National Hockey League
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...
Tuning Up or Sliding In?
Tuning up or sliding in—which are the LA Kings doing as the post-season looms? There didn’t seem to be much of a sense of urgency as they wound their way through the last handful of regular-season games. Now, they ready themselves for the same opponent as last year, the Edmonton Oilers. In fact, even in playing the Edmonton team in late March and early April, they didn’t show much in 2-0 and 3-1 late-season losses.
Flawed Penguins Team on the Brink
The core, brought back at bargain contracts for the chance to make one more run at the Stanley Cup, did their part. Sidney Crosby? At age 35, he didn’t miss a game and put together a season worthy of MVP consideration with 91 points (33G, 58A) in 81 games. So, where did it all go so wrong?


Which 2023 playoff teams will miss the field next spring? Which non-playoff clubs are ready to make the leap? Here's one for each category by division. [...]

An historic regular season was followed up by postseason heartbreak -- and the retirement of a legend. Here's how the next era begins. [...]

Sportswriter turned NHL executive Chris Snow has died at age 42 after a long battle with ALS. [...]

New Anaheim Ducks forward Alex Killorn will be sidelined for four to six weeks with a broken finger, the team announced Saturday. [...]

Connor Bedard played in his first preseason game with the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night, and fans of the Original Six franchise were ready. [...]

Minnesota Wild signed forwards Mats Zuccarello and Marcus Foligno to contract extensions on Friday. [...]

Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper made it clear that the Lightning will be without a "luxury" with Russian goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy expected to miss the first two months of the [...]

The Ottawa Senators appointed Steve Staios as president of hockey operations on Friday. [...]

Lightning star goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy is expected to miss the first two months of the regular season after having back surgery. [...]

From young players set to level up to superstar, to those on new teams (or with new teammates), here are 25 picks. [...]

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. [...]

In his annual fantasy hockey cheat sheet, Greg names the 10 players he's drafting in every league. [...]

Victoria has everything you need to know to play fantasy hockey, and win, like the pros. Here's your roadmap to the draft, waivers, keepers, and more. [...]

Every roster needs to be built strong up the middle. Sean Allen looks at the position to find his top picks, best sleepers, and more. [...]
Every roster needs scoring from the wings. Sean looks at the position to find his top picks, best sleepers, and more. [...]
