Goaltending depth is a ‘luxury’ for the U.S. that could come up big at the 2026 Milan OlympicsVideo
MONTREAL — When Jeremy Swayman played hockey for the Alaska Jr. Aces and at South Anchorage High School, he did not have a goaltending coach, and his home state did not have a goalie school. “Now there’s two or three, just in Alaska alone, so you can only imagine what...
Guy Gaudreau joins U.S. team for practice at the 4 Nations Face-OffVideo
MONTREAL — Guy Gaudreau spoke softly, cracked a joke about how bad a hockey player he was and nodded his head with appreciation. On the lapel of his jacket was a pin honoring the memory of his sons, John and Matt. Gaudreau thought John — the NHL star known as...
Sidney Crosby says he’s good to go for Canada at 4 Nations after missing Penguins games with injuryVideo
BROSSARD, Quebec — After missing the Pittsburgh Penguins’ final two games before the NHL break for the 4 Nations Face-Off, Sidney Crosby took part in Canada’s first practice Monday and declared himself good to go. When it comes to a rare chance to play in an international tournament with the...
4 Nations Face-Off ends hockey’s long wait for an international tournament with the NHL’s best
It has been more than a decade since the NHL last participated in the Olympics and almost nine years since the league’s top players took part in an international tournament. That wait is about to end when the puck drops on the 4 Nations Face-Off involving the United States, Canada,...
Blue Jackets overcome injuries, skids and Gaudreau’s death to climb into playoff contentionVideo
BUFFALO, N.Y. — No stranger to adversity this season, Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason began chuckling even before the question regarding potential lineup changes could be completed. “There’s a few, yeah, too many to talk about,” Evason said Tuesday as the Blue Jackets prepared to face Buffalo minus three more...
First Call: Russell Wilson, Minkah Fitzpatrick provide Pro Bowl highlights; former Penguins yield solid trade return
Monday’s “First Call” has Pro Bowl highlights from a pair of current Steelers, while another comments on the departure of his position coach. Some former Penguins fetched an eye-catching return in a trade between two NHL Western Conference franchises. And it was a case of some good and some bad...
Brandon Saad signs with Golden Knights after split with Blues
LAS VEGAS — Brandon Saad spent less than an hour as a free agent, joining the Vegas Golden Knights fresh off the St. Louis Blues terminating his previous contract. The Gibsonia native signed a contract Friday for the remainder of the season that’s worth a prorated $1.5 million. It came...
Utah Hockey Club narrows the choice of a name to 3 finalists. It won’t be the Yeti or WasatchVideo
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Hockey Club has chosen three finalists for the permanent team name it will adopt beginning with the 2025-26 NHL season. The franchise will use a final round of fan voting to decide among the Utah Mammoth, Utah Hockey Club and, now, Utah Outlaws. The...
Jaromir Jagr selling majority stake in his hometown Czech ice hockey team
KLADNO, Czech Republic — Ice hockey great Jaromir Jagr is selling a majority stake in his hometown team the Kladno Knights in the Czech league. Jagr said on Thursday he’s selling an 80% stake to businessman Tomas Drastil while holding on to the remaining minority stake. Financial details were not...
Utah Hockey Club narrows choice of a permanent name to 3 finalists. It won’t be the Yeti
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Hockey Club has chosen three finalists for the permanent team name it will adopt beginning with the 2025-26 NHL season. The franchise will use a final round of fan voting to decide among the Utah Mammoth, Utah Hockey Club and Utah Wasatch. Team officials...
St. Louis Blues move to mutually terminate the remainder of Brandon Saad’s contractVideo
ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Blues and Brandon Saad agreed to mutually terminate the remainder of his contract, which would make him a free agent and able to sign with any team in the NHL. The Blues announced they are putting the veteran forward on unconditional waivers Thursday. Saad...
Wild sideline Kaprizov for at least a month, with surgery needed on lingering lower-body injuryVideo
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota Wild star Kirill Kaprizov needs surgery on the lingering lower-body injury he recently returned from and will be sidelined for at least a month. General manager Bill Guerin said during practice Tuesday that Kaprizov is expected to be back with the team later this season,...
Blues put Brandon Saad on waivers with the intent of sending him to the minorsVideo
ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Blues put veteran forward Brandon Saad on waivers Tuesday with the intent of sending him to the minors. General manager Doug Armstrong said Saad, a Gibsonia native, would be assigned to Springfield of the American Hockey League if he clears or be playing for...
