Those extra days off padding the All-Star break not only allow players a much-needed extended mental break from the grind of an 82-game season, but, in some cases, valuable rest for those recovering from physical injury. Perfect timing then, to provide a comprehensive round-up of when - or when not - to expect some key banged-up assets to return to action. And the accompanying fantasy fallout.
Due back soon
Darcy Kuemper, G, Arizona Coyotes (rostered in 67.2% of ESPN.com leagues): After missing more than five weeks with a lower-body issue, Kuemper appears nearly, but not quite, there. Initially anticipated back after the All-Star breather, the Coyotes' No. 1 netminder needs at least one more game off - likely two with Arizona competing both Wednesday and Thursday. That leaves Antti Raanta - lousy of late - and backup-to-the-backup Adin Hill - better, but not Kuemper-steady - to split this week's workload ahead of Saturday's home tilt with the Blackhawks. Fingers crossed for coach Rick Tocchet and Co. he's ready by then. The club's top netminder sports a .929 SV% and 2.17 GAA this season and, once demonstrably healthy, should be largely spoken for across the ESPN.com spectrum.
Brendan Gallagher and Jonathan Drouin, F, Montreal Canadiens (85.5% / 53.5%): Boy oh boy, could the Canadiens use these two back in a hard hurry. Fortunately, both are skating and due to return in the not-too-distant future, perhaps even later this week. When finally fully fit, Drouin (wrist) is expected to replace rookie Nick Suzuki on a scoring line with Max Domi, while Gallagher - burdened with a more erratic timeline in concussion recovery - will bump Ilya Kovalchuk from the Habs' top scoring unit. Of the pair, Drouin - seven goals and eight assists in 19 games before falling hurt - could be available as a freebie plug in your own league.
William Karlsson, F, Vegas Golden Knights (83.9%): The Knights don't suit up again until Friday, so don't expect a clear update on Karlsson's potential return until later this week. However, after sitting out three games with an upper-body injury, the Vegas forward was previously expected back not long, if not immediately, following the club's post-ASG idle span. Now where Karlsson fits back into the lineup under Pete DeBoer is another question - he has yet to play for the teams' new head coach. Still, the time off and chance to reset might do the former 40-plus-goal scorer a world a good after a recent goalless drought stretching back to mid-December. Activate him immediately when healthy.
Artemi Panarin, F, New York Rangers (99.8%): Keep an eye on reports over the coming days, but I'd be surprised if Panarin (upper-body) sits out another contest - two max, in face of this weekend's back-to-back meetings with the Red Wings. The one-game recess ahead of the break strikes as more precautionary than anything. I believe the Rangers may have even used that exact term for it.
Joonas Donskoi, F, Colorado Avalanche (25.6%): Favoring the conservative route, the Avs chose to shelve Donskoi (concussion) until after the break, even once he was back participating in full practice. Smart. Now, the 27-year-old is likely blazing to go, once Colorado gets back to it in Philly on Saturday. Whether he slots immediately back in on a top line with Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog, or on a second scoring unit with Nazem Kadri and Andre Burakovsky, I'm all over this underrated fantasy asset in deeper leagues. Despite a dry spell spanning a fat month from mid-December until falling hurt, Donskoi still has 14 goals and 15 assists to show for 2019-20.
Dylan Strome, F, Chicago Blackhawks (56.6%): Coach Jeremy Colliton hopes to have Strome back from an ankle injury when the Blackhawks resume play in Arizona Feb. 1. At which point, the 22-year-old should reclaim his spot on a forward line with Alex DeBrincat and rookie Kirby Dach (rostered in 3.4% of ESPN.com leagues). That young unit is bursting with dynamite potential, in my view, and could provide some real fantasy magic before the season winds down. Before the injury, Strome amassed 10 goals and 20 assists thought 40 games.
Drew Doughty, D, Los Angeles Kings (96.6%): Post-break, the Kings' top defensive fantasy asset is labeled day-to-day with an undisclosed injury. I'm not sweating it. Yet. Hopefully Doughty's doesn't miss a beat in returning to the ice Wednesday. If not, Thursday.
