Volleyball fans will be served a helping of professional sports this year and the foreseeable future.

The Pro Volleyball Federation tips off on Wednesday for the league’s inaugural season. Women’s volleyball has seen tremendous growth in recent years as was evidenced by the Nebraska Cornhuskers’ volleyball team breaking the world record for most attendance at a women’s sports event. In 2021, the United States won its first gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics.

The league has lots of star power backing it, including Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, Super Bowl champion Trent Dilfer, multiplatinum singer Jason Derulo, and volleyball star and four-time Olympic medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings.

Pro Volleyball Federation CEO Jen Spicher left her 30-year career in corporate America to be a part of the leadership team of the league. She was in Detroit preparing to take a flight to the first match in Omaha when she spoke on the establishment of the venture.

‘Everybody is very excited. There’s been a lot of blood, sweat and tears put into this,’ she told USA TODAY Sports. ‘A lot of miles flown and driven, a lot of work done to get to this historic inaugural season.’

When is the first match for the Pro Volleyball Federation?

The inaugural season for the Pro Volleyball Federation starts at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday when the Omaha Supernovas host the Atlanta Vibe at CHI Health Center. A representative for the league said more than 10,000 tickets were sold for the match as of Tuesday afternoon. The venue has a capacity of 17,000.

The first week also includes a match between the Columbus Fury at the Grand Rapids Rise serving at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday. On Friday, the Atlanta Vibe take on the Orlando Valkyries at 7 p.m. ET.

‘Volleyball is having its moment, but Nebraska volleyball is really having a moment,’ Spicher said. ‘… Omaha and Atlanta were two of the very first franchises. In addition to Grand Rapids, those are the first three that signed with Pro Volleyball Federation. And we know that the Omaha team and the Omaha owners are gonna do a fantastic job of putting a quality product out there (Wednesday) night. And we just felt that the two of them — Atlanta and Omaha — it was a great idea for our first match.’

How to watch the Pro Volleyball Federation?

Pro Volleyball Federation matches will air on Stadium and Bally Live.

Spicher said that the league is set up to share revenue from media rights with its players, which is a rarity in professional sports.

The first week’s broadcast schedule is as follows:

Omaha Supernovas vs. Atlanta Vibe — 8 p.m. ET Wednesday on StadiumGrand Rapids Rise vs. Columbus Fury — 7 p.m. ET Thursday on StadiumOrlando Valkyries vs. Atlanta Vibe — 7 p.m. ET Friday on Bally Live

How has Nebraska helped boost volleyball’s profile?

The University of Nebraska’s volleyball program has been a leader in promoting the sport and excelling in it.

In August, Nebraska volleyball set the world record for most fans in attendance at a women’s sporting event. They had 92,003 fans pack Memorial Stadium to watch the Cornhuskers play.

The program has won four Big 10 conference championships and five national championships.

Jordan Larson, a three-time Olympian who was named the Most Valuable Player in the United States’ gold medal campaign at the Tokyo Olympics, is a product of the Cornhuskers program.

What is the Pro Volleyball Federation?

The Pro Volleyball Federation is a professional volleyball league that launches in 2024. Its formation was announced in November 2022.

There are seven teams in the inaugural season: Atlanta Vibe, Columbus Fury, Grand Rapids Rise, Omaha Supernovas, Orlando Valkyries, San Diego Mojo and Vegas Thrill. Three expansion teams from Indianapolis, Kansas City and Dallas will join in the 2025 season, bringing the total to 10 teams.

The league emphasizes offering a livable wage for its players so that they can play professionally in their home country. Hundreds of American athletes play in countries including Greece, Brazil and Japan.

Per Spicher, the base contract for a player in the Pro Volleyball Federation is $60,000, which is $2,500 per match. There are incentives for position accolades and playoff bonuses.

Spicher played college volleyball at Wayne State University and has seen firsthand the importance of paying players. She also thinks of her own family legacy in considering the significance of the league.

‘My best girlfriend left after we graduated. She went to Germany and I, granted this was many, many years ago, but I watched her go through a couple of seasons over there and I saw how she was treated and how she was paid — or should I say not paid,’ she said. ‘I’ve coached my daughter for the last eight years. And so volleyball is near and dear to my heart.’

There are 35 players that have been on a national or Olympic team, including 17 from the United States national team. The players average 4.5 years of professional experience. Dilfer’s daughter Tori Dilfer-Stringer is a member of the Vibe.

In December, the Pro Volleyball Federation held its first five-round draft where 35 college athletes were selected. The No. 1 overall pick was Texas’ Asjia O’Neal, who was drafted by the Fury and signed a contract with the team. She is one of 30 players who were drafted and signed with a franchise.

‘In the inaugural season before we’ve ever even served a point, to sign 30 of 35 players to this league is absolutely amazing,’ Spicher said. ‘Nothing short of fantastic to give these women a place to play in the United States close to family and friends and so they don’t have to go miles and miles away to play a sport that they love.’

What other volleyball competitions are in the United States?

The Pro Volleyball Federation is a partner with USA Volleyball, the organization that is home to the United States national team, which competes in global tournaments and the Olympics. The team seeks to defend its first gold medal at this summer’s Paris Olympics.

Athletes Unlimited is a sports league that offers a shorter season with adjusted rules meant to empower athletes and create more action. Besides volleyball, the organization also hosts leagues for basketball, softball and lacrosse.

League One Volleyball (LOVB) is another volleyball league that is introducing a professional level this fall. The regular season is expected to start at the top of 2025. LOVB Pro will play with teams in Atlanta, Austin, Houston, Madison, Omaha and Salt Lake. Each team will be linked to the local club volleyball program.

Music is essential to any sports fandom. Some NFL teams have embraced it more than others.

The Philadelphia Eagles have had their fight song, which eventually morphed into ‘Fly Eagles Fly,’ since the 1950s. The anthem has powered the team to four Super Bowl appearances, including last season when they won the NFC championship behind Jalen Hurts and Jason Kelce.

The San Francisco 49ers have ‘Niner Gang’ by Bay Area rap veteran E-40 to motivate them on game days. While it’s a newer song, the 49ers made it to the Super Bowl when it released in 2019 and have reached the the conference championship twice since.

The Dallas Cowboys embrace two songs by local legends Big Hud and Dorrough Music. The former has ‘How Bout Them Boys’ while the ‘Ice Cream Paint Job’ rapper has his own tribute to America’s Team, ‘It’s Our Time.’

The 49ers are the lone team standing in the NFL playoffs after the Eagles and Cowboys were kicked out in the wild card round, but all three teams had moments of glory with their songs.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

And, of course, the Super Bowl halftime show is as much a part of the event’s hype as the game itself. Rihanna stole the show at last year’s championship and her Spotify numbers are proof.

Here’s how music drove the 2023 NFL season via Spotify streams:

Eagles fans stream ‘Fly Eagles Fly’ up to 600% more on game days

During the 2023 season, the Eagles did not match the same success as last year’s Super Bowl appearance. But ‘Fly Eagles Fly’ remained a key ingredient to their winning recipe.

Philadelphia beat the New England Patriots in the season opener, and ‘Fly Eagles Fly’ saw a 600% increase in Spotify streams that day, according to data provided by Spotify.

