NHL Hockey 3d Briefing
×Olympic Aftermath
The U.S. men's Olympic hockey gold medal win drew 26 million viewers espn.com on NBC and Peacock. Connor Hellebuyck will receive the Medal of Freedom espn.com as announced by President Trump. Vegas Golden Knights are traveling without five players espn.com from their Olympic final roster, including Mark Stone and Mitch Marner.
Player Notes & Injuries
Sidney Crosby was placed on injured reserve espn.com and will miss at least four weeks. New Jersey Devils honored Jack Hughes espn.com before their game against the Sabres. Meanwhile, St. Louis Blues forward Robert Thomas is on leave for personal reasons espn.com.
Coaching Achievements
Joel Quenneville became the second NHL coach espn.com to reach 1,000 wins when his Ducks rallied to beat the Oilers. Lightning coach Jon Cooper will miss two games espn.com following the death of his father.
Roster & Trade News
The Kraken agreed to contract extensions espn.com with forwards Ben Meyers and Ryan Winterton. Meanwhile, playoff races have restarted with many teams seeking to bolster their rosters espn.com for a deep run this spring.
Player Commentary
Brady Tkachuk expressed displeasure espn.com over a White House AI-doctored video that made it appear he was disparaging Canadians. John Tavares has focused on mental health awareness espn.com through his foundation, which has aided his career renaissance.