On September 30, Lausanne HC took on the Philadelphia Flyers in a preseason exhibition game. The game may have started as a friendly, but it soon took on much more significance as Lausanne HC jumped out to a 4-0 lead. The Flyers battled back and closed the gap to 4-3, in what became an international classic. The defeat marked the first loss in Flyers’ history to a club outside the NHL.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”6298″ img_size=”

The Los Angeles Kings made the first big splash of NHL free agency by agreeing to terms with Ilya Kovalchuk last month. The Russian superstar took an unusual path around the world to become the newest member of the Kings, and the saga may prove to be a cautionary tale for other athletes looking to maximize their value by playing overseas. Kovalchuk’s epic journey began in 2013 when he decided to walk away from his contract with the New Jersey Devils and join SKA St. Petersbur

The spotlight was as hot as the Texas sun during the NHL Draft. The first round of the draft, held in Dallas this year, showcased the strength of the international game. For the first time in 19 years, the top three picks were all born outside North America. The growth of European talent is immensely significant for the growth of the game; however, it is not widely known that European players are treated differently under the Collective Bargaining Agreement from their North A

“Concussion” might just be the scariest word in sports today, and fear of the injury is palpable. The NHL is not immune from the impact concussions have had on the sports world. At the start of this season, the NHL instituted a new concussion protocol, and now that the playoffs are underway, it seems the league has let the players know that it is serious about punishing head hits. Suspensions have been handed out in the postseason at an unbelievable pace, in part thanks to Ge

As unrestricted free agents Duchene and Eberle are allowed to sign with any club once the new league year starts on July 1. This gives them a lot of leverage in negotiating a new contract since they can create a bidding war for their services. For more on Free Agency and the different statuses of players, check out “How free agency works in the National Hockey League.” Unrestricted Free Agents in the First Round of Playoffs PlayerGPGAPTSp/pg+/-Matt Duchene, C, CBJ43471.755Jor

Makar has had a hectic last few days. Entering the weekend, he was a college sophomore and the top-rated prospect in hockey. So how did he go from NCAA standout to making history in the NHL in 48 hours? The start of Makar’s whirlwind journey to making history started on Friday when Makar won the Hobey Baker Trophy as the best college hockey player this year—the hockey equivalent to the Heisman Trophy. The next day Makar competed in the NCAA National Championship Game as a mem

Gusev has proven this season in the KHL that he can be a top six player in the NHL. The former KHL MVP and current All-star led the league in points with 82 in 62 games. Gusev has also won an Olympic Gold Medal and was named the best forward in the PyeongChang Olympics. Gusev’s KHL contract will expire at the end of April. Once his contract expires, Gusev will be free to sign a contract with the Golden Knights. Now that SKA St. Petersburg’s season has ended the Golden Knights

Gary Bettman, the commissioner of the NHL, announced on Tuesday that the NHL had determined that Voynov committed “unacceptable off-ice conduct.” As a result, the NHL suspended him for the 2019-20 season. The NHL said that Voynov could petition for reinstatement on July 1, 2020. In a statement following the decision, Bettman said, Today’s ruling, while tailored to the specific facts of this case and the individuals involved, is necessary and consistent with the NHL’s strongly

The biggest names on the list of free agents include Sergei Bobrovsky, Matt Duchene, Artemi Panarin and Zachary Werenski. Out of these top players, all but one, Werenski, will be unrestricted free agents on July 1, 2019. As unrestricted free agents, these players are allowed to sign with any club. This gives them a lot of leverage in negotiating a new contract. A full list of the free agent players currently on the Blue Jackets is below. NamePositionStatusSergei BobrovskyGoal

Thus far the NHL has played 29 regular season games overseas. These games generate substantial interest and excitement. The average attendance in these games is 13,339 per game and a total attendance of 386,818. In 2012 the NHL and NHLPA agreed to work together on international projects. Since 2012 the NHL has seen approximately 25 percent of their players come from Europe and Russia. The Global Series helps maintain and grow this percentage.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_

Jakub Voracek has played 834 games in the NHL, but Saturday was a first for the Flyers’ star forward: The Department of Player Safety issued a two-game suspension for a hit that Voracek delivered on Johnny Boychuk. The NHL Players Association has filed an appeal on behalf of Voracek, disputing the decision of George Parros, the head of the Department of Player Safety. The decision of the appeal will impact both the number of games Voracek will miss and how much money he will

On December 4th, Seattle became the newest city to join the NHL family, growing the league to 32 teams. While the NHL, Pacific Northwest, and fans of the game are rightfully excited about the newest franchise, one group that should be rejoicing is the players. The addition of the Emerald City should have players excited about the possibility of seeing their salaries increase in the future. The addition of a new franchise does more than just add another team to the league. As