The NHL has been playing for more than a week already and whether you’re part of a league that’s a little slow getting started or you’re looking for some undervalued talent to grab from the free agent pool, quality sleeper picks are the most certain way to move your fantasy hockey team up the rankings and make it look like you know something the opposing GMs don’t. None of these guys should be first-round draftees, but they may carry a lot more value than they cost in the late rounds.

Mikael Granlund, C, Minnesota Wild

Granlund is the number two center for the Wild behind captain Mikko Koivu, which means he shares the second line with Zach Parise and Jason Pominville. He’s only 22 years old, but analysts are already starting to chatter about his talent exceeding Koivu’s. He finished last season with 30 points in 40 games and anyone who watched him score the overtime winner versus the Avalanche in the playoffs knows he’s dangerous. And yet, because of his youth and mediocre production in the early going, he’ll be overlooked by many fantasy owners.

Derick Brassard, C, New York Rangers

After quarterbacking the Rangers’ third line last season, Brassard is currently listed at second on the depth chart. Watch for him to improve on his 45-point effort from 2013-14. This is one for the late rounds, pick him up in the 15th or 16th if he’s available.

Patric Hornqvist, RW, Pittsburgh Penguins

Hornqvist managed 22 goals and 31 assists while playing for the Nashville Predators in 2013-14. Now that he’s with the Penguins, where hockey talent is more common, he is a strong bet to improve on those numbers. Depending on how Pittsburgh decides to use him on power plays, Hornqvist is worth a look as early as the ninth round of your fantasy draft.

Radim Vrbata, RW, Vancouver Canucks

No one will be surprised to see Vrbata put up solid numbers with Vancouver this season, but sleepers are about value and he’s likely to be undervalued in a lot of fantasy hockey drafts. He’s a veteran who puts up consistent points, definitely worth a look as a second or third winger while sharing the top line with Henrik and Daniel Sedin. Get him in the seventh round.

Craig Smith, LW, Nashville Predators

The arrival of new head coach Peter Laviolette and his offense-heavy focus should pay dividends for Smith, who was one of a few bright spots on the Predators roster during their less-than-stellar 2013-14 campaign. He scored 52 points including 24 goals, seven of which came on power plays. Also worth noting, it’s a contract year for the the Nashville winger, which often translates to a little extra effort on the ice.

Jonathan Huberdeau, LW, Florida Panthers

Maybe a stretch to call Huberdeau a sleeper since he did win the Calder Trophy two seasons ago and he’s the Panthers’ top line left-winger, but the 21-year-old had a sluggish second season that has a lot of fantasy owners discounting his value. The sophomore slump, though, is a well-known situation across professional sports, and with Alexander Barkov centering his line, Huberdeau is likely to look more like the Calder Trophy winner again this season.

Jacob Trouba, D, Winnepeg Jets

Trouba has it all when it comes to sleeper picks. He is young, at only 20 years old, he started slowly last season, notching only two points through 11 games and then suffering an injury that kept him off the ice for the next 17 and he finished strong, accounting for 27 points in the final 59 games. He’s a solid pick in the ninth or tenth round. In a league that scores blocked shots and hits you might consider him even earlier.

Eric Gelinas, D, New Jersey Devils

Another second year player with a lot of upside, Gelinas played in only 60 games in 2013-14, but he still managed 29 points. The Devils had the best penalty-kill and shots allowed stats in the NHL last season and Gelinas’s skills may be much improved after a bit of practice in the American Hockey League. This is a guy that will likely be available very late in the draft, so wait and pick up him at the end if he’s still there.

Ben Scrivens, G, Edmonton Oilers

Scrivens began last season behind Jonathan Quick with the eventual champion L.A. Kings, but he was traded to Edmonton, where his numbers suffered. What many fantasy hockey owners will overlook is the effort Edmonton has put into improving its defence, adding Nikita Nikitin and Mark Fayne. With Viktor Fasth hurt early on here in 2014-15, Scrivens may have a chance to lock up the starting spot in net for the Oilers.

Darcy Kuemper, G, Minnesota Wild

Kuemper has been named the starter in net for the Wild to begin the season. With Josh Harding hurt, Kuemper will have to compete with Niklas Backstrom, but if he continues to perform well he’s a strong fantasy choice playing for a solid defensive team in the West. In 26 games in 2013-14, Kuemper allowed 2.43 goals per game and had a save percentage of .915. He produced similar numbers in the playoffs.