NHL Hockey 3d Briefing
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The Pittsburgh Penguins espn.com placed captain Sidney Crosby on injured reserve, sidelining the superstar for at least four weeks due to a lower-body injury sustained during the Olympics. Connor Hellebuyck espn.com, the goaltender for the gold-medal-winning U.S. Olympic team, will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, President Trump announced Tuesday night. The Dallas Stars espn.com announced Mikko Rantanen will miss an extended period after an Olympic-related lower-body injury.
Team Moves & Updates
The St. Louis Blues espn.com placed forward Robert Thomas on a temporary leave of absence for a personal matter, with the team noting he is second on the roster with 33 points. The Florida Panthers espn.com target a season debut for captain Aleksander Barkov, who is recovering from September knee surgery. The Vancouver Canucks espn.com acquired defenseman Brett Kulak from the Penguins in a trade involving Samuel Girard and a 2028 pick.
Olympic Legacy & Recognition
The U.S. men's Olympic hockey team visited the White House on Tuesday, receiving a bipartisan standing ovation during the State of the Union address. The Seattle Kraken espn.com finalized two-year contract extensions with forwards Ben Meyers and Ryan Winterton on Tuesday. The Colorado Avalanche also received defenseman Brett Kulak from the Penguins.
Post-Olympic Focus
Fantasy hockey managers espn.com should consider adding Dostal and Laferriere as key post-Olympic pickups. The NHL playoff picture espn.com remains fluid as the regular season concludes following the medal ceremonies in Milan Cortina.