All articles tagged with #sports hockey
After trading for Luke Evangelista from Nashville (for a first- and second-round pick), New Jersey faces a forward logjam but Evangelista has only one year left on his deal. The piece argues the Devils should pursue an eight-year extension at about $6 million per season before Sept. 15, when new CBA rules would cap extensions at seven years, to lock in the rising forward while he’s affordable and before the landscape changes.
Washington Capitals GM Chris Patrick says the team pushed for a bold offseason to prove the roster is all-in, adding top-six forwards Alex Tuch and Jordan Kyrou, veteran Boone Jenner and defenseman Vincent Desharnais while bringing back captain Alex Ovechkin. The goal is to return to the playoffs and contend for the Stanley Cup, with training camp approaching ahead of a Sept. 20 preseason against the Boston Bruins.
Colorado Avalanche star Cale Makar signed an eight-year, $163.2 million contract—the largest total in NHL history and the first with a $20 million AAV—likely influencing Quinn Hughes’ extension talks; Connor Hellebuyck’s public trade request puts the Jets in a tough spot with an $8.5M cap hit and a narrowed no-trade list, with potential destinations like Buffalo, Vegas, Carolina, and New Jersey discussed; the Pittsburgh Penguins are moving toward a younger core under Kyle Dubas, but face big decisions as Crosby, Malkin, and Karlsson approach free agency and the possibility of deadline-era moves.
The Buffalo Sabres announced their 2026 preseason schedule, a four-game slate that includes two home games at KeyBank Center (Sept. 22 vs. Columbus and Sept. 26 vs. Pittsburgh) and two road games (Sept. 21 at Pittsburgh and Sept. 24 at Detroit); ticket and broadcast details will follow, with 10-game plans on sale. Under the new CBA, preseason is capped at four games and the regular season will be expanded to 84 games.
The Florida Panthers pull off a blockbuster trade to land Brady Tkachuk from Ottawa, then immediately move Mackie Samoskevich to Seattle; Pittsburgh Hockey Now also runs a Penguins draft-picks retrospective, framing the latest NHL chatter around trades, draft capital, and the looming draft/free-agency period.
Pro Hockey Rumors reports Dylan Larkin’s trade market is broadening beyond Detroit’s original three-team list as GM Steve Yzerman stays in contact with agent Pat Brisson; Dallas is among teams checking in, and a third-party team could be included to balance assets. Larkin, 29, had 34 goals and 67 points last season at an $8.7M cap hit. Auston Matthews appears likely to return to Toronto after cordial talks with newly hired Leafs GM John Chayka, though nothing is official. Despite chatter linking Werenski to a move due to friendship with Larkin, Columbus has received no trade request, and Werenski—who posted 22 goals and 81 points with Norris Trophy honors while logging heavy minutes—has two years left on his contract. The piece also includes a reader poll on Larkin’s destination.
Jordan Staal scored twice for the Hurricanes, including a dramatic belly-down goal that tied the Stanley Cup Final at 2-2 after a Seth Jarvis steal and a cross-ice feed from Nikolaj Ehlers, helping Carolina to a 5-3 win over the Vegas Golden Knights and knot the series at 2-2. The 37-year-old captain’s multi-goal performance in four straight Final games has him increasingly in the Conn Smythe conversation, while coaches and teammates praised his leadership and two-way impact as the Hurricanes leaned on him between more skilled linemates as the playoffs continue.
Jordan Staal scored twice, including a third-period winner, as the Hurricanes beat the Golden Knights 5-3 in Game 4 to knot the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at 2-2; Brandon Bussi earned a win in his first-ever playoff start with 18 saves, while Staal joined a short list by scoring in four straight Final games as captain; Stankoven and Blake opened the scoring, Vegas tied it in the second, and Nikolaj Ehlers sealed the win with a late empty-net tally after Vegas pressed.
Dylan Larkin reportedly asked Detroit to trade him and listed preferred destinations (Wild, Golden Knights, Panthers), a move that tightens the market for centers and makes Rangers’ Vincent Trocheck a more valuable trade asset as teams seek top-line depth in a thinner free-agent class.
Toronto fired coach Craig Berube after a season highlighted by defensive lapses, poor puck management, and suboptimal player deployment, prompting GM John Chayka to search for a new bench boss who can unlock Auston Matthews and the team's potential and determine whether the club remains a Stanley Cup contender or needs a rebuild.
Toronto earned the No. 1 overall pick in the NHL Draft lottery, while Boston’s chance at Toronto’s top-five-protected first-round pick from the 2025 Brandon Carlo deal remains out of reach as the draft moves to June in Buffalo.
Two games into the Kings–Avalanche series, Los Angeles has frustrated Colorado enough to limit them to four total goals and has won both teams’ special-teams battles, yet the Kings have managed only two goals at 5-on-5 and trail 2-0. Artemi Panarin has the series’ only multi-goal output (two power-play goals), while Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Martin Necas have combined for zero goals and one point. Anton Forsberg has been outstanding in net (.941 save percentage, 1.90 GAA), but the Kings must convert more chances and get offense from multiple players to avoid a downhill path.
The Flyers protected home ice in Game 3, routing the Penguins 5-2 to take a commanding 3-0 series lead in Philadelphia, powered by a ferocious second period that included goals from Trevor Zegras, Rasmus Ristolainen, and Nick Seeler, with Noah Cates padding the lead on the power play. Dan Vladar made 28 saves on 30 shots after an early Evgeni Malkin tally, while the raucous crowd fed the energy as Philadelphia moved within one win of advancing; Game 4 is set for Saturday at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Carolina Hurricanes head into the 2026 NHL playoffs with a fully healthy roster and a fully projected Game 1 lineup against the Ottawa Senators, featuring Frederik Andersen in net; forwards Svechnikov-Aho-Jarvis, Hall-Stankoven-Blake, Ehlers-Staal-Martinook, and Carrier-Jankowski-Robinson, plus Slavin-Chatfield, Miller-Walker, Gostisbehere-Nikishin on defense. No injuries are listed, scratches include Deslauriers, Kochetkov, Kotkaniemi, and Reilly, and the article specifies PP1 and PP2 lineups.
The Penguins wrap up the 2025-26 regular season with a road game at the Enterprise Center against the Blues (9:30 PM ET), aiming to cap a strong run as they clinch a return to the playoffs. Pittsburgh has dominated the Blues recently (8-1-1 in the last nine) and features Crosby, Malkin, Rakell, Mantha and Chinakhov, plus Erik Karlsson, while rookie Ben Kindel shines. The team also signed defenseman Jake Livanavage. The game will be televised on ESPN and SportsNet Pittsburgh and heard on 105.9 The X and the Penguins app.