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NHL season preview: Power rankings, best- and worst-case scenarios and bold predictions
The 2021-22 NHL season is being called a return to normalcy. Last season was an unprecedented one for the NHL due to the COVID-19 pandemic: Four geographically realigned divisions, including one solely comprising Canadian teams; teams playing only opponents within those divisions; and a new playoff format that eschewed wild-card teams. But it ended just […]
Continue readingHall of Fame QB Brett Favre’s charity donated to University of Southern Mississippi Athletic Foundation while he pushed for state funds
Former NFL quarterback Brett Favre’s charity, Favre 4 Hope, donated more than $130,000 to the University of Southern Mississippi Athletic Foundation from 2018 to 2020, according to tax records obtained by ESPN on Wednesday. During this same period, Favre was trying to raise money for a new volleyball stadium at the university, where he played […]
Continue readingLingering questions for all 32 NHL teams heading into training camp: Goaltending, lineup, injuries, more
But now that fall is officially set to begin on Thursday, it’s also time for training camps around the NHL to open, as we look ahead to opening night of the season on Oct. 11. To help get you ready for the next few weeks — as teams decide on which players make the roster, […]
Continue readingNew Jersey Devils, goalie Vitek Vanecek agree to 3-year, $10.2M deal
Now they’re paying him in line with those expectations. Vanecek and the team agreed to terms Tuesday on a $10.2 million, three-year contract that counts $3.4 million against the salary cap through 2025. After avoiding arbitration, he will make $3.55 million next season, slightly less than incumbent starter Mackenzie Blackwood, who is going into the […]
Continue readingNHL Power Rankings: 1-32 poll, plus way-too-early trade deadline appraisals
With more than a week since the 2021-22 NHL trade deadline, it’s given us a small taste of all the traded players suiting up for their new teams — for better or worse. For this week’s Power Rankings, we’ve added notes on how the players acquired this trade season have performed in this way-too-early timeframe. […]
Continue readingWhy the NHL hit pause on the season now, and what comes next
The headlines on Monday night were stark, if unsurprising: The NHL was going to pause the 2021-22 season Wednesday, and resume after Christmas break, amid a spike in COVID-19 cases. This followed a flurry of team shutdowns that left a diminishing number of games on the schedule. In the aftermath, we’re left with several questions: […]
Continue readingNew Jersey Devils secure depth at forward, signing Marian Studenic, A.J. Greer to one-year contracts
General manager Tom Fitzgerald announced the deals on Wednesday. The 22-year-old Studenic will earn $750,000 at the NHL level and $100,000 at the AHL level with $125,000 guaranteed. Studenic appeared in eight games for the Devils, making his NHL debut in April. The Slovakian scored his first career NHL goal against the New York Rangers. […]
Continue readingAvalanche send D Ryan Graves to Devils with eye on expansion draft
In exchange, the Avalanche acquired forward Mikhail Maltsev and a second-round selection this year from New Jersey. By trading Graves, along with Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson agreeing to waive his no-movement clause, the team can protect defensemen Devon Toews, Cale Makar and Samuel Girard. The Devils have plenty of room to protect Graves. Protected lists […]
Continue readingNew Jersey Devils eye next season, sign goaltender Nico Daws, 20, to entry-level contract
General manager Tom Fitzgerald announced the signing of the team’s third-round pick in the 2020 draft. Daws, 20, recently finished his 2020-21 season in Germany. He had a 4-6-0 record in 10 games with one shutout and a 2.90 goals-against average. He had a 23-8-3-3 record with a 2.48 goals-against average and .924 save percentage […]
Continue readingNHL Power Rankings: 1-31 poll, plus the breakthrough player on every team
How we rank: The ESPN hockey editorial staff submits selections ranking teams 1 to 31 — taking into account game results, injuries and upcoming schedule — and those results are tabulated in the list featured here. Note: Previous ranking for each team refers to our Week 14 edition, published on April 21. Points percentages are […]
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