In Week 4, the Eagles beat NFC East foe the Washington Commanders in a thrilling overtime game. The song was streamed 390% more than the day before.

The next major win during the season was in Week 7 when Jalen Hurts faced his Alabama replacement Tua Tagovailoa and beat the Miami Dolphins in primetime. ‘Fly Eagles Fly’ got a boost of 250%.

‘Fly Eagles Fly’ really soared in Week 9 when the Eagles faced the Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field in front of the Philly faithful. They beat their rival and Spotify streams were boosted 671%.

E-40’s ‘Niner Gang’ becomes fan anthem during 2023 season

Brock Purdy showed that last season wasn’t a fluke by leading the 49ers back to the playoffs — and as the NFC’s No. 1 seed nonetheless. ‘Niner Gang’ continues to be a fan favorite to go along with the team’s winning ways.

This season, San Francisco started with a bang by beating the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-7. Fans streamed ‘Niner Gang’ on Spotify 355% more than the day before the game.

They continued to play it the next two weeks. The song saw a 330% boost with a Week 2 win over the Los Angeles Rams and a 350% spike with a Week 3 victory over the New York Giants.

Fans flocked to the song Week 5 for a big matchup against another NFC powerhouse, the Cowboys. The 49ers won 42-10 and ‘Niner Gang’ Spotify streams went up 480%.

Cowboys fans embrace two songs during 2023 campaign

The Cowboys won the NFC East for the second time in three years. Their defense dominated with DaRon Bland leading the league in interceptions and Micah Parsons notching a career-high 14 sacks. Not to mention CeeDee Lamb had a record-setting season.

Dallas fans embraced two songs by local legends: ‘How Bout Them Boys’ by Big Hud and ‘It’s Our time’ by Dorrough Music.

Both songs saw the highest spike with Dallas’ season opener, when they dominated their division rival New York Giants 40-0. No one knew the Giants actually weren’t very good this season, but getting such a strong win to start always helps morale. ‘How Bout Them Boys’ saw a 470% increase in Spotify streams compared to the day before while ‘It’s Our Time’ saw a 245% increase.

Fans continued to listen to the songs in Week 2 against the New York Jets. Big Hud’s anthem was streamed 280% more and Dorrough’s got a 220% boost.

The songs stayed in rotation throughout the season and, for Week 12’s division game against the Washington Commanders, ‘How Bout Them Boys’ saw a 180% increase in streams and ‘It’s Our Time’ spiked 100%.

Rihanna’s Spotify streams skyrocket with Super Bowl performance

This year, Usher will be taking the stage as the Super Bowl 58 halftime performer.

Rihanna stunned last season with her pregnancy reveal, flashy red jumpsuit and a whirlwind of her greatest hits. She hasn’t released an album since 2016’s ‘ANTI’ and teased fans in 2022 with the single ‘Lift Me Up’ for the ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ soundtrack.

It didn’t seem to matter that she hadn’t released a new album in seven years. According to Spotify, streams for Rihanna’s music in the United States during the hour of 11 p.m. to 12 a.m. ET after her Super Bowl performance spiked 640%.

The track that saw the highest boost on game day compared to the week prior was her opener, ‘Better Have My Money,’ which saw an increase of 2,600%.

Three other songs also had an increase of more than 1,000%. ‘Diamonds’ saw a boost of 1,400%, ‘Rude Boy’ had an 1,170% increase and ‘We Found Love’ was streamed 1,160% more.

Mexican soccer player, Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández, has made a comeback to soccer and joined his childhood team, Chivas. The Liga MX had released a statement confirming that the top scorer of the Mexican National team had signed to play for his former team, where he started his career in 2006.

‘ChivaBrothers, it’s official! Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández returns to the team of his amores for the Clausura 2024,” Liga MX said in a press release. “We are convinced that his love for the institution, the experience acquired during his successful career and the leadership that characterizes him will be reflected in this new stage with Chivas.’

According to ESPN, Hernández had received other offers from teams in the MLS, Europe and the Middle East before confirming his return to Chivas.

Chicharito’s journey back home

Hernandez is originally from Guadalajara, Mexico and was brought up through C.D. Guadalajara academy. At the age of 15, Hernandez signed his first professional contract with the team. In 2006, Hernandez made his debut for Chivas in a match against Club Necaxa which Chivas won by 3-0. Hernandez played for Chivas until 2010 when he moved to Manchester United.

In 2010, Hernandez became the first Mexican player to join Manchester United, following his impressive performance in the 2010 World Cup. Apart from Manchester United, he also played for various clubs such as Real Madrid, Sevilla, West Ham United, and Bayer Leverkusen across Europe. During his time in the Premier League, Hernandez made 158 appearances and scored 53 goals and provided 10 assists. He also won two English Premier League titles.

Chicharito then spent four years in Major League Soccer with LA Galaxy and was the highest-paid player in the league in 2020. However, he suffered a torn ACL in 2023, which ended his season that year. During his time with LA Galaxy, Hernandez scored 32 goals in 82 appearances and earned an All-Star award in 2022.

The Detroit Lions are back in the NFC championship game, and the world sure is a lot different than their last appearance.

The date was Jan. 12, 1992. Detroit faced Washington for the chance to advance to the Super Bowl, but it was dominated in a 31-point loss to the eventual league champion. After that, the Lions went 31 seasons without ever reaching the championship round or winning another playoff game. But with wild card and divisional round wins, Detroit is back to being one win away from the Super Bowl.

In that time between NFC championship appearances, the world has drastically evolved, so look back on what it was like that last time Detroit was playing for a conference title:

What was the No. 1 song last time Lions were in NFC championship game?

Billboard’s No. 1 song in the U.S. was ‘Black or White’ by Michael Jackson. At the 1992 Grammy Awards, ‘Tears In Heaven’ by Eric Clapton would win record and song of the year.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

What was the No. 1 movie last time Lions were in NFC championship game?

The No. 1 movie in the U.S. was ‘The Hand That Rocks the Cradle.’ At the 1992 Academy Awards, ‘The Silence of the Lambs’ would win best picture, with Anthony Hopkins taking best actor and Jodie Foster taking best actress for their roles in the movie.

What was technology like the last time Lions were in the NFC championship game?

You couldn’t even text anybody when the Lions made the NFC championship game during the 1991 season. Text messaging was even a thing until December 1992. Even crazier, the flip phone was still four years away from being introduced.

You also wouldn’t have been able to just look up the Lions; Google was six years away from being founded. If you wanted to play with the Lions team in a video game, you needed a Nintendo Entertainment System to play the iconic football video game of the era — Tecmo Super Bowl — or the Sega Genesis to play John Madden Football ’92, which was just the second installment of what would become the premier annually released video game franchise.

How old were the Lions’ coach, players the last time Lions were in NFC championship game?

Current head coach Dan Campbell was just getting his high school football career started at Glen Rose High School in Texas.

As for the current stars of the Lions, they weren’t even around to watch the last Detroit NFC title game. Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs and Aiden Hutchinson weren’t born yet. In fact, long snapper Jake McQuaide is the only player on the current roster that was alive when Detroit last made the conference title game.

