The NHL offseason lingers as teams wait on key restricted free agents, with Mason McTavish at the center of the swirl. Luke Hughes and Marco Rossi remain unsigned, keeping their clubs wary of optics and cap implications. Anaheim’s patience is tested as McTavish’s role under Pat Verbeek’s system remains in flux, fueling trade chatter despite the Ducks’ stated playoff goals. A cluster of destinations—Detroit, Carolina, Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, Philadelphia, and even Pittsburgh—are floated as viable fits, each with its own price tag and strategic upside. The conversation centers on McTavish as a potential 2C and whether Anaheim should cash in now or hold for the right return.

Across the league, teams weigh how to navigate center depth behind McTavish, while rivals eye the Ducks’ leverage with a premium. The piece also threads in related unsigned RFAs and notable roster moves, highlighting how one marquee trade could realign conferences and fantasy values alike. Until signings land and training camps open, the market circling McTavish will shape both real-world outcomes and fantasy projections for the coming season.

Milan Lucic, 37, is trying out with the St. Louis Blues, marking a surprising late‑career bid for an NHL return after his 2023 stint. The veteran winger arrived in camp as a non‑guaranteed option, aiming to carve out a depth role with his size, nastiness, and playoff pedigree. Lucic’s career totals—233 goals, 353 assists, 1,301 penalty minutes over 17 seasons—underscore a profile built on edge and resilience rather than pure scoring. His Cup-winning run with Boston in 2011 looms large in the back of Blues’ minds as they gauge whether his presence can bring a veteran spark to a young bunk.

Off ice, Lucic faced a highly publicized personal incident in his late‑30s, but the Blues say he has completed the Player Assistance Program and been reinstated by the NHL. If he makes the roster, fantasy managers will watch for a potential fourth‑line/PK role that could yield steady hits and PIM with limited minutes, depending on how camp shakes out. The camp competition and how he handles practice tempo will determine if this is a short‑term depth addition or a longer stay that could influence Blues’ depth chart and special teams usage this season.

Patrick Kane will attend USA Hockey’s orientation camp in Plymouth, Michigan, aiming for a third Olympic appearance in Italy next year, and his veteran presence immediately becomes a focal point for the US lineup. Kane joins a cadre of Olympians and former Olympians at the two-day camp that doubles as administrative team-building ahead of the formal selection process. The gathering also highlights several expected contributors and surprises, underscoring how final roster decisions in January will hinge on health, chemistry, and where veteran leadership can push younger talent toward Olympic-level performance.

USA Hockey announced six of the 2026 Olympic forwards and defensed early this summer, with the final 25-man roster due in January. Notably absent from invites were high-end scorers like Alex DeBrincat, while names such as Jack Eichel, Auston Matthews, and Brayden Tkachuk are already positioned as core pieces. Coaching duties fall to Minnesota’s Bill Guerin and Mike Sullivan, and the event itself signals a careful balance of continuity and new voices as the US chases a deep, adaptable squad for the Winter Games in Italy.

USA Hockey invited 44 NHL players to a two day orientation in Plymouth, Michigan on Aug 26 27 as an early peek at the 2026 Olympic roster. The event is mainly administrative and team building with no on ice work, and attendance does not guarantee a spot on the final 25 man team, which will be announced in early January ahead of the Games in February 2026.

Among those invited are 23 players who played in the 4 Nations Face Off, 12 world championship gold medalists, and a mix of current stars and former Olympians such as Patrick Kane, Ryan McDonagh, Brock Faber, Matthew Knies and Jake Sanderson. The roster snapshot spans goaltenders, defensemen and forwards including top names like Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, Connor Hellebuyck, Dylan Larkin, Jason Robertson, Kyle Connor, Tage Thompson, Brady Tkachuk and Vincent Trocheck. Noteworthy caveats include Matthews potential pace and Kane’s possible role given evolving surgery considerations for Tkachuk. The final 25 roster is due in January, with Olympic hockey scheduled for 2026.

Pittsburgh’s core stays put for now as rusted trade winds swirl around Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell, and Erik Karlsson, who are all cited as candidates this offseason. Frank Seravalli’s take: no, not likely to move soon — but the rumor mill won’t quit. At the same time, Mason McTavish remains the Ducks’ highly valued Restricted Free Agent, with teams lining up as potential destinations. Detroit, Carolina, Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, and Philadelphia surface as plausible suitors, each armed with distinct assets and cap considerations. Packages surface involving a 2023 first-rounder (17th overall) and a key young defender like Axel Sandin Pellikka, plus salary ballast. Carolina’s cap space (~$10M) and willingness to assemble a multi-piece offer contrast with Vancouver’s need to shed salary, while Calgary’s age fit and Montreal’s 2C need add layers to the conversation. Philadelphia’s history of deal-making in these circles makes them a recurring wildcard. The rumor rounds around these names point to a league-wide scramble for middle- to high-end centers, with McTavish representing the clearest movable asset for a true rebuild window.

Fantasy managers should monitor not just McTavish’s destinations, but the ripple effects around Pittsburgh’s veteran core. If the Ducks listen on McTavish, the teams that land him could push Penguins’ cap plans into sharper relief, testing the depth of PIT’s forward corps and the long-term impact of Karlsson’s defense-first tempo. The chatter also underscores how cap flexibility and draft capital can tilt negotiations, making the next 2-3 weeks critical for rosters and dynasty values around the NHL.