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.

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.

Montreal handled Toronto 4-2 in a preseason clash, with Riley Kidney and Lane Hutson fueling a second-period power-play flurry that underscored Montreal’s growing depth. Alex Newhook chipped in a goal and an assist, while Sean Farrell added one of his own, suggesting Montreal’s forward group could push for meaningful minutes early in the season. Toronto countered with John Tavares’s second-period PP tally and a Nylander strike late, but Kahkonen’s 21 saves helped the Canadiens finish strong.

Across town, Winnipeg grabbed a 4-2 win over Calgary as Neal Pionk starred with a goal and an assist, and Walker Duehr, Nikita Chibrikov, and Parker Ford also found the net for the Jets. Calgary’s Zayne Parekh and Matvei Gridin answered, Morgan Frost added two assists for Winnipeg, and the goaltending duo of Devin Cooley and Eric Comrie split time. The night showcased a slate of depth players staking claims for roster spots and early-season fantasy relevance.

Fantasy takeaway: the Montreal kids grabbed the spotlight, especially on the power play, while the Jets’ depth produced tangible scoring and playmaking. Preseason performances aren’t predictive, but they do highlight players who could carve out roles or PP time early in the season, making them worth monitoring for late-draft targets or waiver adds.

Nylander enters his 11th season with Toronto facing a heavier scoring load after a playoff collapse and a world-championship misstep. A 45-goal, 82-game season precedent sets the baseline, but healthy Auston Matthews could unlock a leap in production. Nylander’s mix of elite skill and growing two-way game fits Berube’s system, while line chemistry with John Tavares should drive both goals and setup opportunities.

Leadership questions hover as the Leafs lean on Nylander’s steady demeanor and on-ice tempo. Berube wants a louder voice and a steadier presence, but Nylander insists leadership comes with or without the “A.” If he sustains production and elevates playmaking, Toronto’s offense could surge and make a deeper playoff run.