The 2025-26 NHL season opens with Carolina and Edmonton as co-favorites at TitanPlay, Florida and Colorado close behind, signaling a high-stakes Cup chase. Florida keeps its core while Carolina added talent, creating a crowded race among the top four. Historic moments—Orr’s Cup-clinching overtime, Ovechkin passing Gretzky, Lemieux’s comeback, and Selanne’s rookie explosion—anchor contemporary fantasy narratives, shaping milestone-driven ceilings for stars and sleepers alike.

Seth Jones, 30, is the lone Olympic-hopeful defender who brings a rare two-threaded path: he attended the 2013 USA orientation camp and earned a spot on the 2022 Olympic team before the NHL withdrew. Now chasing Milan 2026, Jones sits in a shifting USA defense core alongside Fox, Slavin, Werenski, Hughes and McAvoy, eyeing a chance to cap a career arc that includes a Stanley Cup triumph and a father-driven skating and skill lineage.

As USA Hockey reshapes its blue line, Jones’s background and Cup pedigree underscore the blend of veteran poise and youthful opportunity the 2026 squad will demand. Watching the 4 Nations from home highlighted the depth at defense, with Jones positioned as a potentially pivotal piece in Milan.

Ken Dryden died at 78 after a cancer battle. The Hall of Fame goalie anchored Montreal's dynasty, winning six Stanley Cups in eight seasons, plus Calder Trophy, five Vezinas and the 1971 Conn Smythe. A multidimensional figure, he excelled as author, broadcaster and public servant, shaping Canadiens lore and Canadian hockey for generations.

Tributes from Geoff Molson, Gary Bettman and Carey Price highlighted a life of influence beyond the crease: Dryden's leadership, intellect and service left a lasting imprint on the sport and on the country, with Price and others carrying forward the Canadiens’ tradition of excellence.