5:41 PM ET Greg WyshynskiESPN When a team hires a new general manager, the introductory press conference is not actually a conference for the press. It’s a marketing event. It’s a point of demarcation for a woeful team, a ceremonial moment where the extinguished flame of a franchise is reignited in the hand of a
NHL
12:00 AM ET Emily Kaplan Chris Peters Close ESPN staff writer Chris Peters is ESPN’s NHL draft and prospects analyst. The Chicago native previously covered the NHL for CBSSports.com and founded the popular independent blog UnitedStatesofHockey.com where he covered the game at all levels since 2010. As each NHL team is eliminated from the postseason,
12:44 PM ET Emily KaplanESPN Longtime Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland was named the new GM and president of hockey operations of the Edmonton Oilers Tuesday, and he got right to work. At his introductory press conference, he said he had already informed Ken Hitchcock that he will not return as coach of
10:47 AM ET NHL InsidersESPN It has all come down to Game 7 on Tuesday night for the St. Louis Blues and Dallas Stars in the Western Conference semifinals. We debate the key factors that will determine the outcome, and make our picks. Who or what will be the X factor for Game 7 of
6:54 AM ET Greg WyshynskiESPN Fare thee well, Columbus Blue Jackets. It was quite a ride. Meanwhile, the Colorado Avalanche are headed back to California for a Game 7 showdown with the San Jose Sharks. Here’s what happened in the NHL last night (check out replays of every playoff game on ESPN+) and what to
3:31 AM ET Greg WyshynskiESPN DENVER — Desperation is typically the emotional fuel for a team facing elimination from the Stanley Cup playoffs. While the Colorado Avalanche certainly burned through their share of it during their Game 6 overtime win over the San Jose Sharks on Monday, the highest octane available in forcing a Game
12:50 AM ET Emily KaplanESPN COLUMBUS — The Columbus Blue Jackets shocked the NHL this season by doing something few teams do: they went all-in. Instead of selling off soon-to-be unrestricted free agents like goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and winger Artemi Panarin, the Blue Jackets kept both players on the roster as their own “rentals.” They
11:32 PM ET Emily KaplanESPN COLUMBUS — After punching his ticket to the second round, Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask was asked if he thought it was important to be known as a big-game goalie. “Yeah, well,” Rask said. “It’s better than sucking.” Rask did not suck at all in Monday night’s 3-0 blanking of
4:44 PM ET Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. — Carolina Hurricanes goalie Petr Mrazek was back at practice after leaving a playoff game early with a lower body injury. Coach Rod Brind’Amour said Monday there were “no limitations” on his goalie and Mrazek said he felt “120 percent, to be honest.” Mrazek, who has stopped 210
7:30 AM ET While preparations for the 2019 NHL draft are in full swing, it’s important to keep one eye on the future. Every player develops differently, and these projections could change over time, but let’s look at the early favorites to be the No. 1 overall picks in 2020, 2021 and 2022, along with