NHL Hockey 3d Briefing
×Contract Extensions & Injuries
The Kraken agreed to extensions espn.com with forwards Ben Meyers and Ryan Winterton on two-year deals. Mikko Rantanen will miss weeks for the Stars espn.com after sustaining a lower-body injury at the Olympics. Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov has a target for season debut espn.com after September knee surgery.
Trades & Transactions
The Penguins sent Brett Kulak to the Avalanche espn.com in exchange for Samuel Girard and a 2028 pick. Defenseman Kulak had been traded to Pittsburgh just months earlier in December.
Olympic Impact
The gold-medal-winning U.S. men's hockey team visited the White House espn.com before attending President Trump's State of the Union address. Sidney Crosby sat out Canada's gold medal game espn.com as the Canadians fell short. Jack Hughes' overtime goal sealed Team USA's victory espn.com over Canada, with both teams already eyeing the 2030 Games.
Player Reactions & Controversy
The Hughes brothers addressed Trump's women's team comments espn.com amid growing controversy. Tom Brady and Devin Booker were among those reacting to the men's gold medal espn.com, celebrating the first U.S. hockey gold since the 1980 Miracle on Ice.
Playoff Picture & Fantasy Impact
With medals awarded, the NHL sprints toward the regular season's end espn.com. Post-Olympics fantasy pickups include goaltenders like Dostal and Laferriere, who are now must-add targets espn.com. The Olympic standouts and disappointments from all 32 NHL teams highlighted Milan Cortina's impact espn.com on the league.