Canadiens' Arber Xhekaj watches brother Florian's fight on phone mid-game in penalty box
After receiving a two-minute roughing penalty in the third period, Arber Xhekaj saw video on a phone of his brother's scrap.
Ice Hockey
20th September 2026
19th September 2026
Brock Faber's golden year: Olympic glory, Quinn Hughes and a new standard with the Wild
Faber's golden run with Team USA in Milan and elite partnership with Quinn Hughes on the Wild left him wanting more.
One player for 17 picks: How family and finances forced hockey’s biggest trade
A junior hockey deal gone viral: Tanner Adams for 17 picks. Inside a family's quest to stay close on the high-priced path to the NHL Draft.
Kirill Marchenko evades questions about his future with Blue Jackets
In June, Marchenko's agent Dan Milstein said the team's top goal scorer doesn't plan to stay in Columbus beyond his current contract.
NHL training camps open, drama ensues: Let's run through it all
Connor Hellebuyck and Dylan Larkin are two of the biggest stories across the league, but they're certainly not the only ones.
18th September 2026
NHL contract rankings: Which big-money young stars offer the most value?
Considering the term and the average annual value, which teams got the best deals on their budding stars?.
Nashville Predators projections: Mushy middle beckons unless MacFarland moves the needle
New offseason additions look promising in Nashville, but in a stacked Central Division it's hard to see the Predators making much noise.
New York Islanders projections: How far can they go with Schaefer and DeBoer?
The Isles appear to have a promising future, led by a star second-year defenseman, but their short-term playoff chances look low.
Red Wings, Dylan Larkin want to quiet the noise. It's only getting louder
Dylan Larkin's press conference Thursday was a window into the awkwardness awaiting the Red Wings this season.
Sharks' 7-foot-1 prospect takes the ice at NHL camp as teammates 'feel a bit small'
Alexander Karmanov, a seventh-round draft pick in June, has already turned heads with a fight in a rookie tournament game.
Anaheim Ducks projections: With big expectations and leaky defense, regression is possible
The core of the roster still makes for a bright future, but avoiding some sort of temporary backward step will be a challenge.
Boston Bruins projections: Depth performance will dictate season's success
Boston's best players pack a formidable punch, but the depth behind them makes the Bruins' future hard to nail down.
Why the Winnipeg Jets can't afford to make an example of Connor Hellebuyck
The Jets need to win hockey games and the best way to do that is to trade Hellebuyck and move on.
Quinn Hughes says he's in 'great spot' with Wild, won't sacrifice it to play with brothers
Hughes on the possibility of extending with Minnesota: "I'm really happy here. I love the guys. I love the team. And I fit in really well.".
Red Wings' Dylan Larkin addresses trade request and losing the captaincy
The former Detroit captain also spoke about his teammates' reaction to his request and his reported three-team trade list.
Alex Ovechkin addresses role in pro-Putin video: ‘I’m Russian and I support my country’
Ovechkin opened his 22nd NHL training camp by addressing his appearance in a video supporting United Russia.
Latest on Nikishin, Staal's contract and Hurricanes' next big swing: Catching up with Eric Tulsky
The Canes GM went big-game hunting this offseason and might again during the season.
Jets GM continues exploring trade for suspended goalie Connor Hellebuyck: 'I just want to get this right'
Jonathan Kozub via Getty ImagesWinnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff told reporters on Thursday that he continues to seek a resolution following the trade request from Connor Hellebuyck, one day after suspending the goaltender for failing to report to training camp.
17th September 2026
Calgary Flames projections: Development from up-and-coming talent is the main goal
Rebuilds take a long time and it’s likely to be another painful season for the Flames.
This Week in Sports Trivia: Sept. 17, 2026
How closely were you following the sports news this week? Find out and test your knowledge by taking The Athletic's weekly quiz.
