Scouts rank the Northeast's hottest 2026 NHL prospects, unearthing 13 talents from frozen rinks who could shake up the first round. These kids blend USHL flash with college polish, drawing eyes from every front office hunting homegrown steals. As draft buzz builds, their rise spotlights why New England stays a pipeline powerhouse.
Tampa Bay cracks open their Stanley Cup vault again, blending savvy moves with that signature grit to reclaim elite status. GMs around the league dissect how they dodged the retool trap that sinks most champs. This resurgence sets the benchmark for what contention looks like in the salary-cap jungle.
NHLers go public with their wishlist for owners' wallets, pushing spends beyond fat contracts into gear, travel, and training edges. These aren't diva asks; they're battle-tested pleas from guys grinding 82-plus games in a cap-crushed era. Their input could reshape how contenders build dynasties without busting the bank.
NHL stars lace up their words as the 2026 Olympics loom, dropping unfiltered takes on everything from roster dreams to international rivalries. Veterans who've chased global gold before hint at the fire this break reignites in a grind-it-out regular season.
Michael McCarron's stick work caught the league's eye in Nashville's tilt against the Preds' opponents, landing him the maximum $5,000 fine from the Department of Player Safety. The big winger, no stranger to scrums after past dust-ups like that Zuccarello shove-fest, now tests the club's patience amid a season full of edge-of-the-rules plays.
NHL.com drops the top 10 under-the-radar picks for Milano Cortina fantasy pools, blending hidden gems with breakout potential amid NHL stars. Poolies know these sleepers exploit short tournament chaos, turning overlooked depth into medal-winning edges. Managers who nail this list gain massive advantages before Feb. 22 finals.
Tampa Bay crushes Florida in a Backcheck breakdown, storming into Milano Cortina with statement swagger against their Sunshine rivals. Insiders know these beatdowns fuel playoff mindsets, especially with key Bolts chasing Olympic hardware. The Panthers lick wounds while Lightning momentum builds toward another deep spring.
The Lightning head into the Olympic break on a high note after turning the Battle of Florida into a one-sided rout against the Panthers. With 19 Olympians on the ice and Nikita Kucherov riding a scorching nine-game point streak, Tampa Bay's 18-1-1 run over the past 20 games has them tied atop the East with Carolina.
Columbus surges as the NHL's hottest team, and seven key stats unpack how they're torching opponents at the perfect moment before the Olympic break. Coaches whisper about their forecheck grinding teams down, a blueprint that's turned doubters into believers overnight.
NHL.com's insiders split their picks between Canada and the United States to claim gold in Milano Cortina, reviving the best-on-best dream after 12 long years without NHL stars. Nine staffers back the Canadians to repeat their 2010-2014 dominance, while six see the Americans finally topping the podium since the Miracle.
NHL stars poll on where a full-strength Russian team lands in Olympic men's hockey, revealing split opinions from locker-room chats across the league. Geopolitical shadows linger, but talent talks as players weigh superstars against restrictions. Their picks hint at medal chaos in Italy.
The Olympic break shakes up every roster, and now insiders zero in on the one skater each team desperately needs to elevate come puck drop. From Pittsburgh's ageless wonders refusing to fade to Buffalo's breakout stars carrying playoff hopes, these rankings expose the pressure points no GM wants to ignore.
Penguins players headed to the Milan Olympics can't hide their excitement over the NHL's first return to the Games in 12 long years. These guys have waited through labor fights, scheduling headaches, and endless debates in front offices to lace 'em up for gold-medal hockey again.
Toronto and Vegas keep racking up identical win totals despite wildly different paths, spotlighting the NHL's divisive loser-point system and divisional quirks. Analysts break down how overtime losses pad standings and distort races in the Pacific and Atlantic. GMs privately gripe as playoff seeds hang in the balance.
The NHL hits pause for the Milan-Cortina Games, but GMs across the league already whisper about how gold-medal glow could flip front-office strategies when play resumes February 25.
ESPN drops their fresh 1-32 NHL power poll as teams hit pause for the Olympics, shaking up the hierarchy after a wild pre-break stretch. Bubble teams claw for positioning while top dogs solidify Cup contender status, with insider notes on hot streaks and injury impacts.
Top NHL talent packs bags for Milano Cortina as the league slams the brakes ahead of Olympic showdowns. Stars from every contender board flights, leaving GMs to sweat roster freezes and injury risks on foreign ice. This break reshapes national teams and sets the tone for a post-Olympic sprint to the Cup.
