Welcome back everyone and wishing everyone Stateside a happy and safe Thanksgiving. Last week, I referred to the week of American Thanksgiving in fantasy hockey as "sprint", and I think it's been just that. We're going to have another loaded slate today and tomorrow so it's just a matter of plugging in and playing the best lineup that you have.

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

Anton Forsberg, G, Ottawa Senators (Rostered in 1% of ESPN leagues, 18% Fantrax, 6% Yahoo) – Okay so that name might not draw you in as much, and if not that may be a good thing. To me, that means your fantasy team is up so much this week that you might be able to stack the deck for next, but if that's not the case, then Anton Forsberg might be your guy.

So why Anton Forsberg? It's just a matter of the schedule here and how things will likely play out in net, and that's where he makes sense. The Sens are one of two teams (the other is Montreal) that will play both Saturday and Sunday this week, and on Sunday Ottawa will take on Anaheim. Sure, that game is on the road, but if I'm really in need of a start in net my options are probably Cayden Primeau on the road in Boston or Forsberg on the road in Anaheim. Have to lean going against Anaheim here for the potential win.

If you're like me last week in fantasy, it came down to the wire last week in a nailbiter, but unlike last week where the NHL gave us one game to determine the outcome of a close matchup, at least this week we have some options. If you need a lower rostered goaltender in a decent spot, Forsberg makes for a good play and then from there he goes right back to waiver island.

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

Jake Walman, D, San Jose Sharks (Rostered in 43% of ESPN leagues, 80% Fantrax, 48% Yahoo) – Liked Jake Walman in St. Louis. Liked Jake Walman in Detroit. Like Jake Walman again this season, even with the Sharks. I was hesitant to write him up as a Building Block here though because of a lingering injury, but now he's a player to target for the long haul.

Walman has been excellent since coming back to the lineup off an upper-body injury and is playing around 22 minutes a night on the Sharks top pair and top power play. It's fair that in the past few seasons the Sharks have gone overlooked in fantasy, but this year I don't mind getting some of their skaters on to my roster. Just this season, Walman is already up to 14 points with 12 of those coming in just the last ten games. The roster numbers have shot up for him over on ESPN and just going off of what defensemen appear to be on waivers, he's a player that I would not sleep on if you're in need of help on your blue line.

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

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, C, Edmonton Oilers (Rostered in 70% of ESPN leagues, 87% Fantrax, 75% Yahoo) – If you're rostering Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in fantasy right now, that's not all bad. He's going to be valuable in deeper leagues and might even have multiple position eligibility in some rare cases. Still, he is an odd-man out for me this week.

So let's break this down here. He skates with Connor McDavid at even strength sometimes and is the center for the Oilers top power-play unit. It's a power play that has been fine, not what we've come accustomed to seeing, but fine, and with the players on the man advantage alone RNH has excellent fantasy value. The problem is when he's not with McDavid or Leon Draisaitl at even strength, and he's not involved in the power play, he becomes a very average player for fantasy. In his past 15 games played, he has two goals and two assists. That doesn't scream fantasy production but the potential is there. He's someone in fantasy I probably would avoid playing if you have other options on a slate at the center spot and in DFS he's almost always a stay away unless I'm just full-on stacking Edmonton's power play…which goes great with a random fourth line group.

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

Juraj Slafkovsky, LW/RW, Montreal Canadiens (Rostered in 75% of ESPN leagues, 91%, Fantrax, 68% Yahoo) – So I have two players on IR right now that will be back this week and will need to make room on my roster. It's tough, because I fielded trade offers for Slafkovsky earlier this season that I declined, but I'm having trouble figuring out just what to do here. Let's talk through this together.

I wrote about Slafkovsky last season in this same spot as an Anchor and immediately following went back and forth if that in fact was the case. This season I took him late in my draft and the early returns were great for fantasy. Sure, he was on a Montreal top line that was getting ran out to the rink every night, but I didn't mind the high shot rate and an uptick in minutes. The problem now, is he hasn't scored a goal since coming back from a shoulder injury back in late October, and he's skating on the Montreal fourth line. Can't say I love starting a player in fantasy that skates around 11 minutes a night. Don't get me wrong, upside is there along with a solid peripheral game, plus being eligible at each wing is great for fantasy. I just run into the problem of where his offense and ice time are at and if either is going to rise back up soon to contribute in fantasy.

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

This period runs through November 29 – December 8

Columbus – Two clubs going west upcoming and there's nothing better than getting that trip out of the way, Columbus next week will face Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver as well as a road matchup on the way back against Winnipeg.

Dallas – It's not western Canada, but it's west-ish with games against Utah, L.A., and Vegas. A week with plenty of Dallas always grades out well, like them here going forward.

Toronto – I love Toronto upcoming here and if Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies come back then I like them even more. The Leafs will have games against Chicago, Nashville, and Pittsburgh next week. What a spot to really get some distance in the standings.

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

Tampa Bay – Only two games on the schedule next week for Tampa, Leave 'Em for now before their schedule gets busier later in December.

Los Angeles – Only two games next week and although both are on home ice, they're going to be tougher matchups against Dallas and Minnesota. Granted, it's a Minnesota club that this team took down on the road off a back-to-back, but still a tough matchup.

Edmonton – The Oilers aren't too far down the road from a week that will include Tampa, Minnesota, and Vegas. It is the Oilers who I can never count out, but that's a tough week for anyone.