The top 100 NHL players of the decade
The following list ranks the best of the decade, pitting skaters against defenseman against goaltenders. The order was determined through statistical and analytic comparisons; consideration for postseason success and awards; and good old-fashioned subjectivity. A few factors we weighed in creating the ranking: Longevity was respected but not essential. There are players on the list […]
Continue readingNHL experts predict Coyotes’ final record, Taylor Hall’s free-agent home, Devils’ next steps
Where will the Yotes wind up in the standings? Where will Hall sign in free agency next summer? What’s the path forward for the Devils? Our panel of experts weighs in: Greg Wyshynski, senior NHL writer: With due respect to the Coyotes, I think the question will be answered by three teams: the Vegas Golden […]
Continue readingNikita Kucherov benched in third period; Lightning win in overtime
Kucherov, in the lineup after leaving Saturday’s 5-2 loss to the Washington Capitals midway through the second after taking a shot off his right foot, took the bench in the third after a costly turnover. Lightning coach Jon Cooper was pressed about the decision in his postgame news conference. He chose not to address Kucherov […]
Continue readingTaylor Hall’s ‘big-time play’ helps lead Coyotes to win in debut
There were less than three minutes left in their game at the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday, and the Pacific Division rivals were tied 2-2. Hall blazed down the right wing into the Sharks’ zone and forced a turnover by defenseman Brenden Dillon. Hall skated the stolen puck behind the San Jose net and passed […]
Continue readingThe NHL’s Great Pretenders: Teams that are not what they seem
It’s an especially useful mental exercise to go through at this point of the season, because we’re at a crossroads point of sorts in the calendar. We now have enough of a sample to reliably evaluate performance, but we’re also left with more than enough time to turn things around if all of the other […]
Continue readingThe NHL’s best and worst this week: Tim Thomas’ saga reminds us that empathy still matters
I remember a player once using Thomas’ name in jest. When I asked him if he thought about what he’d like to do after he retired, he said something along the lines of: “But whatever I do, I’ll be around. I’m not going to fall off the face of the Earth like I’m Tim Thomas.” […]
Continue readingCoyotes get Taylor Hall from Devils for picks, prospects
The Coyotes sent a conditional 2020 first-round pick, a conditional third-round pick, AHL centers Nate Schnarr and Nick Merkley, and junior defenseman Kevin Bahl to New Jersey for Hall and AHL center Blake Speers. The Devils are retaining 50% of Hall’s $6 million cap hit for the Coyotes to fit him in. “Taylor Hall is […]
Continue readingNHL experts: Keys to Flyers’ turnaround, West wild-card picks, rookies to build around, more
As we hit mid-December, we pulled together our panel of NHL experts to discuss some of the hot topics of the 2019-20 campaign. Which teams take the West wild-card berths? Who is the top rookie to build around? Where will the Lightning finish? How did the Flyers find their mojo? Which team deserves draft prize […]
Continue readingShort-handed Flyers continue to struggle without Travis Konecny
Hours after placing forward Travis Konecny on injured reserve Sunday, the Flyers were wiped out in Winnipeg, losing 7-3 to the Jets. It was Philadelphia’s second loss in two days and third on a three-game road trip. Konecny, Philadelphia’s leading scorer, is recovering from a concussion and has been out since Dec. 7. He did […]
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