August 8, 2025
The Vancouver Canucks have signed right wing Vitali Kravtsov to a one-year, two-way contract. The Russian forward also played for the Canucks in 2022-23, notching two points (one goal, one assist) in 16 appearances. Kravtson didn't make an impact with the New York Rangers either, which resulted in his return to Russia. Now, he will try his luck again in North America after having back-to-back prolific KHL campaigns with Traktor Chelyabinsk. Last season, Kravtsov scored 27 goals and 58 points in 66 games with Traktor. If he can produce similarly in 2025-26, the Canucks offense would get a nice boost.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
August 5, 2025
Goaltender Anton Khudobin announced his retirement from the NHL on Tuesday. He will wrap up his career after turning 39 in May. Khudobin's final NHL appearance came during the 2022-23 season with the Chicago Blackhawks. After his contract ended, Khudobin played in Russia. Overall, Khudobin made 260 regular-season appearances in the NHL, amassing a 114-92-33 record. He collected 11 shutouts and registered a 2.52 goals-against average with a .916 save percentage. The Kazakh-born netminder featured for six NHL teams during a 14-year career, helping the Dallas Stars reach the 2020 Stanley Cup Finals.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
August 5, 2025
Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen has confirmed he is fully healthy for the start of the season. "I'm 100 percent back to normal after the surgery," Heiskanen said Monday. "I've been able to practice all summer as usual." Heiskanen underwent knee surgery on Feb. 4 and missed the end of the 2024-25 regular season. He returned to action during the second round of the playoffs but wasn't at his best. A fully healthy Heiskanen should be a key player for both the Stars and fantasy teams next season. He finished last term with 25 points (five goals, 20 assists), 108 shots, 85 blocks, and a plus-seven rating across 50 outings.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
August 5, 2025
Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk is expected to miss the start of the new NHL season. "I think we're going to find out at some point here that Tkachuk will miss the start of the season," NHL insider Elliotte Friedman said on the latest episode of the 32 Thoughts podcast. "I think he'll be back in time for the Olympics... But I think he's going to miss the start of the year and a chunk of time after that." Tkachuk dealt with various health issues last term and apparently isn't at 100 percent for the start of 2025-26 either. Based on the available information, it's safe to assume Florida will be without Tkachuk for several months, which would boost Brad Marchand's fantasy stock.
--Taavi PailkSource: Elliotte Friedman
August 5, 2025
Winger Jimmy Vesey has signed a two-year contract with Geneve-Servette HC of Switzerland's National League. The American forward, who turned 32 in May, will move overseas for the first time in his career. Vesey has 626 NHL regular-season appearances under his belt, scoring 101 goals and 194 points. He had an underwhelming campaign in 2024-25 with the New York Rangers and Colorado Avalanche, finishing with only eight points (five goals, three assists) in 43 contests. Given his age, Vesey is unlikely to earn a new NHL contract. But he will have some good company in Switzerland, with former NHLers Antti Raanta, Markus Granlund, and Sami Vatanen among his teammates.
--Taavi PailkSource: Geneve-Servette HC
August 5, 2025
Anaheim Ducks right wing Sam Colangelo agreed to terms on a new two-year contract Monday. It's reportedly a $1.7 million deal for Colangelo, who posted 10 goals and 12 points in 32 appearances with the Ducks last season. The contract is a two-way deal for the first year and will become a one-way pact for the second season. In 2024-25, Colangelo was one of nine players with double-digit goals for the Ducks, and the 23-year-old averaged a point per game in 40 AHL appearances. He clearly has some talent, and Anaheim will continue to develop it next season.
--Taavi PailkSource: Andrew Knoll
August 5, 2025
New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer signed a three-year entry-level contract Monday. The top pick of this year's draft reiterated his desire to start his NHL career in the upcoming season. "Feels amazing," Schaefer said. "Obviously, it's something I've wanted to do my whole life and to do it your first year -- there's still a lot of work, but that was my dream and I want to play in the NHL this season. I wanted to really badly. I know there's going to be a lot of hard work that comes with it, but I think I'm ready." Schaefer is still only 17 and could be sent back to the OHL next season. If he sticks with the Islanders, Schaefer is likely to play a significant role on the blue line, as not getting enough action would hurt his development.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
August 2, 2025
Forward Jakub Lauko has left the NHL to sign with HC Dynamo Pardubice in the Czech Extraliga. He was an unrestricted free agent after the Boston Bruins did not give him a qualifying offer. 101 of his 139 NHL appearances have come with the Bruins. Lauko started the 2024-25 with the Minnesota Wild before returning to Beantown in March. He registered 11 points (five goals, six assists) and 119 hits in 56 contests with the two teams. Lauku is only 25 years old and may return to the National Hockey League in the future. He's looking to develop his offensive game back home. "I play hard and energetic. I believe I'm good defensively, but I also want to wake up offensively and contribute to the team in that regard," Lauko said, per the team's press release via Google Translate.
