There are plenty of apps and websites to choose from in the US when it comes to daily fantasy hockey. However, the abundance of choice can make choosing the right site a tricky task, which is where I come in.
As a fellow hockey fan and DFS expert, I’ve handpicked the top five fantasy sports apps and websites for NHL contests. Below, you’ll discover why Sleeper, Betr, Dabble, Underdog, and PrizePicks each have something unique to offer. Moreover, I’ve also left you with some strategy tips to help you make informed decisions when playing hockey DFS for real money.
Top-rated DFS Hockey sites
NHL daily fantasy in a nutshell
Regular NHL fantasy contests mostly work using a draft format that runs throughout the entire season, often including the playoffs and Stanley Cup finals. On the other hand, daily fantasy baseball, hockey, and other pro sports tend to focus on a single game day.
As a result, the outcomes have a far quicker turnaround, and the process of picking your lineups is much quicker. Moreover, it’s also an easier introduction to the NHL fantasy sports concept for newer players.
The top 5 NHL DFS apps and websites
Now that I’ve given you my best NHL DFS advice, here’s a look at my top five fantasy sports app picks for hockey fans:
| Daily fantasy hockey app | Welcome bonus |
|---|---|
| 1. Betr | $10 Free Bonus + 100% first deposit match up to $200 |
| 2. Dabble | $25 Sign-Up Bonus |
| 3. Underdog | Play $5 and get $100 in Fantasy Bonus Funds |
| 4. PrizePicks | Play $5 and get $50 instantly |
| 5. Sleeper | $100 first deposit match |
1. Betr – The only place to make live NHL picks
- $10 Betr Bucks welcome bonus
- DFS and social sportsbook play
- Legit brand with transparent ownership
- Killer mobile app
- Lots of gameplay modes
- Not available on computer – app only
You’ve probably heard of this thanks to Jake Paul being one of the founders and owners, but Betr Picks is the real deal. Its innovative app design means that you can make your NHL picks quickly and easily to potentially win up to 1,000x. However, the standout feature is the fact that you can make live hockey picks while the games are in-play.
When you download this DFS app and create your new account, you’ll get a $10 Free Play Bonus. Following this, you can then grab a 100% match of up to $200 on your first deposit. You can use both of these bonuses on the pre-game and live NHL pick’ems.
Dabble – Win up to 5,000x
- $25 no-deposit bonus
- Rocket boosts
- Copy cash program
- Limited payment methods
Dabble is a highly rated app with a perfected process that allows you to make your hockey picks at lightning speed. To make things quicker and easier, you can copy the picks of other, more experienced players that you follow. You can even describe and share your own picks once you’re feeling confident and generous.
To enter an NHL DFS contest on this user-friendly app, you just need to select “More” or “Less” stat projections for 2 – 12 players from a minimum of two teams. When you sign up to this fantasy sports provider, there will be $25 Bonus Credits waiting for you.
Underdog – Pick’em and season-long NHL contests
- Sizeable welcome
- Live chat support
- Fully mobile optimized
- Popular sports to make picks
- No VIP program
If you want to have DFS pick’ems and season-long NHL Best Ball contests under one roof, Underdog Fantasy is the only app you need. The Best Ball scoring system is pretty straightforward, but just be aware that a goal against will get you -0.3. The app now also offers Team Picks, where you can make entire team stat projections instead of individual players.
For example, instead of picking Jack Eichel to score more than 0.5 goals in his next game, you could take the Knights to beat the -1.5 Puck Line. This app also has one of the most generous welcome offers, as you get $100 in Bonus Funds when you register and play just $5 in cash entries.
PrizePicks – Simple but effective NHL DFS contests
- $5 for $50 welcome bonus for new members
- Expansive range of sports and markets
- Two unique ways to play
- Fantastic coverage across the USA
- Excellent responsible gameplay tools
- App only – no browser-based version
PrizePicks is my top option for beginners, as the NHL pick’ems are super straightforward. You just need to make 2 – 6 picks per lineup, and there are two possible entry options. With Flex, you can miss a few picks and still win. Meanwhile, the Power Lineup is the all-or-nothing option where you can win up to
The welcome offer is also pretty generous and very straightforward. When you sign up, deposit, and play $5, you will get a $50 bonus instantly. You don’t have to wait for your $5 contest entry to settle as a win or a loss; you get the bonus as soon as the entry has been made.
Sleeper – One for the future
- Mock drafts available
- Many free entry contests
- Dedicated mobile app
- Not available in many US states
Right now, Sleeper doesn’t offer much in the way of NHL contests, but there are promises to introduce it in the future. The blog already has amazing guides and advice tools for fantasy hockey, and they have added new DFS sports in the past at the request of their users.
If you’re interested in fantasy sports more broadly, this site is a great option for the NFL and NBA, as well as college sports. Like Underdog, this site offers a decent mix of daily and season-long contests. As a new player, you can grab a 100% first deposit match up to $100.
