Colorado enters camp with Landeskog back and a crowded wing picture around MacKinnon. Lehkonen and Necas can float with the star, Nichushkin’s health adds a ceiling to the second line, and Colton or Olofsson could push for MacKinnon’s 1C spot. Drury, Kelly and Bardakov are in a tight race for 3C/4C, while the blue line faces Keaton Middleton and Malinski battles as Burns and Manson shuffle with Girard and Toews. fantasy angles: watch lines, PK duties, and who doubles on special teams.

Colorado’s off-season chatter centers on Erik Johnson’s PTO, a possible Sam Malinski trade, and cap-planning that could hinge on whether Martin Necas or Jack Drury signs soon. Names pegged to swing this market include Kirill Kaprizov, Connor McDavid, Kyle Connor, and Adrian Kempe, all expected to set winger and center benchmarks. Mason McTavish tops Ducks’ trade drums, with Rossi, McCann, Kadri, Mittelstadt and Zacha circling as potential targets. Leafs, Canucks and Canadiens are among buyers, while Kaprizov and McDavid could trigger the first big moves.

The clash of extensions and offer sheets could shape the 2024-25 lineup, and Drury’s performance as a third-line center might determine Colorado’s need for a 3C at the deadline. Ducks’ chatter around McTavish and the broader market suggest a fluid autumn where cap and fit drive big decisions, even as the league remains in buy mode.

Finnish prosecutors plan a near-100,000 euro fine for Mikko Rantanen after ruling his April 15 deferment filing delay for mandatory military service unauthorized. Finland’s day-fine system scales penalties to income, so the 10–15 day fines tied to Rantanen’s NHL salary would total roughly 56,500–84,750 euros (about $65,800–$98,600). He earned $9.5 million with Colorado in 2023–24. The delay occurred just before Colorado’s playoff opener, and the case threads through a three-team trade that sent him to Carolina, with former MVP Taylor Hall also moving to Carolina. Colorado received Martin Necas, Jack Drury, and two draft picks, before Rantanen was shipped to Dallas at the trade deadline, where he signed an eight-year, $96 million extension. The saga blends Finnish conscription law, hefty NHL salaries, and a tense playoff backdrop, making for a curious off-ice lens on on-ice value for fantasy watchers.

The Colorado Avalanche have positively adjusted following the high-profile trade that sent Mikko Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes. Martin Necas and Jack Drury have quickly acclimated to their new roles, contributing significantly to the Avalanche's success. Meanwhile, speculation around Rantanen’s contract situation looms, as he remains unsigned with Carolina, raising questions about his future with the team. Despite mixed performances, both Necas and Drury have brought depth to Colorado's lineup, while Rantanen's transition continues to capture national attention.