Pierre LeBrun

6 days ago | nytimes.com | Pierre LeBrun

Not all playoff series are created equal, and while one can't always predict with assurance which ones will end up being the most compelling, we've got three that jump off the page to open the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs. The Battle of Florida, between the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Colorado Avalanche-Dallas Stars matchup feature four bona fide Stanley Cup contenders. Each series is conference-final level and will see a really, really good team go home early each way.

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Pierre LeBrun

The Calgary Flames have proven plenty to their general manager, regardless of how things play out this week. Still alive heading into Game No. 81, Craig Conroy can't say enough of his team's will and determination in a season in which the Flames have been doubted by most of the hockey world. "It's amazing that we're in the fight still," Conroy told The Athletic over the phone Monday. "I'm proud of the guys. People have written us off at times this year, even to start the season. It's fun.

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Pierre LeBrun

Don't be confused when you start seeing life-sized panthers popping up all over South Florida this summer. Sure, the defending Stanley Cup champions have grown their brand in their market. But this is about so much more. Cancer has hit home too many times for Bill Zito, the general manager and president of hockey operations for the Florida Panthers. He lost his sister, his mother and his mother-in-law to the disease, all in a brief period several years ago.

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Pierre LeBrun

The reality is that it all happened pretty darn quickly this week. No one involved in Ivan Demidov's release from his KHL contract knew for sure it was happening until Tuesday. Were there conversations before then? Of course. But neither the Montreal Canadiens nor the player's agent had any certainty until Tuesday. Which tells you how quickly this came together.

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Pierre LeBrun

We took a look at Team Canada's Olympic bubble forwards earlier this week, and now let's do the same with Team USA ahead of next February's Winter Games. But first, a reminder that countries have until June 15 to name their first six players. Last June, the first six players the U.S. named for the 4 Nations Face-Off were Jack Eichel, Auston Matthews, Matthew Tkachuk, Quinn Hughes, Charlie McAvoy and Adam Fox.