NHL DFS Expert Survey: Thursday, January 1st

by Justin Bailey (Jbails26) Last Updated 2026-01-01 19:29:51 Premium Content Part of the product RotoGrinders NHL Premium

Our panel of experts is here to give you their insights on NHL DFS today for the 1/1 main slate on DraftKings. They’re ready to answer key questions that will assist you in making those crucial lineup-building decisions. Curious who Moneyball16 has as his top overall line stack? Or perhaps you’re wondering about TastefulTides’ favorite play for large-field tournaments? Read their thoughts below!

NHL DFS Picks: DraftKings Expert Survey for Thursday, January 1

Who is your favorite skater to spend up for in cash games?

TastefulTides: Auston Matthews
boggslite: Auston Matthews
Joda: Auston Matthews

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What is your preferred tournament format (e.g. large-field, single-entry) to play on this slate? How do you plan to beat that field of opponents? What tactic or strategy will set you apart?

TastefulTides: Single-entry and 3-max GPPs are my preferred format. This is a slate where I am going to try and build more in the mid-range today. The value is quite bad on this slate, so it’s hard to pay up for Auston Matthews and players who are priced similarly to him. I want to get to at least a couple of pieces of the Stars. I also really like the Red Wings and Predators for larger-field tournaments.

boggslite: I’m playing single-entry tonight. There are several teams playing on back-to-backs, which can lead to some lopsided scoring. Despite that, my focus will be building around the mid-range of salaries instead of going with a stars-and-scrubs approach. My focus will be on the loaded top lines from Carolina and Nashville, who are priced cheaper than we are used to seeing but have solid matchups.

Joda: Large-field GPPs are my preferred format tonight. As much as I like Auston Matthews and Jason Robertson as plays, their stack partners are underwhelming. Instead, I will be looking to full-line stacks from other games. Carolina and Pittsburgh are two of my favorites, and I also like the Kings’ top 6 for a slightly cheaper route against backup Jonas Johansson.

Who is your favorite play (when considering price, matchup, roster construction, etc.) on the board and why?

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