Top 5 Value Picks For Tonight's Massive NHL Slate

Looking for budget-friendly NHL DFS plays? These five value picks can help you maximize your lineup without sacrificing any of the production.

Matt Brown
By Matt BrownPublished: February 4, 2025Read Time: 5 Minutes
Top 5 Value Picks For Tonight's Massive NHL Slate

When it comes to DFS hockey, finding players who can deliver some strong returns for their salary is the undeniable key to dominating your contests.

With a packed 10-game NHL slate tonight, we’ve found the 5 best value plays who can help you fill out your roster without breaking the bank. You’ll be able to save some cash for the big players that consistently produce big results.

Player Salary FP Value
Cole Sillinger $4,100 8.9 2.17
Morgan Rielly $4,300 9.2 2.14
Elias Lindholm $4,400 9.1 2.07
Jiri Kulich $4,600 9.4 2.04
Timo Meier $6,200 12.5 2.02

Cole Sillinger — Columbus Blue Jackets — Center

  • Salary: $4,100
  • Matchup: Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Buffalo Sabres
  • Projected Fantasy Points: 8.9

Cole Sillinger offers some serious value at just $4,100.

He’s coming off a game where he notched a goal in a loss to the Dallas Stars and logged 18+ minutes of ice time. Dallas is one of the strongest teams in the NHL, so that says a lot. His increased role on the ice is as clear as day, as he’s consistently seen over 17 minutes of TOI in his last 4 games.

Sillinger’s recent form makes him one of the best-looking budget options for the slate. He has averaged just 7.0 FP points across his last 5 games, but don’t let that deter you. He has a favorable matchup against a Buffalo team that isn’t exactly known for shutting teams down defensively.

At this price point, he’s hard to pass up, especially with the potential to contribute on both ends of the ice with SOG and hits.

Morgan Rielly — Toronto Maple Leafs — Defense

  • Salary: $4,300
  • Matchup: Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Calgary Flames
  • Projected Fantasy Points: 9.2

Morgan Rielly might not exactly be lighting up the scoresheet lately, but we still think he’s a sneaky solid value option on the back end.

Rielly has recorded 18 assists this season and averages over 22 minutes of ice time per game, and as you know, the more TOI, the more chances to rack up FP. The best part is that he’s a huge part of Toronto’s power play unit, which gives him an extra opportunity to pick up low-hanging points.

While his production has dipped slightly, he’s still a steady and reliable contributor. His last 5 games include several high-danger shots, and his involvement in all phases of the game makes him a solid candidate to hit some value against Calgary.

Elias Lindholm — Boston Bruins — Center

  • Salary: $4,400
  • Matchup: Boston Bruins vs. Minnesota Wild
  • Projected Fantasy Points: 9.1

Elias Lindholm continues to be one of the most reliable mid-tier options in the league. He’s coming off a three-game stretch where he has notched a solid 4 points which included an eye-popping short-handed goal against Winnipeg.

With 28 points on the season, Lindholm undoubtedly plays a big role in Boston’s offense, and he’s averaging 8.7 Fantasy Points over his last 5 games, so this should be an easy one to get.

The Bruins face the Wild tonight, a team that’s been shaky defensively in recent weeks despite being one of the best teams in the NHL. Lindholm’s ability to contribute at even strength and on special teams makes him a high-upside value option at this low price point.

Jiri Kulich — Buffalo Sabres — Center

  • Salary: $4,600
  • Matchup: Buffalo Sabres vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
  • Projected Fantasy Points: 9.4

Jiri Kulich has been flying under the radar but we think that he could be a sneaky-good play tonight.

Despite going scoreless against the Devils in his last game, Kulich has averaged a nice 11.6 Fantasy Points over his last 5 games. He’s coming off a stretch where he’s put up 5 points in his last 4 games, including a 2-assist performance against Nashville. Good things happen when you’re paired up with top-liners.

With his ability to chip in on the offense and a matchup against a Columbus team that has undeniably struggled defensively, Kulich has the upside to exceed his modest salary.

We think that he’s an excellent play for those looking for value in the mid-$4k range to save some cash for bigger picks.

Timo Meier — New Jersey Devils — Left Wing

  • Salary: $6,200
  • Matchup: New Jersey Devils vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
  • Projected Fantasy Points: 12.5

Timo Meier is the most expensive player on this list, but it’s still what we would consider cheap. On top of that, he’s also the most likely to deliver a big performance.

Meier has been on fire lately, averaging 13.4 Fantasy Points over his last 5 games and we don’t think he’ll slow down. He’s coming off a 4-shot, 2-assist game against the Flyers and has been a consistent presence on the scoresheet with 37 points on the season.

The Devils face the Penguins tonight, a team that Meier can easily exploit with his offensive and high-pressure skill set. His ability to generate shots and pick up points in multiple ways makes him worth every penny of his moderate $6,200 salary.

Lock In Your NHL DFS Lineups With These Value Picks

These 5 players offer a decent mix of salary relief and high upside. That makes them ideal additions to your lineup so you can have some funds to spread out among the top-end players like McDavid and Kucherov. Whether you're stacking stars or prudently spreading out your budget, these picks can provide the value you need to stay competitive in any DFS format at any DFS site.

Matt Brown

Matt Brown

Head of DFS

Matt's deep-rooted enthusiasm for sports betting and daily fantasy sports infuses the EatWatchDraft team with valuable expertise in football, hockey, and baseball. His forward-thinking perspectives are grounded in a solid academic foundation, including a B.S. in Aeronautical Computer Science and an M.S. in Project Management. This combination of sports passion and technical knowledge fuels Matt's innovative input to the platform.