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.

The Vancouver Canucks enter camp with a clear question at center after J.T. Miller’s offseason exit: who will anchor the second line? Filip Chytil is the top internal bet, projected to work with Pettersson and Kane, while Vancouver pursues internal options like Raty, Sasson, and Mueller. Management admires patience but won’t ignore outside options if results lag, with playoff odds at +115 to make the postseason and a high cost for a quick fix.

NHL confirms an 84-game regular season and a new Retired Players Emergency Healthcare and Wellness Fund of 4 million annually to support current and former players with family doctors and mental-health services. The deal also boosts retiree insurance subsidies to 10,000 per year and cements long-term post-care protections for alumni through 2030, with players like Robert Thomas highlighting pensions and health benefits as a top priority. The package coexists with talks on Olympic participation, a decentralized draft, and ongoing governance efforts around Hockey Canada matters.