U mad, bro?: Steelers fans already getting snippy about Kenny Pickett; Pirates fans already fretting about Oneil Cruz
In this week’s “U mad, bro?” Pittsburgh Steelers fans are already ginning up angst over Kenny Pickett. Pirates fans are already over Oneil Cruz. And Penguins fans are done with Brian Dumoulin. Then there’s one guy who thinks I’m the angriest one of the bunch. Based on some of those...
Who’s No. 1? Uncertainty surrounding top pick at NHL DraftVideo
Rather than tip his hand on who the Montreal Canadiens plan to select with the first pick in the NHL Draft, general manager Kent Hughes joked they’ll end up with all three of Shane Wright, Juraj Slafkovsky and West Mifflin native Logan Cooley. If the Canadiens want to make a...
Former NHL defenseman Bryan Marchment dies at 53
MONTREAL — Former NHL defenseman Bryan Marchment died unexpectedly Wednesday in Montreal, his agent said. He was 53. Longtime agent Rick Curran confirmed Marchment’s death to The Associated Press. Marchment was attending the NHL draft in Montreal as a scout for San Jose Sharks. A cause of death was not...
Sharks hire Mike Grier as NHL’s first Black GMVideo
SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose Sharks hired longtime NHL forward Mike Grier to become the first Black general manager in NHL history. Grier fills the spot that opened when Doug Wilson stepped away for health reasons earlier this year. Grier spent three of his 14 seasons in the...
Ice hockey ban on Russia, Belarus upheld on safety grounds
ZURICH — Appeals by Russia and its ally Belarus against bans from the world ice hockey championship following the invasion of Ukraine were rejected by the international governing body. The decision “was not a sanction but was a safety policy” and also “the safety policy was not discriminatory and was...
Stars’ new assistant coaches include former Penguin Alain Nasreddine
DALLAS — The Dallas Stars have added Steve Spott and Alain Nasreddine to the coaching staff while re-signing backup goalie Scott Wedgewood on a $2 million, two-year contract. Spott and Nasreddine will be the assistants to new coach Pete DeBoer. Goaltending coach Jeff Reese and video coach Kelly Forbes are...
San Jose Sharks fire coach Bob Boughner, assistants
The San Jose Sharks have fired coach Bob Boughner and his staff two months after the regular season ended. The team confirmed the moves Friday, after reports surfaced Boughner and assistants John MacLean and John Madden were informed Thursday night they were being let go. Video coach Dan Darrow also...
After parade, work begins for Avalanche in bid to repeat as champs
DENVER — Nazem Kadri will be waving jubilantly to the fans at the parade Thursday through the streets of Denver. Possibly waving goodbye, too. Some tough decisions loom for the Colorado Avalanche after dethroning the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Stanley Cup Final. As the players party and mingle with...
John Romano: Does this Lightning posse have one last ride left in them?
TAMPA, Fla. — When your team is still playing hockey in late June, no one questions your methods. Trade draft picks? No problem. Trade prospects, too? It’s gotta be done. Push the salary cap, sign older players, spend millions on long-term injured reserve cases, take risks on rental players? All...
Bills, Sabres co-owner Kim Pegula ‘progressing’ from health issueVideo
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Buffalo Bills and Sabres co-owner Kim Pegula is “progressing well” while rehabilitating from a health issue she experienced earlier this month, the family said in a statement released Tuesday. The family would only say Pegula is resting while adding they are “grateful for the medical professionals providing...
Avalanche, Lightning show importance of making smart trades
TAMPA, Fla. — In a copycat league known for following the Stanley Cup champions, Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog paused when asked what other teams could do to emulate their success. With a grin, Landeskog replied: “Find a Cale Makar somewhere.” Playoff MVP Makar was a big part of Colorado’s...
Swede Day: Daniel Alfredsson, Sedin twins elected to Hockey Hall of FameVideo
Twins Henrik and Daniel Sedin and Daniel Alfredsson were elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame, a big day for Swedish hockey as they made up half of the class of 2022. Goaltender Roberto Luongo, Finnish women’s star Riikka Sallinen and builder Herb Carnegie also were selected Monday for induction...
