NHL DFS Picks, Projections, Lineups & Predictions Today: Thursday Playbook
Published: Apr 17, 2025
Welcome to the final batch of NHL DFS picks of the regular season! Before we dig into tonight’s slate, I want to take a moment to thank all of you who continue to read our work. The Fantasy Alarm FAmily doesn’t exist without you. It’s a privilege to talk hockey and NHL DFS picks with each of you and help you build those winning lineups.
Now, let’s dive into the slate and see which NHL DFS projections we must target. With so many teams expected to rest players, we will find value, but we also have to make sure that we aren’t playing anyone who is out.
NHL DFS Picks & Daily Fantasy Playbook Today, April 17th
Before we get into the actual NHL DFS picks, let’s make some pick’em picks for the night over on Sleeper.
There are lots of ways we try to fill your wallet over here at Fantasy Alarm and this is just another option.
NHL Pick 'Em Picks On Sleeper Fantasy Today
- Sidney Crosby O/0.5 A
- Brady Tkachuk O/0.5 P
- Noah Dobson O/1.5 BLKS
The Pittsburgh Penguins are at home, meaning Sidney Crosby is going to do damage. He has racked up 51 points this season on home ice and gets a matchup against a Washington team that is going to be resting multiple players. They will also be starting a goalie who is making his first NHL start. There are not many things like that we can count on, but Crosby hitting value tonight is one.
Brady Tkachuk is expected to make his return to the lineup and it’s just in time. He hasn’t played in a minute, but that doesn’t mean he can’t come out and produce. The Hurricanes are playing their second game in as many nights, so there’s a good chance we'll see a lot of regulars sitting out. Brady can easily find the score sheet in this one.
The Islanders have been pretty bad all year, and that won’t change tonight. Noah Dobson is a good defenseman, and he is capable of doing many things. He is a shot-blocking machine on the road, and his matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets is perfect. He’s going to see a healthy number of minutes and could easily block two shots before the first period is even over.
THURSDAY SALARY CAP DFS
Goalie Of The Day: David Rittich - LAK
When the Los Angeles Kings play hockey on home ice, we need to target whoever is starting for them. David Rittich isn’t Darcy Kuemper, but he has an 11-2-2 record on home ice with a 2.11 GAA and a .911 SV%. Those are very good numbers for a backup goalie. The Flames will be sitting some players for this game, so that downgrades their terrible offence even more. Rittich is by far my favorite goalie option.
Honorable Mention: Jet Greaves - CBJ
I have no idea why we are getting Jet Greaves at a discount on DraftKings. He has won four games in a row, two of which came via shutout. Now he has a date with the Islanders, who shoot the puck a ton but can’t score goals, and he’s $7500? The Blue Jackets may not be going to the playoffs, but they have been playing amazing hockey of late, and they are so good on home ice. If you aren’t going with Rittich, Greaves is your next-best option.
Player Of The Day: Sidney Crosby - PIT
For all the reasons I mentioned earlier, Sidney Crosby is my top player of the day. He’s in a great spot and will do damage. The sky’s the limit for him, so good luck trying to fade him.
Honorable Mention: Drake Batehrson - OTT
Drake Batherson just loves scoring goals on home ice. He has 18 in 40 games and could very well add another before the night is done. Carolina will not be playing many regulars tonight, so that makes his matchup even more appealing.
Value Play Of The Day: Ville Koivunen - PIT
Ville Koivunen has points in his last four games, is skating on a line with Sidney Crosby and is on the top power play unit. You get all that for the low price of $3300 on DK. This seems like an easy decision to play him tonight. He can produce and help you save some salary.
Honorable Mention: Simon Edvinsson - DET
Of Simon Edvinsson’s 31 points this season, 22 of them have come on the road. He doesn’t get on the score sheet very often, but he can take a couple of shots on goal and is capable of blocking them. His $3900 price tag is also very nice considering his upside. If you need a cheap defenseman on the back end, he is one name to consider.
Stack Of The Day - TOR PP1 (Auston Matthews - William Nylander - Mitch Marner)
The Detroit Red Wings just can’t kill penalties. They have been awful all year, so what makes you think it will be any different tonight? If Matthews, Marner and Nylander all play, I would stack them. They are going to get chances, and I expect them to convert.
