6:51 PM ET San Jose Sharks associate coach Rocky Thompson is stepping down from his role due to a medical exemption that prevents him from receiving a vaccination for COVID-19, the team announced Friday. “Under the new League protocols, I am not permitted to fulfill my duties on the Sharks coaching staff at this time,”

5:59 PM ET Associated Press DETROIT — The Red Wings signed Filip Hronek to a three-year, $13.2 million contract Friday. The Czech defenseman will count $4.4 million against the salary cap through the 2023-24 season. Hronek has 16 goals and 64 assists through his first 167 regular-season NHL games. The 23-year-old put up 26 points

12:21 PM ET The Ottawa Senators have agreed to a six-year, $29.85 million contract with right winger Drake Batherson, the team announced Friday. Batherson, 23, skated in all 56 of the Senators’ games last season, ranking second on the team with 17 goals while adding 17 assists before becoming a restricted free agent. “Drake represents

Sep 3, 2021 When NHL players signed a new collective bargaining agreement in 2020, they earned a massive win: The league agreed to allow players to participate in the 2022 and 2026 Olympic Games. NHL players, uniformly, have fought to return to the Olympics. It’s a dream for so many to be able to represent

Sep 3, 2021 The NHL and NHLPA have come to an agreement with the IIHF and IOC that will allow NHL players to participate in the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing. The agreement does carry an opt-out clause: The NHL and NHLPA can pull out of the Olympics should COVID-19 conditions worsen, or if the

10:34 PM ET Associated Press TEMPE, Ariz. — The Coyotes have submitted a bid for two parcels of a 46-acre tract of land in what could be the first step to landing a permanent home. The city of Tempe said it received one response before Thursday’s deadline to a request for proposals issued in July

10:10 PM ET The NHL informed teams of its 2021-22 health and safety protocols Thursday, and they feature significant restrictions for unvaccinated players. On the road, unvaccinated players will not be able to go anywhere except for the team hotel, practice facility and arena, according to a 27-page document outlining the protocols, which was obtained

11:41 AM ET Associated Press BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo Sabres re-signed center Casey Mittelstadt to a three-year, $7.5 million contract on Thursday. Mittelstadt, a restricted free agent, was selected in the first round of the 2017 draft. The 22-year-old from Minnesota overcame early career inconsistencies to finish third on the Sabres with 10 goals

4:17 PM ET ESPN News Services After Lou Lamoriello was conspicuously quiet for most of the summer, he completed most of the New York Islanders‘ offseason work Wednesday by signing four players to multiyear contracts. Trade-deadline acquisition Kyle Palmieri, a veteran forward who came over from the New Jersey Devils and had a solid postseason

5:17 PM ET ESPN News Services ST. LOUIS — Colton Parayko‘s name is out of trade rumors and in the St. Louis Blues‘ long-term plans after agreeing to terms Wednesday on a $52 million, eight-year contract. The team’s top defenseman was set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, and his impending departure threatened