September 11, 2025
Winnipeg Jets center Adam Lowry (knee) is targeting a return to action in late October or early November, Murat Ates of The Athletic reports. The Jets captain underwent knee surgery in late May. He was expected to be out for 5-6 months, so it seems Lowry's recovery is on schedule. 2025-26 will be a big year for Lowry, as he enters the final season of a five-year, $16.25 million contract he signed in 2021. Last season, Lowry produced a career-high 16 goals and 34 points in 73 games. Also, he was second on the team with 140 hits. While Lowry doesn't set the world alight in fantasy hockey, he plays an important role for the Jets, and the team will be desperate to get him back as soon as possible.
--Taavi PailkSource: Murat Ates
September 10, 2025
Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Matthew Knies feels ready to take on a bigger role with the team this season. "I have to perform better and take on a little bit more ice time or take on a bigger role," Knies told The Athletic's Joshua Kloke. "If that's what's needed and expected, then you know I'm going to be ready for it and hopefully successful in those areas." Toronto has a large hole to fill up front after Mitch Marner moved to Vegas. Knies is among the players expected to step up, especially since he's set to begin the first season of a six-year, $46.5 million contract. Last season, Knies recorded 58 points (29 goals, 29 assists) in 78 games with 182 hits. His numbers are likely to rise with more usage.
--Taavi PailkSource: Joshua Kloke
September 10, 2025
Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel is fully focused on his game and unaffected by the absence of a contract extension. He's set to begin the final season of an eight-year, $80 million deal. "For me, it's business as usual," Eichel said at the NHL/NHLPA North American Player Media Tour on Wednesday. "Things like that kind of take care of themselves when you're focused on the right things. I know that will sort itself out. Moreso, my mentality is we're starting training camp, we're starting the season and how do I be the best version of myself to help our team win, be a good teammate. We'll see what happens going forward." Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon recently told The Athletic that re-signing Eichel "remains a priority" for the team. Eichel flirted with a 100-point campaign last season and won't be cheap to keep for Vegas.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
September 10, 2025
Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby remains fully committed to the team. "I'm worried about playing for Pittsburgh," Crosby said at the NHL/NHLPA North American Player Media Tour on Tuesday. "I haven't seriously considered anything else." Crosby has been synonymous with the Penguins throughout his 20-year career, but the team's recent lack of success has sparked speculation that he might consider moving on someday. The Penguins captain will start a two-year, $17.4 million contract this season. Although there hasn't been playoff hockey in Pittsburgh for three years, Crosby has continued to perform at a very high level. He has scored 90-plus points in each of the past three seasons, missing only two games. Fantasy managers can anticipate another prolific campaign from Crosby in 2025-26.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
September 10, 2025
San Jose Sharks center Michael Misa officially signed his three-year, entry-level contract on Wednesday. The teenager from Oakville, Ontario, was the second overall pick in this year's draft, joining a talented group of young forwards in San Jose. In 2024-25, Misa led the CHL with 134 points (62 goals, 72 assists) in 65 games. It was the highest scoring total by an OHL player since the 2006-07 season, when Patrick Kane racked up 145 points and John Tavares had 134. To start the season, Misa could assume the second-line center role in San Jose behind Macklin Celebrini.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
September 10, 2025
Pittsburgh Penguins winger Rutger McGroarty (undisclosed) will not participate in the annual Prospects Challenge, the team announced. The talented forward is dealing with an undisclosed injury. Forward Bill Zonnon (undisclosed) and defenseman Peyton Kettles (undisclosed) will also sit out the action. Updates on the trio are expected before the Penguins' training camp. McGroarty is expected to become a regular in the Penguins' lineup this season, and the injury is an early setback for his year. Last season, McGroarty made his first eight NHL appearances, scoring one goal and three points. He notched 39 points (14 goals, 25 assists) in 60 AHL outings.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
September 9, 2025
San Jose Sharks defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin (shoulder) participated in Monday's informal skate, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports. Mukhamadullin missed the end of last season due to a shoulder injury. He finished the campaign with 30 appearances, notching nine points (two goals, seven assists) and blocking 51 shots. The 23-year-old appears to be on track to be healthy for the start of the season. This could be an important year for Shakir Mukhamadullin, as he is projected to become a regular in the Sharks lineup.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sheng Peng
September 9, 2025
San Jose Sharks left wing William Eklund (wrist) was on the ice for an informal skate on Monday. According to Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now, Eklund worked "without obvious limitation." This is a good sign that Eklund will be ready for the start of the season. The Swedish winger suffered a nasty wrist laceration in the spring during a pre-tournament game ahead of the World Championship. He underwent surgery and was ruled out for three months. Eklund, who signed a three-year, $16.8 million extension during the summer, finished his second NHL campaign with 58 points (17 goals, 41 assists) in 77 contests. He's an exciting talent, and Eklund's fantasy value will likely continue to grow in 2025-26.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sheng Peng
September 9, 2025
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Owen Power (lower body) has returned to full health ahead of the new season. The talented blue-liner sat out Buffalo's final three contests in 2024-25 due to a lower-body issue. "It was definitely a little different summer for sure, for me, but all in all, I think it went really well," Power said. "Was able to rehab it pretty quick and get back to doing most things in fairly quick time. Now, I'm back to doing everything, and it feels really good. So, ready to go." Despite suffering a late-season injury, Power enjoyed a career year in 2024-25. Across 79 outings, he had 40 points (seven goals, 33 assists), 139 shots, and 109 blocks. Power has yet to celebrate his 23rd birthday and should only continue to improve.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
September 9, 2025
Dallas Stars forward Tyler Seguin (shoulder) is fully healthy ahead of training camp. The veteran suffered a shoulder injury during the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. According to independent Stars beat reporter Robert Tiffin, Seguin described his rehabilitation as "relatively easy" and stated that he's good to go for the start of the season. Last term, Seguin made only 20 appearances in the regular season due to hip surgery, finishing with nine goals and 21 points. While it's unrealistic to expect him to maintain a point-per-game pace during the 2025-26 season, Seguin appears poised for a successful campaign now that he has overcome his injury issues.
