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 February 16th

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

Patrick Maroon, LW, Edmonton Oilers (Available in 58 percent of Yahoo! Leagues) – There’s an opportunity here to pick up and dump waiver fodder in the same way the Oilers will use players ahead of the real-life trade deadline. Adding a non-performer like Patrick Maroon– or to take the example further, Ryan Strome – who will get an extended stay alongside McDavid to get showcased before the deadline gives fantasy owners either a trade chip, or the benefit of more time glued to Connor which means more points.

With 24 5v5 goals scored with Maroon/McDavid together (3.14GF/60), he should finish this next period around the 35-point mark if he sticks it out. He’s a fine short term add that also picks up peripherals, even if his season could be classified as a disappointment from a ‘real life’ perspective.

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

Ryan O’Reilly, C, Buffalo (Available in 42 percent of Yahoo! Leagues) – With O’Reilly being owned in 58% of leagues, he normally wouldn’t be listed as a building block, but with Jack Eichel out with a high ankle sprain, “ROR” should be closer to 90% owned. Since the calendar turned to February, O’Reilly hasn’t seen less than 21 minutes per game, and topped out at 26:48 against Colorado on the 11^th. He plays PK (good for peripherals like blocks), first-unit power play where he already has 11PPG-2PPA and is on pace for a career-best in shots on goal. In his last ten games, O’Reilly has picked up 5G-5A (6PPP, 2SHP), and 0 Timbits.

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

Brandon Saad, LW, Chicago Blackhawks (Owned in 61 percent of Yahoo! Leagues) – Saad finally got off the schneid against Anaheim, with his first goal in 16 games. Over those 16 games, Saad found himself on the first line with Jonathan Toews, the second line with Patrick Kane, and the fourth line with Ryan Hartman before finally getting a shot back up with Toews. Getting yo-yo’ed up and down the lineup is never a good sign, but Saad has been atrocious in this stretch with 1G-1A 19SOG in his last 10, and with a soft schedule upcoming and the possibility he keeps getting moved around, just ignore Saad for a few weeks. Don’t get tempted into selling him on the cheap as the deadline approaches, though!

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

T.J. Oshie, RW, Washington Capitals (Owned in 83 percent of Yahoo! Leagues) – Although he’s been hurt a few times this season and has only played in 50 games, Oshie’s shot rate is a major concern – he’s taking just 4.8SOG/60 at 5v5, and he’s barely scoring at even strength with 4G-14A coming at evens. That power play success is the only thing helping Oshie keep his head above water these days, and on a unit with Ovechkin, Oshie will never be the trigger man. Following a year where he shot 23% (a contract year, no less), Oshie is shooting 13.8% which is right around his average of 13.5%. Having never topped 200 shots on goal, don’t ever expect a 30-goal season from him for keeper owners, and for one-year leagues, now is the time to shop him.

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

Edmonton – The Western Conference is the “BESTern” Conference in terms of fantasy scheduling in February, and the Oilers are the first benefactors. They’ve got seven games – unfortunately, seven games in 12 days means some back-to-backs – but on volume and the fact that McDavid, Klefbom and Draisatl still play for this team means they still have fantasy relevance. The Oilers play Arizona, Colorado (x2), Boston, and the three California teams during this stretch.

Los Angeles – The Kings, fresh off their Dion Phaneuf acquisition, have a large slate looming, which is great for fantasy purposes: they play SEVEN times between the 16^th and 28^th. Their easier games will come at the start of this period, playing at Buffalo and Chicago (as well as at Winnipeg), so depending on how weeks breakdown, now would be the time to roll them out. The back half of their seven games come at home vs. Dallas and Edmonton, and then they end February with a home-and-home against Las Vegas (B2B).

Calgary – Another team with seven games during this period, fantasy owners will luck out depending on which Calgary players are owned. With the Flames’ tougher games coming at home (Boston, Florida, Colorado with MacKinnon back), the 3M line will be rolled out in a defensive role while Gaudreau-Monahan-Ferland can do their work. On the road against Vegas, Arizona, Colorado and Dallas, both lines should be free to hit the scoresheet as well.

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

Arizona – The Coyotes are in the midst of a seven-game homestand, but between the 16^th and 28^th they only play four times. In that time, they some plus matchups in Vancouver and Edmonton, but will also face two tough defensive squads in Minnesota and Calgary. Even as Arizona’s been heating up in the goals department, sit any ‘Yotes down.

Chicago – Since beating Ottawa 8-2 on January 9^th, the Blackhawks have only topped five goals once, and have scored two or less in thirteen of those games (out of sixteen). They have a break to end the month, with three days off after playing in Columbus on the back half of a b2b, and have to face Washington, Los Angeles, and San Jose beyond that in addition to a rematch with the Senators.

Carolina – Although the ‘Canes get some juicy games against the Islanders and Devils, they only play five times during this two-week stretch which includes a home-road b2b against Pittsburgh and then at Detroit. They finish February off with one of the toughest games a team can have for fantasy, playing in Boston against the Bruins.