LAS VEGAS — Jack Eichel was in disbelief.

The second period just ended in Game 7 of the Golden Knights’ first-round series against the Dallas Stars. Eichel missed a surefire goal that would’ve given the Knights a lead heading into the third period.

Instead, the Knights lost 2-1, and their season ended earlier than anticipated.

“Jesus ...Read more

MIAMI — Anton Lundell is another year older and another year wiser. He has another year in the NHL under his belt, with another extended playoff run — this time ending with a Stanley Cup — to go with it.

And yet compared to the rest of his Florida Panthers teammates, Lundell is still the young guy in the dressing room.

The Finnish center...Read more

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Macklin Celebrini’s injury isn’t considered severe, and San Jose Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said Wednesday there remains a chance the top-line center could play in the team’s season-opener next week.

Celebrini is considered day-to-day with a lower-body injury after he left Tuesday’s preseason game against the Utah ...Read more

TAMPA BAY, Fla. — Tampa Mayor Jane Castor walked into the Tampa Police Department headquarters Tuesday afternoon and gave Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman a big hug.

“Good to see you, captain,” Castor said.

Hedman may have been named the Lightning’s new captain just last month, but his impact in Tampa Bay is nothing new — both on ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Hockey is a family and the NHL family will come together in October.

Through games on Oct. 24, every team will wear helmet decals with a capital G surrounded by the Nos. 13 and 21.

The 21 is for Matthew Gaudreau, who wore it at Boston College. Johnny Gaudreau wore 13 for the Eagles, the Calgary Flames and the Columbus Blue ...Read more

Jonathan Drouin is sleeping well these days.

Part of that is because he’s found a new home with the Colorado Avalanche after a breakout 2023-24 season. It’s also partly because his wife, son and newborn daughter haven’t arrived in Denver yet because his baby girl isn’t old enough to fly.

“I’m sure when they get here, my wife will ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Kris Letang in the second half of his NHL career has happily served as a mentor, every year giving young Penguins defensemen pointers at training camp.

This fall has been a little different. During the first week of camp, Letang has taken a 30-year-old with 445 career games of NHL experience under his wing.

"It's been great. He'...Read more

Skating on the same line as Jack Eichel felt just like old times for Victor Olofsson. The only difference now is he and Eichel are Golden Knights instead of Buffalo Sabres.

Olofsson, who signed a one-year, $1.075 million deal with the Knights on July 2, was given the first shot at the vacant first-line right wing spot next to Eichel and left ...Read more

The Florida Panthers had just won the Stanley Cup, with Sam Reinhart scoring the game-winning goal in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers, and the crunch time was underway for Panthers president of hockey operations and general manager Bill Zito and Reinhart’s representatives.

There was less than a week for the sides ...Read more

DENVER — Open arms lead to broken hearts.

The Avalanche held their media day Wednesday and if their power play is as on point as their messaging, the city should start planning a downtown parade in June.

Val Nichushkin’s availability continues to hold this proud franchise hostage. When coach Jared Bednar and teammates addressed Nichushkin�...Read more

MIAMI — Paul Maurice knows what the Florida Panthers just accomplished will be brought up time and again this season.

It’s only natural.

The Panthers just won the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history. In just under three weeks, on Oct. 8, they’ll begin their quest to become just the ninth team in league history to repeat ...Read more

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — These were the last moments of last season for Paul Maurice, here in a room over the practice rink of the Florida Panthers new facility. His players were in the building ahead of Thursday’s first practice, the start of a purposely exhausting stretch of workouts by this coach — whether a Stanley Cup championship is ...Read more

TAMPA BAY, Fla. — Longtime Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman has been named the team’s new captain.

Hedman, 33, will be the club’s 11th team captain. He was the obvious choice to wear the “C” after the Lightning parted ways with Steven Stamkos, who held the honor for the Lightning the past decade.

“We are thrilled to have Victor ...Read more

DETROIT — The Detroit Red Wings took care of a major piece of business before training camp on Thursday.

The team announced on Monday that they've signed restricted free-agent forward Lucas Raymond to an 8-year contract worth an average annual value of $8,075,000.

Raymond's signing leaves defenseman Moritz Seider as the lone free agent ...Read more

MIAMI — The moment still hasn’t fully hit Evan Rodrigues, even after a summer full of celebration draws to a close and a new season is about to begin.

Yes, he and the Florida Panthers really won the Stanley Cup.

Sometimes, saying it still doesn’t feel real.

“It might come one day,” Rodrigues said, “hopefully soon.”

There have ...Read more

SAN JOSE, Calif. — It did not take long for Macklin Celebrini to make an impact in his first competitive game in a San Jose Sharks uniform on Friday.

Playing for the first time in nearly four months, the 18-year-old Celebrini scored a third-period power-play goal and finished with five shots in the Sharks’ 3-2 win over the Utah Hockey Club ...Read more