Looking ahead at the schedule for the upcoming week.

All fantasy owners need help in the short term AND the long term. The Looking Ahead feature identifies one player to plug into lineups in the short term, a second to invest in for the long term, a third to bench for the coming week and a fourth who will struggle to meet expectations for some time. All players discussed are selected based on their team’s upcoming schedule. Without further ado…

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

Jakob Silfverberg, RW, Anaheim (Available in 47 percent of Yahoo leagues) – Ryan Kesler is having himself quite the season, and Silfverberg is reaping the benefits of playing on the same line as the accomplished veteran centerman. Silfverberg has registered an impressive 19 points in 27 games played, despite seeing less than two minutes of ice time on the man-advantage per contest and is well on his way toward a career campaign. The 26-year-old winger is well on his way toward a career year, which — to be fair — isn’t all that amazing when one considers he’s never scored more than 39 points in a season at any point in his time in the NHL. He’s on a bit of a hot streak right now with three points in his last four appearances, so he’s worth a look as long as he’s producing on the Kesler line. Just temper any expectations for long-term success, as Silfverberg’s never put it together on the ice for a full season.

The Building Block (Buy now, sit back and enjoy the production)

Morgan Rielly, D, Toronto (Available in 51 percent of Yahoo leagues) – Is Morgan Rielly ready to break out? It sure seems like it… The talent is there. The production is pretty decent. If he ever starts seeing more advantageous ice time, look out. However, though poolies are still looking for the 22-year-old blueliner to take a step forward, it’s difficult to take issue with the production he’s put forth this season.  Rielly’s managed to register a respectable 13 points in 24 games played on the year despite:

• Averaging nearly three minutes of ice time less than he did a year ago.
• Averaging approximately 30 seconds less of power play ice time than he did a year ago.
• Shooting .019 on the year, or well short of his career mark of .043.

If circumstances start working in his favor, Rielly becomes quite interesting in the vast majority of fantasy leagues. Poolies should keep an eye on how he’s being deployed, especially if he starts to put up more points due to some improved luck. He’s long been on the cusp of widespread prevalence. It’s not a matter of if Rielly gets there. It’s just a matter of when.

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

Evgeny Kuznetsov, C, Washington (Owned in 9 percent of Yahoo leagues) –  What a difference a year makes for the 24-year-old Russian centerman. A breakout star in 2015-16, Kuznetsov stumbled out of the gate this fall and has failed to live up to his lofty status as an early-round fantasy draft pick. More than anything else, his lack of production can be blamed on his inability to rack up assists like he did a year ago. He totaled 57 in 82 games played in 2014-15, and just nine in 25 contests this season — which is weird, you know, because he plays on the same line as Alex Ovechkin. Literally nothing about his underlying numbers suggest last season was fluky, nor does anything suggest he’s being used differently. He’s just not putting up points (yet). His owners would be wise to be patient with Kuznetsov, and those who do not own the talented young forward should be trying to acquire him by any means necessary. But Washington’s schedule coming up is a little bit rough, so it’s not unreasonable to think Kuznetsov won’t get on track until somewhere around the new year.

The Anchor (He’ll do nothing but disappoint, even over the long haul)

Matt Niskanen, D, Washington (Owned in 55 percent of Yahoo leagues) – Matt Niskanen is a very solid NHL blueliner. What he is not, however, is a very solid fantasy blueliner. He doesn’t really score goals, as evidenced by the fact that he has totaled zero on the year. At times this season he has been deployed on Washington’s top power play unit, and he has done little to suggest he belongs there by putting up just nine assists. While he is a great source of hits and blocks for multi-cat formats, they come at the cost of goals and assists. And yet, the 30-year-old veteran defenseman is owned in more than half of Yahoo leagues. Is he skating by on his reputation? Because he has just one 40-point season on his resume, and it came three years ago when he was a Pittsburgh Penguin. Is it his contact (a seven-year, $40.25 million deal he signed after his banner campaign with the Pens)? Whatever the reason or reason he is employed on so many fantasy rosters, Niskanen is just not cutting it, especially in shallow formats. Poolies should aim higher, as there are better, more productive and healthier options available. Say, for example, the aforementioned Morgan Rielly.

Love ‘Em (These squads are sure to pay dividends in the coming days)

Toronto – Fire up any and all relevant Leafs in the short term, as the squad will play a whopping six times between Saturday, Dec. 10 and Tuesday, Dec. 19. Also, five of them will be at home. Game on.

Anaheim – Like Toronto, the Ducks will be quite busy in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Between Friday, Dec. 9 and Thursday, Dec. 22, Anaheim will take to the ice eight times. So what if six of those games are on the road? That’s a ton of action for this talented, veteran-laden squad.

Pittsburgh – The Pens will experience just a single two-day break between games from Saturday, Dec. 10 through Friday, Dec. 23. Lean on Pittsburgh in the coming days, as this is one team that is almost guaranteed not to disappoint.

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

Boston – Boston will host Toronto on Saturday, Dec. 10. Then they play three games over the course of the ensuing seven days. The matchups are as follows:

• A road game against the Carey Price-led Montreal Canadiens.
• A road game against the defending Stanley Cup-champion Pittsburgh Penguins.
• A home game against the always-tough Anaheim Ducks.

There’s not much left to say here other than look elsewhere for help.

Buffalo – Unlike the Pens, the Sabres will experience two two-day breaks and one three-day break between games from Saturday, Dec. 10 through Monday, Dec. 20. But hey, Jack Eichel is back!

Washington – Starting Friday, Dec, 9, the Caps will play three of four on the road. Then they host Carey Price and the Montreal Canadiens. Then they have three straight days off. No bueno.