The Detroit Red Wings are moving forward without Dylan Larkin, and two of the team's biggest stars have made it clear that the remaining players aren't going to let the controversy derail their season.
Following Thursday night's emotional 4-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks, Moritz Seider and Alex DeBrincat spoke about the challenges facing Detroit after Larkin informed the organization he would no longer play while awaiting a trade.
And while neither player dismissed what Larkin has meant to the franchise, both emphasized the importance of having players who are committed to the team.
Their comments offered an interesting glimpse into a locker room suddenly facing life without its former captain.
Oct 24, 2026; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider (53) against the Calgary Flames during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

#larkin #wings #seider

LOS ANGLES (AP) — Quinton Byfield scored at 3:37 of overtime and the Los Angeles Kings beat the Ottawa Senators 6-5 on Thursday night after blowing a four-goal lead in the third period.
Byfield beat goalie Samuel Ersson with a snap shot from the high slot, with Drew Doughty picking up his third ******* ist of the night on the play.
Erik Haula tied it for Los Angeles on a first-period power play and Trevor Moore, Mikey Anderson, Joel Armia and Artemi Panarin scored in the second to make it 5-1. Panarin capped the run on a power play after Ottawa's Hayden Hodgson was tossed for boarding defenseman Brandt Clarke.
Clarke missed the rest of the game because of an upper-body injury.
Ottawa roared back in the third, with Shane Pinto tying it at 5 with 1:40 left and Ersson off for an extra attacker.

#scored

Chants of "Barry! Barry!" resounded throughout Bridgestone Arena prior to the Nashville Predators game against the Washington Capitals.
The former coach of both teams, Barry Trotz, became the newest member of the Predators' Golden Hall on Oct. 29, with the ceremony taking place at center ice before the game. Majority owner Bill Haslam, former general manager David Poile, and CEO Sean Henry joined Trotz for the presentation.
"I've been blessed to work with three wonderful organizations, and two of them are here tonight," Trotz said during his induction speech. "I'm honored and humbled to be inducted into the Golden Hall and standing beside Predators greats."
Trotz is the sixth member of the Golden Hall, which was established in 2023 to honor the franchise's elite players and important figures. He joins Poile, goaltender Pekka Rinne, defenseman Shea Weber and broadcasting duo Pete Weber and Terry Crisp.
Trotz concluded his speech by thanking the fans in attendance: "Thank you for making Smashville my home. Thank you, I love you, and God bless."

#hall

Former Detroit Red Wings defenseman Robert Hagg has been suspended in Sweden after sucker-punching an opponent during a game.
Hagg, who plays for Brynas, was handed a three-game sit-down by the Swedish Ice Hockey ****** ociation's Disciplinary Committee after punching Olivier Nadeau of Vaxjo in the back of the head during a goalmouth scuffle in Saturday's game. Hagg was also fined 20,500 Swedish Kronor, about $2,000.
Beslut från Svenska Ishockeyförbundets Disciplinnämnd – Robert Hägg.

🔗 https://t.co/A7saMM5zAG

Hanteringen av ärendet har skett enligt de rutiner som gäller för disciplinärenden under säsongen.
— SHL.se (SHLse) October 18, 2026
"Nadeau cannot defend himself," the report states. It goes on to describe the blow as a "sucker punch."

#game

Today is the day of the first on-ice activity for the Colorado Avalanche in the 2026-27 season. A group of 25 rookies are gathering at Family Sports Center at 9:00 a.m. for a one-day practice before they head off to San Jose, Calif. for the annual rookie tournament.
Late last week the roster was announced which features almost as many defensemen (8) as forwards (13). The only two players with NHL experience expected to attend are forwards Nikita Prishchepov and Taylor Makar, though several others on this list could see their NHL debut soon. All eyes will be on goaltender Ilya Nabokov and forward TJ Hughes who might even make an impact on the Avalanche this year.
It's nice to see five of the nine members of the 2026 Avalanche draft class in attendance including including forwards Beckett Hamilton and Shawn Carrier, defenseman Ondrej Ruml and goaltenders Alexandre Raymond and Tobias Tvrznik,
Those prospects playing in the NCAA or Europe this season are not listed and were not expected to attend rookie camp or Avalanche training camp. However, it is curious the class headliner, 43rd overall Egor Shilov is missing especially since he has chosen to spend one more year in the QMJHL with Victoriaville. But, there is a clue from those who cover the Canadian junior leagues that ongoing visa issues are to blame.
Translated from Quebec journalist Matthew Vachon this reads:

