Hockey

An aerial view of TD Coliseum, the revamped arena project by Oak View Group in downtown Hamilton, Ont., Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nick Iwanyshyn

AHL’s Hamilton Hammers introduce Jay McKee as head coach, unveil jerseys

The Canadian Press 2 minute read 12:41 PM CDT

HAMILTON - New Hammers head coach Jay McKee wants to implement a "relentless" playing style that will appeal to Hamilton fans in their inaugural American Hockey League season.

The team unveiled its jerseys — almost identical to the look of the New York Islanders' jerseys — for the upcoming season along with introducing McKee, who was alongside Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche. The team name and logo were revealed on May 21.

The AHL’s board of governors unanimously approved the relocation of the Islanders’ affiliate from Bridgeport, Conn., to Hamilton, beginning with the 2026-27 season, on March 31.

The team will play at the 18,000-seat TD Coliseum, which recently underwent a $300-million upgrade, and will compete in the AHL’s North Division, which also includes Canadian teams in Laval, Que., Toronto and Belleville, Ont.

Advertise With Us

Weather

Jul. 7, 6 PM: 23°c Cloudy Jul. 8, 12 AM: 17°c Cloudy

Winnipeg MB

23°C, Cloudy

Full Forecast

Hockey

Ottawa Senators assistant coach Daniel Alfredsson takes part in training camp in Ottawa on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Toronto Maple Leafs add Ottawa Senators great Daniel Alfredsson to coaching staff

The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Toronto Maple Leafs add Ottawa Senators great Daniel Alfredsson to coaching staff

The Canadian Press 3 minute read Updated: 12:46 PM CDT

TORONTO - Daniel Alfredsson, once Public Enemy No. 1 in Toronto as captain of the Ottawa Senators, is leaving the nation's capital to join the Maple Leafs as an associate coach.

The Maple Leafs announced the move Tuesday, with John Gruden and Brad Werenka also joining Jim Hiller's staff as assistant coaches.

Alfredsson spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach in Ottawa after a Hall of Fame playing career spent mostly with the Senators.

He was a prominent figure in the "Battle of Ontario" between the Maple Leafs and Senators, which included four playoff showdowns between 2000 and 2004.

Read

Updated: 12:46 PM CDT

Hockey

Chance to play for Vancouver Canucks ‘too good to pass up on’ for d-man Oleksiak

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Chance to play for Vancouver Canucks ‘too good to pass up on’ for d-man Oleksiak

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Yesterday at 4:37 PM CDT

VANCOUVER - Jamie Oleksiak didn't know what to expect as the NHL's free agency window swung open last week.

Though he's been in the league for 14 seasons, the veteran defenceman had never been without a contract heading into July 1.

“It was quite the hectic day," Oleksiak said on a video call on Monday. "The opportunity came to play for the Canucks, and I just thought it was too good to pass up on.”

Vancouver inked the 33-year-old blue liner to a two-year, US$10-million deal last Wednesday.

Read

Yesterday at 4:37 PM CDT

Hockey

Back for another season, Alex Ovechkin is noncommittal on whether this will be his last

Noah Trister, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Back for another season, Alex Ovechkin is noncommittal on whether this will be his last

Noah Trister, The Associated Press 4 minute read Yesterday at 3:41 PM CDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Alex Ovechkin is returning for a 22nd season with the Washington Capitals.

Will this be the final act of his illustrious career?

“I don't know,” he said. “We'll see.”

The NHL's career leader in goals didn't formally commit to returning in 2026-27 until last week, so it was perhaps no surprise that Ovechkin remained noncommittal on whether this is going to be his swan song in Washington. Ovechkin said his wife suggested he play “one more year, or maybe two years, I don't know" — so if anyone was expecting him to announce a retirement tour for this season, that did not happen.

Read

Yesterday at 3:41 PM CDT

Hockey

Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) clears the puck as Montreal Canadiens' Ivan Demidov (93) moves in during the third period of Game 4 of the NHL Eastern Conference playoff series in Montreal on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Oilers’ goalie Frederik Andersen expects split starts under Babcock in Edmonton

Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Oilers’ goalie Frederik Andersen expects split starts under Babcock in Edmonton

Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Yesterday at 3:08 PM CDT

New Edmonton Oilers goaltender Frederik Andersen doesn't expect to start as many games under coach Mike Babcock as he did when they were Toronto Maple Leafs.

Anderson reunites with Babcock in Edmonton after signing a one-year contract with the Oilers on July 1, which was eight days after Babcock was announced as the NHL club's new head coach.

Andersen started 66 games in back-to-back seasons under Babcock in Toronto in 2017 and 2018.

Fresh off a Stanley Cup win with the Carolina Hurricanes, Andersen predicts he'll be deployed in a rotation with Tristan Jarry, and possibly the newly acquired Devon Levi.

Read

Yesterday at 3:08 PM CDT

Hockey

Calgary Flames sign defenceman Simon Nemec to five-year contract

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Calgary Flames sign defenceman Simon Nemec to five-year contract

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Yesterday at 1:25 PM CDT

CALGARY - The Calgary Flames have signed defenceman Simon Nemec to a five-year, US$36.25 million contract.

