NHL DFS Picks, Projections, Lineups & Predictions Today: Wednesday Playbook
Published: Apr 16, 2025
Welcome to our Wednesday Playbook and NHL DFS picks today!
It's the second to last day of the NHL regular season so make sure to double check your NHL DFS lineups closer to puck drop as players could be out resting or avoiding injury before the postseason! With 6 games on this slate today, let's dive right in!
NHL DFS Picks & Daily Fantasy Playbook Today, April 16th
A LOT of teams are resting veteran players in the final few days of the season, so be sure the players you select as your NHL DFS picks are actually playing tonight!
NHL DFS Lineup Picks
Top Goaltender: Sam Montembeault - MTL
Normally this would not be my pick but given the circumstances of an end of season game it only makes sense. The Hurricanes top forwards and blue liners did not skate this morning so they could be out and shorthanded.
On top of that the Habs need at least a point in their final game to clinch a playoff spot. That's the motivation I like to see for a small slate with so many things up in the air so lock me in for Montembeault.
NHL DFS Lineups: Core NHL DFS Skaters
Play Of the Day: Timo Meier - NJD
The Devils can't make any moves up or down in the final days of the season but they are trying to grab some momentum before the playoffs! This team has been tough to read down the stretch with the injuries that have piled up but Meier just keeping chugging along with his 26 goals on the season. He has 4 points in his last 4 games and the Red Wings haven't played much defense since they were eliminated from the postseason so easy plug and play here for the Devils forward tonight.
Value Play Of The Day: Mikael Granlund - DAL
The Stars like many other teams should be resting top players so that means big minutes for the middle 6 of their lineup tonight. Granlund has had a really solid season with both San Jose and Dallas accumulating 65 points and against his former team in Nashville he has some revenge game factor too. At 4.9k he really just needs a point and some shots to make it worth the play and he should do just that tonight.
Stack Of The Day: NJD PP1 (Nico Hischier - Timo Meier - Luke Hughes)
Chasing puck-line value or showdown sleepers? Our NHL experts have you covered from faceoff to final horn.
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Today's NHL DFS Cheat Sheet & Stacks
Player Pool
| $ Tier | C | G | D | W |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High |  Nico Hischier  $7,400 |  Connor Hellebuyck $8,500 |  Evan Bouchard $7,500 | Kyle Connor $7,700 |
 Nick Suzuki $7,200 | Timo Meier $7,500 | |||
| Medium |  Wyatt Johnston $6,700 | Jacob Markstrom $8,000 | Josh Morrissey $5,800 | Cole Caufield $6,900 |
| Ryan Nugent-Hopkins $6,400 |  Brock Boeser $6,100 | |||
| Viktor Arvidsson $5,700 | ||||
| Low |  Nicolas Roy $4,200 | Adam Henrique $4,400 | Brett Pesce $4,400 | Mikael Granlund $4,900 |
| Sam Montembeault $7,500 | Luke Hughes $5,400 | Cole Perfetti $4,800 | ||
| Victor Olofsson $4,000 |
Stacks
| Devils | Nico Hischier | Luke Hughes | Timo Meier |
| DraftKings | 7400 | 5400 | 7500 |
 Fanduel | - | - | - |
| Devils | Nico Hischier | Luke Hughes | Timo Meier |
| DraftKings | 7400 | 5400 | 7500 |
| Fanduel | - | - | - |
| Oilers | Ryan Nugent-Hopkins | Evan Bouchard | Viktor Arvidsson |
| DraftKings | 6400 | 7500 | 5700 |
| Fanduel | - | - | - |
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.