Kenan Thompson, the king of 'Mighty Ducks' nostalgia, shows up at a Ducks game and instantly has fans buzzing about a potential fourth installment. The comedian, decked out in his Russ Tyler jersey, stirs the pot from the bench while the team honors a milestone that ties right into that classic franchise vibe.
Sportsbooks crank up the heat for the 2026 NHL season with massive welcome bonuses that savvy bettors chase like a breakaway goal. BetMGM dangles up to $1,500 back if your first puck drops wrong, while FanDuel and DraftKings hand out instant bonus bets for minimal risk on those nail-biting overtime thrillers.
Scouts have their eyes locked on these 10 breakout talents who could turn the 2026 Olympics into their personal showcase, blending raw NHL speed with international flair that front offices crave.
The Lightning are quietly exploring a blockbuster move for Rangers star Artemi Panarin, and while the cap math looks nearly impossible on the surface, Tampa Bay's front office sees a potential path forward.
Bo Horvat channels his Vancouver days with a second goal that sends the Islanders past the Penguins in overtime, proving once again why Lou Lamoriello targeted him in that blockbuster deal. The Pens, clinging to wildcard hopes, watch their defensive lapses cost them dearly against a New York squad building momentum at the perfect time.
Mike Sullivan grinds his way from the frozen ponds of Marshfield, Massachusetts, to the NHL's brightest benches, a path littered with early Bruins stints and Penguins Cups. Insiders remember those gritty Providence days that foreshadowed his Stanley Cup magic as the only American coach with multiple rings.
Two Boston defensemen land on the latest trade board, stirring the pot for a Bruins blue line that's drawn scouts' eyes amid middling results. Sweeney plays his cards close, but rumors like these signal front offices sniffing for upgrades before the deadline frenzy. Boston's Cup window stays cracked open, but at what cost to the back end?
Colorado's Avalanche hit a rough patch yet somehow hold the top spot in the latest NHL power ratings, defying the doubters who've circled their throne. Slumps test true contenders, and these boys have the pedigree to snap back from worse. With rivals nipping at their heels, MacKinnon's crew knows the view from first comes with a target.
New Jersey stumbles badly against the Blue Jackets, fueling fears that their postseason hopes are slipping through their fingers in a crowded wildcard race. The Devils' defensive lapses have haunted them all year, and this defeat piles on the pressure with every point now feeling like gold.
The NHL Stadium Series game crushes records for ESPN and cable, proving outdoor hockey still packs arenas and living rooms like nothing else. Broadcasters chased these numbers for years, and this explosion validates the league's big-event gamble amid cord-cutting chaos. As ratings wars rage, Gary Bettman's vision keeps drawing eyes where it counts.
The NHL trade board heats up as version 5.0 drops the latest on prime targets flooding the market from desperate sellers waving the white flag. Deadline vets know this is when the phone lines light up and quiet assets turn into rental gold. With contenders circling, one wrong move could define a franchise's summer.
Jack Hughes misses his second straight game for the Devils, sidelining their engine amid a brutal stretch of injuries plaguing Jersey's top lines. Coaches hate tipping their hand on ailments, but whispers from the trainer's room suggest this one's no minor tweak.
NHL players go on record with blunt takes on team spending priorities outside fat contracts, from training toys to travel perks that keep legs fresh. Front-office suits love preaching cap discipline, but these voices from the room expose the gaps hurting performance night in, night out.
A poignant look back at 10 NHL studs who peaked at the wrong time, missing their golden Olympic windows in 2018 and 2022 due to the league's shutdowns. Players like these lived for international glory, only to watch from afar as lesser lights grabbed the spotlight.
The NHL Foundation steps up with a $50,000 grant to Hockey in New Jersey, fueling the growth of girls' programs that have exploded in popularity across the league. These investments trace back to the IGF initiatives that savvy GMs know are reshaping youth hockey from the ground up.
Jamie Drysdale channels his inner clutch gene with a power-play dagger late in the game, handing the Flyers a much-needed win over the Capitals and silencing their four-game losing streak. Philadelphia's special teams units have been a rollercoaster all season, but this one flips the script at a pivotal moment.
NHL players let loose in The Athletic's latest anonymous poll, naming their dream spots for the league's next big expansion push while debating just how many teams the NHL can handle before it bursts at the seams.
