Vegas Golden Knights push for another deep run by adding Mitch Marner on a $96 million eight-year deal, turning their offense into an even more formidable playmaking machine alongside Jack Eichel. Marner’s 102 points and 75 assists last season foreshadow a high-scoring duo that could redefine Vegas’s top-line dynamics and PP efficiency.

Off-ice realities braid in: Eichel’s contract talks loom, Cassidy weighs line combos, and Pietrangelo battles a hip injury as the defense navigates a shifting landscape. Vegas remains a frontrunner in the West, with Florida, Colorado, and others eyeing the same throne.

Florida Panthers eye a third straight Cup, but health and cap pressures loom as Tkachuk recovers and depth is tested. The league-wide preview hinges on goaltending certainty, growth from young cores, and high-stakes off-season moves—from Swayman’s bid to reclaim No.1 in Boston to Hughes’ health in New Jersey and Marner’s Vegas exit in Toronto.

Beyond those headline questions, the piece assesses defensive pivots in Vegas, depth shifts in Minnesota with Kaprizov’s contract talk, and young guns like Demidov in Montreal and Celebrini in San Jose eyeing breakout years. ESPN also maps out 100 exclusive games and a rich out-of-market package as fans plot fantasy rosters.