Welcome back, everyone! We have some big-name fantasy players that have signed extensions to cover today, as this offseason continues to have NHL news every single day. It may be a result of the rising cap, but the salary figures that pop onto my iPhone screen are something that my brain needs to adjust to. Let's dive on in and you know where I must start things off this week…

Connor Bedard (21 years old, C) signs a 5-year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks at a $15M AAV cap hit ($75M Total)

Of course, I have to start with my Blackhawks. Bedard signed a five-year extension that walks him right into unrestricted free agency at age 25–26—the Auston Matthews model. I also have to give a shout out to his media availability earlier this week: a Zoom call from what looked like his back patio, rocking a retro Blackhawks hat and a T-shirt. A true fellow remote-work samurai.

I’ve seen some pushbacks on the extension from both Blackhawks fans and the broader hockey community, which isn’t entirely surprising. Some of the takes that come out of the Chicago radio scene can keep you up at night, so skepticism from that corner is expected. What has surprised me a bit more is the criticism from outside the CHI market. From a contract standpoint, the AAV had to land around the $15 million mark. Anything less and you risk creating an offer-sheet scenario that a club might seriously consider. Yes, the shoulder injury concerns are worth monitoring, but it’s also important to remember how the initial injury occurred—a heavy hit against New Jersey that likely would have sidelined just about anyone. Bedard is still only 21 years old, and he has arrived at camp in each of the last two seasons noticeably stronger and heavier. As his frame continues to mature, that added strength should only complement his already elite skating ability and high-volume shooting profile.

Before his injury last December, Bedard had 13 points in nine games, and that’s an important reminder for fantasy managers. His production has often been capped by the environment around him, particularly the revolving door of linemates. His best chemistry came alongside Ryan Donato two seasons ago. Chicago re-signed Donato, only for new head coach Jeff Blashill to deploy him on the third line before he was eventually moved out of the organization. That left Bedard relying on combinations featuring Teuvo Teräväinen, Ryan Greene, Andre Burakovsky, and Colton Dach. Not exactly a dream supporting cast. Add in the fact that Bedard has frequently been tasked with difficult defensive-zone deployments, and it’s clear he has done far more heavy lifting than the box score suggests. Anyone who regularly watched the Blackhawks could see the impact his absence had on the team’s overall play and offensive structure.

From a fantasy perspective, the extension itself doesn’t change much—we all knew the payday was coming. The bigger takeaway is that all the ingredients remain in place for a breakout offensively. Once he’s healthy and the on-ice environment around him improves, Bedard still has every tool necessary to emerge as one of the league’s elite offensive players.


Jason Robertson (27 years old, LW/RW) signs a 1-year contract with the Dallas Stars at a $12M AAV cap hit

The Stars kick-the-can approach strikes again! Dallas and Jason Robertson avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract, and while I’ve seen plenty of head-scratching over the move this morning, it feels like the most logical outcome and likely a precursor to a much larger deal down the road.

Throughout the summer, two things consistently appeared to be true. First, Robertson wanted to remain in Dallas. Second, he was looking for a contract that would place him north of the financial neighborhood of teammate Mikko Rantanen‘s $12-million AAV. Reports indicated Robertson had little interest in alternative destinations, including the Seattle Kraken and St. Louis Blues, making a long-term separation between Robertson and the Stars seem unlikely. While he didn’t reach that $14-million threshold on this one-year agreement, the short-term deal gives both sides flexibility. More importantly, Robertson becomes eligible to sign an extension on January 1, and it wouldn’t be surprising if there’s already a handshake understanding that a bigger contract is coming. If that’s the case, I wouldn’t be shocked to see something in the range of seven years at $15–16M AAV.

The reality is that Dallas simply doesn’t have the cap space to accommodate a large extension right now. Any significant roster move this season would likely need to be dollar-for-dollar. However, the cap picture changes dramatically next summer when Tyler Seguin‘s $9.85M cap hit comes off the books. At that point, the Stars won’t have many major financial obligations looming as no skater that is up for a deal outside of Robertson is making more than 2% of the salary cap.

For fantasy managers, the takeaway is straightforward: expect a massive payday within the next calendar year and don’t let the short-term contract alter your valuation. Robertson remains a point-per-game producer with 100-point seasons well within reach. He should spend plenty of time on a premium even-strength line featuring Mikko Rantanen and Wyatt Johnston, and on a good power play unit as well. Robertson has consistently posted strong even-strength shooting percentages throughout his career, and there’s little reason to expect a decline this season.

Trevor Zegras (25 years old, C/LW) signs a 4-year contract with the Flyers at a $9.1M AAV cap hit ($36.5M total)

There may be some doubt surrounding Trevor Zegras and his new contract, but the deal lands right around market value for a top-line center. Given the lack of impact centers available this summer—and the limited alternatives for teams looking to upgrade down the middle—the Flyers were always going to have to pay to keep an important piece of their core. Or an offer sheet but we've covered that!

From a fantasy perspective, Zegras appears to be an excellent fit within Philadelphia’s system. Even if he begins the season as the second-line center with Christian Dvorak handling top-line duties, the situations around him are far more important than the line designation itself. A healthy Tyson Foerster and the continued strong play of Owen Tippett should provide Zegras with plenty of offensive support, as we saw flashes of how dangerous that combination could be late last season, and there is legitimate upside if they can build on that chemistry over a full year. The supporting cast extends beyond that trio as well with a bounce-back offensive season from Travis Konecny, continued development from Porter Martone, and another step forward from Matvei Michkov; all would benefit Zegras regardless of where he slots into the lineup. Philadelphia wasn’t afraid to shuffle its lines throughout last season, particularly before the Olympic break, and there’s every reason to expect head coach Rick Tocchet to continue experimenting with the Philly even strength lines.

For fantasy, the area with the greatest room for growth is power play, as quite simply, there’s nowhere to go but up. The Flyers finished dead last on the man advantage last season, yet Zegras still managed 23 power-play points, ranking 23rd among NHL centers. If Philadelphia can even elevate its power play to league-average territory, Zegras should see a meaningful boost in overall production. I could envision him somewhere in the low 70s for points this season if the power play takes a step forward and the surrounding talent remains healthy. Yes, the contract represents a significant jump from last year’s $5.75-million AAV, and it’s fair to question whether an extra four or five points justifies nearly doubling the cap hit, but when it comes to fantasy roster construction, I’m generally willing to pay a premium for proven scoring from the center position—or for elite defensive contributions—rather than overspend for comparable production on the wing.

*Salary Cap data from PuckPedia.com  

For continued fantasy news and notes, follow me on Twitter @ndySanz.