“It’s something that we’re trying to change here, the culture and everything, and it’s been fun for me, playing every night and being healthy, feeling good about yourself, and having good games. It definitely helps,” Mrazek said about his time in Chicago. “But the No. 1 thing for me is to turn things around here as a team and start winning games soon.”

While the Blackhawks have been rebuilding over the past few seasons, the current campaign has been difficult for them. Going 14-32-2, the Blackhawks find themselves at the bottom of the Western Conference Central Division. Mrazek was 12-17-1 with a .907 save percentage and 3.01 goals-against average ahead of Wednesday night’s 6-2 defeat to the Seattle Krakens.

The post Blackhawks Reach Two-Year Deal With Goalie Petr Mrazek appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

“Over the years, he has built a young, powerful and dynamic team that our organization can be proud of,” Devils co-owner David Blitzer said of Fitzgerald. “Tom has worked tirelessly on revamping the roster via signings, trades and draft picks to build an established core with a focus on not only today but for many years to come.”

Since taking over from Ray Shero on an interim basis in 2020, Fitzgerald has played an active role in the team’s rapid improvement in the NHL over the past few seasons. He also served as the Pittsburgh Penguins director of player development when they won the Stanley Cup in 2009. The Devils currently find themselves fourth in the Metropolitan Division with a 24-18-3 record.

The post Devils Name GM Tom Fitzgerald As President Of Hockey Operations appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

“Aliaksei is a young and talented player, and we are excited to sign him to a long-term contract,” Capitals president of hockey operations and general manager Brian MacLellan said following the announcement of the deal. “He has taken great strides in his professional career, and we expect him to improve and play a pivotal and impactful role on this team for many years to come.”

Picked by the Capitals in the third round of the 2019 draft, Protas has contributed 18 points and three goals this season. He has played a role in lifting his team to a 22-15-6 record, putting them in contention for a playoff berth. Protas is ranked third in his team for assists and sixth in points.

The post Washington Capitals Sign Aliaksei Protas to Five-Year Extension appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

From 2015 until 2019, Kovalenko played in the MHL, Russia’s junior league, grabbing 17 goals and 33 assists in 72 appearances. During this period, the rising star helped Yaroslavl to win back-to-back MHL Championships. He was then selected as the sixth overall pick in the 2018 NHL draft by Colorado.

Last season proved to be Kovalenko’s breakthrough, with the right-wing achieving career-highs in goals (21), assists (33), points (54) and games played (56).

Kovalenko is the son of former NHL player Andrei Kovalenko, who played for the Carolina Hurricanes when Nikolai was born in Raliegh, North Carolina, in 1999. He was subsequently raised in Russia.

The post Colorado Avalanche Signs Nikolai Kovalenko to Two-Year Contract appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

DeAngelo was set to earn $5 million in the final year of his two-year deal with the Flyers. He now becomes the first player in NHL history to be bought out twice after New York Rangers bought him out in 2021.

The Flyers originally acquired DeAngelo in a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes last summer. He contributed with 11 goals and 31 assists for a total of 42 points in 70 games he played in 2022-23. However, the 27-year-old player never got comfortable with the Flyers and had multiple run-ins with the coaching staff.

After the season ended, the Flyers made a trade with the Hurricanes to send DeAngelo back to Carolina while retaining 50% of his salary. However, due to NHL CBA rules about teams reacquiring players on lower cap hits, the league nixed the trade.

DeAngelo, who has 199 points in 340 games as a pro, could now sign with the Canes as a free agent. However, it wouldn’t be surprising if several other NHL teams in need of a veteran defenseman join the mix.

The post Veteran D Tony DeAngelo Bought Out By the Flyers, Becomes a Free Agent appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Kraken was led to the victory by center Alex Wennberg, who finished the night with a goal and an assist, while goalie Philipp Grubauer made 34 saves to stop Avalanche’s high-octane offense from getting on the scoreboard more than once.

Speaking with reporters after the game, Wennberg said while the team enjoyed their first playoff win, they will not get carried away.

