The Minnesota Wild head into the All-Star break sitting pretty with the league's second-most points, a testament to their suffocating defense and opportunistic scoring. Bill Guerin's quiet deadline moves have kept this group humming without the drama that sinks so many contenders.
Gavin McKenna, the consensus No. 1 pick who's been lighting up Penn State with 32 points in 24 games, faces a first-degree felony aggravated assault charge after an altercation in State College.
Schaefer opens up about the lifelong dream of suiting up for his country in the Olympics, a moment every kid who laces up skates chases from the ponds to the pros. With NHL stars flooding the Milano Cortina rosters after a 12-year hiatus, his words hit different in locker rooms buzzing about the break.
Sharp bettors circle Rasmus Dahlin's assist streak against Pittsburgh, where the Buffalo blueliner has wired helpers in five straight and anchors a Sabres surge heading into the Olympic break.
The AHL announces live broadcasts on NHL Network and SiriusXM NHL Radio, giving fans deeper access to the pipeline that feeds the big club. Minor-league grinders battle for call-ups just as NHLers head to Olympics, spotlighting prospects who could crash the playoffs later. This move bridges the leagues, keeping hockey flowing non-stop.
U.S. News breaks down where current NHL players honed their games in college, revealing hotbeds like Boston University and Michigan dominating the roster talent pool. NCAA programs quietly shape the league's next wave amid rising U.S. hockey growth. As Olympians represent club and country, these campuses boast bragging rights for developing pros.
The Avalanche hunker down in Denver, refueling their tank before the Olympic break slams the door on normalcy. They've quietly stacked wins amid a grueling stretch that lesser teams crumble under, but the real beast lurks after Milano-Cortina.
Mark Madden blasts the league for not shielding Sidney Crosby from the rough stuff that's piling up on the Penguins captain. The NHL's supplemental discipline crew stays silent amid hits that would bench lesser stars, fueling Pittsburgh's growing ire. Crosby's chase for another Cup hangs in the balance if officiating doesn't step up.
A Buffalo insider finally breaks his silence and calls on the Sabres to do the right thing after years of frustration in the playoff desert. Whispers from the front office hint at bold moves to shake up a core that's talented but tortured. With the deadline looming, this plea carries real weight in a city starving for hockey hope.
Philadelphia's Travis Sanheim pledges to do whatever it takes to bring gold home for Team Canada at the Milano Cortina Olympics. His blue-line steadiness makes him a quiet X-factor amid flashier names on the roster. Canada eyes redemption from past tournaments, and Sanheim's mindset sets the tone for their medal hunt.
A consensus No. 1 prospect for the 2026 NHL Draft faces felony assault charges, sending shockwaves through scouting rooms. Scouts who raved about his elite skill now grapple with off-ice red flags that could derail his meteoric rise. NHL teams monitor the situation closely, knowing character evaluations just got a lot more complicated.
Calgary's Jonathan Huberdeau confronts a devastating blow with hip surgery that sidelines him for the rest of the year. The Flames scramble to adjust their lineup without one of their top playmakers, testing their depth as the trade deadline looms large.
NHL players tell The Athletic what front offices should splurge on besides cap hits, from better travel to upgraded facilities that ease the 82-game grind. They've lived the league's evolution and know where investments boost performance and morale. With CBA talks looming post-Olympics, these insights could reshape team budgets.
David Pastrnak, Leon Draisaitl, and Nino Niederreiter step up as flag-bearers for their nations at the 2026 Winter Olympics, a nod to their star power and leadership in the NHL locker rooms. These guys have been grinding through a packed schedule leading into the break, and now they represent their countries on the biggest stage.
New York Rangers brass declares they're ready to move on post-Artemi Panarin trade to Los Angeles, signaling a roster reset for the stretch drive. Locker room vets absorb the shakeup while scouts hunt replacements to keep playoff hopes alive. This blockbuster reshapes the East, with rivals circling the fallout.
Rumors swirl that Artemi Panarin's blockbuster trade from Rangers to Kings almost cratered when LA got cold feet at the eleventh hour. Agents confirm the drama dragged deep into the night, testing nerves in both war rooms. This near-miss reshapes contender blueprints as the break forces reflection on bold deadline swings.
