Riley, Stuart, and Kevin dig into the first week of prospect league playoffs and look at some of the top performers in week one. Then a little update on the Champions League. Finally, we round out with a little rules court and chat some more about how much fun it is to have Olympic hockey back.

Riley, Stuart, and Evan dig into the numbers to look at who the best fantasy hockey goalies have been. Who are some of the best this year, and who might be some of the best in the future? We also chat a little bit about the joys of having Olympic hockey back.

Please note this was recorded before Brandon Bussi signed his new extension in Carolina.

This week on the Windmill Dynasty – Prospects to Pros Podcast, Riley Miller-Davis is joined by Evan and Kevin, while Stuart is out sick—and things get heated fast.

The episode dives deep into one of the most polarizing topics in dynasty fantasy hockey: contract retention and cap efficiency. Using real league examples—including the reigning champions’ aggressive use of 50% retained superstar deals — the guys break down how weaponizing cap space can create massive competitive advantages.

Is a 50% retained Nikita Kucherov the most valuable asset in fantasy? How much is retention actually worth in picks and prospects? At what point does paying for retention become more expensive than the player?

Evan lays out a structured retention value chart (by cap hit and term), the crew debates multi-year slot strategy, and they explain why the curve on retention value should never be linear. If you’re rebuilding, contending, or stuck in the middle, this discussion could change how you approach trades.

The second half of the episode shifts into listener-submitted trades, including a blockbuster Andrei Svechnikov deal featuring prospects, picks, and 50% retention. The group walks through how to evaluate these moves from both a win-now and long-term perspective.

There’s strategy, math, trade trees, cap planning philosophy — and a few passionate rants along the way.

If you’re serious about maximizing your window in Prospects to Pros, this is a must-listen episode.