I'll catch up on some news over the last couple days before finishing off Bubble Keeper Week.

As expected, Cale Makar has received his gigantic extension from the Colorado Avalanche. Makar and the Avalanche have agreed to an eight-year extension with a $20.4 million AAV – the largest contract in NHL history by AAV. Considering Makar's value as arguably the league's top defenseman, it should come as no surprise that he is now the league's highest-paid player. Salary cap leaguers will have one season to adjust their rosters, with Makar about to earn $9 million on the final year of his current deal. A $11 million raise will be a sizeable jump for salary cap fantasy teams to manage.

–

Although it has already been rumored for much of the offseason, Connor Hellebuyck made his trade request public on Thursday. One hint that the Jets have already been shopping Hellebuyck was the July 1 signing of Stuart Skinner, whose fantasy value should increase with this news.

It's possible that the Jets receive a tandem-type goalie in a Hellebuyck trade, which is something to look out for. Buffalo seems to make sense as one destination, with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and 1-2 young forwards a possible return. Other US-based teams could also be in the mix, although I'll predict that it won't be Florida – the salary cap inherently prevents superteams from being formed unless certain players are willing to take a major discount. Hellebuyck is now 33, so I expect a decent return but not a massive haul for the Jets.

Fantasy Take: Skinner Signs in Winnipeg

–

Last week I brought up several forwards that I needed to decide on in one of my keeper leagues, which you can read about here and here. Many of these forwards were waiver-wire pickups during the season and what I'd consider supporting pieces. True bubble keepers, so to speak.

Today it's all about defensemen and goalies. These players vary in terms of fantasy interest, but they might bring something to the table in some league out there.

Thomas Chabot

Injuries are a part of rostering Chabot, a Certified Band-Aid Boy. Over his last five seasons, Chabot has missed at least 14 games four times. That means you'll have to factor in injury time missed, which is what the Fantasy Guide does when projecting Chabot's point total. Chabot can comfortably score at a 45-point pace, but injuries could result in something closer to 35 points.

Chabot was once the defenseman on the Senators' top power play, but now that role belongs to Jake Sanderson. Chabot will now have to compete with Jordan Spence and Carter Yakemchuk for a spot on the second unit. Chabot probably remains there based on experience, but his fantasy value already seems to be on the decline.

Despite the downward trend, Chabot is only 29 years old. That means he still has time to shake the injury label. An increase in shots back to over 2.0 SOG/GP could help a little with his offensive totals, but that might be offset by a high 5-on-5 shooting percentage of 13.0%.

I think there's still something left with Chabot. However, the cost to keep him in this league far surpasses what his expected production will be.

Tom Willander

The Canucks' first-round pick in 2023, Willander finished his 2025-26 rookie campaign with 21 points in 70 games. The Canucks also used him on the power play – at times even the top power play. Willander didn't stand out with that opportunity, scoring just three power-play points. For the upcoming season, he is likely behind Filip Hronek and Zeev Buium on the power-play pecking order.

The Canucks have high hopes for Willander. As a former first-round pick, Willander was drafted for his two-way ability. He posted decent but not outstanding offensive numbers in the NCAA, scoring 49 points in 77 games with Boston University. He struggled defensively in his first NHL season, finishing with a minus-23 while facing what was considered average competition. Willander is only 21, so the Canucks will likely show plenty of patience with him.

Willander may improve a bit offensively in his second NHL season. However, the projections simply don't show enough of a jump for me to focus on retaining him. Overall, one challenge with evaluating defensemen picked in the first round is whether they can hold their own in fantasy leagues; in other words, if their real-life value will be higher than their fantasy value. In that sense, the jury is probably still out on where Willander fits in.

Alex Lyon

Mostly an AHL/backup goalie for his professional career, Lyon was a major factor in the Sabres' sudden ascent in 2025-26. During the second and third quarter of the season, Lyon posted a 2.13 GAA, .928 SV%, and 76.5 QS% (quality start percentage) over 17 games. Among goalies with at least 30 games played, Lyon's 63.9 QS% was ninth among 51 goalies.

Lyon might face stiffer competition from Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in 2026-27, though. Luukkonen has the higher cap hit ($4.75 million to $1.5 million) and the longer term (three more years to one more year). Further complicating things is the fact that Colten Ellis might also stick around as a third goalie again. Luukkonen appeared in 50+ games in each of his two previous seasons prior to 2025-26, which he may not be able to reach with two other goalies. But he is the likely starter and should appear in at least half of the Sabres' games, barring injury.

I fully lean into a Zero G strategy in this league, which explains how I acquired Lyon in the first place (waiver wire). I already have two other goalies in Darcy Kuemper and Joey Daccord, neither of whom are standouts but could always surprise given the volatile nature of goalies. This is not a head-to-head categories league, but instead a head-to-head total points league. That's an important distinction because I don't need goalie category wins. It doesn't matter who earns the points on my roster – just that I get them. The plan is to find another Lyon via waivers during the season to supplement my existing goalies rather than pay a higher price just to retain him.

Anton Forsberg

Darcy Kuemper's unreliability in the second half (20 GP, 7-5-7, 3.21 GAA, .871 SV%) resulted in Forsberg grabbing a timeshare in the Kings' net. Over that same stretch, Forsberg was much better (19 GP, 9-6-2, 2.44 GAA, .917 SV%). Forsberg was even the starter for the Kings' four-game sweep at the hands of the Avalanche in the playoffs, although his playoff numbers were still respectable (2.70 GAA, .908 SV%).

Forsberg could even force a timeshare this season, especially if Kuemper's slump continues. The goaltending battle is still advantage Kuemper, as he earns double the salary ($5.25 million) of Forsberg ($2.25 million). That means I may reach for Forsberg on the waiver wire if he happens to be available, but the price to keep him was too high for a goalie who still projects to be the backup. That matters because my salary cap situation on this team is very tight.

Mads Sogaard

I added Sogaard back in February 2023 when it appeared that he might develop into the Senators' goalie of the future. Since then, the trajectory hasn't gone his way. His own play dipped, with back‑to‑back AHL seasons posting a 3.00+ GAA and a sub‑.900 save percentage. At the same time, Leevi Meriläinen passed him on Ottawa's depth chart, limiting Sogaard to just eight NHL appearances over the past three years.

Now 25, Sogaard gets a reset in Tampa Bay after signing a one‑year, two‑way deal on July 1. The Lightning are trying to rebuild organizational depth behind Andrei Vasilevskiy, but Sogaard still projects to sit behind Dennis Hildeby and Jonas Johansson as they battle for the NHL backup job.

In a league this deep, cutting Sogaard is a straightforward move. I'm better off using the roster spot on a goalie who will actually see NHL games. That said, he's still young for the position, and if he can stabilize his game in the AHL, there's room for him to carve out an NHL career down the road.

–

Follow me on X @Ian_Gooding and Bluesky @goodsfantasyhockey.bsky.social