Philadelphia Flyers forward Trevor Zegras is determined to become a more effective player at the center position, Adam Kimelman of NHL.com reports. Zegras, who recently signed a four-year, $36.5 million contract extension, prefers to play at center but has also spent time on the left wing. Difficulty winning faceoffs has hindered his development. "I feel pretty comfortable in both spots, whether it's in the middle or on the wing, so wherever they need me to play, I'm more than comfortable in both spots," Zegras. "I thought playing center in the playoffs was definitely something that gave me a lot of confidence. So I think wherever they need me, I'm good to go." Last season, Zegras won only 34.1 percent of his faceoffs. He pushed the number to 44.0 percent in the playoffs. If Zegras becomes more reliable in the faceoff circle, he could see increased ice time and boost his fantasy value.

Columbus Blue Jackets center Isac Lundestrom (Achilles) won't be available for the start of the 2026-27 season, Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers reports. He is recovering from offseason Achilles surgery and is expected to return in November. This means the Blue Jackets will be without a solid bottom-six contributor and penalty-killer early next season, though Lundestrom's absence won't affect fantasy hockey. The Swedish forward managed only four goals and eight assists in 68 outings last season. He's been limited to 15 or fewer points in four consecutive campaigns.

Utah Mammoth defenseman John Marino will remain with the team after his contract expires next offseason. On Tuesday, he agreed to an eight-year, $54 million extension. The 29-year-old will complete a six-year, $26.4 million deal in 2026-27. Marino earned a long-term extension after a career year in 2025-26. He tallied 36 points (four goals, 32 assists) in 80 games and finished with an impressive plus-42 rating. Marino moved to Utah in 2024 and has been a great fit for the team. However, his modest defensive stats mean he provides limited value in fantasy hockey.

Dallas Stars left wing Jason Robertson signed a one-year, $12 million contract with the team on Tuesday, avoiding a salary arbitration hearing. Robertson appeared headed for a move this offseason when his contract talks hit a snag, and Dallas even had a couple of trades in place to send him elsewhere. But he ended up staying for now. The Stars can sign him to a long-term extension on Jan. 1. Robertson has led his team in scoring in three of the past four seasons. In 2025-26, he tallied 96 points (45 goals, 51 assists) in 82 games. He'll be looking to prove his worth in the upcoming campaign, which should benefit fantasy managers.