Connor McDavid
FILE - Russia forward Vladimir Tarasenko wraps the puck around the goal against Slovakia forward Branko Radivojevic in the first period of a men's ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. A handful of NHL players are voicing frustration over the decision not to allow them to go to the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing. Tarasenko said on Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021, he would have gone if given the choice. Keeping the season going while allowing individual players to choose whether to go was not something that was ever considered.(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)
NHL players vent frustration over being barred from Olympics

By Stephen Whyno Dec. 29, 2021 05:54 AM EST

FILE -Canada defenseman Shea Weber, left, trips over USA forward David Backes during the third period of a men's semifinal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 21, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. NHL players will not take part in the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing after all. A person with direct knowledge of the decision tells The Associated Press the league is going to withdraw from the Olympics after the regular-season schedule was disrupted by coronavirus outbreaks, Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021.(AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
Column: NHL skips Olympics again, cites COVID-19 uncertainty

By Jim Litke Dec. 22, 2021 03:32 AM EST

Los Angeles Kings' Tobias Bjornfot (7) and Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid (97) battle for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton, Alberta, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Quarantine concerns loom over NHL participation in Olympics

By The Associated Press Dec. 14, 2021 05:50 PM EST

Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid (97) celebrates a goal against the Vancouver Canucks during first-period preseason NHL hockey game action in Edmonton, Alberta, Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
NHL Preview: What to know about the 2021-22 season

By Larry Lage, John Wawrow And Stepen Whyno Oct. 11, 2021 02:23 AM EDT

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (34) works on his conditioning and skating efficiency alone on the ice during their NHL training camp in Toronto on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021. Matthews is not skating with the team due to wrist surgery. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Kane, Matthews and Jones first 3 picks for US Olympic team

By Stephen Whyno Oct. 07, 2021 01:30 PM EDT

FILE - In this May 26, 2019, file photo, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies' William Cyr, center, celebrates with teammates after a win over the Halifax Mooseheads to win the Memorial Cup hockey championship in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Memorial Cup championship for the Canadian Hockey League was canceled for a second consecutive year because of the pandemic. The Ontario Hockey League on Tuesday, April 20, 2021, abandoned its plans to hold a season, a move that complicates the evaluation of many players eligible for the 2021 NHL draft. (Darren Calabrese/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
Dent in the pipeline: NHL draft-eligible players take a hit

By Stephen Whyno Apr. 21, 2021 02:05 AM EDT

Photos of Vancouver Canucks players are pictured outside the closed box office of Rogers Arena in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Thursday, April 8, 2021. The Canucks said Wednesday that 21 players, including three from the taxi squad, and four members of the coaching staff have tested positive in a COVID-19 outbreak. The NHL is in the most difficult position among the four major North American professional sports leagues on vaccinations because seven of its teams are based in Canada. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press via AP)
NHL delays Canucks' return to play after COVID-19 outbreak

Apr. 15, 2021 04:45 PM EDT

Off-ice officials pack up equipment after the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames NHL hockey game was postponed due to a positive COVID-19 test result in Vancouver, British Columbia, Wednesday, March 31, 2021. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
NHL's North Division reacts to Canucks' COVID-19 situation

By The Associated Press Apr. 04, 2021 06:48 PM EDT

Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone, right, celebrates after left wing Max Pacioretty, left, scored against the Minnesota Wild during overtime of an NHL hockey game Monday, March 1, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
No Fun NHL? Restrictions help players appreciate hockey more

By Stephen Whyno Mar. 03, 2021 10:52 AM EST

Philadelphia Flyers' Travis Sanheim (6) and New York Rangers' Brendan Lemieux (48) collide during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Four separate leagues? Divisional styles develop around NHL

