What happened: Stanley heads into camps opening Sept. 16 without a deal for the upcoming 2026-27 season, skating with his former junior club. Buffalo added him with Luke Schenn at last season's trade deadline. He worked in a third-pairing role down the stretch and into the playoffs.

Why it matters: He entered a thin market for defensemen positioned to seek term, a bet that misread how patient clubs would be in September. Clubs can now wait for early-season needs rather than bid, squeezing late-summer leverage for depth blueliners.

What to watch: Watch whether he takes a tryout in camp or holds out for a one-year role with heavy minutes to retest the market next July.