#expected #attend

One of the bigger question marks entering Detroit Red Wings training camp is seemingly answered − for now, at least.
Defenseman Simon Edvinsson, a restricted free agent, intends to report to camp even if he doesn't have a new deal, according to a report from The Athletic hockey insider Pierre LeBrun. LeBrun goes on to say Edvinsson is "patiently waiting for the Red Wings GM situation to iron itself out before resuming negotiations."
Edvinsson had 25 points (nine goals) in 72 games played this past season and finished with a plus-12.
Edvinsson should see a huge payday. Bowen Byram, the No. 4 overall pick from 2019, just received an extension from the Blackhawks with a hefty $12.5 million cap hit. The Wings can ill afford Edvinsson (No. 6 pick in 2021) to be on the sidelines awaiting a new contract when their season begins, as he is one of their top workhorses.
But who will hammer out that deal? That still remains to be seen, as the Red Wings are about a week away from the start camp (Sept. 17) and they still do not have a general manager. Steve Yzerman parted ways from the position on July 15, moving into a senior advisor role.

#edvinsson #lebrun #still

Every player on the Detroit Red Wings roster for the club's upcoming NHL Rookie Tournament has carved their own path to get to this destination. They've all written a unique hockey story along the way.
Here's a look at just a few of these tales.
Defenseman Justice Christensen signed an AHL contract with the Grand Rapids Griffins. He also played in last year's rookie series against the Dallas Stars, back then as a free agent.
Christensen is a hockey world champion, which in itself isn't necessarily unique among the NHL prospects that will be on display at this tourney. That is, until you learn how he won his world ******* le.
In the summer of 2025, Christensen, then a defenseman with the WHL Prince Albert Raiders, captained Canada to the World U20 ball hockey gold medal. He talked about his other hockey passion in an interview on the Raiders' Facebook page.

#hockey #christensen #unique #detroit

Moritz Seider has had an amazing start to his career while wearing the winged wheel for Detroit. He has captivated fans with his elite defensive play, and he has become more involved on the offensive side of the puck every year. He just recorded his best season yet in Detroit, posting career marks in goals, ***** ists, and plus/minus rating: 10 goals, 50 ***** ists, 60 points and a plus-15 rating in all 82 games. He hasn't even reached his full potential yet, and he is already one of the franchise's centerpieces.
During his time in Detroit, he has also learned how to quarterback our power play and be a shutdown force during penalty-killing situations. He put up a career-high 28 power-play points last season and led Red Wings defensemen with 180 blocked shots. He is also one of the defensemen Detroit turns to in overtime. Over the last five seasons in Detroit, he has averaged 23:51 of ice time, and last season's career-best 25:40 a night was the heaviest workload he has carried yet. Not to mention that he has never missed a game in the entirety of his NHL career so far, a streak that now sits at 410 straight.
Seider will look to continue his dominance on the blue line this season, which carries major significance as the Wings look to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2015-16, after a 10th straight miss last spring. If Seider can maintain his superb career trajectory and the season he posted last year, Detroit's blue line and team will only get better. One statistic that really stands out is Seider's plus/minus rating. As Detroit's number one defenseman, Seider is regularly on the ice defending against the opposing team's top stars. Posting a plus-15 last season, his first positive rating in five NHL seasons, shows that he is one of the most valuable defensemen in today's NHL.
This is not hype or exaggeration of Seider's play; he is well respected by his peers and was just ranked as the ninth-best defenseman in the NHL right now by NHL Network, one spot behind Ottawa's Jake Sanderson, after finishing fifth in Norris Trophy voting. He is the Detroit blue line, and the extension that we had worked out to keep him here was, and still is, an absolute steal for the value of a player he is and will become in the future.
On Aug. 28, 2026, the Colorado Avalanche signed defenseman Cale Makar to a record eight-year, $163.2 million contract extension, making him the highest-paid player in NHL history at a $20.4 million AAV and the first $20 million man the league has ever had. With this happening, elite defenders are going to see a skyrocket in not only what they are worth but what they are going to be paid. Now, when we look at the extension Seider signed on Sept. 19, 2024, seven years and $59.85 million at an $8.55 million AAV, that was an absolute steal for the player who will control Detroit's blue line for years to come. Seider is under contract with Detroit through the 2030-31 season and will be a key piece of Detroit's plans now and i

