Smelling salts have become a routine pre-faceoff jolt on NHL benches, interpreted by players as a quick switch into game mode. Dubois, now with the Capitals, says it helps him click into competition, and peers like Robert Thomas and Seth Jarvis describe the wake-up buzz as real, while Connor Bedard notes it’s a personal choice. The practice sits amid safety debates and evolving policies across hockey and football.

The NHL studies the policy, Hockey Canada and the PWHL restrict usage in youth and pro settings, and the NFL has tightened access amid FDA warnings. Capitals, Blues, Hurricanes, Blackhawks and Panthers illustrate a spectrum of opinion on its value and risks for fantasy lineups.

Florida faces a brutal test to repeat as champions after losing captain Aleksander Barkov to a long-term knee injury and potentially watching Matthew Tkachuk miss early action. Still, the Panthers enter a season defined by resilience, with odds marking them as underdogs behind Edmonton, Vegas, and a handful of powerhouses. Olympic play adds a global spectacle before a brutal 403-game stretch resumes, testing every contender’s depth and fantasy upside.

Across the league, the sport remains rich with storyline: Crosby, McDavid, MacKinnon and Hedman headline a star-studded chase for gold and the Cup, while coaches shuffle and rookies rise. The schedule emphasizes endurance and the fantasy implications of injuries, breaks, and midseason pivots, setting up a season where depth, timing, and elite talent decide fantasy and betting outcomes.

Crosby clings to Olympic hope as Milan-Cortina 2026 nears, a return born from NHL-NHLPA-IOC-IIHF accords that ended a 12‑year absence. The veteran remains a storyline anchor even as the league resumes its best-on-best stage.

Among the next wave, McDavid, Makar, Nylander, MacKinnon, Matthews, Eichel and Reinhart loom as headliners for a 12‑nation field that also includes Czechia, Slovakia, Sweden, Finland, Italy and more. The 4 Nations Face‑Off teased a faster, sharper game and a premium fantasy/betting canvas.

The real shift is balancing NHL duties with Olympic ambition, a dynamic Crosby helps define for 2026, as young stars rise and the sport’s best-on-best spectacle finally returns.

Aleksander Barkov suffered a torn ACL in early training camp and will miss 7-9 months, potentially sidelining him for the full 2025-26 season. He underwent surgery with Dr. John Uribe and will be reevaluated periodically as Florida navigates the setback.

With Barkov out and Matthew Tkachuk out until December, the Panthers lean on Sam Bennett and Anton Lundell to drive the middle, while Sam Reinhart and Carter Verhaeghe pick up top-line scoring. Brad Marchand’s return adds veteran depth, and Bill Zito’s cap room via LTIR could spark a midseason maneuver as Florida pursues a deep playoff run.

Fantasy managers should watch how the forward corps rebalances, especially Bennet/Lundell line pairings and the top PP units, as the Panthers chase production amid significant injury disruption.