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)

Nathan Beaulieu, D, Montreal (Available in 82 percent of Yahoo leagues) – Finding worthwhile blueliners on the waiver wire can be a tall task. It can be slim pickings for weeks at a time, until an injury to a fantasy-relevant d-man results in an opportunity for his teammate to ascend to prominence. Such is the case for Beaulieu, who finds himself receiving advantageous ice time due to a lingering groin injury suffered by fellow Canadiens defenseman Andrei Markov in mid-December. Since Markov was lost from the lineup, Beaulieu has put up a very respectable 10 points in 18 games played. Furthermore, while he’s averaging just a little more than 20 minutes of ice time per game on the season, the 24-year-old has seen more than 23 minutes of ice time 18 times in those 18 games since Markov went down. Sure, at some point Beaulieu’s talented veteran teammate will return to the ice. In the meantime, take advantage of how the young Hab d-man is being deployed. His ice time is up. His power-play time is up. He’s registering points. Give him a look.

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

Jaden Schwartz, C/LW, St. Louis (Available in 42 percent of Yahoo leagues) – How is this guy available in more than 40 percent of all Yahoo leagues? Schwartz is well on his way to a 60-point season, something the 24-year-old has already done once (and almost twice) in his career. There isn’t much to dislike about what this Blues forward has done on the ice this year, or how he’s being used by coach Ken Hitchcock. Schwartz is seeing more ice time per game than at any other time in his career. He’s (currently) healthy. Vladimir Tarasenko is his linemate. Simply stated, this is an underappreciated forward who should be scooped up off the waiver wire where available. Owners in shallow formats should also target him via trade, as Schwartz could post a career-best campaign with a strong second half. Buy now and reap the rewards.

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

Daniel Sedin, LW, Vancouver (Owned in 78 percent of Yahoo leagues) – Like his brother, Henrik, Daniel Sedin isn’t the high-end fantasy forward he has been in years past. He’s still a good player, but not a great, must-start sort of option anymore. And while he’s been putting up points as of late, he’s no sure thing to reach the 60-point mark in 2016-17. The Canucks offense is lackluster, as evidenced by the fact that only four NHL teams have registered fewer goals on the year. As a result, Daniel is not providing the level of production fantasy owners have seen from him for more than a decade. It’s not bad luck (as his PDO is currently sitting at 1000), it’s the talent and environment that surrounds him. Given Vancouver’s underwhelming schedule coming up, it makes sense to bench Daniel (and Henrik, for that matter) in the short term.

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

Aaron Ekblad, D, Florida (Owned in 84 percent of Yahoo leagues) – After being selected by the Panthers with No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Ekblad quickly and decisively established himself as one of the elite young defensemen in the league. He scored 39 points in 81 games in his age-18 season, and he won the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie for his efforts. Since his banner rookie campaign, however, Ekblad’s fantasy-relevant numbers have steadily decreased with time. This season, he’s probably hurt fantasy owners more than helped them. Yes, he’s totaled seven goals. But he’s registered a mere eight assists — in 49 games played. To make matters worse, Ekblad’s plus/minus currently stands at a horrific minus-18. It should be noted, though, that he’s been incredibly unlucky this year. His PDO is at 95.7, and Florida goaltenders are posting an even-strength save percentage of just .907 while Ekblad’s on the ice. Positive regression could be coming, but how much of a difference will it make. Poolies are still waiting for Ekblad’s first 40-point season, as he’s never really been able to build off his impressive inaugural season. His reputation as a youthful, up-and-coming blueliner far exceeds the production he’s provided thus far, so don’t hesitate to jettison him in shallow formats in favor of someone performing better.

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

Montreal – Three of this squad’s first four post-All-Star Break contests will be at home. Could the matchups be easier? Sure. But it’s difficult for anyone to argue with home cookin’.

St. Louis – The Blues will host opponents for their first three games once the All-Star Break concludes (versus Winnipeg, versus Toronto and versus defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh). Yes, they have a five-game road trip following the three-game homestand, but fantasy owners and Blues fans can worry about that a little later.

Los Angeles – The Kings will play a whopping six times in the first nine days of February. There’s not much else to say…

Buffalo – Eight of the Sabres’ first 11 games in February will take place at home. Their road games? At New Jersey, at Toronto and at Ottawa. The advantageous should bode well for a young Buffalo squad looking to build some momentum in the season’s second half.

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

Vancouver – This squad’s All-Star Break is a little on the long side. They go from Thursday, Jan. 26 to Thursday, Feb 3 — a full week — without a game. At least then they have two home games to follow… against San Jose and Minnesota. Oh, nevermind.

Florida – Remember the Kings with their six games in the first nine days of February? Well, the Panthers play just twice in the first nine days of February. Take a moment to let those two sentences sink in.

Boston – It’s almost as if the Bruins have two All-Star Breaks on their calendar for 2017. They have four days off after their Thursday, Jan. 26 home matchup against Pittsburgh. Also, after their Saturday, Feb. 4 home matchup against Toronto, they have another four days off. Keep all of this in mind when making lineup decisions involving Boston players.

Arizona – The first few days of February will not be kind to the Coyotes. They host the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday, Feb. 2 before traveling to San Jose to take on an always-tough Sharks squad on Saturday, Feb. 4. Then they have four days off. Also, they are bad. Very, very bad.