NHLPA media tour in Las Vegas sparked a flurry of fantasy-relevant chatter: Kirill Kaprizov reportedly turned down an 8-year, $16M-per-season offer from Minnesota, fueling talk of a bigger market or trade play. The Hughes brothers dominated Canucks talk, with captaincy front and Jack and Luke looming on New Jersey’s horizon. Crosby discussed future plans in Pittsburgh as Vancouver’s core eyes a bold season. Calgary’s goalie market, led by Dustin Wolf, also factors into the cap and playoff calculus.

Across the league, McDavid’s potential market ceiling, Olympic-year prep, and the tug-of-war between staying put and seeking opportunity kept players and managers weighing risk vs. reward. Health and emotion ran through the narratives, shaping early-season fantasy projections and trade chatter.