NHL DFS Picks, Projections & Top Stacks for DraftKings & FanDuel

There is just a four-game slate for Friday night from the NHL with a few scheduling quirks and a postponement in Vancouver. Fortunately, there is still some very nice spots to attack with some star power to boot. As always, this article will use Awesemo’s industry-leading NHL DFS projections, Top Stacks Tool, and NHL DFS ownership projections to help navigate the slate to find the best plays. There are plenty of ways to break this one down with just four games, so let’s get into the NHL DFS picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on Friday, April 16.

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DraftKings & FanDuel NHL DFS Picks | April 16

NHL DFS Picks: Center

Logan Couture (SJ vs. MIN)

DraftKings – $5,400

FanDuel – $5,900

Couture’s price has gone way down, especially on FanDuel, but his role is still exactly the same. He has had a tough time getting on the scoresheet this season with just 26 points in 42 games, but he’s actually getting the most ice time of his career at 19:29 per game, likely due to his success in the dot this season. As well as skating on the top line with Evander Kane, Couture is still centering the team’s top power-play unit as well, which has created chances but struggled to convert, with a -11 rank in expected goals in relation to actual goals for.

Couture’s lack of production looks pretty simple to solve, as he’s just not shooting the puck on net or even at the net. For his career, he has averaged over four shot attempts per game, but he is well under that number this year despite the shooting percentage being very good at 14.2%. If this line can do whatever they can to avoid the Joel Eriksson Ek line, they will get opportunities to score. Hopefully Couture decides to take advantage when he can.

Value Picks: Tyson Jost, Ryan Hartman, Chandler Stephenson

NHL DFS Picks: Winger

Max Pacioretty (VGK vs. ANA)

DraftKings – $7,900

FanDuel – $7,800

There are positives with Pacioretty no matter the site. On DraftKings he is $100 less than Mikko Rantanen with a very slight edge in their NHL DFS point projections, and on FanDuel Pacioretty is $900 cheaper than Rantanen playing on a line that is approximately half as owned per Awesemo’s Top Stacks Tool. On the year Pacioretty has been a point-per-game player and great producer for NHL DFS. At just under 18 minutes per game on the ice and well over three shots, he provides a great floor and huge upside against the terrible Ducks.

Value Picks: Alex Tuch, Rickard Rakell, Mats Zuccarello

Latest NHL DFS Content

NHL DFS Picks: Defense

Cale Makar (COL vs. LA)

DraftKings – $5,700

FanDuel – $5,700

It is unclear why FanDuel has kept Makar in a price tier below the best defensemen in the league, but no one will complain. He has been great all year when healthy, with 31 points in 31 games and over two shots and 0.66 blocks per game. Getting a matchup with one of the league’s worst defensive units can only be a positive. The Kings have struggled mightily defensively, allowing the league’s most high-danger chances per 60 and the second-most scoring chances. Colorado (if this game plays after they canceled morning skate) should skate circles around this Kings team, and Makar will be one of those carving it up.

Value Picks: Mike Reilly, Matt Dumba, Jamie Drysdale

Top Stacks

San Jose2

Kevin Labanc – Tomas Hertl – Timo Meier

This line carries a ton of offensive talent for the Sharks and should get matched up with the depth of the Wild, which is a plus no matter the line they draw. With positive leverage on both sites and ownership below 10% per the Top Stacks Tool, they make for a great value at under $17,000 with the potential of being a top-tier option.

Over-Owned Stacks: COL2, MIN1

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Author

Josh Anderson

"gottagetthiswiiin" - Born and raised in Wisconsin with a degree in Marketing. DFS has been a big part of my life since 2016 and has changed my career path and quality of life so much I can't not love it. I enjoy all sports and I'm definitely not a diehard Packers fan, or any team for that matter besides maybe the Wild. Love to travel with the wife and kid - Germany if I'm picking a favorite place. Hope to help people make more thoughtful, and informed, DFS decisions.