Daily Fantasy Hockey 2015: NHL DraftKings Ideal Lineup Picks for March 2

Today is Monday, March 2, a day that many NHL fans have circled on their calendars because of the 3 p.m. ET trade deadline. A number of players have been traded already, and more deals will certainly be completed by Monday afternoon.

In addition to Monday being deadline day, it is another great day to field a lineup for daily fantasy hockey with DraftKings. There are six teams in action and a number of players you should definitely pick up as long as they fit your $50,000 salary cap.

Without further delay, here are your ideal lineup picks for Monday's action. 

POS	PLAYER	OPP	FPPG	SALARY
C	Joe Thornton	Mon@SJ	2.9	$4,000
C	Derek Stepan	Nsh@NYR	3.4	$5,100
W	Marian Hossa	Car@Chi	3.4	$5,900
W	Brendan Gallagher	Mon@SJ	3.2	$8,000
W	Kevin Hayes	Nsh@NYR	2.1	$3,600
D	Duncan Keith	Car@Chi	3	$5,200
D	Andrei Markov	Mon@SJ	3.3	$5,800
G	Corey Crawford	Car@Chi	4.7	$8,800
UTIL	Antoine Vermette	Car@Chi	2.3	$3,500

Center: Joe Thornton ($4,000) and Derek Stepan ($5,100)

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Joe Thornton is an amazing center who keeps on producing year after year, and he's tallied 52 points in 59 games this season. The San Jose Sharks' top pivot has eight points in his last 10 games, and for $4,000, you can ensure you will get a solid return on your investment.

Derek Stepan, like Joe Thornton, is a value center who will provide a nice return on your investment. The New York Rangers pivot is having a career year, and he has nine points in his last 10 games. During that span, he's averaged 3.6 fantasy points per game, and that is higher than his season average of 3.4.

Wingers: Marian Hossa ($5,900) and Brendan Gallagher ($8,000)

Marian Hossa is an enigma who keeps proving his worth to the Chicago Blackhawks. Despite the fact that he is aging, Hossa has 10 points in his last 10 games and 46 points this season. He's averaged 4.2 fantasy points per game over the last 10 games, and that's a great number for a 36-year-old winger.

Brendan Gallagher has been red-hot over the last 10 games, and he's averaged 4.4 fantasy points per game while recording five goals and five assists. The Montreal Canadiens right wing continues to improve, and with 38 points thus far, he's on pace to surpass his career high of 41 points set last season.

Defensemen: Duncan Keith ($5,200) and Andrei Markov ($5,800)

Jonathan Kozub/Getty Images

Duncan Keith is a talented defender for the Chicago Blackhawks whose workload will become a bit more balanced after the addition of Kimmo Timonen. Keith has averaged 3.1 fantasy points per game over his last 10 games, and he's totaled six points during that span.

Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Andrei Markov is one of the NHL's hottest defensemen over the last 10 games, and he's worth picking up for $5,800.

Markov has nine points in his last 10 games and a 4.2 fantasy points-per-game average during that span. He continues to impress for the Canadiens, and with 39 points, he is on pace to surpass the 43 points he tallied last season.

Goalie: Corey Crawford ($8,800)

Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images

Corey Crawford has played pretty well for the Blackhawks as of late with a 5-3-2 record in his last 10 starts. During that span, he's posted a 2.37 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage.

The Carolina Hurricanes haven't been a great team this season, and Crawford should have no problem earning a win on Monday night.

DraftKings stats and details per official site.