Anthony Stolarz and the Toronto Maple Leafs finalized a four year, $15 million-dollar extension that carries a $3.75 million-dollar cap hit through the 2029-30 season. The agreement provides cost certainty at a position that has often been an issue for the club. At the age of 31, Stolarz is coming off the best season of his career, where he posted a league leading 0.926 SV%, 2.14 GAA, and a 21-8-3 record while operating in a 1A and 1B system. He also had some playoff success in the first-round playoff series victory over Ottawa, reinforcing his case to enter 2025-26 as the clear number one goaltender. When compared to the current market, where average starting goalies earn considerably more, making this deal a bargain.

Stolarz now holds a secure role with Joseph Woll on indefinite leave, while Dennis Hildeby is the projected backup. This sets Stolarz up to start the lion's share of games if he remains healthy, though his injury history is the primary concern. From a fantasy hockey perspective, a repeat of last season's performance would make him one of the best value options in drafts, especially given the strong defensive structure in Toronto. Fantasy managers should view him as a safe number two goalie with upside into low end number one territory, particularly in formats that emphasize save percentage and goals against average. Toronto's commitment shows their belief in his ability to manage a heavier workload, and if he maintains his consistency from last season, he has every chance to outperform his average draft position. Stolarz remains a calculated risk, but one with high reward potential.

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According to Lane Lambert Brandon Montour appears ready to be in Seattle's lineup for opening night following a minor ankle procedure earlier in the month. That is a positive development for fantasy managers who were monitoring his recovery and concerned about his availability. Montour had a decent 2024-25 season in which he suited up for 81 games, recorded 18 goals and 23 assists while logging close to 23 minutes of TOI. He is expected to start the year paired with Ryan Lindgren and is projected to see power play minutes, most likely on the second unit. That role provides him steady opportunities to contribute offensively while maintaining significant usage at even strength.

From a fantasy perspective, Montour provides a dependable floor across multiple categories. He can chip in goals and assists, while also delivering steady peripherals totals in shots, hits, and blocks, which makes him valuable in multi- category formats. His ceiling will not match the elite defensemen and will likely remain below teammate Vince Dunn's production, but Montour is still a reliable mid-tier option. Managers can view him as a safe D3 or D4 with room to outperform his draft cost.

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Brent Burns played his first game in a Colorado Avalanche jersey after missing most of the preseason due to a tweak.  He posted an assist along with Nathan Mackinnon on Saturday night to Arturi Lehkonen's goal. Maybe not a lot of fantasy value here unless you are in a deep league as Burns will likely not see any top power play time nor top line minutes with Cale Makar and Devon Toews. However, he will likely get a solid look at the second power play unit with Devon Toews and some other potential top-six forwards who struggle to make the top power play unit.

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It looks like the Flyer are experimenting with their lines this preseason, and giving us what we want in pairing Owen Tippett, Trevor Zegras, and Matvei Michkov, and early indications suggest the trio is gelling well. Zegras and Michkov provide elite playmaking and offensive creativity, while Tippett can offer finishing ability, making the line a potential scoring threat if it sticks. One would assume that coaching staff seems open to using them together long term

There are some concerns about defensive responsibility, as Zegras and Michkov have occasionally struggled in their own zone. You have to also think that this combination carries significant upside. All three players could see increased offensive production, and if the line receives power-play time, their fantasy value would rise further. Tippett in particular could return to his old form, benefiting from higher-quality opportunities alongside Zegras and Michkov, while Zegras and Michkov offer safer high-end upside. Zegras and Michkov have seen most of their ice-time together while Tippet was the new and recent addition to the mix. The main risks still involve defensive lapses, but the line presents a strong opportunity for points across goals, assists, and power-play contributions. At the very least we will get to see some very exciting hockey from this line.

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It was a light night in terms of games in the NHL preseason last night with five on the slate. The Blackhawks beat the Wild 4-1 on the back of Frank Nazar‘s hat trick, but he was not the only bright spot.  That line of Teuvo Teravainen, Frank Nazar and Tyler Bertuzzi had a great showing with both Turbo and Bertuzzi posting two assists each. Connor Bedard also had a beautiful no look cross ice back hand pass to Ryan Donato for a goal.

Chicago's projected second line headed by Nazar, carries some intrigue as all three are not only slated for a top-six role but also for spots on the first power-play unit, which gives them meaningful upside. For Nazar, this is a major step forward, after a rookie season with 12 goals and 14 assists in 53 games, he is now being trusted with more ice time and responsibility at center. This could very well translate into a 20-20 type season or better for him, especially if the power play clicks. Teräväinen brings that veteran playmaking presence, the kind of winger who could quietly pile up assists feeding his linemates while also benefiting from man-advantage touches. Bertuzzi, has typically done well in his net-front situations and could be the one cashing in on rebounds and dirty-area goals. There is opportunity here with a couple of these players getting PP1 time on a rebuilding team that will be heavily relied upon. All three players are being drafted well after the 200 ADP mark if not further in Yahoo! leagues. The risks here are tied to chemistry, Chicago's overall scoring struggles, and the possibility of line shuffling if things start slowly. Nazar looks like a solid late-round sleeper, Teräväinen offers a safe floor of assists, and Bertuzzi is a value pick who could outproduce his draft slot if he locks down his net-front role.

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As I write this, the Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks game just concluded with the Oilers taking the 4-3 win. One interesting note early is how the Oilers lines are shaping up. The Oilers are known for constantly shifting their lineup, and we all know it is only a matter of time before Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are paired together. Tonight, that pairing seems to have come sooner rather than later, with McDavid centering Draisaitl and Trent Frederic getting a prominent role on the right wing. The chemistry has been immediate; this line already combined for seven points in the first period alone. Nothing is set in stone, as Edmonton's coaching staff has a history of moving players around, but the impact is hard to ignore. McDavid and Draisaitl will be top picks in fantasy drafts, while Frederic is flying under the radar and is easily a waiver-wire target. There is no need to act rashly, just keep note of it.

Thanks for reading! See you next week! For more fantasy hockey content and analysis, follow me on X @Punters_hockey. If you have any questions about your team or a trade? My DMs are always open, happy to help!