--Taavi PailkSource: Robert Tiffin
September 9, 2025
New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal (kneecap) told reporters at the NHL/NHLPA player media tour that he is ready for the start of the season. Barzal's 2024-25 campaign ended in early February when he injured his kneecap and underwent surgery. While he feels ready to play again, Barzal acknowledged that he may never return to full health. "Injuries like this, you potentially never feel back at 100%," Barzal said. "But mentally, I'm at a point now where it doesn't really matter. If I'm feeling great, if maybe one day I'm a little sore or whatever, it is what it is." Barzal was a point-per-game player just a couple of seasons ago, and it will be interesting to see how he performs following his knee injury.
--Taavi PailkSource: Stefen Rosner
September 9, 2025
Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf inked a seven-year contract extension on Tuesday, worth $52.5 million. The deal will begin with the 2026-27 season. Wolf earned the hefty contract following rock-solid play during his rookie year. In 2024-25, he posted a 29-16-8 record, picked up three shutouts, and had a 2.64 goals-against average with a .910 save percentage. Fantasy managers can expect even better numbers from Wolf in the upcoming season, as he feels motivated after not receiving an invitation to the United States' Olympic orientation camp last month. "It just creates fire," Wolf told reporters during the NHL/NHLPA player media tour on Monday. "I've been the guy that's been overlooked so much in my career." At just 24 years old, Wolf is still quite young for a goalie and has the potential to be a significant asset in fantasy hockey for many years to come.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
September 8, 2025
Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson (oblique) is completely healthy heading into the new season and confident he can return to top form. "Obviously, I feel good," Pettersson told reporters on Monday. "It's been a long summer, so I just tried to add some muscles and be ready to be myself again out there. And I feel confidence that I will. I had a long summer of training, so it's been good." Pettersson was a 100-point scorer in 2022-23 and averaged at least a point per game in two consecutive seasons before his production sharply declined last year. In 64 outings, the Swedish star totaled only 45 points (15 goals, 30 assists). Pettersson is a strong bounce-back candidate in fantasy hockey this season.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
September 8, 2025
Left wing Alex Formenton has re-signed with HC Ambri-Piotta of the Swiss National League. It's a four-month deal that includes an option to extend it through the end of the season. Formenton is one of five players who were charged with sexual assault following an incident in 2018 at a Hockey Canada event celebrating their World Junior Championship title. All five were acquitted in the case in July, but they remain ineligible to play in the NHL. Formenton, who will soon turn 26, spent two seasons with Ambri-Piotta before sitting out the 2024-25 campaign. He has scored 39 points (23 goals, 16 assists) in 109 NHL games with the Ottawa Senators. Formenton is a restricted free agent, and the Senators still hold his rights.
--Taavi PailkSource: TSN
September 8, 2025
Left wing Grigori Denisenko has signed a one-year contract with KHL team Ak Bars Kazan. The 25-year-old heads back to Russia after suiting up for only one NHL game in 2024-25 with the Vegas Golden Knights. During his stay in North America, Denisenko showed off good scoring ability in the minors, but he made very little impact in the NHL. Over 33 regular-season NHL games, he didn't score despite 30 shots on goal and had seven assists. At 25, Denisenko still has time to make it back to the big stage, but he needs to impress in Europe to earn another shot in the NHL.
--Taavi PailkSource: KHL
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