Mitch Marner’s departure from Toronto looms large as Auston Matthews speaks for the first time since the trade chatter intensified. Matthews praised Marner as a friend and teammate, stressing that the move is part of hockey’s business side, yet he remains optimistic about the Leafs’ chances. He highlighted the job for Toronto now—new teammates, a growing core, and Matthew Knies taking a meaningful step forward. Toronto’s leadership has shifted, but Matthews insists the focus is on staying grounded, pushing through training camp, and taking it one day at a time.

The sign-and-trade to Vegas, a blockbuster eight-year, $96 million deal for Marner, reshapes the Leafs’ offensive landscape and tests Toronto’s depth. Matthews remains confident in the new roster, while Knies, coming off a career-best 58-point season, has drawn praise from his captain and earned an Olympic orientation camp invite, signaling a brighter horizon for Leafs fans and fantasy managers.

Knies’ development is central to Toronto’s immediate future, with Matthews noting he’s still “coming into his own” and poised to grow with more responsibility. As camp approaches, the Leafs will lean on their leadership core, blend in new faces, and aim to recapture playoff momentum. In Vegas, Marner adds a dynamic forward to a deep Knights lineup, potentially elevating the VGK top-six and complicating fantasy projections across the rivalry.

Auston Matthews enters a pivotal season in Toronto, tasked with carrying more of the scoring load after Mitch Marner’s blockbuster move to Vegas signaled a new Leafs era. Nicolas Roy returns to the lineup, giving Toronto added depth as Matthews pursues Mats Sundin’s all‑time Leafs goal mark in a season that starts Oct. 8 against Montreal. The club leans on leadership and a refreshed supporting cast, with John Tavares and Max Domi among those stepping into mentorship and on-ice roles during a transitional year.

Toronto’s nine straight playoff appearances remain the backdrop, but the on-ice chemistry will be under a microscope as players adapt to a different top six and new line combos. Brampton’s charity game highlighted a culture of accountability and community, underscoring how this Leafs group blends veteran guidance with youthful opportunity as fantasy managers scan for breakout values in a season ripe with change.

In short, Matthews’ goal pace, the quiet addition of Roy, and the reshuffled depth chart could redefine who benefits in fantasy leagues, especially in multi-category formats where two-way play and PP1 time carry extra weight. The Oct. 8 opener against Montreal doubles as a test of how Toronto’s new pieces gel with its marquee captain.

Late-summer NHL chatter points to a quiet but potentially action-packed window between mid-August and September. The Pittsburgh Penguins sit at the center of talk about unfinished business, with others like the Edmonton Oilers, Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, New Jersey Devils, and New York Islanders all watched closely as GM decisions and season-start evaluations loom. The Buffalo Sabres surface as a target in trade talk, while teams eye their own 2026 picks in potential moves.

On the marquee, Marc-Edouard Vlasic’s Sharks buyout prompts teams to consider whom to mentor and where to upgrade the blue line, especially with Orlov and Klingberg cited as cap-space catalysts and upgrades. Montreal’s rebuild stance is noted alongside Toronto’s offensive gaps bridged by Nick Robertson and Mitch Marner. The storyline underscores a season that could begin with a batch of calculated moves rather than a full-blown fire sale, with fantasy managers parsing goaltending tandems, defensive depth, and line-shuffling implications as training camps approach.

In fantasy terms, the focus shifts to how goaltending tandems hold up, who gains top PP time, and which underperformers might be displaced by late-summer acquisitions. The window could recalibrate value across several rosters, turning watchlists into wish lists as teams test early-season depth and role clarity before the calendar turns to October.

Florida Panthers hold the early betting throne as the team to beat, anchored by a familiar core and reinforced by steady off-season moves. Re-signings of Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand, and Aaron Ekblad keep leadership and production stable, while Jeff Petry slides in on the blueline to shore up defensive depth. The club is leaning into continuity, adding young talents like Michael Benning and Mackie Samoskevich to accelerate development without disturbing the championship rhythm. Five-plus-goal games remain a Panthers hallmark, and their penalty kill should stay top-tier with this blend of grit and discipline.

Edmonton Oilers sit just behind, chasing a breakthrough after consecutive Finals losses. The core trio of McDavid, Draisaitl, and Skinner remains, with Jake Walman and Evan Bouchard addressing back-end depth and experienced bottom-six forwards boosting secondary scoring. Edmonton also emphasizes special teams—improving PK elements and faceoffs—while maintaining a powerful power play that led the league. Vegas pivots with Mitch Marner, injecting elite playmaking into a group already featuring Eichel and Hertl, while Carolina and Colorado round out the top contenders with Ehlers’ speed and Landeskog’s anticipated return, respectively, adding depth, structure, and playoff pedigree to their rosters.

The Final Period notes a tighter, more variable race than ever, with health, chemistry, and unforeseen development shaping the 2026 landscape. Carolina’s forecheck and possession hold steady, Colorado’s transition and speed remain dangerous, and Florida’s veteran leadership keeps the team poised for a rare three-peat attempt. Across the board, teams emphasize depth, development pipelines, and reliable goaltending as the season approaches, creating a wide-open championship window for 2026.