September 8, 2025
Right wing Kevin Labanc has signed a professional tryout contract with the Carolina Hurricanes. The 29-year-old speedster will join the team for training camp, seeking to earn a standard contract. Labanc had some early success in his career with the San Jose Sharks, but he hit a wall a couple of campaigns back. In 2024-25, Labanc managed only two goals and 12 points in 34 outings with the Columbus Blue Jackets. The American winger has totaled 237 points (84 goals, 153 assists) in 512 career games. If he earns a roster spot, Labanc will probably only serve as a depth piece for a stacked Hurricanes team.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
September 8, 2025
Colorado Avalanche forward Ross Colton (groin) is back to 100 percent for the start of the season. Per Brennan Vogt of Hockey Mountain High, Colton took part in an informal skate on Monday. A pulled groin ended Colton's regular season early in the spring, and he featured in only one playoff game. The 28-year-old also missed time due to a broken foot, scoring 29 points (13 goals, 16 assists) in 61 games with 125 shots and delivering 145 hits. This season, Colton will probably be limited to a third-line role as long as the Avalanche stay healthy, but he could see some power-play time.
--Taavi PailkSource: Brennan Vogt
September 6, 2025
Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman aims to leave a poor season in the past after struggling in 2024-25. Speaking at Boston's practice facility this week before training camp, Swayman told reporters he had changed "everything" over the summer and was a "completely different human being" compared to last year. The talented netminder missed last year's training camp due to a contract dispute. After finally agreeing to a big eight-year, $66 million deal, Swayman posted a disappointing 22-29-7 record with a 3.11 goals-against average and a .892 save percentage, both career-low marks. Swayman has much to prove in the upcoming season, and his numbers are expected to improve, with Boston's top defensemen, Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm, healthy again.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
September 6, 2025
Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid wants to become a more prolific goal-scorer this season. "I want to prove that scoring 50 or 60 is not a one-off," McDavid told Mark Spector of Sportsnet. "I've had 50 goals, and I've had 100 assists, and I like the goals a little bit more." The Oilers captain won the Rocket Richard Trophy as the NHL's leader in goals in 2022-23 with a 64-goal effort, but since then, he's only had 58 regular-season goals across two campaigns. McDavid wants to be more "assertive" with his scoring opportunities after registering only 196 shots on the net last season, his lowest total since his rookie year. The three-time MVP is already the top option for fantasy managers, and his value would increase even more if he could add more goals to his game.
--Taavi PailkSource: Mark Spector
September 6, 2025
Center Luke Glendening has agreed to a professional tryout deal with the New Jersey Devils. On Friday, the Devils announced that four players will join the team for training camp on tryout contracts. Forward Kevin Rooney and goaltenders Georgi Romanov and Adam Scheel will join Glendening, who is looking to extend his NHL career into a 13th season. He spent the 2024-25 campaign with the Tampa Bay Lightning, recording seven points (four goals, three assists) in 77 appearances. Glendening has never produced big offensive numbers, but he adds a bit of physicality and is always reliable in the faceoff circle. The veteran forward won 57 percent of his draws last season.
--Taavi PailkSource: TSN
September 6, 2025
Forward Derek Ryan announced his retirement from playing on Friday. He skated in 36 games with the Edmonton Oilers last season and made 606 total regular-season appearances, scoring 209 points (82 goals, 127 assists). Ryan built a 10-year NHL career despite going undrafted. After starting his pro career in Europe, Ryan debuted in the NHL during the 2015-16 campaign with the Carolina Hurricanes. Before joining Edmonton, he also suited up for the Calgary Flames. Ryan, who will be 39 in December, won bronze with Team USA at the 2018 World Championship.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
September 6, 2025
Calgary Flames forward Connor Zary has signed a three-year, $11.325 million contract with the team. He was a restricted free agent. Zary has done a decent job for the Flames, but a knee injury limited him to 54 appearances last season. The 23-year-old scored 14 goals and 27 points. Over the course of his young career, Zary has managed 61 points (27 goals, 34 assists) in 117 contests. Zary aims to secure a regular top-six role this season. This opportunity would not only boost his overall productivity but also enhance his fantasy value.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
September 6, 2025
The San Jose Sharks acquired goaltender Carey Price (knee) from the Montreal Canadiens on Friday. Montreal moved Price and his contract for defenseman Gannon Laroque and a fifth-round pick in the 2026 draft. Price, who won the Hart and Vezina Trophies in 2015, has been on Long-Term Injured Reserve since 2022 due to a knee problem. 2025-26 will mark the final season of Price's eight-year, $84 million contract, which has a $10.5 million cap hit. Laroque is a 22-year-old defenseman who has also battled health issues. Following two hip surgeries, he missed the entire 2024-25 campaign. Laroque will likely be limited to minor league action this season.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
September 2, 2025
New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke Hughes is still a free agent with training camp approaching in a couple of weeks, but the team remains optimistic about finalizing a new contract with him. "Eventually, this will get done," Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald told James Murphy of RG Media. "The 11th hour is training camp. Right? A lot of times, a lot of the stuff doesn't get done until the 11th hour. We're hoping we can get something done here in quick fashion, and both sides are working hard at it; that's for sure." The Devils are reportedly aiming for an eight-year maximum term or a bridge deal in negotiations with the restricted free agent, while Hughes is said to prefer a five-year contract to align with his brother and teammate Jack. Hughes has started his NHL career with consecutive 40-point seasons and still has a lot more fantasy potential.
