NHL Lineup Optimizer
A step-by-step guide to building optimized DFS hockey lineups
Step 1 - Understand the Stats
The lineup builder pulls player prices and fantasy scoring directly from DraftKings:
| Stat | Description |
|---|---|
| FPPG | Fantasy points per game, straight from DraftKings |
| VAL | Value score — fantasy points per $1K of salary, to find underpriced players |
| OPRK | Opponent rank — how the opponent this player faces ranks against his position. Green is a favorable matchup and red is a tough one. |
Sort the player table by any stat (or by price) to surface the best plays at each position. Sorting by OPRK puts the softest matchups first.
FPPG and value score are the two stats you can optimize whole lineups by. OPRK is there to read and sort on. Ranking lineups by total opponent rank would pick rosters on matchup alone, ignoring both salary and production.
Step 2 - Configure Settings
Open the settings panel to configure:
- Lineup Limit (0-150)
- Salary Threshold (decrease to see more lineup combinations)
Step 3 - Select Players
Every DraftKings Classic NHL lineup needs 9 players: two centers, three wingers, two defensemen, a goalie, and a UTIL, all under the $50K salary cap.
UTIL takes any skater, so every center, winger, and defenseman is eligible for two slots and the builder automatically tries them at each one. Left and right wingers both fill W. Goalie is the exception: UTIL cannot cover it, so a lineup is impossible until you have picked at least one goalie.
Even a small slate lists a few hundred rosterable players. The player list hides the ones ruled out or on injured reserve by default, along with goalies DraftKings has confirmed are not starting. Use the filter button beside the position chips to show everyone. Day-to-day players stay visible, as do goalies on teams that have not named a starter yet.
Step 4 - Mind the Salary Cap
Nine roster spots out of $50,000 leaves about $5,500 per player, and goalies alone can take $8,000 or more of that. Pick nine expensive players and there may be no legal lineup at all. The builder will tell you exactly how far over the cap your cheapest valid roster lands.
The fix is to pair your top plays with cheaper ones. Sort by value score to find the players producing the most points per dollar, and add a few at each position so the builder has room to work. Hockey's best values are often its cheapest skaters, so a value-heavy selection can land well under the cap. If no lineup reaches the salary threshold, lower it in settings.
Step 5 - Confirm Exposure
Use the visualize view to confirm exposure to each player. Spread exposure evenly to limit risk, or concentrate on your top picks for a higher-ceiling strategy.
Step 6 - Export Lineups .csv File
Click the export button and download your lineups as a .csv file ready to be imported to DraftKings .