Timely enough off the heels of the Labor Day holiday yesterday, the NHL's new collective bargaining agreement, the labor rules agreed to by the NHL and the NHLPA, kicks in next week. The new agreement is in place through September 2030, marking the second time in a row the two sides have put a deal in place without missing any time. That's no small matter, prior to the recent labor peace the NHL owners have locked out the players in 2004 and 2012 for significant periods that cost a total of 116 games.
These days, fortunately for all, there is more cooperation and perhaps about the best working relationship between the owners and players that we have seen in hockey. Those good feelings are no doubt influenced by business as a whole booming – revenue is way up so their is more money to be made by both sides. Further, ownership is absolutely swimming in vastly increased valuation and sale prices lately – look no further than the Penguins selling for $1.75 billion in 2026 after selling for $900 million just five years earlier.
The new CBA had some rules come on board early for last season – like LTIR tweaks and the playoff salary cap. Here are a few more interesting tweaks in place.
Training camps open Sept. 16 to coincide with the start of that new labor deal, and they'll look much different than they did in the past. Experienced players will be put through only a 13-day camp, down from 20 days, and those with at least 100 NHL games on their resumes are now limited to two exhibition games. Each team will play only four exhibition games.
The preseason shrinks again, at least formally. Most players across the league are already skating informally with their teammates and have been for a week or more by this point. That amount of time in the pre-practice stage will now be longer than the formal, official 13-day training camp. Long gone are the days of multiple on-ice sessions per day. In fact, teams can also no longer implement fitness testing for unpopular tests on the exercise bike or the so-called dreaded bag skate or repetitive timed sprints.

#players #place #rules

Olympic champion Alysa Liu will sit out the 2026-27 figure skating season, she said on Instagram on Monday evening.
"While people are announcing programs, imma (sic) take this time to announce that I will not be competing this season," Liu wrote.
"I always want to challenge myself in new ways, so my artistry & skating can evolve. It's important to me that my sport reflects my personal growth."
Liu added that she's going to take the time to "recalibrate, fine-tune things."
The 21-year-old figure skater from the United States dazzled the world at the Milan/Cortina Olympics in February with her free skating presentation. Her performance to Donna Summer's "MacArthur Park Suite" earned her the gold medal and standing ovation from the audience.

#Monday

Alysa Liu will sit out the 2026-27 figure skating season "to recalibrate" and "fine-tune things"
"I always want to challenge myself in new ways, so my artistry & skating can evolve," she said
Liu reassured fans she will return for the 2027-28 season and will cheer on her teammates in the meantime
Alysa Liu is sitting out the upcoming competition season.
The 21-year-old Olympic gold medalist announced her plan to skip the 2026-27 season in a Tuesday, Aug. 25, Instagram post. She was ******* igned and expected to compete in the upcoming International Skating Union (ISU) Grand Prix of Figure Skating.

#skating

After a whirlwind in the aftermath of her spectacular Olympic gold-medal run, Alysa Liu isn't ready to get back to the grind.
Liu announced on Tuesday that she's taking the 2026-27 season off from figure skating. The 21-year-old who dazzled en route to team and individual gold at the Milano-Cortina Games in February announced her plan on Instagram Tuesday.
"To my supporters,
While people are announcing programs, imma take this time to announce that I will not be competing this season. I always want to challenge myself in new ways, so my artistry & skating can evolve. It's important to me that my sport reflects my personal growth. I'm gonna take the time to recalibrate, fine-tune things & whatnot."
This marks Liu's second notable break from figure skating. She retired at 16 years old after finishing seventh at the 2022 Olympics only to return to the sport in time for her gold-medal run this year.