“Obviously, we played a good game, getting the first franchise win in the playoffs. But right now, this is Game 1,” Wennberg said. “Obviously, we are happy about this performance, but we’ve got to do it again and do it again.”

Kraken finished the 2022-23 regular season, their second in NHL, with a 46-28-8 record, and entered the postseason as a seventh seed. Many believed that being matched with the Avalanche in the first round would lead to Kraken having an unceremonious exit from the postseason, but it doesn’t look so now. Even if the lack of playoff experience gets the better of them later in the series, they have shown that they deserved their place in the Stanley Cup playoffs, and the league, for that matter.

The post Seattle Kraken Stun Colorado Avalanche to Get a 3-1 Win in Playoff Debut appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Levi’s arrival at the Sabres comes after the player won the Mike Richter Award as college hockey’s top goalie last season. This season, he once again finds himself as a finalist after producing a .923 save percentage; the highest at the college level nationwide. The 21-year-old also leads Hockey East with 4 wins, six shutouts, a 1.81 goals-against average, and a .947 save percentage.

With Levi in the mix, the Sabres will have a rotation of three goaltenders to choose from, including Eric Comrie and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, both of whom have a contract with the team through the end of next season.

Despite missing his freshman year due to injury, Levi finished his college career with a 38-22-6 record along with a 1.9 goals-against average and 16 shutouts.

After helping Canada to win the silver medal at the 2021 world junior championship, Levi was named the world junior championship tournament’s top goaltender.

The post Sabres Sign Goalie Devon Levi Out Of Northeastern appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

“We’re not in an expansion mode right now,” Bettman told reporters.

According to Bettman, “a number of people, entities, and cities expressing interest in having an NHL franchise “and mentioned Atlanta, Houston, and Quebec City as proposed options. However, the league is determined to stay put despite the interest.

“But it’s not really something, at least right now, that’s anywhere close to the front burner for us, “he added.

Bettman’s statement comes after a series of reports that indicated the league is looking to tap into new markets. Atlanta is the most frequently mentioned city, considering that it was home to NHL franchises the Flames and the Thrashers in the past.

Speaking about other league-related topics, Bettman also confirmed there are no plans to make tweaks to its current playoff format. NHL previously had a 1-8 system before switching to a wild-card format in 2013-14.

“If you’ve been tracking it for the last month, there isn’t much difference [in who plays whom] between either format. This is working well, and we aren’t looking to make any changes,” he shared.

The post NHL Has No Immediate Plans For Expansion, Says Commissioner Gary Bettman appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

As a result of his injury, the Predators expect Johansen to sit out for at least 12 weeks, ruling out any hope for the player to return before the latter stages of the playoffs in mid-May.

“We’re in a dogfight to find our way into the playoffs and it’s going to suck not being out there with my brothers but y’all fans inspire us everyday and our group is gonna need you for this push,” Johansen wrote on Instagram. He proceeded to thank the doctors who have treated him as well as everyone who reached out in support.

Johansen was injured during the second period of Nashville’s 4-5 win over the Canucks on Tuesday night when the skate of Vancouver defenseman Quinn Hughes appeared to clip the back of his right leg. The center was then helped to the locker room and later seen leaving the arena on crutches.

Currently, the Predators sit fifth in the Central Division rankings.

The post Predators’ Ryan Johansen Out for Regular Season Following Surgery appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Since arriving in Las Vegas from the Montreal Canadiens in June 2022, Weber has remained on the team’s long-term injured reserve. Weber missed the entirety of the 2021-22 season due to multiple injuries, with his last NHL appearance coming in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final in July 2021.

As part of a 14-year deal with the Nashville Predators in 2012, he makes $7,857,143 against the NHL salary cap but will be owed just $3 million in actual salary over the next three seasons. His contract ends in 2026.

With the deal now confirmed, the Coyotes hold seven draft picks in the first five rounds of this summer’s draft. Furthermore, the trade ensures that the team remains above the NHL salary cap floor of $61 million after the trade deadline.

