Your fantasy hockey preview for the coming 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 upcoming schedule.

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

Martin Frk, W, Detroit Red Wings (Available in 99 percent of Yahoo! Leagues) – If you’ve read any of my DFS advice, you’ll know that I have a crush on Martin Frk and have since he was drafted in the 2^nd round by Detroit a handful of years ago. After putting up 27 goals in back-to-back seasons for the Griffins – and leading the AHL in shots on goal in only 65 games played – Frk finds himself on a 2^nd line to start the year, with up-and-comers Dylan Larkin and Anthony Mantha beside him. Frk is also seeing time on the point of the 2^nd power play unit, and while Andreas Athanasiou continues to hold out Frk has tremendous value to start the year. He has a good shots on goal floor and should pick up a handful of points over the very cake schedule Detroit has to start the year.

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

Vladislav Namestnikov, W, Tampa Bay (Available in 93 percent of Yahoo! Leagues) – Namestnikov tends to slip through the cracks when going through the Tampa Bay roster, with names like Steven Stamkos, Tyler Johnson, Nikita Kucherov and even Brayden Point (owned in 17% more leagues) mentioned before his. Although last year saw him take a small step back in points scored (28 compared to 35 in 2016), Namestnikov started firing the puck more and was relegated to a role as third-line centre. This season, the young Russian starts the year on the top line for Tampa, manning the left wing beside Stamkos and Kucherov, and taking centre duties on the top power play unit. Although he didn’t light up the world in the pre-season, just by virtue of being on that top line, he should be much more highly owned than he currently is. In cap leagues, he’s a great value at an AAV of only $1,937,500.

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

Jeff Skinner, LW, Carolina (Owned in 93 percent of Yahoo! Leagues) – To be clear, Jeff Skinner is an elite fantasy hockey play in all facets of the game, but with a light upcoming schedule against some good teams and starting the season off beside Derek Ryan and rookie Janne Kuokkanen makes him the Odd Man Out. Skinner is a better player paired with Elias Lindholm or Victor Rask (an increase in SCF%, CF% and HDSCF%), and although he’ll rack up the power-play minutes as he always does, keep expectations low to open the year – he started off well last season, but that was on a line with Victor Rask and Lee Stempniak.

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

Petr Mrazek, G, Detroit (Owned in 27 percent of Yahoo! Leagues) – Petr Mrazek is the clear 1B to Jimmy Howard’s 1A, continuing last year’s trend – where Mrazek almost lost his job – and shouldn’t be owned at 15%, let alone 27%. Defensively, Detroit is not the team they used to be and are on a clear down-swing, and owning the ostensible backup in that situation should be avoided. Mrazek had a whopping -18.48 Goals Saved Above Average en route to allowing over 3 goals per game, and only 19 of his 50 games played qualified as Quality Starts (where save % is above league average). Beyond a patchwork Red Wings D (that did well in adding Trevor Daley), Mrazek will get less starts than last year and look about as poor this season as he did last.

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

Tampa Bay – The Lightning came out firing through the pre-season, led by Nikita Kucherov (8pts in 4GP, 17SOG) and Alex Killorn (6pts in 4GP, 7SOG). Tampa gets a home-and-home against the (expected-to-be) woeful Panthers to kick off the season, and plays seven games over the next eleven days. Some of those games come against tough competition, but they also face off against Detroit and New Jersey.

Detroit – After opening the season at home against Minnesota, the Red Wings go on a four-game road trip against some very soft competition and play a total of six times between the 6^th and 18th. That road trip includes match-ups against Vegas, Arizona and Dallas – an expansion team and two teams not exactly known for their defensive firepower.

Buffalo – The Sabres also get six games between the 6^th and the 18^th, also going on a quick road trip out West: after a matinee against the Devils, Buffalo swings through California against an old Sharks team, the banged-up Ducks, and ends the trip against Vegas which should be an easy two points.

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

Minnesota –.With only three games between in the next two weeks – the Wild get a 6-day break after playing Columbus on the 14^th – Minnesota will get to watch teams climb over them to open the season. The Wild brought back most of their core that got them to the playoffs last year, but with Zach Parise hurt to open the year and a worse bottom pair defense, they should see a decline in Goals Allowed from their 6^th place last year. They face tough competition in the Hurricanes (gaining lots of steam as a playoff team), Chicago and Columbus, three solid goaltenders and defense corps.

Carolina –.Although they’re gaining steam as a playoff team, the Hurricanes also have a light schedule to start the year – also just three games in the next two weeks. Those games come against Columbus at home, and then on the road against the Jets and Oilers; while the game against Winnipeg should let the ‘Canes open up the floodgates offensively, Cam Talbot looked great in his first game against Calgary and Sergei Bobrovsky is clearly no slouch.

Philadelphia –.The Flyers finish off their season-opening West Coast swing on Saturday night against a Ducks team that’s banged up, but then have two games against strong opponents in the Cup finalist Preds, and perennial favourites Washington. They do finish this stretch of games at home against Florida which should bode well for a team that looked great to open the season in San Jose, but the light schedule and west to east travel could have an effect.