Auston Matthews
FILE - Russian athlete Kirill Kaprizov (77) tries to keep Frank Hordler (48), of Germany, away from the puck during the second period of the men's gold medal hockey game at the 2018 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2018, in Gangneung, South Korea. The 2018 Olympics without NHL talent offered a glimpse of things to come for players who hadn't yet reached the best hockey league in the world. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
Olympics in 2018 showed glimpses of future NHL stars

By Stephen Whyno Feb. 16, 2023 06:00 AM EST

T-Mobile Arena stands in Las Vegas before an NHL hockey game between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022, in Las Vegas. The arena is the site for this year's NHL All-Star game. (AP Photo/David Becker)
NHL All-Stars sad to miss Olympics, but happy to be in Vegas

By Greg Beacham Feb. 04, 2022 04:21 PM EST

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

Toronto Maple Leafs centre Auston Matthews (34) falls over Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price (31) during the third period of Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff seres Saturday, May 29, 2021, in Montreal. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Maple Leafs at Montreal Canadiens 5/29/2021

May. 29, 2021 11:30 PM EDT

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price (31) stops Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Zach Hyman (11) on a breakaway during the third period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Toronto on Thursday, May 27, 2021. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canadiens beat Maple Leafs 4-3 in OT to force Game 6

May. 27, 2021 10:32 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

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

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

FILE - In this March 11, 2020, file photo, San Jose Sharks' Joe Thornton (19) moves the puck as Chicago Blackhawks' Brandon Saad (20) defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Chicago. The Toronto Maple Leafs signed 41-year-old forward Thornton to a one-year, $700,000 contract Friday, Oct. 16, 2020. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty, File)
Joe Thornton points to talk with Joe Montana in Toronto move

Oct. 18, 2020 11:01 PM EDT

Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Cam Atkinson (13) celebrates his goal as Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly (44) skates nearby during the third period of an NHL hockey playoff game in Toronto, Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Korpisalo shuts out Maple Leafs 2-0 in first playoff start

Aug. 02, 2020 10:54 PM EDT

Baltimore Orioles' Anthony Santander runs to the plate to take batting practice during baseball training camp Wednesday, July 15, 2020, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
The Latest: Smith back with Orioles after positive test

Jul. 18, 2020 02:34 PM EDT

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Seth Jones (3) shoots during during an NHL hockey training camp on Monday, July 13, 2020, in Columbus, Ohio. (Joshua A. Bickel/The Columbus Dispatch via AP)
'Luck in disguise': Layoff helps Blue Jackets get healthy

By Mitch Stacy Jul. 15, 2020 03:15 PM EDT

Media get their temperature checked before covering the Edmonton Oilers NHL hockey training camp in Edmonton, Alberta, Monday, July 13, 2020. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Pucks and masks prevalent as 24 NHL teams open training camp

By John Wawrow And Teresa M. Walker Jul. 13, 2020 11:49 AM EDT

Update on the latest sports

Jun. 21, 2020 12:45 AM EDT
HORSE RACING-BELMONT Tiz the Law wins Belmont NEW YORK (AP) — Tiz the Law has won an unprecedented Belmont Stakes,...

Update on the latest sports

Jun. 20, 2020 10:54 AM EDT
HORSE RACING-BELMONT Tiz the Law wins Belmont NEW YORK (AP) — Tiz the Law has won an unprecedented Belmont Stakes,...

Leicester's manager Brendan Rodgers talks to the team during the English Premier League soccer match between Watford and Leicester CITY at the Vicarage Road Stadium in Watford, England, Saturday, June 20, 2020. (Michael Regan/Pool via AP)
The Latest: NFLPA advises halt to private workouts together

By The Associated Press Jun. 20, 2020 08:16 AM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 10, 2020, file photo, Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins, of Latvia, makes a stop against the Tampa Bay Lightning during an NHL hockey game in Columbus, Ohio. The Blue Jackets have signed rookie goaltender Merzlikins to a two-year contract worth a reported $8 million. The 26-year-old Latvian became a fan favorite while successfully filling in for an injured Joonas Korpisalo in the second half of the season. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon, File)
NHL goalies trying to stay sharp during break

Apr. 26, 2020 04:58 PM EDT