By Stephen Whyno Feb. 25, 2021 03:27 PM EST

FILE - In this Jan. 1, 2019, file photo, the Boston Bruins and the Chicago Blackhawks play in the NHL Winter Classic hockey game at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind. Outdoor games have become the the marquee event of the NHL season ever since the league staged the first Winter Classic in Buffalo in 2008. None of the 30 previous outdoor games had quite a setup like this season when the league will stage two games this weekend on the 18th fairway of a golf course on the shores of Lake Tahoe, with the Sierra Nevada Mountains towering in the background. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)
Tahoe outdoor NHL games could lead to more picturesque sites

By Josh Dubow Feb. 17, 2021 03:05 AM EST

FILE - Buffalo Sabres head coach Ralph Krueger looks on in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020, in Denver. Krueger marked his return to practice Sunday, feb. 14, 2021 with an upbeat but cautionary message following a 10-day bout with what he called “moderately severe symptoms” of COVID-19. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, file)
NHL adapts COVID-19 approach through 1st month of season

By John Wawrow Feb. 14, 2021 05:55 PM EST

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Philipp Grubauer, left, stops a redirected shot off the stick of Minnesota Wild left wing Zach Parise in the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Hey ref, how was breakfast? Unique season forges new bonds

By Stephen Whyno Feb. 10, 2021 02:30 AM EST

Edmonton Oilers' Kailer Yamamoto, right, skates past as Calgary Flames' Mikael Backlund, center, celebrates his goal with Milan Lucic during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021, in Calgary, Alberta. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)
Mikael Backlund helps Flames top Oilers 6-4

Feb. 07, 2021 01:20 AM EST

Vancouver Canucks left wing Tanner Pearson (70) is stopped by Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jake Allen (34) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021, in Montreal. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP)
Most NHL teams using 2 goalies to get through pandemic play

By Larry Lage Feb. 03, 2021 02:49 AM EST

FILE - In this Sept. 28, 2020, file photo, Tampa Bay Lightning's Steven Stamkos (91) is presented the Stanley Cup from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman as they celebrate after defeating the Dallas Stars in the NHL Stanley Cup hockey finals in Edmonton, Alberta. The NHL is embarking on a 56-game regular season with all divisional play in a knock-down, drag-out battle for the Stanley Cup unlike any other in hockey history. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
NHL embarks on season that will be like '56 playoff games'

By Stephen Whyno Jan. 09, 2021 11:29 AM EST

FILE - In this Jan. 1, 2020, file photo, Canada's Alexis Lafreniere shoots during the team's practice at the World Junior Hockey Championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic. The New York Rangers might be on the clock in owning the No. 1 pick in the NHL draft on Tuesday, Oct. 6. That, and the prospect of selecting Quebec star forward Alexis Lafreniere, doesn't mean the still-retooling Rangers will be anywhere closer to being a contender, team president John Davidson cautions. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
NY Rangers select Lafreniere with No. 1 pick in NHL draft

By John Wawrow Oct. 06, 2020 07:52 PM EDT

FILE - In this March 5, 2020, file photo, Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, right, and Chicago Blackhawks center Ryan Carpenter vie for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Chicago. The Oilers say McDavid has tested positive for COVID-19. The team says the star forward is self-quarantining at home and experiencing mild symptoms. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)
Oilers say McDavid tests positive for COVID-19

Oct. 05, 2020 10:35 PM EDT

FILE - In this Jan. 1, 2020, file photo, Canada's Alexis Lafreniere shoots during the team's practice at the World Junior Hockey Championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic. The New York Rangers might be on the clock in owning the No. 1 pick in the NHL draft on Tuesday, Oct. 6. That, and the prospect of selecting Quebec star forward Alexis Lafreniere, doesn't mean the still-retooling Rangers will be anywhere closer to being a contender, team president John Davidson cautions. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
Rangers have work to do despite having top pick in NHL draft

By John Wawrow Oct. 04, 2020 02:01 PM EDT

Edmonton Oilers goalie Mikko Koskinen (19) makes a save against Chicago Blackhawks' Dominik Kubalik (8) during third-period NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff game action in Edmonton, Alberta, Saturday, Aug. 1, 2020. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Blackhawks stun Oilers 6-4 in series opener

Aug. 01, 2020 08:37 PM EDT