#tuesday #season #take

Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu is taking the 2026-27 figure skating season off from competition and plans to return for the 2027-28 season.
"While people are announcing programs, imma take this time to announce that I will not be competing this season," she posted. "I always want to challenge myself in new ways, so my artistry & skating can evolve. It's important to me that my sport reflects my personal growth. I'm gonna take the time to recalibrate, fine-tune things & whatnot. So fear not, I'll be back, & in the meantime I'll be rooting for my teammates near & far. See yall soon!!"
In an interview, Liu said she plans to continue training during her break and work on her craft — "overall artistry, spins, jumps, everything."
"I really want to improve my skating, and I wanted to take the time to do that for myself and just to evolve," she said, "and then I'll be back after that is done. But I'll still be cheering on all my competitors and my teammates, and I'm really excited."
She added, "Logically and emotionally and physically, this just makes the most sense. I will miss seeing the international competitors at all the international (competitions), but there will be more, so it's fine."

#skating

Pairs figure skating champions Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara announced their engagement on Instagram on Aug. 22
The athletes won a gold medal at the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Games
"Over time, we became irreplaceable parts of each other's lives," Miura wrote alongside photos of the proposal, which fittingly took place on ice
From the Olympic rings to an engagement ring …
Japanese pairs figure skating champions Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara are engaged. They announced the happy news on Instagram on Saturday, Aug. 22, sharing photos of the proposal — which fittingly took place on ice.

#ryuichi #olympic #champions

Los Angeles Kings legend Anze Kopitar says that he is happy with his decision to retire after 20 years in the NHL.
Kopitar made the decision to walk away from the sport that brought him so much joy at the age of 37 following the 2025-26 NHL season. Now 38 years old, Kopitar played in fellow Zdeno Chara's farewell game, the 'Zee's Final Shift,' at Pavol Demitra Ice Stadium in Trencin, Slovakia, on Friday. He looked good in the game, but he says he's content with his decision to retire.
Speaking to NHL.com, Kopitar reaffirmed his decision to step away from the NHL, though he admitted he was happy to play with fellow legends like Chara in the tribute game.
"I am very happy. It's great. Obviously, I get to spend a lot more time with my family. I get to go (watch my) kids … my son's hockey tournament, my daughter's figure skating competition. So, there is still life in ice arenas, but I'm enjoying it very much," Kopitar said.
When Kopitar becomes eligible for the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2029, he will undoubtedly be inducted into the HHOF in his first year of eligibility, because he was an amazing hockey player who has a brilliant career in the NHL.

#happy

Japan's Olympic figure skating pairs champions Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara announced their engagement on Sunday.
Two-time world champions Miura, 24, and Kihara, 34, became media darlings after they won ******* an's first Olympic pairs gold medals at the Milan-Cortina Games in Italy in February.
They retired from competition in April.
"We're engaged," the pair said in a statement.
"Through both the happy times and the difficult ones, we've shared so many moments together, supporting each other every step of the way," they said.

#miura

By Yuka Obayashi
TOKYO, Aug 23 (Reuters) - ****** anese ice-skating champions Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, who won the hearts of many ****** anese ‌in a country where skating can top the news bulletins, ‌announced their engagement on Sunday, becoming partners off as well as on the ice.
"We're engaged," they posted on Instagram with a photo of Kihara kneeling on the ice to present Miura with the ring. "Through both the happy times and the difficult ones, we've shared so many moments together, supporting each other every step ‌of the way."
Known jointly as "Riku-Ryu", ⁠Miura, 24, and Kihara, who turned 34 on Saturday, become the first ****** anese pair to win Olympic gold in ⁠figure skating at the Milano Cortina Winter Games in February.
Known for smiling, laughing and hugging — with Kihara sometimes carrying the 146-cm (4-foot-nine-inch) Miura onto and off the ice — the couple have had their share of difficult and happy times ‌from teaming up in 2019 to announcing their retirement from competitive skating in April.

#happy

Olympic pairs' figure skating gold medalists Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara announced their engagement.
"Through both the happy times and the difficult ones, we've shared so many moments together, supporting each other every step of the way," was posted on their social media accounts. "Over time, we became irreplaceable parts of each other's lives — someone neither of us could imagine life without. We're truly happy to finally be able to share this news with all of you."
At the Milan Cortina Games, Miura and Kihara became the first pairs' team from ****** an to win an Olympic medal of any color. It was a rally for gold from fifth place after the short program.
It ended up being the last competition of their career. Miura and Kihara announced their retirement two months after the Games.
"While our competitive careers are coming to an end, we truly feel that we gave it our all, and have no regrets," their retirement post read. "We are proud of everything we went through, and feel we gained so much along the way. The two of us will now take on new challenges so that we can bring wider recognition to pair skating in ****** an. We hope that we can count on you to follow us on our journey."

