1:53 PM ET Associated Press CHICAGO — Stan Bowman has a new job title and the same goal to set the Blackhawks back on a championship course. He insists no one is hungrier than he is to see it happen. “I’m very determined, very focused and extremely competitive,” Bowman said Friday. “The challenge is what’s

8:26 AM ET The NHL told its seven Canadian-based teams on Thursday that there is a possibility they will have to play in the United States this season due to roadblocks with Canadian health authorities, sources told ESPN. The NHL had been hoping to play a 56-game season starting on Jan. 13 with teams playing

6:13 PM ET The Florida Panthers have agreed to a one-year contract with winger Anthony Duclair, general manager Bill Zito announced Thursday. According to multiple reports, Duclair will make $1.7 million in 2020-21. Duclair was an All-Star for the first time last season while posting a career-high 23 goals for the Ottawa Senators. “Anthony is

1:19 PM ET The next chapter of Henrik Lundqvist‘s NHL career is on hold because of a heart condition that will prevent him from playing for the Washington Capitals this season. The longtime New York Rangers goalie posted the news on social media Thursday. “It breaks my heart (literally) to share this news: I will

10:23 AM ET Alexander Steen, who won a Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues in 2019, has announced his retirement due to a back injury suffered last season. Steen ends a 15-year NHL career that began with the Toronto Maple Leafs and ended with over 11 seasons in St. Louis, including the title-winning run

7:15 AM ET As the NHL inches closer to the 2020-21 season, the rest of the hockey world has been in flux. With many North American junior leagues either not yet started or frequently interrupted by postponements or cancellations, and European pro leagues doing all they can to complete seasons, tracking prospects has never been

2:46 PM ET Associated Press ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Wild signed goalie Andrew Hammond to a one-year, two-way contract Wednesday, adding insurance at the position in light of a long-term injury for Alex Stalock. The Wild announced Stalock, who took over as their primary goalie down the stretch last season, has an upper-body

1:37 PM ET The Chicago Blackhawks are doubling down on Stan Bowman, elevating him to president of hockey operations in a front-office reorganization. Bowman had been general manager and will retain that title as well. The Blackhawks split the duties of previous president John McDonough, who was fired in April. Bowman will handle the hockey

3:57 PM ET Associated Press DENVER — Pierre Lacroix, the astute executive who was the architect of two Colorado Avalanche Stanley Cup championship teams, has died. He was 72. The Avalanche confirmed his death Sunday. No cause of death was given. Lacroix was a driving force behind turning the Avalanche into a perennial power after

9:00 AM ET If you read the positional preview for centers, you’ll know the initial message will be the same. Don’t separate the forward roster spots in your league into different positions. In the center preview, we looked at how little difference there is in the key statistical categories between centers and wingers. And also