7:30 AM ET NHL Insiders We’re nearly two months into the 2019-20 NHL season, with a slew of trends emerging to either buy or sell. So, we gathered a panel of four of our NHL analysts to weigh in on whether they believe these early season statements. For this week, that includes: 1. Edmonton’s top-scoring

5:44 PM ET Associated Press GLENDALE, Ariz. — New Toronto Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe spent a decent chunk of a 30-minute morning skate on Thursday teaching instead of running drills. There’s a lot for his new team to learn and not much time to do it. The 39-year-old Keefe is now in charge of

3:30 PM ET For many managers, fantasy competition is about more than goals, assists, plus/minus, average time-on-ice, power play points, shots and penalty minutes – the standard notes on ESPN.com’s scale for skaters. So, in a shout-out to all those who favor the custom fantasy route, here’s a look at some well-rounded contributors who satisfy

7:00 AM ET On Brendan Smith‘s 29th birthday, he thought his time with the New York Rangers was over. And maybe his NHL career, too. On Feb. 8, 2018, Rangers management sent a letter out to fans signaling a rebuild. Then they put Smith on waivers. Smith was less than eight months into a four-year,

1:47 PM ET Tampa Bay Lightning star Nikita Kucherov will not play Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks because of an upper-body injury, according to coach Jon Cooper. Cooper said the Lightning were hopeful that Kucherov would be able to play, but now they are unsure whether the reigning league MVP will return for Saturday’s game

12:58 PM ET The National Hockey League is offensive. As in, there are a lot of goals being scored. Why, what did you think we meant? Through the quarter mark of the 2019-20 season, about 317 games, scoring has continued to surge. There have been 529 different skaters with at least one goal, 72% of

9:29 PM ET The St. Louis Blues say forward Sammy Blais will be out at least 10 weeks due to a right wrist injury that requires surgery. Blais, 23, suffered the injury during the team’s 3-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday. Blais has eight points (five goals, three assists) and 10 penalty

6:12 PM ET The Toronto Maple Leafs fired head coach Mike Babcock on Wednesday after a 9-10-4 start to the 2019-20 season. It marks the third time since the start of the 2011-12 season that the Leafs have made an in-season coaching change, this one coming amid a five-game losing streak. Babcock was a splashy

4:44 PM ET ESPN News Services The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired coach Mike Babcock on Wednesday amid a 9-10-4 start to the season and announced Sheldon Keefe as his replacement. Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan made the announcement. The Maple Leafs are in the midst of a five-game losing streak, the team’s longest losing

8:31 PM ET ESPN News Services BUFFALO, N.Y. — With defenseman Zach Bogosian closer to making his season debut, Buffalo Sabres general manager Jason Botterill is seeking a trade to balance his roster. Botterill said he is “actively looking” to acquire a forward to help a team that is in the midst of a 1-5-2