NHL.com drops their hottest picks for snipers chasing multi-goal nights in tonight's slate of games. Sharpshooters heat up as defenses scramble before the Olympic break steals the spotlight. Bettors and fans alike lock in on these predictions that could swing standings.
The Athletic crunches numbers for every team's 2025-26 playoff shot and final standings in a crystal ball breakdown. Bubble clubs cling to hope while locks pad their resumes ahead of the freeze. These projections guide trade talks and front-office gambles down the stretch.
The San Jose Sharks sit atop the NHL's prospect pool power rankings, a testament to GM Mike Grier's aggressive draft hauls that have casual fans buzzing and rival scouts sweating.
PensBurgh dives into how the roster freeze rattles Pittsburgh's fragile rebuild, forcing tough calls on vets and prospects alike. Kyle Dubas juggles cap hell and Cup dreams as the pause exposes every weakness in the Steel City lineup. Penguins fans brace for moves that could redefine their season.
USA Today crowns San Jose's farm system as the NHL's gold standard in prospect pool rankings, loaded with future stars ready to flood the roster. While the big club grinds, these kids promise a turnaround that has scouts salivating. The Sharks build an empire one draft pick at a time.
Sports Illustrated spotlights seven elite NHL talents primed for blockbuster moves once Olympic rosters thaw. These aren't fringe guys; they anchor lines and dictate games, drawing calls from every contender hungry for an edge. The freeze ends, and the real deadline circus ramps up with these names in play.
Bleacher Report boils down each NHL squad to a single brutal word capturing their vibe at the Olympic break's edge. From scorching hot streaks to ice-cold slumps, these labels hit locker room truths that fans and players alike recognize instantly. The standings tell one story, but these words reveal the real pulse.
Anaheim's Ducks swarm Seattle's net for a gritty 4-2 victory that keeps their playoff hopes flickering amid a brutal schedule. The Kraken fight back hard but can't crack the Ducks' defense in the clutch moments that define tight Western Conference battles. This win shifts momentum as both teams eye the Olympic pause.
GMs huddle in shadows as the NHL trade board hits version 6.0, with whispers of a massive deal shaking up contenders before rosters lock for the Olympics. Front offices know the clock ticks fast on this window, and one wrong move could derail a Cup run. Everyone watches to see if someone blinks first.
Kirill Kaprizov snaps his mini-slump with a second goal that clinches overtime for the Wild against a gritty Habs squad pushing hard. Sources around the league whisper this guy's 13th career OT winner ties him with the elite, and Quinn Hughes' setup was pure magic from the blue line.
Florida unveils stunning 2026 'Vamos Gatos' jerseys celebrating the Hispanic and Latino community, complete with photos that light up locker room talk. These threads blend swagger with cultural pride, the kind of move Panthers brass uses to pack arenas in South Florida's melting pot.
ClutchPoints drops Week 18 power rankings buzzing about what might be the greatest outdoor game ever played, shaking up the top spots with fresh drama. Insiders know these outdoor spectacles test teams' mettle like nothing else, and the performances highlighted here have GMs rethinking midseason trajectories.
The NHL hands out its GEICO Three Stars honors to McCann, Vasilevskiy, and Konecny for dominating the week with standout performances that turned heads in front offices. Vasilevskiy's stonewalling between the pipes reminds everyone why Tampa trusts him in do-or-die spots, while these guys rack up points that fuel MVP chatter.
NHL.com's Lawless dives deep into the debate over the greatest American-born player to ever lace up skates in this league. He weighs the legends who've carried the Stars and Stripes from locker rooms to the Hall, stacking up stats, Cups, and that intangible clutch factor only insiders spot.
John Gibson stones Colorado with 21 saves to blank the Avalanche in the nightcap of their home-and-home series. Detroit's netminder delivers the backbone win that swings momentum back to the Red Wings' upstart campaign. Nashville's back-to-back battles expose Colorado's road woes as the standings tighten.
Front offices buzzed through the night as 10 games unfolded on Feb 2, with the Panthers hosting a gritty Sabres squad and the Leafs tangling with the Flames in a late-night barnburner. Whispers from scouts hint at deadline moves brewing after some unexpected twists in standings battles.
