NHL Central Division
FILE - Former Chicago Blackhawks player Fred Sasakamoose is honored at the Edmonton Oilers-Chicago Blackhawks NHL hockey game Dec. 29, 2017, in Edmonton, Alberta. Sasakamoose is recognized as becoming the league's first Canadian aboriginal player in 1953, and he turned into a First Nations hero. But historians and the Hall of Fame would give that distinction to Mohawk player Paul Jacobs if he played in a game during the 1918-19 season. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
Chicago Blackhawks at Edmonton Oilers 12/29/2017

Dec. 06, 2022 12:34 PM EST

Slovak defenseman Andrej Sekera, 36, announces retirement

Jul. 19, 2022 05:18 PM EDT
FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Andrej Sekera announced his retirement on Tuesday after almost two decades in the NHL. The Slovak defenseman played the past 15...

FILE - Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith lifts the Stanley Cup after the Blackhawks defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 in overtime to win Game 6 of the NHL Stanley Cup hockey final June 9, 2010, in Philadelphia. Keith is retiring after 17 seasons in the NHL, three Stanley Cups and two Norris Trophy awards as the league’s top defenseman. He spent most of his career with the Blackhawks and joined Edmonton last season. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)
Duncan Keith announces retirement after 17 NHL seasons

Jul. 12, 2022 06:52 PM EDT

FILE - Slovakia's Juraj Slafkovsky scores an empty net goal against Sweden during the men's bronze medal hockey game at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022, in Beijing. The new 3ICE 3-on-3 league debuted in mid-June with Hall of Famers Bryan Trottier, Grant Fuhr, Joe Mullen and Larry Murphy among the coaches. The International Ice Hockey Federation and IOC have discussed the possibility of bringing 3-on-3 to the Olympics for another medal event after the same happened with basketball at the Tokyo Games. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
3-on-3 hockey league launches, could be step toward Olympics

By Stephen Whyno Jun. 29, 2022 04:28 PM EDT

Members of the U.S. women's Olympic hockey team greet fans before an NHL hockey game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Tampa Bay Lightning, Sunday, March 6, 2022, in Chicago. The team was there was in honor of National Women's Day. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)
Tampa Bay Lightning at Chicago Blackhawks 3/6/2022

Mar. 06, 2022 08:08 PM EST

Russian Olympic Committee goalkeeper Maria Sorokina (69) blocks a shot by United States' Kendall Coyne Schofield (26) during a preliminary round women's hockey game at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
US captain Coyne Schofield pulling double duty at Olympics

By John Wawrow And Stephen Whyno Feb. 13, 2022 01:39 AM EST

Metropolitan Division's Claude Giroux, of the Philadelphia Flyers, shoots the puck against the Pacific Division during the second period of a semifinal NHL All-Star hockey game Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Giroux named MVP, Metropolitan team wins NHL All-Star Game

By Greg Beacham Feb. 05, 2022 07:37 PM EST

Bettman: NHL going worldwide with revival of Global Series

By Greg Beacham Feb. 04, 2022 07:48 PM EST
LAS VEGAS (AP) — The NHL is ready to go worldwide again after two years of coronavirus restrictions and a missed Olympics. Commissioner Gary Bettman...

Colliton elevated to Canada coach after Julien gets hurt

Jan. 30, 2022 12:19 PM EST
DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) — Jeremy Colliton has been elevated to head coach of Canada’s men’s hockey team for the Beijing Olympics after Claude Julien was sidelined by...

Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen (4) carries the puck past Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Mathieu Joseph (7) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Dallas Stars at Tampa Bay Lightning 1/15/2022

Jan. 20, 2022 02:18 PM EST

Minnesota Wild left wing Kirill Kaprizov is congratulated as he passes the team box after scoring a goal in the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche, Monday, Jan. 17, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Minnesota Wild at Colorado Avalanche 1/17/2022

Jan. 20, 2022 02:18 PM EST

Brigette Lacquette poses for a photo at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Edmonton on Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. Lacquette is the first Indigenous woman to scout for an NHL team, the Chicago Blackhawks .(Jason Franson /The Canadian Press via AP)
Blackhawks' Lacquette becomes NHL's 1st First Nations scout

Dec. 30, 2021 04:13 PM EST

Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen (4) breaks up a shot attempt by St. Louis Blues' Vladimir Tarasenko (91) in the second period of an NHL hockey game in Dallas, Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
St. Louis Blues at Dallas Stars 12/14/2021

Dec. 29, 2021 05:56 AM EST

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)
NHL announces players won't be allowed to go to Olympics

By Stephen Whyno Dec. 22, 2021 10:53 AM EST

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard (49) falls on Nashville Predators right wing Rocco Grimaldi (23) after chasing the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Colorado Avalanche at Nashville Predators 12/16/2021

Dec. 17, 2021 06:18 PM EST

Montreal Canadiens players and coaching staff look on from the bench against a backdrop of empty seats during during second-period NHL hockey game action against the Philadelphia Flyers in Montreal, Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)
NHL shuts down 2 more teams for a week amid COVID surge

By Stephen Whyno Dec. 17, 2021 06:17 PM EST

FILE - USA's Chris Drury celebrates after scoring against Norway in the first period of a preliminary round men's ice hockey game at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010. As part of USA Hockey’s announcement, Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021, New York Rangers GM Chris Drury was named the team’s assistant general manager. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson, File)
Wild's Guerin promoted to take over as US men's Olympic GM

By John Wawrow Dec. 14, 2021 02:22 PM EST

Colorado Avalanche right wing Valeri Nichushkin, left, is checked by Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Riley Stillman during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021, in Denver. The Avalanche won 4-2. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Chicago Blackhawks at Colorado Avalanche 10/13/2021

Nov. 08, 2021 11:40 AM EST

Colorado Avalanche right wing Valeri Nichushkin, left, is checked by Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Riley Stillman during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021, in Denver. The Avalanche won 4-2. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Valeri Nichushkin facing doping case from 2013, Russia says

Nov. 08, 2021 11:37 AM EST