What happened: Forward Cole Perfetti, who recently agreed to a five-year, $30 million deal, noted the Winnipeg locker room wants clarity on the goaltending situation. The Avalanche finalized a one-year contract with Georgii Merkulov.

Why it matters: Winnipeg and Buffalo previously evaluated trade alignments involving goaltending and winger assets, but discussions paused. Moving the starting netminder would fundamentally alter the franchise's roster configuration for the upcoming 2026-27 season.

What to watch: Monitor the goaltending market as teams prepare for training camp.