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.

Derek Stepan, C, New York Rangers

DraftKings price: $5,400

Stepan was a point-per game player for most of the 2013-14 season; he finished with 55 points in 68 games. He had one goal on three shots in the Rangers' season-opening victory against the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday and is the clear No. 1 center. Stepan is valuable because he plays in all situations. Not to mention he had two goals and seven points in three games against the Columbus Blue Jackets, who the Rangers play Friday. He's also a big part of the Rangers' penalty kill and had five shorthanded points last 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.

David Krejci, C, Boston Bruins

DraftKings price: $4,800

Krejci sustained a knee injury that caused him to miss the final seven weeks of last season. His production (seven goals, 31 points) was a far cry from previous seasons (he had more than 50 points in each of the past five full regular seasons) but Krejci will be the top line center for the Bruins. Krejci has four goals and 18 points in 23 games against the Winnipeg Jets, who the Bruins play Thursday. He takes slightly more than two shots per game but can chip in with the occasional block or two.

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.

Joe Thornton, C, San Jose Sharks

DraftKings price: $4,400

Thornton is second to Florida Panthers forward Jaromir Jagr in NHL career assists among active players with 901 in 1,285 games and, at age 36, is showing no signs of slowing down. Projected to again be the center for 40-goal scorer Joe Pavelski, Thornton can chip in with a few assists on any given night at either regular strength or on the power play. The hulking center has fared well against the Los Angeles Kings, the Sharks' opponent Wednesday, with 64 points (13g, 51a) in 70 games.

Since the Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup for the third time in six seasons, Brandon Saad (Columbus Blue Jackets) and Patrick Sharp (Dallas Stars) were traded, and Brad Richards (Detroit Red Wings), Antione Vermette (Arizona Coyotes) and Johnny Oduya (Stars) each left as free agents.

Of those players in new places, Sharp should benefit fantasy owners the most.

Sharp scored 16 goals and had 43 points last season, well below fantasy expectations for a player who scored at least 20 goals in seven of eight seasons prior to that, including more than 30 goals four times. Sharp's ice time diminished by more than two minutes per game (16:49, down from 18:53 in 2013-14).

Whether Sharp was playing on a line with Richards and Patrick Kane or Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa, the offensive numbers weren't there, although he had 15 points in 23 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

Hours after having his rights traded from the Boston Bruins to the Colorado Avalanche, Carl Soderberg has booked a long-term stay in the Mile High City.

Soderberg, 169th in Yahoo's season-end fantasy rankings, signed a five-year contract with the Avalanche on Friday. After playing for years in Sweden, Soderberg (C/LW in Yahoo leagues) had a taste with the Bruins in 2012-13 before playing 155 of a possible 164 regular-season games from 2013-14 to 2014-15 with 92 points and a plus-14.

The following five players can provide value as additions to your respective teams if you have a roster spot free or can afford dropping someone in favor of getting a boost in categories that you may be lacking:

Just when Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon was beginning to turn the corner, it all came crashing down.

The Avs announced Friday that MacKinnon will miss 6-8 weeks because of a fractured foot, likely ending what has been one of the most disappointing seasons League-wide based on fantasy expectations. The dual-eligible (C/RW) forward won the Calder Trophy in 2013-14 with 63 points in 82 games and was drafted on average this season with the 36th pick in Yahoo leagues. But he took a sizable step back this season with 38 points in 64 games (82-game pace: 47).

Defenseman Marek Zidlicky (30 percent owned in Yahoo leagues) made a big impact in his debut with the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday, scoring a power-play goal 1:09 into overtime in a 2-1 win against the New York Rangers.

Zidlicky, who had 23 points (four goals) and was minus-7 in 63 games with the New Jersey Devils, played 17:44, including 2:28 on the power play. He was paired with Brendan Smith and had two shots on goal, two penalty minutes, one hit and an even rating.

Mark Giordano's injury was somewhat of a mystery for the past week. On Monday, Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving cleared it up, and it wasn't good news, announcing the defenseman has a torn biceps tendon.

"He'll be done for the season," Treliving said. "The surgery we are talking, it's 4-5 months in terms of the rehab process. … He was devastated by the news. … This is not what he wanted, but this is what it is, so we will deal with it."

Fantasy owners of Giordano will have to deal with it too. You can't replace a defenseman who has 11 goals, 48 points, a plus-13 rating, 14 power-play points and 157 shots on goal. But with the fantasy playoffs a few weeks away, unless you're in a keeper league, you likely have to drop him and acquire another player to help your blue line.

On Sunday, the Chicago Blackhawks acquired center Antoine Vermette from the Arizona Coyotes and the Detroit Red Wings acquired Erik Cole from the Dallas Stars. Each player has a tremendous fantasy upside.