Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith had knee surgery Tuesday and will be out 4-6 weeks.

Keith played 80 games last season and had 10 goals and 45 points and was plus-12. In 2013-14, he had six goals and 61 points and was plus-22. He was off to a slow start this season with two assists and eight shots in six games, but Keith is a perennial top 5-10 defenseman in scoring.

Keith will be hard to replace. He averages more than 28 minutes of ice time per game and is owned in 97 percent of Yahoo leagues. Keith is good for points, plus-minus, shots and power-play points.

The Blackhawks' other top four defenseman included Brent Seabrook (84 percent owned), Trevor Daley (19 percent) and Niklas Hjalmarsson (11 percent). At this point, Daley and Hjalmarsson, who each have one point this season, aren't worth owning. Neither are the Blackhawks' other defenseman who have rotated into the lineup (David Rundblad, Viktor Svedberg, Trevor van Riemsdyk). However, Chicago may trade for a defensemen, which would change the situation.

If your league has an IR or an IR+ spot, the decision is easy to stash Keith there. If not, the question is, do you bench him for 4-6 weeks or drop him? That depends on how good your other defensemen are.

If you need a defenseman to replace Keith, here are a few suggestions:

Each day during the 2015-16 season, NHL.com's fantasy staff will identify one player at each position worth owning in DraftKings daily fantasy hockey contests. Based on factors including but not limited to matchups, line combinations, power-play usage, statistical coverage and recent production, we'll provide you with lower-priced options that can help you build a winning lineup.

Frans Nielsen, C, New York Islanders

DraftKings price: $4,300

The Columbus Blue Jackets, the Islanders' opponent Tuesday, have lost six straight games to start the season. They've allowed 5.00 goals per game and have a minus-17 goal differential. Although the cold streak has to cease at some point, DraftKings contestants should stack up on affordable Islanders players like Nielsen. The second-line center has one goal, three points, three blocked shots and nine shots on goal in the past three games. He's fared well against Columbus in his career with two goals, eight points, nine blocked shots and 29 shots on goal in 12 games.

Each day during the 2015-16 season, NHL.com's fantasy staff will identify one player at each position worth owning in DraftKings daily fantasy hockey contests. Based on factors including but not limited to matchups, line combinations, power-play usage, statistical coverage and recent production, we'll provide you with lower-priced options that can help you build a winning lineup.

NOTE: These picks are for the 3-game evening contests on Sunday, Oct. 18 and does not include players from the 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. ET early games.

Brandon Sutter, C, Vancouver Canucks

DraftKings price: $4,300

Daily fantasy sports is all about taking advantage of affordable players that are currently experiencing a surge in production and Sutter fits that description. The Canucks center is averaging a point per game with two goals, three assists, five blocked shots and 15 shots on goal in five games this season, but he has never had more than 40 points in a season. Sutter has a strong history against the Edmonton Oilers, the Canucks’ opponent Sunday. He has two goals, five points, five blocked shots, one shorthanded goal and 16 SOG in seven games against Edmonton and also has three of his five points this season at home.

Each day during the 2015-16 season, NHL.com's fantasy staff will identify one player at each position worth owning in DraftKings daily fantasy hockey contests. Based on factors including but not limited to matchups, line combinations, power-play usage, statistical coverage and recent production, we'll provide you with lower-priced options that can help you build a winning lineup.

Max Domi, C, Arizona Coyotes

DraftKings price: $5,000

Domi has been the best-looking rookie so far in my opinion. He has three multipoint games in four games with a goal and an assist in each and has used his speed to create opportunities for himself and his teammates. There are 23 centers more expensive than him but only one (Jason Spezza, $5,700) averages more points per game (6.0) than Domi (5.6). Domi won't keep up this tremendous pace and won't get you many points in the hits and blocks categories, but ride him while he's hot against a struggling Bruins team. It also might not be a bad idea to line stack Domi, Anthony Duclair ($3,700), and Martin Hanzal ($4,200). Duclair has four goals and Hanzal has seven assists; each has points in every game this season.

Each day during the 2015-16 season, NHL.com's fantasy staff will identify one player at each position worth owning in DraftKings daily fantasy hockey contests. Based on factors including but not limited to matchups, line combinations, power-play usage, statistical coverage and recent production, we'll provide you with lower-priced options that can help you build a winning lineup.

Dylan Larkin, C, Detroit Red Wings

DraftKings price: $3,800

Only five centers in this contest are averaging five-plus DraftKings points per game this season (Larkin, his linemate Henrik Zetterberg, Nathan MacKinnon, Joe Pavelski and Joe Thornton), and Larkin is the cheapest of that bunch by a good margin. He's playing with Zetterberg ($6,700) and Justin Abdelkader ($4,700) on Detroit's top line and is facing Cam Ward, against whom he had an assist, four shots on goal and a plus-3 last Saturday. Ward has an .864 save percentage this season, 30th out of 35 goalies with at least two games played. Let the good times roll at even strength for Larkin, who has at least a point in each of his first three NHL games and rounds out one of the best line-stacking options in the contest.