#kihara #games #pairs

The Blue Jackets are still negotiating a contract extension with star center Adam Fantilli and haven't revealed details about their new NHL-produced television broadcast, but they have released plans for training camp and the preseason.
More: Columbus Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski wants to stay with team 'long term'
Following the Blue Jackets' participation in a prospect tournament Sept. 12-15 in Detroit, they'll open NHL camp Sept. 16 with player medical evaluations. The first day of skating will be Sept. 17, followed by the preseason opener against the Detroit Red Wings on Sept. 21 at Nationwide Arena.
The Jackets will play only four preseason games before hosting the Buffalo Sabres to start the 84-game regular season Oct. 1 at Nationwide Arena.
Fantilli, 21, is the lone Blue Jackets player without a contract. He's a restricted free agent for the first time and is due a large pay raise coming off an entry-level contract signed shortly after the Blue Jackets selected him third overall in 2023.

#contract #fantilli #nationwide

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Thursday, Aug. 6, is set to host more than 120 athletes who competed for Team USA in the 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games in Milano Cortina, Italy, according to the White House.
The evening celebration, which will take place at the White House Rose Garden, is scheduled to include members of the USA Winter Olympic teams for figure skating, curling, luge, speedskating, bobsledding, snowboarding, and alpine skiing, among other sports, as well as Paralympic athletes in several sports.
"President Trump will proudly celebrate Team USA's historic achievements at the Winter Olympics with a special reception at the People's House," White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said in a statement. "Our patriotic athletes showed the world American excellence, and their extraordinary performances united us all in our love of country."
Olympic gift? Speedskater Jordan Stolz gives Trump one of his gold medals

#paralympic

Claudia Pechstein, whose nine medals are Germany's most for a Winter Olympian, has been appointed national team coach for the allround speed skating team.
The governing body DESG said on Sunday that Pechstein now has the job on a permanent basis after previously acting on an interim basis.
Pechstein, 54, competed at eight Winter Games between 1992 and 2022, winning five gold, two silver and two bronze medals. She also has 42 medals from world championhips, six of them gold.
The DESG said that Pechstein has "an exceptionally long track record and outstanding international experience in speed skating" with many years at the top level.
She has also completed a coaching diploma at the Coaching Academy of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB).

#medals

A new offseason video featuring Dylan Larkin has Red Wings fans wondering if the trade saga may not be over after all.
Just days after Steve Yzerman stepped down as Detroit Red Wings general manager, a new video circulating on social media has sparked fresh speculation about captain Dylan Larkin’s future.
The clip, originally shared to Larkin’s Instagram Story and reposted by Crunch Time Sports, shows the Red Wings captain going through an offseason skating workout while wearing Detroit Red Wings gear.
For a fan base that has spent the summer following trade rumors, it didn’t take long for the video to generate conversation.
At first glance, seeing Larkin train in Red Wings apparel may seem noteworthy.

#detroit #captain #Instagram

CHICAGO — When it comes to promoting nostalgia, no one does it quite like the Chicago Blackhawks.
So it’s not surprising the Hawks would bring back franchise legend Patrick Kane at 37 to re-create memories of the three-time Stanley Cup champions of the 2010s, pairing him with the next franchise savior — Connor Bedard — through the 2027-28 season.
Of course, any resemblance between those teams and the current edition of the Hawks is coincidental, and you don’t need AI to make a 37-year-old Kane look much different from his 19-year-old self.
Kane signed a two-year deal Thursday with an annual average of $8 million, which reminds us of his number, 88. It’s seen by many as overpaying for a player whose best years are in the past, but considering the marketing aspect for the Hawks, it’s probably worth every penny.
Word of the signing spread quickly, almost as though it was part of a well-planned advertising campaign. A “Welcome Home Patrick Kane!” message appeared on the Wrigley Field marquee, and the Bears tweeted a photo of Kane lifting the Stanley Cup while wearing a Bears jersey at Soldier Field, along with the message, “He’s baaaaaack.” The Hawks sent out several tweets, including one of Kane skating at the Blackhawks Ice Center, where he has been working out all summer.

