1 month ago
We're into the month of September, which means the 2026-27 NHL season is right around the corner. Preseason games begin the Sept. 19 while the regular season begins earlier this year at the end of the month. Now is the time to start preparing for fantasy hockey and be sure to get into those mock draft lobbies.
Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Hockey league for the 2026-27 season
As we enter the fresh season, you'll find most of the same names toward the top of Scott Pianowski's rankings for 2026-27. The list starts with perennial MVP candidates Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon. The Avalanche center is fresh off a 53-goal season in which he took home the Rocket Richard trophy. Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov finished second behind McDavid with 130 points last season, but captured his second Hart Trophy as NHL MVP.
Below you can find Pianowski's fantasy hockey rankings for 2026-27 for each position.
#mcdavid #trophy #fresh
Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Hockey league for the 2026-27 season
As we enter the fresh season, you'll find most of the same names toward the top of Scott Pianowski's rankings for 2026-27. The list starts with perennial MVP candidates Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon. The Avalanche center is fresh off a 53-goal season in which he took home the Rocket Richard trophy. Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov finished second behind McDavid with 130 points last season, but captured his second Hart Trophy as NHL MVP.
Below you can find Pianowski's fantasy hockey rankings for 2026-27 for each position.
#mcdavid #trophy #fresh
2 months ago
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The **** le is still sinking in for Cale Makar — highest paid player in NHL history.
With it, of course, comes great expectations for the Colorado Avalanche standout defenseman. Like more gaudy stats and deep Stanley Cup runs. Pressure becomes part of the price tag for signing a $163.2 million, eight-year extension that kicks in next season. Pressure, the two-time Norris Trophy winner **** erted, he welcomes.
"I'm a guy that just puts a lot of pressure on myself to do well year in, year out," Makar said Monday at a news conference on the heels of a deal he signed late last week that will keep him with Colorado through the 2034-35 season. "It's going to make me even push myself a little bit more."
The 27-year-old Makar took becoming the league's first player to sign for more than $20 million a season in stride. He's already predicting the figure won't stand for long. It could be Edmonton's Connor McDavid or Toronto's Auston Matthews, who are eligible for extensions next summer. Down the road, it might be Makar's teammate Nathan MacKinnon.
"I fully expect Nate to even double what this is right now," cracked Makar, who's turned in four 20-goal seasons in his career. "It's incredible to see where the game is going."
#pressure #player #million
With it, of course, comes great expectations for the Colorado Avalanche standout defenseman. Like more gaudy stats and deep Stanley Cup runs. Pressure becomes part of the price tag for signing a $163.2 million, eight-year extension that kicks in next season. Pressure, the two-time Norris Trophy winner **** erted, he welcomes.
"I'm a guy that just puts a lot of pressure on myself to do well year in, year out," Makar said Monday at a news conference on the heels of a deal he signed late last week that will keep him with Colorado through the 2034-35 season. "It's going to make me even push myself a little bit more."
The 27-year-old Makar took becoming the league's first player to sign for more than $20 million a season in stride. He's already predicting the figure won't stand for long. It could be Edmonton's Connor McDavid or Toronto's Auston Matthews, who are eligible for extensions next summer. Down the road, it might be Makar's teammate Nathan MacKinnon.
"I fully expect Nate to even double what this is right now," cracked Makar, who's turned in four 20-goal seasons in his career. "It's incredible to see where the game is going."
#pressure #player #million
2 months ago
Leon Draisaitl admitted the Edmonton Oilers never established a clear identity during last season's disappointing NHL campaign. Edmonton finished second in the Pacific Division before losing to the Anaheim Ducks in six games.
The Oilers had reached consecutive Stanley Cup Finals before their early playoff exit. Draisaitl believes their biggest issue existed throughout the regular season, rather than appearing only in the postseason.
"I do think that we never were able to really grab and find our game throughout 82 games," Draisaitl said during the European Player Media Tour. "You see it every year, the teams that are good, there's a pattern that they create and build over 82 games. They know what their game is."
He added, "I think we kind of missed that. We never really found what we were as a group."
MORE: EA Sports shares Top 10 highest-rated players in NHL 27, featuring Oilers' Connor McDavid
#draisaitl #game
The Oilers had reached consecutive Stanley Cup Finals before their early playoff exit. Draisaitl believes their biggest issue existed throughout the regular season, rather than appearing only in the postseason.
"I do think that we never were able to really grab and find our game throughout 82 games," Draisaitl said during the European Player Media Tour. "You see it every year, the teams that are good, there's a pattern that they create and build over 82 games. They know what their game is."
He added, "I think we kind of missed that. We never really found what we were as a group."
