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.

Several NHL injuries and roster moves ripple through fantasy rosters. Josh Norris will miss a significant stretch for Buffalo with an upper-body injury. Jaccob Slavin is preparing to be evaluated after a limited third period for Carolina. Sam Girard is week-to-week for Colorado with an upper-body issue, and Dmitry Kulikov lands on IR for Florida with a possible surgery ahead.

Pietrangelo is on season-ending LTIR for Vegas, Barkov remains eligible to play (not on LTIR), Dadonov fractures and is out long-term, Trocheck is week-to-week for the Rangers, Rust is back for Pittsburgh, Lorentz exits for Toronto, and Fleury leaves Winnipeg’s game. These moves create shifts in minutes and fantasy value across the league.

Kaprizov's eight-year, 136 million contract makes him the Wild’s core and signals a win-now posture despite cap risk. Guerin frames it as a commitment that speaks to free agents and fans Minnesota will chase titles.

The deal sits among league mega-salaries (McDavid, Eichel) and anchors Minnesota’s sports narrative from Puckett to Garnett, while Kaprizov’s early two-goal start underscores the payoff and the risk of paying for stars in a cap-driven era.