Edmonton’s front office is eyeing two PTO options in Klim Kostin and Brett Leason, signaling a push for roster depth as Connor McDavid’s extension talk heats up. Kostin, a former Oiler, and Leason, a local Alberta product, could fill a winger slot if training camp opens with questions answered about McDavid’s future. Podkolzin remains a wild-card in Oilers’ plans, with a multi-year extension floated and cap-pressures weighed by young guns Isaac Howard and Matt Savoie, plus Andrew Mangiapane’s arrival. Rumors linger around McDavid, Eichel, and McTavish as front offices prepare for a busy summer of negotiations ahead of the 2025-26 season.

In this shifting landscape, fantasy managers should monitor how these moves pressurize Edmonton’s top-six, power play roles, and cap flexibility. Kostin and Leason could quietly become favorable depth options if they secure spots, while Podkolzin’s status could ripple through line combos and ice time in both regular-season and postseason rotations. The pipeline—Howard, Savoie, and Mangiapane—adds upside for opportunistic late-round picks and potential breakout candidates in dynasty formats.

Patrick Kane will attend USA Hockey’s orientation camp in Plymouth, Michigan, aiming for a third Olympic appearance in Italy next year, and his veteran presence immediately becomes a focal point for the US lineup. Kane joins a cadre of Olympians and former Olympians at the two-day camp that doubles as administrative team-building ahead of the formal selection process. The gathering also highlights several expected contributors and surprises, underscoring how final roster decisions in January will hinge on health, chemistry, and where veteran leadership can push younger talent toward Olympic-level performance.

USA Hockey announced six of the 2026 Olympic forwards and defensed early this summer, with the final 25-man roster due in January. Notably absent from invites were high-end scorers like Alex DeBrincat, while names such as Jack Eichel, Auston Matthews, and Brayden Tkachuk are already positioned as core pieces. Coaching duties fall to Minnesota’s Bill Guerin and Mike Sullivan, and the event itself signals a careful balance of continuity and new voices as the US chases a deep, adaptable squad for the Winter Games in Italy.