MORE: EA Sports shares Top 10 highest-rated players in NHL 27, featuring Oilers' Connor McDavid
#draisaitl #game
2 months ago
The NHL is filled with intense rivalries that elevate the excitement when these teams face off. Fans instinctively move closer to the screen, fully engaged in the action. These matchups carry significant weight, often transcending the regular season standings.
Whether one team is on a winning streak or the other is facing challenges, rivalry games are always a spectacle. They bring out the best in players and create unforgettable moments, making them essential viewing for any hockey enthusiast.
MORE: Top 5 NHL players to start a franchise with, & Connor McDavid isn't ranked first
Steve Yzerman holds up the Stanley cup with his daughter Isabella after winning the cup for the third time in 2002.
This rivalry is an all-timer because of the history between these two organizations. Now, it hasn't gotten as much hype, but back in the 1990s, it was spectacular.
#players #fans #whether #mcdavid
Whether one team is on a winning streak or the other is facing challenges, rivalry games are always a spectacle. They bring out the best in players and create unforgettable moments, making them essential viewing for any hockey enthusiast.
MORE: Top 5 NHL players to start a franchise with, & Connor McDavid isn't ranked first
Steve Yzerman holds up the Stanley cup with his daughter Isabella after winning the cup for the third time in 2002.
This rivalry is an all-timer because of the history between these two organizations. Now, it hasn't gotten as much hype, but back in the 1990s, it was spectacular.
#players #fans #whether #mcdavid
2 months ago
As summer slowly begins to slip away with hints of hockey's return on the horizon, the one part of the offseason which feels incomplete is the highly anticipated Cale Makar contract extension hasn't been announced by the Colorado Avalanche yet. With exactly one month until the team is collectively back on the ice again, the clock is beginning to tick louder. Hopefully, it's still all a just matter of procedure but there's more anxiety in the air than there was a month ago.
It's often brought up that the Cale Makar contract watch is beginning to seem like the beginning of the Mikko Rantanen saga. That, too, felt like an important piece of business concerning a core player which would get done eventually but it turned into a shocking trade born out of frustration. But there are several important facts to keep in mind before comparing the two Stanley Cup champions when it comes to financial matters. What should be the actual contract comparison is how fellow superstar Nathan MacKinnon's eight-year extension signed in 2022 is more closely aligned with Makar's situation. There's several facts that were forgotten since that deal came to fruition just four years ago.
At the time he signed that mega-deal in 2022 worth just over $100 million, MacKinnon was the NHL's highest paid player, there was no hometown discount. His $12.6 million Annual Average Value edged Edmonton's Connor McDavid's previous high mark by $100K. Toronto's Auston Matthews did eventually surpass MacKinnon with an extension paying him at a $13.25 million AAV but it was signed nearly a full year later in 2023 and kicked in the season after that. This means that for the entire 2023-24 season MacKinnon was the league's highest paid player in an era when the salary cap was still rising by only one million dollars per year. In the 2025-26 season the superstar Avalanche center was still the league's third highest paid player and currently sits at seventh highest heading into the upcoming season.
The other significant detail of MacKinnon's contract, which will apply to the Makar negotiations, is that he signed for 15.09% of the $83.5 million salary cap. If we extrapolate that to the projected $113.5 million salary cap for the 2027-28 season when Makar's next contract will begin, that's a base of $17.13 million per year if both parties want to match that. San Jose's Macklin Celebrini is a budding star forward and just signed for the highest cap hit in the NHL at $18.8 million AAV which also begins in the 2027-28 season. Does Makar have an incentive to beat this figure or is he only content to set salaries for defensemen? Minnesota's Quinn Hughes is keeping a close eye on negotiations but he's likely waiting for Makar to name his price first than the other way around. If Hughes does sign first, though, and sets the bar for yearly salary it could have any impact on where Makar's ask goes especially if the figure surpasses Celebrini's.
One reason for optimism is that MacKinnon put pen to pape
It's often brought up that the Cale Makar contract watch is beginning to seem like the beginning of the Mikko Rantanen saga. That, too, felt like an important piece of business concerning a core player which would get done eventually but it turned into a shocking trade born out of frustration. But there are several important facts to keep in mind before comparing the two Stanley Cup champions when it comes to financial matters. What should be the actual contract comparison is how fellow superstar Nathan MacKinnon's eight-year extension signed in 2022 is more closely aligned with Makar's situation. There's several facts that were forgotten since that deal came to fruition just four years ago.
