Kalamazoo Wings sign two Notre Dame alums, Hunter Strand and Ryan Helliwell, for the 2025–26 season, bolstering Vancouver Canucks’ ECHL-to-NHL development chain. Strand, 22, arrives after an 8-goal, 8-assist 38-game collegiate season and a 111-game Notre Dame ironman stretch, while Helliwell, 23, contributed 2 goals and 10 assists in 113 games at ND and added a clutch outdoor-goal moment at Wrigley Field. Both bring two-way acumen and pro-ready toughness to Kalamazoo as the Canucks look to feed their depth in the system.

Nashville’s Luke Evangelista is drifting toward a two- to three-year deal, with a missed camp shading the negotiation for both sides and a possible shift in his early role. Edmonton’s goalie situation remains unsettled; no Kostin re-engagement and no PTOs on the horizon. Carter Hart’s next destination is likely U.S.-based, while Vancouver doubles down on on-ice prep as the season looms.

Columbus and Ottawa linger in rumors, and the Oilers’ goaltending path could reshape rosters across the league. Monitor camp reports, line combos, and power-play time closely for fantasy implications across the landscape.

Vancouver Canucks' season hinges on on-ice performance: Demko's health, center depth, and cohesion take center stage as the noise stays down. Boeser is settled; Hughes' extension is off the table until next summer, and the trade market remains thin with cap pressures looming from double retention. Kaprizov's contract chatter adds league-wide context while Vancouver must prove it can compete on the ice to quiet outside chatter.

With limited trade options and a tough cap landscape, Vancouver's success hinges on Demko's health, timely development from the middle, and steady scoring from their top forwards to deliver real improvement on the ice.