The NFL only had 28 teams

The NFL wasn’t the same league people know then. Only 28 teams existed, the Houston Oilers were still around, the Raiders were in Los Angeles, the Cardinals were known as the Phoenix Cardinals and the NFC West was made up of the Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints.

The last time the Lions were in the NFC championship game, the Tennessee Titans, Carolina Panthers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans didn’t exist yet.

NBC Sports has partnered with technology, media and entertainment company Cosm to bring a new twist to viewing their broadcasts.

The multi-year partnership announced Wednesday will bring Premier League soccer, horse racing and Notre Dame and Big Ten football games to ‘shared reality’ experiences. It is the first time any such events will be available in shared reality, according to a press release.

Cosm, the company behind shared reality, partnered with TNT Sports in 2023 to earn the rights to broadcast NBA, NHL and both U.S. national soccer teams’ events. It also has partnerships with the UFC and Cirque du Soleil.

What is ‘Shared Reality?’

The idea of shared reality stems from the use of 87-foot diameter, 8K+ LED domes to broadcast the events and give viewers the impression that they are experiencing the next-best thing to front row seats. According to Wednesday’s press release, its true definition is ‘an experience which bridges the virtual and physical worlds.’

In execution, it’s similar to the design of planetarium shows, which use great domes to make observers feel as though they are floating through outer space themselves. Given the tech company’s ’75-year history building the largest and most prestigious planetariums and science centers worldwide,’ the comparison is a fitting one.

In 2022, they completed a major venture into sports during the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing. Cosm offered the first 8K resolution livestream for NBC Sports’ virtual reality coverage of Olympic events.

‘When fans come to Cosm, there is always something new to see, and Cosm is the world’s best place to experience the event next to actually being there in person,” said company CEO and President Jeb Terry in a statement.

Where to experience Cosm’s shared reality sports events

Cosm plans to open two venues for their special viewing experiences later this year: one in Los Angeles at Hollywood Park, and the other in Dallas at Grandscape. The Los Angeles location is set to open in Q2 this year (spring or summer 2024), and Dallas’ opening is set for Q3 (fall 2024), a Cosm spokesperson told USA TODAY.

According to Wednesday’s press release, ‘Details of the schedule of events upon the opening of its venues will be shared at a later date.’

Pickleball has continued its rise as one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States among a younger demographic: high schoolers.

Several high schools in Maryland have added the racket sport as an option for athletes, allowing their students to join the pickleball team and compete against other schools.

Recently, Mount Saint Joseph High School in Baltimore and Calvert Hall College High School in Towson, Maryland faced off in one of the first head-to-head, competitive pickleball matchups between high schools. Mount Saint Joseph won their first match and are preparing to face River Hill, a high school in Clarksville, Maryland.

‘We want to work towards that multi-athlete. Kids that are playing baseball, lacrosse and tennis, to give them something to do in the winter. This is the sport,’ Mount Saint Joseph coach Michael Stromberg said.

How popular is pickleball?

According to a study released by the Association of Pickeball Professionals (APP) in March, 48.3 million Americans played pickleball between March 2022 and March 2023. That’s nearly 19% of the total adult population, using numbers from the 2020 U.S. Census.

A previous study from APP in August 2022 said that 36.5 million people had played pickleball in the 12 months prior. Their latest data from March suggests the racket sport saw an increase of more than 30% in participation over the course of about six months.

The same study from March listed New York, Los Angeles and Dallas-Fort Worth as pickleball’s most popular locations, with 11.3%, 9.6% and 5.2% of their respective populations having played over the previous year.

The average age of pickleball players is 34.8 years old, according to that same study, with more than 70% of ‘avid’ players between the ages of 18 and 44.

Less than seven weeks remain before the NHL trade deadline on March 8.

There have been several trades and plenty of other transactions this season, including contract extensions. The latest trade was between the Anaheim Ducks and Philadelphia Flyers.

There also have been five coaching changes, with the New York Islanders firing Lane Lambert and hiring Patrick Roy in the latest move.

The salary cap remains tight this season, but it is expected to rise to $87.7 million next season.

Follow along this season for news and analysis on deals, major transactions and other announcements that have happened in the months leading up the trade deadline:

When is the 2024 NHL trade deadline?

The NHL trade deadline is at 3 p.m. ET on March 8.

What transactions took place before the March 8 trade deadline?

Jan. 24: Chicago Blackhawks’ Petr Mrazek gets two-year extension

Maybe the Chicago Blackhawks won’t be major trade deadline sellers after all. Goaltender Petr Mrazek (two years, $8.5 million) is the third Blackhawks player to sign an extension recently, joining Nick Foligno (two years, $9 million) and Jason Dickinson (two years, $8.5 million). Mrazek, 31, has gone 12-17-1 this season with a 3.01 goals-against average and .907 save percentage. The Blackhawks, who are missing injured Connor Bedard and are tied for the bottom of the league in points, still have to make decisions on other pending unrestricted free agents, including two-time Stanley Cup winner Tyler Johnson.

REPORT: 5 from Canada’s 2018 world junior hockey team to face sexual assault charges

Jan. 22: Edmonton Oilers sign forward Corey Perry

Corey Perry, who had his contract terminated by the Chicago Blackhawks in November for undisclosed ‘unacceptable’ behavior, was signed by the Edmonton Oilers for the remainder of the season. He’ll get a prorated $775,000 and can earn additional performance bonuses. Oilers general manager Ken Holland said he talked to Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson, deputy commissioner Bill Daly and others before signing the gritty forward.

Perry, 38, didn’t elaborate on what he did that led to his release, but said, ‘Over the last two months, I really had a chance to reflect and get the help and take full responsibility for what happened in Chicago and try to better myself.’

Perry won a Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007 and was league MVP in 2010-11. He went to the Final in three consecutive seasons with the Dallas Stars (2020), Montreal Canadiens (2021) and Tampa Bay Lightning (2022). He has 53 goals and 124 points in 196 career playoff games, plus has won Olympic gold medals with Canada.

‘He’s been a player who’s been on a lot of winning teams,’ Holland said.

Also: In a corresponding move, the Oilers placed forward Adam Erne on waivers. … The NHL announced All-Star Game replacements for injured Connor Bedard and Jack Eichel.

Jan. 20: New York Islanders name Patrick Roy coach after firing Lane Lambert

The news was stunning, although Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello is famous for keeping moves under wraps and also for making coaching changes. The Islanders had fallen out of a playoff position with a four-game losing streak in Lane Lambert’s second season with the team.

Patrick Roy last coached in the NHL in 2015-16 and resigned from the Colorado Avalanche that August. He won the Jack Adams Award in 2013-14 in his first season in Colorado and won junior hockey’s Memorial Cup as coach/GM of the Quebec Remparts in 2022-23. He stepped down after that.

Roy, 58, won four Stanley Cup titles as a Hall of Fame goalie and is third in NHL wins after Marc-Andre Fleury recently passed him. Roy is known for his fiery competitiveness. He was fined $10,000 after his NHL coaching debut for shoving the glass partition between the two benches during a game against the Anaheim Ducks, though he was more composed after that.

