Greg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer. The NHL All-Star Game is an oasis. It’s a moment for players to hang with peers, friends and family. To sink a golf putt with a hockey stick or topple into a dunk tank, it’s a time to let their personalities shine through, or at least as much personality as their decades of hockey culture programming will allow them to show without the
Ryan S. Clark is an NHL reporter for ESPN. Bo Horvat leaving Vancouver was always thought to be a possibility. Then, it became a reality Monday with the Canucks trading their captain to the New York Islanders. Horvat heads to Long Island in exchange for forward Anthony Beauvillier, prospect forward Aatu Raty and conditional first-round pick in this year’s draft, the teams announced. The decision to move on from Horvat
TORONTO — Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews will miss at least three weeks with a sprained knee. The team announced the reigning MVP’s anticipated absence Friday, two days after Matthews was injured in Toronto’s victory against the New York Rangers. Matthews is expected to miss at least six games and could be out for a few more. The timing of the injury coinciding with the NHL All-Star break and the
Kristen Shilton is a national NHL reporter for ESPN. The 2023 NHL All-Star class gained 12 new members on Thursday night. But of the original 32, four — Matthew Tkachuk, Johnny Gaudreau, Nazem Kadri and Kevin Fiala — were added to their current teams this past offseason via trade or free agency. However, not every deal works out that well. This week, we’ll identify a decision for which each team
Emily Kaplan is ESPN’s national NHL reporter. Over the past two seasons, Nicklas Backstrom faced conversations that frankly, he had no interest in having. The Washington Capitals center’s nagging left hip had deteriorated to the point where he had a hard time putting on his socks and shoes. He struggled to play with his kids (ages 9, 6 and 2). He walked around the team facility with a limp. “I
Kristen Shilton is a national NHL reporter for ESPN. Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang returned to the lineup on Saturday just 12 days after suffering the second stroke of his career on Nov. 28. Penguins coach Mike Sullivan previously announced Letang was “available” to draw in against the Buffalo Sabres after a five-game absence and would ultimately be a game-time decision. Letang returns to a streaking Penguins club that is
Greg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer. The Hockey Hall of Fame welcomes its newest class on Monday night in Toronto with a fascinating group: Vancouver Canucks legends Daniel and Henrik Sedin, their former teammate Roberto Luongo, former Ottawa Senators great Daniel Alfredsson, Finnish women’s hockey icon Riikka Sallinen and the late Herb Carnegie, a pioneering Black player. Who will join them in the class of 2023? There is one
Kristen Shilton is a national NHL reporter for ESPN. BUFFALO — Jack Eichel knew what was coming. Turns out, it was his own revenge. The Golden Knights forward — and former Sabres captain — was in town to face his old squad Thursday for the second time since Buffalo traded him to Vegas last November. The last time he was at KeyBank Center, on March 10, Eichel had zero points
TAMPA, Fla. — Edmonton Oilers forward Evander Kane was taken to a hospital Tuesday night after being cut by a skate blade on his left wrist early in the second period against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Oilers said Kane was in stable condition and would undergo a procedure. Kane went down to the ice when he got tangled with Lightning defenseman Philippe Myers and then was cut by Pat
Ryan S. Clark is an NHL reporter for ESPN. Less than three days after signing Mitchell Miller to an entry-level contract, the Boston Bruins announced Sunday they were cutting ties with the controversial prospect. The decision to sign the 20-year-old defenseman drew intense criticism from the moment the Bruins announced it Friday. Miller was previously a fourth-round draft pick by the Arizona Coyotes in 2020. Shortly after he was drafted,