Each day during the 2015-16 season, NHL.com's fantasy staff will identify one player at each position worth owning in DraftKings daily fantasy hockey contests. Based on factors including but not limited to matchups, line combinations, power-play usage, statistical coverage and recent production, we'll provide you with lower-priced options that can help you build a winning lineup.

Aleksander Barkov, C, Florida Panthers

DraftKings price: $4,800

Barkov lines up next to Jaromir Jagr ($5,000) and a moderately expensive Jonathan Huberdeau ($6,000) for this game, so he's in a position to thrive again on the Panthers' top line and first power-play unit (averaging 3:43 power-play ice time per game). He's averaging four DraftKings points per game with one goal, two assists and 10 shots on goal in three games. He's winning 51.1 percent of his faceoffs this season and faces Sabres backup goalie Chad Johnson, who's starting again with Robin Lehner injured. Stacking Jagr and Barkov could pay off if they combine on a goal or two like they did in the season opener.

Each day during the 2015-16 season, NHL.com's fantasy staff will identify one player at each position worth owning in DraftKings daily fantasy hockey contests. Based on factors including but not limited to matchups, line combinations, power-play usage, statistical coverage and recent production, we'll provide you with lower-priced options that can help you build a winning lineup.

Artem Anisimov, C, Chicago Blackhawks

DraftKings price: $3,500

Artemi Panarin and Patrick Kane have combined for points on four Blackhawks goals (T-1st in NHL) in three games, so it's only a matter of time before their linemate gets in on the action. Anisimov has one goal in three games, scored shorthanded against the New York Islanders last Friday, to go along with five shots on goal. He has served as Chicago's second-line center to this point and is seeing more than two minutes per game on the power play. He's especially worth taking a chance on since the Philadelphia Flyers are starting backup goalie Michal Neuvirth.

Each day during the 2015-16 season, NHL.com's fantasy staff will identify one player at each position worth owning in DraftKings daily fantasy hockey contests. Based on factors including but not limited to matchups, line combinations, power-play usage, statistical coverage and recent production, we'll provide you with lower-priced options that can help you build a winning lineup.

Oscar Lindberg, C, New York Rangers

DraftKings price: $3,000

It's tough to guess when a rookie will cool off since it's so early in the season, but DraftKings players should take a chance on Lindberg at home against the Winnipeg Jets. Though the Jets have a 2.33 goals-against average in three games this season, Lindberg leads all rookies with four goals in three games with at least one in each of those games. By spending so little on Lindberg, players can have one of the hottest forwards in the NHL and still have enough money in their budgets to take the Tampa Bay Lightning's Steven Stamkos ($7,400) as a No. 1 center Tuesday.

Each day during the 2015-16 season, NHL.com's fantasy staff will identify one player at each position worth owning in DraftKings daily fantasy hockey contests. Based on factors including but not limited to matchups, line combinations, power-play usage, statistical coverage and recent production, we'll provide you with lower-priced options that can help you build a winning lineup.

Vincent Trocheck, C, Florida Panthers

DraftKings price: $3,700

A career-high for points in a single game (goal, three assists) in the Panthers' 7-1 win against the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday is a good enough reason to take a chance on Trocheck at such a low price. The Panthers visit the Flyers on Monday to wrap up their home-and-home series and Trocheck will try to improve upon his solid numbers against the Flyers with one goal, four assists, two blocked shots and 11 shots on goal in four games.

Each day during the 2015-16 season, NHL.com's fantasy staff will identify one player at each position worth owning in DraftKings daily fantasy hockey contests. Based on factors including but not limited to matchups, line combinations, power-play usage, statistical coverage and recent production, we'll provide you with lower-priced options that can help you build a winning lineup.

NOTE: These picks are for 13-game evening contests on Saturday, Oct. 10, excluding matinee game between Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo Sabres.

Evgeny Kuznetsov, C, Washington Capitals

DraftKings price: $5,200

With Nicklas Backstrom sidelined for the season opener, Kuznetsov will center Alex Ovechkin, the most expensive DraftKings player ($8,700) of the night, in a favorable home game against the New Jersey Devils. Ovechkin has 39 points in 37 career games against the Devils, and Kuznetsov is coming off a strong preseason with six points and 15 shots on goal in five games. Expect the well-rested Capitals to exploit the Devils, who play their second game in as many nights. Stacking Kuznetsov, Ovechkin and affordable wing T.J. Oshie ($5,000) is a worthwhile strategy because Ovi's linemates offset the steep price tag.