--Taavi PailkSource: NESN
August 2, 2025
Toronto Maple Leafs winger Nicholas Robertson has signed a one-year, $1.825 million contract for next season. He was scheduled to have a salary arbitration hearing on Sunday. Robertson was the only unsigned restricted free agent remaining among the 11 players who filed for salary arbitration. Times have been difficult for Robertson in Toronto, as the Pasadena-born forward has not found a consistent role on the team. Last season, he played in only three of the Maple Leafs' 13 playoff games, scoring one goal and two points. During the regular season, Robertson recorded 22 points (15 goals, seven assists) in 69 games. Without a regular top-six spot, Robertson isn't a very appealing fantasy option.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
August 2, 2025
Los Angeles Kings winger Alex Laferriere inked a three-year, $12.3 million contract with the team on Saturday. The 23-year-old was a restricted free agent after having completed his entry-level contract. Laferriere has produced promising performances with the Kings and is coming off a strong sophomore campaign. The American forward finished last term with 42 points (19 goals, 23 assists) in 77 games and was third on the team with 124 hits. Laferriere's prospects in the league as a power forward appear bright, and his fantasy value is likely to increase further in 2025-26.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
July 31, 2025
Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid is approaching the final year of an eight-year, $100 million contract and could become an unrestricted free agent next offseason. However, the superstar forward is not expected to leave the team. Oilers general manager Stan Bowman hopes to agree to an extension with him soon. "(McDavid is) a huge part of everything we do here, and so I don't have a timeline update, but I do expect to have some conversations with them soon and hopefully get that wrapped up," Bowman told CHED 880's Bob Stauffer. Bowman also mentioned that he's had "really good conversations" with McDavid's agent, Judd Moldaver. McDavid has crushed it in the National Hockey League since his very first season. He has tallied 1,082 points (361 goals, 721 assists) in 712 career regular-season games, reaching 100 points in five consecutive campaigns.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
July 31, 2025
Buffalo Sabres goaltender Devon Levi has inked a new two-year, $1.625 million contract with the club. The young netminder was Buffalo's last restricted free agent. Levi is a highly-regarded goalie prospect, but he had a tough time in the NHL last season. In nine outings, Levi compiled a 2-7-0 record, allowing over four goals per game (4.12) with a lowly .872 save percentage. He didn't see any action in the big league after January. Levi's play in the AHL was much better, as the 23-year-old posted a 25-13-4 record, a 2.20 goals-against average, and a .919 save percentage with the Rochester Americans. Next season, Levi will battle with Alex Lyon for the backup position behind Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
July 31, 2025
Calgary Flames forward Martin Pospisil has signed a three-year, $7.5 million contract extension that will start with the 2026-27 season. Pospisil could have become a restricted free agent after the upcoming campaign. Calgary picked Pospisil in the fourth round of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, and he has been a regular on the team for the past two seasons. In 2024-25, Pospisil scored 25 points (four goals, 21 assists) in 81 games and tied New York Rangers forward Will Cuylle for the third-most hits in the league with 301. Pospisil's physicality certainly makes him valuable in some fantasy leagues, but he isn't a must-have player.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
July 30, 2025
Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy (shoulder) will be fully healthy for the start of training camp. In a conversation with Steve Conroy of the Boston Herald, McAvoy indicated that he would have even been ready to play in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs if the Bruins had extended their season. McAvoy missed the final two months of last term due to a shoulder infection he sustained during the 4 Nations Face-Off. The American blue-liner finished his eighth NHL campaign with 23 points (seven goals, 16 assists), 98 shots, 81 blocks, and 89 hits in 50 games. McAvoy does it all for the Bruins and is poised for another productive fantasy season in 2025-26.
--Taavi PailkSource: Steve Conroy
July 30, 2025
Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dylan Samberg has agreed to a three-year, $17.25 million contract extension. Samberg was scheduled to have a salary arbitration hearing later today, but the two sides managed to avoid it. On Monday, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported that Samberg set his contract value in arbitration at $6 million, while the Jets were looking to get him for $2.5 million. The agreed deal gives Samberg's contract an average annual value of $5.75 million. While Samberg doesn't do much from a fantasy perspective, he has developed into a highly reliable blue-liner in Winnipeg. Last season, Samberg finished seventh in the NHL with a plus-34 rating, earning 20 points (six goals, 14 assists) and blocking 154 shots in 60 games.
--Taavi PailkSource: Murat Ates
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