Mikko Rantanen’s Dallas debut reshapes the Stars’ Cup odds, pairing his two-way game with a thriving Oettinger-led net. Colorado’s return of Landeskog shores up a veteran core around MacKinnon and Makar, while Blackwood’s addition gives the Avalanche a reliable postseason floor. The Central remains a brutal gauntlet with Winnipeg, Chicago and Nashville in pursuit.

Gulutzan takes over in Dallas as Trotz and Tourigny loom in leadership roles elsewhere, Bedard’s Chicago era begins, and Utah’s young core signals a pipeline move. The projected finish stays Colorado, Dallas, Winnipeg at the top, with a crowded chase behind them and fantasy implications across every line.

Winnipeg erased a 4-2 deficit in the third and topped Calgary 5-4 in a shootout, with Tanner Pearson delivering the deciding goal in the seventh round. The Jets leaned on depth scoring—Haydn Fleury, Gustav Nyquist, Alex Iafallo and Parker Ford finding the back of the net as Connor Hellebuyck stopped 25 of 29. Calgary got a two-goal night from Nazem Kadri, but went 0-for-5 on the power play as Dustin Wolf faced 35 shots. In the Canucks-Oilers tilt, Vancouver pulled off a 3-2 OT win on Conor Garland’s early OT strike after Jonathan Lekkerimaki tied it late in the third; Edmonton got goals from Kasperi Kapanen and Leon Draisaitl, with Pettersson leaving after an elbow to the head in the second.

The night showcased preseason storylines: Jets’ scoring depth and goaltending steadiness versus Flames’ run-and-gun through Kadri’s a.m. two-goal effort, plus a Canucks win that underscored Garland’s finishing touch and Lekkerimaki’s timely equalizer. Both games offered a closer look at roster battles, special-teams execution and how fantasy assets might ride the momentum into the regular season.

Opening night sets the tone for 2025-26 with a tripleheader headlined by Florida as they raise the banner and host Connor Bedard’s Blackhawks; Crosby’s Penguins collide with the Rangers at MSG; and Makar leads Colorado into Los Angeles to face the Kings. Florida chases a three-peat while Kucherov eyes another 100-point season and Crosby and Ovechkin chase monumental milestones. Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics add an extra layer of star power and intrigue for fantasy managers and bettors alike.

The preview dives into offseason moves, breakout and veteran performance ceilings, and the evolving pace of NHL offense, plus the return of big-event spectacles and the shifting rosters that could shape fantasy value from opening night. It also spotlights rising talents and marquee matchups that could define early-season momentum and playoff positioning.

Kirill Kaprizov's eight-year, $136 million deal with the Minnesota Wild reshapes the NHL money landscape as cap growth accelerates and signing-bonus structures gain prominence. The pact positions Kaprizov as a benchmark for star value and long-term commitment, while underscoring Minnesota's willingness to pay for a franchise centerpiece when healthy.

Winners include Bill Guerin for securing Kaprizov's return and Paul Theofanous for engineering a record structure that leverages bonuses. Losers touch on the broader market: Cheveldayoff watches a market-reset, while McDavid and Rantanen face an elevated bar. Tax considerations and pre-wave locking emerge as key themes for teams planning around the cap climb.