Mike Sullivan’s blunt push for Adam Fox establishes a clear, playoff-level standard: Fox must return to elite form to reach his Olympic goals, with no Ranger-favoritism in play. Fox’s Four Nations Ice-time shifts and the coach’s Norris-caliber expectations frame a season-long push to elevate his game after last year’s downswing, anchored by a potential top partnership with Gavrikov that could unlock Fox's offensive ceiling.

Meanwhile, the Rangers shake up their leadership: Blake Wheeler returns in a hockey-ops advisory role, and three in-house promotions—Ryan Martin to associate GM, Jim Sullivan to assistant GM, and Ryan Clo back in the mix—signal a front office built for a mix of veteran insight and analytics. For fantasy, Fox’s motivation and a stronger, more diverse braintrust around him could lift the team’s upside this season.

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.

Igor Shesterkin anchors the NHL’s goalie elite, with Connor Hellebuyck and Sergei Bobrovsky close behind. Andrei Vasilevskiy sits in the next tier, then Juuse Saros, Illya Sorokin, and Jeremy Swayman. Frederik Andersen and Darcy Kuemper round out the top 10, offering durability and playoff pedigree.

Context matters as much as talent: regular-season metrics mingle with playoff performance and team support. Shesterkin remains the anchor; Kuemper and Andersen provide steady workloads and potential streaming wins when the schedule is dense.

McDavid leads a high-octane Canada as Olympic chatter heats up and contract questions hover over Edmonton. Team Canada, defending Four Nations and World Cup gold, seeks a balance of elite talent and depth on both wings and the back end to thrive in an NHL-ice Olympic crowd.

On offense, McDavid is centerpiece, flanked by Point and Marner in a lens-sharp trio, with Makar anchoring the blue line alongside Toews. Goaltending clarity is guarded, with Bennington the obvious starter and others circling as Armstrong tacks a durable, adaptable roster for the Games.

FanDuel pegs Canada at plus-money favorite odds (+150) over the USA (+200), underscoring the talent pipeline and a possible youth infusion on defense and forwards as the camp tightens into shape.

The Locked on NHL podcast discusses the topic of potential realignment in the NHL. As the league evolves, the playoff structure and divisional matchups are examined, particularly in light of repeating matchups like the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings. While rivalries can be manufactured, the hosts argue that true rivalries develop from meaningful competition, regardless of geography. The discussion moves to the NHL's current eight-team divisional structure and how it might feel stale, prompting thoughts on a more dynamic realignment that could enhance rivalries and playoff excitement.

With potential expansion on the horizon, considerations of how to restructure divisions become paramount. Possible scenarios for realignment, such as grouping teams by geographic proximity or market size, are proposed. The hosts envision a fresh approach to the league's structure that could breathe new life into rivalries and enhance fan engagement, ultimately leading to a more exciting playoff experience.