All fantasy owners need help in the short term AND the long term. The Looking Ahead feature identifies one player to plug into lineups in the short term, a second to invest in for the long term, a third to bench for the coming week, and a fourth who will struggle to meet expectations for some time. All players discussed are selected based on their upcoming schedule. Stats in this article updated through March 14th

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

Jean-Gabriel Pageau, C, Ottawa Senators (Available in 96 percent of Yahoo! Leagues) – With the Sens’ schedule looking solid, what better time to slot in Pageau than for the stretch run? Since the calendar flipped to March, all Pageau has done is: score 4G-1A with 25SOG in seven games, see PP1 minutes as the net-front on a unit that’s clicking, and he’s seen between 18:55 and 24:55 in all seven games. Because he plays both PP and PK, he’s also in a good position to pick up some peripheral stats in Hits and Blocks.

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

Mikkel Boedker, LW, San Jose Sharks (Available in 96 percent of Yahoo! Leagues) – Between getting healthy scratched and seeing time on the third- and fourth-lines of the Sharks, it’s easy to forget that Boedker is a 50-point player that picks up PP points like they’re getting discontinued and he needs to stock up. Since finally getting moved onto a second line alongside Tomas Hertl and Logan Couture, Boedker has picked up 1G-5A in seven games, two points coming on the power play, and he put up 15SOG in those games. With an injury to Joonas Donskoi in the Sharks’ last game, there’s an open spot on the first PP unit, which will go to one of Boedker, Hertl or Meier. Picking up HOTBOED is worth the risk given the Sharks’ upcoming schedule, even as he only sees about 15 minutes a night.

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

Henrik Lundqvist, G, New York Rangers (Owned in 87 percent of Yahoo! Leagues) – With the Rangers having a short schedule during playoff time, it would be tough to roster the King in the first place, but Lundqvist has only won two of his last ten starts as the Rangers look to the future. In those ten games, Lundqvist allowed 37 goals, and got yanked once. He’s starting to lose starts on non-back-to-backs to his backup, Alexander Georgiev, who’s picked up five starts in the Rangers’ last 11 games; don’t count on Lundqvist to play more than half of the Rangers’ remaining games.

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

At this point in the season, the long haul is basically the short haul except for keeper leagues, so this will focus on someone whose value is shot down the stretch but also should decline next season.

Oscar Klefbom, D, Edmonton Oilers (Owned in 38 percent of Yahoo! Leagues) – Assumed to be getting shut down for surgery in the next few days, Klefbom offers no value to poolies still taking a crack at their season, and he has been a massive disappointment this fantasy year. This season will mark the fourth year out of five that the former first-rounder hasn’t been able to stay healthy, hitting 82 games only once – last year. He should be shopped during the summer for those holding him in keeper leagues or dropped on the spot in one-year leagues.

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

San Jose – Since getting Evander Kane at the deadline, the Sharks have scored 25 goals in seven games, putting up 34 shots on goal or more in all but one of those games. The Sharks face five horrendous defensive teams in Calgary (once at home, once on the road), Vancouver, New Jersey, and Chicago, as well as a game at home against Vegas. Look for their studs to keep putting the puck in the net.

Colorado – While the Avs only have six games in this period, they do have four home games where they are night and day in terms of goal-scoring. They’ll get Detroit, Nashville, Los Angeles and Vegas in their own barn, where Colorado has scored 25 goals in their past five games with Nathan Mackinnon in the lineup. Beyond those four games, the Avs also play at Chicago who struggle to keep the puck out, and a road game against Vegas.

Ottawa – The Senators have seven games upcoming between the 16^th and 26^th and are entering this period with a home game against Dallas after putting up 12 combined against the Panthers and Lightning. Owners of Hoffman, Duchene, Karlsson, and even Pageau can rejoice, as the inconsistent Sens have some great games against Carolina’s putrid goaltending (twice, home and road), Edmonton, and even Florida which thankfully comes at home. The oddball seventh game is against Columbus.

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

Calgary – Alberta’s last playoff hope do have six games between the 16^th and 26^th, but none of those will be soft match-ups, save for a road game against Arizona – which comes on the back half of a road back-to-back. Beyond that game, they play San Jose at home and on the road, at Vegas and Los Angeles, and have a home game against Anaheim. All but one carry heavy playoff implications, but the Flames have topped three goals only five times in their past 20 games.

NY Rangers – The Rags have only five games in this stretch in the schedule, and while two of them come against teams not known for their defensive prowess (Buffalo and Washington – both at home), road games against an improving St. Louis and Philadelphia will offer some tough matches for the Rangers offensively, and a home game against a stout Columbus team is no picnic either.

Nashville – The Predators have taken to pulling the NBA rabbit out of their hat down the stretch in terms of resting players, which is bad for fantasy owners, and they also only have five games in this period. Two of those five games are appealing – at Buffalo, home against Toronto – but they’ll have to head into Colorado on the back half of a road back-to-back and play Minnesota and Winnipeg on the road as a back-to-back as well.