How to play hockey DFS
DFS contests usually involve picking at least two players from a minimum of two different NHL teams. You then have to select a stat projection, such as goals, assists, or saves, and pick “More” or “Less” on the line.
Your picks then have to all be correct for you to win a multiplier of your entry fee. On most DFS apps, you can take a “Flex” option with three or more picks, meaning you can still receive a reduced payout if one or two of your picks are incorrect.
Example:
Let’s say that you made the following two picks with no flex or insurance option:
| Player | Stat | Projection |
|---|---|---|
| Jordan Kyrou (Blues) | 1.5 goals | More |
| Connor Bedard | 1.5 goals | Less |
If Kyrou scores two goals or more and Bedard scores zero or one goal, you’d win with this lineup. However, if one or both of these projections were incorrect, the whole lineup would lose.
Making your NHL DFS picks today – Step-by-step
To show you how daily fantasy football and hockey work in practice, here’s a quick step-by-step guide:
- Choose – Choose one of my top 5 suggested hockey DFS sites.
- Visit – Use one of the links on this page to visit the DFS site.
- Register – Create your new account via one of the promo banners on this page.
- Deposit – Deposit funds into your new fantasy sports account.
- Bonus – Claim the welcome offer if you qualify.
- Pick – Choose at least two NHL players from at least two different teams.
- Stats – Pick a stat for each player and project that they will perform “more” or “less”.
- Entry – Select your real money entry fee and submit the lineup.
- Watch – Tune into the relevant games if you can to find out if your projections come true.
How much can you win?
Win multipliers in an NHL pick’em DFS vary depending on the number of picks you have made and your type of entry. The more picks that you make, the higher your win multiplier will be.
Another thing that will impact the size of your win is if you go for an all-or-nothing or a flex entry option. The flex option will decrease your risk, as you can still win with a couple of incorrect projections. However, the trade-off is a lower maximum win multiplier.
Here are the maximum win multipliers for hockey pick’em contests on my five best-rated daily fantasy soccer and hockey apps:
| NHL DFS site | Maximum pick’em win multiplier |
|---|---|
| Betr: | 1,000x |
| Dabble: | 5,000x |
| Underdog: | 1,000x |
| PrizePicks: | 2,000x |
| Sleeper: | 1,000x |
Regular NHL pick’em vs NHL peer-to-peer payouts
On some apps, like PrizePicks, there are two ways to win with your lineup:
- Regular pick’em = All of your picks must be correct for you to win
- Peer-to-peer (P2P) = Your lineup is put into a group, and you win if you finish top with the most correct picks or best performing players
Daily fantasy hockey pros and cons
Here are the upsides and downsides of playing Daily fantasy NHL contests over the traditional season-long format:
- Very easy to learn
- Quick contest outcomes and results
- Legal in most of the US
- Higher risk than traditional NHL fantasy
My NHL DFS strategy guide – How to make the best NHL DFS projections
Before I show you the top 5 NHL fantasy apps, here are my three best tips to you make informed NHL DFS plays today:
Use Advanced Stats
Use advanced stats – In-depth stats like xG (expected goals) and shot volume can help you to find a potential sleeper that the DFS site may have undervalued. If a player has a high shot volume and/or xG, but a low goals tally, the underlying performance suggests the goals will start coming at some point.
Correlate Your Picks
Correlate your picks – Your picks must line up and not contradict each other if you want them all to be correct. For example, if you’ve picked Matthew Tkachuk to score more than 0.5 goals, don’t put the opposition goalie on a positive saves stat in the same lineup.
Consider Shared Ice Time
Consider shared ice time – There’s no harm in including two players from the same team if you’re making three or more picks, but make sure that they share ice time. Referring to the above example, if you have Matthew Tkachuk +0.5 goals, look at including the Panthers wingers who regularly share ice time with him and are likely to provide the assist for his goal.
Conclusion – Try one of these NHL DFS sites today
In conclusion, NHL daily fantasy sports is ideal for those of you who want to play quick contests for real money. Many of us don’t have time to commit to those season-long leagues, so why not give one of my top five recommendations a go? Just click one of the banners on this page to download your DFS app of choice.
Only the best DFS bonuses
Daily fantasy hockey FAQ
What is the best app for DFS hockey?
There are currently five apps that I recommend for daily fantasy college basketball and professional hockey. Betr, Sleeper, Dabble, Underdog, and PrizePicks are all good options for the right type of players.
How do you play daily fantasy hockey?
The most common type of contest is the pick’em. This involves picking a minimum of two players from at least two NHL franchises and making predictions based on their stat projections. E.g., Pavel Dorofeyev to score more than 1.5 goals in his next game.
Where can I find a free NHL DFS cheat sheet?
Many sisters and social media accounts offer free NHL fantasy cheat sheets. However, always do your own research to check the quality. Anyone can put together a list of low-value favorites. Ideally, you want to find good sleepers and high-value picks that others may have missed.
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