See also: Tuukka Rask, G, Boston Bruins; Justin Schultz, D, Pittsburgh Penguins, Jeff Skinner, F, Buffalo Sabres
Give it a week or two (or three)
Anthony Mantha, F, Detroit Red Wings (70.2%): The ultra non-playoff bound Red Wings don't anticipate having Mantha back from a mid-body (ribs/shoulder) injury until late February at the earliest. In reality, the so-not-reaching-the-postseason club may not bother bringing him back at all. Why risk anything short of a full recovery? So it's up to Mantha-substitute Filip Zadina to keep a grip on his top-line role alongside Dylan Larkin and Tyler Bertuzzi. Rostered in only 8.2 % of ESPN.com leagues, the 20-year-old rookie scored three goals and an assist in the four games leading into the mid-winter break. Additionally, deep-league fantasy managers still committed to Andreas Athanasiou should know their guy is eyeing a return as early as this weekend, after losing all of January to a lower-body injury. Look for the speedster to reclaim a spot on Detroit's second forward line.
Joonas Korpisalo, G, Columbus Blue Jackets (24.0%): Considering how superbly understudy Elvis Merzlikins has filled in for the All-Star netminder, there's zero urgency in rushing back Korpisalo (knee surgery) until he's beyond good and ready. Another week or two, minimum. So, between now and then, continue to exploit Merzlikins in your fantasy format of choice. After that, we can likely expect a fairly even split in duties, as long as both Columbus goalies are playing well. But with an eye to securing a playoff spot, coach John Tortorella won't hesitate to run with the hot hand if necessary.
Carter Hart, G, Philadelphia Flyers (66.0%): If the Flyers' initial prognosis proves accurate, we're two weeks down and one to go in view of Hart's pending return from an abdominal injury. Meanwhile, the eternally-streaky Brian Elliott (rostered in 11.5% of ESPN.com leagues) has been super-duper in relevant relief, posting a 3-0 record - including a shutout of the Penguins - and .954 SV%. A similar effort versus Pittsburgh again Friday and Philly's veteran backup might very well merit fantasy investment as an injury plug or handcuff to Hart. If Elliott stays hot, this playoff-hopeful club is likely to go full-blown tandem even once their young goalie recovers.
See also: Logan Couture, F, San Jose Sharks, Victor Olofsson, F, Buffalo Sabres, Anders Nilsson, G, Ottawa Senators, Ryan Ellis, D, Nashville Predators
Out long term
Morgan Rielly, D, Toronto Maple Leafs (68.7%): Sidelined until minimum mid-March with a fractured foot, Rielly makes way for Tyson Barrie and call-up Rasmus Sandin (rostered in 12.9% of ESPN.com leagues) to settle in as the Leafs' No. 1 and 2 fantasy blueliners, respectively. Barrie as the club's top offensive-defenseman and No. 1 power-play anchor, and Sandin as evidently comfortable straight off in contributing on special teams and otherwise with a goal and three assists in four games (he earned two helpers during an earlier NHL stint). So while Toronto is privileged to have Jake Muzzin (rostered in 61.9% of ESPN.com leagues) back from injury, he's not your go-to in conventional scoring leagues. Not above the other two, in any case.
Dougie Hamilton, D, Carolina Hurricanes (68.9%): Hamilton's long-term shelving means both Jaccob Slavin and Jake Gardiner will be tasked with contributing more from an offensive stance, with the extra skater and without. Gardiner in particular - rostered in only 36.8% of ESPN.com leagues - should be in for a more robust second stanza to the season after underperforming to date. Anchoring the secondary power play, the former Leaf might be worth a flier if you need fantasy help on the blue line.
Vladimir Tarasenko, F, St. Louis Blues (49.4%): Unless the West-leading Blues unexpectedly stumble between now and early April, there's no just cause in rushing the power forward back before he's 100%. Yes, I know he's skating - still, Tarasenko (shoulder surgery) was originally scheduled, this past fall, to be evaluated at the end of March. Outside of a few regular-season games as warmup, there's too much to be gained from having their star forward fresh and fully-fit for a hoped-for lengthy postseason run. Don't expect St. Louis to make any rash moves here. See also: Jake Guentzel, F, Pittsburgh Penguins (rest of season)