Gaudreau family launches youth hockey program honoring late brothers Johnny and Matthew
A free learn-to-skate-and-play camp, for local kids ages 3-12, will be held at the same rink where the Gaudreau boys first took up the game.
NHL season previews 2026-27: Projecting each team from worst to first
The Athletic’s 2026-27 edition of the team season previews, a deep dive into what to expect from each team.
Is the Red Wings' window really opening? A review of the NHL Contention Cycle
The Red Wings surprisingly ended up in a favorable spot in The Athletic’s Contention Cycle project. What does it mean?.
Seattle Kraken projections: A long shot for the playoffs and it's probably for the best
Until the Kraken change their approach and figure out the right direction, this team is positioned for another lost season.
Vancouver Canucks projections: Expect a Malhotra bump but a high draft pick is still the goal
With a new coach, a new GM and few star players, the Canucks will be terrible. For a team embracing a rebuild, that's a good thing.
Why the Maple Leafs are the NHL's ultimate Hail Mary of 2026-27
While there's a fair debate to be had about just how good this Leafs team will be, what's indisputable is they're going to be interesting.
Inside Arizona State men’s hockey, and the workout that left a player on life support
Players are coping with conflicted feelings while practicing under a coach who lamented 'soft' play last season.
Jets suspend Connor Hellebuyck for 'failure to report to training camp' after trade request
It appears the Connor Hellebuyck situation has escalated in Winnipeg.The Winnipeg Jets announced Wednesday they have suspended the three-time Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender for a "failure to report to training camp.
Winnipeg Jets suspend Connor Hellebuyck for failure to report to training camp
Hellebuyck attracted leaguewide attention in his April exit interview for criticizing Winnipeg's failure to make the playoffs.
Los Angeles Kings name Drew Doughty captain on eve of training camp
Doughty, 36, has played for the Kings for 18 seasons and takes over as captain after Anže Kopitar's retirement.
Ryan Reaves announces NHL retirement after 16-year career
Reaves spent seven seasons with the Blues and four with the Golden Knights, along with stops with five other NHL teams across 16 years.
Red Wings' Dylan Larkin injury, updates on key contracts: What we learned from Shawn Horcoff
The Red Wings' chaotic offseason got one final pre-training-camp twist. Will it affect the Red Wings' ability to trade Dylan Larkin?.
Unsigned Hurricanes RFA Alexander Nikishin to miss start of training camp, GM Eric Tulsky says
Nikishin, 24, requested a trade over the summer, and The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun reported Monday that the request remains in place.
Maple Leafs winger Max Domi out 'indefinitely' after failing physical
The Leafs will have to try to get back to the playoffs without one of their biggest personalities.
Boston Bruins re-sign Matt Poitras to 1-year deal: Can the prospect reach his NHL ceiling?
Poitras, the team’s second-round pick in 2022, is entering his fourth pro season. He is not a sure thing to make this year's NHL roster.
16th September 2026
How the Senators, Drake Batherson struck the richest deal in team history: 'Down to the wire'
Ottawa and Batherson spent most of the summer working on an 8-year extension that was finally announced Tuesday morning.
NHL contract grades: Cutter Gauthier's $81 million deal makes sense for Ducks
Anaheim did well to lock down its top goal scorer with a long-term deal that lines up well with the current state of contracts in the NHL.
The NHL Contention Cycle: Where does each team stand going into 2026-27 and in the future?
Our annual deep dive into each team’s current place in the league, future trajectory and projected upside over the next five years.
NHL player poll: League's elite weigh in on expansion, trade demands, state taxes and more
The Athletic asked players at the NHL/NHLPA player media tour questions on the league's pressing topics entering training camp.
Mats Sundin left Toronto for a quiet life. Now he’s back in the Maple Leafs’ fishbowl
Sundin is adapting to his new role as senior executive adviser with the Maple Leafs after several years out of the public eye.
Ducks re-sign Cutter Gauthier to 6-year, $13.5 million AAV contract extension
Gauthier enjoyed a breakout 2025-26 season with a team-high 41 goals.