At the time he signed that mega-deal in 2022 worth just over $100 million, MacKinnon was the NHL's highest paid player, there was no hometown discount. His $12.6 million Annual Average Value edged Edmonton's Connor McDavid's previous high mark by $100K. Toronto's Auston Matthews did eventually surpass MacKinnon with an extension paying him at a $13.25 million AAV but it was signed nearly a full year later in 2023 and kicked in the season after that. This means that for the entire 2023-24 season MacKinnon was the league's highest paid player in an era when the salary cap was still rising by only one million dollars per year. In the 2025-26 season the superstar Avalanche center was still the league's third highest paid player and currently sits at seventh highest heading into the upcoming season.
The other significant detail of MacKinnon's contract, which will apply to the Makar negotiations, is that he signed for 15.09% of the $83.5 million salary cap. If we extrapolate that to the projected $113.5 million salary cap for the 2027-28 season when Makar's next contract will begin, that's a base of $17.13 million per year if both parties want to match that. San Jose's Macklin Celebrini is a budding star forward and just signed for the highest cap hit in the NHL at $18.8 million AAV which also begins in the 2027-28 season. Does Makar have an incentive to beat this figure or is he only content to set salaries for defensemen? Minnesota's Quinn Hughes is keeping a close eye on negotiations but he's likely waiting for Makar to name his price first than the other way around. If Hughes does sign first, though, and sets the bar for yearly salary it could have any impact on where Makar's ask goes especially if the figure surpasses Celebrini's.
One reason for optimism is that MacKinnon put pen to pape
3 months ago
Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl publicly backed Mike Babcock after the Edmonton Oilers hired him as head coach. However, former NHL defenseman Jason Demers thinks that support now places even greater pressure on the team's stars.
Speaking with Tyler Yaremchuk on the "Oilers Nation Everyday" podcast, Demers admitted he remains unconvinced by the coaching hire.
"I can't get behind the Mike Babcock signing. I just can't," Demers said. "I don't care what the top guys say."
MORE: Jason Demers predicts Oilers will 'run away' with Pacific Division
He acknowledged that McDavid and Draisaitl had to be comfortable with the decision.
#demers
Speaking with Tyler Yaremchuk on the "Oilers Nation Everyday" podcast, Demers admitted he remains unconvinced by the coaching hire.
"I can't get behind the Mike Babcock signing. I just can't," Demers said. "I don't care what the top guys say."
MORE: Jason Demers predicts Oilers will 'run away' with Pacific Division
He acknowledged that McDavid and Draisaitl had to be comfortable with the decision.
#demers
3 months ago
Former Edmonton Oilers forward and NHL enforcer Georges Laraque believes the team's biggest issue remains unchanged despite another offseason overhaul.
Speaking on the Bleed Oil Blue Podcast, Laraque argued that Edmonton's goaltending continues to hold the team back during Connor McDavid's Stanley Cup window.
"The biggest problem we've had for years, which I don't understand, is the goalie," Laraque said. "Every year we go get a goalie. I never agree with it. I know it's not going to work."
MORE: Connor McDavid calls Mike Babcock hire 'great opportunity' for Oilers
Laraque questioned Edmonton's repeated strategy of acquiring reclamation projects instead of proven starters.
#connor #former #georges
Speaking on the Bleed Oil Blue Podcast, Laraque argued that Edmonton's goaltending continues to hold the team back during Connor McDavid's Stanley Cup window.
"The biggest problem we've had for years, which I don't understand, is the goalie," Laraque said. "Every year we go get a goalie. I never agree with it. I know it's not going to work."
MORE: Connor McDavid calls Mike Babcock hire 'great opportunity' for Oilers
Laraque questioned Edmonton's repeated strategy of acquiring reclamation projects instead of proven starters.
#connor #former #georges
3 months ago
Toronto Maple Leafs rookie Gavin McKenna has yet to play an NHL game, but expectations are rising already. NHL ******* yst Carlo Colaiacovo added to the excitement with a bold prediction ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Speaking on TSN 1050 Radio's "First Up," Colaiacovo was asked what was more likely. The choices were McKenna winning the Calder Trophy or Auston Matthews finishing among the NHL's top five goal scorers.
Matthews would likely need at least 45 goals to reach that mark. Speaking about which, Colaiacovo admitted he is not convinced that will happen despite believing the captain will improve.
"Let's just reflect on what last year's goal-scoring leaderboard looked like," Colaiacovo said. "Nathan MacKinnon finished with 53 and won the Rocket. Cole Caufield had 51, Connor McDavid had 48, and then there were four players tied at 45.
"So those are the top five goal scorers. We're basically suggesting that Auston Matthews has to score 45 or more goals in the NHL next year to finish in the top five. I'm not banking on that."
