Let's make the NHL season more interesting with the Regular Season Playoffs
We’re going to see which team can outlast all the others and win the Regular Season Playoffs.
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16 NHL stats: Zach Benson has arrived as a star, a new low for Canucks and more
Plus: Auston Matthews is a puck hound, massive schedule differences for the best and worst teams and much more.
This Week in Sports Trivia: Nov. 12, 2026
How closely were you following the sports news this week? Find out and test your knowledge by taking The Athletic's weekly quiz.
One more run? Trade and reset? How the Lightning should handle the Kucherov situation
Let’s take a closer look at the layers behind the Lightning’s franchise-altering decision.
Meet the 2028 NHL Draft top prospect from an elite figure skating family
Already a star for his hometown Regina Pats at 16, Maddox Schultz has a talent that starts with his figure-skating roots.
After falling behind the U.S. in women’s hockey, can Canada carve a path back to No. 1?
Canada is entering a new era of women's hockey. Its first real test comes at the 2026 IIHF Women's World Championship.
Canadian government confirms Russia will not be allowed to play at World Juniors
Russian players, staff and officials will not be granted visas by Canada's federal government.
Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson stands by Jeff Blashill, says he's actively seeking trades
Amid a six-game losing streak, Davidson says he's made it clear to other teams “that we're intent in our attempts to improve" the roster.
Matvei Michkov says 'of course' he's happy with Flyers as team downplays possible strife
Speculation that Michkov wants to play for another team may linger.
Flyers' Matvei Michkov has not requested a trade: Source
In 20 games this season, Michkov leads the Flyers with 10 goals.
Do these 4 NHL coaches deserve to be on the hot seat?
Among the bottom 10 teams in points percentage right now, four stand out with head coaches who may be in trouble.
What I'm hearing on Canada's World Junior roster, NCAA commitments, a 2027 NHL Draft riser, more
Here's the first of a series of notebooks over the course of the NHL season with updates on the scouting process.
The New York Rangers are now a publicly traded company. What do their SEC filings reveal?
The Rangers recently joined a short list of major-league teams on the stock market, offering a rare look at their finances.
How the Hurricanes became the NHL’s new standard: Inside the culture behind the champs
Jordan Staal, Rod Brind’Amour, Tom Dundon show The Athletic the parking-lot rock, the grind and the blue-collar ethos behind Carolina’s Cup.
Jets get their revenge in Hellebuyck's return to Winnipeg with raucous win
Dawson Mercer, a part of the Hellebuyck trade return, scored twice and had the game winner, and fans got creative with chants.
Alex Ovechkin on Russia in World Juniors, Ottawa protest: 'Fans want to see the best players'
The Ukrainian Canadian Congress pushed for the Canadian government to deny Ovechkin access into the country ahead of Tuesday's game.
Connor Hellebuyck mocked with chants, relentlessly booed in Winnipeg return
Hellebuyck did not start, but fans made sure he heard them during warmups and continued chanting throughout the game.
NHL rumblings: Bettman on Russia and World Cup, plus latest on Hughes, Larkin, Michkov, more
From Tuesday's GMs meeting: Why a Russia return looks less likely, Horcoff talks Larkin and Edvinsson and Bettman doubles down on no-trades.
Connor Hellebuyck says threats made against family pushed him out of Winnipeg
Without disclosing the exact nature of the threats, Hellebuyck told reporters that they "crossed the line as a husband and a father."
The simple explanation for Connor Hellebuyck sitting out his Winnipeg Jets return game
Tuesday night was *supposed* to be one of the biggest nights of the regular season.
Ranking PWHL team names and logos after unveiling of Sea Lions, Havoc, Clutch and Vanguards
Will the Vancouver Goldeneyes retain the No. 1 spot? Let's see how the four new expansion teams stack up.
PWHL unveils names and logos for 4 expansion teams: Sea Lions, Clutch, Havoc and Vanguards
The Detroit Clutch, Hamilton Havoc, San Jose Sea Lions and Vegas Vanguards will join the PWHL as expansion clubs for the 2026-27 season.
When should these 5 NHL teams start to worry about the state of their rebuilds?
Starting a rebuild is relatively simple. Successfully navigating through the process is much more complicated, and not all teams manage it.
Why the 2028 NHL Draft class looks stronger than 2027's — yes, already
It was easy to get excited about some of the 2028 talent playing at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge last week.
Dump and recover: How the Hurricanes cause chaos with loose pucks
Carolina doesn't try to control the puck; it tries to control the puck’s location and create as many pucks to be first to as possible.
It's possible the Maple Leafs are just not very good. But what then?
With only one win — against the last-place Canucks — in their last six games, the Leafs have quickly fallen well back of playoff pace.
Goalie Tracking: Saving a nightmare shot, dominating the neutral zone, and the 'flying butterfly'
Connor Hellebuyck showed how goalies can use variety to their advantage and become less predictable.
