7:15 AM ET Three months ago, Alexis Lafreniere completed his run as “hockey’s next big thing” by being drafted at No. 1 in the 2020 NHL draft by the New York Rangers. But now, with the 2020-21 season upon us and the 2021 NHL draft just under seven months away, we’re turning the page to
NHL
3:03 AM ET Associated Press EDMONTON, Alberta — John Muckler, who coached four NHL teams and won five Stanley Cup championships with the Edmonton Oilers, has died. He was 86. The Oilers confirmed Muckler’s death Monday night. No cause was given. Muckler was part of the staff that put together the Oilers dynasty of the
8:39 PM ET Associated Press Jared Spurgeon‘s bosses had some news deemed important enough to deliver in person, so general manager Bill Guerin and coach Dean Evason dropped by the Minnesota Wild defenseman’s house on the eve of training camp for a visit with the family of six. Spurgeon’s 6-year-old daughter, Colbie, was skeptical. “She
6:08 PM ET Associated Press FRISCO, Texas — Dallas Stars goaltender Anton Khudobin missed the start of training camp Monday while still going through NHL-mandated quarantine after some immigration issues. General manager Jim Nill said Khudobin is back in Texas, but the Russian goalie was delayed because of a backlog for people trying to get
5:35 PM ET Associated Press The American Hockey League will go ahead with 28 teams this season after announcing Monday that three have opted out of playing because of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Based on the information I was getting, I wasn’t sure we were going to reach 28 teams even two weeks ago, but I
4:58 PM ET Associated Press VOORHEES, N.J. — Nolan Patrick skated toward Oskar Lindblom during a routine drill. Hunched over, Patrick had a brief conversation with his Philadelphia Flyers teammate who knows a little something about comebacks. Lindblom made an improbable return last season when he played for the Flyers during the NHL restart following
10:00 AM ET To bounce back a player has to fall off. So any discussion around players that may or may not return to form in the 2020-21 (should we just call it 2021?) season has to begin with identifying who fell off in 2019-20. The new default scoring system for ESPN.com makes comparing statistics
5:47 PM ET The Chicago Blackhawks and center Dylan Strome have agreed to a two-year, $6 million contract extension, the team announced Sunday. Strome, 23, had 12 goals and 26 assists for the Blackhawks last season, a drop from career highs of 20 goals and 37 assists in 2018-19, when he was traded from the
5:26 PM ET Associated Press VANCOUVER, British Columbia — The Canucks received provincial approval Sunday to play in British Columbia this season. British Columbia Premier John Horgan announced the decision on Twitter, saying he had spoken to team owner Francesco Aquilini about the NHL’s return-to-play plans and believes the enhanced health measures mean games can
10:15 AM ET The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed defenseman John Marino to a six-year contract extension, general manager Jim Rutherford announced Sunday. The deal has an average annual value of $4.4 million and ties Marino, who is entering the final year of his entry-level contract, to the Penguins through the 2026-27 season. “We are very