Quality of hockey, business booming as NHL begins new seasonVideo
Cale Makar won the Stanley Cup and earned playoff MVP honors after a season in which he was voted the NHL’s best defenseman. He may be the best hockey player in the world, and still he looks around at Connor McDavid, Patrick Kane, Auston Matthews and Colorado teammate Nathan MacKinnon...
Islanders agree to terms with Barzal on 8-year extension
Mathew Barzal has agreed to terms with the New York Islanders on an eight-year extension, a move that keeps the franchise’s top forward under contract for the balance of his prime. The deal is worth $73.2 million with an annual salary cap hit of $9.15 million, according to a person...
NHL goalie-go-round leaves 8 teams with a new starter in netVideo
Jake Oettinger did not have a contract with Dallas for much of the summer, but as a restricted free agent, he knew he would be playing for the Stars this season. With that certainty in mind, Oettinger watched with fascination as other goaltenders shuffled around the NHL. “It’s crazy,” he...
Former Penguins D Alex Goligoski approaches 1,000th career NHL game: ‘It goes really quick’
One, two, three, four. That’s it. That’s how many games the Wild’s Alex Goligoski is from 1,000 in his NHL career, and the defenseman knows it. “It’ll be cool,” Goligoski said. “It seems so crazy how fast it goes.” The Grand Rapids native was actually on track to reach the...
First Call: 1 Steeler wants less talk, more action on offense; Myles Garrett may play after crash; NHL health updates
In Thursday’s “First Call,” we have a blunt review of the Pittsburgh Steelers offense from one of their alumni in the media. Diontae Johnson has a succinct message for all the players on offense. Myles Garrett is recovering from his injuries sustained in a car wreck earlier this week; we...
Forward Johnny Gaudreau’s arrival energizes Blue Jackets
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Columbus Blue Jackets pulled off the improbable, landing the hottest free agent on the market in winger Johnny Gaudreau. The 29-year old Gaudreau had a career-high 115 points last season in his ninth year with Calgary. He was lured to Columbus with a seven-year deal worth...
First Call: Update on Jets plans at QB before playing Steelers; another milestone for Aaron Donald; rebuilding Matt Murray
Monday’s “First Call” looks at the New York Jets quarterback situation in advance of Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. We also have Aaron Donald’s latest milestone and a big day for a former Steeler in Miami. Plus, an in-depth piece about Matt Murray’s attempt to rediscover his game in...
Alex Ovechkin, banged-up Capitals return to ice for start of campVideo
ARLINGTON, Va. — The Washington Capitals opened training camp Thursday without two of the team’s top players. Nicklas Backstrom and big winger Tom Wilson are expected to miss at least the first portion of the season recovering from injuries. Wilson could be back as soon as December after rehabbing a...
Czech government: Russian NHL players unwanted in Prague
PRAGUE — NHL teams playing in the Czech capital next month have been told their Russian players are not welcome. The Czech Foreign Ministry has told the NHL of its stance because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The ministry declined to say whether the NHL has replied. The Nashville Predators...
Training camps open around NHL after another short offseason
Training camps open around the NHL on Thursday after another short offseason, a third in a row squeezed by the pandemic. That doesn’t bother Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon one bit. For one of hockey’s best players and his teammates, it’s already time to get back on the ice and...
AP source: Nathan MacKinnon signs 8-year deal, highest paid in NHL
DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche are making Nathan MacKinnon the highest-paid player in the NHL’s salary cap era. MacKinnon, who just turned 27 earlier this month, signed an eight-year contract that is worth $100.8 million, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. The person spoke to The Associated...
Longtime NHL defenseman Zdeno Chara, 45, retires as Bruin
BOSTON — Zdeno Chara announced his retirement Tuesday after playing 21 seasons in the NHL and captaining the Boston Bruins to the Stanley Cup in 2011. The 6-foot-9 defenseman from Slovakia is calling it a career at age 45. He returned to TD Garden in Boston to make that announcement...
P.K. Subban retires after 13 NHL seasons
Defenseman P.K. Subban announced his retirement from the NHL on Tuesday following 13 seasons playing for the Montreal Canadiens, Nashville Predators and New Jersey Devils. The 33-year-old former Norris Trophy winner shared the news on social media. Subban, who is from Toronto, registered 115 goals and 467 points in 824...