The Hockey News rounds up the NHL's hottest trade candidates as teams gear up for the Olympic break, with contenders sniffing around rental stars to bolster playoff pushes. Front offices buzz with quiet calls, knowing the pause gives everyone time to plot deadline deals. Stakes skyrocket for bubble teams chasing that extra edge come March.
Gavin McKenna, the consensus No. 1 NHL draft pick and Penn State freshman phenom, lands in hot water with a felony assault charge that shakes his dream path to the pros. Scouts and GMs who raved about his skill set now huddle in front offices, weighing the off-ice drama against his on-ice brilliance.
Detroit pauses for the Olympics with goals in striking distance but nagging questions about their consistency under the microscope. They've flashed brilliance yet stumbled in key moments, leaving fans and foes guessing on their true ceiling. The break offers reset potential, but Yzerman's crew knows answers must come fast post-Milan.
St. Louis flips Nick Bjugstad to New Jersey in exchange for prospect Steven Bordeleau, a swap that bolsters the Devils' depth while the Blues reload youth. Bjugstad's steady middle-six game fills a hole for Jersey's playoff charge, but Bordeleau's speed intrigues as St. Louis pivots.
Consensus NHL Draft No. 1 Gavin McKenna faces a felony assault charge that rocks the scouting world just months from the big stage. Scouts and GMs scramble to assess the impact on a kid pegged as the next franchise savior. This off-ice drama tests how far teams dig into character before lottery night.
Jared Spurgeon plays the hero with an overtime winner that energizes the Wild heading into the break. Minnesota's veteran defenseman delivers when it counts most against a divisional foe. The victory keeps their Central momentum alive amid trade deadline whispers.
Tampa Bay hosts Florida in the final Battle of Florida before everyone jets off to Milano-Cortina, with 19 Olympians on the ice including Kucherov on a scorching point streak. The Lightning sit atop the East tied with Carolina after an 18-1-1 tear, while the Panthers shake off a skid with a shootout stunner over Boston.
The Athletic details felony aggravated assault charges against top draft prospect Gavin McKenna, sending shockwaves through scouting rooms and Penn State. Once the prize of every mock draft, his future now pivots on legal outcomes that could sideline his NHL dreams indefinitely.
Canadiens exec Larry Gorton signals openness to all deals as the NHL trade deadline approaches in Montreal. The Habs sit at a crossroads, balancing youth promise with veteran boosts for a playoff push. Front-office vets know one shrewd move could flip their season trajectory.
Gavin McKenna, the consensus top prospect for the 2026 NHL Draft, grapples with serious assault charges that threaten his rocket trajectory to the pros. Scouts have raved about his elite skill set for years, but this off-ice storm forces teams to weigh talent against risk.
Yahoo Sports drops the sharpest player props and best bets for tonight's NHL slate, packed with value plays that savvy sharps can't ignore. With Olympic fever building, these games carry extra juice as stars tune up for international duty. Bettors eye overs and unders where fatigue meets motivation in a pre-break frenzy.
Mats Boldy channels inner superstar with four points as Minnesota steals overtime glory from Nashville in a thriller that swings the Central standings. The Wild's top line cooks while Preds' defense crumbles late, exposing cracks in a roster fighting for wildcard life.
San Jose's fire sale heats up as two key Sharks land at the top of the latest trade board, signaling the front office's full rebuild mode. GMs around the league circle like sharks in chummed water, eyeing assets that could fetch high returns before the deadline frenzy peaks.
Jeff Blashill faces the music after Chicago's brutal 4-0 shutout loss to a scorching-hot Columbus squad riding their seventh straight win into the Olympic break.
Mike Rupp and Devan Dubnyk dive deep into the Anaheim Ducks' smartest plays from their matchup against the Seattle Kraken, using NHL Sense Arena to break it all down. These vets spot the little edges that separate good teams from contenders, the kind of reads you only catch after years behind the bench.
Britannica breaks down ice hockey's core with NHL teams and rules laid bare for newcomers and vets alike. From 32 franchises to power-play nuances, this primer hits what separates contenders from pretenders. Timely refresh as Olympics spotlight the sport globally.
