The Penguins have signed forward Tommy Novak to a three-year extension with a $4.65 million cap hit. This contract is set to begin next season, with Novak's current contract with a $3.5 million cap hit set to expire at the end of the season.

Novak is now one of only two Penguins to be signed for the next four years (until 2030). The other? Defenseman Kaedan Korczak, who was just acquired from the Golden Knights in late June. With mainly an age 35+ core, the Penguins appear to be on a year-to-year plan that will eventually need to be followed by a full rebuild once the likes of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and Erik Karlsson either move on or retire.

Novak was the only Penguin to appear in all 82 games in 2025-26, finishing with 16 goals and 42 points. He has now reached 40 points in three of his past four seasons, although his career high is 45 points. His most frequent linemates last season were Malkin and Egor Chinakhov, so he will likely need to be back with them and also receive at least second-unit power-play time to be of interest in fantasy leagues this season.

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The Sharks have signed forward Collin Graf to a three-year extension with a cap hit of $4.25 million. Graf was an unsigned RFA whose entry-level contract had just expired. Graf was originally an undrafted free agent who the Sharks signed following two successful years at Quinnipiac University.

In his first full season with the Sharks, Graf finished with 21 goals and 46 points while often playing on a line with Macklin Celebrini (also recently extended) and Will Smith. Graf could be considered a sleeper in many league formats if he can become a regular linemate of Celebrini's, but he is now also battling the likes of Ivar Stenberg and Mason Marchment for that honor.

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The 2026-27 Fantasy Guide is now available! Projections, writeups on each team, and much more! Get yours at the Dobber Sports store.

One of the areas of the guide that I contributed to was the team-by-team goalie previews, which I have covered in past seasons as well. Although the overall concept of picking the right goalie hasn't changed over that time, how goalies are viewed on both real-life and fantasy teams has changed at least a bit. One aspect of this is goalie workload, which Stas Pupkov broke down in this week's Analytics Advantage.

A new formula for success in today's NHL has teams investing the bare minimum in goalies and moving their chips toward other positions. Just like those who play fantasy hockey, NHL teams are realizing that goalie performance can be volatile from season to season. In addition, a talented goalie can only do so much for a team. If a defense is weak, it will show in the goalie's numbers.

Here are five potential playoff teams with interesting goalie battles entering the season. These goalies aren't all bargain basement goalies, but trying to forecast who the starter will be may not be that simple. At least two goalies on each of these teams could hold value this season – perhaps even at the same time. The "How this might play out" analysis is how I personally think the goaltending situation will turn out, which is not necessarily the same as what is mentioned in the Fantasy Guide (Dobber has the final say in what appears there).

CAROLINA

Why this is a debate

Brandon Bussi may have been the goalie of record in Carolina's Stanley Cup‑clinching win, but context matters for fantasy managers. Pyotr Kochetkov spent most of the season injured, and when you zoom out to the past three years, their numbers are essentially comparable — with a slight statistical edge to Kochetkov (see the Goalie Compare feature on Frozen Tools). More importantly, Kochetkov has logged 40‑plus games in each of the previous two seasons, giving him a normally strong workload profile heading into drafts. Also, did you know Bussi is a year older than Kochetkov?

How this might play out

Bussi will be viewed as the starter by many, but we can't forget about Kochetkov. This could be a timeshare where both goalies are worth rostering. Bussi faded late in the regular season and was on the bench for the first round of the playoffs until Andersen was injured during the Stanley Cup Final (which seemed inevitable), so he doesn't have much of a track record of being a full-time NHL starter.

COLORADO

Why this is a debate

Scott Wedgewood outperformed Mackenzie Blackwood last season and even held the starter's crease for much of the playoffs. But for fantasy purposes, contract reality still matters: Blackwood carries the higher cap hit ($5.25 million) and longer term (four years), while the 33‑year‑old Wedgewood has spent most of his career in a backup role. The Avalanche simply have more invested in Blackwood — even if Wedgewood was the better goalie in the short term.

How this might play out

True to the contract, expect Blackwood to be the starter on opening night. Where this goes beyond that is not exactly clear. Coach Jared Bednar could ride the hot hand all season as the Avalanche attempt to defend their Central Division title in what should be another grueling battle.

EDMONTON

Why this is a debate

Edmonton enters the season with a three‑headed monster, each carrying a very different fantasy profile. Frederik Andersen, now 36, is nearing the twilight of his career and remains an ongoing injury risk. Tristan Jarry has the highest cap hit and term (albeit for only two years) but is trying to rebound from recent struggles and health issues. Meanwhile, 24‑year‑old Devon Levi is pushing to secure a full‑time NHL role and still projects as the organization's potential goalie of the future. For fantasy managers, this is a depth chart defined by volatility, contract politics, and long‑term upside — all wrapped into one crease.

How this might play out

Andersen starts opening night, but this could go in a lot of different directions after that. If he doesn't suffer another injury, Andersen's starts will be load managed. Jarry is probably on a short leash. Levi is no longer waivers-exempt, so he will get his chance here. Unless the Oilers resemble Mike Babcock's Red Wings during their prime, I'm probably shying away from Edmonton goaltenders until the later rounds of drafts.

MINNESOTA

Why this is a debate

Filip Gustavsson is recovering from hip surgery with no clear timeline, opening the door for Jesper Wallstedt's emergence. Gustavsson remains the far higher‑paid option — carrying a $6.8 million cap hit for five more seasons — but Wallstedt's rise complicates the long‑term picture. Once both goalies are healthy, Minnesota could be headed toward a true timeshare, with Gustavsson's contract and Wallstedt's upside pulling the crease in different directions for fantasy managers.

How this might play out

This could be close to 50/50, although Wallstedt has to be the preferred goalie based on being more likely to play more games, especially early on. If no significant news has surfaced regarding Gustavsson's injury by the time fantasy drafts roll around, he might even be a goalie to stay away from.

VEGAS

Why this is a debate

Carter Hart was signed to a short‑term deal because of the risk of his long layoff, but he delivered when it mattered in the playoffs. Even so, Adin Hill's contract — five more years at a significantly higher cap hit — keeps him firmly in the mix for starts. Hill already has a Stanley Cup on his résumé from his run with the Golden Knights, which explains the organization's investment. For fantasy managers, this sets up a crease where Hart's recent performance battles Hill's contract‑driven opportunity for control of the net.

How this might play out

Hill should play in more than 27 games in 2026-27. It is unlikely that he is as bad as he was last season (10-9-6, 2.04 GAA, .871 SV%). However, recency effect favors Hart in this goaltending battle.

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