Also: Florida Panthers forward William Lockwood was suspended for three games for goaltender interference against Marc-Andre Fleury during Friday’s game. Fleury ended up leaving the game. Lockwood will forfeit $12,109.38 in pay.

Jan. 19: Ottawa Senators sign Shane Pinto to one-year deal

Shane Pinto, who was suspended for 41 games early this season for violating the NHL’s sports wagering rules, signed a one-year deal worth $775,000. The Senators restricted free agent had been unsigned at the time of the suspension and will be eligible to return on Sunday. The league never said what he did to earn the suspension but said its ‘investigation found no evidence that Pinto made any wagers on NHL games.’ Pinto, 23, had a career-best 20 goals, 15 assists and 35 points last season.

Also: The Carolina Hurricanes, missing goalies Frederik Andersen and Pyotr Kochetkov, claimed goalie Spencer Martin off waivers from the Columbus Blue Jackets. … The Washington Capitals signed Aliaksei Protas to a five-year, $16.875 million contract extension that keeps the 6-6 forward under contract with Washington through the 2028-29 season. Protas, 23, has 18 points in 42 games this season. … The Vancouver Canucks gave a three-year contract extension to president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford.

Jan. 18: Minnesota Wild’s Jared Spurgeon to have season-ending surgery

The Minnesota Wild have shut down captain Jared Spurgeon for the season. The defenseman is scheduled to have hip surgery on Feb. 6 and then have back surgery four weeks later. He had missed the first month of the season, plus seven games in December, with injuries and hasn’t played since Jan. 2. He’s expected to be fully recovered by the beginning of next season.

Jan. 16: Chicago Blackhawks’ Jason Dickinson gets two-year extension

The deal is worth $8.5 million over two years. He joins Nick Foligno (two years, $9 million) as Blackhawks signing recent extensions. Dickinson is second on the team with 14 goals and third with 21 points.

Jan. 15: Colorado Avalanche’s Valeri Nichushkin enters assistance program

Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin has entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. The league and union announced Monday that Nichushkin will return once he’s cleared by program administrators. No other information was provided.

Nichushkin, 28, becomes the second Avalanche player to enter the Player Assistance Program this season. Defenseman Samuel Girard announced in November that anxiety and depression led to alcohol abuse and to him seeking treatment from the program. Girard returned in mid-December.

Nichushkin was away from the team in the playoffs last season for what the team explained at the time were personal reasons. He missed the final five postseason games of a first-round loss to Seattle.

His absence started after officers responded to a crisis call at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seattle the afternoon before Game 3 on April 22. A 28-year-old woman was in an ambulance when officers arrived, and medics were told to speak with an Avalanche team physician to gather more details.

The report, obtained at the time from the Seattle Police Department by The Associated Press, said the Avalanche physician told officers that team employees found the woman when they were checking in on Nichushkin. The physician told officers the woman appeared to be heavily intoxicated – too intoxicated to have left the hotel “in a ride share or cab service,” and requested EMS assistance. – Associated Press

Jan. 12: Chicago Blackhawks sign Nick Foligno to two-year extension

Gritty forward Nick Foligno, 36, landed a two-year, $9 million extension from the Chicago Blackhawks. He had been acquired with Taylor Hall from the Boston Bruins last summer to surround No. 1 pick Connor Bedard with veteran leadership and was making $4 million this season. He ranked fourth on the Blackhawks with 17 points, including five power-play goals, and second with 39 penalty minutes.

“The impact Nick has already had on our team in such a short time is a testament to his work ethic and dedication to helping the players around him succeed,” Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson said. 

Foligno is out with a fractured finger after fighting New Jersey Devils defenseman Brendan Smith, whose hit had given Bedard a broken jaw.

Jan. 10: Anaheim Ducks claim Gustav Lindstrom off waivers

The Anaheim Ducks were in need of a defenseman after trading Jamie Drysdale to the Philadelphia Flyers earlier in the week. Gustav Lindstrom, 25, claimed from the Montreal Canadiens, is a right shot like Drysdale, 21, though he doesn’t have his offensive upside. Lindstrom has 29 points in 142 career games, compared to 45 in 123 for Drysdale. Lindstrom’s best season is three goals with Montreal this season and 13 points in 2021-22 with the Detroit Red Wings.

Jan. 8: Toronto Maple Leafs sign William Nylander to eight-year, $92 million extension

His $11.5 million cap hit, which kicks in next season, will place him second on the team behind Auston Matthews (league-record $13.25 million) and ahead of John Tavares ($11 million) and Mitch Marner ($10,903,000). Those four will take up 53% of the projected $87.7 million salary cap. Marner and Tavares will be unrestricted free agents in the summer of 2025.

According to The Athletic, the contract includes $69 million in signing bonuses and has a full no-movement clause in all eight years.

Jan. 8: Anaheim Ducks, Philadelphia Flyers make trade

Cutter Gauthier, 19, voted the top forward at the world junior championships for gold-medal-winning USA, is heading to Anaheim for defenseman Jamie Drysdale and a 2025 second-round pick. Both were top-six draft picks. Flyers general manager Daniel Briere said the Boston College forward wasn’t interested in signing with Philadelphia, and he called Drysdale, 21, a ‘pretty special’ and ‘exciting’ player. Drysdale is the first year of a three-year contract but missed all but eight games last season and has played only 10 games this season because of injuries. He had 32 points in his lone full season.

Jan. 6: Chicago Blackhawks place Connor Bedard, Nick Foligno on injured list, add two forwards

The Chicago Blackhawks placed star rookie Connor Bedard and forward Nick Foligno on the injured list Saturday. Bedard suffered a fractured jaw on a hit from New Jersey Devils defenseman Brendan Smith and Foligno broke his finger in a subsequent fight with Smith. The Blackhawks now have nine players on the injured list.

With the Blackhawks in need of healthy players, they acquired forward Rem Pitlick from the Pittsburgh Penguins for a 2026 seventh-round pick. He has spent this season in the American Hockey League. They also claimed forward Zach Sanford off waivers from the Arizona Coyotes. He has two points in 11 games this season.

Also: Devils All-Star forward Jack Hughes, who left Friday’s game early, sat out Saturday’s game with an upper-body injury. … Los Angeles Kings goalie Pheonix Copley had season-ending ACL surgery.

Jan. 4: Calgary Flames’ Oliver Kylington takes step toward return from season off

The Calgary Flames sent defenseman Oliver Kylington to a conditioning assignment with the Calgary Wranglers, a key step in his return from taking more than a season off for personal reasons. ‘I feel I’m in a good place with my mental health and ready to take another step forward,’ Kylington said in a statement. ‘Returning to Calgary has been the right decision.’ Kylington, 26, set career highs in 2021-22 with nine goals, 22 assists and 31 points, but returned to Sweden last season. He began skating in Calgary last month. ‘We are so happy that he has made positive progression with his mental well-being, and we will continue to support Oliver through this process,’ general manager Craig Conroy said.

Also: The San Jose Sharks announced that defenseman Matt Benning had hip surgery. He’s expected to miss the rest of the season but be fine for training camp. … Montreal Canadiens forward Christian Dvorak will have season-ending surgery for a torn pectoral muscle. … Pittsburgh Penguins forward Matt Nieto (knee surgery) will be out six to eight weeks.

