Three NHL clubs sit at crossroads before the season as the Flyers, Bruins and Kraken plot distinct paths. Philadelphia reshapes with Michkov, Zegras and Dvorak in focus, while goaltending remains a wild card and cap space tightens every move. Boston leans into a one-foot-in, one-foot-out rebuild with new pieces and heavy salaries locked in, testing how far Swayman, Pastrnak and McAvoy can carry them. Seattle injects youth and speed around Beneers and Kakko, betting on a high floor of competitiveness even as they chase a higher ceiling.

Fantasy turns on where scraps become scores: Michkov’s big-promise rookie appeal for PHI, Zegras’s playmaking upside in a Flyers lineup that’s still retooling, Kakko’s fit with Seattle’s grind-and-solve approach, and Beneers stepping into a pivotal role for the Kraken. The big question: which teams and players step forward enough to lift fantasy benches into real upside this season?

As goaltending and depth charts shuffle, managers should map lines, PP exposure and injury risk closely. The Flyers’ scoring talent is tantalizing but thin behind the top units; Boston’s core carries risk if extensions outpace on-ice value; Seattle’s balanced approach could yield steady production from multiple players rather than a singular breakout star. Track who seizes minutes and special-teams roles first.