Florida Panthers eye a third straight Cup, but health and cap pressures loom as Tkachuk recovers and depth is tested. The league-wide preview hinges on goaltending certainty, growth from young cores, and high-stakes off-season moves—from Swayman’s bid to reclaim No.1 in Boston to Hughes’ health in New Jersey and Marner’s Vegas exit in Toronto.

Beyond those headline questions, the piece assesses defensive pivots in Vegas, depth shifts in Minnesota with Kaprizov’s contract talk, and young guns like Demidov in Montreal and Celebrini in San Jose eyeing breakout years. ESPN also maps out 100 exclusive games and a rich out-of-market package as fans plot fantasy rosters.

Kaprizov turned down 16 million a year, 16.8% of the cap, signaling a push toward 17M+ as the cap climbs. The 20% ceiling would yield about 19M next season, 20.9M after that, and roughly 22.6M in the following year. Eichel and McDavid sit in similar stratospheres with targets around 13-14M and 17M, respectively, underscoring a high-stakes market for elite forwards.

Hart drew interest from Flyers, Hurricanes, and Penguins as a short-term option; Maple Leafs goalie Stolarz is in extension talks, per Weekes, while Robertson remains Dallas's long-term priority. It’s a cap-smart, term-driven summer shaping rosters across the league.

Ovi's Great Crunch hits Giant Food stores in the DC area, a cereal salute to Alexander Ovechkin's pursuit of historical goal milestones and his 897 career goals. Proceeds support pediatric cancer research via The GR8 Chase for Victory Over Cancer and Hockey Fights Cancer through the V Foundation, tying a marketing moment to charitable impact while Ovechkin embarks on a 21st Capitals season.

For fantasy managers, the narrative around Ovechkin's chase could sustain his ice time and power-play duties, keeping him a steady source of goals. The public attention from the cereal release boosts his profile, but on-ice production remains the driver of value as he chases milestones and contributes in the Capitals' top-line role.

Kaprizov’s extension talks hinge on term as much as money, with Minnesota balancing a return to playoff contention against cap realities. The Wild can’t afford a repeat of past exits, so they’re weighing a long-term pledge or trading rights if Decembers pass without a deal.

The saga nods to Gaborik’s Wild era as a cautionary tale: timing, health, and fit decide a franchise horizon. Kaprizov wants to win, and Minnesota’s cap space recovery underpins the leverage as McDavid’s market moves loom large in the league.