The NHL’s regular season is over and the chase for the Stanley Cup is on if hockey returns this summer. The league settled on a 24-team postseason format that Calgary Flames captain Mark Giordano supported back in March as the coronavirus was shutting down sports. ”You can’t eliminate teams who are out on points percentage […]
NHL moving forward to next phase, still have details to work out
The NHL will abandon the rest of the regular season and go straight into the playoffs with 24 teams instead of 16 – if it is able to resume play. The decision, announced Tuesday by Commissioner Gary Bettman, is no guarantee that games are coming back. The NHL and the NHL Players’ Association must still […]
NHL moving into Phase Two (AUDIO)
Minnesota Wild forward Joel Eriksson Ek is in his home country of Sweden during the suspension of the N-H-L season and able to get on ice and skate. Sweden has not been completely shut down at any point in this health crisis, so he has been able to get into a rink and skate with […]
NHL pushing through with Phase Two of return
(Toronto, Ontario) — The NHL is hoping to move to Phase 2 of its return-to-play protocol, including the opening of practice facilities and allowing small group workouts, early next month. The league, which was forced to pause its season on March 12 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, released a 22-page memo detailing the plan Monday. […]
NHL players association board voting on a return
The NHL Players’ Association’s executive board is voting on a 24-team playoff proposal as the return to play format, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday night because the vote was still ongoing. Results of the vote could be in as […]
NHL trying to get pieces in place
The NHL is still more than a week away from determining a return-to-play format, a person familiar with discussions told The Associated Press on Tuesday. And what that plan resembles could be complicated further should the U.S. and Canada extend border restrictions to non-essential travel into July, the person said, speaking on the condition of […]
Wild star Fiala in Sweden, able to skate and be outside
Frozen by the virus shutdown but not forgotten was Kevin Fiala’s emergence, a surge that gave the Minnesota Wild a glimpse of the go-to scorer they have lacked for much of their history. Emelia Parise will remember it as well as anyone. Zach Parise’s daughter became quite the fan as her father’s teammate racked up […]
NHL players trying to stay in shape at home
Taking ice away from NHL players has caused some to resort to desperate measures. New York Islanders captain Anders Lee of Edina bought a Peloton. Anaheim defenseman Josh Manson wants a pair of roller blades. League leading scorer Leon Draisaitl of Edmonton stickhandles around his dog. Whatever works. Minnesota’s Zach Parise tries to stay sharp […]
Wild prospect Giroux shares thoughts on contract (AUDIO)
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Wild sign forward Damien Giroux to three-year, entry-level contract last week. Giroux, 20 (3/3/00), recorded 75 points (44-31=75) and a plus-34 rating in 61 games serving as team captain for the Saginaw Spirit in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He ranked T-1st in the OHL in game-winning goals (10), […]
New Wild forward Chaffee talks (AUDIO)
The Minnesota Wild last week signed forward Mitchell Chaffee to a two-year, entry-level contract starting with the 2020-21 season. Chaffee, 22 (1/26/98), recorded 29 points (16-13=29) in 30 games during his recently completed junior season at the University of Massachusetts. The 6-foot, 205-pound winger served as co-captain and ranked T-1st on the Minutemen in power-play […]