Marc-Andre Fleury's ceremonial return to the Pittsburgh Penguins capped a 21-year NHL career, as the goalie stopped eight third-period shots in a 4-1 win over Columbus. The moment honored his Pittsburgh legacy—three Cups, record milestones, and a crowd-energizing embrace with Crosby, Malkin and Letang. The night reminded fantasy players why Fleury remains an iconic aura pick—leadership and occasional workload spikes—while opening-night goaltending will still be anchored by the Penguins' starter.

The crowd, signs, and yellow pads framed a bow on a career that began in Pittsburgh and chapters in Vegas, Chicago and Minnesota. For fantasy managers, Fleury's stature boosts team morale and locker-room impact, but expect the Penguins to ride their current starter and a prudent depth plan into the season's start. Occasional sparking performances in low-stakes games can’t be ignored as a potential Vezina-era influence on the Penguins’ net.

Cole Sillinger and Zach Werenski led the Columbus Blue Jackets to a commanding 6-1 victory over the New York Islanders, closing out their season impressively. This surprising finish comes after a season filled with challenges, including the loss of teammate Johnny Gaudreau. Initially predicted to finish last, the Blue Jackets secured the fourth spot in the Metropolitan Division with 89 points, ending on a six-game winning streak.

Alongside Sillinger and Werenski, contributions came from Dante Fabbro, Dmitri Voronkov, Sean Kuraly, and Adam Fantilli, each netting goals. The team tied a franchise record for home points, showcasing their strength at Nationwide Arena. Goaltender Jet Greaves was a standout, stopping 36 shots and nearly achieving his third consecutive shutout.

Yegor Chinakhov is set to make his much-anticipated return to the Columbus Blue Jackets lineup after a prolonged recovery from a back injury that sidelined him for 39 games. The 23-year-old forward, who was the team's first-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, faced a challenging recovery, including consultations with multiple specialists, even visiting a physician in Russia. Despite not undergoing corrective surgery, he faced significant setbacks, which led to frustration during his rehabilitation.

Chinakhov's career totals stand at 70 points from 34 goals and 36 assists over 166 games. Last season, he managed to play 53 games, amassing a career-high 29 points. With a two-year contract extension worth $4.2 million secured last June, Chinakhov's performance will be pivotal for the Blue Jackets as they hope to bolster their offensive depth. In a corresponding roster move, Cole Sillinger has been placed on injured reserve due to a shoulder injury.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have not engaged in serious trade discussions with the Vancouver Canucks regarding star players Elias Pettersson or J.T. Miller. Despite some initial conversations, the Blue Jackets are focused on developing their young centers, including Adam Fantilli, Cole Sillinger, and promising prospect Cayden Lindstrom.

With the NHL salary cap projected to rise significantly by 2027, players like Dylan Cozens may become more attractive trade targets due to their cost certainty. The Canucks have Carson Soucy available, with speculation surrounding potential interest from teams like the Calgary Flames, who are keen on assessing Ilya Solovyov's performance.

Further, the trade landscape is shifting, with various teams like the New Jersey Devils and Toronto Maple Leafs exploring options to bolster their rosters ahead of significant contract negotiations.

Cole Sillinger returned to the lineup after an upper-body injury to score the game-winning goal just 52 seconds into overtime, leading the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 2-1 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. Adam Fantilli, in his 100th NHL game, also scored for Columbus, while Elvis Merzlikins made 25 saves. Tomas Hertl netted his 20th goal of the season for Vegas, extending his point streak to 11 games. Despite a strong start from the Golden Knights, Columbus held strong defensively and secured a crucial win, maintaining their competitive edge with points in 10 of their last 12 games.

The Golden Knights and the Edmonton Oilers are now tied for first place in the Pacific Division with 68 points. Meanwhile, Merzlikins' victory marked his 87th career win, tying him with Joonas Korpisalo for third-most in Blue Jackets history. Columbus now prepares to face Utah, while Vegas heads to New York to take on the Rangers.