NHL extension season heats up as Connor McDavid’s Edmonton deal looms, setting the tone for a flurry of conversations across the league. Kaprizov in Minnesota, Eichel in Vegas, and Connor in Winnipeg emerge as top fantasy-watch names as extension talks shape salaries and cap implications. Long mid-term or short-term bets could alter line combos and surrounding value. Rumors about Erik Karlsson to Toronto and Hutson’s looming Montreal extension add further layers for fantasy bettors tracking futures and cap gymnastics.

Watch for Kaprizov’s eight-year proposal around the $120–130 million mark and McDavid’s own deal cadence; both can shift team construction and fantasy upside. Robertson’s RF A status and Dallas’ cap decisions, plus Hutson’s contract trajectory, are key dominoes. Subtle shifts in these contracts can redefine who benefits on offense and who loses a touch of opportunity in 2025+.

Capitals offseason a quiet churn with a clear path: lean into a younger core while keeping veteran leadership in the room.

Justin Sourdif arrives from Florida to compete for a fourth-line spot after Washington swapped picks with the Panthers. Washington also drafted five prospects and acquired Declan Chisholm to bolster the back end. Veteran exits included Andrew Mangiapane, Taylor Raddysh, Lars Eller, and Alexander Alexeyev, while T.J. Oshie retired and Nicklas Backstrom headed to Sweden. Alex Ovechkin celebrated a historic milestone and is set to return for Capitals camp to chase another run at the Cup.

McDavid signals a patient, long-term plan in Edmonton as two Cup Finals loom. Edmonton adds youth—Matt Savoie and Ike Howard—to the mix, potentially altering top-six dynamics and boosting fantasy upside around McDavid and Draisaitl.

Contract chatter lingers: a three- or four-year deal, or eight years, could anchor McDavid while the youth push shapes the lineup. For fantasy managers, Savoie and Howard could push the Oilers’ attack deeper, widening McDavid’s ceiling but raising risk if vets cede minutes.

Connor McDavid leads NHL 26 with a 97 OVR, boosted by 98 in Passing, Speed, and Offensive Awareness. Nathan MacKinnon and Leon Draisaitl sit at 96 OVR, while Nikita Kucherov also lands at 96 but trails McDavid in key stats. The top 10 also features Quinn Hughes, Cale Makar, Aleksander Barkov, Sidney Crosby, David Pastrnak and Connor Hellebuyck. The first batch of Heroes and Icons for Hockey Ultimate Team introduces players like Hemsky, Roenick, Tkachuk, Naslund, Blake, Chara, Chelios, Pronger, Lundqvist, Thornton, Fedorov and Selanne, with more to come during the season.

Fantasy players should map out cornerstone centers and elite defensemen early, leveraging McDavid as a season-long anchor while weighing the depth around Edmonton, Colorado, and Tampa Bay for stacking options. The Heroes and Icons boost HUT rosters across teams, offering fresh upside and new pairing possibilities as the season evolves.