NHL players grind through a brutal compressed schedule around the Olympics, and these seven workouts keep them explosive without breaking down. Veterans know the drill - hydrotherapy, underwater treadmills, and targeted strength sessions turn the pause into a weapon for the final push. Front offices watch closely as teams like the Bruins reintegrate Olympians like Pastrnak and Lindholm, betting on that extra edge to separate contenders from pretenders in the stretch run.

Nathan MacKinnon sits atop the Rocket Richard Trophy odds at -250, implying a 71 percent shot at leading the NHL in goals this season. Books love the handle on him while McDavid draws the biggest tickets and liability, a classic Oilers trap for sharp bettors who remember Draisaitl's late-season steamroll last year. With the market tightening as contenders like Matthews and Pastrnak fade back, front offices whisper about how these lines shift power forward values ahead of the deadline.

The Bruins sit at 32-20-5, walking a tightrope between strong stretches and sudden wobbles that have fans craving edge up front. Vancouver shops Evander Kane hard, with his agent already chatting up suitors and the Canucks open to retaining half his $5.125M cap hit for a mid-round pick return. Boston sees the chaos agent around the crease who could drag lines into the fight and give Pastrnak extra looks, but the room risks boiling over if the fit sours.

Czechia finally drops the curtain on its 2026 Olympic men's hockey roster, packing NHL firepower like David Pastrnak, Tomas Hertl, Martin Necas and Radko Gudas into a squad hungry for gold since Nagano '98. Front-office whispers had this group blending battle-tested Bruins snipers with Vegas grinders and Euro standouts who know how to grind playoff minutes.

Martin Necas, the Avalanche sniper who's been lighting it up with seven points for Czechia, drops the ultimate chirp on Team Canada ahead of their quarterfinal rematch. After that 5-0 drubbing in the opener, Necas jokes they "let them win the first one" because no way they'd sweep the Canucks twice. With Pastrnak feeding off his energy and Czechia eyeing the upset against McDavid's high-octane squad, this single-elimination showdown carries massive stakes for every NHL star on the ice.

Connor Hellebuyck, the Jets' Vezina wall who's faced playoff heartbreak, eyes Olympic gold to rewrite his big-game narrative once and for all. Backstopping Canada against elite snipers like Necas and Pastrnak demands perfection in a pressure cooker. A medal here elevates his reputation from regular-season king to international dominator, with NHL scouts and fans alike watching every save.