--Taavi PailkSource: James Murphy
September 2, 2025
Washington Capitals defenseman Martin Fehervary (knee) took part in an informal skate on Tuesday and is expected to be healthy for the start of training camp. Fehervary tore his right meniscus late last season and has been recovering from surgery over the summer. The 25-year-old is known as a shutdown defenseman, but he found some offensive success in 2024-25, posting a career-high 25 points (five goals, 20 assists) in 81 contests. Fehervary finished second on his team with 150 blocks and ranked third with 139 hits. If he can improve his offensive production further, Fehervary could become a real asset in fantasy hockey.
--Taavi PailkSource: Tom Gulitti
September 2, 2025
St. Louis Blues left wing Dylan Holloway (oblique) is fully healthy for the start of the season. Speaking to Andy Strickland of FanDuel Sports Network, Holloway said he has been back to 100 percent for three months. His 2024-25 campaign ended early after Holloway tore his oblique off the hip bone. He missed the final five regular-season games and St. Louis' seven-game first-round playoff series against the Winnipeg Jets. Holloway had an eye-popping first year with the Blues, recording 63 points (26 goals, 37 assists) with 165 hits in 77 appearances. Another 60-point campaign looks like a very realistic target for him in 2025-26.
--Taavi PailkSource: Andy Strickland
September 2, 2025
Winnipeg Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey (knee) is at 100 percent ahead of the new campaign. "Everything is great," Morrissey told Ken Wiebe of The Winnipeg Free Press. "It was bad timing (for the injury to occur), but a good result, in that the injury wasn't too severe. I knew the protocol and I knew the plan. I've been skating for two months now and it feels as good or better than it did before." Morrissey injured his left knee during Winnipeg's final game of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Fortunately for the Jets and fantasy managers, the star defenseman is completely healthy for the start of 2025-26 and will try for a fourth consecutive year with 60-plus points.
--Taavi PailkSource: Ken Wiebe
September 2, 2025
Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Dennis Hildeby signed a three-year, $2.525 million extension on Tuesday. It's a two-way deal for the first two years before converting into a one-way contract for the 2027-28 campaign. Hildeby was a restricted free agent after making his first six NHL appearances last season. He posted a 3-3-0 record, a 3.33 goals-against average, and a .878 save percentage. In the AHL, Hildeby had a 16-9-4 record with a 2.55 goals-against average, a .908 save percentage, and two shutouts. During the upcoming season, Hildeby will continue to develop his game in the minors but may also see some NHL action, depending on the status of Toronto's top goalies, Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
August 25, 2025
Defenseman Jan Rutta has agreed to a two-year deal with the Geneva-Servette Hockey Club in Switzerland. Since he turned 35 in July, this probably indicates that Rutta's NHL career is over. He joined the league in 2017-18, signing with the Chicago Blackhawks after playing in his native Czechia. Rutta became a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Tampa Bay Lightning and also represented the Pittsburgh Penguins and San Jose Sharks, making 417 regular-season appearances. He registered 98 points, 479 blocks, and 370 hits during his eight-year career. Geneva-Servette has also brought in forwards Jimmy Vesey and Jesse Puljujarvi from the NHL this offseason.
--Taavi PailkSource: The Hockey News
August 25, 2025
Montreal Canadiens forward Kirby Dach (knee) was on the ice Monday with some of his teammates, Stu Cowan of the Montreal Gazette reports. The 24-year-old is working his way back from knee surgery and could be an option for the start of the season. Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes recently noted that it wasn't certain Dach would be ready for the season opener on Oct. 8 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. However, Dach is expected to return to the lineup this fall. Due to two knee surgeries, Dach has been limited to 59 appearances over the last two seasons. Once he's healthy, Dach should take on a middle-six role and could be a useful pickup in some fantasy formats.
--Taavi PailkSource: Stu Cowan
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