Vancouver dominated Calgary 8-1 in a high-octane preseason showcase, led by Quinn Hughes with a goal and two assists and Max Sasson’s two tallies. Pettersson and Raty pounced on the power play, while Forbort also chipped in on the PK with a short-handed score. Lankinen stood tall with 29 saves as Vancouver stretched its attack and depth ahead of the regular season. Calgary’s lone reply came from Joel Farabee early in the second; Prosvetov and Cooley struggled in goal.

Seattle built a 3-0 lead by the first intermission and cruised to a 4-2 win over Edmonton behind Winterton’s two goals, including a shorty. Daccord stopped 32; Nurse and Savoie answered for the Oilers, but Pickard’s 13 saves couldn’t close the gap. Both games spotlighted standout depth, special-teams execution, and the early shape of each club’s roster battles for opening night.

Bryan Rust navigates a rising trade rumor tide as his no-trade clause expires and Kyle Dubas says he would look at anything. The Penguins face structural questions, and Rust’s name keeps surfacing in a market where teams weigh cap, aging assets, and fit. Chinakhov’s situation amplifies the chatter around Edmonton, too, with Oilers balancing space and depth.

Edmonton’s goalie setup—Skinner’s development, a new goalie coach, and Janmark’s unsettled roster slot—along with Hyman’s delayed return and Tolvanen’s long-term Seattle link, threads a league-wide pattern: contracts, upside, and the risk of a cluttered market shaping fantasy value early in the season.

Eeli Tolvanen’s Seattle chapter signals a potential breakout in a contract year. With top-six minutes and strong power-play chances on the horizon, the 26-year-old Finn enters prime form after a 23-goal season and 81 games in two straight years. A standout World Championship run boosts confidence, and a hot start could push Seattle to lock him up long-term, elevating his fantasy ceiling while shaping the Kraken’s future.

Buffalo Sabres are nudging toward adding a proven top-six forward, eyeing Eeli Tolvanen as a plausible midseason target if Seattle isn’t in the playoff chase. Tolvanen posted a career-high 23 goals and has one year left on his deal, making him a high-upside rental with potential cost tied to a 20-goal pace and conditional picks or blue-chip prospects such as Isak Rosen, Devon Levi, or Noah Ostlund. If Seattle dangles Tolvanen, Buffalo could pursue a package that includes a first-rounder or a strong prospect, balancing immediate impact with future assets.

The chatter also covers a broader trade-market and draft-pick dynamics around 2026 selections, with Penguins’ Kyle Dubas discussing teams attempting to re-acquire their 2026 picks and the possibility of offer sheets viewed as leverage by teams like Winnipeg and San Jose. The report lists offer-sheet candidates (Sebrango, Kupari, Holtz, Zary, Evangelista, McTavish, Rossi) and notes some teams’ interest in specific names (Zary, Evangelista, McTavish, Rossi). It also notes extension talks for Dustin Wolf, UFA Matt Grzelcyk, and various waiver/rookie-target angles shaping both teams’ in-season contorts. The piece closes with a reminder to subscribe and follow for ongoing rumor-driven discussions across the league.

Nathan MacKinnon led Canada to a dominant 5-1 victory over Austria in the World Championship, scoring two goals and adding an assist. With this win, Canada secured its spot at the top of Group A alongside Sweden, both boasting perfect records of 4-0. Marc-Andre Fleury showcased notable skill, stopping 15 shots, while Travis Konecny and Will Cuylle each contributed a goal and an assist. Canada, displaying resilience, turned the tide after initially falling behind 1-0, thanks to MacKinnon's power-play goal and subsequent efforts to secure the victory.

Finland also made headlines, thrashing Slovenia 9-1, with Eeli Tolvanen netting four goals. Meanwhile, the Czech Republic took down Hungary 6-1, highlighting their offensive prowess led by David Pastrnak. The tournament continues to heat up, as teams vie for supremacy in their respective groups.