NHL DFS DraftKings | October 2, 2026: Main Slate Picks & Stacks
NHL DraftKings DFS picks for October 2 with stacks, positional one-offs, defensemen, goalies, value plays, bargain-bin options and an example lineup.
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Friday’s DraftKings main slate is four games in the supplied file: Washington-Carolina, Boston-Winnipeg, St. Louis-Dallas and Anaheim-Vegas. Our NHL Daily Lineups tool is the companion board for current line combinations and goalie order.
Top Stack: Dallas
Dallas gives us the cleanest premium three-man attack. Robertson led the Stars with 96 points last season, while Johnston and Rantanen add elite finishing and power-play upside.
Vegas: Premium Late Hammer
Eichel is our favorite Vegas spend-up. Marner and Stone give us multiple ways to build around the late game without forcing one exact combination.
Winnipeg: Concentrated Star Power
Connor is the shot and goal ceiling, Scheifele drives the middle, and Vilardi provides the third correlated piece.
Carolina: Mid-Range Stack
Carolina is our favorite way to stay out of the very top salary tier. Aho and Svechnikov remain the priority pieces.
One-Off Plays
Our favorite pure Boston one-off. Shot volume keeps the ceiling intact.
Washington’s opening-night shooting centerpiece.
Works outside the full Dallas stack because the goal ceiling stands on its own.
The strongest individual Vegas spend-up.
Useful mid-range Boston exposure after scoring in the opener.
Debuts for St. Louis and gives us a cheaper route into the top six.
Defensemen
Premium Dallas correlation.
Winnipeg’s top-end blue-line option.
Mid-range Carolina exposure.
Our favorite salary-saving Vegas defenseman.
Goalies
Preferred premium option if he starts. The supplied DK file marks him probable.
Carolina’s probable goalie in the supplied file.
Tournament salary pivot. The DK file marks him probable.
Value Plays
Cheap Boston center after scoring in the opener.
New St. Louis piece at a salary that works next to premium Dallas or Vegas exposure.
Affordable defense with late-game access.
Cheap Dallas exposure if his confirmed role supports it.
Bargain Bin
Example Lineup
C Jack Eichel $8,100
C Mason McTavish $4,500
W Mitch Marner $7,100
W Jason Robertson $7,600
W Connor McMichael $4,200
D Noah Hanifin $3,500
D Thomas Harley $4,100
G Jake Oettinger $8,300
UTIL Sam Steel $2,500
Total: $49,900
CTS Core
Favorite stack: Dallas
Favorite spend-up: Jack Eichel
Favorite one-off: David Pastrnak
Favorite value: Mason McTavish
Favorite cheap defenseman: Noah Hanifin
Preferred goalie: Jake Oettinger if confirmed