NHL Draftkings Picks for Dec 29, 2025

Daily Player Picks

Updated Throughout the Day

Player expected costs and values are calculated every thirty minutes throughout the day.


Center

Best Rating

Name Team Cost Expected Value
Connor McDavid EDM $9,800 24.50 2.50
Nathan MacKinnon COL $9,900 23.62 2.39
Macklin Celebrini SJS $8,700 19.20 2.21
Leon Draisaitl EDM $8,800 18.17 2.06

Best Values

Name Team Cost Expected Value
Brock Nelson COL $4,700 13.75 2.93
Mikael Backlund CGY $3,800 11.03 2.90
Mikael Granlund ANA $4,400 12.24 2.78
Sam Bennett FLA $5,400 14.26 2.64

Wing

Best Rating

Name Team Cost Expected Value
Matt Boldy MIN $7,600 18.06 2.38
Brady Tkachuk OTT $8,500 16.77 1.97
Kirill Kaprizov MIN $8,100 16.59 2.05
Kyle Connor WPG $7,800 14.99 1.92

Best Values

Name Team Cost Expected Value
Alexander Kerfoot UTA $2,500 8.57 3.43
Igor Chernyshov SJS $3,700 11.58 3.13
Linus Karlsson VAN $2,600 7.50 2.88
Viktor Arvidsson BOS $3,500 9.39 2.68

Use our SFTB Plus optimizers to perfect your DFS roster. Include or Exclude players and teams, and see our 10 best rosters for every available slate.


Defenseman

Best Rating

Name Team Cost Expected Value
Cale Makar COL $7,900 16.13 2.04
Jakob Chychrun WSH $6,400 14.82 2.32
Evan Bouchard EDM $7,000 14.55 2.08
Rasmus Andersson CGY $5,800 14.06 2.42

Best Values

Name Team Cost Expected Value
Josh Manson COL $2,600 7.96 3.06
Sam Malinski COL $2,800 8.50 3.04
Pavel Mintyukov ANA $3,000 9.02 3.01
Ian Moore ANA $2,800 8.21 2.93

Goalie

Best Rating

Name Team Cost Expected Value
MacKenzie Blackwood COL $8,500 17.79 2.09
Logan Thompson WSH $7,500 16.51 2.20
Filip Gustavsson MIN $7,400 16.43 2.22
Brandon Bussi CAR $8,400 15.97 1.90

Best Values

Name Team Cost Expected Value
Filip Gustavsson MIN $7,400 16.43 2.22
Logan Thompson WSH $7,500 16.51 2.20
MacKenzie Blackwood COL $8,500 17.79 2.09
Brandon Bussi CAR $8,400 15.97 1.90

Picks are based on historical performance and match-up. Picks are updated regularly, but we advise that you keep up to date on late-day roster moves and injuries – those are not taken into consideration. Sports from the Basement provides no warranty on these suggestions and readers should make picks at their own risk. Sample lineups are provided as thought-starters, and are not intended for direct use.