The Capitals placed Mitch Love on team-imposed leave as an NHL investigation unfolds, keeping details private while training camp approaches. The league has not disclosed misconduct specifics, and Capitals officials will comment after the investigation. Love, a former enforcer turned coach, drew head-coaching interest this offseason, with ESPN reporting letters about his conduct that triggered the inquiry and indicating the issue began before he joined Washington.

Vancouver Canucks' season hinges on on-ice performance: Demko's health, center depth, and cohesion take center stage as the noise stays down. Boeser is settled; Hughes' extension is off the table until next summer, and the trade market remains thin with cap pressures looming from double retention. Kaprizov's contract chatter adds league-wide context while Vancouver must prove it can compete on the ice to quiet outside chatter.

With limited trade options and a tough cap landscape, Vancouver's success hinges on Demko's health, timely development from the middle, and steady scoring from their top forwards to deliver real improvement on the ice.

Sidney Crosby’s future with the Pittsburgh Penguins is suddenly uncertain as Kyle Dubas reshapes the franchise around a declining window. Crosby’s agent, Pat Brisson, signaled a possible move, a departure from prior certainty about Crosby finishing in Pittsburgh. Bleacher Report’s Sara Civian even floated Colorado as a bold landing spot for 2025-26. Crosby, 38, is in the first season of a two-year, $17.4 million extension, a timing nuance that could complicate any potential exit.

Colorado would give Crosby a legitimate chance at another Cup with Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar leading a high-end core, aided by Crosby’s Nova Scotia ties and long-standing admiration for MacKinnon. While Montreal and other contenders surface, the Avalanche offer the most complete fit if Crosby seeks a final championship chase, making this a high-stakes narrative to watch in the coming months.