MARK MESSIER

The Stanley Cup Final between the Colorado Avalanche and Tampa Bay Lightning shows the value of hitting on top picks in the NHL draft.

The two-time defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning face the best in the West Colorado Avalanche in the Stanley Cup Final beginning Wednesday in Denver.

There will be a Presidents’ Trophy banner hanging over the Florida Panthers’ home ice next season.

The NHL is wrapping up the first round of the playoffs with a rare treat.

ESPN has returned to televising the NHL for the first time since 2004, but the All-Star Game, Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022, in Las Vegas begins a stretch where more games will be available on ABC and ESPN. (Allen Kee/ESPN Images via AP) (Allen Kee / ESPN Images)ESPN's return to broadcasting NHL games has generated plenty of fanfare, but not a lot of games on either ESPN or ABC. Saturday's All-Star Game from Las Vegas will be on ABC, and marks the beginning of ESPN ramping up its coverage for the second half of the season. Most of ESPN's games so far have been streamed on ESPN+ and Hulu. It’s a little different for us because we’re just getting back in the game this season,” studio host Steve Levy said.

ESPN’s return to broadcasting NHL games has generated plenty of fanfare, but not a lot of games on either ESPN or ABC.

Henrik Lundqvist became the 11th player to have his number retired by the New York Rangers when a banner with his name and No. 30 was raised to the rafters at Madison Square Garden on Friday night.

Rod Gilbert, the Hall of Fame right wing who starred for the New York Rangers and helped Canada win the 1972 Summit Series, had died.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid ran away in the voting to win his second Hart Trophy as NHL MVP after leading the league in points.

FILE - Mark Messier poses on the red carpet before the NHL Awards in Las Vegas on June 20, 2018. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)NEW YORK – Hockey great Mark Messier wants fans to know he had a lot of help on his path to the NHL Hall of Fame. The book will be released in Messier's native Canada by Simon & Schuster Canada. He is among the all-time leaders in regular season points, regular season games played and playoff points. In 2007, the NHL started the Mark Messier Leadership Award for setting an example on and off the ice.

The NHL Hart Trophy voters agreed with NHL players in selecting Edmontons Leon Draisaitl, Colorados Nathan MacKinnon and Artemi Panarin of the New York Rangers as MVP award finalists. The finalists were announced by the NHL on Tuesday, and determined by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association. The 24-year-old Draisaitl is seeking to become the first German-born player to win the Hart after leading the NHL with 110 points (43 goals, 67 assists). The 28-year-old Russian was the NHL rookie of the year with Chicago in 2016, and a first-time Hart finalist. Panarin has an opportunity to become the fifth Rangers player to win the honor, and first since Mark Messier in 1992.