Buffalo Sabres center Jack Eichel is expected to miss 4-6 weeks with a high-ankle sprain sustained in their 4-2 win against the Boston Bruins on Saturday. Since Dec. 15, Eichel is tied for sixth in League scoring with 29 points (14 goals, 15 assists) in 23 games with Bruins center Patrice Bergeron and ranks second in shots on goal (104) over the span.
With Eichel's strong play, Sabres forward Sam Reinhart (C/LW/RW, 33 percent) has been a trendy fantasy add with six points (one goal, five assists) and nine SOG in his past four games. Reinhart was playing on Eichel's line prior to the center's injury, but is now in a far less-favorable spot; he was with forwards Evan Rodrigues (C/LW) and Scott Wilson (C/LW/RW) against the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday.
Center Ryan O'Reilly (53 percent) had one goal, two assists and five SOG in 26:48 against the Avalanche on Sunday. He's currently the third-ranked Sabres forward (186th in Yahoo) behind Eichel (46th) and Evander Kane (59th). O'Reilly should see an increase in ice time and fantasy value with the injury to Eichel.
An outside replacement for Eichel is Arizona Coyotes center Derek Stepan (27 percent). He has five points (one goal, four assists) in his past three games playing on the Coyotes first line with rookie Clayton Keller (C/LW/RW, 41 percent) and wing Brendan Perlini (LW/RW). Stepan is also a value option in DraftKings ($4,900) against the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday (9 p.m. ET; FS-A PLUS, NBCSCH, NHL.TV). In his past three games, he has averaged 4.8 DraftKings points per game.
Other Eichel replacement options:Yanni Gourde (TBL; C/RW, 53 percent), Nick Foligno (CBJ; C/LW/RW, 36 percent), Danton Heinen (BOS; C/LW/RW, 30 percent), Zach Hyman (TOR; C/LW, 17 percent), Elias Lindholm (CAR; C/RW, 11 percent), Nolan Patrick (PHI; C, 8 percent)
With Reinhart expected to lose fantasy value in Eichel's absence, Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Alex Killorn (14 percent) is a better option moving forward. Killorn has eight points (four goals, four assists) and 13 SOG in his past five games and is currently playing on Tampa Bay's second line with elite right wing Nikita Kucherov (1st in Yahoo) and forward Brayden Point (C/RW, 61st). The Lightning have an eight-game homestand beginning March 3. Killorn has 17 points (four goals, 13 assists) and 48 SOG in 25 home games.
In DFS contests, Killorn ($4,400) is a must-stream player against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday (7 p.m. ET; NHLN-US, TVAS, TSN4, SUN). His low price provides a stacking option for the Lightning's second line with Kucherov ($7,700) and/or Point ($5,900). Killorn has averaged 5.5 DraftKings points per game over his past five games.