#year #patrick #bears #franchise

Synchronized skating has been added to 2030 Winter Olympics, U.S. Figure Skating and the International Olympic Committee announced on Tuesday, July 7.
The decision, which creates a new Olympic pathway for athletes across the world, will certainly impact many in Michigan, the birthplace of the sport.
According to the Ann Arbor Figure Skating Club, the sport originated in Ann Arbor and was founded by Dr. Richard Porter in 1956.
The "Hockettes," the first-ever synchronized skating team, began performing during intermission at University of Michigan hockey games and at ice shows hosted by Ann Arbor FSC.
As the sport gained notoriety and popularity, new teams and competition formed, expanding the sport to include national championships, which started in 1984.

Figure skaters, speed skaters and short track speed skaters from Russia and Belarus can compete as neutral athletes next season if they have not supported the war in Ukraine.
The International Skating Union Council made the decision taking into account "developments across the Olympic Movement and the differing approaches of other International Federations, including instances in which the lifting of restrictions has given rise to incidents at competitions, as well as the participation of neutral athletes in the 2025/26 Olympic qualification events and at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 without related incident."
Since March 2023, the IOC has recommended that athletes from Russia can return to senior international competition as neutral athletes in individual events and only if they do not actively support the war in Ukraine.
Last month, the IOC updated its recommendation for athletes from Belarus, recommending that athletes and teams from that nation can compete internationally with their nation's name, flag and colors.
Ultimately, it is up to each Olympic sport's international federation to decide whether and how to readmit athletes from Russia and Belarus.

JAPAN - FEBRUARY 10: NAGANO 1998; GOLD Oksana KAZAKOVA, Artur DMITRIEV (RUS) (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images)
Artur Dmitriev, who won Olympic pairs' figure skating gold medals with different partners in 1992 and 1998, died at age 58, according to the Russian Figure Skating Federation.
Dmitriev won Olympic ****** les with Natalya Mishkutenok (1992, plus a silver in 1994) and, after Mishkutenok retired, Oksana Kazakova in 1998.
He is the only man to win Olympic pairs' gold with two different partners.
Dmitriev later worked as a coach in the U.S. Son Artur Jr. briefly competed as an American, placing 11th at the 2022 U.S. Championships.

The San Jose Sharks drafted Brady Knowling at No. 127 overall in the fourth round of the NHL Draft on Saturday.
The 6-foot-5 left-handed goaltender wants to be known for his skating ability, not just his size.
“I want my name to be a part of a sentence where it’s like, ‘Wow, his skating is really good for his size,'” Knowling said. “Because a lot of these bigger goalies are stereotypically not as good as skaters as everyone else, and it’s like, yeah, I’m 6-foot-5 but I want to be able to be an unbelievable skater.”
Scott Wedgewood’s skating, for example, has impressed Knowling
Knowling spent his last two seasons with the USNTDP, where he played 52 games across this year. He’ll head to the Saginaw Spirit for a year, before joining Boston University.

The Philadelphia Flyers have double-dipped on defensemen with their 2nd pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. With the 53rd overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, the Flyers have selected Brek Liske, a 6'1″ RHD from Everett in the WHL.
Liske is a two-way defender who excels with retrievals but is also a strong gap closer. The word steady has been used by many to describe his game. Liske can take contact as well as he can give it; he can create offense while also killing plays.
The 18-year-old defenseman just finished his 2nd full season in the WHL. He played 52 games, scored 7 goals, and had 24 total points.
Liske's skating limits his upside. Many are projecting a No. 4 ceiling, but he is a safe bet as a 3rd-pair defenseman. Playing for Everett, Liske gained valuable experience in high-level games with the Silvertips. He also got the experience of playing with Landon DuPont, the expected top pick in next year's draft.
Following the pick of Liske, the Flyers selected Martin Psohlavec with the 62nd-overall selection, a goalie from HC Energie Karlovy Vary in the Czech junior league. The 6'5″ Czech goalie flew under the radar of many, but had a very successful year. In 42 games, Psohlavec had 31 wins, a 1.92 GAA, and a .928 SV%.

