for Tuesday, April 8, 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!

NHL DFS Analysis and Picks for 4/8/25

Tonight, we have a 10-game slate and one team playing on a back-to-back, Seattle. Tonight’s slate offers value across the board, allowing for creativity when building lineups.

The currently live top-3 highest implied team totals are: STAY TUNED. I will do my best to guide you through this 10-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

Anthony Stolarz - DK $7.6K || FD $7.6K

Opponent - at Florida Panthers

Anthony Stolarz is on fire right now. The netminder has a perfect 5-0 record with a 1.6 Goals Against Average and a 0.944 Save Percentage in his last five appearances. Furthermore, in his last 10 away starts, he has a 0.18 Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60, a 2.59 Goals Against Average, and a 0.913 Save Percentage. 

In the last 10 games with respective splits, the Florida Panthers are the second-best team in value when assessing Shots Per Goal Per 60. They also produce 0.07 fewer Goals Per 60 and 1.76 fewer Scoring Chances Per 60. Stolarz is expected to make his case as the top goalie of the slate.                                                                                                                                            

Others To Consider (Cash/GPP): 

• Ilya Sorokin (DK $7.9K || FD $7.1K) at Nashville Predators
• James Reimer (DK $7.1K || FD $6.9K) vs. Carolina Hurricanes

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

Evgeni Malkin - DK $5.7K || FD $5.5K

Opponent - vs. Chicago Blackhawks

Evgeni Malkin has returned as a different player. Unfortunately, it is a bit too late, as the Penguins have been eliminated from the playoffs after their weekend loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. In his two appearances since, he has one assist and eight shots. Despite the lack of production, the good old eye test sees a much more active and faster-paced center compared to what he was prior.

The Chicago Blackhawks have conceded 0.22 more goals per 60 minutes and 1.94 more scoring chances against per 60 minutes in their last ten away games. Can Malkin and the second line put a few in the net in a revenge game?  

Jiri Kulich - DK $4.3K || FD $5.1K

Opponent - vs. Carolina Hurricanes

Jiri Kulich surprisingly has one point throughout his last five games. In that time frame, he had 11 shots and five blocked shots. The youngster continues to anchor Buffalo’s top line and will have a premium matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Hurricanes, over their last ten away games, are conceding 0.52 more Goals Per 60. Their projected starter, Pyotr Kochetkov, is not doing so well either. In his last ten away appearances, he has a -1.9 Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60, a 4.21 Goals Against Average, and a 0.829 Save Percentage. Kulich offers more promise than risk for only $4.2K on DraftKings.        

Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): 

• Nico Hischier (DK $7.5K || FD $7.8K) vs. Boston Bruins
• Dylan Larkin (DK $6.9K || FD $6.9K) at Montreal Canadiens

DraftKings and FanDuel Wings - NHL DFS Picks

Tage Thompson - DK $7.4K || FD $7.9K – Listed as ‘C’ on FanDuel –

Opponent - vs. Carolina Hurricanes

Staying in Buffalo, we have Jiri Kulich’s linemate, Tage Thompson. Thompson is carrying this young Sabres team right now. The center-winger hybrid has seven goals, 20 shots, and one blocked shot in his last five games.

As previously mentioned above, Carolina's defense is far from elite, and their goaltending has been at the bottom of the league in their last 10 games, including splits. It would come as more of a shock than not if Thompson does not produce double-digit fantasy points tonight.

Ville Koivunen - DK $3K || FD $4.1K

Opponent - vs. Chicago Blackhawks

Going back to the eye test, it is very obvious that rookie Ville Koivunen has a sense of confidence about him. Penguins fans should be excited about the young winger moving forward. He has produced two assists, six shots, and one blocked shot in his first four NHL games. It is very apparent that he is quickly developing chemistry with his linemate, Malkin.

The aforementioned Blackhawks continue to struggle defensively and rely on their goaltending to keep them in games. Can projected starter Spencer Knight shut the door again, or will the Penguins get their revenge?                                                                               

Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): 

• Clayton Keller (DK $6.5K || FD $7.4K) vs. Seattle Kraken
• Matthew Knies (DK $5.8K || FD $5.8K) at Florida Panthers

DraftKings and FanDuel Defensemen - NHL DFS Picks

Matt Grzelcyk - DK $4.1K || FD $4.7K

Opponent - vs. Chicago Blackhawks

Matt Grzelcyk has yet to jump onto the scene from a point production perspective. The two-way defenseman is running point on Pittsburgh’s top power-play unit, but he only has two assists in his last five games. He also produced 14 shots and four blocked shots.

Once again, Chicago struggles defensively, and the Penguins could have a few opportunities with the man advantage. Like Kulich above, at only $4.1K on DraftKings, Grzelcyk offers plenty of value with high potential.  

Sam Rinzel - DK $3.6K || FD $3.9K

Opponent - at Pittsburgh Penguins

Sam Rinzel has been a household name since his NHL debut. The rookie, who played for the University of Minnesota, was named Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year this season. Had he been with Chicago the entire season, things could have been different for the visitors. Nevertheless, Rinzel has become a ‘go-to’ option. He has one assist, seven shots, and three blocked shots in his three NHL games. He has also quickly jumped up the pecking order, landing himself on the top pairing and quarterbacking the top power-play unit for the Blackhawks.

Considering that the weekend matchup with the Penguins was close and that the Penguins are expected to concede 0.32 more goals per 60 in their last ten home games, Rinzel will have every opportunity to reach value.

Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): 

• Rasmus Dahlin (DK $6.3K || FD $6.4K) vs. Carolina Hurricanes
• Luke Hughes (DK $5K || FD $5.4K) vs. Boston Bruins

NHL DFS Top Power Plays and Stacks

• PIT1
• BUF1
• DET1
• TOR1
• NJ1

NHL DFS Stacks of the Day

Brandon's Stack

• PIT: Rakell-Malkin-Koivunen

Chalk Stack

• PIT: McGroarty-Crosby-Rust

Sneaky Stack

• VAN: Karlsson-Sasson-Lekkerimäki

NHL DFS News and Injury Alerts

More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis