Rangers may retool on the fly rather than rebuild, driven by ownership's win-now stance and Thanksgiving benchmarks. Early-season results, Panarin’s extension status, and off-ice noise shape lineup moves, with a focus on keeping core stars while trimming risk through strategic trades.

Fantasy implications hinge on Panarin’s future, Zibanejad and Lafreniere line dynamics, and Shesterkin’s load amid potential roster churn. Kaprizov’s market example adds a cautionary note on star salary and flexibility for a roaster built around elite talent and a strong defensive base.

Pettersson, Shesterkin and Klingberg emerge as top positive regression candidates for 2025-26, with Pettersson eyeing a return to 30+ goals and 80+ points amid a fresh Canucks start, Shesterkin rebounding behind a steadier Rangers lineup, and Klingberg potentially reviving his PP quarterback role in San Jose. On the downside, Wilson, Walman and Kuemper carry clear regression flags: Wilson’s goal rate looks unlikely to hold, Walman’s role may shrink, and Kuemper could drift toward an average starter.

These projections hinge on health, coaching changes, and lineup stability, then translate into concrete fantasy implications: draft around risk-reward for goaltending with Kuemper, and target players like Pettersson and Shesterkin where firm performance anchors are likely despite surrounding team turbulence. The article places these players in a realistic context for 2025-26 rosters and DFS/casual fantasy planning.

ESPN fantasy hockey hinges on goaltending. A starter thriving in saves and wins, while limiting goals against, can swing a season; a couple of bad outings can derail it. Top nets like Vasilevskiy, Hellebuyck and Oettinger offer clear cushions, while Shesterkin and Gustavsson present high ceilings. The piece advocates drafting one elite goalie early, then shopping for sleepers to fill the rest in 10-12 team leagues, using workload trends to guide picks.

Beyond the obvious anchors, it spotlights mid-tier options and late-round gambles, such as Swayman, and emphasizes monitoring surges and coaching context. In deeper leagues, secure a one-two punch, then pivot to high-ceiling backups who can emerge. ESPN Mock Draft Lobby is recommended to test rosters and refine the strategy.

Dustin Wolf's seven-year extension with the Calgary Flames, worth 52.5 million and a 7.5 million AAV, signals a long-term commitment to the Calgary net. The deal includes a 10-team no-trade clause in the UFA years, reflecting belief in Wolf after a rookie season that showed elite control and upgrading his runway to stardom. Wolf appeared in 71 NHL games, posted a 29-16-8 record, 2.64 GAA, and .910 save percentage, with three shutouts and Calder Trophy chatter before Calgary missed the playoffs. The move also reshapes Calgary’s cap planning as they address core pieces and look to sustain contention.

The extension underscores Calgary’s faith in Wolf as the foundation of a bid to return to the postseason, while front-loading extensions like Conor Zary’s and signaling room to add around Wolf. It raises questions about Rasmus Andersson and Nazem Kadri’s long-term futures, yet the message from the front office is clear: Wolf is here to stay, develop, and lead a rising Flames roster while the cap environment evolves.

Rangers pivot hard for 2025-26: Gavrikov shores up the blue line with a seven-year, $49 million bid, while Shesterkin eyes a bounce-back season behind a more stable defense. Miller was moved to Carolina, Kreider exits, and Mike Sullivan takes the bench reins in New York. Panarin, Zibanejad and Trocheck must drive a top six that can outscore rough patches; Cuylle and Lafreniere must grow into reliable secondary scoring. A tighter 5v5 foundation shapes a playoff push with Shesterkin back in form as the fulcrum.