NHL players sat out recent Olympic hockey, and the behind-the-scenes reasons trace back to labor battles, logistics, and global tensions that insiders saw coming. Owners and the union hashed out priorities that kept the best on this side of the pond. Everyone gears up for Italy's redemption tourney with fresh stakes.
The Winter Olympics kick off in Milano with NHL's biggest names lacing up for their countries in a best-on-best showdown we haven't seen since Sochi. Stars like Pastrnak, Draisaitl, and Niederreiter carry their flags high at the opening ceremony, signaling the league's full commitment to this three-week grind.
NHL players name their surprise medal threats in men's Olympic hockey, spotlighting underdogs ready to shock in Italy. From Swiss stalwarts to overlooked nations, these insider picks challenge favorites like Canada and USA. The poll uncovers tournament wild cards that could rewrite history.
NHL players dish on where a hypothetical Russian squad stacks up in the Milan men's hockey tournament, pulling no punches in this exclusive poll. With the Olympics heating up and best-on-best action finally back, these votes from guys who've battled Ovi and the boys reveal the league's real take on Russia's firepower minus the ban.
When NHL netminders drop sticks and square up, an old-school code governs the chaos that casuals rarely see. Veterans recount rare scraps that shift game vibes without crossing lines. These moments test respect between masked warriors and echo through playoff lore.
The league digs into its quirky record books, spotlighting the rare beasts who piled up eight points in a single night. These outliers blend skill explosions with chaos only hockey's chaos theory can explain, from overtime marathons to unlikely heroes. As fans chase modern magic, this history reminds why the NHL defies box-score logic every decade.
Avery Hayes keeps the magic rolling with another tally, this time roofing a slick Anthony Mantha feed in his dream debut. The chemistry sparks instantly between the call-up and vet, fueling Pittsburgh's fire. Moments like this whisper of lineup locks post-Olympics.
A rookie named Avery dazzles in his NHL debut, flashing the tools that had scouts buzzing through juniors and AHL stops. Veterans compare his poise to past phenoms who've stuck, and this first taste hints at lineup permanence post-Olympics. Teams now scramble to match his upside in the talent-thin bottom six.
Tage Thompson wastes no time shaking off rust, lighting up the Capitals in his return before bolting to Olympics with Canada. The Buffalo bruiser proves he's Olympic-ready amid NHL's final pre-break frenzy. Canada's roster depth gets another boost as Thompson joins the medal chase in Italy.
Vegas rolls into the Olympic break with a statement win over Los Angeles, handing the Kings a rare drubbing on their home ice. With the league pausing after tonight's slate for Milano Cortina, this victory locks in momentum for a Golden Knights squad that's been dialing up the pressure in the Pacific.
Seth Jarvis steps up for Team Canada as Brayden Point's injury opens a spot just days before the Milano Cortina flight. The Hurricanes forward, who impressed on the Four Nations squad despite some scratches, edges out snubbed stars like Bedard and Scheifele with his proven chemistry alongside McDavid.
Avery Hayes erupts with a pair of goals in his Pittsburgh Penguins debut, powering a gritty win over Buffalo. The rookie infusion sparks Pens' fading playoff push amid Olympic distractions. Sid's squad leans on fresh legs as roster tweaks hint at bigger moves.
Calgary's Jonathan Huberdeau heads under the knife for hip surgery that shelves him through 2026, testing Flames' depth. The former Panther faces a grueling rehab amid team's rebuild whispers. Front offices watch closely as insurance claims and LTIR spots shuffle rosters.
Vegas unleashes a first-period barrage of four goals to steamroll the Kings and stake their Pacific claim. Dorofeyev and crew exploit every seam in a statement win that tilts divisional races. LA's post-Panarin hangover worsens as Golden Knights hunt hardware.
NHL netminders test-drive new Olympic gear that molds quicker than ever, ditching old break-in headaches for peak performance in Milano-Cortina. Mask makers tout tech advances letting keepers focus on stops, not sweat. With national pride at stake, these tweaks could tip gold-medal shootouts.
Penn State freshman and consensus top pick Gavin McKenna faces felony aggravated assault charges after police say he struck a 21-year-old man in the face during a State College altercation on January 31, leaving injuries that required surgery.
