Welcome back in, everyone! We got a nice slate of games each day as we round out the week, with up and down slates as far as games each day next week are concerned. This might be an important week here to get a win before we go into a classic, one-game Monday, 15-game Tuesday, two-game Wednesday, Thursday every NHL/AHL/OHL/12u Joliet Jaguars, are in action. You guys get the idea.

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

Patrick Kane, RW, Detroit Red Wings (Rostered in 56% of ESPN leagues, 70% Fantrax, 54% Yahoo) – When you're playing well, you're playing well. Patrick Kane is your immediate fix, and will might be in a couple decent spots here to close out the week.

I've mostly stayed away from Red Wings in fantasy this season, it's a short list of players that I'd want to really roster, and inconsistent lines and power play correlation kept me away from them. Now, new coach, new play style, they're on my radar and Patrick Kane might just be a good fit here to end the week. Kane has eight points in his last five games and that goes along with 15 SOGs in that timeframe. As a team, this is a Detroit squad that has really turned it around with a new coach bump, winners of five in a row and that could very well continue here this week. Kane and the Wings will play host to Chicago, who I'm telling you all are the worst team on the road. If Kane can get on the scoresheet in that matchup, their following game will be at home against Seattle where I'm not too worried on what line he'll go out against. For quick points, Kane might just be a decent rental here in your matchup.

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

Matthew Knies, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs (Rostered in 42% of ESPN leagues, 73% Fantrax, 46% Yahoo) – The Leafs' top line is rolling right now with Auston Matthews back and Matthew Knies on his wing. The roster numbers are still lower than I'd expect them to be, and I think that they could increase here as we move into the weekend.

I thought coming into the season that the only thing that was going to hold Knies back from a big year pointwise was power play exposure, but there are times where the Leafs go to a five-forward man advantage which allows Knies to skate on the top power play. As much as I'm not the biggest fan of a five-forward power play unit, it will allow Knies more power play exposure and that's even better for the young forward here in fantasy. His peripheral game is excellent too with 85 hits and 16 blocks. This is a variance-based sport, and I typically like players who, even if they can't get on the score sheet, can at the very least provide some hits and blocks along with some shots. I like this move going forward here and keep in mind for the schedule, this is a Toronto team has the most back-to-backs; they're going to stay busy.

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

Sam Bennett, C, Florida Panthers (Rostered in 87% of ESPN leagues, 88% Fantrax, 54% Yahoo) – It's never great writing about a player that you currently roster as an Odd-Man out or Anchor but here I am writing about Sam Bennett.    

Keeping the Band-Aid Boy label out of this conversation for now, Bennett can provide excellent offense along with plenty of hits and blocked shots to go along with playing on one of the best lines in hockey right now. The reason he's on my roster is just that, he skates with (usually), Carter Verhaeghe and Matthew Tkachuk. I say mostly because the Panthers have been running Eetu Luostarinen. So, there is some value, but the odd man out might be in the event the Panthers shake up their second line with Bennett being held pointless in his past nine games. I'm not saying it's going to happen, but after a shaky road trip, maybe this a club that changes things up if they get down early in a game upcoming? For fantasy, I sure hope not, but for now Bennett is our Odd-Man out.

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

Aaron Ekblad, D, Florida Panthers (Rostered in 42% of ESPN leagues, 89%, Fantrax, 60% Yahoo) – From one Panther to another which is wild because this is one of my top three teams to watch on a given night. I like Aaron Ekblad as a player, but for fantasy he might not bring as much production to a lineup as he has in the past.

The other night as I built a broken Florida power play stack in DFS, I kept Ekblad off because of injury which led me to check his game logs. Even before missing a game, he has no points in his past five appearances, and that surprised me because there has been times this season where he's been excellent, particularly on the power play. Adding a defenseman now in fantasy is like the wild west as far as waivers, so I'm not saying that you need to hop onto your fantasy app right now and drop Ekblad for another player, but I think that if you're between him and another d-man, Ekblad may be the one left out.  

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

This period runs through January 10^th – January 19^th

Florida – I know that I just got done telling you all about Florida players as an Odd-Man Out and an Anchor, but the Panthers have a great schedule upcoming. They start next week with the Flyers, and end with Anaheim. Not bad.  

Winnipeg – Maybe because I've been at work all day. Maybe because it's late, but I wrote down "Winnipeg" as the second Love 'Em…I mean, it's a decent schedule at home against Vancouver, Seattle, and Calgary but there are no Blackhawks or Sharks in that mix. Palms up here but you know what, as someone who needs zero convincing to play the Jets in DFS, I'm sticking with them as a Love 'Em.

Calgary – The Flames will start next week against the Hawks, excellent way to get off the ground on a Monday, but what I think is interesting here is their Tuesday and Thursday games. At St. Louis and…at St. Louis. Hey, stay in one place for two games, I like it and like the Flames here next week.

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

Boston – I watched Boston get boat-raced by the Oilers earlier this week but that's not why I'm off them. Only two games next week with one against the Bolts has me fading them for now.

Minnesota – The negative here is that Minnesota is only on the schedule twice next week. Positive though: This could not have come at a better time for this club to get healthy.  

Carolina – I like the matchup against Buffalo next Wednesday but hosting Vegas is a chore. Carolina will be back as a Love 'Em here soon but for now I'm off them.

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