Kylor Wall has signed a contract with the Kalamazoo Wings for the 2025-26 season, locking in a trusted defensive presence for the ECHL club that operates as the Vancouver Canucks’ affiliate. Wall, 27, shaded through 53 games last year between Tulsa and Kalamazoo, posting 11 points (5 goals, 6 assists) and 56 penalty minutes. His pro journey has taken him from Fort Wayne to Tulsa, with collegiate stops at Nipissing University and Trinity Western University, illustrating a steady climb through junior, college, and pro ranks. This deal signals a continued emphasis on developing defensive depth within Vancouver’s system via Kalamazoo.

From a fantasy lens, Wall’s immediate impact sits in the lower levels, but the arrangement underscores a potential ladder to higher levels if he progresses—watch for shifts in minutes, leadership roles on the blue line, and any organizational push toward AHL or NHL opportunities during the season. For now, Wall is a name to monitor as the Canucks’ development pipeline keeps feeding the pro ranks with gritty, defensively sound players.

Ryan Cox inked a 2025-26 contract with the Kalamazoo Wings, the ECHL affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks, signaling another step in his steady minor-league development. He logged 22 points (9 goals, 13 assists) in 72 games for Kalamazoo last season, underscoring durability and a reliable two-way game at the ECHL level. Cox began his pro career with the Toledo Walleye (11 points in 12 games) during 2022-23, then split the 2023-24 campaign between the Orlando Solar Bears and Reading Royals, producing 26 points in 58 games. His Niagara Purple Eagles tenure saw 69 points in 152 games, including a 28-point senior year that helped the program post its best mark since 2012-13.

For fantasy-minded observers, Cox is a name to monitor as the Canucks push prospects through Kalamazoo’s development pipeline. He offers consistent scoring depth, reliability in a bottom-six role, and the kind of versatility that could translate into an AHL nudge or occasional NHL call-up if the Canucks need an energetic, responsible forward. In dynasty or keeper formats, Cox represents a potential mid-to-late round flier who could creep into deeper fantasy rosters if his skill translates with more opportunity in higher-tier leagues.

Jason Robertson and Jake Oettinger were named to USA Hockey’s Olympic Orientation Camp in Plymouth, Michigan (Aug. 26-27), joining 42 other invitees from 24 NHL teams as Team USA gears up for 2026 Milano Cortina. The two-day camp is administrative and team-building, with no on-ice sessions. The selection marks an early step toward finalizing the Olympic roster, which already included six players announced in June: Eichel, Matthews, Brady Tkachuk, Matthew Tkachuk, Hughes and McAvoy.

The U.S. sits atop the IIHF rankings and is chasing its first Olympic gold since 1980, after a 4 Nations final loss to Canada earlier in 2025 and a World Championship gold in May. A full invitee list was released by USA Hockey, underscoring the depth and ambition of this roster-building phase.

The NHL offseason lingers as teams wait on key restricted free agents, with Mason McTavish at the center of the swirl. Luke Hughes and Marco Rossi remain unsigned, keeping their clubs wary of optics and cap implications. Anaheim’s patience is tested as McTavish’s role under Pat Verbeek’s system remains in flux, fueling trade chatter despite the Ducks’ stated playoff goals. A cluster of destinations—Detroit, Carolina, Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, Philadelphia, and even Pittsburgh—are floated as viable fits, each with its own price tag and strategic upside. The conversation centers on McTavish as a potential 2C and whether Anaheim should cash in now or hold for the right return.

Across the league, teams weigh how to navigate center depth behind McTavish, while rivals eye the Ducks’ leverage with a premium. The piece also threads in related unsigned RFAs and notable roster moves, highlighting how one marquee trade could realign conferences and fantasy values alike. Until signings land and training camps open, the market circling McTavish will shape both real-world outcomes and fantasy projections for the coming season.