8:12 AM ET The year in hockey 2021 began with a 56-game season, impacted the COVID-19 pandemic, that saw the league’s 31 teams realigned into four new divisions. It ends with the teams back in their usual divisions, although there are now 32 of them thanks to the Seattle Kraken. Oh, and it’s once again
NHL
12:32 AM ET The Toronto Maple Leafs are pausing team activities through next Sunday because of the coronavirus, the NHL announced. The league said that a decision will be made in the coming days on when Toronto’s facilities will open again. The move comes as the league postponed 12 games involving U.S. teams playing Canadian-based
8:25 PM ET ESPN News Services Chicago Blackhawks right wing Brett Connolly was suspended Sunday for four games after an interference infraction on Dallas Stars center Tanner Kero, the NHL announced. In the Stars’ 4-3 overtime victory over the Blackhawks on Saturday night in Dallas, Connelly was handed a major penalty in the first period.
2:40 PM ET The NHL made another round of postponements Saturday amid a growing number of COVID-19 cases around the league. Nashville and Boston will both be shut down through Christmas. The Predators have eight players and several coaches placed in COVID-19 protocols and were due to play Carolina on Sunday and Winnipeg on Tuesday.
12:26 PM ET Associated Press The NHL reintroduced stricter COVID-19 protocols Saturday that include daily testing and other steps in a bid to limit a growing outbreak among players and team personnel. The enhanced protocols will be put into effect immediately and last through Jan. 1 with an evaluation of their impact no later than
1:33 PM ET The NHL has postponed games for the Florida Panthers and Colorado Avalanche until after Christmas break. That news came down Friday as COVID-19 cases continue to climb throughout the NHL. At the time of publication, Florida had seven players in COVID protocols: Sam Bennett, Radko Gudas, Aaron Ekblad, Frank Vatrano, Ryan Lomberg,
10:58 AM ET Paul Maurice has resigned as coach of the Winnipeg Jets, the team announced on Friday. Maurice was in his ninth season as Jets coach, amassing a record of 315-223-62. Assistant coach Dave Lowry has agreed to become the team’s interim head coach ahead of Friday night’s home game against the Washington Capitals.
12:41 PM ET NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has reduced the suspension of Toronto Maple Leafs center Jason Spezza from six games to four for kneeing the head of Winnipeg Jets defenseman Neal Pionk on Dec. 5. Spezza had been suspended for six games by the Department of Player Safety, which had called the hit “reckless”
9:41 AM ET ESPN News Services Saturday’s game between the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins has been postponed, the NHL announced Friday. No makeup date for the game has been set. Montreal played in front of an empty arena Thursday for its 3-2 shootout win over the Philadelphia Flyers after Quebec public health officials requested
7:00 AM ET For the first time since the 2014 Sochi Games, the NHL is allowing its players to participate in the Winter Olympic men’s hockey tournament in Beijing next February. National pride and gold-medal glory are on the line for the best players in the world — provided they actually make it to China.
8:58 PM ET Associated Press VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Vancouver Canucks president and interim general manager Jim Rutherford continued to fill out his front office Thursday, making Stan Smyl vice president of hockey operations. The 62-year-old Smyl, a star player for the Canucks from 1978-91, will work closely with Rutherford on all hockey operations matters,
5:51 PM ET The Carolina Hurricanes have been able to transport their COVID-19 positive players out of Canada and get them en route home, the team has confirmed. Hurricanes forwards Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis, along with massage therapist Mike Maresca, tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday while Carolina was in Vancouver, British Columbia. In
9:00 AM ET Hearing someone say that the NHL’s 3-on-3 overtime has gotten boring is like hearing someone say, “Hey, remember when pizza was good?” It’s pizza. Even when it’s bad, it’s good. I’ve chanted the same mantra about the 3-on-3 overtime format, which the NHL implemented in 2015 to end games before they reached
7:43 PM ET Associated Press CHICAGO — The Chicago Blackhawks have settled a lawsuit by a former player who said he was sexually assaulted by an assistant coach during the team’s 2010 Stanley Cup title run. After representatives for the Blackhawks and former first-round pick Kyle Beach met Wednesday with a mediator for the first
7:00 AM ET It’s certainly been a tumultuous start to the week, given a slew of additional game postponements due to COVID-19 — and many players and team staff entering the protocol — but the Power Rankings march on. And for the second straight week — and fifth time this season — the Florida Panthers
9:00 AM ET ESPN staff The rise in COVID-19 cases is becoming an increasing concern throughout the NHL. In just over 36 hours (from early Monday to Tuesday evening), nearly 30 players and staff members were added to the league’s COVID-19 protocols. Tuesday’s game between the Minnesota Wild and Carolina Hurricanes was postponed because of
12:16 AM ET Edmonton Oilers coach Dave Tippett has been placed in the league’s COVID-19 protocol, the team announced after its 5-1 home loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night. Tippett had missed the game due to what Edmonton initially called precautionary reasons. His absence was one of several for an Oilers team
2:40 PM ET ESPN staff The ESPN+ exclusive schedule continues on Tuesday night with a potential Stanley Cup Final matchup, as the New York Rangers visit the Colorado Avalanche, with coverage starting at 8:55 p.m. ET. To help get you ready for the game, we’ve put together a guide on all the key players to