Have you noticed that the number of players you're losing to the COVID protocol list is now shrinking? The omicron variant curve for NHL players seems to thankfully be on a downward slope, which means that maintaining a fantasy hockey roster comes with fewer unpleasant surprises these days. However, being the glass half-empty guy that I am sometimes, I have to point out another problem that is created, which is deciding who to drop to activate one of your regulars. Sometimes the decision is relatively straightforward, while other times you're stuck in indecision mode.  

On one of my teams, one such player who was a recent casualty of players returning (from five occupied IR slots down to zero!) is Jakob Chychrun. After Friday's game, Chychrun has one point since November 30. Because of an injury, that is one point over his last eight games, but that's still not good enough. Simply put, there isn't a lot to like about Chychrun's short-term value. He's a league-worst minus-31 and he's had four games out of 31 where he's been a positive player (this league counts plus-minus – don't @ me). Moreover, he's losing first-unit power-play minutes to Shayne Gostisbehere, a player you probably considered much riskier than Chychrun before the season.

Where it gets interesting is if Chychrun is traded. Of course it will be to a stronger team, so he will suddenly become a safer option in leagues with plus-minus. Not only that, but he will be surrounded with higher-scoring players, which should give him that much-needed boost production-wise. A trade is no guarantee, but you may just want to stash him away just in case. With a trade to a contending club, maybe you'll even start to see the Chychrun of last season – the one who led all defensemen in goals. Yet as far as fantasy busts go, he's at the top of the list. I wouldn't blame you at all if you had already decided to move on.

Who was that player you had to drop that you think has an outside chance at a strong second half? Let me know in the comments. Later on, I'll mention a couple more players that might be droppable.

By the way, isn't it incredible how the Coyotes will be allowed to continue in Arizona playing in a 5000-seat arena for several more seasons? With that gate revenue limit, I don't understand how the Coyotes can generate enough money to stay competitive with the rest of the NHL. The Atlanta Thrashers were gone in the blink of an eye, yet the Coyotes have received an infinite number of second chances through the years to remain in Arizona. Brad Marchand's tweet is a little exaggerated, but you get the idea.

Well… the only way they get 5000 fans at their games now is if they give 4500 away for free so wouldn't change much

— Brad Marchand (@Bmarch63) January 28, 2022

I’m sure the Coyotes fans that turned up for Friday’s game against the Bruins booed Marchand loudly, but he got the last laugh in assisting on the game-winning goal.

–

The Evander Kane era in Edmonton has officially begun, and he is expected to make his Oilers debut on Saturday. Here's how he is projected to fit into the current lines:

Stauffer projected lines with Evander Kane in lineup.

Kane-McDavid-Hyman
RNH-Draisaitl-Yamamoto
Foegele-McLeod-Puljujarvi
Shore-Ryan-Kassian

— Bob Stauffer (@Bob_Stauffer) January 28, 2022

Obviously the chance to play alongside Connor McDavid is an ideal situation for Kane. At this point the multicategory specialist Kane should be rostered in all league formats, even with the obvious risk of his recent off-ice issues cropping up again. It is worth noting that Kane's new contract includes a no-move clause, so for better or for worse he's an Oiler for the rest of the season. In other words, I don't think the Oilers can drop him as easily as NFL teams were able to rid themselves of Antonio Brown.

As Mike projected in the Fantasy Take and confirmed by the line combinations above, Jesse Puljujarvi might be the player hurt the most. It is worth mentioning that Jesse (I'm hearing announcers making the yes-a pronunciation as I type this) has no goals and two assists over his last nine games, so the decision to demote Puljujarvi should be considered at least somewhat performance-based. He might be another player you consider dropping as other players fall off IR and/or COVID protocol. That depends on your league size and team needs and other considerations, though.

–

Public service message: the Islanders/Kraken game today has been postponed due to a weather-related state of emergency in (on?) the Long Island region. Just one more game to be added to the pile for the Islanders, who already have more games remaining than any other team.

–

Jake Guentzel ended an unusual (at least for him) three-game point drought with a pair of goals on Friday. Guentzel also took five shots.

With an assist on Friday, Evgeni Malkin is on a seven-game point streak in which he has eight points. Malkin also took six shots. With 11 points in 10 games since his return, Malkin hasn't skipped a beat.  

