Fantasy - Dump and Chase: 3 players to target in a trade

Every Thursday, we examine three players you should consider acquiring on the trade front in your pool.

Welcome to the unofficial second half of the NHL season.

The All-Star break has come and gone, and all eyes now turn to the trade deadline and the playoffs, with fantasy leagues being no exception.

Here are three players to target in a trade this week.

Oilers F Jordan Eberle

As the Edmonton Oilers find themselves back down in the league's basement, at least one player seems to be finding his stride.

Jordan Eberle has scored five goals in 10 January games, almost doubling his output from the 2014 portion of the season.

On pace to hit the 200-shot mark for the second year in a row, he's also on track to eclipse 20 goals. He could reach 25 if he continues this return to form displayed over the past three seasons where he scored at a rate of 31 goals per 82 games.

Wild F Thomas Vanek

Thomas Vanek's tenure with the Minnesota Wild got off to a slow start, as the forward scored only six goals from October through December.

In 12 games in January, Vanek has scored three goals, but what's encouraging is his rising shot rate. Averaging 3.3 shots on goal in that span, Vanek is finally starting to display the kind of sharp-shooting that placed him among the top goal scorers in fantasy hockey year after year.

His shooting percentage sits at 8.7 - well down from his career average of 14.4 - but if he continues to fire at will as he has in recent weeks, the goals will come, as will increased chances of success for your fantasy squad.

Avalanche D Tyson Barrie

With Erik Johnson on the shelf for up to eight weeks, Tyson Barrie becomes the man of the hour on the Colorado Avalanche blue line, much to the delight of fantasy owners.

In Colorado's first game back from the break, Barrie led all players with 23:55 of ice time, including a team-high 2:03 on the power play, while registering an assist in the 4-3 loss.

With four goals and 25 assists through 48 games, he's already on pace to smash the career high of 38 points recorded in 64 games last season. Factor in the increased ice time and added responsibilities as the de factor power play quarterback, and Barrie could finish in the 55-point range, making him one of the more valuable defenseman in fantasy hockey.