5 players who gained fantasy value in free agency

As NHL general managers re-tool their teams through free agency, fantasy owners stand by and watch values rise and fall as players' addresses change and depth charts are shuffled.

These five skaters have all landed in positive situations and should be selected a little earlier in 2017-18 fantasy drafts. Owners in keeper leagues could target each of these players via a buy-low trade before their improved statistics inflate their asking prices.

Martin Hanzal, Stars

Hanzal finished the 2016-17 season ranked No. 225 by ESPN's Player Rater. He scored 20 goals in 71 games split between the Arizona Coyotes and Minnesota Wild - his first career 20-goal season - but picked up just 19 assists. Though his point-per-game pace increased after being traded to the Wild, his shooting percentage regressed to his career average.

Hanzal will likely take over as the Dallas Stars' second-line center, allowing the team to use fellow centers Tyler Seguin and Jason Spezza on the top line with Jamie Benn full time.

That would pair Hanzal with fellow free-agent addition Alexander Radulov, and he should have an opportunity to set new career highs with the pass-happy Russian. Hanzal tied a career high with 169 shots on goal last season, has averaged more than two SOG per game over his career, and has scored at a rate of 9.3 percent.

Radim Vrbata, Panthers

Hanzal's most common linemate last season also has an improved outlook now he's been freed from Arizona.

Vrbata may be in tough to replace Jaromir Jagr, but he'll likely take over as the third piece of the Panthers' top line with Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau.

Florida also lost forward Jonathan Marchessault to the Vegas Golden Knights in the expansion draft. With him and Jagr gone, Vrbata needs to help account for their totals of 274 shots on goal, 46 goals, and 97 points.

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

Scott Hartnell, Predators

Hartnell's also charged with helping address a void created by the expansion draft, as he'll fill the hole left by James Neal on one of the Nashville Predators' top two lines. Neal registered 202 SOG, 23 goals, and 41 points while averaging 17:42 of ice time last season.

The Columbus Blue Jackets bought Hartnell out after he scored 13 goals and totaled 37 points last season - his lowest point total in a season where he played at least 75 games since 2002-03, snapping a streak of three straight 20-goal campaigns. He'll likely see a dramatic jump from his 12:04 of ice time last year, and will probably have the opportunity to replace Neal on the Predators' top power-play unit after totaling just three points with the man advantage during his final year in Columbus.

Mike Cammalleri, Kings

Cammalleri's 10 goals and 31 points in 2016-17 were his fewest since his sophomore season in the NHL, a year in which he played just 31 games.

The Los Angeles Kings hope a reunion will help the 35-year-old Cammalleri turn back the clock. He still averaged well over two SOG per game last year, but his 7.0 shooting percentage - a career low - represented nearly half of his 2015-16 mark, and a far cry from his 12.3 percent average of 12.3.

Cammalleri could get a shot at filling one of the spots beside center Anze Kopitar, where his career 49.6 Corsi For percentage could be covered up by the routine Selke Trophy candidate. Kopitar's most common linemates last season, Dustin Brown and Marian Gaborik, totaled just 24 goals and 57 points.

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

Trevor Daley, Red Wings

There's no doubt Daley's joining an inferior team with his move from the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Detroit Red Wings, but fantasy owners only need to care about his personal opportunity.

Daley played just 2.3 percent of the Penguins' power-play minutes last season, operating behind defenders Justin Schultz and Kris Letang. He totaled just four points with the man advantage.

Defensemen Niklas Kronwall and Mike Green played the bulk of the Red Wings' power-play minutes last season. Kronwall was especially ineffective, recording just six assists and no goals.

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