Much of the attention in NHL fantasy drafts is directed at the opening rounds, and rightfully so - you can't win your league without some serious star power. But, as is the case in real life, depth pieces can prove key in winning championships. Here are five players to target late in your draft that could help your team become a powerhouse.

Andrei Svechnikov, LW/RW, Hurricanes

After being drafted second overall by the Hurricanes in 2018, Svechnikov quietly went about his business in his rookie campaign, potting 20 goals and 17 assists in 82 games. That stat line isn't eye-popping, but when you consider he's only the seventh 18-year-old to hit the 20-goal mark in a single season during the salary-cap era, you can infer that a serious breakout might be coming.

Svechnikov should be in line for a larger role in Carolina's offense this season, and if the Russian suits up alongside Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen, his numbers could skyrocket. Factor in some extra power-play time - all 20 of Svechnikov's goals last season came at even strength - and you have a high-quality sleeper candidate.

Elsewhere, Svechnikov posted 189 shots on goal last season despite averaging less than 15 minutes per night, and he added 123 hits to further boost his value.

Josh Morrissey, D, Jets

Your championship roster also needs good finds on the blue line in order to succeed, and Morrissey is a solid option.

Morrissey's point totals have increased in each of his three seasons in the NHL, and he posted a career-high 31 in only 59 games in 2018-19. If the Jets defenseman is healthy, that number should rise again this year, since he should receive top-pairing minutes at even strength and projects to take over power-play time from the departed Jacob Trouba.

If you're in a banger league, Morrissey's peripheral stats offer solid value as well. The 24-year-old should easily crack 100-plus hits and blocks.

Nikita Gusev, LW, Devils

The hockey world is eager to see what Gusev can bring to the NHL, but the mass uncertainty may push him far down some draft boards, providing a perfect opportunity to strike on a player ripe with upside.

Gusev, 27, has been playing against professionals in the KHL for years now, and his stats in his native Russia are impressive. Last season with SKA St. Petersburg, he posted 82 points (17 goals, 65 assists) in 62 games. He's lit it up internationally as well, registering 16 points in 10 games at the World Championship in May and a tournament-leading 12 points in six games at the 2018 Olympics.

His tantalizing skill set could be deployed on a New Jersey power-play unit that also features Taylor Hall, Jack Hughes, and P.K. Subban. If other members of your league are skeptical of this guy in later rounds, pounce.

Anthony Mantha, LW/RW, Red Wings

Mantha is coming off a career-high 25-goal season with Detroit despite being limited to 67 games, showing the high-end promise the Red Wings hoped for when they drafted him 20th overall in 2013.

The soon-to-be 25-year-old primarily spent his time flanking Dylan Larkin in 2018-19, and they put up solid results - a trend that should continue for another year as the Wings' two core pieces keep developing as pros.

Mantha shot the puck more than ever last season, too, but still maintained his career-average shooting percentage of 12.6%, indicating he's a candidate to produce consistently rather than a flash in the pan. He also netted seven goals in nine contests for Canada at the World Championship if you needed any more convincing that this is a player quietly trending toward becoming a premier NHL goal-scorer.

Kevin Labanc, LW/RW, Sharks

Labanc broke out for the Sharks with 56 points last season, and the 23-year-old is in an excellent position to improve his production again in 2019-20.

San Jose lost captain Joe Pavelski in free agency, which opens a hole for Labanc in the Sharks' top six and power play. He ranked eighth on the team in ice time among forwards last season and still tied Evander Kane for sixth among all San Jose players in points.

Labanc also has extra incentive to produce after he raised eyebrows by signing a one-year, $1-million contract to prove himself worthy of a larger payday down the road. The Sharks winger may be getting paid later, but for your fantasy team, he's money in the bank right now.

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The Carolina Hurricanes have signed defenseman Jake Gardiner to a four-year contract with an annual average value of $4.05 million, the team announced Friday.

More to come.

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Joe Thornton has signed a one-year deal to remain with the San Jose Sharks for the 2019-20 season, the team announced Friday.

Terms of the contract weren't officially disclosed, but Kevin Kurz of The Athletic reports it's worth $2 million.

"Words cannot equate the impact that Joe has had on this franchise since his arrival in San Jose in 2005," general manager Doug Wilson said in the team's announcement. "Joe is a generational player who seemingly blazes past an existing Hall of Famer with each game he plays. His leadership and dedication to the organization and his teammates is inspiring. He has the rare ability to make the players around him better and we're excited to see him healthy and back wearing the Sharks crest."

Thornton was an unrestricted free agent this summer. His one-year deal is the third in a row he's signed, with each coming cheaper than the last. His contract in 2017-18 was worth $8 million, and he earned $5 million last season.

At 40 years old, Thornton's future following San Jose's elimination in May's Western Conference Final was unclear, but he assured if he came back for a 22nd season, it would only be for the Sharks.