An investigation is ongoing after an Arizona State hockey player collapsed on the first day of workouts with the team this fall.
Sun Devils defenseman Matthew Mayich was participating in a workout on Aug. 20, the first day of Arizona State classes for the fall semester, when he collapsed. First responders arrived after calls of a heat-related illness, and Mayich was taken to a local hospital. He has since been transferred to the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix.
Temperature at the time was reportedly between 87 and 89 degrees. The workout was being run by an ex-Green Beret soldier, too, who was leading the team through "grueling" drills, his attorney Robert Carey told the Arizona Republic on Monday. Multiple players told Carey that the former soldier, Tim Ziesel, "yelled at them from the get-go … like a drill instructor," and that they were told not to complain. Water, he said, was only available for those who led exercises.
Mayich allegedly showed obvious signs of distress and was unable to complete tasks throughout the workout.
"He was disoriented and struggled well before he collapsed," Carey said.

#mayich #workout

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The **** le is still sinking in for Cale Makar — highest paid player in NHL history.
With it, of course, comes great expectations for the Colorado Avalanche standout defenseman. Like more gaudy stats and deep Stanley Cup runs. Pressure becomes part of the price tag for signing a $163.2 million, eight-year extension that kicks in next season. Pressure, the two-time Norris Trophy winner **** erted, he welcomes.
"I'm a guy that just puts a lot of pressure on myself to do well year in, year out," Makar said Monday at a news conference on the heels of a deal he signed late last week that will keep him with Colorado through the 2034-35 season. "It's going to make me even push myself a little bit more."
The 27-year-old Makar took becoming the league's first player to sign for more than $20 million a season in stride. He's already predicting the figure won't stand for long. It could be Edmonton's Connor McDavid or Toronto's Auston Matthews, who are eligible for extensions next summer. Down the road, it might be Makar's teammate Nathan MacKinnon.
"I fully expect Nate to even double what this is right now," cracked Makar, who's turned in four 20-goal seasons in his career. "It's incredible to see where the game is going."

#pressure #player #million

When Connor **** ebuyck's trade request went public, many drew a line to the New Jersey Devils in terms of a trade fit.
I understand the idea. New Jersey doesn't necessarily have a clear answer in goal for the 2026-27 season. However, does it exactly make sense? I broke it down, which includes an anecdotal on Quinn Hughes, in the links below.
Also below, a deep dive on Alexander Command, and why he's got the highest floor of any New Jersey prospect.
Elsewhere, Cale Makar just reset the defenseman market with a record extension in Colorado, and more **** ebuyck talk.
New Jersey Hockey Now: Connor **** ebuyck's public trade demand raises a real question for New Jersey — could the Devils actually make a run at the three-time Vezina winner given their cap situation, current goalies, and the Quinn Hughes problem still hovering?

#hughes

The NHL has its first $20 million man. Friday, the Avalanche announced an eight-year, $163.2 million contract extension with Cale Makar. The average annual value comes in at $20.4 million, handing the 27-year-old star defenseman the highest AAV in league history. It's just below the league maximum at $20.8M, and the total contract is the largest in NHL history.
Makar's landmark contract comes just a month after Sharks center Macklin Celebrini set a new high-water mark at $18.8 million AAV as part of a five-year, $94 million deal. Though bigger, Makar's deal similarly contains eye-popping signing bonuses: In the final year, at age 36, Makar will be guaranteed a whopping $18.8 million.
The highest NHL AAV has now been smashed four times throughout the past year—and three times this summer alone.
In September 2025, Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov signed a then-record $136 million, eight-year extension at $17 million AAV—resetting the market for the league's stars. In June, offer-sheet drama surrounding Leo Carlsson pushed the Ducks to sign the center to an $18 million AAV deal. But in July, Celebrini agreed to his deal, and Makar knocked him off less than a month later.
Makar is the only defenseman of the four. Along with setting a new high bar in the sport, his deal also ratchets up the market for the NHL's other top defensemen, whose new contracts are imminent: particularly Quinn Hughes, who was moved to Minnesota in a blockbuster trade last season; and Matthew Schaefer of the Islanders, who is coming off of a Calder Trophy–winning season during which he banked rookie records.

