Carolina reshapes its forward group by adding Nikolaj Ehlers and Keandre Miller, instantly elevating top-six scoring and speed while signaling a more dynamic, pace-driven attack. With the cap space opened by exits, the Hurricanes project a more aggressive push on the top lines and a faster transition game, even as blue-line stability is tested by Burns’ departure. The move caps off a winter-to-summer retooling that fantasy players will want to watch, especially in how power-play time is allocated and who absorbs the extra minutes behind Carolina’s core.

Meanwhile, Pittsburgh’s offseason pivots under a new coaching regime heighten intrigue around fantasy upside. Dan Muse brings a fresh system, while signings like Justin Brazeau and Anthony Mantha add depth and potential deadline fodder. Goaltending remains the central question, with Tristan Jarry and the competition among backup candidates shaping up as a pivotal factor. In Winnipeg, the loss of Ehlers compounds cap-structure questions as Gustav Nyquist and Jonathan Toews arrive to fill veteran gaps, and Kyle Connor’s looming contract becomes the loudest payroll bell to monitor for roster planning and late-season moves.

Across these teams, age, depth, and line deployment will determine who benefits most from the off-season churn. Ehlers’ Carolina leap could unlock a new ceiling for the Hurricanes’ scoring power, Toews’ return anchors Jets’ middle-six depth, and Muse’s Penguins era could reframe goaltending and PK load. Fantasy managers should watch how lines crystallize in camp and which players seize enhanced roles on special teams as these storylines unfold.

Five through six is a real-estate grab in this Monday mock draft, with Cale Makar and Kirill Kaprizov pegged as the obvious core pieces to anchor a title-run. The convo leans into a heavy-forward build, wary of spending early picks on goalies, and leans on elite peripherals from players like Pastrnak, McDavid, and MacKinnon to fuel counting stats. The boys dissect positional balance, the zero-goalie approach, and late-round value plays like Wyatt Johnston, Tage Thompson, and Noah Dobson, crafting a blueprint for a competitive lineup even before preseason has begun. The banter stays sharp on risk: rising stars, injury considerations, and the inevitable snipe picks that shift rosters in a flash.

Nikolai Ehlers’ arrival gives Carolina a shot of elite speed and scoring punch at the top of the lineup, addressing a long-running need for more dynamic offense. The Hurricanes also added a pair of veterans and depth pieces that should push their blue line and special-teams without sacrificing their identity. Frederik Andersen enters as the presumed No. 1 netminder, but health remains the x-factor. The offseason chatter centers on whether the new pieces meld quickly enough to elevate Carolina from a perennial playoff team to a true championship contender.

The conversation around Burns’ exit and Miller’s acquisition frames a broader rebuild-on-the-fly, where Carolina leans on a deep defensive corps and a forward group built to push tempo. The rest of the roster is tasked with sustaining depth scoring beyond their top six and keeping goaltending healthy enough to sustain a run. Fantasy managers should weigh Ehlers’ ceiling against Andersen’s health volatility and the blue-line’s ability to maintain strong puck control and penalty-kill impact.