NHL rumblings: 2027 Hall of Fame class, why Ovechkin likely has to wait and more
Will the Hockey Hall of Fame waive its three-year waiting period for all-time NHL goals leader Alex Ovechkin? Here's why it's unlikely.
Connor Hellebuyck isn't starting in his Winnipeg return, but he'll hear the boos
Hellebuyck will be backing up for the Devils in his first game in Winnipeg since asking for a trade. Don't expect it to limit the vitriol.
Czech NHL players criticize country's foreign minister over sexist women's hockey remarks
Ducks goalie Lukas Dostal, Avalanche forward Martin Necas and Flames forward Adam Klapka all took to social media to denounce Petr Macinka.
Does Matvei Michkov deserve more ice time? A deep dive into the much-discussed Flyers forward
Michkov is the best offensive spark the Flyers have, but his ice time is trending down again. What gives, and is the logic justified?
NHL weekend rankings: Patrice Bergeron convinced me to put Boston in the Top 5
It's Hall of Fame day, and one inductee had a heavy influence on this week's rankings while another's former team marks a surprise.
NHL Draft prospects ranking: Way-too-early top-10 list for the 2028 class
The 2028 NHL Draft class is headlined by WHL teammates Liam Pue and Maddox Schultz.
How to watch the 2026 Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremony
The 2026 class stars four NHL notables, a U.S. women’s national team fixture and an accomplished executive.
Ugly, generic jerseys overshadow U.S. and Canada at IIHF Women’s World Championship
The bizarre jersey fiasco at women's worlds is the result of a months-long conflict between Hockey Canada, USA Hockey and the IIHF.
Ducks' Cutter Gauthier joins rare air with third hat trick in 5 games: 'Hotter than a firecracker'
The Anaheim Ducks left wing has scored 13 goals in his last six games.
Devils announce Connor Hellebuyck will not start in return to Winnipeg
Hellebuyck said not playing in his first game back in Winnipeg after the trade was not his decision.
Jeff Blashill will remain Blackhawks coach despite 4-13-1 start: Source
Despite a 9-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday, Jeff Blashill will remain the Chicago bench boss.
Andrei Vasilevskiy hopes Nikita Kucherov, Lightning can find ‘perfect golden middle’
Vasilevskiy said it would “mean a lot” to be a Lightning lifer — and he still hopes Kucherov joins him despite asking out of Tampa Bay.
As Blackhawks hit new level of embarrassment, all options are suddenly on the table
The Blackhawks held a players-only meeting aimed at "getting out some frustration" after a brutal 9-2 loss to the Hurricanes.
Canadiens goalie Jacob Fowler says fake apple was 'thrown right at me' mid-play
Referee TJ Luxmore picked up the fake green apple and kept it in his pocket, later showing it to the goalie during a stoppage in play.
Keith Tkachuk says 'it's time Ottawa moves on' after son Brady's trade to Florida
Keith Tkachuk also said comments made by Brian Burke about players trying to force their way onto specific teams were "about my kids."
IIHF gives update on Russia, reaffirms Belarus won't play World Juniors and World Championship
The IIHF said it was “reviewing what conditions would need to be met” regarding Russia’s reintegration into its competition.
Which active NHL players have the best Hockey Hall of Fame cases? One from every team
From superstars who are Hall of Fame locks to young franchise players who could continue building their cases, here is who we picked.
Why these 5 underrated NHL sophomore players are breaking out
Let's move past the obvious names and break down five less-heralded, underrated sophomore players who have taken huge strides this season.
Who backs up the emergency backup goalie? Explaining the NHL's EBUG replacement situation
There's still a chance, however minuscule, to see a fully amateur goalie play in an NHL game.
Wild make NHL history as fastest team to win 1,000 regular-season games
Kirill Kaprizov, Quinn Hughes, Matt Boldy and Joel Eriksson Ek extended their point streaks to seven games as the Wild beat the Sharks.
An NHL player was penalized for a 'one-man fight.' It's more common than you might think
When the Oilers' Vasily Podkolzin recently dropped his gloves against the Ducks' Drew Helleson, only he was assessed a fighting major. Why?
Brock Faber opens up about fractured skull, frightening aftermath and road back to Wild
Wild defenseman thought he was fine after he took a shot to the side of the head. He soon found out he was wrong.
Wayne Gretzky marvels at Connor McDavid, on pace to chase his records: 'He's on a mission'
McDavid is on pace for 217 points — territory not approached since Gretzky and Mario Lemieux — and has scored in 17 straight games.
What the NHL can learn from the NBA about its player empowerment movement
Let's explore what hockey fans can expect as star players drive player movement more than ever.
NHL Power Rankings: A Top 10 shuffle — plus, Nikita Kucherov's impact on each team
What's the power of adding a top-five player in hockey? Kucherov alone has the power to move a team up several tiers.
Canada, U.S. take the ice in generic jerseys at women's worlds: 'It's unfortunate'
The Canadian and American women's hockey teams appeared at the 2026 IIHF Women's World Championship in generic jerseys.
