Marco Rossi signed a three-year, $15 million contract with the Minnesota Wild, securing a 23-year-old who posted career-highs last season: 24 goals, 36 assists, 60 points in 82 games. His 18:15 of ice time and seven power-play goals signal a growing role in Minnesota’s attack.

Drafted ninth in 2020, Rossi has 101 points in 185 career games, suggesting a high ceiling if he maintains a prominent PP role and top-six minutes. He celebrated the deal on social media, signaling a strong commitment to Minnesota.

Rossi delivered three playoff points in six games as Minnesota reached the postseason, a reminder of his potential in high-leverage moments. The Wild, who’ve reached the playoffs 11 of 13 seasons but not advanced past the first round since 2015, will lean on Rossi as a core piece next season. Openers loom: the season starts Oct. 9 at St. Louis.

In a roster-building sense, Rossi’s extension provides fantasy managers a clearer path to mid-round upside and a possible ladder into top-six, top PP-line production if the deployment trend continues.

New Jersey faces a classic cap-and-contest conundrum: land a true top-six winger without hollowing a still-strong defensive core. The piece lays out a tiered shortlist—Jordan Kyrou, Jason Robertson, Jared McCann, Rickard Rakell, Tyler Toffoli, plus in-house options like Dawson Mercer and Luke Hughes—with each name weighed against price, term, and fit. Kyrou’s full no-move clause and an $8.125M cap hit complicate any deal; Robertson would require a multi-piece package that likely includes Dougie Hamilton. McCann’s two-year, $5M hit looks attractive, but Kraken would command significant assets. Rakell and Toffoli are more plausible bullets for a smaller, surgically precise upgrade, while Mercer and Hughes offer internal growth but uncertain top-six ceiling. The Devils’ front office must decide whether to push hard now or preserve balance for the long grind toward a Stanley Cup.

Milan Lucic will try to earn a Blues roster spot with a camp tryout, a return to a league he last skated in 2023. The 37 year old brings a recognizable physical edge and a veteran presence that can anchor a Blues bottom six and provide energy on the forecheck. His long NHL arc includes a key role in the Bruins 2011 Stanley Cup run, plus stints with the Kings, Oilers and Flames, before a brief return to Boston in 2023 that yielded a handful of assists before an ankle injury and a subsequent long term injury reserve. Off ice turmoil from a 2021 family incident is noted, but Lucic went through the Players Assistance Program and has been reinstated. If he signs, his blend of grit and experience could stabilize a rough edge for St. Louis but his on ice value will hinge on role clarity, health and whether the Blues view him as a fourth line floor penalty killer or a more versatile forward. The Blues are balancing youth with proven character, and Lucic could be the latest piece in that mix, especially if they want a reliable locker room presence and depth for a postseason push.

Lucic has 233 goals, 353 assists and 1301 penalty minutes across 17 NHL seasons, with a career best 32 goals in 2010 11. His playoff pedigree includes an assist on the overtime winner in Game 7 versus Montreal in the 2011 Cup run. His return to the NHL after the Player Assistance Program reinstatement signals a serious effort to extend a lengthy career, and fantasy managers will want to monitor camp reports and potential contract details. If he earns a regular NHL role, he could contribute as a physical catalyst and veteran presence, though his scoring upside will be limited by age and the Blues depth at forward.

Nazem Kadri sits at the center of summer chatter as Calgary keeps its fingers crossed. An analyst on TSN 690 says Kadri fits Calgary but notes nothing short of an offer the Flames cannot refuse would move him, as Calgary aims to push from 96 points into playoff contention. Calgary’s stance is clear: Kadri is a core piece and a trade would only come if it strengthens the team long term.

Interest from Montreal and other clubs like Carolina, Detroit and New Jersey is acknowledged, yet realistic trade scenarios are hampered by Kadri’s contract and Calgary’s appetite to remain a contender with established center depth. Kadri’s production last season (35 goals, 67 points in 82 games) underscores his value, while Hockey Canada’s Olympic snub adds fuel to his motivation for the 2025-26 season.

The Canadian roster snub, Kadri’s track record, and Calgary’s contending mindset shape a quiet summer where Kadri remains a linchpin. For fantasy managers, Kadri staying in Calgary means a stable middle-six center with significant PP time, while a move would trigger notable shifts in Calgary’s lineup and fantasy projections.

Milan Lucic, 37, is trying out with the St. Louis Blues, marking a surprising late‑career bid for an NHL return after his 2023 stint. The veteran winger arrived in camp as a non‑guaranteed option, aiming to carve out a depth role with his size, nastiness, and playoff pedigree. Lucic’s career totals—233 goals, 353 assists, 1,301 penalty minutes over 17 seasons—underscore a profile built on edge and resilience rather than pure scoring. His Cup-winning run with Boston in 2011 looms large in the back of Blues’ minds as they gauge whether his presence can bring a veteran spark to a young bunk.

Off ice, Lucic faced a highly publicized personal incident in his late‑30s, but the Blues say he has completed the Player Assistance Program and been reinstated by the NHL. If he makes the roster, fantasy managers will watch for a potential fourth‑line/PK role that could yield steady hits and PIM with limited minutes, depending on how camp shakes out. The camp competition and how he handles practice tempo will determine if this is a short‑term depth addition or a longer stay that could influence Blues’ depth chart and special teams usage this season.