#contract #eight

Cale Makar and the Colorado Avalanche have agreed to a eight-year, $163.2 million extension, his agency announced Friday. The deal will be worth $20.4 million in annual average value; Makar becomes the first player in the NHL to sign a deal exceeding $20 million in annual salary, via insider Frank Seravalli.
Makar is entering the final year of a six-year, $54 million extension he signed in July 2021. He was set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Getting a deal done now allows Makar and the Avalanche to ensure the contract is for eight years. Once the NHL's new CBA goes into effect on Sept. 15, maximum contract lengths cannot exceed seven years.
The Avalanche confirmed the deal with a video of Makar, in which he said he "couldn't be more excited" to stay in Colorado for the long-term future.
Makar, 27, is entering his eighth NHL season, all with Colorado. Since breaking into the league during the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the UMass product has won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year, been named to the NHL First All-Star Team four times, won two Norris Trophies as the NHL's best defenseman, and helped the Avalanche to the 2021-22 Stanley Cup ******* le, where he was also named postseason MVP.

#stanley

It was a day of anticipation on Thursday as new broke that the Colorado Avalanche and Cale Makar had reached an agreement on a contract extension. There was no announcement then but today is supposed to be the day it finally happens.
First it started with Elliotte Friedman dropping the bomb, which was confirmed by several other media sources that a big announcement on Makar's extension was forthcoming.
And then….silence. But considering there's still three weeks to go before the Avalanche get on the ice for training camp, what's another day?
Now we are announcing the announcement as what has become the norm in today's media.
While we wait, let's reflect on the historic career the world's best defenseman has enjoyed up to this point.

#thursday #elliotte

The NY Rangers could be facing a rather surprising roster decision when training camp arrives later this fall.
That roster decision could lead to a once blue line mainstay on the outside looking in: Urho Vaakanainen.
That might seem implausible considering Vaakanainen is a perfectly capable NHL defenseman. But that's exactly what makes this situation somewhat complex. The Rangers have added more competition to their blue line, and suddenly there may not be enough room for everyone.
The NY Rangers brought in Marcus Pettersson and Sean Durzi, while players such as Matthew Robertson and Drew Fortescue are also competing for opportunities. Scott Morrow in particular is expected to challenge for a spot on the NHL roster.
That creates a numbers game.

#line

CENTENNIAL, CO - JUNE 11 : Colorado Avalanche GM Joe Sakic is in the press conference at Family Sports Center in Centennial, Colorado on Thursday, June 11, 2026. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)
DENVER — Joe Sakic was back in the goal-scoring business in an alumni game that featured some of his Stanley Cup-winning Colorado Avalanche teammates.
Just a few shifts for old time's sake as the Hall of Fame forward turned front office executive was paired on a line with Peter Forsberg and Milan Hejduk. He scored early off a pass from Hejduk.
Now, it's back to the deal-making business for Sakic with training camp around the corner.
Sakic's trying to wrap up a contract extension that will keep Cale Makar, a two-time Norris Trophy winner as the league's top defenseman, in Denver well into the future. Makar is coming off a season in which he had 20 goals and 59 ******* ists.

#Avalanche #back

PEORIA – The Peoria Rivermen got one of those must-have players on Monday that head coach Jean-Guy Trudel talks about when he puts together his team.
The defending SPHL regular-season champions signed veteran winger-defenseman Braydon Barker, making his return to Peoria for a fifth pro season official.
"Braydon is a front-line player as a forward or a defenseman, and that versatility is a huge ****** et for us," Trudel said. "So is his leadership within the team, and his commitment to taking part in our activities around the community.
"He has so much experience, has helped us win a championship, and he'll be a key part of this team as we try to win another one."
More: Peoria Rivermen find scoring power with pair of promising college prospects

#braydon #defenseman #Monday

The post Seider Tired of Red Wings Falling Asleep appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.
Apr 4, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider (53) waits for a face-off against the Detroit Red Wings during the first period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images
Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider doesn't know what he can do to help resolve the team's search for a new GM. He wishes that captain Dylan Larkin would stay in Detroit, while also accepting that Larkin is within his rights to want to leave.
Most of all, though, Seider would like to find a way to keep the Red Wings awake and alert during the most important stage of the NHL season.
Seider says he's had enough of the team "falling asleep in the home stretch" and missing the NHL playoffs.