Jan. 1: Toronto Maple Leafs send down goalie Ilya Samsonov

The Toronto Maple Leafs loaned veteran goaltender Ilya Samsonov to the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League after he cleared waivers. They called up Dennis Hildeby. Samsonov, 26, has struggled in his second season with the Maple Leafs, recording a 3.94 goals-against average and .862 save percentage. He has given up 17 goals in his last three games and was pulled in one of them. Samsonov filed for salary arbitration last summer and was awarded a $3.55 million contract. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent next summer.

Also: The Buffalo Sabres assigned Eric Comrie to Rochester (New York) of the AHL after he cleared waivers. The Sabres had been carrying three goalies this season. Devon Levi and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen remain with the Sabres. Comrie is 1-5-0 this season.

Dec. 28: New Jersey Devils send down goalie Akira Schmid

The New Jersey Devils, who have lacked consistent goaltending this season, sent Akira Schmid to Utica (New York) of the American Hockey League. Schmid, 23, helped the Devils win their first-round series last season, but is 5-7-1 with a 3.26 goals-against average and .893 save percentage. Coach Lindy Ruff wants him to play more games and ‘get into a rhythm.’

‘Our goalies can give us more saves at times,’ Ruff said. ‘But we haven’t been as good a team in front of our goalies, either, so it’s kind of a two-way street.’

Nico Daws, who has returned from hip surgery, will back up Vitek Vanecek.

Dec. 28: Washington Capitals sign defenseman Ethan Bear

Ethan Bear will average $2.0625 million for the two-year deal. He is coming off shoulder surgery and had been working out with the Capitals. Bear, 26, has 16 goals and 47 assists in 251 career games with the Vancouver Canucks, Carolina Hurricanes and Edmonton Oilers. He kills penalties and blocks shots. The Capitals could be getting additional help, too, because offseason signee Max Pacioretty (Achilles surgery) has resumed skating.

Dec. 27: Carolina Hurricanes recall veteran goalie Antti Raanta

The Carolina Hurricanes recalled veteran goalie Antti Raanta from a two-game stint in the American Hockey League. Raanta, 34, went 1-0-1 with a 2.90 goals-against average and a .890 save percentage with the Chicago Wolves during his first AHL appearance since the 2019-20 season. Raanta was sent down after seeing his numbers drop to a 3.61 goals-against average and a .854 save percentage from last season’s 2.23 and .910. He is fourth to last in MoneyPuck’s goals saved against expected. Pyotr Kochetkov is expected to get the start Wednesday in Nashville. Carolina reassigned goaltender Yaniv Perets to the Norfolk (Virginia) Admirals of the ECHL.

Dec. 22: Colorado Avalanche’s Samuel Girard cleared to practice after stint in assistance program

The NHL and NHL Players’ Association said defenseman Samuel Girard has been cleared to resume practicing with the Colorado Avalanche after spending time in the player assistance program. Girard, 25, had announced last month through his agent that his severe anxiety and depression had gone untreated too long and had led to alcohol abuse. He now is in the aftercare phase but hasn’t been cleared to play in games.

Also: NHL commissioner Gary Bettman upheld the six-game suspension to Detroit Red Wings forward David Perron for cross-checking Ottawa Senators defenseman Artem Zub in the head. Perron, who had been reacting to an injury to captain Dylan Larkin, has served the six games and was set to return in Friday’s game.

Dec. 19: Banged-up Detroit Red Wings sign goalie Michael Hutchinson to NHL contract

Tuesday was a good day for Michael Hutchinson: He got himself an NHL contract, five days before Christmas.

The one-year, two-way contract (worth $775,000 at the NHL level) came about because the Detroit Red Wings need Hutchinson’s services at least through the end of the week; neither Ville Husso nor Alex Lyon is available, leaving James Reimer the lone goalie standing. Husso is week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

Coach Derek Lalonde described it as, ‘Ville will be unavailable to us for a while here.’ He added: ‘Alex, I do not see him available to us till probably after Christmas.’

Husso was injured in the first period of Monday’s 4-3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks. Lyon suffered an upper-body injury Saturday night in Philadelphia. The Red Wings play three games before the three-day holiday break.

– Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press

Dec. 18: Ottawa Senators fire D.J. Smith, name Jacques Martin interim coach

Jacques Martin was hired earlier this season by the Ottawa Senators as a consultant for coach D.J. Smith. Now, he will run the team on an interim basis after Smith was fired on Monday.

Martin, 71, is the Senators’ all-time leader in coaching wins during the regular season (341) and playoffs (31). Daniel Alfredsson, the franchise’s all-time leading scorer, was named an assistant coach, replacing Davis Payne.

Smith, who had never finished better than sixth in the division, was fired amid a four-game losing streak that included blown leads in the last two. The Senators sit in last place in the Eastern Conference.

‘I think we’re all looking for more consistency, more detail to our game, more structure,’ president of hockey operations Steve Staios told reporters.

Also: Dallas Stars goalie Jake Oettinger is week-to-week with a lower-body injury. … The Boston Bruins loaned forward Matthew Poitras to the Canadian national team for the world junior championships.

Dec. 16: Carolina Hurricanes place goalie Antti Raanta on waivers

The Carolina Hurricanes have placed veteran goalie Antti Raanta on waivers a day after he gave up six goals in a loss to the Nashville Predators. He cleared waivers and was sent to Chicago of the American Hockey League on Sunday. Carolina recalled ECHL goalie Yaniv Perets, who won an NCAA title with Quinnipiac last season. Raanta, 34, who gave up eight goals in a loss last month to the Tampa Bay Lightning, has seen his numbers drop to a 3.61 goals-against average and .854 save percentage from last season’s 2.23, .910 and is second to last in MoneyPuck’s goals saved against expected. Pyotr Kochetkov has been the better goalie since No. 1 goalie Frederik Andersen was sidelined with a blood-clotting issue. Andersen remains out indefinitely.

Dec. 15: Seattle Kraken acquire forward Tomas Tatar from Colorado Avalanche

The Avalanche receive a fifth-round pick in the trade. The Kraken rank near the bottom of the league in scoring, and they’re hoping for the Tomas Tatar of previous seasons, not this season. He’s a seven-time 20-goal scorer who has just one goal this season after not getting a free agent contract until September. But he’s a veteran of 810 games with 212 career goals, including 50 on the power play. He’ll help Seattle deal with injuries among its forwards. The team placed Jaden Schwartz on long-term injured reserve.

In a depth trade Friday, the San Jose Sharks acquired center Jack Studnicka from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for defenseman Nick Cicek and a sixth-round pick.

Dec. 15: Columbus Blue Jackets’ Patrik Laine suffers fractured clavicle

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Patrik Laine, who has had problems recently staying healthy, will be out six weeks after suffering a fracture clavicle during a win against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the team announced Friday. He left the ice holding his shoulder in the second period after he was tripped by Toronto’s William Lagesson and slid into the boards. Laine had scored his sixth goal of the season during the first period. He was in his second game back after missing three games with an illness. He missed nine games early this season with a concussion and also was a healthy scratch once. Last season, Laine was limited to 55 games by injury or illness and played only 56 the season before.