The post Shea Weber Leaves Golden Knights for Coyotes appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

“It’s something that we’re trying to change here, the culture and everything, and it’s been fun for me, playing every night and being healthy, feeling good about yourself, and having good games. It definitely helps,” Mrazek said about his time in Chicago. “But the No. 1 thing for me is to turn things around here as a team and start winning games soon.”

While the Blackhawks have been rebuilding over the past few seasons, the current campaign has been difficult for them. Going 14-32-2, the Blackhawks find themselves at the bottom of the Western Conference Central Division. Mrazek was 12-17-1 with a .907 save percentage and 3.01 goals-against average ahead of Wednesday night’s 6-2 defeat to the Seattle Krakens.

The post Blackhawks Reach Two-Year Deal With Goalie Petr Mrazek appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

“Over the years, he has built a young, powerful and dynamic team that our organization can be proud of,” Devils co-owner David Blitzer said of Fitzgerald. “Tom has worked tirelessly on revamping the roster via signings, trades and draft picks to build an established core with a focus on not only today but for many years to come.”

Since taking over from Ray Shero on an interim basis in 2020, Fitzgerald has played an active role in the team’s rapid improvement in the NHL over the past few seasons. He also served as the Pittsburgh Penguins director of player development when they won the Stanley Cup in 2009. The Devils currently find themselves fourth in the Metropolitan Division with a 24-18-3 record.

The post Devils Name GM Tom Fitzgerald As President Of Hockey Operations appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

“Aliaksei is a young and talented player, and we are excited to sign him to a long-term contract,” Capitals president of hockey operations and general manager Brian MacLellan said following the announcement of the deal. “He has taken great strides in his professional career, and we expect him to improve and play a pivotal and impactful role on this team for many years to come.”

Picked by the Capitals in the third round of the 2019 draft, Protas has contributed 18 points and three goals this season. He has played a role in lifting his team to a 22-15-6 record, putting them in contention for a playoff berth. Protas is ranked third in his team for assists and sixth in points.

The post Washington Capitals Sign Aliaksei Protas to Five-Year Extension appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

From 2015 until 2019, Kovalenko played in the MHL, Russia’s junior league, grabbing 17 goals and 33 assists in 72 appearances. During this period, the rising star helped Yaroslavl to win back-to-back MHL Championships. He was then selected as the sixth overall pick in the 2018 NHL draft by Colorado.

Last season proved to be Kovalenko’s breakthrough, with the right-wing achieving career-highs in goals (21), assists (33), points (54) and games played (56).

Kovalenko is the son of former NHL player Andrei Kovalenko, who played for the Carolina Hurricanes when Nikolai was born in Raliegh, North Carolina, in 1999. He was subsequently raised in Russia.

The post Colorado Avalanche Signs Nikolai Kovalenko to Two-Year Contract appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

DeAngelo was set to earn $5 million in the final year of his two-year deal with the Flyers. He now becomes the first player in NHL history to be bought out twice after New York Rangers bought him out in 2021.

The Flyers originally acquired DeAngelo in a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes last summer. He contributed with 11 goals and 31 assists for a total of 42 points in 70 games he played in 2022-23. However, the 27-year-old player never got comfortable with the Flyers and had multiple run-ins with the coaching staff.

After the season ended, the Flyers made a trade with the Hurricanes to send DeAngelo back to Carolina while retaining 50% of his salary. However, due to NHL CBA rules about teams reacquiring players on lower cap hits, the league nixed the trade.

DeAngelo, who has 199 points in 340 games as a pro, could now sign with the Canes as a free agent. However, it wouldn’t be surprising if several other NHL teams in need of a veteran defenseman join the mix.

The post Veteran D Tony DeAngelo Bought Out By the Flyers, Becomes a Free Agent appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Kraken was led to the victory by center Alex Wennberg, who finished the night with a goal and an assist, while goalie Philipp Grubauer made 34 saves to stop Avalanche’s high-octane offense from getting on the scoreboard more than once.

Speaking with reporters after the game, Wennberg said while the team enjoyed their first playoff win, they will not get carried away.