Community rinks buzz with optimism as locals push for NHL's Atlanta revival two decades after Thrashers fled. Grassroots passion fuels talks of expansion or relocation amid league's southern growth. Stakeholders gauge fanbase strength before owners circle souped-up markets.
Andrei Vasilevskiy stones Florida with 33 saves as Tampa Bay cruises to their fifth straight victory over the Panthers. The Lightning's netminder rediscovers vintage form at the perfect time post-break. Florida's frustrations mount in a rivalry that always delivers drama.
Vegas stacks its deck with depth and health, positioning the Knights as the team to beat when NHL action resumes after the Olympic break. Front-office whispers confirm their quiet deadline moves loaded the lineup for a Cup run. Expect the Western Conference to feel the Vegas squeeze harder than ever come March.
A fresh-faced Penguins rookie announces himself with a pair of goals right out of the gate in his NHL debut. Pittsburgh's prospect pipeline delivers again, injecting offense into a lineup hungry for spark. This debut performance lights up scouts' notebooks and raises stakes for the Penguins' playoff push.
Logan Thompson flashes acrobatic brilliance, stuffing Jonathan Marchessault on a gaping 2-on-0 chance that had everyone gasping. The save shifts momentum in a game where every stop counts toward standings points. Goalie duels like this define the tight Pacific race as teams jockey before the break.
Tim Stützle channels overtime magic to clinch the win for his squad in a heart-stopping extra frame. The German star's clutch move erases a late tie and hands his team two huge points. As the standings crunch intensifies pre-Olympics, heroes like Stützle emerge to swing division races.
Avery Hayes explodes for two goals in his NHL debut, powering the Penguins to a gritty win over Buffalo. The kid's instant impact silences doubters and juices a Penguins lineup that's defied preseason obituaries. Buffalo's playoff push takes a hit as Pittsburgh builds momentum.
Pierre-Luc Dubois notches a goal and assist upon return to spark Washington's win over Nashville, proving his value in high-stakes spots. Caps coaches slotted him perfectly to exploit Preds weaknesses, easing trade deadline jitters. This performance bolsters their Metropolitan standing as Olympics loom.
Tynan Lawrence sits down for his NHL.com draft diary, giving scouts and fans an unfiltered look at his rise through the ranks as one of the top prospects for 2026. With teams already circling the top picks and the Olympic freeze shaking up the scouting calendar, Lawrence shares the grind that separates elite talents from the pack.
Erik Cernak pulls off a filthy wraparound goal that has scouts buzzing and netminders wincing. The Lightning defender's highlight-reel finish drops jaws in a league full of snipers. Tampa's blue-line bite sharpens just before players scatter to Olympic ice.
Tampa Bay's offense explodes for six against Florida, dominating the Battle of Florida with speed and finish that echoes their Cup runs. The Panthers' defense crumbles early, exposing cracks as Tampa pulls away. This lopsided affair heightens stakes in a brutal Atlantic Division grind.
Penn State freshman and consensus top NHL draft pick Gavin McKenna faces felony aggravated assault charges after an off-ice altercation in State College that allegedly left another man needing facial surgery.
Drew Bussi stones the opposition for his second career shutout, reminding everyone why this kid's been bubbling under the radar in net. With teams circling the wagons ahead of the Olympic freeze, a performance like this shifts the chatter in front offices from trade bait to building blocks.
Drew Bussi stones the Rangers for a shutout as Carolina extends its point streak to 10, flexing depth that playoff committees can't ignore. Hurricanes brass love how this run masks any Olympic absences, with goaltending stability anchoring their Metropolitan push. They enter the break as contenders who feast on big-city pressure.
Tage Thompson channels his inner sniper, wrapping the puck from the goal line on a power play to claw Buffalo back into a tight one against Pittsburgh. Those tight-angle dangles have scouts buzzing about his MVP ceiling this season. With the Sabres pushing for playoffs, Thompson's clutch gene keeps their faint hopes flickering.
NHL Now breaks down the season's first-half heroes and goats, from breakout stars to epic meltdowns no one saw coming. Insiders know these awards shape trade deadline moves and extension talks. With the league hitting the Olympic break, these superlatives set the narrative for the stretch run.
Jakob Chychrun dances through traffic with those veteran dangles before floating a perfect snipe top shelf. Ottawa's blue-line stud continues tormenting keepers in a season where he's quietly piling up points. As the Sens chase a wild card, Chychrun's offensive flair carries massive weight in the standings scrum.