Dec. 12: St. Louis Blues fire coach Craig Berube, name Drew Bannister as interim

General manager Doug Armstrong said he started having sleepless nights after a Dec. 8 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. After the short-handed Detroit Red Wings rallied to hand St. Louis its fourth consecutive loss, Armstrong fired Craig Berube and named Drew Bannister, head of their American Hockey League affiliate, the interim coach. ‘Your mind is starting to work when you’re everybody’s homecoming game,’ Armstrong told reporters on Wednesday, a day after making the move.

Coaching changes have turned around the fortunes of the Edmonton Oilers and Minnesota Wild this season, and Berube took a last-place Blues team to the 2019 Stanley Cup title after his midseason hire. Bannister isn’t necessarily the coach for the rest of the season, though. Armstrong said he is looking for a full-time coach but didn’t have a timetable on when he’ll make a hire.

The Blues rank near the bottom of the league in power play and goals per game. They traded Robert Bortuzzo and waived Jakub Vrana, who’s headed to the AHL with Mackenzie MacEachern being recalled. Armstrong said he and the players share in the blame for the team’s performance. ‘Nobody should feel safe in our group,’ he said.

Dec. 8: New York Islanders acquire St. Louis Blues’ Robert Bortuzzo

The New York Islanders acquired defenseman Robert Bortuzzo from the St. Louis Blues on Friday in exchange for a seventh-round pick. The trade was announced after the team said Ryan Pulock (lower body) was going on the injured list, joining fellow defensemen Adam Pelech and Sebastian Aho. Bortuzzo, 34, won a Stanley Cup with the Blues in 2019 but has been limited to four games this season and often was a healthy scratch. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Dec. 7: Nashville Predators’ Tyson Barrie discusses trade request

Nashville Predators defenseman Tyson Barrie knew he was about to be uncomfortable with the questions that were going to come his way Thursday, ones about him requesting a trade after being a healthy scratch last weekend. About the Predators granting him permission to talk with other teams.

‘I’m trying not to really air it out in the media,’ Barrie said.

As much as he might have wanted to, Barrie didn’t exactly bury any hatchets, either.

‘Well, if we’re getting into it, I’m in the stands so it doesn’t really feel like a great fit,’ he said. ‘My goal is to be playing hockey. Whether that’s here or elsewhere is up for the powers that be to decide.’ – Paul Skrbina, The Tennessean

Dec. 6: Detroit Red Wings announce when Patrick Kane is expected to make debut

Star Patrick Kane is scheduled to make his Detroit Red Wings debut on Thursday at home against the San Jose Sharks, coach Derek Lalonde told reporters. Kane was signed last week to a one-year, $2.75 million contract after offseason hip resurfacing surgery. Lalonde plans to play him with former Chicago Blackhawks teammate Alex DeBrincat and will try the pair with different centers. Kane’s minutes will be monitored. ‘There’s a lot of unknowns still there so we’ll all be patient with it and kind of let it play out a little bit,’ Lalonde said.

Also: The Buffalo Sabres acquired winger Eric Robinson from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for a conditional seventh-round pick in 2025. The fourth-liner has 82 points in 266 career games, including one goal in seven games this season. The Blue Jackets later placed defenseman Adam Boqvist, goalie Elvis Merzlikins and forward Cole Sillinger on the injured list. Boqvist (shoulder) is expected to miss four weeks. … The Toronto Maple Leafs announced defenseman John Klingberg will have season-ending hip surgery. He signed a one-year, $4.15 million deal in the offseason but hasn’t played since Nov. 11. The Maple Leafs, also missing defensemen Mark Giordano and Timothy Liljegren, are looking for a replacement through a trade. ‘It’s no secret we’ve investigated what the market is, what those costs could be,’ general manager Brad Trevling told reporters. … Jacques Martin, who has been a head coach for nearly 1,300 NHL games (692 with Ottawa), was named an advisor to the Senators’ coaching staff.

Dec. 4: Winnipeg Jets sign Nino Niederreiter to three-year extension

He’ll average $4 million in the contract that kicks in next season. He is the third player signed long-term since the Jets moved out Pierre-Luc Dubois and Blake Wheeler during the summer, following Mark Scheifele and Connor Hellebuyck. Niederreiter, 31, is tied for fourth on the Jets with six goals and is sixth with 14 points.

Dec. 1: Simon Nemec called up amid New Jersey Devils’ issues on defense

Simon Nemec, the No. 2 pick of the 2022 NHL draft, made his NHL debut after being called up amid the team’s major absences on defense. He played 22:38, had two assists and three shots, and was a minus 2 in the 6-3 loss to the San Jose Sharks. Before the game, the Devils announced that top defenseman Dougie Hamilton is out indefinitely after having surgery on his left pectoral muscle. Also, defenseman Brendan Smith was suspended for two games for slashing Philadelphia Flyers forward Travis Konecny. He will forfeit $11,458.34 in pay and Konecny was fined $5,000 for his cross-check on Smith. The Devils also announced that forward Tomas Nosek had surgery on his right foot.

Also: The Montreal Canadiens and goalie Sam Montembeault agreed to a three-year, $9.45 million extension. The Quebec native had been claimed off waivers from the Florida Panthers in 2021

Nov. 30: Vancouver Canucks acquire defenseman Nikita Zadorov

The Vancouver Canucks got stronger on defense by adding rugged 6-foot-6, 248-pound defenseman Nikita Zadorov from the Calgary Flames. The Canucks gave up the fifth-round pick they acquired a day earlier in the Anthony Beauvillier trade, plus a 2026 third-round pick. Calgary’s return doesn’t seem high for a player who led the Flames in hits and is going to a division rival, but Zadorov had requested a trade and is a pending unrestricted free agent. The Flames, who have pushed closer to a playoff position after a tough start, also have forward Elias Lindholm and defensemen Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev in the final years of their contracts.

Nov. 28: Chicago Blackhawks waive Corey Perry, trade for Anthony Beauvillier

The Chicago Blackhawks placed Corey Perry on unconditional waivers on Tuesday in order to terminate his contract. The team said it determined that Perry ‘engaged in conduct that is unacceptable, and in violation of both the terms of his Standard Player’s Contract and the Blackhawks’ internal policies intended to promote professional and safe work environments.’ The Beauvillier trade happened later. The Vancouver Canucks, who acquired Beauvillier last season in the Bo Horvat trade, will receive a fifth-round draft pick. More important for Vancouver, the Blackhawks take on his entire $4.15 million cap hit, giving them flexibility before the trade deadline. Beauvillier, a winger like Perry, has two goals and six assists in 22 games this season.

Perry issued an apology Thursday for his ‘inappropriate and wrong’ behavior.

BLACKHAWKS: More details on why Chicago is cutting ties with Corey Perry

Nov. 28: Detroit Red Wings sign Patrick Kane

The one-year, $2.75 million deal will reunite Patrick Kane with Detroit’s Alex DeBrincat, his former linemate on the Chicago Blackhawks. DeBrincat had two 40-goal seasons while in Chicago. The question is how Kane will perform after hip resurfacing surgery during the offseason.  Though recent videos showed Kane going through intense workouts, Capitals star Nicklas Backstrom is taking a leave of absence to determine his future after having the same surgery during the 2022 offseason. Considering Kane wanted to play for a contender, that says something about his faith in the Red Wings’ direction after they try to end a seven-year playoff drought. Daniel Sprong is giving up his No. 88 for Kane and will wear No. 17 instead.

