The Milan-Cortina Olympics mark a long-awaited return of NHL players, with Minnesota Wild stars eyeing a Team USA, Germany and Sweden presence. Brock Faber, Matt Boldy, Nico Sturm, Jonas Brodin and Joel Eriksson Ek have Olympic potential, with Boldy prioritizing Wild form over looming gold. The league pause runs Feb. 11–22, elevating the season's drama as rosters tighten and injuries ripple through the lineup.

The piece also tracks Wild developments—cuts, injuries, and lineup logistics—while framing Russia’s absence and Tarasenko’s remarks within a broader Olympic context. Guerin and Hynes’ USA roles tighten the connection between club and country as the 4 Nations backdrop foreshadows Milan-Cortina. Fantasy angles hinge on who lands Olympic spots and how the break reshapes Wild momentum.

Ryker Evans will be out 6-8 weeks with an upper-body injury, delaying Seattle's early schedule including the Oct. 9 opener vs Anaheim. Evans recently signed a two-year extension at $2.05 million AAV through 2026-27. He posted 25 points (5G,20A) in 73 games last season, and has 34 points in 109 NHL games. He also represented Team Canada at the world championship with two assists in eight games.

Ken Dryden’s passing at 78 invites a look back at a Canadiens legend who defined an era with Summit Series heroics and six Stanley Cups.

He rose from a dominant crease to national icon, then to law and leadership roles, leaving a blueprint for durability and big‑game poise that still informs fantasy goalie evaluation today.

Teammates and rivals alike revered the man who could swing momentum in a final period, a legacy echoed by Henderson and others who remember Dryden as both a game changer and a mentor.