The NHL is weighing the fate of five Hockey Canada alums who were acquitted in a London, Ontario trial, but remain ineligible as the league reviews the findings. Carter Hart, Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote and Alex Formenton were cleared, yet the NHL has not set a return date. Hart hasn’t played since 2023-24; McLeod spent recent seasons abroad; Dube and Foote returned to North American pro circuits, while Formenton has moved to Europe. The piece also covers Milan-Cortina arena progress, a second decentralized draft, and a loosening of dress-code rules under the new CBA, with fitness testing ending after 2025-26.

The surrounding NHL updates touch on Olympic readiness, the draft format’s evolution, and how these shifts could influence team-building and fantasy outlooks as the league navigates off-ice fallout and on-ice scheduling ahead of the Milan Games.