Also: The Buffalo Sabres loaned rookie goalie Devon Levi to Rochester (New York) of the American Hockey League. He had been in a three-goalie system with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Eric Comrie and his numbers were down from the strong start he had last season after leaving Northeastern University. The move allows Levi to see more action than he would in the NHL. “We’re super excited about Devon, believe in him,’ general manager Kevyn Adams told reporters on Wednesday. ‘This is an opportunity for him to get in a rhythm, get sharpened up.”

Nov. 27: Minnesota Wild fire coach Dean Evason, hire John Hynes

John Hynes is back in the NHL after being hired to replace fired Minnesota Wild coach Dean Evason on Monday. The Wild made the switch after a 5-10-4 start in which the team struggled defensively and especially on the penalty kill. Hynes, who knows Wild general manager Bill Guerin from their days in the Pittsburgh Penguins organization, was a midseason replacement previously with the Nashville Predators. He was fired last summer after missing the playoffs. He also coached the New Jersey Devils and has a 284-255-63 NHL record, making the playoffs four times.

Nov. 25: Chicago Blackhawks’ Corey Perry to be away from team for foreseeable future

Corey Perry will be away from the Chicago Blackhawks for the foreseeable future, general manager Kyle Davidson said Saturday. Perry, 38, hasn’t played since a 3-2 loss to Buffalo last Sunday. He was a healthy scratch for the last two games.

“It’s been a team decision so far to hold him out, and that’s about all I’m able to provide,” Davidson said.

In a statement provided to Hockey Night in Canada, Pat Morris, Perry’s agent, said the forward stepped away from the team to attend to personal matters.

Perry was acquired from Tampa Bay in a June trade, then agreed to a one-year, $4 million contract. He has four goals and five assists in 16 games. His absence comes as the Blackhawks deal with a series of injuries among their forwards. Taylor Hall, another offseason acquisition, is scheduled for right knee surgery on Monday in Minnesota. – Associated Press

Also: The New York Islanders claimed veteran defenseman Mike Reilly off waivers from the Florida Panthers and placed defenseman Adam Pelech (upper body) on long term injured reserve.

Nov. 24: Colorado Avalanche’s Samuel Girard enters mental health treatment

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard is entering the NHL/NHL Players’ Association Player Assistance Program. He announced through his agent that his severe anxiety and depression had gone untreated too long and had led to alcohol abuse.

‘Taking care of your mental health is of the utmost importance, and I encourage everyone to speak up and seek help should you feel like you need it,’ he said in a statement.

Girard, 25, has played all but five games of his seven-year NHL career with the Avalanche and had a career-best 37 points last season. He had one goal and three assists through 15 games this season and had missed the past two games for personal reasons.

Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said the team supports Girard going to get help.

“You’ve got to take care of yourself first before you’re able to come and help a team,’ he said.

Nov. 24: Winnipeg Jets coach Rick Bowness returns from leave of absence

Winnipeg Jets coach Rick Bowness returned behind the bench Friday for the first time since he took a leave of absence on Oct. 23 after his wife Judy had a seizure. He said she’s doing as well as expected with her new medication and will stay with their children when he’s on the road. Associate coach Scott Arniel went 9-2-2 in Bowness’ absence. The Jets beat the Florida Panthers 3-0 with Bowness behind the bench.

Also: Buffalo Sabres forward Zach Benson played his 10th NHL game on Friday, meaning he’s staying in the league and not being returned to his junior hockey team. Benson scored his first NHL goal on Wednesday with a spectacular move. … The Washington Capitals said forward T.J. Oshie won’t travel with the team after a hard collision in Friday’s 5-0 loss to the Edmonton Oilers.

Nov. 23: Chicago Blackhawks’ Taylor Hall to have ACL surgery

Chicago Blackhawks winger Taylor Hall, the former No. 1 overall pick who was acquired to mentor and play alongside rookie Connor Bedard, will have ACL surgery and is expected to miss the remainder of the season.

‘It came from an accumulation of a bunch of little injuries from the game and even in practice the other day,’ coach Luke Richardson told reporters. ‘It became unstable and we need to fix it.’

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Hall had been limited to 10 games (four points) this season because of injuries.

“It’s heartbreaking — someone that loved to play so much and every game is so impactful, such a good hockey player and such a good person,’ Bedard said.

The Blackhawks also placed forward Andreas Athanasiou (groin muscle) on the injured list and called up Joey Anderson and Cole Guttman.

Nov. 17: Florida Panthers activate Brandon Montour, Aaron Ekblad

The defending Eastern Conference champion Florida Panthers got off to a 10-5-1 record even with key absences. Now, they’re getting defensemen Brandon Montour and Aaron Ekblad back, activating them from the injured list after they recovered from offseason surgery for playoff injuries.

Montour set a franchise record for points by a defenseman (73) and was their top-scoring blueliner in the playoffs. Ekblad, like Montour a right-hand shot, was taken No. 1 overall in the 2014 draft. Defenseman Josh Mahura went on the injured list to make the salary cap situation work.

Nov. 12: Edmonton Oilers fire coach Jay Woodcroft

The Edmonton Oilers fired coach Jay Woodcroft on Sunday after a 3-9-1 start and replaced him with Kris Knoblauch, the Hartford Wolf Pack coach and Connor McDavid’s former junior hockey coach. That’s the third recent move with a connection to three-time MVP McDavid. His agent, Jeff Jackson, was hired earlier as CEO of hockey operations and the team also signed his former junior hockey linemate Connor Brown.

McDavid said Monday he was surprised by the move and said Woodcroft ‘never lost the room.’

The Oilers were a trendy pick to go far in the playoffs, but have disappointed this season. Last season’s No. 1-ranked offense is 26th this season, with McDavid possibly slowed by an injury that cost him two games. Their goaltending issues have been worse. Jack Campbell was sent to the American Hockey League in the second year of his five-year contract. Stuart Skinner, a rookie of the year finalist last season, ranks last in the league in goals saved above expected, according to MoneyPuck.

Knoblauch – and newly hired Oilers legend Paul Coffey coaching the defense – will be tasked with getting the Oilers back to a playoff spot. There’s precedent: Woodcroft went 26-9-3 down the stretch in 2021-22 as a midseason replacement and led the team to the Western Conference final. 

Also: The Colorado Avalanche announced that goalie Pavel Francouz (lower body) will miss the rest of the season. He has yet to play in 2023-24 and will return to the Czech Republic to be with his family. The team also signed forward Joel Kiviranta to a one-year deal.

Nov. 10: Pittsburgh Penguins to retire Jaromir Jagr’s number

Jaromir Jagr, drafted fifth overall in 1990, won Stanley Cup titles in his first two seasons and ranks fourth in franchise history with 1,079 points in 806 games. He played 11 seasons with Pittsburgh before being traded to the Washington Capitals. He ranks second all-time in NHL history in points and fourth in goals. His No. 68 will be retired on Feb. 18.