David Pastrnak and Leon Draisaitl earn flag-bearer duties for their nations at the Olympics. These elite snipers step into historic roles, blending NHL grit with Olympic pageantry in Milano. The honor underscores their leadership as the league pauses.
Leon Draisaitl and David Pastrnak land massive honors at the Winter Olympics 2026 opening ceremony in Milano Cortina. These NHL superstars carry the weight of national pride onto the grand stage, a nod to their dominance that locker rooms buzz about for weeks. Expect chills as they represent amid the league's Olympic spotlight.
NHL Stats drops real-time updates tracking the league's hottest trends as teams wrap before the Olympic break. From EDGE metrics to buried power-play gems, these nuggets reveal who's surging and slumping under deadline pressure. Insiders lean on them to predict the chaos awaiting post-Milan rosters.
As the league heads into the 2026 Olympics, questions swirl about whether teams pick up right where they left off or return transformed by international drama. Standings leaders face rust risks while bubble clubs dream of momentum shifts from Milan Cortina heroics.
As the Olympic break looms, Nathan MacKinnon holds the Hart Trophy pole position for the third straight month while powering the Avalanche toward a projected 117-point juggernaut.
The Athletic crunches numbers on Stanley Cup playoff chances and projected standings midway through the 2025-26 season, spotlighting surprises and slumps. Bubble teams cling to math that keeps them alive, while top seeds pad margins before Olympics disrupt the grind. These models guide GMs as trade talks intensify.
Artturi Lehkonen nets a pair as the Avalanche claw back from a shaky start to top the Sharks in a gritty comeback. Colorado's depth shows up when it matters most, silencing doubters after a slow first period. This win keeps the Avs firmly in the Pacific hunt with playoffs on the horizon.
Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz put on a clinic as the Mammoth finally crack the code against a Red Wings squad clinging to that third-place spot in the East. These two have been the heartbeat of Colorado's surge, turning heads in front offices that remember when the Mammoth were an expansion punchline.
Snuggerud keeps piling up points in a run that's got scouts whispering about rookie-of-the-year locks and Calder buzz in every front office from Toronto to Tampa. This kid's vision and shot remind old-timers of those early Bure flashes, turning heads when teams need snipers most.
The Kings pull off a stunner just before the Olympic roster freeze, landing Artemi Panarin from the Rangers in a deal that sends prospect Liam Greentree and conditional picks back east.
The NHL's triumphant Olympic return spotlights veterans and breakout stars making their international debuts in Milano Cortina. Long-awaited rosters blend grizzled pros with young guns hungry for gold. Nations clash with NHL talent elevating the tournament's stakes to historic levels.
NHL on the Fly cranks up the action with top-shelf plays that capture the league's pulse before the Olympic break. Insiders break down the snipes and saves defining this stretch of the schedule. Fans gear up for the best clips that showcase why this league never sleeps.
Pittsburgh's Jones draws a hefty 20-game suspension that shakes up the Penguins' depth chart overnight. League brass cracks down hard, leaving coaches scrambling for lineup fixes before the Olympic hiatus. This penalty tests Pittsburgh's resilience in a season already full of curveballs.
The Mammoth dominate the Red Wings 4-1, sending Detroit into the Olympic break on a sour note. Colorado's balanced attack exposes vulnerabilities in Motown's lineup. This loss intensifies the pressure on Yzerman's squad as they regroup for the stretch run.
Penn State freshman and consensus top NHL draft pick Gavin McKenna faces felony assault charges that threaten to derail his meteoric rise. Scouts who pegged him as a future cornerstone now huddle in tense whispers, while his camp scrambles amid the growing media storm.
Penn State freshman and consensus top pick for the 2026 NHL Draft Gavin McKenna faces felony aggravated assault charges stemming from a late-night altercation in State College that left a 21-year-old with facial injuries needing surgery.
Devin Cooley turns in a 36-save masterclass in his first NHL point -- yeah, he even picked up an assist -- as the Flames cling to a razor-thin edge against their hated provincial rivals.
Wyatt Wright erupts for two goals as the Kraken hand the Kings a rare home-ice beating that has LA's brass scrambling for answers. Seattle's young sniper, who's been whispering trade value all season, picks the perfect night to remind everyone why he's untouchable.