Fantasy Spin: Replacing leading scorer Patrick Kane

The Chicago Blackhawks placed NHL leading-scorer Patrick Kane on long-term injured reserve Wednesday due to an upper-body injury sustained Tuesday against the Florida Panthers. This news is tough for Blackhawks fans, but fantasy owners are in a bind since the fantasy playoffs are just around the corner.

It is impossible to find a forward on your respective waiver wire with the production value of Kane, but the following players could help ease the burden in shallow or deep fantasy leagues:

Craig Smith, C/RW, Nashville Predators (owned in 34 percent of Yahoo leagues) It is always wise to search for players from the best team in the NHL, and Smith is a possibility to be picked up in some shallow leagues. With 19 goals, 34 points, five power-play goals, a team-leading 190 shots on goal, and eligibility at the same two positions as Kane in Yahoo leagues, Smith could provide the best value among players that are possibly available in your league.

Mark Scheifele, C, Winnipeg Jets (12 percent owned) Owners can receive a bonus with the soon-to-be 22-year old Scheifele as they can not only find a decent short-term replacement for Kane, but can also get a viable option if playing in a keeper league. The former first-round pick (2011; No. 7 overall) has a goal and two assists in the past two games, and has been solid all season with 34 points (nine goals, 25 assists), a plus-three rating, 11 power-play points (two goals, nine assists), and 123 SOG in 62 games played.

Chris Stewart, RW, Buffalo Sabres (9 percent owned) With the NHL trade deadline on Monday, Mar. 2 at 3 pm ET, owners are advised to consider picking up players on teams that could possibly be sellers. Considering that the Blackhawks will likely need to trade for a forward to tide them over until Kane returns, buying low on Stewart can end up yielding a huge return. Stewart's minus-31 rating may make him seem like a player to steer clear of, but he's also playing for a team with the worst goal differential in the League at minus-90. And Stewart's 10 goals, 23 points, 63 penalty minutes and 10 power-play points (5 goals, 5 assists) in 59 games this season could see a boost if he ends up on a contending team down the stretch, where his plus-minus should also improve.

Teuvo Teravainen, C/LW, Chicago Blackhawks (2 percent owned) The Blackhawks recalled the 20-year old former first-round pick (2012; No. 18 overall) from their American Hockey League affiliate Rockford Ice Hogs on Wednesday, making it a safe bet for fantasy owners to depend on Teravainen as the in-house replacement for Kane. The young Finnish forward had 25 points (six goals, 19 assists) and 98 SOG through 39 games with Rockford but it remains to be seen what type of numbers he can achieve with the big league club.