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.

Anaheim Ducks aim to flip defensive depth into scoring by shopping young blue-liners for a top-six addition, keeping Trouba and Gudas on the shelf if the playoff push stalls. The rumor mill ties Ducks to marquee names like Mitch Marner, Jason Robertson and Martin Necas, while the Kings chase forward prices around Adrian Kempe’s extension. Hutson and Reinhart surface in broader market chatter, with Rossi’s deal shaping McTavish talks.