Canadiens sign Alex Newhook and Arber Xhekaj to contract extensions
Newhook will look to bounce back after injuries last season, while Xhekaj will continue trying to solidify a spot on the blue line.
Penguins' Sidney Crosby, 39, isn't sweating contract status and isn't planning to retire soon
Crosby's current contract expires after the upcoming season, his 22nd in the NHL.
Alex Ovechkin appears in Russian campaign ad, renewing scrutiny of Putin ties
Heading into his 22nd NHL season, Ovechkin now faces a fresh spotlight on his backing of the Russian president.
Pro sports leagues, players' unions ask regulators to ban bettors who harass athletes
The NFL, MLB, MLS, NBA, NHL and their players’ unions asked for regulations banning bettors who harass and threaten athletes and staff.
Wild sign coach John Hynes to multiyear contract extension
Last season under Hynes, Minnesota made its first appearance in the second round in a decade before losing to the Avalanche.
NHL's sneakily important day: New CBA introduces ticking clock on contract lengths
Tuesday is the last day players can sign eight-year extensions. Will it create a frenzied deadline day?.
Washington Capitals re-sign forward Ryan Leonard to 8-year, $84 million extension
Leonard, 21, finished with 20 goals and 45 points in 75 games for the Caps in the 2025-26 season.
15th September 2026
Blackhawks name Connor Bedard captain; 21-year-old is 37th 'C' in Chicago history
Bedard, who signed a five-year extension in July, has become the face and voice of the Blackhawks over his first three seasons.
Ottawa Senators sign Drake Batherson to 8-year, $86 million contract extension
Batherson was coming off a career-best season, scoring 33 goals and 71 points in 79 games with the Senators.
The NHL’s top 8 breakout goalie candidates for 2026-27
Which goalies around the league have the skill and opportunity to level up or change their role this season?.
Little-known NHL rookies are signing big-money contracts. What does the trend mean?
Of the 15 richest deals ever given to players with fewer than 100 games of NHL experience, seven have been signed in the past 14 months.
Why Morgan Rielly is still a Maple Leaf after an offseason of massive upheaval
For a while, it looked as if the longest-serving Leaf might be preparing to leave Toronto. What changed?.
Every NHL team's biggest burning question heading into training camp
With camps opening this week and the preseason around the corner, here’s what we have our eyes on.
NHL rumblings: Latest on Gauthier, Fantilli, Batherson, Nikishin with countdown on to new CBA
Cutter Gauthier and the Ducks are closing in on a deal in the $13 million to $14 million range. The updates aren't as positive elsewhere.
Buffalo Sabres sign Noah Östlund to 8-year, $52.8 million extension
The contract comes the day before the new CBA comes into effect, which shortens the maximum contract length to seven years.
Former Blackhawks player Steve Konroyd returns to Chicago's WGN Radio broadcast full time
After Troy Murray's death, Konroyd filled in on WGN Radio last season and will return in the same role permanently for the 2026-27 season.
14th September 2026
NHL Bizarro-meter 2026: Which Eastern Conference team had the weirdest offseason?
Some NHL teams had quiet offseasons. Others ... not so much. The Eastern Conference saw plenty of both ends of the spectrum.
What does it mean to be an NHL rookie camp invitee?
At NHL rookie camps, top prospects take the spotlight. Many more invitees have unknown stories and a very different perspective.
Inside the Maple Leafs’ strategy during a franchise-altering offseason
It's been a summer of change in Toronto. A wide-ranging interview with John Chayka and Mats Sundin reveals the thinking behind the moves.
Canadiens, Zack Bolduc agree to 4-year contract worth $4.2 million a year
Bolduc struggled to find consistency in his first season, but the Canadiens still believe he can one day become a top-six winger.
13th September 2026
Chris Kreider, Canadiens agree to one-year, $2.15 million contract: Sources
The 35-year-old is coming off a 50-point season with the Anaheim Ducks that saw him score 22 goals over 75 games.
