Fantasy Hockey News

Owen Beck was reassigned to AHL Laval on Tuesday. The move was made as the Canadiens prepare for a four-game road trip and corresponds with the recall of Joshua Roy. In two NHL games this season, the 21-year-old center was held without a point and recorded one shot on goal.

Fantasy Impact: Beck's demotion is not a surprise, as he was recalled on an emergency basis and failed to make an impact in a fourth-line role. He will head back to Laval to continue his development and get top-line minutes. Beck remains a solid prospect but holds no redraft fantasy value at this time.

Marc Del Gaizo was recalled from AHL Laval by the Canadiens on Tuesday. This promotion strongly suggests that defenseman Kaiden Guhle (lower body) will be placed on injured reserve, although the team has not yet made that move official.

Fantasy Impact: Del Gaizo's recall is a depth move for Montreal's blue line. If he draws into the lineup during the team's current road trip, he would likely slot in on the third pairing, potentially at the expense of Arber Xhekaj. Del Gaizo carries no fantasy value at this time.

Lane Hutson has agreed to an eight-year, $70.8 million contract extension with the Montreal Canadiens according to Chris Johnston. (Source: Chris Johnston on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Hutson’s extension will keep the second-year defenseman in Montreal long-term after an impressive rookie campaign in which he posted 66 points (six goals, 60 assists) over 82 games, winning the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie in the process.

Jack Eichel has agreed to an eight-year, $108 million contract extension with the Vegas Golden Knights according to Darren Dreger. (Source: Darren Dreger on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Eichel’s extension will keep the superstar center in Vegas for the foreseeable future alongside free-agent addition Mitch Marner, forming an explosive offensive duo on the top forward line for head coach Bruce Cassidy. The 28-year-old posted a career-high 94 points (28 goals, 66 assists) in 77 games during the 2024-25 season.

Kyle Connor has agreed to an eight-year, $96 million contract extension with the Winnipeg Jets according to Darren Dreger.

Fantasy Impact: Connor’s extension includes $55 million in signing bonus with the remaining $41 million as salary. The winger continues to lead a high-powered Winnipeg forward group and should once again offer fantasy managers an elite offensive option in lineups on a nightly basis.

Jake Walman has agreed to a seven-year, $49 million contract extension with the Edmonton Oilers the club announced. (Source: Edmonton Oilers on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Walman’s extension locks up another key piece of an Edmonton core looking for a third consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearance after posting 40 points (seven goals, 33 assists) to go along with 57 hits and 145 blocked shots in 65 games during the 2024-25 season. He will return to a top-four blueline role for the Oilers this season.

Connor McDavid has agreed to a two-year, $25 million contract extension with the Edmonton Oilers the club announced. (Source: Edmonton Oilers on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: McDavid’s extension with the club will give the superstar center the benefit of re-entering the free-agent market if he feels the organization has not done enough to build a Stanley Cup contending team in the near term. McDavid missed a majority of the 2024-25 regular season due to injury but remains an elite offensive option for fantasy managers in all formats this upcoming season.

Filip Gustavsson has agreed to a five-year, $34 million contract extension with the Minnesota Wild according to Micheal Russo. (Source: Michael Russo on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Gustavsson’s extension will begin in the 2026-27 season after posting a .914 save percentage and 2.56 GAA (31-19-6, five shutouts) between the pipes for the Wild last season and should once again offer fantasy managers a stable netminding option in all formats this upcoming season.

Kirill Kaprizov has agreed to an eight-year, $136 million contract extension with the Minnesota Wild. (Source: ESPN on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Kaprizov’s extension makes the superstar winger the highest-paid player in league history. The 28-year-old finished an injury-riddled 2024-25 campaign with 56 points (25 goals, 31 assists) in 41 games for the Wild. Fantasy managers will hope Kaprizov can stay healthy and reward them with elite-offensive production on a nightly basis this upcoming season.

Mason McTavish has agreed to a six-year, $42 million contract extension with the Anaheim Ducks the organization announced. (Source: Anaheim Ducks on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: McTavish is now locked in through the 2030-31 season with the Ducks after posting a career-high 52 points (22 goals, 30 assists) in 76 games last season. The 22-year-old will be a key top-six forward option in the Anaheim lineup after the Ducks traded away Trevor Zegras in the offseason.