Avs GM Chris MacFarland felt ‘timing was right’ to deal star forward Mikko RantanenVideo
BOSTON — Facing the prospect of Mikko Rantanen becoming an unrestricted free agent after this season, Colorado general manager Chris MacFarland felt the timing was right to trade the star forward and bolster the Avalanche’s roster for the future. “I think it was just a tough business decision here for...
Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom out 4-6 weeks with knee injuryVideo
NEWARK, N.J. — New Jersey Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom will be out 4-6 weeks with a sprained MCL in his knee, the team announced Friday. Markstrom was injured in the second period of the Devils’ 5-1 win over the Bruins on Wednesday when Boston forward Justin Brazeau crashed into him....
Oilers captain Connor McDavid suspended 3 games for cross-checking Conor Garland in the headVideo
NEW YORK — Three-time NHL MVP Connor McDavid was suspended three games for cross-checking Vancouver’s Conor Garland in the head. The Edmonton Oilers captain had a hearing with the league’s Department of Player Safety on Monday. The suspension was announced shortly after. It was the second suspension of his career...
As J.T. Miller trade rumors swirl, Canucks GM says he’s open to making a deal if it makes senseVideo
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Vancouver Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin said Monday he is open to making a trade as long as the deal makes sense for the team. His remarks come as trade buzz continues to swirl about the future of star Canucks center J.T. Miller, a native of...
First Call: Update on Arthur Smith’s interviews; NFL playoff TV ratings dip; lengthy Pens road trip starts
Friday’s “First Call” provides an update on Arthur Smith’s status as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive coordinator as he travels for head coaching interviews. NFL TV ratings aren’t off to a great start in the playoffs. The Penguins are trying to salvage their sinking ship of a season with a long...
Alex Ovechkin breaks the record for most goalies scored on, beating Leevi Merilainen to reach 179Video
OTTAWA, Ontario — Alex Ovechkin broke the NHL record for the most goaltenders scored on, beating Leevi Merilainen in overtime to give the Washington Capitals a 1-0 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night. Merilainen became the 179th goalie Ovechkin has scored against, breaking a tie with Jaromir Jagr...
Canadiens’ Emil Heineman out 3-4 weeks after getting hit by car in Salt Lake CityVideo
Montreal Canadiens player Emil Heineman is expected to miss three to four weeks after being hit by a car while walking in downtown Salt Lake City a day before playing at the Utah Hockey Club. The team announced Tuesday that the 23-year-old Swedish forward was out with an upper-body injury...
Ovechkin scores 873rd career goal, Frank gets 1st as Capitals beat Predators 4-1Video
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Alex Ovechkin had a goal and an assist, Ethen Frank got his first NHL goal and the Washington Capitals beat the Nashville Predators, 4-1, on Saturday night. Tom Wilson and Andrew Mangiapane also scored for the Capitals. Logan Thompson stopped 32 shots as the Capitals won for...
NHL will have outdoor games in Miami and Tampa next season
MIAMI — Hockey. Outdoors. In Florida. Next season, the NHL is making it happen — twice. The NHL announced Wednesday that the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers will play host to the New York Rangers at loanDepot Park in Miami — home of baseball’s Marlins — on Jan. 2, 2026,...
NHL postpones L.A. Kings’ home game against Calgary due to wildfires, while NFL monitors situation
LOS ANGELES — The NHL postponed the Los Angeles Kings’ home game against the Calgary Flames on Wednesday with several massive wildfires still burning across the greater Los Angeles area. The Kings and Flames were scheduled to play Wednesday night at the Kings’ downtown arena. The NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers...
Peters Township native Christian Humphreys leaves Michigan to play in OHL
Forward Christian Humphreys, a native of Peters Township, has joined the Ontario Hockey League’s Kitchener Rangers. That team announced it signed Humphreys to an OHL scholarship and development agreement Tuesday. Humphreys, 18, began the season at the NCAA level with Michigan. Appearing in 10 of a possible 19 games with...
KHL player pulls a Rodolfo Castro and loses cellphone on ice mid-shift
I’m sure Pittsburgh baseball fans fondly remember that Pirates game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2022 when former infielder Rodolfo Castro’s cellphone popped out of his back pocket while he was sliding into third base. Well, a Russian hockey player just said, “Rodolfo, hold my beer.” Or, perhaps better said,...