The New Core Four
You might think you know where Leafs Nation is. Perhaps in the downtown arena where the team plays. Perhaps in Maple Leaf Square outside that rink, where fans congregate to watch away games on big screens. Maybe, even, it’s in Florida, where Toronto fans figured out how to get tickets despite a scheme by the Panthers to limit Canadian buyers’ access.
Not Where We Thought We’d Be
Toronto, ON—Sometimes real life interferes with the best-laid plans. Such is the case with the Los Angeles-Edmonton NHL series being played out this week. Inside Hockey happily reported on the third and fourth games, played in LA, bringing you on-the-spot coverage of the Kings as we have done for fifteen years and two Stanley Cups. I was all primed to do game six, happening a full three days off after the prior game, played Tuesday night in Edmonton.
Is Korpisalo McDavid’s Kryptonite?
Is talking about kryptonite still a thing? If so, here’s a question: Are the LA Kings Connor McDavid’s kryptonite? He had to be wondering it himself in advance of Sunday night’s 6pm contest in LA. Why else would he not have taken over the teams’ first-round series that coming into Sunday night saw the Edmonton team down by a game? They could have used his help.
Quiet Building, Loud Game
The arena in Los Angeles was full Friday night. This is a departure from normal, where a full house includes a lot of ghosts in seats that are sold by license. That is, a good deal of the lower bowl—empty. However it happened, there were very few gaps for empty seat...


Will the Devils' climb continue? Which bubble teams are set for a breakthrough in the next three years? Here are the 1-32 rankings for NHL teams. [...]

When the puck drops this season, these five players are poised to take their games up a notch. [...]

Sean Couturier, the Philadelphia Flyers' forward who has had back surgery twice since 2021, will skate in a game for the first time in 20 months on Monday, when his… [...]

Women are behind benches at NHL preseason games, blazing a trail in the game. [...]

Sean Couturier, the Philadelphia Flyers' forward who has had back surgery twice since 2021, will skate in a game for the first time in 20 months on Monday, when his… [...]

Former Anaheim Ducks forward Nic Kerdiles was killed in a motorcycle crash. He was 29. [...]

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Chris Wideman was ruled out indefinitely Thursday with a back injury. [...]

Sharks captain Logan Couture is week-to-week with a lower-body injury that he suffered during offseason training. [...]

After a second down season in three years, Evgeny Kuznetsov is back with the Capitals. "I know I'm one of those pieces that has to be on point every night,"… [...]

With opening night approaching on Oct. 10, we take big swings on what will transpire for each team in the 2023-24 season. [...]
FANTASY HOCKEY
Fantasy Defense Rankings: 2022-23
It’s hard to imagine a more perfect fantasy defenseman than Cale Makar, who combines elite skating and playmaking skills to consistently deliver point-per-game (or better) production from the blue line. Perhaps most importantly, he plays for an excellent Avalanche team, ensuring that his plus-minus rating should be a help as well.
Fantasy Goalie Rankings: 2022-23
It will be difficult for Igor Shesterkin to top his terrific Vezina Trophy-winning season, but with a young roster jelling in front of him, their improvements could make his job quite a bit easier. In particular, more goal-scoring support could certainly help improve his regular season won-loss record.

McTavish (upper body) took part in practice Tuesday, Derek Lee of The Sporting Tribune reports. Visit RotoWire.com for more analysis on this update. [...]
Vasilevskiy (undisclosed) participated in practice Tuesday, per Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times. Visit RotoWire.com for more analysis on this update. [...]
Zibanejad (upper body) was a full participant during Tuesday's practice, NHL.com's Jim Cerny reports. Visit RotoWire.com for more analysis on this update. [...]
Marchenko (back) returned to practice Tuesday and feels good go, per Brian Hedger of The Columbus Dispatch. Visit RotoWire.com for more analysis on this update. [...]
Chytil missed Tuesday's practice due to an upper-body injury, Jim Cerny of NHL.com reports. Visit RotoWire.com for more analysis on this update. [...]
NCAA HOCKEY
Former UND Hockey Players in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Who from Nodak Nation is going to be playing in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs? At first look, it doesn't appear there will be a lot of former UND hockey players playing for Lord Stanley's Cup. More on that later. NoDakSens During the University of North Dakota Hockey...
Drew DeRidder Emerging as UND’s Starting Goalie
The University of North Dakota hockey team has been waiting for a goalie to emerge and take the net. To date, three goalies have started in the net for the Fighting Hawks. Team defense and goaltending have been an area where UND has struggled. Looking at the national...

Nic Kerdiles, who played two seasons for Wisconsin before turning pro, was killed in a motorcycle accident early Saturday morning, according to the Nashville Police Department. He was 29... [...]
Austen Swankler, the standout forward who has since entered the transfer portal, took to social media Friday to say he was a victim of hazing at Bowling Green... [...]
The more things change, the more things stay the same. That should be true, at least for the top of the college hockey food chain. Four top-five teams in our… [...]
Doug Christiansen, who played at Union from 1998 to 2002, took over as ECAC commissioner from Steve Hagwell during the offseason. A Wisconsin native, Christiansen coached in the USHL and… [...]
Bowling Green has announced the suspension of three players amid investigation of an alleged off-campus hazing incident. Meanwhile, head coach Ty Eigner has been put on administrative leave... [...]
North Dakota head coach Brad Berry has hired former North Dakota defenseman and team captain Dillon Simpson as the team's third assistant coach... [...]
The NCHC has decided on a future playoff format, for when Arizona State joins the conference as its ninth team in 2024-25... [...]
Minnesota-Duluth defenseman Will Francis announced today that his cancer has returned, and he will miss at least the fall semester of school and hockey... [...]
HOCKEY VIDEO GAMES
NHL 23 Coming on October 14th
EA Sports’ annual hockey video game – NHL 23 – will be released on October 14th, and as always, Inside Hockey will be here to cover it. The cover athletes for NHL 23 are Trevor Zegras (Anaheim Ducks) and Sarah Nurse (Team Canada). Nurse is the first woman to appear on the cover of the EA NHL hockey video game.
Review: NHL 22 Makes Huge Strides
It’s been 30 years since Electronic Arts released the original NHL Hockey for the Sega Genesis, and each year since, an updated version of the game has built upon its predecessor. This year’s game manages to hit on all fronts, offering a huge leap forward with regard to both presentation and gameplay.
HOCKEY HISTORY
Hockey History: When the NHL Cracked Down on Gambling
On March 9, 1948, NHL President Clarence Campbell announced that Billy Taylor of the New York Rangers and Don Gallinger of the Boston Bruins would be banned for life for betting on hockey games. Campbell claimed to have conclusive evidence that Taylor was involved with a known criminal and gambler.
Retro Rangers: Remembering “Leapin’ Louie” Fontinato
“Leapin’ Louie” Fontinato was one of the most popular players to ever don a New York Rangers sweater. The 6-1. 195 pound defenseman was born in January 1932 in Guelph, Ontario and came up through the Guelph Biltmore pipeline that provided the Rangers with so many young prospects such as Harry Howell, Dean Prentice, Ron Murphy and later Jean Ratelle and Rod Gilbert.