Thornton battled some injuries last season but still produced 51 points in 73 games before adding 10 more in 19 playoff contests.

With each point, Thornton continues to climb the all-time ranks. He currently sits 14th in league history with 1,478 career points and is well within range of hitting the illustrious 1,500-point plateau. He's also eighth all time in assists with 1,065, passing the likes of Mario Lemieux, Gordie Howe, and Steve Yzerman this past season.

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Toronto Maple Leafs superstar Auston Matthews doesn't want to see restricted free agent Mitch Marner's contract dispute go the same route that William Nylander's did last season.

"Willie, he didn't enjoy those three months not being with the team, not playing," Matthews told NHL.com for the Player Media Tour in Chicago. "Obviously jumping back in midseason, you haven't played a game in six or seven months, it's tough mentally and physically. I don't think anybody really wants this to drag out.

"Obviously, we'd love to see him (sign) as soon as possible. He's a big part of our team, so obviously when the season starts, you want to see him out there with everybody."

Nylander didn't sign his deal until minutes before the deadline on Dec.1. He struggled to find his game when he returned and said after the season that he regretted missing time.

Marner is a long way from reaching the point Nylander did, but Toronto's training camp opens next week and the club's leading scorer said he "probably" won't attend without a new contract.

Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas said earlier this week that the two sides have continued to discuss the contract and he's hopeful Marner will be signed when the team convenes in St. John's, Newfoundland on Sept. 13.

Toronto is currently projected to have a cap hit of more than $700,00 over the NHL's $81.5-million salary cap limit, but it can build an offseason roster as rich as $92.05 million before placing David Clarkson and Nathan Horton on long-term injured reserve to drop back within the limit, according to Cap Friendly. The Maple Leafs can also shed some additional money by optioning players to the minors.

Marner is coming off the best season of his three-year career, as he posted 94 points in 82 games in 2018-19.

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This past offseason saw plenty of players undergo a change of scenery. While a new team can often mean a fresh start, here are three faces in new places to stay away from this fantasy hockey campaign.

Corey Perry, RW, Stars

Perry won't be pulling on an Anaheim Ducks sweater for the first time in his 14-year career. The 34-year-old signed a one-year deal in Dallas following his buyout from the team where he won a Stanley Cup, a Rocket Richard, and an MVP.

The veteran winger has been handed a new opportunity with the Stars but he likely won't come close to being the player he was in the past. He'll probably be buried on Dallas' second or third line and could be limited to second-unit power-play duties due to the club's bevy of options.

Injuries have derailed Perry's production over the last few years, so the bar for him to have a decent bounce-back campaign is pretty low. However, he's worth nothing more than a waiver pickup this fantasy season.

Micheal Ferland, LW/RW, Canucks

Ferland inked a lucrative four-year contract with the Canucks this offseason after posting 40 points in 71 games in Carolina last season. He has all the tools to be an effective player in Vancouver's lineup on the ice but he has a lot of red flags fantasy-wise.

First and foremost, Ferland's health is a major issue. He spoke last season about his concerns for his well-being after suffering the second concussion of his career.

Second, the 27-year-old doesn't register a ton of shots and is unlikely to earn big power-play minutes on a Canucks team laden with young talent.

Ferland has spent plenty of time alongside superstars in both Carolina and Calgary. If he gets a look alongside Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser on Vancouver's top line, Ferland could have some value as a streaming option. Otherwise, there's too much risk involved.

Robin Lehner, G, Blackhawks

Lehner was a steal in fantasy leagues last year, as the 28-year-old posted a career-high .930 save percentage across 46 games with the Islanders en route to being an out-of-nowhere Vezina Trophy finalist.

For whatever reason, the Isles couldn't come to terms with Lehner on a new deal, and now he'll share a crease with longtime starter Corey Crawford after winding up in Chicago.

Crawford's missed a ton of time in recent seasons due to injuries, so Lehner may have an opportunity to emerge as the Blackhawks' No. 1. However, he still needs to prove last season wasn't a flash in the pan. He may be in tough to do so, as he goes from the defensive-minded Isles, who allowed the 11th-fewest shots per game last season (30.9), to a Blackhawks squad that gave up 34.8 per contest - the second-highest number in the league.

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Bo Horvat says he's cut out to be captain of the Vancouver Canucks - if they call his number.

"Yeah I think so," Horvat told NHL.com from the Player Media Tour in Chicago on Thursday. "First of all, it would be an unbelievable honor to wear the 'C' and to wear any letter, for that matter. But to even be in consideration is definitely humbling. But it wouldn't change who I am."

He added: "It wouldn't change the type of player I want to be. I wouldn't let it affect me that me. I'd just try to be the best leader I can be."