After taking two forwards with their first two picks, the Penguins selected defenseman Tomas Galvas with the 54th overall pick in the 2026 NHL draft. The overage 20-year old has spent the last four years in the Czech league.
Neutral Zone
Galvas has clearly proven he can impact games offensively against men, which is a major positive and separates him from typical junior-only producers. His offensive toolkit is high-end as he generates 1.03 scoring chances per game with a strong 15% conversion rate, moves pucks at an elite level (92% pass completion, 2.3 pre-shot passes/game), and consistently drives transition with his skating, vision and hard flat passes, which aligns with prior Neutral Zone reports highlighting his agility, deception, and ability to create ****** e under pressure. He plays with confidence and poise, and his ability to activate offensively and distribute through layers makes him a legitimate power play driver. However, the concerns remain consistent and are amplified by NHL standards: at 5'10', 173 pounds, he is undersized relative to NHL players, and while his skating allows him to defend with positioning, his 50% puck battle win rate and low physical engagement (0.33 hits/game) show clear limitations in handling heavier, interior play at higher levels. His tendency to over-activate offensively and get caught up ice continues to show up in his game, and while his offensive instincts are a strength, they can come at the expense of defensive structure as he enjoys playing a high-risk game. Additionally, his defensive zone play remains average, relying more on skating recovery than physical stops in the corner or net-front control. That said, his production at the pro level, combined with elite puck movement and offensive IQ, gives him a legitimate NHL pathway.
Sportsnet
Galvas is a late bloomer. The 20-year-old, two-way defenceman is coming into his own and played some of his best hockey at the World Junior and Men's World Championship this season.

The Carolina Panthers are 2026 Stanley Cup winners after topping the Las Vegas Golden Knights on June 14, and the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics put cold-weather sports at the forefront of international sports fans' attention earlier this year.
While the arrival of summer has turned attention to MLB and the World Cup, the completion U.S. hockey's massive 2026 in the spotlight before hockey's hot-weather hiatus provides those of us at USA TODAY "250 for 250" central reason to look back at the best hockey, ice skating, speed skating, skiing and snowboarding athletes of all time.
Let's get to the list.
Now through July 4, USA TODAY Sports is releasing our "250 for 250" list of America's top homegrown athletes of all time. Each week we'll bring you all-time standouts from across the sports world and give readers a chance to vote on who should be featured. One other note: With this celebration of America's top sports figures, we're also recognizing the high schools that produced them, or the athlete's hometown if they took another path to stardom.
(Listed in alphabetical order)

Actor Sir Idris Elba was one of several stars to receive honours from King Charles at Windsor Castle on Tuesday.
The 53-year-old, known for US crime series The Wire and police drama Luther, was awarded a knighthood in the New Year Honours for services to young people.
There was also a knighthood and damehood for Olympic champions Dame Jayne Torvill and Sir Christopher Dean, for services to ice skating and to voluntary service.
Actress and comedian Dame Meera Syal, known for The ***** ars At No 42 and Goodness Gracious Me, was recognised for services to literature, drama and charity.
In 2022, Sir Idris founded the Elba Hope Foundation, which supports community empowerment, education, youth advocacy and sustainable development.

Is Alysa Liu Done Figure Skating After Her Gold Medal Wins? I Didnt Think This Way For A Long Time

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If you have a Peacock subscription and were paying even a modicum of attention to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina, you probably already know Alysa Liu. The 20-year-old figure skater brought home two gold medals (and a little payday) from the games, contributing to the team gold and her own individual win. Given her wild backstory and recent return to the sport, some