Golden Knights, Mark Stone agree to 2-year extension to keep captain in Vegas
Stone will be the team’s third-highest-paid player, well below the contracts recently signed by Jack Eichel and Mitch Marner.
NHL rumblings: Chris Kreider's decision coming soon, remembering Barry Melrose
There has been serious interest in 35-year-old UFA winger Chris Kreider, who is expected to decide on his next NHL team this weekend.
12th September 2026
How top OHL prospect Tanner Adams netted 17 draft picks in one trade
The Brampton Steelheads and Sudbury Wolves completed a historic trade for top OHL prospect Tanner Adams that had social media buzzing.
Submit your NHL questions for James Mirtle’s next mailbag
Star trade requests, expansion talk, a rapidly rising salary cap — this year's preseason has no shortage of discussion-worthy storylines.
Trade requests, offseason turmoil leave Red Wings and Jets rattled but undaunted
The Leafs hope Sergei Bobrovsky can bounce back, why Matthew Schaefer is poised to avoid sophomore slump and why a Cup is better than gold.
How two Ultimate Frisbee greats raised an NHL team's top goalie prospect
Lucas Beckman is a fast-rising talent in the Ottawa Senators system. His parents' unique path played a role in his ascent.
Red Wings' Dylan Larkin will report to camp but will no longer be team captain
The news comes after Larkin's request for a trade from the franchise became public earlier this summer.
John Klingberg announces retirement, talks playing through pain and next chapter in TV
Klingberg wants to be remembered as someone teammates enjoyed playing with and “a guy that people looked up to.”.
11th September 2026
A quarter century after 9/11, we've gone from 'Never Forget' to 'Never Let Them Forget'
For 25 years, we asked athletes where they were. Soon there won’t be anyone left on the field worth asking.
NHL Bizarro-meter 2026: Which Western Conference team had the weirdest offseason?
It's been an eventful offseason in the NHL. For some teams, it's mostly been business as usual. For others ... less so.
Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby are back. But for how much longer?
One thing Crosby is sure of: Ovechkin will still be a factor with the Washington Capitals this season.
How a team can sign both Hughes bros. Plus: Answering your other Qs
Welcome to Red Light, The Athletic's NHL newsletter.
Amanda, Phil Kessel headline 2026 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Class
Ryan Suter, T.J. Oshie and athletic trainer Stan Wong round out the class of five, which will be inducted in November.
10th September 2026
'It's so hard': The 9,131 days of loss after September 11
While the nation mourns the 3,000 victims on the 25th anniversary of 9/11, the families deal with a grief that never fades.
NHL expansion in Texas 'not a done deal,' says deputy commissioner
A 33rd NHL franchise remains likely, but several hurdles must still be cleared before a potential expansion team comes to Houston or Austin.
Ex-Michigan hockey players sue, alleging hazing akin to 'sexualized abuse'
The complaint, filed by 16 plaintiffs, alleges the hazing was carried about by older players but “directed" by former coach Red Berenson.
Barry Melrose, former NHL broadcaster and coach, dies at 70
After coaching Wayne Gretzky and the L.A. Kings to a 1993 Stanley Cup Final appearance, Melrose became a beloved NHL studio analyst.
Barry Melrose, longtime NHL player, coach and ESPN icon, dies at 70 after battle with Parkinson's
Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesFormer NHL player, coach and iconic ESPN hockey analyst Barry Melrose died on Wednesday, his wife Cindy confirmed to ESPN.He was 70.Melrose was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2023. He stepped away from his role at ESPN at the time as a result of his diagnosis, ending a nearly three-decade run at the network where he had become a fixture in the sport while constantly working the biggest events throughout the NHL each season.
Quinn Hughes happy with Wild but in no rush to sign extension: 'I want to take my time'
Hughes, whom the Wild acquired from the Canucks for young talent and a draft pick last season, is entering the last year of his contract.
