NHL Draftkings Picks for May 18, 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
Nick Suzuki MTL $10,000 11.94 1.19
Josh Norris BUF $5,000 7.69 1.54
Jake Evans MTL $3,800 7.23 1.90
Konsta Helenius BUF $2,600 7.18 2.76

Best Values

Name Team Cost Expected Value
Konsta Helenius BUF $2,600 7.18 2.76
Phillip Danault MTL $2,000 4.50 2.25
Jake Evans MTL $3,800 7.23 1.90
Peyton Krebs BUF $3,000 5.20 1.73

Wing

Best Rating

Name Team Cost Expected Value
Tage Thompson BUF $10,800 15.27 1.41
Juraj Slafkovsky MTL $8,600 11.92 1.39
Alex Tuch BUF $8,200 11.55 1.41
Cole Caufield MTL $9,800 10.74 1.10

Best Values

Name Team Cost Expected Value
Josh Anderson MTL $2,200 5.51 2.50
Kirby Dach MTL $2,400 5.03 2.10
Beck Malenstyn BUF $2,000 3.25 1.63
Tage Thompson BUF $10,800 15.27 1.41

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
Rasmus Dahlin BUF $9,000 14.13 1.57
Lane Hutson MTL $8,000 11.03 1.38
Mattias Samuelsson BUF $5,600 8.96 1.60
Noah Dobson MTL $7,000 8.61 1.23

Best Values

Name Team Cost Expected Value
Conor Timmins BUF $2,800 6.90 2.46
Kaiden Guhle MTL $3,400 6.37 1.87
Zach Metsa BUF $2,000 3.70 1.85
Alexandre Carrier MTL $4,000 6.81 1.70

Goalie

Best Rating

Name Team Cost Expected Value
Jakub Dobes MTL $9,600 14.37 1.50
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen BUF $9,400 8.91 0.95

Best Values

Name Team Cost Expected Value
Jakub Dobes MTL $9,600 14.37 1.50
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen BUF $9,400 8.91 0.95

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.