NHL Draftkings Picks for May 1, 2026

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
Jack Eichel VGK $8,500 15.32 1.80
Tage Thompson BUF $8,000 13.68 1.71
Nick Schmaltz UTA $5,500 13.67 2.49
Nick Suzuki MTL $6,200 13.04 2.10

Best Values

Name Team Cost Expected Value
Pavel Zacha BOS $4,200 10.76 2.56
Nick Schmaltz UTA $5,500 13.67 2.49
Josh Norris BUF $3,600 8.49 2.36
Logan Cooley UTA $5,200 11.52 2.22

Wing

Best Rating

Name Team Cost Expected Value
Nikita Kucherov TBL $9,000 17.24 1.92
Brandon Hagel TBL $7,500 16.13 2.15
Dylan Guenther UTA $7,000 15.67 2.24
Clayton Keller UTA $6,500 15.28 2.35

Best Values

Name Team Cost Expected Value
Lawson Crouse UTA $4,100 11.75 2.87
Reilly Smith VGK $3,100 7.87 2.54
Peyton Krebs BUF $3,300 7.93 2.40
Clayton Keller UTA $6,500 15.28 2.35

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
Darren Raddysh TBL $5,900 13.66 2.31
Mikhail Sergachev UTA $5,200 12.15 2.34
Rasmus Dahlin BUF $6,000 11.41 1.90
Lane Hutson MTL $5,400 11.35 2.10

Best Values

Name Team Cost Expected Value
Henri Jokiharju BOS $2,500 7.24 2.90
Jonathan Aspirot BOS $2,500 6.39 2.56
Andrew Peeke BOS $2,600 6.10 2.35
Mikhail Sergachev UTA $5,200 12.15 2.34

Goalie

Best Rating

Name Team Cost Expected Value
Jakub Dobes MTL $7,600 13.56 1.78
Alex Lyon BUF $7,900 11.93 1.51
Jeremy Swayman BOS $7,500 11.71 1.56
Andrei Vasilevskiy TBL $7,800 11.22 1.44

Best Values

Name Team Cost Expected Value
Jakub Dobes MTL $7,600 13.56 1.78
Jeremy Swayman BOS $7,500 11.71 1.56
Alex Lyon BUF $7,900 11.93 1.51
Andrei Vasilevskiy TBL $7,800 11.22 1.44

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.