Calgary's goaltending depth is under the microscope as Devin Cooley and Ivan Prosvetov push for the Flames’ backup role behind Dustin Wolf, with both on one-way deals and exposure to waivers as teams show interest. Separate chatter centers on Connor McDavid potentially signing a short-term deal under 16 million AAV, preserving Edmonton’s cap flexibility around a core that includes Draisaitl, Bouchard and Nurse. Kirill Kaprizov is floated as a potential league-leading high AAV if he stays with Minnesota, shaping market expectations and fantasy angles for the season ahead.

NHL betting season preview spotlights a three-peat bid by the Florida Panthers, a dethroning drive by the Vegas Golden Knights boosted by Mitch Marner, and strong futures for Colorado and Edmonton. The betting menu is rich: moneylines, totals, puck lines, prop bets, parlays and live in-play bets, with Panthers (+600), Avalanche (+800), Knights (+800) and Oilers (+850) drawing the most action for 2025-26.

For fantasy managers, off-season moves reshape value: Marner’s arrival sharpens Knights’ ceiling, while MacKinnon/Makar and McDavid/Draisaitl anchor top-tier contending duos. Track workload shifts, depth players who could surge when stars rest, and goaltending workloads to gauge risk and upside early in the year.

NHL fantasy flag-planting for 2025-26 centers on proven stars and high-upside youngsters, led by Kucherov’s consistent scoring and premier power play production. A mix of veteran accuracy, breakout potential with new line dynamics, and goaltending depth across Utah and Colorado shapes a balanced ESPN standard lineup. The format favors multi-category contributors and reliable workloads, with opportunities for rookies like Rinzel to surprise and veterans like Bouchard to anchor blue-line production.

Key stories include Dorofeyev benefiting from Marner’s Vegas arrival, Suzuki’s top-line chemistry with Caufield, Tuch’s goals plus blocks, Cuylle’s Rangers breakout path, and steady goaltending upside from Vejmelka and Blackwood. It’s a bold blend of floors and ceilings designed for 2025-26 fantasy success.