Nathan MacKinnon shines in helping Avalanche win Stanley Cup
TAMPA, Fla. — Andrew Cogliano shouted at Nathan MacKinnon in the midst of the Colorado Avalanche’s Stanley Cup celebration. “87!” he bellowed. It was a reference to the final two numbers of MacKinnon’s hotel room, which Colorado’s star forward thought was a great omen when he checked in ahead of...
Bruins re-up GM Don Sweeney; 1st job to find Cassidy replacement
BOSTON — All those wins and playoff appearances weren’t enough for Bruce Cassidy to keep his job as Boston Bruins coach. But they earned general manager Don Sweeney a contract extension. The Bruins said on Monday they have signed Sweeney to a multiyear extension, six weeks after they lost in...
Avalanche D-man Cale Makar wins Conn Smythe as playoff MVP
Cale Makar led the Colorado Avalanche in scoring on the way to winning the Stanley Cup. It was no surprise the dynamic defenseman was the unanimous choice for the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. “It’s surreal to me,” Makar said. “You grow up, you see that as a kid,...
Avalanche dethrone Lightning to win Stanley Cup for 3rd time
TAMPA, Fla. — The Colorado Avalanche are back atop hockey’s mountain after dethroning the two-time defending champions. Behind a goal and an assist from Nathan MacKinnon, the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup for the third time in franchise history and first in more than two decades by beating the Tampa...
Avalanche’s Andre Burakovsky a ‘possibility’ to return for Game 6
TAMPA, Fla. — The status of a couple of key players remains uncertain for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. Colorado Avalanche coach Jared Bednar says there’s a chance Game 1 overtime hero Andre Burakovsky could return Sunday night following a three-game absence from the best-of-seven series. Tampa Bay’s...
Palat is money for Lightning, could cash in as free agentVideo
TAMPA, Fla. — If this is Ondrej Palat’s final playoff run with the Tampa Bay Lightning, he is making it count. Soon he could be counting in the tens of millions of dollars on a new contract. A pending free agent with a knack for scoring big goals to go...
NHL experiencing sustained growth with female, younger fansVideo
One of the biggest stories in the NHL this season has been the increase in viewers in the league’s first year of its television contracts with ESPN and TNT. The league also is seeing unparalleled growth in female and younger fans that should have a big impact for years to...
Lightning win Game 5, deny Avalanche chance to take Stanley Cup
DENVER — The Tampa Bay Lightning spoiled the Colorado Avalanche’s party to stay in the hunt for a third straight Stanley Cup title, winning 3-2 on Friday night in Game 5. Ondrej Palat scored with 6 minutes, 22 seconds remaining, and Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 36 shots in front of a...
AP source: Blackhawks aim for Canadiens assistant Luke Richardson
CHICAGO — The Chicago Blackhawks are nearing a deal with Luke Richardson to become their next coach, turning to the former NHL defenseman to help lead their already-painful rebuilding process. Richardson and the Blackhawks are working on a contract, according to a person familiar with the talks, and the move...
Avalanche a win away from dethroning 2-time champ LightningVideo
DENVER — Cale Makar and the Colorado Avalanche weren’t all that interested in glancing back at the simmering controversy over the way Game 4 ended in overtime. Of way more importance was looking ahead to this: A chance to clinch the franchise’s first Stanley Cup title since 2001. In front...
NHL, players union, alumni association team up for NFT deal
The NHL, NHL Players’ Association and NHL Alumni Association are teaming up to get hockey into the NFT marketplace. The organizations announced a multiyear deal Thursday making Sweet their official digital collectibles partner. While not confirming exact terms, NHL executive VP of business development and innovation Dave Lehanski said the...
Nazem Kadri’s OT goal lifts Avalanche over Lightning in Game 4Video
TAMPA, Fla. — Nazem Kadri scored at 12:02 of overtime and the Colorado Avalanche beat Tampa Bay 3-2 on Wednesday night in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final to move within a victory of dethroning the two-time defending champion Lightning. Playing for the first time since June 4 due...
Valeri Nichushkin dominating for Avalanche in Stanley Cup Final
Valeri Nichushkin stood in front of a poster of Alex Ovechkin hoisting the Stanley Cup on the eve of his first trip to the final and remembered what it was like to witness that moment. “That was fun to watch when Ovi win it, especially when he celebrated,” he said....
