In today’s NHL, speed dominates. No longer can teams roster slow, hulking defensemen capable of obstructing opponents into submission. But, if a player has speed and size, they can be lethal. According to Hockey-Graphs, the average NHLer stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 201 pounds (as of the 2014-15 season). When compared to the average NHL player
12:21 PM ET The Ottawa Senators have agreed to a six-year, $29.85 million contract with right winger Drake Batherson, the team announced Friday. Batherson, 23, skated in all 56 of the Senators’ games last season, ranking second on the team with 17 goals and adding 17 assists before becoming a restricted free agent. “Drake represents
MONTREAL – Forward Jesperi Kotkaniemi is now a member of the Carolina Hurricanes. Montreal Canadiens’ GM Marc Bergevin said Saturday the club won’t match Carolina’s one-year, US$6.1-million offer for the 21-year-old restricted free agent. “Carolina has used a tool available to them in the collective bargaining agreement and we accept that decision,” Bergevin said in
The Montreal Canadiens have acquired forward Christian Dvorak from the Arizona Coyotes after declining to match the Carolina Hurricane’s one-year, $6.1-million US offer to restricted free agent Jesperi Kotkaniemi on Saturday. The Habs acquired Dvorak for a first and second-round draft pick, and will receive first and third-round picks in the 2022 NHL draft from the Hurricanes. 25-year-old Dvorak finished sixth
In today’s NHL rumors rundown, Logan Brown is looking to be traded by the Ottawa Senators. Will he get what he wants? Meanwhile, Rocky Thompson has stepped down as an assistant coach for the San Jose Sharks. Why? Will the Montreal Canadiens match the Jesperi Kotkaniemi offer or do they have another plan in the
The Montreal Canadiens acquired Christian Dvorak from the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday, sending the 25-year-old center to Montreal in exchange for a first-round pick in 2022 and a second-round pick in 2024. The move filled an immediate need for Montreal, who lost center Jesperi Kotkaniemi after declining to match the Carolina Hurricanes‘ offer sheet earlier
6:42 PM ET A week after the Carolina Hurricanes caused a social media stir by signing Jesperi Kotkaniemi to a one-year, $6.1 million offer sheet, the Montreal Canadiens formally declined to match it on Saturday. As a result, the 21-year-old forward will join the Hurricanes for at least this season, and Carolina will more than
Rene Fasel barely had time for a sigh of relief about the agreement to send NHL players to Beijing before his mind wandered to what’s next for hockey at the Olympics. “There is a lot of work to come,” the president of the International Ice Hockey Federation said. “It’s not over yet.” Most of the
Rene Fasel barely had time for a sigh of relief about the agreement to send NHL players to Beijing before his mind wandered to what’s next for hockey at the Olympics. “There is a lot of work to come,” the president of the International Ice Hockey Federation said. “It’s not over yet.” Most of the
The Pittsburgh Penguins took my advice and brought in another veteran goalie for training camp, Louis Domingue. The team remains cash-strapped, so don’t expect any additional headline moves before camp, but there’s still some affordable veteran talent available on the free-agent market, and the Penguins should take a look at a few forwards on a professional tryout.
Chicago Blackhawks fans have debated for over a decade about which general manager deserves more credit for winning three Stanley Cups in six seasons. Dale Tallon laid the foundation by drafting many of the key players, but it was Stan Bowman who navigated the hard salary cap and added pieces to each championship team. One
6:51 PM ET San Jose Sharks associate coach Rocky Thompson is stepping down from his role due to a medical exemption that prevents him from receiving a vaccination for COVID-19, the team announced Friday. “Under the new League protocols, I am not permitted to fulfill my duties on the Sharks coaching staff at this time,”
DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Red Wings signed Filip Hronek to a three-year, $13.2 million Friday. The Czech defenseman will count $4.4 million against the salary cap through the 2023-24 season. Hronek has 16 goals and 64 assists for 80 points through his first 167 regular-season NHL games. The 23-year-old put up 26 points last
The NHL is set to return to the Olympics in Beijing this winter after reaching an agreement with international officials, though the league and players have the opportunity to withdraw if pandemic circumstances warrant. The league, its players’ union, the International Olympic Committee and the International Ice Hockey Federation struck a deal Friday that will
In today’s NHL rumors rundown, the Edmonton Oilers are looking for a right shot defenseman. Will they sign someone or offer a PTO? Sean Couturier talked about his new deal and seems to hint that he took a team-friendly discount to make an extension work with the Philadelphia Flyers. Will the Montreal Canadiens match the
In the second part of our series on burning questions facing the Dallas Stars, we discuss the new faces in the room. Dallas was among the most active teams in free agency this summer, making a splash on Day 1 that not many expected. After adding veteran defenseman Ryan Suter, general manager Jim Nill continued
11:00 AM ET When NHL players signed a new collective bargaining agreement in 2020, they earned a massive win: the league agreed to allow players to participate in the 2022 and 2026 Olympic Games. NHL players, uniformly, have fought to return to the Olympics. It’s a dream for so many to be able to represent
The Bakersfield Condors have announced that Colin Chaulk has been named as an assistant coach on Jay Woodcroft‘s staff. A native of Toronto, Chaulk will work primarily with the team’s forward group. Chaulk, 44, served as an assistant with the AHL’s Belleville Senators in 2019-20, helping the club to a 38-20-4-1 record (.643) and the