Welcome back everyone from the All-Star break and it's now time to dive back into fantasy. If your leagues are like mine, it's really close in the middle of the standings. If you're one of those teams let's work to grind out a win here this week and set up towards your next matchup.

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

Max Domi, C/LW/RW, Chicago Blackhawks (Rostered in 15% of ESPN leagues, 53% Fantrax, 26% Yahoo) – Max Domi has quietly had a pretty good year for a Blackhawks club that has at times this season been 32^nd in the standings. Someone has to score, even on bad teams, and Domi might just be able to provide just that.

Domi had his five-game point streak snapped on Tuesday against Anaheim but that wasn't without coming close on a couple chances right in front of Ducks goaltender Anthony Stolarz. The reason for Domi as a quick fix is partially because the Hawks are one of a few teams that will play twice more this week, with one of those games coming against Arizona who has been one of the most penalized teams in the league this season. If Domi can manage to get on the scoresheet in either of these games I think he'll be well worth the add, and if he's a player you decide to keep on your roster there is a very good chance he is eventually moved via trade to a contender along with the laundry list of players the Hawks are likely to move. 

For fantasy I think Domi makes for a decent short-term add, he'll likely play close to 20 minutes a night and will center the Hawks top power play unit with Jonathan Toews still out of the lineup with an illness. For DFS the furthest I would go with him would be a one-off here or there in lineups, I can't see stacking Blackhawks as a path to victory on most nights.

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

Bowen Byram, D, Colorado Avalanche (Rostered in 23% of ESPN leagues, 85% Fantrax, 55% Yahoo) – Bowen Byram has returned to the Avalanche lineup and for fantasy I think he makes for a good addition that will help fill out your stat lines throughout the rest of the season.

Byram made his way back to the Avalanche lineup on Tuesday against the Penguins after missing 39 games with a, as he put it "finnicky" lower body injury. I'm always a little leery of players returning from injury, but Byram was able to use the all-star break as additional recovery time which I think helped in his return to the lineup. Byram logged just over 21 minutes of ice time on Tuesday with time on special teams and got on the score sheet with an assist.

It’s been a tough start to Byram's young carrier with a scary concussion situation last season followed by this season's injury. Still, I like him as a player and honestly thought he could have gone top three right behind Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko in the 2019 draft. He has excellent skating ability, and I don't see why he can't record big minutes for this Avalanche team the rest of the way and really be impactful on offense. This is a fantasy addition that if you're considering making I would do it sooner rather than later, if he gets hot his roster numbers are likely to rise quickly. For DFS I think he makes for a great spend down option if you want to fit a Colorado D into your lineup.

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

Brock Boeser, LW, Vancouver Canucks (Rostered in 51% of ESPN leagues, 68% of Fantrax, 46% Yahoo) – Brock Boeser is currently a lineup Odd-Man Out but could potentially have value anytime between now and, oh let's say March 3^rd?

The Canucks have tipped their hand here and I think it's only a matter of time until Boeser is on the move somewhere else. For fantasy I'm always sort of surprised when Boeser is drafted because it's usually two rounds too early for a player that hasn't really produced in a handful of seasons. It's difficult to gage because in each COVID shortened season he showed signs of really becoming a plus offensively but with each season cut short it's hard to say. Fast forward to this season where it's difficult to put a potential number on his value skating with Tanner Pearson and Sheldon Dries (that's a guess on his linemates right now but I'm probably not far off).   

If Boeser is on your roster now I'd only keep him if your roster is deep enough to keep him, best case he gets traded to a contender but even then, I can't see him being a top line skater. There's probably still some value here in larger leagues, this is a player that could have more upside in two weeks than he does right now.

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

Jacob Markstrom, G, Calgary Flames (Rostered in 77% of ESPN leagues, 91% Fantrax, 88% Yahoo) – If anyone read me over at GoaliePost some of this may sound familiar but I have to highlight Jacob Markstrom here as our Anchor. Not like a cinder block tied to a rope anchor that you used as a makeshift on a fishing trip in north central Minnesota once, we're talking like a giant anchor that you'd see on the hull of a battleship.

I think the conversation around the Flames has been steered more towards Jonathan Huberdeau's struggles and the trade that he was involved in last summer and believe me, that's also cause for concern here but the drop-off that we've seen from Markstrom has been dramatic. Last season he really was just outside the top five goaltenders you'd want on your roster he ranked seventh best in high danger goals saved above average and sixth best in goals saved above average. This season in those two categories he is now down to 11^th worst and ninth worst.

Markstrom was part of my goaltending rotation last season in one of my leagues and I drafted him fairly early in my draft this year and I'm sure I'm not the only one who did so. The consistency he brought to a fantasy roster last year I thought could be sustainable into this season but now his starts are getting fewer and fewer and when he is named the starter, he more often than not has put up games where he allows three or more goals. If you're in a league that either drafts a new team each season or even ones where you have three-to-five-man keepers, I'd shoot Markstrom straight to the waiver wire and move on. Where it gets tricky is for those out there in dynasty, then maybe he's someone you roster into early next season before making a decision.

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

This period runs through February 10^th to February 22^nd

Columbus – Columbus does not grade out great by their play on the ice, but they do grade out fantastic given the amount of games they will play upcoming. The Blue Jackets will play six games in the next ten days and that helps move the needle towards a Love 'Em.

Toronto – The Leafs have a fantastic schedule upcoming. They play a home-and-home against Columbus and then next week will play Chicago twice along with Montreal. This is tough stretch for those rostering Auston Matthews on IR in fantasy but for the rest of the roster this is a very reasonable stretch of games. Chalk Toronto upcoming here folks.

Seattle – The Kraken have played well the past month or so and since Christmas have the most goals for at even strength. They have a balanced schedule on the horizon and with higher roster numbers going to Kraken skaters they are a Love 'Em for me.

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

NY Rangers – Western Canada road trip in the Rangers near future, Vancouver and then a back-to-back against the Oilers and Flames.

Washington – The Caps are going to have their hands full next week; they play Carolina twice at home and on the road with a home game against the Panthers in-between. The Panthers take a fair bit of penalties but have played better as of late going 6-2-2 in their last ten.  

Vegas – Have to round out the Leave 'Em's with Vegas who will only be in action twice next week. Might be a good time to get healthy and get right as we move into the middle part of February but for now, they're a Leave 'Em.

*For continued fantasy news and notes, follow me on Twitter @ndySanz.