Brad Marchand has agreed to a six-year, $32 million extension with the Florida Panthers according to Pierre LeBrun. (Source: Pierre LeBrun on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Marchand avoids reaching free agency after playing a pivotal role in Florida’s Stanley Cup championship run after being acquired at the trade deadline. The 37-year-old forward posted 20 points over 23 postseason contests and is part of a once again deep Florida squad pursuing a third consecutive Stanley Cup this upcoming season.

John Tavares has agreed to a four-year, $17.52 million contract extension with the Toronto Maple Leafs according to Chris Johnston. (Source: Chris Johnston on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Tavares chose to remain in Toronto on a discount instead of testing free-agency after posting 74 points (38 goals, 36 assists) in 75 regular season games for the club. The veteran will likely center the second forward line for head coach Craig Berube this upcoming season while once again offering fantasy managers a steady offensive option in all formats.

Sam Bennett signed an eight-year, $64 million contract to return to the Florida Panthers according to Chris Johnston. (Source: Chris Johnston on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Bennett cashed in on a career season for the Panthers during the 2024-25 campaign, tallying 51 points (25 goals, 26 assists) in 76 regular season games while also playing a pivotal role in Florida winning a second consecutive Stanley Cup, posting 22 points during the postseason on his way to claiming the Conn Smythe trophy. The gritty center should once again be targeted as a mid-round option while slotting into the middle of the second forward line for a Florida group looking to claim a third straight Stanley Cup championship under head coach Paul Maurice this upcoming season.

Brock Nelson has been acquired by the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Calum Ritchie and a first-round pick to the New York Islanders. (Source: Eliotte Friedman on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Nelson boosts an already loaded Colorado lineup, forming a formidable trio of center with newly acquired Charlie Coyle and homegrown Colorado superstar Nathan MacKinnon as the Avalanche chase another Stanley Cup championship.

Charlie Coyle has been traded to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Casey Mittelstadt, Will Zellers, and a 2025 second-round pick to the Boston Bruins. (Source: Elliotte Friedman on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Coyle is one of many cast out of Boston before the trade deadline, fortifying an already loaded Colorado lineup with another steady two-way center option as the Avalanche look poised to make a deep postseason run in pursuit of another Stanley Cup championship.

Mikko Rantanen has been traded to the Dallas Stars in exchange for Logan Stankoven and draft picks by the Carolina Hurricanes according to Emily Kaplan. (Source: Emily Kaplan on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Rantanen will join his third team of the 2024-25 season while also agreeing to an eight-year, $96 million extension with the Stars. The talented winger will look to return to the elite offensive option fantasy managers enjoyed while playing in Colorado before falling back to earth in Carolina prior to Friday’s trade.

MacKenzie Blackwood has agreed to a five-year, $26.25 million contract extension with the Colorado Avalanche according to Elliotte Friedman. (Source: Elliotte Friedman on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Blackwood is now locked in for the foreseeable future for a Colorado squad that is turning to the netminder to stabilize the shaky goaltending that plagued the team early in the season prior to trading with San Jose for him. Blackwood carries a .931 save percentage and 2.03 GAA in four starts (3-1-0) between the pipes so far this season for the Avalanche.

Alexandar Georgiev has been traded to the San Jose Sharks along with Nikolai Kovalenko, a 2025 fifth-round draft pick, and a 2026 second-round draft pick in exchange for Mackenzie Blackwood, Givani Smith, and a 2027 fifth-round draft pick to the Colorado Avalanche. (Source: Colorado Avalanche on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Georgiev struggled with consistency in the crease for much of the season despite playing behind a high-powered Colorado lineup and will now look turn things around with a fresh start with the Sharks. The netminder posted an .874 save percentage and 3.38 GAA in 18 appearances (8-7-0) in the crease for the Avalanche so far this season.

Alexis Lafreniere has agreed to a seven-year, $52.15 million contract extension with the New York Rangers according to Elliotte Friedman. (Source: Elliotte Friedman on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Lafreniere gets rewarded by the Rangers after a breakout 2023-24 season in which the winger finished with 57 points (28 goals, 29 assists) over 82 games. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 draft is finally living up to expectations and is now part of a Rangers squad built to contend for the foreseeable future.

Carter Verhaeghe has agreed to an eight-year, $56 million contract extension with the Florida Panthers. (Source: Frank Seravalli on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Verhaeghe’s extension includes $48 million in bonuses while receiving a $1 million salary each season through 2032-33. The center has maximized his top-six forward role for the high-octane Panthers, recording at least 70 points in each of the last two season for the club.