#seider #detroit #falling

Returning to Boston, a Motivated Connor Clifton Looks to Bolster Bruins' Defense originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The last two seasons for the Bruins have seen the team miss the playoffs or lose in the first round. Something was needed to give the team a spark. How about the return of an old teammate?
After a run with the Sabres and Penguins, Connor Clifton looks to once again create chaos with the Bruins, a team he spent his first five seasons with, signing a two-year contract with a $2.25 million cap hit.
The defenseman from New Jersey, a member of the ECAC All-Tournament Team at Quinnipiac, joined the Providence Bruins in 2017 before signing an entry-level deal with the Bruins in 2018. A fixture on the third defense pairing, Clifton became a menace on the ice in the early 2020s.
In those five seasons in Boston, Clifton had 10 goals and 33 **** ists. He accumulated a career-high 23 points during the 2022-23 season, during which he led the Bruins in hits (208). Clifton led the Penguins with 180 hits last season.

#bruins #connor

PEORIA — Kylar Fenton is coming back to the Peoria Rivermen for the 2026-27 SPHL season, and the team would love a repeat performance from the defenseman who helped them win the regular-season ******* le.
Fenton joined the Rivermen out of college for their playoff run in the 2024-25 SPHL playoffs, then spent his first full pro season with Peoria on its 2025-26 team that came within one game of the President's Cup.
"Kylar broke out as a high-level defender in his rookie season, and he's a foundational player for our defense," Rivermen head coach Jean-Guy Trudel said. "He fits our culture and he knows about the tradition of winning and the legacy this franchise commands."
More: Newest Peoria Rivermen has a legacy. His dad scored one of the franchise's most iconic goals
The 26-year-old defenseman is the nephew of NHL referee Wes McCauley, and is well-schooled in Peoria's history and tradition from his father, Eric. He was a winger with the Rivermen in the 1995-96 IHL season. He scored an iconic playoff goal for the Rivermen against Milwaukee in the 1995-96 IHL playoffs, notching the game-winner to clinch the series.

#season

Charlie McAvoy's Top-10 Snub Sends Clear Message to Bruins Star originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Charlie McAvoy did nearly everything the Boston Bruins could have asked of him during the 2025-26 season. He set career highs in goals, ****** ists and points. He handled Boston's most demanding defensive ****** ignments. He returned less than a month after suffering a fractured jaw and losing multiple teeth. He even helped the United States capture an Olympic gold medal.
Yet NHL Network still believes there are 10 defensemen better than him.
McAvoy landed at No. 11 on NHL Network's annual ranking of the league's top 20 defensemen, which NHL.com published Sunday. The placement was hardly disrespectful, but it provided Boston's franchise defenseman with another challenge entering the 2026-27 season.
After producing the finest offensive campaign of his NHL career, McAvoy must prove he belongs among the league's unquestioned elite.

#nesn #Career #clear

One might think that being traded internationally twice in a four-month span is particularly taxing on an NHL player — but former Utah Mammoth defenseman Olli Määttä said it wasn't that bad.
"This move is the easiest one yet," Määttä said on a Finnish-language podcast (interpreted by Google Translate). "Our gear is already in storage, so we just have to tell the company not to unload it in Calgary but to bring it back across the border."
Määttä, 31, was traded from the Calgary Flames to the Minnesota Wild on July 2. He'd only been in Calgary since March, when the Mammoth traded him there as part of the MacKenzie Weegar deal.
Any day with an NHL logo on your chest is a good day, right?
"It's more exciting than anything," Määttä said in his introductory press conference with the Wild reporters. "I'm happy to be part of a team like that that's pushing to win. It's a really good feeling that they want me."

#part #good #utah #finnish

Penn State hockey picked up its fourth defenseman of the 2027 class with a commitment from Kohyn Eshkawkogan earlier on Saturday:
Eshkawkogan hails from Ontario and finished his first two seasons in the OHL with 73 points (12 goals, 61 ***** ists) in 120 games with the Ottawa 67's. His 53 points in 68 games during the 2025-26 regular season ranked 8th among all OHL defensemen. He is an excellent puck mover and playmaker in the offensive zone. While he is not the most explosive goal-scoring defenseman, he is strong on the power play. His 23 power play ***** ists ranked 3rd among all OHL defensemen in 2025-26.
As he turns 18 this November, Eshkawkogan will be eligible for the 2027 NHL Entry Draft. Most current projections for the 2027 draft have him ranging from a late first to an early second round selection. With Jackson Smith likely departing for the pros after the 2026-27 season, Penn State will need a high-end offensive defenseman to take his place for the future. We will see if hits the ground running as quickly as Smith did, but the talent is certainly there for him to be a top pairing defenseman at Penn State and a power play quarterback.
Eshkawkogan joins a 2027 Penn State class that has already swelled to 12 total recruits (4 defensemen, 8 forwards).