Nov. 8: Minnesota Wild trade Calen Addison to San Jose Sharks, acquire Zach Bogosian from Tampa Bay Lightning

Addison was sent to the San Jose Sharks for forward Adam Raska and a 2026 fifth-round draft pick. The defenseman is a power play specialist, but he is unreliable in his own zone. That led to him being a healthy scratch often down the stretch last season. With the Wild getting Jared Spurgeon back soon from injury (he was activated from long-term injured reserve on Friday), the power play opportunities will dwindle. Addison will be more valuable to the Sharks, who dealt Erik Karlsson last summer. He will be a restricted free agent at season’s end.

Bogosian lacks Addison’s offense, but the veteran takes care of his end of the ice. He’s a right-handed shot, like Addison.

“He’s a big guy,’ Minnesota general manager Bill Guerin told reporters. ‘He still skates well. He brings heaviness. He brings some grit and we need that.”

The trade buys the Lightning a little bit of salary cap breathing room. Bogosian, in the final season of a three-year contract, has a $850,000 cap hit.

Nov. 7: Edmonton Oilers place goalie Jack Campbell on waivers

Campbell, who signed a five-year, $25 million free agent deal in 2022, hasn’t played well since arriving. Stuart Skinner surpassed him last season and was a rookie of the year finalist. This season, Campbell was chased in the season opener and has gone 1-4 with a 4.50 goals-against average and .873 save percentage. He cleared waivers and will work on his game in the American Hockey League as the struggling Oilers try to get into a playoff spot. Edmonton recalled Calvin Pickard from Bakersfield (California) to back up Skinner.

Oct. 13: Colorado Avalanche sign defenseman Devon Toews to seven-year extension

He’ll average $7.25 million in the deal, which begins next season. Heading into the season, Toews led the league with a +120 plus-minus rating since he was acquired from the New York Islanders in 2020. He’s right behind defenseman Cale Makar in average ice time during that time.

Oct. 10: Carolina Hurricanes acquire forward Callahan Burke from the Colorado Avalanche for defenseman Caleb Jones

The Hurricanes loaded up on defense this offseason and Jones was the odd man out. Both players will play for the American Hockey League’s Colorado Eagles.

Maybe, the fact it took so long, and the doubt whether it would ever happen, made it even sweeter for Todd Helton when his cellphone rang Tuesday at his Knoxville, Tennessee, home.

It was a call from Cooperstown, New York.

Finally, he’s a Hall of Famer.

Now, and forever.

“They can’t take this away from me,’’ Helton said, “can they?’’

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It took six years for Helton to get the call from the Hall of Fame. Once he heard the words, he raised his left arm into the air, turned around and looked at all of his friends and family in his living room.

“Thank you so much,’’ Helton, wearing a purple sweater in honor of his Colorado Rockies franchise, said. ‘Thank you so much.’

He threw the phone up in the air, and began hugging everyone, trying to fight back tears.

Helton joins third baseman Adrián Beltré, catcher Joe Mauer and manager Jim Leyland in the 2024 Hall of Fame class. They will be inducted on July 21.

For Helton, it’s different. Who can blame him for wondering if this day would ever come?

The other players were first-ballot Hall of Famers, with Beltré getting votes on 95.1% of ballots, the 19th-highest total in history.

Helton received just 16.5% of the vote his first year on the ballot, and even with the exit polling showing that he would finally clear the 75% threshold this year, Helton refused to look at the updates, watch MLB Network, or even talk about it.

He considered himself deeply superstitious throughout his 17-year career, but after finally believing it was silly, all of the superstitions returned Tuesday until the phone call arrived, letting him know that he was on 79.7% of the ballots.

“I was pretty nervous,’’ Helton said. “I didn’t really think the phone was going to ring. And when it rang, I was still in shock.’’

Helton, fair or not, was penalized by the Hall of Fame voters for playing his entire career at Coors Field. It didn’t matter that he had a .316 career batting average and .953 OPS to go along with five All-Star appearances, four Silver Sluggers and three Gold Glove awards.

Nothing was good enough, not with playing every home game at Coors Field.

“I think Larry moved that needle,’’ Helton said. “He paved the way for me. He made it all right for the voters to vote for a Colorado position player.’’

Helton hit a staggering .345 with a .441 on-base percentage and .607 slugging percentage at Coors Field, with 227 home runs. He was still a good hitter on the road with a career .287 batting average, .386 on-base percentage and .469 slugging percentage with 142 homers. Obviously, Coors Field provided a huge advantage.

“Coors Field is a good place to hit, I’m not going to lie,’’ said Helton. “Coors, there’s a lot of green. You just felt like you were going to get a hit.’’

When the Rockies hit the road, there was no greater adjustment for hitters. It was a painful re-entry to reality watching pitchers throw breaking balls that would break, fastballs that would move, and see the balls not fly.

“You don’t get to pick where you play,’’ Helton said. “I’m not embarrassed by anything about my home and road numbers. Going to the road after Denver was hard. It’s a huge adjustment going through that rigorous grind and going through those changes. It is a good place to hit, but there are some drawbacks and toughness about going there and playing there.’’

Helton was drafted by the San Diego Padres out of high school but chose to play football and baseball at the University of Tennessee, where he started a season ahead of a fella named Peyton Manning. Football provided Helton’s scholarship, but he knew that baseball would be his career. The Rockies drafted Helton eighth overall in the 1995 MLB draft.

If he had been drafted by another franchise, maybe he never would have been punished by Hall of Famer voters for playing his entire career at Coors. Maybe he would have been valued higher if he played on consistent winners instead of reaching the postseason just twice, including that magical 2007 season when the Rockies won the National League pennant. Maybe he would have been a first-ballot Hall of Famer just like Beltré and Mauer.

“I wouldn’t have changed a thing,’’ Helton said. “Playing with the Rockies, making it with a team that I struggled with, and one I watched build, and helped build. …

“I put my heart and soul in for all of those years. And losing in the World Series (with the Rockies) meant more than winning somewhere else.

“It’s not just a good place to hit, but great fans, and just good people running the organization.’’

Helton paused, became emotional thinking about his dad teaching him about the Hall of Fame at the age of 8, knowing that he made it, to the pinnacle of his sport.

“Everything I’ve done,’’ Helton said. “It really did happen. What I did was good enough to make it to the Hall of Fame.’’

Helton, the first homegrown Rockies’ player to make the Hall of Fame, perhaps will forever change the perception of position players’ statistics in Colorado. Maybe he can open that door even wider for those who come along afterwards. If not for a potential Hall of Fame induction by another Rockie in another generation, perhaps stronger consideration for future MVP candidates.

“I’m a good example for everybody playing in Colorado that you can make it to the Hall of Fame,’’ Helton said, “and they’re not going to hold it against you.

“This is something you don’t play for, but obviously, it’s the greatest award you can have as a baseball player.’’

Helton is a Hall of Famer, and in six months, he will have the plaque to prove it, with thousands of Rockies’ fans — yes, including Manning — expected to be on hand to witness it.

“Everybody’s welcome to come,’’ Helton said. “For the fans, well, they’re unbelievable in Colorado.’’

Yes, you better believe it, they’ll be there.

Follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale