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

Eeli Tolvanen, LW/RW, Nashville Predators (Available in 96% of ESPN leagues, 44% Fantrax, 73% Yahoo) – Okay so let's face it, COVID is not fun to talk about. We're going on year two and a half (or there about) of the COVID NHL landscape and recently it has really started to impact several NHL teams, which in turn means that it is going to have an impact on your roster. The owner in your fantasy league who can best navigate these difficult circumstances may just be able to separate themselves in the win/loss column, and it starts by finding value in players that will be put into more significant roles, Tolvanen may just have one here.

I do like Tolvanen as a player. He's a got a good shot and an extremely quick release and that's just another reason to like him here. Currently he is second among Nashville forwards with 74 shots on goal and had a four-game goal streak snapped last Saturday vs the Rangers. With Duchene missing time, Tolvanen will be put into his spot on Nashville's top line and he will see time on Nashville's first power-play unit. I think he's a good player to use if you need to plug and play someone on the fly to help fill out a roster. 

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

Ondrej Kase, RW, Toronto Maple Leafs (Available in 91% of ESPN leagues, 61% Fantrax, 74% Yahoo) – With Mitch Marner out with a shoulder injury, it looks like Kase will get the bulk of his minutes on the Leafs top six. That's a good thing for a player with good offensive skills and surrounded by talent on this Toronto roster.

I kinda liked Kase coming into the season, but a slow start playing mostly on the Toronto third line kept me away from focusing in on him in fantasy or DFS. When Marner went down with his shoulder injury, Kase drew onto the first line and at the time he was playing well, but his offensive game has taken off with nine goals in his last ten games. Look no surprise, the names he's playing with are elite but what makes this a great addition is that Kase is also seeing top power-play time on a Leafs man advantage that has been very good as of late. Since the beginning of this month (seven games) Toronto leads the entire NHL with goals scored on the power play with 11. I would look to roster Kase until Marner's eventual return, but for now if Matthews goes off in a game, odds are Kase is coming with him.

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

Tomas Hertl, C/LW, San Jose Sharks (Owned in 94% of ESPN leagues, 89% of Fantrax, 82% Yahoo) – Odd Man out committee has been pretty busy lately. Early in the week, Hertl was not on my radar, and then we got the latest iteration of the San Jose top six. It's not that Hertl's spot is being replaced by anyone. The players around him have just shifted.

On Tuesday night the Sharks took the ice at home vs Seattle and yours truly had a DFS lineup with two man of Hertl and Timo Meier. I was very excited that it looked like Hertl would have a very good player Meier on his right wing that could help drive play against a struggling Seattle club. Fast forward to Thursday, and the Sharks moved Meier back up to the top line, which makes Hertl's look a bit different. He now centers Alexander Barabanov, who at the very least can help get a secondary assist, and then a winger named Jayden Halbgewachs. Does Halbgewachs’ name have a link underneath, because I don't know who that is. Hertl still centers the San Jose top power-play unit so at least that is a positive, but his even-strength line may leave more to be desired.

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

Rasmus Dahlin, D, Buffalo Sabres (Owned in 67% of ESPN leagues, 91% of Fantrax, 58% Yahoo) – I'm not saying that I want to totally give up on a young player here, but I think from a fantasy perspective you might be better off moving Dahlin from your roster.

Dahlin did score twice on Tuesday vs the Jets, and he needed to get on the score sheet in some way with one point in the previous five games. He does play a significant amount of time around 23 minutes a night, but the production has been slow for the very young Sabres’ defensemen. I think his ownership across most fantasy platforms are leaning more on his possible potential and I'm not saying that those fantasy numbers may never come to fruition. I think for this season it might be best to move him and look for a d-man with a higher shot rate playing on a team that produces more offense night in and night out.

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

This period runs from December 16^th to December 29^th

Pittsburgh – The Penguins have a favorable schedule upcoming along with two games at home before the Christmas break next week. They'll hit the road on the other side of the break, but with four games they'll be plenty of options in rostering a Pen.

Montreal – They'll see a lesser Boston lineup upcoming with their COVID issues and then have a busy schedule before the Christmas break with three road games vs the Isles, Devils, and Rangers. Yes that's three road games, but all in the New York metro area so not heavy travel.

New Jersey – The Devils grade out well in the upcoming schedule. Although I haven't liked a lot of what I've seen from them since the Hughes return, they could be a nice filler stack option in DFS coming up.  

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

Philadelphia – The Flyers have a light schedule upcoming, but following the break they will hit the road out west for two games in consecutive days versus Seattle and LA and then a game vs the Kings. That's a tough ask for a club that has been struggling as of late.  

Toronto – Look I love to roster the Leafs as much as the next person, but a very light schedule before and after the break is taking me away from them in the short term. Less Leafs now just means more Leafs later.

Boston – I'm not sure what type of Boston team we'll be seeing here upcoming with Boston. Combine that with a less than favorable schedule and they are a stay away for me.