#power

Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl publicly backed Mike Babcock after the Edmonton Oilers hired him as head coach. However, former NHL defenseman Jason Demers thinks that support now places even greater pressure on the team's stars.
Speaking with Tyler Yaremchuk on the "Oilers Nation Everyday" podcast, Demers admitted he remains unconvinced by the coaching hire.
"I can't get behind the Mike Babcock signing. I just can't," Demers said. "I don't care what the top guys say."
MORE: Jason Demers predicts Oilers will 'run away' with Pacific Division
He acknowledged that McDavid and Draisaitl had to be comfortable with the decision.

#demers

Just a few weeks ago, only a handful of members of the U.S. women's hockey team were expected to attend the ESPYs, the annual awards show honoring the year's biggest athletes, teams and moments in sports.
By Wednesday afternoon, many more of the reigning Olympic gold medalists were swapping jerseys for gowns inside a midtown Manhattan penthouse. Champagne was flowing. Hair and makeup artists buzzed around the room. Defenseman Mariah Keopple, who also works as a stylist, helped teammates put the finishing touches on their looks before they headed to the awards show, airing live Wednesday night from the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City.
It wasn't exactly the typical pregame routine for one of the world's best hockey teams. And none of it would have happened without an unlikely benefactor: Flavor Flav.
The Public Enemy legend learned last week from U.S. captain Hilary Knight that only a handful of players had been invited to the ESPYs, where Team USA is nominated for Best Team following its dramatic gold-medal victory at the 2026 Winter Olympics. For Flavor Flav, the solution was simple: "I got you."
That promise quickly snowballed.

#team #espys #wednesday #hockey

The Toronto Maple Leafs made Darren Raddysh one of their biggest NHL offseason investments. Now, expectations are rising before he has played a regular-season game for his hometown team.
Toronto acquired Raddysh from the Tampa Bay Lightning in a sign-and-trade on June 19. The Maple Leafs surrendered only a 2026 fifth-round pick before signing the defenseman to an eight-year, $68 million contract carrying an $8.5 million annual cap hit.
MORE: Morgan Rielly's Maple Leafs exit looms ahead of 2026-27 NHL season
Speaking on Leafs Morning Take, host Nick Alberga questioned how quickly Toronto fans would judge the 28-year-old.
"I think Darren Raddysh has the most pressure," Alberga said. "Toronto native, people are going to wonder, was last year a fluke?"

#toronto #year #alberga

Just a few weeks ago, only a handful of members of the U.S. women's hockey team were expected to attend the ESPYs, the annual awards show honoring the year's biggest athletes, teams and moments in sports.
By Wednesday afternoon, many more of the reigning Olympic gold medalists were swapping jerseys for gowns inside a midtown Manhattan penthouse. Champagne was flowing. Hair and makeup artists buzzed around the room. Defenseman Mariah Keopple, who also works as a stylist, helped teammates put the finishing touches on their looks before they headed to the awards show, airing live Wednesday night from the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City.
It wasn't exactly the typical pregame routine for one of the world's best hockey teams. And none of it would have happened without an unlikely benefactor: Flavor Flav.
The Public Enemy legend learned last week from U.S. captain Hilary Knight that only a handful of players had been invited to the ESPYs, where Team USA is nominated for Best Team following its dramatic gold-medal victory at the 2026 Winter Olympics. For Flavor Flav, the solution was simple: "I got you."
That promise quickly snowballed.

