8:13 PM ET The NHL has revised a COVID-19 protocol on arena access just one day after it was established, following emphatic protests from the players. On Wednesday night, the NHL sent a memo to all of its teams and COVID compliance officers that detailed a handful of new safety protocols. The additional measures came

9:42 AM ET After a cluster of postponements this week, the NHL has mandated additional in-arena protocols to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, sources confirmed to ESPN. Beginning with Thursday’s games, the glass will be removed behind the teams’ benches. The belief is this measure will help increase airflow in arenas. In addition, players

2:15 PM ET Associated Press COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Blue Jackets placed goaltender Elvis Merzlikins on injured reserve after he was injured during practice. The move came hours before Merzlikins was scheduled to start Thursday night’s game against the Dallas Stars. Joonas Korpisalo likely will start in his place. The Blue Jackets said Merzlikins, who

11:47 AM ET Buffalo Sabres coach Ralph Krueger has tested positive for the coronavirus and is entering the league’s COVID-19 protocol. It’s the latest setback for a team that has had its games postponed at least through Monday. The team has four players on the COVID-19 list, including star winger Taylor Hall. Two other teams

Feb 4, 2021 If the offer is “all or nothing,” the Toronto Maple Leafs have inevitably settled for the latter. They haven’t won the Stanley Cup since 1967, which also was their most recent appearance in the Stanley Cup Final. Their seasons either end with the muted disappointment of air slowly seeping out of their

7:30 AM ET The most important word when it comes to young NHL players is one that long-suffering fan bases don’t want to hear: patience. Expectations have undoubtedly been skewed for highly drafted players of late in part because Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews destroyed the development curve for everyone else. Young talents just aren’t

8:40 PM ET The Minnesota Wild on Wednesday became the third team this week to postpone multiple games due to the NHL’s COVID-19 protocols, while adding five players to the league’s growing list of absent players. Minnesota postponed Thursday night’s game at the Colorado Avalanche, two games at home against the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday

7:36 PM ET ESPN News Services Several NHL teams had players added to the league’s COVID-19 protocol list on Wednesday. Five Minnesota players were added, making it six for the Wild. Colorado, which most recently played Minnesota, had one player added. Four more New Jersey players appeared on the list to get to 17. Buffalo,

11:51 AM ET Associated Press CALGARY, Alberta — St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong will be the GM for the Canadian men’s team if NHL players participate in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. Hockey Canada announced the move Wednesday, tapping Armstrong after he served on the management team that helped Canada win gold

6:13 PM ET The Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils played a game on Sunday in Buffalo. By Tuesday, the next week of games for both teams had been postponed and 16 players were on the NHL’s COVID protocol-related absences list. The Sabres were scheduled to fly to New York for a two-game series against