NHL

1:12 PM ET Projected top pick Connor Bedard was rated the No. 1 North American skater by NHL Central Scouting, which released its midterm rankings Friday. The 17-year-old center has long been considered to be the heavy favorite to be the first pick in this summer’s NHL draft in Nashville, Tennessee. All the conversations around

Jan 13, 2023 As we cross the midway point of the season, we’ve graded all 32 teams, doled out midseason awards and made bold predictions for the second half. For this edition of the Power Rankings, let’s identify the best addition that every team made for 2022-23 — be it player or coach — based

7:00 AM ET ESPN staff The NHL has passed the mathematical midpoint of the 2022-23 regular season. We’ve graded all 32 teams — including one A+ and two F’s — and announced the winners of our own batch of awards. With the 2023 All-Star Game and skills competition approaching on Feb. 3-4, we turn our

Jan 12, 2023 Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane did not play in Thursday’s 3-2 win over the Avalanche because of a lower-body injury. The team put him on injured reserve but did it retroactive to Jan. 3, so he is eligible to play Saturday against the Kraken. Though he didn’t practice this week, he did

Jan 12, 2023 Associated Press BOSTON — The home of the Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins will be known as the TD Garden through 2045. TD Bank and the building’s owner, Delaware North, announced a 20-year extension for the arena naming rights on Thursday. The agreement, which began in 2005, had been set to expire

7:01 AM ET TORONTO — Matt Murray and Ilya Samsonov present as an ideal odd couple. A classic yin-and-yang, if you will. The Toronto Maple Leafs have just wrapped up practice and their goaltenders sit side by side at the front of the room in companionable conversation. Murray then rapidly becomes focused on removing and

9:00 AM ET As the NHL’s teams reach the midpoint of the 2022-23 season, there are many proclamations to debate. The best and worst. The surprises and disappointments. Whether the Arizona Coyotes‘ Mullett Arena is a great place to watch a game or the greatest place to watch a game. But there are two claims

4:05 PM ET Associated Press MONTREAL — The Montreal Canadiens said Wednesday that forward Brendan Gallagher will be out at least six weeks with a lower-body injury. Gallagher has missed Montreal’s past three games after scoring in a 6-3 road loss against the Nashville Predators on Jan. 3. He has missed 16 of Montreal’s 41

1:33 PM ET Boston’s Jim Montgomery will coach the Atlantic Division, Carolina’s Rod Brind’Amour the Metropolitan, Dallas’ Peter DeBoer the Central and Vegas’ Bruce Cassidy the Pacific at NHL All-Star Weekend. They were chosen because each of their teams is atop the division at the midway point of the season. The league announced the All-Star

8:20 AM ET With holiday breaks and midseason tournaments in the rearview mirror, college hockey season is about to hit its stride. Focus turns to the conference races, and in the not-too-distant future, the NCAA tournament. A good number of the traditional powers sit at the top of the college hockey heap, including defending national

7:00 AM ET While the All-Star Weekend feels like the midpoint of the NHL regular season, in fact all teams will be well past their 41st game at that point. As teams hit that threshold this week, it’s time for our resident graders Ryan S. Clark and Kristen Shilton to serve up their thoughts on

7:00 AM ET Nothing is wrong with Cale Douglas Makar. He’s still the same player. It’s just that he has to be a different version of the one who won the Conn Smythe, Norris Trophy and Stanley Cup all within a matter of weeks last season. These days, the Colorado Avalanche are more of an

7:39 PM ET Associated Press ANAHEIM, Calif. — Anaheim forward Justin Kirkland was hospitalized overnight after getting into a car accident on his way to the Ducks‘ game against the Boston Bruins on Sunday night. The Ducks announced Monday that Kirkland remains under evaluation, but has full mobility and is communicating with his family and

4:26 PM ET Edmonton Oilers star winger Evander Kane is ahead of schedule in his recovery from a lacerated left wrist and could rejoin their lineup before the NHL All-Star break, GM Ken Holland told ESPN on Monday. Kane hasn’t played since Nov. 11 after his left wrist was cut by the skate blade of

8:28 PM ET ESPN News Services WASHINGTON — Nicklas Backstrom and Tom Wilson made their season debuts and the Washington Capitals blanked the Columbus Blue Jackets 1-0 on Sunday night. It marked the first time Backstrom and Wilson took the ice at Capital One Arena since the first round of last year’s Stanley Cup playoffs

10:22 PM ET ESPN News Services BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo Sabres paid tribute to Bills safety Damar Hamlin with a moment of celebration before Saturday night’s 6-5 overtime win over the Minnesota Wild. Hamlin is on the long road to recovery after he went into cardiac arrest and needed to be resuscitated on the

12:28 PM ET Associated Press ARLINGTON, Va. — Nicklas Backstrom and Tom Wilson are finally ready to return for the Washington Capitals. The team said Saturday that Backstrom and Wilson are being activated off injured reserve to make their respective season debuts. The playmaking center and power winger are expected to play Sunday when the

11:44 PM ET Associated Press WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Kyle Connor set a franchise record with his 41st game-winning goal, scoring on a power play at 5:38 of the third lead as the Winnipeg Jets beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2 on Friday night. Connor’s record-setting goal moved him past Ilya Kovalchuk for the most winners