Barkov on LTIR lets Florida chase cap flexibility for the stretch run, while Vegas leaned into a different cap path with Pietrangelo on season-ending IR. Winnipeg has begun extension talks with Adam Lowry after Kyle Connor’s deal, and Jack Roslovic joined Edmonton on a one-year pact to chase winning culture. Carter Hart remains tied to Vegas in rumors. These cap moves reshape late-season fantasy value and playoff depth planning.

Watch for how these shifts affect line combos, ice time, and goalie rotations as rosters firm up for the final push. Depth players may surge in opportunity, and goaltending plans could swing depending on how teams manage injury and cap risk down the stretch.

Logan Cooley rejected an eight-year, $77 million extension from Utah Mammoth, choosing to gamble on a rising cap and long-term value over a massive upfront guarantee. The move highlights a shifting NHL payday landscape, where front-loaded deals may give way to more strategic, cap-aware structures as revenue climbs.

Meanwhile, key signings—Jack Eichel, Kyle Connor, Mattias Ekholm, and Jack Roslovic—signal a rebalancing among contenders. The cap trajectory to $135–$140M over the next few years could redefine value, with the Stars and others potentially adjusting spend. Cooley’s stance may become a blueprint for patience in a boom cycle.