#flav #awards

New Jersey Devils defenseman Brett Pesce will compete alongside a number of other NHL stars in the Shoulder Check Showcase charity game on July 30 at Martire Family Arena on the campus of Sacred Heart University.
The event benefits the HT40 Foundation, an organization dedicated to mental health awareness and social connection.
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The HT40 Foundation was established in memory of Hayden Thorsen, a 16-year-old hockey player who died by suicide in May 2022. Following the tragedy, Hayden's father, Rob Thorsen, made it his mission to spread the message of checking in on friends, family members and teammates who may be struggling.
"It started out in my gym actually," Pesce said. "A young hockey player passed away unexpectedly due to mental health issues, and it really took a toll on the whole gym. Ben Prentiss, who's my trainer, and his wife, Ashley, teamed up with Hayden's parents and a group of individuals to start a charity game in his honor to support mental health and mental awareness.

#Health

Ohio State will likely always be the king of sports in Columbus, but good on the local professional and semi-professional franchises for embracing that. The Columbus Clippers recently announced an Ohio State-themed game and custom jerseys, and the Columbus Blue Jackets paid homage to OSU when they played an outdoor game in the 'Shoe against the Detroit Red Wings.
Sometimes, the sports even cross, like the news we received on Thursday when the Ohio State women's hockey team announced the hiring of former Blue Jacket Jack Johnson. The former NHL defenseman played for Columbus from 2012-18 and then again for his final season in 2024-25. He carved out a niche for hitting and blocking shots while he wore the blue sweater, and now he'll be taking his knowledge to Nadine Muzerall's program.
"We're really excited to have a new member join our family here at Ohio State," Muzerall said in a release. "To bring in Jack Johnson is going to continue to make our program better, both on the ice and really contribute to recruiting. When we talk about Ohio State, we talk about family and how we're all united. I think it's very important that he exemplifies that. He's going to bring that to our program and I think our recruits are going to see that and I know our girls are going to feel that."
Johnson does bring a winning pedigree to Ohio State. He was a part of the Colorado Avalanche's Stanley Cup-winning team in 2022. He played his college hockey -- believe it or not -- at Michigan, so coming to the Buckeyes has to be a little bit awkward. Something tells me he'll fit in just fine.
"It's such a privilege and honor to be involved with the best women's college hockey program in the country," Johnson said. "I can't wait for the season to start and to continue Ohio State's pursuit of national championships."

#ohio

The amount of young talent in the Pittsburgh Penguins organization is filling up quickly. CapWages has 21 players on Pittsburgh’s reserve list for unsigned drafted players and the team has 22 others under contract that will be playing in the pro ranks next season. Once upon a time, finding 25 players to even rank was a tall task, now there are some decent enough names that won’t draw a mention at all for this year’s list considering that there are over 40 options between signed players and the reserve list. Today hopes to appease that with an honorable mention of five players on the cusp of making the list, all of whom show the potential to be ranked next year with favorable upcoming seasons.
Earlier in the week we kicked off Top 25 Under 25 season by looking at the players that won’t be a part of this year’s list due to aging out, being traded or otherwise leaving the organization. As a loose rule, we’re saying for now that 2019 draftees like Elmer Soderblom (who turned 25 earlier this summer) and Nick Robertson (who has his 25th birthday in September) are ineligible this year. 2020 draftees that are under the age of 25 currently, like Hendrix Lapierre and Joel Blomqvist meet the cut-off as fair game this year.
The top 25 under 25 series was a staple within the SBN Hockey blogs a decade ago, around here it’s morphed into what I like to think about as a snapshot in time for value and importance within the organization. It’s not meant to be purely predictive of which player may be the best pro in three, five or seven years but show how the young players currently stack up against one another.
In many ways it’s an impossible task, and a very subjective one. How does one weigh a 24-year old that figures to have a short leash at making an NHL impact (like a Phil Tomasino or Sam Poulin last year) against a fresh-faced 18 year old that was just drafted and doesn’t figure to turn pro for several years? Not to mention everything in between. It’s certainly a balancing act where guaranteed contributions to the NHL level count for something, even with the real possibility of a short shelf life and some projections also have to be taken into account for expected/hoped for futures.
Since this is a value-based snapshot in time, another handy tool may be to consider a hypothetical trade. If you **** ume a trade is going to happen and the other side wants either prospect X or young player Y to finalize the deal, which **** et would the organization be better off holding onto? The answer to that judgement can go a long way towards determining where the young players will slot in against each other for this list, though it isn’t a strict rule of thumb since some player profiles (puck moving defenseman) might have more trade value than organizational value than other spots (goalie, small winger). That consideration is at least some factor in aligning the rankings.

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