The Flames acquired Nemec, who was a restricted free agent, in a trade with the New Jersey Devils on June 23.

The 22-year-old from Slovakia was the second overall pick by the Devils in 2022, which made him the highest defenceman from his country ever taken in an NHL draft.

Nemec, who is six foot one and 200 pounds, had 11 goals, 15 assists and 26 penalty minutes with New Jersey last season. He compiled 16 goals and 33 assists in 155 career games with the Devils.

Read

Yesterday at 1:25 PM CDT

Hockey

Anaheim Ducks re-sign defenceman Mintyukov to 5-year deal amid Carlsson offer sheet drama

Greg Beacham, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Anaheim Ducks re-sign defenceman Mintyukov to 5-year deal amid Carlsson offer sheet drama

Greg Beacham, The Associated Press 4 minute read Sunday, Jul. 5, 2026

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Defenceman Pavel Mintyukov has agreed to five-year contract extension worth US$36 million with the Anaheim Ducks, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press on Sunday.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity Sunday because the Ducks didn't announce the financial terms of their deal through the 2030-31 season with the 22-year-old Mintyukov. The promising Russian blueliner was a restricted free agent this summer after recording 17 goals and 52 assists over 204 games in his first three NHL seasons.

The Ducks belatedly got this pricier-than-expected deal done with one of their most important young players only two days after they blundered into a precarious situation with their cornerstone centre.

Leo Carlsson signed a five-year, $90 million offer sheet with Philadelphia last Friday, which means the 21-year-old Swede is likely to be the NHL's highest-paid player next season for the Flyers or for the Ducks, who can match the offer or receive four first-round draft picks as compensation. Anaheim must decide by Friday.

Read

Sunday, Jul. 5, 2026

Learn more about Advertising solutions

Hockey

San Jose Sharks defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin, left, and Anaheim Ducks right wing Beckett Sennecke (45) vie for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Oilers sign Mukhamadullin to two-year deal, Stastney to one-year deal

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Oilers sign Mukhamadullin to two-year deal, Stastney to one-year deal

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Sunday, Jul. 5, 2026

EDMONTON - The Edmonton Oilers have signed defenceman Shakir Mukhamadullin to a two-year contract extension, the NHL club announced Sunday.

The deal has an average annual value of US$1.75 million.

Mukhamadullin, 24, came over to Edmonton as part of the trade that sent defenceman Darnell Nurse to the San Jose Sharks.

The six-foot-four, 200-pound Mukhamadullin had 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in 50 games for the Sharks last season.

Read

Sunday, Jul. 5, 2026

Hockey

Predators sign newcomer Mavrik Bourque to 6-year, $33 million contract

The Associated Press 1 minute read Preview

Predators sign newcomer Mavrik Bourque to 6-year, $33 million contract

The Associated Press 1 minute read Saturday, Jul. 4, 2026

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Nashville Predators signed newcomer Mavrik Bourque to a six-year, US$33 million contract Saturday.

The 24-year-old Bourque was acquired from the Dallas Stars on Wednesday in an NHL trade that also sent defenceman Ilya Lyubushkin to the Predators.

The Stars received the second-round pick in the 2027 NHL draft and a third-round selection in the 2028 draft.

Bourque had career highs with 20 goals and 21 assists in 82 games for the Stars last season.

Read

Saturday, Jul. 4, 2026

Hockey

Maple Leafs sign defenceman Emil Andrae to two-year contract

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Maple Leafs sign defenceman Emil Andrae to two-year contract

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Saturday, Jul. 4, 2026

TORONTO - The Toronto Maple Leafs signed defenceman Emil Andrae to a two-year contract worth a reported US$3.1 million on Saturday.

Andrae skated in 61 games for the Philadelphia Flyers last season, recording 13 points.

The 24-year-old Swede joined the Leafs last month in the trade that sent goalie Joseph Woll and defenceman Simon Benoit to the Flyers.

Selected in the second round, 54th overall, of the 2020 NHL Draft, Andrae has registered 20 points (three goals, 17 assists) in 107 games.

Read

Saturday, Jul. 4, 2026

NHL

CASSIDY DANKOCHIK / THE CARILLON
Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff took questions Friday at the Hockey For All Centre during Jets development camp.

Jets GM Cheveldayoff happy with off-season additions

Mike McIntyre 7 minute read Preview

Jets GM Cheveldayoff happy with off-season additions

Mike McIntyre 7 minute read Friday, Jul. 3, 2026

The work is far from over, and the biggest question facing his franchise has yet to be answered.

But Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff believes his hockey club took significant steps in the right direction during a busy week that helped reshape the roster.

It began with the selection of Swedish centre Viggo Bjorck eighth overall in last Friday’s NHL draft, then continued when the Jets landed goaltender Stuart Skinner and defenceman Mario Ferraro as free agency opened on Canada Day.

“We set out to fill a few of the boxes that we needed,” Cheveldayoff said Friday as he spoke with media following the conclusion of Winnipeg’s week-long development camp at Hockey For All Centre.

