The NHL season is underway with last night's games being the first regular season games in 10 months! I sincerely hope that this is done properly and as safely as possible, but I also just can't wipe the smile off my face that we have live NHL games again. With the addition of the taxi squad, the absence of exhibition games, and the compressed schedule, final rosters have caught a few people by surprise, creating some opportunities to get in on a few cheap producers before they really get rolling with their NHL clubs.

If you're looking for other options to improve your fantasy team or cap situation, you can find all of the buy/sell articles in order here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

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Travis Dermott (D) – Toronto Maple Leafs

Current Cap Hit: $874,125

After the Leafs had courted KHL standout Mikko Lehtonen, there wasn't a spot in the top-six for Dermott. So he then signed this small 'prove-it' deal to keep his options open and hope to earn a better spot in the lineup along with a bigger contract next summer. There is a lot to like about Dermott's cerebral game at both ends of the ice, and having won a spot in the lineup, it is his to lose moving forward. Dermott may even be in line for further minutes on the defensive side of things if Justin Holl stumbles. The added minutes would do wonders to Dermott's stats, as won't exactly be a stat stuffer on the third pairing. Helping run a very strong second power-play unit will be where the largest portion of his fantasy value could lie – though currently that spot is held by TJ Brodie.

Yegor Sharangovich (RW) – New Jersey Devils

Current Cap Hit: $775,833

Sharangovich's name was on no one's radar outside of the Devils' organization, but he thoroughly impressed everyone with his showing in camp, and especially in the team scrimmages. The 22-year-old Belarussian didn't just make the team, he looks to have forced his way into the top nine, and if he continues on this trajectory, should be a reliable depth scorer for the Devils this season. That being said, on the last day of camp (and projected for opening day) he was slotted in on the top line, so it's possible he sees time even higher up in the lineup. Just be careful of the plus-minus.

Scott Wedgewood (G) – New Jersey Devils

Current Cap Hit: $700,000

Sticking with the Devils, if you are in desperate need of goalie starts (more so for volume than for ratio stats), no one has had more projected starts added to their season outlook than Wedgewood has over the last few days. In my projections, I have him penciled in for a little over a quarter of New Jersey's games. If 20 starts and high save numbers (plus the occasional win) are useful for your fantasy team, then get a move on because they won't come any cheaper. Waiver claim Eric Comrie will compete with Wedgewood for backup duties.

Vitek Vanecek (G) – Washington Capitals

Current Cap Hit: $863,333

When it was announced that Henrik Lundqvist would miss the NHL season and undergo heart surgery, that took a lot of attention off of the Washington goalie situation (and rightfully so). In the meantime, Vanecek has been impressive in camp, and outplayed Craig Anderson who was signed to a PTO (and looks to be on his way to the taxi squad). This 24-year-old goaltender is also finally on a one-way deal this year, and with Samsonov also not having ever played more than 41 games in a season, the backup for the Capitals is going to see a decent workload.

Max Jones (LW) – Anaheim Ducks

Current Cap Hit: $863,333

Looking for a little grit with your depth? Jones is one of two players on this list that has the potential to make a huge impact in bangers leagues with the shortened season. Most simply given the term 'pest' Jones can both get under an opponent's skin, as well as having some untapped skill, and a propensity to put the puck on net from everywhere. In leagues counting shots, hits, and PIMs, his value is much higher. The shortened season comes into play as well with Jones being one of the most likely Ducks players to cause some fireworks and rack up a few extra penalty minutes due to all the double headers. We'll get to the other guy in a minute.

Zach Whitecloud (D) – Vegas Golden Knights

Current Cap Hit: $725,000

In last summer's playoffs Whitecloud logged heavy minutes and really impressed as a sturdy force on the Vegas back-end. He's currently penciled in on the third pair, but would it surprise anyone if Brayden McNabb or Alec Martinez were a step slower than Whitecloud this year and the younger defenceman's ice time started to creep up as the season progressed? On one of the top teams in the weak West division, Whitecloud should provide an excellent plus-minus stat, in addition to some modest contributions across the board. With the additional information that Vegas is running with five defencemen on opening night, if that becomes a more common theme, Whiteclouds ice time – and consequently his peripherals – would skyrocket.

Tucker Poolman (D) – Winnipeg Jets

Current Cap Hit: $775,000

Despite the words above, does Whitecloud's place on the depth chart make you shy away? Would you rather own a top-pairing defenceman for basically the same price? Well, look no further than your most under-heralded top pairing defenceman in the 27-year-old Poolman. He was a pillar of Winnipeg's no-name defence last season, and has been lining up with Josh Morrissey on the top pair in camp. Poolman won't get the powerplay time, but if he ends up being tossed out for 22+ minutes a night, there could be some sneaky value in the peripheral stats.

Joel Kiviranta (LW) – Dallas Stars

Current Cap Hit: $925,000

The playoff overtime hero had his five days of fame in the summer with a few key goals, but has once again become a forgotten man in a sea of Dallas storylines. Currently the team's offseason storylines include losing in the cup finals, dealing with reported Covid cases, offseason surgeries to many key pieces of the team, Miro Heiskanen's emergence, and much more. Peel all that back, and you have Kiviranta sitting in a plum spot on the second line with Joe Pavelski and Alexander Radulov. He may have the highest upside of anyone on this list for the current season.

Noah Gregor (C) – San Jose Sharks

Current Cap Hit: $768,333

Moving back to the peripheral stat stuffers, Noah Gregor may be the most underappreciated guy out there. He only saw an average of ten minutes of ice time per game, but in his final seven games, he was up to 13 minutes per game and put up four points (two on the powerplay). Penciled in as the third line centre, he should see even more minutes this coming year. Those numbers aren't bad, but you're not going to own him for the scoring. If hits monster William Carrier had value in your leagues the last two years, then check in on Gregor as the next name to fill that role, except this time he also adds faceoffs.

Mattias Brome (LW) – Detroit Red Wings

Current Cap Hit: $925,000

Brome has come out of nowhere and jumped on to the fringes of NHL radars, playing his way past a few hollow contracts and into the lineup with the Red Wings. If your league is DEEP, then take a look at the only guy likely unowned and on a powerplay unit.

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All statistics are all pulled from FrozenTools, and all contract info from Capfriendly. Follow me on Twitter @alexdmaclean.

Stay safe!