The Canucks didn't have a captain last season, electing against naming a new leader after the retirement of Henrik (and Daniel) Sedin. Horvat was an alternate captain along with Alexander Edler, Brandon Sutter, and Chris Tanev.

The 24-year-old Horvat was drafted ninth overall by the Canucks in 2013. He's coming off the best season of his career, which saw him notch 61 points in 82 games and average nearly 21 minutes of ice time per contest.

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The Boston Bruins and defenseman Torey Krug, who's set to become an unrestricted free agent next offseason, haven't begun talks on a potential contract extension, the blue-liner told Stephen Whyno of The Associated Press.

Krug became eligible to ink an extension on July 1, but the Bruins need to address the contracts of fellow defensemen Charlie McAvoy and Brandon Carlo. Both youngsters are currently restricted free agents and training camp is set to open next week.

The lack of extension negotiations doesn't mean Krug and the Bruins won't eventually find common ground. In July, general manager Don Sweeney said it would take a "unique opportunity" to trade away the defender, who's developed into a core piece for the team.

Additionally, following a loss in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, Krug said he wants to stay in Boston forever.

Krug will have a $5.25-million cap hit in 2019-20, the final season of a four-year deal signed in 2016. He should be in line for a considerable raise whenever he puts pen to paper, as he ranks fifth among all defensemen with 163 points in 221 games since inking the contract.

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It doesn't appear as though Andrei Svechnikov has any interest in dropping the mitts with Alex Ovechkin again.

The Carolina Hurricanes youngster, who's taken boxing lessons for the past few years, was asked who the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world is. Rather than choosing a professional fighter, he quickly went with Ovechkin, according to ABC 11's Mark Armstrong.

Svechnikov knows better than anyone not to trifle with the Washington Captials legend, as the two fought in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series in April. It didn't go well for the rookie.

Svechnikov is listed at 6-foot-2, 195 pounds, but was clearly overmatched against his fellow Russian, who comes in at 6-foot-3, 235 pounds.

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As the NHL awaits the NHLPA's decision on whether it'll opt to reopen the collective bargaining agreement, Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews is concerned about one of the biggest potential sticking points between the two sides: escrow.

Escrow takes a portion of the players' salaries and puts them in a pool. The league then determines how much of that pool has to be paid to the owners in order to reach a 50/50 revenue split. The setup was agreed upon during CBA discussions in 2013, and Toews isn't a fan.

"I'm no financial expert," Toews told John Dietz of the Daily Herald at the end of last season. "All I see is that I've signed a contract and to me, it's not exactly being honored. So I don't care what business you're in - to me, that's kind of ridiculous."

As Dietz notes, players used to receive their escrow back. Now, due to a rising salary cap that's led to heftier contracts, and revenues that have failed to keep up with those larger agreements, players lose in excess of 10% of their annual salaries due to escrow.

"They've done a good job of making the players look like the greedy ones in the past several lockouts, and I wouldn't be surprised if they try to do it again," Toews continued. "To me, it's pretty black and white."

The NHL officially declined its option to reopen negotiations Aug. 30, a decision "based on the current state of the game and the business of the game."

The NHLPA executive board meets Wednesday to discuss its side of the matter and has until Sept. 15 to make a final decision. If the players opt to reopen talks, the current CBA will be terminated in September 2020. If they decline their option, the CBA will run through the 2021-22 campaign.

"There's obvious incentive for the NHL owners to have (escrow)," Toews said. "They get money back, depending on their performance. So now that responsibility falls on the player."

Toews signed an eight-year, $84-million contract with the Blackhawks in 2014. His $10.5-million annual cap hit is the fourth-richest among all NHL centers.

The 31-year-old appeared in all 82 games for Chicago in 2018-19, registering a career-high 81 points in his 12th NHL season.

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Nashville Predators captain Roman Josi is making it clear he hopes to sign a contract extension and remain in the Music City.

"I never made it a secret that I'd like to stay in Nashville," Josi told Greg Hardwig of the Naples Daily News on Friday. "I think we're talking a little bit over the summer, and I'll let my agent deal with that and just focus on getting ready for the season."

Josi is entering the final season of a seven-year, $28-million contract signed in 2013-14, making the swift blue-liner eligible to ink an extension at any time.

After the Dallas Stars eliminated the Predators in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs this past spring, Nashville general manager David Poile said an extension for Josi is the Preds' No. 1 priority.

Roughly $20 million is coming off the club's books next summer, according to Cap Friendly. That leaves the team with plenty of room for Josi's new deal. The defenseman has been a major bargain while being paid $4 million per season since 2013-14.

The Preds drafted Josi 38th overall in 2008, and he's since developed into one of the league's top defenseman. In 2018-19, he recorded the fourth 50-plus-point season of his career while logging over 25 minutes per contest.

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