Jonathan Toews logged his first NHL point in 2½ years as the Winnipeg Jets beat the Islanders 5-2, assisting Nino Niederreiter on a power-play marker and signaling a patient, productive return.

At 37, he’s a near-17 minute second-line anchor, contributing on the penalty kill while rebuilding timing after chronic immune issues and long COVID. Teammates laud his leadership as he eyes Milan and a potential Cup run with Winnipeg.

Dallas Stars embrace a get-after-it, more physical identity under Glen Gulutzan. A 15-second shield drill at practice underscored the emphasis on hand-to-hand combat and relentless compete, with Tyler Seguin acknowledging the challenge of facing Mikko Rantanen, nicknamed Moose.

Through two games, Dallas showed grit and a willingness to grind, opening with a pair of 5-4 finishes and earning 4 points on the road against Winnipeg and Colorado. Jake Oettinger’s 35 saves powered a shootout win, while the team weathered lapses on defense as they acclimate to the new system before hosting Minnesota.

Jonathan Toews returned to the NHL with Winnipeg, threading a primary assist on Nino Niederreiter’s power-play finish against the Islanders for his first point in 2½ years. At 37, he’s handling roughly 17 minutes a night as Winnipeg’s second-line center, pursuing one more Olympic appearance for Canada while navigating health hurdles from chronic immune response syndrome and long COVID. Patrick Kane lauded his resilience, and a Dec. 31 visit to Detroit will rekindle a historic duo as the Jets lean on Toews’ two-way game to steady a young lineup.

Los Angeles paused Adrian Kempe’s extension talks, opting to regroup after a start to the season that suggests a pragmatic approach to a key veteran. Market dynamics, not urgency, seem to drive the hold as the Kings weigh cap flexibility against Kempe’s value on the wing.

Across the league, Kaprizov’s extension has rippled through winger valuations, nudging teams to recalibrate offers for players like Kyle Connor, Alex Tuch, and Artemi Panarin. Kempe’s camp remains hopeful, but the timing of negotiations could hinge on how the cap picture evolves and how other deals influence the market as the season unfolds.

Watch lists expand beyond Kempe: Minnesota Wild, Necas, Connor, Tuch, Panarin, and Lane Hudson feature as barometers for price and term. With revenue growth lifting the cap, longer deals could become more common, complicating early-season decisions for fantasy managers and bettors alike.