John Tavares is on the cusp of a historic milestone, sitting at 494 goals and likely to reach 500 this season as the 49th player to join that elite club. The Maple Leafs rely on his steady production and leadership as he heads into his eighth year in Toronto, a cornerstone who still drives the offense and sets the tone for a young core.

He took a substantial pay cut to stay with the Leafs, a move teammates applaud as leadership and belief in the club’s window. The veteran mentor role grows with Matthews, Nylander, Knies, and a deeper roster, all while he eyes a Stanley Cup chase. Fantasy managers should weigh his continued top-line production against age and team depth.

The Leafs remain grounded in pursuit of a title, with Tavares pledging to deliver another strong season and the organization believing in a sustained winner’s arc. His milestone chase adds a compelling narrative layer for fantasy projections and daily-league decisions.

Auston Matthews’ health is the Leafs’ ceiling gauge: preseason hints point to a 50–60 goal pace if he stays healthy, highlighted by an early power-play goal. Toronto is juggling top-line chemistry with Max Domi sliding into Matthews’ wing, while Matthew Knies pushes into a larger role and Mitch Marner drives playmaking. Deep pieces and goaltending depth are being tested as the club prepares for Montreal, with Stolarz stabilizing the net and Benoit/Ekman-Larsson shaping the back end.

The roster decisions, from scratched forwards to potential rookie Easton Cowan’s debut, underscore a tight competition for spots and minutes. Fantasy managers should watch how lines and special-teams evolve in these last pre-season weeks as the Leafs aim to maximize Matthews’ return to elite scoring and the group’s depth by opening night.

Opening night sets the tone for 2025-26 with a tripleheader headlined by Florida as they raise the banner and host Connor Bedard’s Blackhawks; Crosby’s Penguins collide with the Rangers at MSG; and Makar leads Colorado into Los Angeles to face the Kings. Florida chases a three-peat while Kucherov eyes another 100-point season and Crosby and Ovechkin chase monumental milestones. Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics add an extra layer of star power and intrigue for fantasy managers and bettors alike.

The preview dives into offseason moves, breakout and veteran performance ceilings, and the evolving pace of NHL offense, plus the return of big-event spectacles and the shifting rosters that could shape fantasy value from opening night. It also spotlights rising talents and marquee matchups that could define early-season momentum and playoff positioning.