Today's NHL DFS Cheat Sheet & Stacks
Player Pool
| $ Tier | C | D | G | W |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High |  Auston Matthews  $9,500 |  Zach Werenski $8,000 | Joseph Woll $8,400 |  Nikita Kucherov $9,000 |
 Rasmus Dahlin $6,400 |  David Rittich $8,300 |  Alex Ovechkin $7,800 | ||
| Medium |  Dylan Larkin $6,400 | Brandt Clarke $4,800 |  Igor Shesterkin $7,400 | Tage Thompson $7,300 |
| J.T. Miller $6,700 |  Erik Karlsson $4,900 | Jet Greaves $7,500 | Adrian Kempe $6,500 | |
| Lucas Raymond $5,400 | ||||
| Low | Alex Turcotte $3,000 |  Sean Walker $3,700 |  Linus Ullmark $7,200 | Alexis Lafreniere $4,200 |
| Jiri Kulich $3,900 | Simon Benoit $2,500 | Logan Stankoven $4,700 | ||
| Rasmus Sandin $3,500 | Jack Quinn $3,800 |
Stacks
| Sabres | Rasmus Dahlin | Tage Thompson | Jiri Kulich |
| DraftKings | 6400 | 7300 | 3900 |
 Fanduel | 6200 | 7800 | 5400 |
| Blue Jackets | Adam Fantilli | Kirill Marchenko | Zach Werenski |
| DraftKings | 5400 | 6200 | 8000 |
| Fanduel | 6400 | 7100 | 6600 |
| Penguins | Ville Koivunen | Rickard Rakell | Sidney Crosby |
| DraftKings | 3300 | 5300 | 7500 |
| Fanduel | 4800 | 6600 | 8200 |
| Sabres | Rasmus Dahlin | Tage Thompson | Jiri Kulich |
| DraftKings | 6400 | 7300 | 3900 |
| Fanduel | 6200 | 7800 | 5400 |
| Blue Jackets | Adam Fantilli | Kirill Marchenko | Zach Werenski |
| DraftKings | 5400 | 6200 | 8000 |
| Fanduel | 6400 | 7100 | 6600 |
| Penguins | Ville Koivunen | Rickard Rakell | Sidney Crosby |
| DraftKings | 3300 | 5300 | 7500 |
| Fanduel | 4800 | 6600 | 8200 |
Player News
Dolphins signed No. 13 overall pick DT Kenneth Grant to a four-year contract.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that Grant will sign his contract today. The former Michigan defensive tackle is expected to fill a major void left by Christian Wilkins, who left for the Raiders in the 2024 offseason. Grant totaled 32 tackles, three sacks, and seven TFLs in his final season at Michigan and excelled at stopping the run while also generating 27 pressures in his final season, per PFF.
Daulton Varsho picked up three hits, three RBI and a homer in a win over the Angels on Thursday.
Varsho has only played in seven games this year, but they’ve been seven good ones. He’s homered three times already, and his slugging percentage is a remarkable — and entirely unsustainable — .727 over 22 at-bats. Varsho has been a mediocre offensive player in his two seasons with the Blue Jays, but it’s possible at the age of 28 he’s having a breakout campaign. Far from a guarantee, but possible.
Taylor Ward hit a two-run homer in a loss to the Blue Jays on Thursday.
Ward, 31, gave the Angels a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer off Chris Bassitt in the first inning. He’s now gone deep in two of his last three games, and it ‘improves’ his slash to .181/.224/.391. Ward has been one of the most hot/cold players players in the sport over the last few years, so fantasy managers who can afford to make some roster moves may want to look at Ward while the going is good.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. picked up three hits and scored twice in an 8-5 win over the Angels on Thursday.
Guerrero also drew a walk. It gives the first baseman multiple hits in back-to-back games, and it’s the third time in May that he’s reached that mark. That’s helped raise his average from .268 to .295, and the only thing fantasy managers can be disappointed with is his .432 slugging percentage. That number should continue to climb as the season unfolds, but Vladdy Jr. has had some inconsistent seasons when it comes to power production.
Chad Green picked up his first save of 2025 with a scoreless ninth against the Angels on Thursday.
Green got the save after Jeff Hoffman worked in back-to-back games — and struggled — in the first two contests against the Angels. He struck out two and looked the part while needing just nine pitches to get through the inning. Hoffman should remain the closer, but Green is on his tail if the struggles were to continue.
Chris Bassitt allowed five runs — four earned — while working six-plus innings against the Angels on Thursday while picking up a win.
Bassitt allowed three runs over the first two innings on a pair of homers, but settled down over his next four frames. He came out to work the seventh, but ended up being charged for two more runs after leaving the contest. The 36-year-old veteran has forged a 3.35 ERA and outstanding 49/8 K/BB ratio over the first quarter of the season, but this wasn’t him at his best. He’ll get the Rays next week if the rotation order stays the same for Toronto.