Read

Friday, Jul. 3, 2026

Winnipeg Jets

Welcome to Viggopeg

Ken Wiebe 7 minute read Preview

Welcome to Viggopeg

Ken Wiebe 7 minute read Friday, Jul. 3, 2026

Viggomania ran wild this week. And the Winnipeg Jets latest first-round pick did everything in his power to keep the hype train rolling.

By the time Viggo Bjorck skated off the ice on Friday at Hockey For All Centre and signed a bunch of autographs and posed for photos, it was abundantly clear that the eighth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft had left a positive impression on the Jets fan base.

Although it’s important to remember where we are in the calendar, Bjorck showcased his skillset on numerous occasions, whether it was making a deft pass up the middle to Jacob Julien to open the scoring during the scrimmage or burying a dish from Alfons Freij to show off his finishing ability.

Bjorck also provided a glimpse of his competitive nature when he got involved in a discussion over whether or not the goals scored during the shootout held between periods would count in this battle between Team White and Team Blue.

Read

Friday, Jul. 3, 2026

Hockey

Gavin McKenna, centre, puts on a jersey after being drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs as NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, left, and singer Justin Bieber look on during the NHL hockey draft Friday, June 26, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

Toronto Maple Leafs sign No. 1 pick Gavin McKenna to entry-level deal

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Toronto Maple Leafs sign No. 1 pick Gavin McKenna to entry-level deal

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Friday, Jul. 3, 2026

TORONTO - The Toronto Maple Leafs signed forward Gavin McKenna to a three-year entry-level contract, the club announced Friday.

The 18-year-old was selected first overall by Toronto at last week's NHL Draft in Buffalo.

McKenna had 15 goals and 36 assists for 51 points in 35 games with the Penn State Nittany Lions men's hockey team last season.

Before joining Penn State, the Whitehorse native recorded 244 points in 133 games with the Medicine Hat Tigers.

Read

Friday, Jul. 3, 2026

Hockey

Flyers sign Ducks center Carlsson to 5-year, $90 million offer sheet; Anaheim has 7 days to match

Dan Gelston, The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Flyers sign Ducks center Carlsson to 5-year, $90 million offer sheet; Anaheim has 7 days to match

Dan Gelston, The Associated Press 2 minute read Friday, Jul. 3, 2026

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Flyers are prepared to pay Anaheim center Leo Carlsson the highest annual salary at $18 million since the salary cap era began in 2005, now giving the Ducks seven days to match the offer.

The Flyers tendered the five-year, $90 million offer sheet to Carlsson on Friday, which would require four of the Flyers first-round draft picks in each of the next four seasons as compensation.

The Anaheim Ducks have seven days to exercise their right of first refusal on the player, per the NHL collective bargaining agreement.

The Ducks announced they would not make an immediate decision. General manager Pat Verbeek will not comment until the process is complete.

Read

Friday, Jul. 3, 2026

Hockey

Stars captain Jamie Benn returning for an 18th season with his only NHL team

Stephen Hawkins, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Stars captain Jamie Benn returning for an 18th season with his only NHL team

Stephen Hawkins, The Associated Press 3 minute read Friday, Jul. 3, 2026

Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn is returning for an 18th season with the only team he has ever played for in the NHL.

The Stars announced Friday, two weeks before Benn's 37th birthday, that he has signed a one-year deal for the 2026-27 season. The contract has a base salary of $850,000, the league minimum, with another $1,150,000 in potential performance bonuses.

“Jamie’s leadership and commitment to this organization is truly unmatched and he has helped define our culture,” general manager Jim Nill said. "He continues to set the standard on and off the ice, and we’re excited to have him leading our team for another season.”

Hall of Fame center Mike Modano is the only player in franchise history with more than Benn’s 1,252 regular-season games, 414 goals and 992 points. Benn has 80 points (28 goals and 52 assists) in 126 postseason games, and still hopes to win a Stanley Cup title.

Read

Friday, Jul. 3, 2026

Hockey

James Dolan cedes day-to-day running of the NHL’s New York Rangers to son Quentin

The Associated Press 2 minute read Friday, Jul. 3, 2026

NEW YORK (AP) — James Dolan is ceding day-to-day responsibilities of running the NHL’s New York Rangers to his son Quentin, Madison Square Garden Sports Corporation announced Friday.

Quentin, while taking over as Rangers president, chief operating officer and alternate governor, will still report to his father, who is also remaining in control of the NBA champion Knicks. Quentin will maintain oversight of player performance and science for the Rangers and Knicks.

"Quentin has made a strong impact on the Rangers and Knicks organizations, and we are pleased that he will step into this elevated position,” James Dolan said in a statement. “Quentin has quickly become an incredibly valued member of the Rangers franchise and played a key role behind the scenes with the Knicks during their championship run this past season. I look forward to seeing the positive influence he can make in this expanded and critical role.”

The change has no effect on Rangers general manager Chris Drury as he continues to be in charge of the team’s hockey operations department, other than that he will report to Quentin Dolan.

July 7, 2026

Notification Settings

Breaking News

Recommended Reads