Welcome back! Hope everyone is enjoying their week and for those of us in the States I hope you have a safe and happy Thanksgiving/working as little as you can this week.

I wanted to make note that this is the time of year around American Thanksgiving where I think it's a good snapshot of what teams will be in this for the long haul. Two seasons ago the clubs that were in Playoff spots around Thanksgiving were all there at the end, and last season it was all but Minnesota coming on strong late that got there. This season though could we maybe see a shakeup? We already have a very close wild card in the west, with a couple clubs that have been slow out of the gates, while in the east things are somewhat starting to distance themselves. I think this will be a good benchmark to look at come April if it holds true that the playoff picture begins to take shape before December.

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

Anton Lundell, C/LW, Florida Panthers (Rostered in 3% of ESPN leagues, 22% Fantrax, 11% Yahoo) – Never mind the fact that I wrote, "Carolina Panthers" for Anton Lundell originally, he is this week's Immediate Fix. We have an injury to the Panthers' top line which could mean for a quick addition to your fantasy club.

With Alexander Barkov out with injury, there's been some speculation as to when he will eventually return to the Florida lineup. Given that he has not to this point practiced this week with a game coming on Friday, we can possibly assume here that he will be held out into next week. That's a tough blow for Florida given all that Barkov does on both sides of the ice, but for now they have replaced him with Anton Lundell on the top line.  

Ringing endorsement I know, but Lundell was a player I've just not been as enthralled to add to my roster, but this upcoming week does really give him a great dress rehearsal. The Panthers will be in action four times, and he will be slated on the top line in-between Eetu Luostarinen and Sam Reinhart who has been hotter than the sun at times this season. While it doesn't look like he'll be on the top power play unit, it's the 5v5 matchups that we like to see here and if he's to be on that line all four games next week as well as Friday, more likely than not he's going to have a game or two where he gets on the scoresheet at even strength. If Barkov does slide back into the lineup, wave off and go around, but for now I think if you need a player next week Lundell makes for an intriguing add.

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

Jordan Eberle, RW, Seattle Kraken (Rostered in 19% of ESPN leagues, 65% Fantrax, 37% Yahoo) – So sometimes on the Building Blocks I like to put a player on everyone's radar that may just be a decent long-term addition for fantasy. In this case, we're looking at Seattle and Jordan Eberle.

Eberle has seven points in his last five games played, with six of them going in just four of those games. I've watched a fair bit of Seattle so far this season and I do think there's signs that this might be a club that has a couple players that I wouldn't mind roster in fantasy, with Eberle being one of them. He has 35 shots on goal already this season, and that's with missing four games, and this is a player who just last season had his best year as a pro with 63 points. I'm not sure if he hits that mark again, but I don't see why mid-50's wouldn't be out of reach here if he can stay healthy.

As far as his line, I can say for now he's on the top line, but this is Seattle. I don't know. You don't know. Odds are they don't know either. This is also where the flag in fantasy to keep tabs on a player comes into play as just last week Oliver Bjorkstrand was a player that had very high add numbers who is now on the Seattle third line. As for power play though for Eberle, really either unit is alright as Seattle is near the top in power play points so far this season. For those in smaller leagues, I think you may have better options on your waiver wire than Eberle but for everyone out there in larger leagues, he might be a player to keep an eye out for.

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

Alex DeBrincat, RW, Detroit Red Wings (Rostered in 56% of ESPN leagues, 72% Fantrax, 55% Yahoo) – We got another line-up Odd Man out and this one stings a bit as it's a player that I have in my main league. To everyone else out there rostering Alex DeBrincat, we have to stand strong and weather the storm.

Maybe the ghost of Jeff Blashill has somehow possessed Derek Lalonde like Saruman did with King Theoden? Only like 4% of you are probably going to get that reference but I'm still stuck at work with nobody else here so let's just drop a Lord of the Rings reference and keep moving. DeBrincat was a player I drafted pretty high in my main league and to start the season it looked like it was a good gamble to make, things always regress for sure, but he was the league's leading goal scorer for a time and did really look like he was playing well with Dylan Larkin. Thing have really regressed though as now DeBrincat has seen time on the Detroit second line and even the team's third line.

Taking DeBrincat's spot on the top line is Joe Valeno who correct me if I'm wrong, but has moved up to the Detroit top line before in the past? DeBrincat does still see top power play time which is great but at even strength I'd much prefer him with Dylan Larkin as opposed to JT Compher. I think ultimately DeBrincat does get back up to the Detroit top line but if there's one thing, I do worry about it's his peripherals. This is a player who did hit more in Ottawa than he has done so far in Detroit which is concerning on days where he is not shooting the puck as much for fantasy output.

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

Patrik Laine, LW, Columbus Blue Jackets (Rostered in 86% of ESPN leagues, 95%, Fantrax, 85% Yahoo) – Patrik Laine told the Athletic that he was "blindsided" that he was healthy scratched for the Blue Jackets last game. How long are we all going to do this with him? No more excuses, he's this week's anchor and we're going to keep this short and sweet because I'm tired of this dude getting national attention and bringing down people's fantasy clubs.

Three years ago, it felt like the Pierre Luc-Dubois trade for Patrik Laine was the biggest trade in hockey history the way it was covered, and I joked that maybe it was just because it was Winnipeg and Columbus, what else are we really going to talk about? Since then, I believe Laine has been an Anchor once or twice with the last Anchor nominee coming in around this time last season. Let's turn back the clock to what I wrote then, ahem!

"It’s just the same story every night. The NHL tweets out whatever he’s wearing to the rink, then three hours later he’s left off the scoresheet with three shots on goal and a dash-2."

I think the same goes for this season but let's change "dash-2" to "dash-3". I know it was a very strange circumstance for the Jackets coming into this season, but I really do feel like there's some very good pieces here at the NHL and AHL level. For Laine though, this is a player I would not roster long-term for fantasy moving forward.

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

This period runs through November 24^th – December 6^th

New Jersey – The Devils project really well here in the short-term with two homes games against Columbus and Buffalo. That's enough to push them over the edge to a Love 'Em coming up.

St. Louis – I cannot get a read on this Blues club at all this season. There are times where I think they could be a sleeper in the west, then there are times where I see the lotter in their future. For now, though, they are a Love 'Em with upcoming games against Chicago and a very down Minnesota club.

NY Rangers – Just copying what I wrote last week. We're so back those who are heavier on the Rangers in fantasy. The Rangers are a Love 'Em because they will play four times next week which is a welcomed reward for all out there who weathered the storm of one game this week. We made it through this difficult time together and are stronger because of it.

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

Edmonton – Although we don't like to see clubs in action twice in a week, this could be a very welcomed break for the Oilers. For now they're a Leave 'Em.

Los Angeles – The Kings will only be in action twice next week, which never grades out great. The games are also spread out as well so a combo of things on the schedule that can hurt us in fantasy.

Washington – The Capitals have quietly (and I mean very quietly) been better as of late but they'll have a hard stretch upcoming as they are on their west coast road trip.  

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