#colaiacovo #matthews #goal #goals
Speaking on TSN 1050 Radio's "First Up," Colaiacovo was asked what was more likely. The choices were McKenna winning the Calder Trophy or Auston Matthews finishing among the NHL's top five goal scorers.
Matthews would likely need at least 45 goals to reach that mark. Speaking about which, Colaiacovo admitted he is not convinced that will happen despite believing the captain will improve.
"Let's just reflect on what last year's goal-scoring leaderboard looked like," Colaiacovo said. "Nathan MacKinnon finished with 53 and won the Rocket. Cole Caufield had 51, Connor McDavid had 48, and then there were four players tied at 45.
"So those are the top five goal scorers. We're basically suggesting that Auston Matthews has to score 45 or more goals in the NHL next year to finish in the top five. I'm not banking on that."
#colaiacovo #matthews #goal #goals
4 months ago
NHL free agency tracker 2026: Live updates on news, rumors, signings and trades originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
A year ago, the 2026 NHL free-agent class was billed as potentially one of the best ever, headlined by Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel and Kirill Kaprizov.
That shine has since faded, with all three signing extensions and numerous other players also locking themselves into long-term deals. Other major free agents, including Alex Tuch, were acquired and extended by a new team in the days leading up to free agency.
For those who remain, including Rasmus Andersson, Anthony Mantha and the great Alex Ovechkin — plus the top trade candidates — the action officially starts at noon ET on Wednesday.
The Sporting News is tracking the latest NHL free agency signings, news and rumors. Follow along below with the newest updates.
A year ago, the 2026 NHL free-agent class was billed as potentially one of the best ever, headlined by Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel and Kirill Kaprizov.
That shine has since faded, with all three signing extensions and numerous other players also locking themselves into long-term deals. Other major free agents, including Alex Tuch, were acquired and extended by a new team in the days leading up to free agency.
For those who remain, including Rasmus Andersson, Anthony Mantha and the great Alex Ovechkin — plus the top trade candidates — the action officially starts at noon ET on Wednesday.
The Sporting News is tracking the latest NHL free agency signings, news and rumors. Follow along below with the newest updates.
4 months ago
Oilers' Connor McDavid rumors are eerily quiet originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
There was a lot of Connor McDavid chatter.
Would a trade come this offseason, or at next trade deadline, or maybe next summer? The Edmonton Oilers certainly could have to answer those questions eventually.
But something odd happened in the last week or so: People stopped talking about it.
The Oilers hired head coach Mike Babcock, which at least removed one layer of uncertainty.
There was a lot of Connor McDavid chatter.
Would a trade come this offseason, or at next trade deadline, or maybe next summer? The Edmonton Oilers certainly could have to answer those questions eventually.
But something odd happened in the last week or so: People stopped talking about it.
The Oilers hired head coach Mike Babcock, which at least removed one layer of uncertainty.
4 months ago
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — The Edmonton Oilers re-signed Jason **** inson to a five-year contract worth $20 million on Sunday, preventing the defensive-minded center from testing the free agent market.
Dickinson will count $4 million against the salary cap through the 2030-31 NHL season. He was set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, three days before his 31st birthday.
Instead, **** inson will be counted on to provide depth in Edmonton as the organization looks to get over the hump and win the Stanley Cup following a decade of trying and falling short despite having two of the best players in the league in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
Dickinson fit in well with the Oilers after they acquired him from Chicago in early March ahead of the trade deadline. He averaged roughly 15 minutes of ice time a game the rest of the season and 12 in the playoffs, becoming one of the team's most frequently penalty killers.
Re-signing **** inson was one item on a lengthy offseason checklist for general manager Stan Bowman. Hiring a coach could be next, along with potentially trading longtime defenseman Darnell Nurse and upgrading the goaltending position.
Dickinson will count $4 million against the salary cap through the 2030-31 NHL season. He was set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, three days before his 31st birthday.
Instead, **** inson will be counted on to provide depth in Edmonton as the organization looks to get over the hump and win the Stanley Cup following a decade of trying and falling short despite having two of the best players in the league in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
Dickinson fit in well with the Oilers after they acquired him from Chicago in early March ahead of the trade deadline. He averaged roughly 15 minutes of ice time a game the rest of the season and 12 in the playoffs, becoming one of the team's most frequently penalty killers.
Re-signing **** inson was one item on a lengthy offseason checklist for general manager Stan Bowman. Hiring a coach could be next, along with potentially trading longtime defenseman Darnell Nurse and upgrading the goaltending position.
