Fantasy: Yahoo's position updates for October

With the start of every new season, NHL forwards take on new position responsibilities. Yahoo Fantasy has responded with a flurry of eligibility updates, many of which affect valuable assets around the League.
During the past three days, Yahoo has updated the position eligibility of 84 forwards. These skaters range from proven assets to huge fantasy steals to dark horse candidates who could gain value in the weeks and months to come.

FANTASY RANKINGS:
TOP 100 'F'
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TOP 50 'D'
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TOP 25 'G'
Here are the most notable players to see position adjustments in recent days. Yahoo ownership and performance-based rank have been included for reference. The "+" signs indicate the position added to each player in Yahoo.
STANDARD-LEAGUE ASSETS:
Goals, assists, plus/minus, penalty minutes, power-play points and shots on goal
Jonathan Marchessault, C/+LW, FLA
Ownership: 50 percent (Rank: 11)
Two goals Thursday gives Marchessault at least one point in six of seven games with strong peripherals (plus-5, three PPP, 23 SOG). Must-own player in all formats.
Patrik Laine, +LW/RW, WPG
Ownership: 90 percent (Rank: 16)
Near lock to be Calder Trophy finalist if healthy; tied for NHL lead in goals (six) playing with Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler.
Richard Panik, LW/+RW, CHI
Ownership: 69 percent (Rank: 41)
Biggest fantasy surprise not named Marchessault; playing in top six forward group and getting power-play minutes (eight points, two PPP). Sell-high candidate.
Travis Konecny, C/+LW, PHI
Ownership: 17 percent (Rank: 61)
One of most productive, unheralded rookies; thriving on line with Sean Couturier and Jakub Voracek (seven points in eight games).
Brock Nelson, +C/LW, NYI
Ownership: 13 percent (Rank: 75)
Has more points (seven) than John Tavares (six) through eight games; playing on second line and second power-play unit.

Tomas Hertl, C/+LW, SJS
Ownership: 57 percent (Rank: 76)
Has value whether centering third line or playing wing on first; scored two goals Thursday; has five points in eight games.
Alexander Steen, LW/+RW, STL
Ownership: 95 percent (Rank: 85)
Always a top 100 asset when healthy; has seven points in eight games mostly playing with Paul Stastny and Robby Fabbri.
Brandon Pirri, C/+RW, NYR
Ownership: 9 percent (Rank: 87)
Has provided added depth to Rangers' forward group; getting power-play usage to finally reach potential (six points, three PPP, plus-3).
Jonathan Drouin, LW/+RW, TBL
Ownership: 82 percent (Rank: 97)
Remains breakout candidate playing right wing alongside Steven Stamkos; has five points (three PPP) with 22 SOG in first seven games.
Rick Nash, LW/+RW, NYR
Ownership: 83 percent (Rank: 129)
Picking up steam on line with Derek Stepan and rookie Jimmy Vesey; has three goals, two assists and 19 SOG in past five games.
Sebastian Aho, +LW/RW, CAR
Ownership: 29 percent (Rank: 132)
Has five assists, three on power play, with 12 SOG and even rating before Hurricanes have played a home game. Potential rookie gem.
Matt Duchene, C/+RW, COL
Ownership: 89 percent (Rank: 144)
Back-to-back multipoint games after slow start; has been playing on separate even-strength line from Nathan MacKinnon of late.

Andre Burakovsky, LW/+RW, WSH
Ownership: 35 percent (Rank: 372)
Getting a look alongside Evgeny Kuznetsov and Alex Ovechkin on top line; had assist Wednesday and has at least three SOG in four of six games.
Jason Spezza, C/+RW, DAL
Ownership: 83 percent (Rank: 479)
Day to day with lower-body injury; top six, first-unit power-play fixture; buy low if he's dropped or on trade block in your league.
Jaden Schwartz, +C/LW, STL
Ownership: 61 percent (Rank: 527)
Slow start after returning from elbow injury; one assist, nine SOG in four games; has shifted to center on Vladimir Tarasenko's line.
FOR DEEP AND/OR KEEPER LEAGUES:
Matt Read, +LW/RW, PHI
Ownership: 13 percent (Rank: 162)
Still low ownership because of third-line role; has gone without a point in past three games after stretch of five goals in four games.
Nino Niederreiter, +LW/RW, MIN
Ownership: 10 percent (Rank: 204)
Offers exposure to resurgent Eric Staal and underrated Charlie Coyle on second line; is plus-4 with 13 hits through eight games.

Mikhail Grigorenko, C/+LW, COL
Ownership: 1 percent (Rank: 230)
Has three assists (two on power play) on line with Duchene and Carl Soderberg, but top six could be shaken up with rookie Mikko Rantanen set to make season debut.
Zack Smith, C/+LW, OTT
Ownership: 6 percent (Rank: 231)
Has at least three SOG in three of six games; reunited with Mark Stone and Jean-Gabriel Pageau, but not seeing much power-play time.
Ryan Strome, +C/RW, NYI
Ownership: 4 percent (Rank: 237)
Has five points in eight games and plays on first power-play unit, but stuck in third-line role with Alan Quine and Shane Prince.
Brayden Point, C/+RW, TBL
Ownership: 1 percent (Rank: 244)
Has three assists in seven games on mostly third line with Alex Killorn and Valtteri Filppula; playing 2:25 per game on power play.
Mikael Granlund, C/+LW, MIN
Ownership: 6 percent (Rank: 313)
Playing on first line with Zach Parise and Mikko Koivu; has two assists, one PPP and is plus-2 in past three games.
Zach Hyman, C/+LW, TOR
Ownership: 1 percent (Rank: 318)
Operating alongside productive rookie point pair of Auston Matthews and William Nylander; points should eventually come by association.

Andreas Athanasiou, C/+LW, DET
Ownership: 1 percent (Rank: 331)
Has two goals, one assist in past three games, earning opportunity on line with Tomas Tatar and Henrik Zetterberg Thursday with Thomas Vanek injured.
Kevin Fiala, LW/+RW, NSH
Ownership: 1 percent (Rank: 429)
Seeing time alongside Filip Forsberg and Ryan Johansen in top six role as rookie; scored two goals Oct. 22 against Penguins.
Pavel Buchnevich, LW/+RW, NYR
Ownership: 3 percent (Rank: 509)
Played alongside fantasy steals Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider before sustaining back injury; expected to return Friday.