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. Stats in this article updated through December 15th^th    

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

Michael Raffl, LW, Philadelphia (Available in 98 percent of Yahoo! Leagues) – Since moving to the left wing alongside Valterri Filppula and Jakub Voracek, Raffl has produced at a point-per-game pace in his six games (since December 1^st). In that time, he’s put up 3G-3A-6pts and is a plus-7, with 10SOG. His value is predicated on keeping his spot on this line, but he can safely be used as a warm body for a couple weeks that can produce in the short-term.

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

Pierre-Luc Dubois, C, Columbus (Available in 83 percent of Yahoo! Leagues) – Here’s a surprise: the rookie Jackets centre is only 17% owned in Yahoo! leagues, despite putting up 3G-6A-10Pts in his last ten games, playing prime first-line minutes beside Artemi Panarin and Josh Anderson. On a team that constantly gets lines mixed and matched at John Tortorella’s discretion, Dubois has stuck with those wingers, and has been the key cog on one of the most dominant lines in terms of shots and chances for. He picks up the odd block (just under 0.5/game) and just under two hits/game, and has seen over 19 minutes four times in his last ten games.

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

Matt Duchene, C, Ottawa (Owned in 43 percent of Yahoo! Leagues) – Duchene has collected 16 points in 16 games since getting traded to Nashville – actually no, sorry, that’s Kyle Turris. Duchene has put up only 2G-3A in the 16 games since moving to Ottawa, although he is seeing three minutes more per game than when he was in Colorado. Duchene is shooting only 5.3% which is a far cry from the double digit shooting he had for every season since entering the league, so that should regress eventually, but he can either get dropped in shallow leagues or pushed to the bench until the New Year.

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

T.J. Brodie, D, Calgary (Owned in 51 percent of Yahoo! Leagues) – Steve Laidlaw touched on Brodie’s value in last night’s Ramblings, noting that Brodie is on pace for 41 points and 120SOG. Brodie’s ice time is still fantastic (averaging 24:29 per game) so he’ll have value in leagues that collect peripheral stats – although he’s not much of a hitter with only seven in 31 games. In leagues that count plus-minus, Brodie is dragging fantasy owners down with a -6, and paired with Travis Hamonic that shouldn’t improve any time soon.

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

With the holidays coming up, the number of games gets pretty light for every team during this stretch.

Boston – Boston gets six games between the 15^th and 27^th, with all but one coming at home. Their one away game sees them travelling all the way to Buffalo which isn’t much of a stretch, and they finish off with games against Winnipeg, Detroit and Ottawa. With their forward core healthy, it’s a good time to roll out your Bruins.

Columbus – The Blue Jackets have been hot and cold recently, but get six games in this stretch, including home vs. Toronto and a couple games against Pittsburgh. The real highlight of this trip will be a game against Philadelphia, who meet Columbus on the back half of a road back-to-back.

Carolina – Carolina are currently taking the third-most shots per game in the league, and only one of the Canes’ next six games comes against a ‘tough’ defensive opponent (Nashville). The other five games include a game at Buffalo, a home game against Buffalo, and a game against a Toronto team that gives up way too many shots against (third-worst).

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

Calgary – The Flames only have four games between the 15^th and 27^th, and although three of the four come at home where Johnny Hockey tends to put up more points, they also have to see Nashville, St. Louis, and the rejuvenated Carey Price-led Canadiens.

Toronto – Missing Auston Matthews has (obviously) hurt the Leafs, with Toronto scoring only three goals in three games without him. While Matthews may return for the back half of this period, Toronto kicks off with a road back-to-back (in Detroit) before taking three days off. Upon return, they get Carolina, Columbus on a home/road back-to-back, and a game on the 23^rd in New York against the Rangers.

Vegas – Leading up to Christmas, Vegas has three games at home against some tough teams in Florida, Tampa Bay, and Washington. Although the games get the ‘Vegas home advantage’, the Golden Knights only play four times in this stretch, and go to Anaheim after the Christmas break. There are more enticing teams out there, even with the second line (Perron-Haula-Neal) finally taking the baton from the Marchessault line.