9:00 AM ET The Jack Eichel saga in Buffalo has been quite the soap opera. But nothing in that saga was as odious and contentious as when the Sabres announced they were stripping their franchise player of his captaincy. “From our perspective and my perspective, I feel the captain is the heartbeat of your team,”
NHL
8:27 PM ET Associated Press EDMONTON, Alberta — The Edmonton Oilers placed goalie Mike Smith on injured reserve Wednesday because of a lower-body injury. The Oilers recalled goalie Stuart Skinner from the Bakersfield Condors in the American Hockey League. Smith, 39, was hurt in the second period of Edmonton’s 6-5 home victory over the Anaheim
9:00 AM ET The Premier Hockey Federation will make ESPN+ its exclusive U.S. broadcasting partner for the 2021-22 season, making the network home to all 60 regular-season games, the Isobel Cup playoffs and other special events. It marks the first time the PHF, which rebranded from the National Women’s Hockey League this year, will have
8:53 PM ET ESPN News Services NEW YORK — St. Louis Blues winger Pavel Buchnevich has been suspended two games for headbutting Arizona Coyotes forward Lawson Crouse. Buchnevich was thrown out Monday night late in the first period for the headbutt. He’ll miss the Blues’ upcoming games at Vegas on Wednesday and home against Los
7:53 PM ET Hockey Hall of Fame forward Mike Bossy revealed on Tuesday that he has been diagnosed with lung cancer. Bossy, 64, said he will step away from his role as a hockey analyst with TVA Sport as he receives treatment. “I can assure you that I intend to fight with the determination that
7:35 PM ET ESPN News Services MONTREAL — After signing a surprising offer sheet in restricted free agency with the Carolina Hurricanes in late August, Jesperi Kotkaniemi waited seven days to see if the Montreal Canadiens would match the one-year, $6.1 million deal. “That week went really fast,” Kotkaniemi recalled Tuesday. “Didn’t think about that
5:39 PM ET ESPN News Services ST. PAUL, Minn. — Winnipeg Jets captain Blake Wheeler will miss at least four games while sidelined for COVID-19. The Jets said before their game Tuesday at Minnesota that Wheeler was symptomatic after testing positive for the virus. According to NHL rules for this season, that means Wheeler must
11:05 AM ET Associated Press WASHINGTON — Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon has cleared NHL coronavirus protocols and is set to make his season debut against the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night. MacKinnon tested positive for the coronavirus last week and had been in the league’s COVID-19 protocols since last Tuesday. The three-time MVP finalist
7:00 AM ET ESPN.com staff We’re officially on to the second week of the 2021-22 NHL season and two early-season marquee matchups are on the ESPN schedule on Tuesday. At 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+ and Hulu, the Colorado Avalanche will visit the Washington Capitals, while the Chicago Blackhawks will host the New York Islanders
6:18 PM ET San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane has been suspended for 21 games without pay by the NHL on Monday for an “established violation” of the NHL/NHLPA COVID-19 protocol. Sources confirmed earlier this month that Kane was being investigated over allegations that he submitted a fake COVID-19 vaccination card to the NHL and