Evan Rodrigues has just two points in his last 11 games (both assists in the same game). With the Penguins seemingly back to a full roster, Rodrigues also finds himself on the second-unit power play while spending time on the third line. With no proven track record of success prior to this season, Rodrigues might also be worth consideration if you need a player to drop.

If you think Casey DeSmith doesn't have goaltending skills, think again.

WHAT A STOP BY CASEY DESMITH!!! 😱 pic.twitter.com/D5ndM8Uxve

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 29, 2022

–

If you were patient with Kevin Fiala through his early-season lukewarm production, you're being rewarded now. With a goal and an assist on Friday, Fiala has a 10-game point streak in which he has eight goals and 13 points. Prior to the point streak, Fiala had 18 points in 29 games, but that included only four goals. In fact, you could set your watch to Fiala turning up his production partway through the season. Last season, Fiala scored 11 points in his first 22 games, but he then finished with 29 points in 28 games.

Mats Zuccarello also has a 10-game point streak. That includes multiple points in each of his last six games, including a goal and an assist on Friday. Suddenly he's at 40 points in just 33 games – easily the highest pace of his career. Much of Zuccarello's production has come in the form of assists (27), so it's a good sign that over 70% of his assists are primary. He is getting the puck to Kirill Kaprizov and Ryan Hartman, and they are converting with a combined 35 goals. Zuccarello obviously won't keep scoring at least two points per game, but he will pile up the assists as long as his linemates continue to score (Kaprizov more likely than Hartman, though).

Since Adam Fox was sidelined with an upper-body injury, Jacob Trouba received first-unit power-play minutes. Trouba recorded two even-strength assists while taking five shots. Over the entire season, only Roman Josi and Aaron Ekblad have taken more shots than Trouba (123). As I mentioned last weekend, Trouba has become a real multicategory threat this season.

Chris Kreider scored his 31^st goal of the season, putting him two goals ahead of Leon Draisaitl and Alex Ovechkin in the Rocket Richard race. Kreider has 10 goals over his last eight games, so he seems like the right player to turn to if you need a goal from someone.

–

Dylan Strome is likely on the Frozen Tools top searches because of his hat trick plus assist on Wednesday. The question is, what could he do for an encore on Friday? Strome added two more assists on Friday in over 20 minutes of icetime, which included first-unit power-play time. It's taken awhile for Strome to get going under new coach Derek King, who has healthy scratched Strome just as previous coach Jeremy Colliton did. Strome had been holding a hot stick even before this week with 11 points (4 G, 7 A) over his last nine games. Strome is just 9 percent rostered in Yahoo leagues, so he might be worth a flier. Keep in mind that he's been maddeningly unpredictable throughout his career.

Strome's linemates Patrick Kane and Brandon Hagel each scored two goals on Friday, with Kane adding an assist. This line was really shooting the puck, as Kane had 10 SOG and Hagel 6 SOG.

With a goal and two assists, Nazem Kadri has back-to-back three-point games. This season, we've become used to that with Kadri as he is on the verge of smashing his career high in points. On Wednesday, Kadri skated just a second under 27 minutes after Nathan MacKinnon left the game after taking a big hit early in the first period. Kadri followed that up with 21 minutes of icetime on Friday. Since MacKinnon is going to be out for at least a few games with a facial fracture and a concussion, Kadri will be leaned upon even more.

Gabriel Landeskog scored two goals and added an assist, giving him four goals and seven points over his last four games.

Cale Makar has a goal and an assist in back-to-back games. I picked the wrong week to be facing him in head-to-head.

–

Vitek Vanecek pitched a 29-save shutout in Dallas, which gives him back-to-back quality starts. He has allowed just one goal over those two games. Meanwhile, Ilya Samsonov has struggled recently with zero wins and zero quality starts over his last four games, with his last win and quality start on New Year's Eve. Vanecek currently has the advantage in the goaltending battle, but the Caps' next two games are back-to-backs next week before the All-Star Break.

Nicklas Backstrom scored a goal and added two assists in the Capitals' win. Over his last eight games, Backstrom has nine points (3 G, 6 A).  

–

Finally, some jersey retirements to share. Henrik Lundqvist's #30 in New York.

Start spreading the news. #30Forever pic.twitter.com/NtadjiNTvR

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) January 29, 2022

And Sergei Zubov's #56 in Dallas.

To the rafters. #Forever56 pic.twitter.com/Fuv5Z5wmyX

— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) January 29, 2022

–

For more fantasy hockey discussion, follow me on Twitter @Ian_Gooding