Dallas aims for a 4th straight win to open 2025-26 as they host Vancouver at American Airlines Center. The 3-0 Stars lean on strong home-ice structure and solid goaltending after last season’s 50-26-6 mark, including a 35-13-3 home record, to push for another clean start.

Vancouver sits at 1-2 after a 5-2 loss to St. Louis in which Kiefer Sherwood scored twice. Benn is out with a collapsed lung and Duchene is day-to-day, while the Canucks bring depth scoring and a 233-goal pace from last season on about 25.5 shots per game in search of a better road showing.

Canucks’ PK momentum and a struggling power play shape early-season fantasy vibes. Kiefer Sherwood’s short-handed breakaway goal highlights Vancouver’s strength on the kill, while the club’s power play remains 0-for-7 through three games, a gap that could weigh on line plans until it snaps. The top line of Boeser, Pettersson and DeBrusk has not clicked, yet Boeser did score in the opener, with Pettersson and DeBrusk contributing limited assists. Blues rookie Jimmy Snuggerud supplied a two-goal performance, underscoring his breakout potential as St. Louis rides momentum from a strong start.

Vancouver’s structure and defense are keeping the PK sharp, but fantasy players must weigh the value of a red-hot Blues youngster against a Canucks unit still finding its PP rhythm. Sherwood’s PK role may offer a steady floor in deeper formats, while Snuggerud’s early scoring run makes him a keep in rosters and DFS lineups. The narrative is simple: if Vancouver’s power play finds consistency, the Canucks’ fantasy upside rises; if not, Sherwood and the Canucks’ bottom-line metrics will drive value more than high-volume scorers on the top line.

St. Louis beat Vancouver 5-2 as Jimmy Snuggerud scored twice to pace the Blues, with Brayden Schenn adding a goal and assist. Nick Bjugstad parked his first of the season and Jake Neighbours iced it with an empty-netter. Jordan Binnington stopped 29 of 31 in the win, the Blues’ second straight. Vancouver’s Kiefer Sherwood answered with two goals, including a short-handed break. Kevin Lankinen made 30 saves in his first start. Blues center Pius Suter returned to Vancouver, as St. Louis moved to 2-1-0 and the Canucks’ early-season power play stagnation continued.

NHL rumor cycle centers on contract tempo for a slate of young stars and noted veterans. Logan Cooley sits on an entry level with Utah Mammoth, talks paused as he focuses on this season, with a likely in season revisit. Dylan Holloway may see extensions hinge on a strong start in St. Louis, while Bobby McMann has yet to enter talks with Toronto. Carter Hart's value is tethered to Vegas cap gymnastics, and Kiefer Sherwood remains unsigned in Vancouver. Rasmus Andersson remains a hot commodity with Dallas leading the charge and several rivals circling, including Toronto, Tampa Bay, Detroit, Columbus, and Boston. Earlier chatter between Vegas and Calgary faded, but teams still sniff around.

Fantasy players should monitor early-season production from Cooley, Holloway, and Hart as potential catalysts for contract chatter that could shift roles or incentives. Andersson's market activity signals a broader right shot defensemen premium; keep an eye on how cap space and LTIR usage shape signings. With inquiries spanning Canadiens, Senators, and others, the coming weeks could redraw depth charts and power dynamics across the league.