Connor McDavid leads the draft as the safe cornerstone for 10-team rosters, with Nathan MacKinnon a close second thanks to elite volume and a high ceiling. Leon Draisaitl and Calgary’s Connor Zary surface as high-upside early picks, while McKenzie Weegar and Dustin Wolf anchor Calgary’s back end with strong peripheral upside. The show emphasizes balancing wings, blue-line anchors like Sanderson, and the value of dual-eligibility forwards like Boldy and Keller, plus a keeper eye on standout goalies.

Beyond the top tier, Reinhardt, Keller, Point, Robertson and Crosby appear as key secondary targets, with Kadri and Couture offering mid-round floor in central roles. The mock underscores that in a 10-team format, early wing depth, defenseman reach and goalie insurance shape rosters. Expect lots of camp chatter and ADP shifts as drafts heat up.

Caprizov negotiations dominate Minnesota’s off-season chatter as Kaprizov returns from Russia, with the Wild eyeing a five- to six-year deal that could stretch to eight if market dynamics permit. The looming McDavid extension colors every discussion of term and AAV, while Minnesota weighs cap space, future assets, and the timing of a potential signing.

Nico Sturm’s addition and Vladimir Tarasenko’s status shape lineup projections on the wing and second line, with Terasenko’s risk-reward profile and Sturm’s bottom-six presence informing cap math and deadline plans. The episode also touches on rookie development, injury risk, and how the Wild might pursue mid-season upgrades.

McDavid's remarks spotlight a potential leverage moment for Edmonton, as a looming free-agent scenario could force a rapid re-think of cap and core strategy. Fantasy managers should treat him as an elite anchor, but monitor Oilers' moves for signs of lasting contention versus windowing deals.

Kaprizov's extension chatter underscores Minnesota's urgency to lock a franchise pillar amid tight cap pressures, shaping West pricing and surrounding-role value. In fantasy, Kaprizov remains a top-five asset, though roster construction around him must weather cap realities.

Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews anchor the Leafs' ceiling, but off-season contract chatter adds risk to Toronto's core. The pod also flags NHL rule changes that could shift trade timing, LTIR usage, and rookie signings, all of which may tilt fantasy values as camps open.

Taylor Hall’s move to Carolina could unlock more top-six ice time and lift his fantasy ceiling, especially in deeper formats. Morgan Frost in Calgary and Marco Kasper in Detroit offer sleeper appeal as their roles expand, while Jamie Benn remains a steady late-round value for multi-category leagues. Will Cuylé, Jake Neighbours, and Kiefer Sherwood emerge as useful late picks as bigger roles materialize, with Connor Bedard and other Rangers stars framed as rookie and rebound targets.

The discussion weaves through Rangers’ strong core (Mika Zibanejad, JT Miller, Artemi Panarin) and DET/NHL leaders, highlighting how minute-by-minute trajectories and line-mate contexts shape streaming and DFS decisions. It also leans into prospect ceilings and division dynamics for a season RPG-style approach.