The Lightning front office finally cracks open the door on their trade deadline blueprint, with Julien BriseBois playing it coy but hinting at cap crunches and roster tweaks before the Olympic freeze hits.
Kirill Kaprizov channels his inner sniper with a power-play dagger in overtime to snatch a wild 4-3 win from Montreal, extending Minnesota's streak to four as the Canadiens' rally falls just short.
Brady Tkachuk gears up for the Milano Cortina Olympics, fulfilling a dream he's held since lacing up skates as a kid while captaining the Senators through their playoff push.
Barry Trotz shocks the league by calling it a career after years of grinding behind benches from Nashville to Long Island, leaving GMs scrambling for that steady hand. Fleury's fairy tale swan song stays shelved with no return in sight, while Montreal locks eyes on Kadri and Toronto grips Matthews tighter amid deadline whispers.
As February kicks off, the league's pecking order sharpens with Colorado holding firm at the top after dominating the first 13 weeks, while pretenders like Vancouver scrape the bottom. Insiders whisper about Olympic breaks shaking up the standings, but front offices already eye trade deadline moves to climb these ranks.
Nashville finds itself buried under four goals from St. Louis early, but these Predators refuse to fold like so many teams do in that spot. Their bench erupts with the kind of fire you only see from squads that know playoff pushes start in moments like this.
This year's outdoor epic lives up to the hype as pure spectacle that reignites fan fever across the league. Crowds roar under open skies while stars deliver moments that echo for years in a sport craving buzz. The NHL banks these events to hook a new generation amid cord-cutting wars.
Bleacher Report boils down all 32 squads to a single brutal word as the Olympic break arrives. From surging wild cards to fading giants, these labels cut through the noise like a coach's whiteboard. Executives everywhere use this snapshot to plot deadline desperation or deadline dominance.
Dylan Schmaltz channels pure magic with a hat trick as the Mammoth steamroll Vancouver in effortless fashion. Colorado's depth forward picks apart a Canucks squad that's suddenly mortal on home ice. This outburst vaults the Avs' secondary scoring into elite territory at the perfect Olympic juncture.
Steven Stamkos ignites Nashville with two third-period rockets, rallying the Preds from a four-goal hole to stun St. Louis. The captain's veteran clutch gene flips a sure loss into highway robbery against a Blues team that owned the early lead. This comeback cements Nashville's rep as the East's ultimate chaos agents.
Anaheim ships prospect Colangelo down to the Gulls, clearing space amid their roster shuffle before the freeze. The young forward's AHL stint sharpens his game while the Ducks eye Olympic tweaks up top. Moves like this signal management's long view on building depth for the playoff grind.
Kirill Kaprizov torches Montreal with a pair of goals before the Wild snag overtime glory for their fourth straight victory. Minnesota's sniper continues dominating lesser defenses, proving why his camp just inked the league's richest deal. The Canadiens' slide deepens, handing the Wild momentum heading into the break.
The Capitals flip the script on the Islanders with a four-goal barrage that turns a tight game into a statement win. Ovechkin's crew shows why they're perennial pests in the East, capitalizing on every Isles miscue down the stretch. This kind of shutdown exposes New York's vulnerabilities as the playoff push intensifies.
Artemi Panarin sits out as Rangers GM Chris Drury scrambles to find a deal before the Olympic roster freeze hits Wednesday. With his full no-move clause and demands for a massive extension-rumors swirl around $50 million-teams like the Caps, Hurricanes, and Stars circle but face cap hurdles and his veto power.
Seattle's Jared McCann claims First Star of the Week honors, lighting lamps and leading the Kraken's surge up the standings. His hot streak validates the quiet grinders who feast when stars falter. Awards like this ignite trade suitors and boost a franchise hungry for its first deep run.
Youngster Helenius navigates brutal growing pains during his first full NHL shift, testing the poise that got him here. Coaches preach patience with these raw talents, but the league's grinder exposes flaws fast. His battle offers a window into how the next wave learns to survive the pros' daily wars.
RotoWire unleashes the top DFS lineup plays for tonight's action, stacking value with hidden stacks and goalie traps the pros exploit. GPP hunters target these bargains before ownership spikes, drawing from tendencies only daily grinders spot. Your bankroll rides on nailing the Feb 2 edges in a slate primed for chalkbusters.