Edmonton’s path to an elite No.1 goalie before the trade deadline is narrow; only a handful of duos in the league could realistically upgrade a starter ahead of Skinner/Pickard, making a seismic move unlikely.

The piece catalogs plausible targets: Gibson and Talbot (Detroit), Sorokin/Varlamov/Ingram (Islanders), Demko and Lankinen (Canucks), Mrazek (Ducks), Jarry and Merzlikins (stars in rumor mill). It also notes McDavid’s extension chatter could be a distraction, so fantasy managers should brace for a limited upgrade and plan around an unsettled crease.

Calgary Flames and Connor Zary remain at an unsigned RFA standstill, with dispute over term vs. price keeping him in limbo as business picks up. Mikael Backlund, in the final year of his deal and open to Canada-only terms, weighs his future with the team while Rasmus Andersson’ s status looms on a potential trade. The piece also flags Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings as broader league players in the rumor mill, underscoring Calgary’s tightrope between asset value and roster continuity.

Eight nations will compete in the 2028 World Cup of Hockey, staged as an invitational with a later qualification round. Europe hosts a European pool and North America a North American pool, with semifinals and final anchored in one NA city. Russia’s potential return looms as a wildcard: current talk stresses that if Russia participates, Sweden, Finland, and possibly Czechia or Slovakia could bow out, reshaping rosters and fantasy value years ahead. Markets in Europe and North America are being scouted for bids, with expansion possibilities down the road.

Philadelphia's three-year rebuild has yielded a consensus top-10 NHL pipeline, led by Matvei Michkov and a deep 2025 class (Porter Martone, Jack Nesbitt, Carter Amico, Jack Murtagh, Shane Vansaghi, Matthew Gard). Pronman slots Philly No. 7, highest in the Metro, after an A-grade draft haul that fortifies depth behind a budding core.

Bonk and Luchanko anchor the back end, Zavragin offers goalie upside, and Zegras is invoked as a homecoming thread in the broader rebuild narrative. A Sept. 8 top-20 breakdown should sharpen the fantasy picture as the system converts toward NHL impact.