NHL Hockey 3d Briefing
×Olympic Aftermath
The Vegas Golden Knights espn.com returned to action without five players who competed in the Olympic final, including Jack Eichel, Noah Hanifin, Mark Stone, Mitch Marner, and Shea Theodore. The United States men's hockey team espn.com drew an impressive 26 million viewers for their Olympic gold medal victory over Canada, marking a significant viewership milestone for the sport. Connor Hellebuyck espn.com, the goaltender for the gold-medal-winning U.S. team, will be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, President Donald Trump announced.
Player Updates
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby espn.com will miss at least four weeks after being placed on injured reserve. Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen espn.com is expected to be out for an extended period following a lower-body injury sustained during Olympic play. St. Louis Blues forward Robert Thomas espn.com, currently second on the team with 33 points, has taken a temporary leave of absence for personal reasons. Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov espn.com has set a target date for his season debut after recovering from September knee surgery.
Team News
The Pittsburgh Penguins espn.com acquired defenseman Samuel Girard and a 2028 pick from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Brett Kulak, who had been traded to Pittsburgh in December. The Seattle Kraken espn.com secured two-year contract extensions with forwards Ben Meyers and Ryan Winterton. Lightning coach Jon Cooper espn.com will miss two games following the death of his father, Robert.
Honors & Recognition
Devils star Jack Hughes espn.com was honored by his team before their game against the Sabres, celebrating his Olympic heroics. The U.S. men's hockey team visited President Donald Trump at the White House and received a two-minute bipartisan standing ovation during the State of the Union address. The Hughes brothers espn.com addressed the controversy surrounding President Trump's comments about the women's hockey team.
With Olympic play concluded, attention turns to the NHL's stretch run. The playoff picture espn.com is taking shape as teams push toward the regular season's end. Fantasy hockey analysts are highlighting key post-Olympic pickups, with players like Dostal and Laferriere drawing attention as potential difference-makers. As teams reintegrate Olympic participants, the competition intensifies with every game carrying increased importance for postseason positioning.