Spencer Knight signed a three-year, $17.5 million extension with the Chicago Blackhawks, starting in 2026-27 at an average salary of $5.83 million. The 24-year-old goalie was moved from Florida to Chicago in March for Seth Jones and a 2026 fourth-round pick, signaling a long-term bet on Knight as the crease cornerstone.

Knight owns a 95-game NHL resume with a 2.83 GAA and .904 SV%, including a 17-16-3 line and a 2.72 GAA/.902 SV% in 2023-24 across Panthers and Blackhawks, with 15 Chicago starts after the trade. Chicago praises his athleticism and calm positioning as it aims to build around him for four seasons.

Corey Perry will miss six to eight weeks after knee surgery, a setback for the Los Angeles Kings as training camp opens and the season against Colorado looms. The 40-year-old winger signed this summer for a 21st NHL season, after a career that included 14 seasons with Anaheim, a 2007 Cup, and five Final appearances. He sits 121st on the all-time scoring list heading into 2025-26, having posted 19 goals and 11 assists for Edmonton last season and 10 goals with four assists in the playoffs. The injury opens opportunites for younger Kings to grab minutes and for the special teams to adjust without Perry early on.

The absence tests the team’s depth and could accelerate line tinkering and increased roles for other veterans as the club navigates the opening stretch until Perry’s return, with Kopitar and the top combinations tasked with steadying the offense while the winger rehabs.

The 2025-26 NHL season opens with Carolina and Edmonton as co-favorites at TitanPlay, Florida and Colorado close behind, signaling a high-stakes Cup chase. Florida keeps its core while Carolina added talent, creating a crowded race among the top four. Historic moments—Orr’s Cup-clinching overtime, Ovechkin passing Gretzky, Lemieux’s comeback, and Selanne’s rookie explosion—anchor contemporary fantasy narratives, shaping milestone-driven ceilings for stars and sleepers alike.