Ducks to place Chris Kreider on waivers to terminate contract: Sources
The move has been mutually agreed on by Kreider and the Ducks. Once approved, it will make the 35-year-old forward a UFA.
Oilers sign Alex Formenton, acquitted Hockey Canada player, to 1-year contract
Formenton's contract carries an average annual value of $850,000.
Sportsnet reveals NHL broadcast lineup, including streaming-only Monday night games
Colby Armstrong joins Ron MacLean, Kevin Bieksa and Elliotte Friedman for Sportsnet's NHL broadcast lineup for "Saturday Night Hockey.".
9th September 2026
Ottawa Senators moving on from Brady Tkachuk's shadow: 'You want guys to stick around'
Senators fans are struggling with the Tkachuk trade three months later. The organization is doing its best to move on.
Arte Moreno is out and Steve Ballmer is busted. Do they make our Bad Owner Hall of Fame?
Which owners qualified as the worst of the worst? Some were awful for moral reasons. Others were cheap, or lost a lot, or sold Babe Ruth.
Are the New York Rangers a respectable hockey club? This season will show the answer
GM Chris Drury is counting on his moves getting the backsliding Rangers back in the playoff mix. It's a bet he needs to win.
NHL rumblings: Decentralized draft stays, plus latest on Gauthier, Kucherov, Hellebuyck, more
The Hurricanes, Sabres and Mammoth remain in the hunt for Connor Hellebuyck while talks are unusually quiet on a Nikita Kucherov extension.
Brady Tkachuk trade a boon for Panthers in bid to become NHL's team to beat (again)
Tkachuk’s exit from the Ottawa Senators, to join brother Matthew in Florida, touched nearly every hot-button issue in the league.
Bruins’ Fraser Minten signs 7-year, $50.4 million extension: The wisdom of a long-term deal
The deal will become active in 2027-28, as Minten has one year remaining on his entry-level contract.
8th September 2026
What does Quinn Hughes want? After a summer of speculation, it's his turn to talk
Hughes has a chance to calm some nerves in the Twin Cities or cause a full-blown panic.
NHL waiver targets: 11 intriguing players who could hit the wire during preseason
The end of training camps brings a roster squeeze that opens some young players up to waiver claims. Here's who to watch.
EBUGs, dress code, other changes the NHL, NHLPA are monitoring as new CBA takes effect
Deputy commissioner Bill Daly and union boss Marty Walsh tell The Athletic what they're watching under the new CBA.
5th September 2026
From blue line to blueprints: An ex-NHL player's unlikely second act in architecture
A stay-at-home defenseman who logged 526 games in the league, Marshall has made a unique pivot for his second career.
What the necessary Zeev Buium extension means for Canucks, NHL marketplace
The Canucks don't have many avenues to upgrade its roster and couldn't afford to miss the opportunity to bet long and big on Buium.
NHL 'not even remotely close' to application phase with Atlanta expansion group, league says
The expansion application process is formal, comprehensive and time-consuming.
NHL contract grades: Canucks make a smart bet in Zeev Buium extension
Vancouver made a huge commitment to a 20-year-old who still has a lot to prove in the NHL, but it's a shrewd decision.
Canucks sign Zeev Buium to 8-year, $9.38 million AAV contract extension
Buium had three goals and 12 points with the Canucks after being acquired from the Wild in the Quinn Hughes trade.
4th September 2026
Rangers 2026-27 prospect rankings: Alberts Šmits lands as clear choice for No. 1
Taken at No. 5 by New York in this year's draft, the defenseman brings a workmanlike attitude and no-nonsense skillset to the organization.
Long-shot NHL award picks: Zach Werenski for Hart? Stuart Skinner for Vezina?
Dom Luszczyszyn, Sean Gentille and Sean McIndoe take their best swing at nailing long-shot winners for the NHL's major awards next season.