What if Hockey Hall of Fame inductees had to go in representing a single NHL team?
What would the Hockey Hall of Fame look like if it decided to copy the Baseball Hall of Fame and assign each player to a specific team?
Nikita Kucherov wants a big payday. The Lightning would be smart to move on from him
Thinking the Lightning mishandled the situation with Kucherov misses key context of an uncertain new landscape for league-wide negotiations.
Nearing Hall of Fame induction, Patrice Bergeron still binds the Boston Bruins
Three years after his retirement, the standout center is still making an impact on key parts of the only franchise for which he ever played.
Connor McDavid fuming after 'dangerous' Drew Helleson hit: ‘I’ve got feelings and emotions too’
McDavid made it known in his immediate exchange and in his candid postgame comments that he took umbrage at Helleson's actions.
What's wrong with the Sharks? Will a players-only meeting spark a turnaround?
San Jose entered the season with playoff expectations but has lost five of its last six games.
Guide to IIHF 2026 Women's World Championship: Jersey drama, how to watch, format
The 2026 IIHF Women's World Championship begins Friday in Denmark. Here's everything you need to know about the tournament.
Wild's Brock Faber practices for first time since skull fracture, approaching return
Faber will join the Wild on their three-game road trip next week, but coach John Hynes said his return date is a “moving target.”
PWHL announces new rules for 2026-27: Neck guards, checking and experimental overtime
A team now will be able to choose a penalty shot instead of a power play in overtime.
This Week in Sports Trivia: Nov. 5, 2026
How closely were you following the sports news this week? Find out and test your knowledge by taking The Athletic's weekly quiz.
16 NHL stats: Nikita Kucherov's UFA value and the Lightning's big mistake
Plus: Toronto’s improved slot pass defense on the PK and Edmonton's drastic switch to dump-and-chase hockey.
Kirill Kaprizov's pursuit of 70 goals shows he's reached yet another elite level
A deeper look below the gaudy scoring totals to open the year shows what a force Kaprizov has been so far.
Michael DiPietro, a lasting loss and the love of a Boston Bruins goalie dad
Four years after nearly quitting hockey, DiPietro is the Bruins' backup goalie. His father Vic played an instrumental role in the journey.
Anaheim Ducks' Hometown Remix jersey is a sellout smash. Will it join the full-time rotation?
In addition to the online sellout, the Ducks said they also sold more than 2,000 of the jerseys at their team store in the first 24 hours.
The gettable fantasy hockey gems who should pay big dividends in Week 7
Shayna Goldman looks at NHL slate and identifies the top targets for light nights in Week 7.
Nikita Kucherov-Lightning split is looming. How hard should each NHL team pursue him?
The biggest bombshell of the season came last week when the longtime Lightning star and pending UFA asked for a trade.
If an NHL career unfolds without fans in the stands, did it really happen?
Due to COVID-19, five skaters realized their NHL dreams in empty arenas. Their experience is unlike any rookie's in league history.
Burn the boats! Why a 500-year-old myth became a rallying cry for sports teams
“Motivation isn't just about how much you want something,” a professor wrote. “It's also about whether you believe you have other options.”
As Blackhawks' free fall continues, will heads roll or will cooler heads prevail?
Are the Blackhawks' woes just a slump or something worse? The team will have to decide.
Canada, U.S. women will wear generic jerseys at World Championship amid dispute with IIHF
The jerseys for the World Championship will feature a no-frills design limited to their country names across the front.
Hockey's Russia crisis deepens as major sponsors threaten to pull out of 2027 men's World Championship
Car manufacturer Škoda and workwear brand Strauss have expressed opposition to Russian involvement at next year's World Championship.
Connor Hellebuyck addresses Jets fans for first time since trade to Devils
Hellebuyck offered insight into his decision to request a trade out of Winnipeg, calling it an "extremely difficult" one.
Why Flyers' Zegras sat for 10 minutes after 'showing the ref up' in loss
Zegras received a 10-minute misconduct after banging his stick on the ice in response to an unfortunate play.
Why the NHL's skyrocketing salary cap presents opportunities for these 5 teams
The NHL's salary cap could jump 33 percent in just three years. These teams are in great position to take advantage.
Five times an NHL player had a monster year, then got traded during the following season
A star player being traded, especially after a big season, is unusual in the NHL, certainly. But it’s not all that rare.
Michael Hage, Adam Benák and 8 more standout NHL prospects so far this season
We're a month into the hockey season in North America, and two months into campaigns across Europe.
Mammoth have become an NHL destination. What's next? Catching up with Bill Armstrong
Could the Mammoth get in on Dylan Larkin? Or Nikita Kucherov? Armstrong is weighing his options and has a reputation for taking big swings.
Lunch with Rod Brind'Amour: The face of the Hurricanes on the Cup run and why he'll never quit
Retirement? “I suck at that,” Brind'Amour says. "My wife knows it. But I feel like I am retired. … I get to come in here and do this."
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