Former Rangers and ‘Miracle on Ice’ player charged in attack
GRAND MARAIS, Minn. — Mark Pavelich, a forward on the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” U.S. Olympic hockey team who went on to play for the New York Rangers and two other NHL teams, has been charged with assault for allegedly beating a neighbor with a metal pole and breaking several...
Panthers to retire goalie Roberto Luongo’s number
SUNRISE, Fla. — Roberto Luongo regrets not having more friends and family at his last game with the Florida Panthers. If he had known he was retiring, a decision he didn’t make until weeks later, he would have ensured that more of the people closest to him were there that...
First Call: Le’Veon Bell’s laughable rap video; incredible NHL miscue
In Monday’s “First Call,” hockey hilarity. Le’Veon Bell’s new rap video is completely on brand. A massive baseball bet goes haywire. And one of the best dunks you’ll ever see. Understated and tasteful A teaser for Le’Veon Bell’s new video, “Slide,” is out. Now I know why he needed so...
Lightning give goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy 8-year, $76 million extension
TAMPA, Fla. — Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy has signed an eight-year, $76 million contract extension with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The team announced the deal — worth an average of $9.5 million per season — with the Vezina Trophy winner on Monday. Lightning vice president and general manager Julien BriseBois says...
Ex-Penguin Ron Francis has big hopes as GM of Seattle expansion team
SEATTLE — Ron Francis has all kinds of eye-popping statistics attached to his Hall of Fame career. The former Pittsburgh Penguin averaged more than point a game, is second in NHL history in assists behind Wayne Gretzky and fifth in career points. When CEO Tod Leiweke and the ownership group...
AP: Ron Francis nears deal as GM of Seattle’s NHL expansion team
SEATTLE — Seattle’s NHL expansion team is close to an agreement with Hockey Hall of Famer Ron Francis to become its first general manager, a person with direct knowledge told the Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Tuesday night because the team had not made an announcement....
Convincing Taylor Hall to stay is a Devil of a task for New Jersey
After the New Jersey Devils acquired P.K. Subban, Taylor Hall texted Ray Shero a green checkmark. “Like, ‘Check that box off,’ ” Shero said. “I guess that’s good.” The Devils have a much longer checklist to complete to convince Hall to re-sign and not leave as a free agent next...
‘Huddle Up with Gus’: Dave Hanson goes behind the scenes of filming ‘Slap Shot’
Dave Hanson of “Slap Shot” fame wasn’t a shoo-in to play hockey. “I thought I was moving on to play collegiate football,” Hanson told Gus Frerotte and Dave Hager during this week’s “Huddle Up with Gus” podcast. “I had a couple opportunities to go on and play collegiate football.” An...
First Call: Redskins’ Josh Norman leaps over bull; Jagr trade anniversary; stealing 1st base
In Friday’s “First Call,” an NFL player tries “bull jumping.” A dumb rule change is on trial in minor league baseball. And an unhappy Penguin anniversary. Is this covered in his contract? There is a leaping penalty in football. But I don’t think this is it. Redskins cornerback Josh Norman...
Top pick Jack Hughes skates at New Jersey Devils camp
NEWARK, N.J. — Top draft pick Jack Hughes was a little disappointed on his first night with the New Jersey Devils at their development camp for young players. Sitting around a TV with Joey Anderson, fellow USA Hockey National Team Development Program teammate and Devils’ draft pick Patrick Moynihan and...
Rangers, Islanders, Devils all creating buzz in NHL offseasonVideo
The New York Rangers’ rebuild got a big boost with the additions of forwards Artemi Panarin and Kaapo Kakko. The New Jersey Devils drafted Jack Hughes with the No. 1 pick and traded for P.K. Subban to improve their defense. The Islanders are coming off a second-place finish in the...
NHL’s restricted free agents prove to be almost untouchable
Some of the NHL’s best, young players are available. Technically. Mitch Marner, Brayden Point and Jacob Trouba are just a few of the restricted free agents in a bumper crop. Every team in the league would like to add any of those players this summer. However, it would be a...
