Quiet offseason lull persists as RFAs linger and extensions loom, with signs of movement only as training camp approaches. Mason McTavish, Marco Rossi, and Luke Hughes remain unsigned, while Kirill Kaprizov and Connor McDavid sit at the top of extension watch lists. Brady Tkachuk’s long‑term stay with Ottawa anchors fantasy lineups, keeping top‑line production and power‑play time in focus. Montreal’s Carey Price and Boston’s goaltending situation add goaltending intrigue, underscoring the need to monitor creases and workload shifts. As August fades, the pace should pick up, but fantasy managers must track signings that could reshape lines, minutes, and usage.

The discussion tracks the broader league mood: teams balancing cap space, camp rosters, and the ever‑present risk of injuries if signings miss time. Expect bridge deals and late‑summer negotiations to ramp up, with extended timelines possibly affecting depth chart clarity. For fantasy players, the core takeaway is to watch RFAs and marquee extensions closely, as these moves drive role certainty, power‑play exposure, and potential shifts in goaltending responsibilities ahead of a fresh season.