First Call: Huge TV ratings for Steelers game; Pittsburgh names to bet on for Dallas QB spot; Marian Hossa’s honor vs. Pens
Thursday’s “First Call” has some gaudy television ratings numbers for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2022 season opener. Bill Belichick gives some thoughts on the Steelers without T.J. Watt. A few Pittsburgh names are being tied to the Dallas Cowboys’ QB vacancy. And the Penguins are going to be sucked into some...
Quebec party leaders say new Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki must learn FrenchVideo
MONTREAL — Several of Quebec’s major party leaders say new Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki needs to learn French. Coalition Avenir Quebec leader Francois Legault said the Habs made an “excellent choice,” describing the center as one of the team’s best players, before adding that Suzuki now has to learn...
Canucks sign J.T. Miller to 7-year, $56 million contract
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — The Vancouver Canucks signed forward J.T. Miller to a seven-year, $56 million contract Friday. The 29-year-old Miller, who grew up in Coraopolis, was Vancouver’s leading scorer last season with 99 points on 32 goals and 67 assists in 80 games. He was set to become an...
Phil Kessel signs 1-year deal with Vegas Golden Knights (because of course he does)
LAS VEGAS — In perhaps the most appropriate marriage of player and team in the history of free agency, the Vegas Golden Knights bolstered their forward depth by signing veteran Phil Kessel to a one-year, $1.5 million deal Wednesday. The 34-year-old Kessel spent the past three seasons with the Arizona...
Blackhawks agree to 1-year deal with former Penguins D Jack JohnsonVideo
CHICAGO — The Chicago Blackhawks agreed to a one-year contract with former Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Jack Johnson after the veteran helped Colorado win the Stanley Cup last season. The rebuilding Blackhawks announced the deal Wednesday. Johnson’s contract carries a $950,000 hit for the salary cap. “Jack provides the team with...
Hip surgery to sideline Vegas goalie Robin Lehner for upcoming seasonVideo
LAS VEGAS — Vegas Golden Knights goalie Robin Lehner will require hip surgery and is expected to miss the upcoming season, the team said Thursday. The 31-year-old Lehner, who will likely spend the entire 2022-23 season on long-term injured reserve, has three years remaining on a contract that carries a...
First Call: Honus Wagner’s baseball card surpassed at auction by another legend’s; ex-Penguin finds new team
Friday’s “First Call” has competition for the legendary Honus Wagner baseball card. Saquon Barkley is trying to find his 2018 form. Significant injury news in the NHL. A former Penguin has a new place to play. And the Pirates look to get back on track in San Francisco. Step aside...
First Call: Seahawks name starting QB for game with Steelers; Penguins fans will hate the news from New York
Wednesday’s “First Call” finds out which Seattle Seahawks quarterback will start against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday. The Jordan Addison transfer is getting more attention. The Browns lost a player thanks to a long-term injury. And we have some hockey news that could drive Penguins fans bonkers. Smith versus Steelers...
Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron returning for 19th season; David Krejci coming back too
BOSTON — The Boston Bruins are getting the gang back together, signing captain Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci — two members of their 2011 Stanley Cup championship team — to one-year deals on Monday. Almost three months after he left the ice without any certainty that he would return, Bergeron...
Paul Sullivan: With the futures of Toews and Kane in flux, Blackhawks’ rebuild is ‘draining’ — and has only just begun
CHICAGO — Jonathan Toews had an apt description of the Chicago Blackhawks rebuild during a recent interview with The Athletic. “Really, really draining,” he said. “And exhausting.” Truer words couldn’t be spoken, and the rebuild has only just begun. They don’t call him Captain Serious for nothing. Imagine how Toews...
Sharks hire David Quinn as new head coachVideo
SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose Sharks hired former New York Rangers coach David Quinn as their coach. The Sharks announced Tuesday that Quinn would replace the fired Bob Boughner as the Sharks overhaul their management and coaching team. “His previous NHL head coaching experience is valuable to us,...
Panthers get Matthew Tkachuk from Flames for Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar
SUNRISE, Fla. — Matthew Tkachuk and Jonathan Huberdeau both had the best years of their career this past season. And now they’re changing places in an NHL blockbuster. Tkachuk was traded to the Florida Panthers on Friday night, with Huberdeau part of the haul that is going to the Calgary...