Fantasy sports podcast: NHL keepers hurt by new teams; MLB run barrage
It’s our weekly fantasy sports podcast with Jeff Erickson of Rotowire. This week we get into major player changes affecting hockey and basketball fantasy leagues. We’ve seen a ton of player movement in the NHL. Jeff and I each give you one player that has changed teams who could kill...
Maple Leafs acquire defenseman Tyson Barrie in trade with Avalanche
TORONTO — The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired defenseman Tyson Barrie, forward Alex Kerfoot and a sixth-round pick in the 2020 draft from the Colorado Avalanche on Monday. Toronto is sending Colorado forward Nazem Kadri, defenseman Calle Rosen and its third-round selection in the 2020 draft. Colorado will retain 50 percent...
Rangers sign Artemi Panarin to 7-year, $81.5M deal
NEW YORK — The New York Rangers’ rebuild just took a giant leap forward. Winger Artemi Panarin, the top free agent available this offseason, signed a seven-year, $81.5 million deal to join the Rangers, a person with knowledge of the signing told the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because...
Breakup of Blue Jackets highlights Day 1 of free agency
Artemi Panarin is heading to the Big Apple, Matt Duchene to the Music City and goalie Sergei Bobrovsky to South Beach as the expected breakup of the Columbus Blue Jackets’ star core of players became a reality Monday. Add in veterans Corey Perry and Joe Pavelski signing with Dallas, and...
Corey Perry, Joe Pavelski among veteran NHL free agents to watch
The goodbye came quickly if respectfully for Anaheim Ducks veteran Corey Perry. After a knee injury limited the 34-year-old forward to 31 games, general manager Bob Murray last week bought out the final two years of Perry’s contract and sent the franchise cornerstone unexpectedly into free agency. “This is one...
Some top NHL players stay put, avoid free agency
Erik Karlsson wanted some time and space. When the San Jose Sharks acquired the Norris Trophy-winning defenseman in a trade last September, he and his wife told them up front they wouldn’t sign a long-term contract until they played a season to see if it was a fit. They gave...
Goalie Roberto Luongo retires after 19 seasons
SUNRISE, Fla. — Roberto Luongo wanted to keep playing and keep chasing an elusive Stanley Cup, largely because he believes the Florida Panthers are finally in position to be a playoff contender. His body wanted otherwise. And Luongo ultimately listened. The most popular player in Panthers history announced his retirement...
P.K. Subban ‘extremely excited’ about with trade to Devils
NEWARK, N.J. — P.K. Subban wasn’t exactly shocked Saturday when the six-time All-Star defenseman was traded from the Nashville Predators to the New Jersey Devils. “I’ve been through the process before,” Subban said in a conference call with the media Sunday. “There was a lot of talk after the season...
Trades of P.K. Subban, Patrick Marleau overshadow Day 2 of NHL Draft
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — On the second day of the NHL Draft, the salary cap crashed the party. P.K. Subban, Patrick Marleau and J.T. Miller were on the move Saturday as teams tried to get into position to bring back their own players or add to their roster during free...
Devils select US center Jack Hughes with 1st pick in NHL Draft
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — American center Jack Hughes and Finland’s Kaapo Kakko being selected with the first two picks in the NHL Draft hardly was a surprise. The New Jersey Devils opened the draft Friday by making Hughes the eighth American chosen with the No. 1 pick. And the New...
Kaapo Kakko ready for answer if he’s No. 1 or No. 2 in NHL Draft
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — While he spoke quietly and did the best he could to answer in English, Kaapo Kakko was prepared for the attention that came his way when all of the top NHL draft prospects gathered together on a boat sitting dockside in Vancouver Harbor. He was surrounded...
Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov tops Penguins’ Sidney Crosby in NHL MVP voting
Coming into the NHL’s annual postseason awards ceremony Wednesday night, Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby didn’t think he had a great shot at winning his third Hart Trophy as league MVP. His assessment was right on the money. Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov, who won the scoring title by 12 points...
NHL notebook: Flyers sign center Kevin Hayes
The Philadelphia Flyers signed center Kevin Hayes to a $50 million, seven-year contract. Hayes becomes the Flyers’ third-highest paid player with a deal worth $7.14 million per season and should step in as their new No. 2 center behind Sean Couturier. General manager Chuck Fletcher announced the signing Wednesday, saying...