4 months ago
Golden Knights surprisingly had a John Tortorella reason for hiring Ryan Craig as HC originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Usually, teams that have gotten so close to the Stanley Cup rarely change things up. They want to explore the team chemistry more and just patch up holes in the culture to get over the hump. The Vegas Golden Knights know better than this. They may have seen John Tortorella take over well for Coach Bruce Cassidy but this did not guarantee a long-term deal. Ryan Craig was instead given the role but their previous head coach still played a role on why the AHL head coach and former ***** istant took over the reins.
A lot of NHL fans may not know this but Coach Ryan Craig used to play for Coach John Tortorella. From 2005 to 2008. Craig was on the same Tampa Bay Lightning squad that Tortorella coached. So, there needed to be a big endorsement from the tenured head honcho before the Golden Knights hired their new one. General manager Kelly McCrimmon unveiled how Tortorella became part of why they hired Craig as the next head coach, via NHL.com.
"Interestingly, Tortorella had Ryan Craig as a player. He's got the same opinion of Ryan Craig that most people do. I know he was disappointed because he did want to coach our team next year, but I know also he's got a lot of regard for Ryan and a lot of respect for him. We thank 'Torts' for the guidance he provided our team since joining the organization in March. When the decision was made to bring Torts to Vegas, we needed an immediate impact to help us at a pivotal point in the season," the Golden Knights general manager said. "Torts' experience and leadership proved to be the boost that we were looking for, helping guide us to the Stanley Cup Final."
Notably, there is still a chance that Tortorella lands with an NHL squad in the coming season. The Edmonton Oilers have yet to find a replacement for Kris ***** lauch after their disappointing first-round exit despite having Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Evan Bouchard.
Usually, teams that have gotten so close to the Stanley Cup rarely change things up. They want to explore the team chemistry more and just patch up holes in the culture to get over the hump. The Vegas Golden Knights know better than this. They may have seen John Tortorella take over well for Coach Bruce Cassidy but this did not guarantee a long-term deal. Ryan Craig was instead given the role but their previous head coach still played a role on why the AHL head coach and former ***** istant took over the reins.
A lot of NHL fans may not know this but Coach Ryan Craig used to play for Coach John Tortorella. From 2005 to 2008. Craig was on the same Tampa Bay Lightning squad that Tortorella coached. So, there needed to be a big endorsement from the tenured head honcho before the Golden Knights hired their new one. General manager Kelly McCrimmon unveiled how Tortorella became part of why they hired Craig as the next head coach, via NHL.com.
"Interestingly, Tortorella had Ryan Craig as a player. He's got the same opinion of Ryan Craig that most people do. I know he was disappointed because he did want to coach our team next year, but I know also he's got a lot of regard for Ryan and a lot of respect for him. We thank 'Torts' for the guidance he provided our team since joining the organization in March. When the decision was made to bring Torts to Vegas, we needed an immediate impact to help us at a pivotal point in the season," the Golden Knights general manager said. "Torts' experience and leadership proved to be the boost that we were looking for, helping guide us to the Stanley Cup Final."
Notably, there is still a chance that Tortorella lands with an NHL squad in the coming season. The Edmonton Oilers have yet to find a replacement for Kris ***** lauch after their disappointing first-round exit despite having Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Evan Bouchard.
4 months ago
The 2025-26 NHL season is over with the Carolina Hurricanes defeating the Vegas Golden Knights for the Stanley Cup championship.
Now, general managers are focusing on getting their teams in shape for next season.
First up is the NHL draft on June 26-27 in Buffalo, where the Toronto Maple Leafs are on the clock with the No. 1 overall pick after winning the draft lottery.
Then comes free agency, which opens on July 1.
This year's once-spectacular crop of free agents has been whittled down with Connor McDavid, Kirill Kaprizov, Jack Eichel, Artemi Panarin, Adrian Kempe, Kyle Connor, Evgeni Malkin and others signing extensions.
Now, general managers are focusing on getting their teams in shape for next season.
First up is the NHL draft on June 26-27 in Buffalo, where the Toronto Maple Leafs are on the clock with the No. 1 overall pick after winning the draft lottery.
Then comes free agency, which opens on July 1.
This year's once-spectacular crop of free agents has been whittled down with Connor McDavid, Kirill Kaprizov, Jack Eichel, Artemi Panarin, Adrian Kempe, Kyle Connor, Evgeni Malkin and others signing extensions.
1 yr. ago
The market's finally catching up to what smart money knew all along - this rematch isn't about McDavid's redemption tour. It's about Bobrovsky's 1.57 GAA over 10 games versus Edmonton's road playoff struggles. Panthers won both regular season meetings for a reason. Take Florida
