Hamilton sits at the center of trade chatter as New Jersey navigates a tight cap, with Luke Hughes on deck and Kovacevic out until January. Devils insist Hamilton won’t be moved to clear cap space, valuing his mix of power-play punch and zone work in a Cup-window lineup. Hamilton stresses focus on controllables and his no-trade clause. In Pittsburgh, Bryan Rust stresses loyalty to the Penguins amid potential asset moves as Malkin, Rakell, and Jarry swirl in rumors, shaping fantasy angles and cap plans.

Anders Lee’s Islanders contract status is being watched as Mathieu Darche favors a patient start to the season. Lee remains the captain with a year left, and there’s no urgency to re-sign yet, leaving fantasy managers to monitor early-season roles. Separately, Jack Hughes and Quinn Hughes sparked talk of a potential future pairing, while Luke Hughes and Dougie Hamilton enter the broader roster chatter. Calgary Flames’ rumored roster-flexibility adds another layer for speculative moves and value targets.