Ice Hockey

1/26/2026 |  Hockey in Florida Was Once a Risk. Now It’s Thriving (Front Office Sports) Florida would like you to stop calling it an “untraditional” hockey market. 
The state doesn’t have snow—or real snow, at least—but it does have a compelling case as a hockey stronghold, with five Stanley Cup Finals appearances between the two Florida teams in the past six seasons, plus the 2024 and 2025 championships captured by the Panthers.

1/12/2026 |  Reports: NHL picks Buffalo Sabres to host 2026 draft in June (ESPN) BUFFALO, N.Y. -- With highly touted prospect Gavin McKenna as the centerpiece, the NHL has selected the Buffalo Sabres to host its annual draft in June, according to multiple reports.
The formal announcement will be made in Buffalo on Monday night, before the Sabres play Florida. There will be a news conference that will include NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman.

1/12/2026 |  With McKenna as the top prospect, NHL chooses Buffalo Sabres to host draft in June, AP source says (Fox Sports) BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — With highly prized prospect Gavin McKenna as the centerpiece, the NHL has selected the Buffalo Sabres to host its annual draft in June, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press.
The person spoke late last week on condition of anonymity because the league had yet to reveal its plans. The news was first reported by ESPN.

1/8/2026 |  They’re back! NHL players return to Winter Olympics for first time since ’14, here is what to know (Associated Press (AP)) One of the showcase events at the Winter Olympics will be hockey, where NHL players are back for the first time since 2014 and the world’s best women’s players are competing in the Games for an eighth consecutive time. 

1/8/2026 |  What's the latest on the Olympic hockey rink and NHL participation? (ESPN) As the NHL's Board of Governors convened in Colorado Springs, Colorado, for their annual December meetings, the league was tracking construction updates for the Olympic ice hockey arena in Milan. One issue? Organizers had apparently signed off on a rink that didn't have the correct dimensions. Even more concerning: less than two months away from the tournament, the arena wasn't close to being finished.