NHL

9:03 PM ET The Edmonton Oilers acquired Chicago Blackhawks veteran defenseman Duncan Keith and prospect forward Tim Soderlund on Monday in a trade for defenseman Caleb Jones and a conditional 2022 third-round pick, a source confirmed to ESPN. Which side comes out ahead in the deal? We grade both GMs here: Duncan Keith has three

5:54 PM ET Associated Press TAMPA, Fla. — Captain Steven Stamkos wore a T-shirt bearing the message “BACK TO BOAT,” setting the tone for another signature “Champa Bay” celebration. The back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning were toasted with a boat parade on the Hillsborough River for the second time in 10 months, with

10:50 AM ET Ron Francis and Dave Hakstol didn’t know they were participating in a four-week audition. They bonded at the 2019 IIHF world championships in Austria and Slovakia, where Francis was part of Team Canada’s management brain-trust and Hakstol was a member of the men’s team coaching staff. “I got to know him as

8:53 AM ET Every week, we’ll provide a recap and accompaniment to the latest episode of Quest for the Stanley Cup, the NHL docuseries about the playoffs available exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+. This week we dive into Episode 6, titled “On the Cusp.” Describe this episode in 10 words or less Thirty charming,

8:30 AM ET Every week, we’ll provide a recap and accompaniment to the latest episode of Quest for the Stanley Cup, the NHL docuseries about the playoffs available exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+. This week we dive into Episode 5, entitled “Chasing the Champs.” Describe this episode in 10 words or fewer The most

4:48 PM ET Associated Press Face masks were as prevalent as pucks throughout the NHL this past season, but documents show Canadian health officials wanted the league to take additional steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The league introduced a number of protocols in a bid to get back on the ice, including the

3:56 PM ET Associated Press Former NHL defenseman Bryan “Bugsy” Watson, who played for Scotty Bowman and with Doug Harvey and coached Wayne Gretzky, has died. He was 78. A Washington Capitals spokesperson said Friday that Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which owns the team, learned of his death Thursday from a member of Watson’s family.

1:34 PM ET Associated Press NEWARK, N.J. — The New Jersey Devils re-signed restricted free agent defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler to a two-year contract worth $2,250,000 on Friday. The contract has an average annual value of $1,125,000. The breakdown is as follows: $1,050,000 in the 2021-22 season and $1,200,000 in the 2022-23 season. The 24-year-old Siegenthaler

10:26 PM ET Star winger Vladimir Tarasenko has requested a trade from the St. Louis Blues, a source confirmed to ESPN on Wednesday. Tarasenko, 29, is in the seventh year of an eight-year, $60 million deal he signed in July 2015. He has a full no-trade clause to go along with 218 goals and 224

9:00 AM ET An announced crowd of 18,110 fans watched the Tampa Bay Lightning win the Stanley Cup on Wednesday night. That’s 18,110 more fans than attended their home opener on Jan. 13 against the Chicago Blackhawks at Amalie Arena, and 18,110 more fans than saw them raise last season’s Stanley Cup in the Edmonton,

10:52 PM ET As Tampa Bay Lightning fans drink up their team’s second straight Stanley Cup, they’ll soon be able to sip beer made from the ice on which it was won. Coors Light has used ice collected from the rink at Amalie Arena during the Stanley Cup Final to brew “Champions Ice,” a limited-edition

10:54 PM ET TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Lightning are back-to-back Stanley Cup champs — and they did it in a nine-month span. “This group, no matter what happens from here on out, this group is going to be etched in history forever, and that’s pretty F’ing special,” captain Steven Stamkos said. “I’m so

10:58 PM ET The Colorado Avalanche have opened as the betting favorites to win the Stanley Cup in the 2021-22 NHL season, according to Caesars Sportsbook by William Hill. The Avalanche, who won the Presidents’ Trophy for the NHL’s best record this season, are +500 to win next year’s Stanley Cup. The Vegas Golden Knights,

12:41 AM ET TAMPA, Fla. — Brendan Gallagher wore the Montreal Canadiens‘ Stanley Cup Final loss on his face. There were the red welts on his cheeks, battle scars from intense confrontations with the Tampa Bay Lightning through five games. There were his red and puffy eyes, still visible under a pulled-down hat. “Sorry,” said

11:09 PM ET Evil has prevailed. Tampa Bay has captured a second straight Stanley Cup. The Great Lightning Heist has been completed. This is how we’re supposed to react to this victory, right? That the “cheaters” won? That the team that was $18 million over the salary cap after reuniting with star winger Nikita Kucherov

5:07 PM ET The Columbus Blue Jackets confirmed that the errant fireworks mortar blast that killed goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks on July Fourth occurred at the house of goaltending coach Manny Legace — and followed the wedding of Legace’s daughter earlier that day. In a news conference on Wednesday, team president John Davidson said the team

7:02 AM ET The Stanley Cup will be in the building again on Wednesday night. Do the Tampa Bay Lightning get to raise it this evening, or is this series heading back to Montreal again? Check out the ESPN NHL Playoffs Daily to catch up every day of the postseason until the Stanley Cup is

9:28 PM ET Associated Press EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Defenseman Christian Wolanin has agreed to a one-year, $750,000 contract extension to return to the Los Angeles Kings. Wolanin was eligible for unrestricted free agency. The Kings announced the deal on Tuesday. Wolanin, 26, appeared in three games with Los Angeles after the Kings acquired him