Capitals roll to a 5-1 preseason win over Philadelphia at Hershey’s Giant Center, signaling strength up and down the lineup. Milano scored twice, boosting his bid to rejoin the NHL squad, while Cristall and Miroshnichenko opened and pressured for more. Lapierre piled up three assists, underscoring his growing playmaking touch. McMichael added a shorthanded tally, and Stevenson held the crease with 15 saves as Washington’s depth shined in a key window before the season.

The night also highlighted the Capitals’ Hershey pipeline and Spencer Carbery’s homecoming, with Matt Strome contributing for the Bears and the Strome family name woven into the storyline. Depth, speed and a promising rookie cohort stood out as October approaches, giving the Caps confidence in their readiness for the regular season.

Some parts of the new CBA go into effect immediately, with LTIR tweaks, no deferred compensation and a tighter paper-loan policy changing how teams manage cap in 2025-26. Other provisions land later, including ELC and min-salary rules ahead of 2026-27, plus mandatory neck protection and European eligibility shifts. Opening Night kicks off 2025-26 with a tripleheader as Sonny Milano gears up for camp, Hildeby inks with Toronto, Prokhorov joins the Islanders, and Kaprizov’s contract talks heat up Minnesota.

Fantasy players should map immediate cap implications, LTIR usage, and recall limits to roster construction. The Leafs, Islanders, Wild, and Capitals headline the season’s strategic shifts, with goaltending depth and young players likely to see opportunities as rosters adapt to the new rules and timing.

The Boston Bruins welcomed defenseman Hampus Lindholm back to practice, expressing joy in reconnecting with teammates and enjoying the game again. Fellow forward Mark Kastelic shared his positive mindset as he returns to practice, emphasizing a day-by-day approach.

In Chicago, defenseman Connor Murphy observed practice in a no-contact jersey due to a groin issue. Meanwhile, Darren Dreger announced that Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings is anticipated to rejoin practice next week.

The Minnesota Wild saw Kirill Kaprizov and Brock Faber participating in the morning skate, though neither played recently. Jared Spurgeon is progressing, with hopes of returning soon. In Toronto, John Tavares left practice after an awkward fall, with coach Craig Berube confirming he is currently being evaluated for any potential injuries.