“Obviously, we played a good game, getting the first franchise win in the playoffs. But right now, this is Game 1,” Wennberg said. “Obviously, we are happy about this performance, but we’ve got to do it again and do it again.”

Kraken finished the 2022-23 regular season, their second in NHL, with a 46-28-8 record, and entered the postseason as a seventh seed. Many believed that being matched with the Avalanche in the first round would lead to Kraken having an unceremonious exit from the postseason, but it doesn’t look so now. Even if the lack of playoff experience gets the better of them later in the series, they have shown that they deserved their place in the Stanley Cup playoffs, and the league, for that matter.

The post Seattle Kraken Stun Colorado Avalanche to Get a 3-1 Win in Playoff Debut appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Levi’s arrival at the Sabres comes after the player won the Mike Richter Award as college hockey’s top goalie last season. This season, he once again finds himself as a finalist after producing a .923 save percentage; the highest at the college level nationwide. The 21-year-old also leads Hockey East with 4 wins, six shutouts, a 1.81 goals-against average, and a .947 save percentage.

With Levi in the mix, the Sabres will have a rotation of three goaltenders to choose from, including Eric Comrie and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, both of whom have a contract with the team through the end of next season.

Despite missing his freshman year due to injury, Levi finished his college career with a 38-22-6 record along with a 1.9 goals-against average and 16 shutouts.

After helping Canada to win the silver medal at the 2021 world junior championship, Levi was named the world junior championship tournament’s top goaltender.

The post Sabres Sign Goalie Devon Levi Out Of Northeastern appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

“We’re not in an expansion mode right now,” Bettman told reporters.

According to Bettman, “a number of people, entities, and cities expressing interest in having an NHL franchise “and mentioned Atlanta, Houston, and Quebec City as proposed options. However, the league is determined to stay put despite the interest.

“But it’s not really something, at least right now, that’s anywhere close to the front burner for us, “he added.

Bettman’s statement comes after a series of reports that indicated the league is looking to tap into new markets. Atlanta is the most frequently mentioned city, considering that it was home to NHL franchises the Flames and the Thrashers in the past.

Speaking about other league-related topics, Bettman also confirmed there are no plans to make tweaks to its current playoff format. NHL previously had a 1-8 system before switching to a wild-card format in 2013-14.

“If you’ve been tracking it for the last month, there isn’t much difference [in who plays whom] between either format. This is working well, and we aren’t looking to make any changes,” he shared.

The post NHL Has No Immediate Plans For Expansion, Says Commissioner Gary Bettman appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

As a result of his injury, the Predators expect Johansen to sit out for at least 12 weeks, ruling out any hope for the player to return before the latter stages of the playoffs in mid-May.

“We’re in a dogfight to find our way into the playoffs and it’s going to suck not being out there with my brothers but y’all fans inspire us everyday and our group is gonna need you for this push,” Johansen wrote on Instagram. He proceeded to thank the doctors who have treated him as well as everyone who reached out in support.

Johansen was injured during the second period of Nashville’s 4-5 win over the Canucks on Tuesday night when the skate of Vancouver defenseman Quinn Hughes appeared to clip the back of his right leg. The center was then helped to the locker room and later seen leaving the arena on crutches.

Currently, the Predators sit fifth in the Central Division rankings.

The post Predators’ Ryan Johansen Out for Regular Season Following Surgery appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Since arriving in Las Vegas from the Montreal Canadiens in June 2022, Weber has remained on the team’s long-term injured reserve. Weber missed the entirety of the 2021-22 season due to multiple injuries, with his last NHL appearance coming in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final in July 2021.

As part of a 14-year deal with the Nashville Predators in 2012, he makes $7,857,143 against the NHL salary cap but will be owed just $3 million in actual salary over the next three seasons. His contract ends in 2026.

With the deal now confirmed, the Coyotes hold seven draft picks in the first five rounds of this summer’s draft. Furthermore, the trade ensures that the team remains above the NHL salary cap floor of $61 million after the trade deadline.

The post Shea Weber Leaves Golden Knights for Coyotes appeared first on yoursportspot.com.