Everyone is itching to find out which players are going to breakout in the coming NHL season. They're the ones that decide fantasy hockey seasons, after all.

Which fourth-year skater is going to go from really good to stud status? Which top prospect is ready to pop off? There’s a ton of value in finding those pieces in your league's draft, but championships are seldom won in Round 1 of the fantasy drafts. They’re won in the trenches, in the mid-to-late rounds where you're moving away from household names and into the nitty gritty of the talent pool. If you can masterfully navigate that landscape, the payoff is immense.

And so, today we’re going to investigate a handful of players who are receiving little to no attention but have the potential to surprise and outkick their projections. Just make sure you’re friends don’t read this piece too*

*Editor's note: please encourage your friends, family, coworkers, etc. to read this piece