Codie McLachlan/Getty Images The World Junior Championship is a holiday hockey tradition like no other. This year is an exception. The tournament is still coming your way during peak vacation time, only now it’s happening mid-summer, rather than post-Christmas. Confused? Let’s recap. The 2022 WJC was set to be played as usual last December. Due … Read more
Every team enters the trade deadline with a wish list. No one gets everything they want — even if in San Diego it might feel that way right now. No roster is perfect. There are always holes on even the most powerful clubs, little problems the front office and manager must try to solve, game … Read more
Nazem Kadri is a Stanley Cup champion who had 87 points in 71 games last season for the Colorado Avalanche. He hadn’t scored more than 61 points in a season previously, turns 32 in October and is seeking a hefty payday on a new contract. The combination of those factors make Kadri a top-tier NHL … Read more
Edmonton Oilers general manager Ken Holland has surveyed the NHL free-agent landscape every summer since 1997. What does he see as the 2022 market prepares to officially open Wednesday at noon? “Lots of teams are tight on the cap, so it’s going to be interesting,” Holland told ESPN. “And then other teams… you wonder if … Read more
MONTREAL — Arizona Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong smiled when he was called an “NHL draft nerd” after the first round ended Thursday night. “It was extremely fun,” he said. “We were in town early. Maybe a couple days too early. But we were excited about the draft. Had some fun with it. Put on … Read more
MONTREAL — The NHL’s general managers put on the eve of the 2022 NHL draft. What their meeting lacked in rules changes or policy news, it made up for with post-meeting news and buzz on trades, free agents and other league matters. Here’s a glimpse at what was said, and heard, in Montreal on Wednesday, … Read more
At 2.23pm, as Tim Southee began his 19th over of the second innings. England needed 21 for victory: Joe Root was at the nonstriker’s end on 80, Jonny Bairstow facing up with 60. And the chatter in the stands and on social media for those watching elsewhere was whether Root would make it to Test … Read more
Kenan Thompson has unusual hockey roots for a celebrity NHL fan. Before he was an Emmy Award-winning sketch comedian on “Saturday Night Live,” he was a Mighty Duck. Thompson, who is hosting the NHL Awards for the second time on Tuesday night at 7 ET in Tampa, Florida, played Russ Tyler in “D2: The Mighty … Read more
There was this coach I heard about. He hadn’t yet served as an NHL head coach. His qualifications indicated he was ready to do so. So like a fan of a new indie band double-checking its coolness with a music snob, I reached out to an NHL team executive to ask how they felt about … Read more
Defining “value” in the Stanley Cup playoffs can be challenging. Although apparently not as challenging as defining “possession” in the Western Conference finals, as Edmonton Oilers fans screaming about the NHL’s offside rules after Game 1 will no doubt tell you. For me, value in the playoffs is a combination of statistical achievement and seizing … Read more
