NHL Hockey 3d Briefing
×Player Updates & Injuries
Penguins captain Sidney Crosby espn.com will miss at least four weeks after being placed on injured reserve. Blues forward Robert Thomas espn.com, second on his team with 33 points, is taking a temporary leave of absence for personal reasons. Stars forward Mikko Rantanen espn.com is out for an extended period after sustaining a lower-body injury during Olympic play.
Olympic Aftermath
Connor Hellebuyck espn.com, goaltender for the gold-medal-winning U.S. men's Olympic hockey team, will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The U.S. men's hockey team visited President Trump at the White House and received a bipartisan standing ovation during the State of the Union address. The Olympic gold medal win over Canada drew an average audience of 26 million viewers on NBC and Peacock in the U.S.
Contract Moves
The Kraken agreed to two-year contract extensions with forwards Ben Meyers and Ryan Winterton. The Penguins traded defenseman Brett Kulak to the Avalanche for Samuel Girard and a 2028 pick. Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov espn.com, recovering from September knee surgery, has targeted a season debut "soon."
Team Standings & Playoff Picture
With Olympic medals awarded, teams are now sprinting toward the end of the regular season. The NHL's playoff picture is taking shape as the stretch run begins. Teams are evaluating how Olympic performances might impact their postseason aspirations.
Controversies & Discussions
The Hughes brothers addressed the controversy surrounding President Trump's comments about the women's hockey team. Olympic standouts and disappointments from all 32 NHL teams are being analyzed, with some players returning home happy while others face frustration over their tournament performances.
Fantasy Hockey Impact
Post-Olympic fantasy hockey pickups are being evaluated, with players like Dostal and Laferriere considered must-adds for the stretch run. Fantasy managers are adjusting their rosters based on Olympic performances and the upcoming final push of the regular season.