Looking Ahead: Readying for a Return of NHL Games

Welcome back in, everyone! I hope that everyone out there enjoyed the break. I typically don't like to date myself as to when I'm writing, but as of right now I am typing these words out to you all a good 11 hours before puck drop of USA/CAN. I'm excited. You're excited. I must hype this up somehow as my office is dull right now with hushed good mornings as people shuffle in from zero-degree Chicago. I can talk to you all through a screen to get ready as I can't see much Four Nations chatter taking place across the cubicle farm. Granted, not much enthusiasm when it comes to sports in this town. Take it from me, I was at the game this fall where the White Sox could have lost 121 games for an MLB record.

I'm curious what play is going to look like as we come out of this break. Maybe it will be game-dependent, but I watch the reels of different NHL practices where the social media person has a quick question for each player before they get on the ice. "What did you do over the break?" Cabo. Cabo. Golf. Cabo…meanwhile, the players that are currently still involved with Four Nations are playing high leverage hockey tonight. It's a stark difference. I do think, though, that play ramps up with the players coming off Four Nations ready to roll as I think 100% international play boosts you to a higher level, and with the playoff push right around the corner. As for fantasy, this upcoming weekend might get a little wonky with players sitting out time that played in the USA/CAN game, so it is going to be vital to keep tabs on who is starting or sitting these next few days.

The Immediate Fix (Grab this guy and use him for the next several days)

Brayden Schenn, C, St. Louis Blues (Rostered in 53% of ESPN leagues, 49% Fantrax, 25% Yahoo) – I have been in fantasy hockey for what feels like 30, maybe even 40, years now and I think I have rostered Brayden Schenn at one point or another in each and every one of them. Okay, so that number is more like nine years, but the point still remains the same.  

So why Schenn you ask? Well, this is an article based on the schedule, so of course the reason is rooted in games played. There are only two clubs that will play on both days this weekend and also four times next week. Those clubs are Pittsburgh and St. Louis. I can't say there's much on the Pittsburgh side that interests me at the moment, but the Blues have a couple interesting pieces with Schenn being one of them.  Since January 1, Schenn has collected five goals, 12 points, with 54 hits, and 24 shots on goal. This is also not forgetting that there was a time where himself and Dylan Holloway were putting up Connor McDavid – Leon Draisaitl numbers. I played the wrong person on the wrong week, in that matchup…regardless, I think that Schenn makes a good immediate fix but if you just want him for the next little while, I'm for it. I typically don't like to overload my roster with centers, so a rental for a bit fits perfectly fine.The Building Block (Buy now, sit back and enjoy the production)

Ryan Donato, C/RW, Chicago Blackhawks (Rostered in 18% of ESPN leagues, 45% Fantrax, 26% Yahoo) – We're moving into the part of the regular season where good players on bad teams get traded to play with good players on good teams. I sat on Mikael Granlund this season for this exact reason, and now Ryan Donato may be joining him in that category.

I really like Donato as a player, and the 15 other Hawks fans that still watch this team night-to-night would probably agree with me. He provides plenty of hits, blocked shots, and most importantly on this team right now, he works extremely well with Connor Bedard. Numbers and eye test back it up, yet he has at times remained off his line because we're still auditioning Bedard to play center. Donato has eight points in his last four games on the Bedard line, and as long as he remains there, he has real value for fantasy. Good news is that value only goes up if he is dealt to a contending team and put into a top six role right away. The Hawks would be sort of foolish to move him, but we all said the same thing about Brandon Hagel until a first-round pick came calling. Congratulations, I'll go with Florida or Edmonton. You guys are going to love him.

The Odd Man Out (His short-term value is cause for concern)

Jake Middleton, D, Minnesota Wild (Rostered in 75% of ESPN leagues, 53% Fantrax, 32% Yahoo) – I promise I'm going somewhere with this. Anyone out there been at say an infant birthday party, housewarming, baby shower, some event like this, where there's a cluster of people gathered around and then off to the side it's like you and three cousins chatting sports? I see you out there if this has been you. Over the break this was me chatting Super Bowl props and of course fantasy hockey when one of my family friends at this gathering brought up their roster and I noticed Jake Middleton. While he's solid for fantasy, I thought to myself that he's in a funny category of fantasy defensemen that we have in the league right now. They're good enough to roster, they play big minutes and throw their weight around…yet there's no power-play time and there can be long droughts between points.     

Middleton fits this mold perfectly. Would anyone out there oppose to having him on a roster as a third or fourth D? Probably not. I currently roster Colton Parayko, same story. Others I thought of off the top would be like Luke Schenn, the block bot himself Mario Ferraro, Martin Fehervary, and almost every Seattle Kraken defenseman not named Vince Dunn or Brandon Montour. You wouldn't mind having them on roster, but they're on odd man out when it comes to picking and choosing who gets the start on a big slate. I do like Middleton as a player and think he has fantasy value, yet when it comes to decision time between him and another defenseman, Middleton may be the one to sit.

The Anchors (They’ll do nothing but disappoint even over the long haul)

Blake Coleman, RW, Calgary Flames (Rostered in 59% of ESPN leagues, 43%, Fantrax, 37% Yahoo) – I had the hardest time finding an Anchor for this week until landing on Blake Coleman as an Anchor for the week. This isn't as impactful I'm sure as some of the players I've called out as fantasy anchors but hey, we need someone to fill the spot for this week.

I actually really do like Blake Coleman as a player and have rostered him at times over the past few seasons. I currently have him on roster right now but that's all going to change come next Sunday, and why then you ask? Calgary plays four times next week, and I like having a full roster. I've gone through enough weeks where the schedule has not been my friend.

Coleman is on a little bit of a point drought in his past five games, but I've watched a ton of Flames over that time (yay, DFS) and those games came against very good Toronto and Colorado teams, plus a Seattle squad twice that for whatever reason plays this Flames club close every time they face off. I'm not in love with the recent shakeups to this Flames top three lines, and with that I can see where Coleman is going to have trouble producing. If you're in a deep league and want to keep him, go right ahead as I think he's fine, but if you're on the bubble to add another player to the mix then Coleman either may be on the chopping block or someone you pass on waivers.

Love ‘Em (These squads are sure to pay dividends in the coming days)This period runs through February 21– March 3

Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh comes out strong with two games against Philadelphia upcoming with two more games throughout the week bringing them to four games. We love teams that play and play often here. Pitt is a Love 'Em for now.

Detroit – If there's a team that benefited from the break, it may have been Detroit up near the top. Two games against the Blue Jackets next week will help this team in the standings if they can push regulations wins.Winnipeg – They have a nice little settle-in game against San Jose to start the week, that alone gets them the stamp of approval upcoming.

Leave ‘Em (These squads will leave fantasy owners sorely disappointed in the short term)

Seattle – The Kraken only play two games next week with each game falling on a busy Tuesday and busy Saturday. They're likely to get buried on each of these dates, making them a leave 'em.Toronto – Toronto is a good club but at Boston, NY Rangers, and Pitt is a tough stretch for anyone. They're a stay away for the time being.  Colorado – Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas on the same line is something I've been looking forward to watching more of coming out of the break, but it will be small samples next week with Colorado only on the schedule twice.

*For continued fantasy news and notes, follow me on Twitter@ndySanz.