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Time of India
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Olympic news: Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby ignite Team Canada's Olympic dream with explosive first six reveal
Canada's Connor McDavid (97) celebrates after his game-winning goal (Credit: Charles Krupa /AP) Team Canada set the tone early for the 2026 Winter Olympics by unveiling the first six players on its men's hockey roster. The announcement included superstars Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby. This signals Canada's intent to reclaim Olympic gold with a blend of generational talent and veteran poise, and the lineup also features Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Brayden Point, and Sam Reinhart, each coming off strong NHL seasons. Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar bring two-way dominance While McDavid and Crosby will drive headlines, the Colorado Avalanche duo of Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar brings critical balance. MacKinnon, 29, is coming off a Hart Trophy-nominated season with 116 points. His blend of speed and strength dominated the 4 Nations Face-Off, where he led all scorers. Cale Makar, 26, was named the NHL's best defenseman again this year, recording a career-high 92 points and his first 30-goal season. His offensive instincts and defensive awareness give Canada a foundational blueline piece. Makar's consistent Norris Trophy-caliber play makes him one of the most feared defenders in international hockey. Did Canada get 'first six' Olympic roster picks right? Sam Reinhart and Brayden Point offer playoff poise and firepower Brayden Point and Sam Reinhart round out the first six selections, offering playoff-tested poise and clutch scoring. Point hit the 40-goal mark for the third straight season with Tampa Bay. Known for his quick-strike ability and composure. He adds versatility and grit to Canada's forward group. Both players complement the star power of McDavid and Crosby with a balanced, two-way gam. And that translates well in Olympic competition; their selection also reflects Canada's focus on recent performance. Along with team chemistry, and adaptability on the international stage. Canada sets the tone early for Olympic gold push The early reveal of McDavid, Crosby, MacKinnon, Makar, Point, and Reinhart gives Canada a compelling mix of explosive skill and composed leadership. With the full roster to be finalized later this year, this first six announcement sends a clear message to the hockey world: Canada is not waiting to assert its dominance. Read more: Olympic news shocker as Gabriel Landeskog and William Nylander lead Team Sweden's NHL-loaded 2026 roster reveal The men's hockey tournament begins February 11, with the gold medal game scheduled for February 22 in Italy.
CBS News
08-03-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Colorado Avalanche, Jets and Stars raise stakes in NHL's Central Division with big trades at the deadline
Just before midnight on the eve of NHL trade deadline day, Chris MacFarland bolstered the Colorado Avalanche for a long playoff run by getting center Brock Nelson. His rival general managers in the Central Division slept on it, then responded big time. Jim Nill's Dallas Stars acquired the top player available, Mikko Rantanen, without having to give up more than one of his blossoming young stars, while Kevin Cheveldayoff's league-leading Winnipeg Jets got tougher and deeper with forward Brandon Tanev and rugged defenseman Luke Schenn. Oh, and MacFarland wasn't done, shoring up Colorado's lineup down the middle with Charlie Coyle and deepening the blue line by bringing back Erik Johnson. The arms race heated up in the Central and the Atlantic, where defending Stanley Cup champion Florida looks even more formidable with Brad Marchand, first-place Toronto added help up front in Scott Laughton and on the back end in Brandon Carlo, and Tampa Bay traded multiple first-round picks for Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand. "Wow, what a first-round matchup it's going to be in our division, what a first-round matchup it's going to be between Florida, Toronto or Tampa (and) Colorado, Winnipeg, Dallas," St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said. "It's going to be great hockey. The league is going to be the massive benefactor of it. But someone's going to be really unhappy 14 days after the season ends." Even if there weren't a lot of sellers making players available, the moves made shifted the balance of power in the Eastern and Western conferences. The Stars and Panthers are now co-favorites to hoist the Cup, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. Central Division As long as Miro Heiskanen can return from knee surgery in time for the playoffs, the Stars made the most of losing their Norris Trophy-caliber No. 1 defenseman for much of the second half of the season. Putting him on long-term injured reserve along with center Tyler Seguin cleared the salary cap space necessary to get Rantanen, who had 101 points in 81 postseason games with Colorado and was a key part of the 2022 Cup run. The Avalanche sure weren't expecting to have Rantanen back on their side of the bracket after trading him to Carolina in January. Now he's squarely in their path to another title for the better part of the next decade thanks to an eight-year, $96 million extension Colorado was worried about affording. "We made a really hard decision, and it was a hockey decision," MacFarland said. "We got some really good hockey players. Mikko is a great hockey player and a great person, and I'll always wish him the best. But no, we don't spend much time on seeing what other teams may or may not do. I think the Dallas Stars got a great hockey player and a great person." It is Winnipeg that is atop the standings and the front-runner for home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs behind goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. And the Jets filled two important areas of need with Schenn and Tanev. So did the Avalanche. It was clear to MacFarland that a couple of big centers were needed. "Those two guys have been in deep runs, and they've been around a long time," reigning MVP Nathan MacKinnon said of Nelson and Coyle. "Two huge bodies down the middle. I think both can play wing or whatever. Versatility's great, and I'm really excited." Atlantic Division Lightning GM Julien BriseBois stole the show earlier in the week. Florida counterpart Bill Zito got the last laugh by sending a draft pick to Boston for Bruins captain Brad Marchand. Adding Marchand to a group that already includes Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett makes the Panthers even tougher and harder to play against than they were before - and increases the odds of the final including a team from the Sunshine State for a sixth consecutive season. Toronto has a Cup-winning coach in Craig Berube, and Laughton and Carlo give them a better chance of hanging with the Panthers or Lightning. But Florida not only got Marchand but in previous days added top-four defenseman Seth Jones and depth center Nico Sturm to remain the team to beat in the East. Metropolitan Division The Hurricanes' midseason gamble for Rantanen - sending leading scorer Martin Necas and young forward Jack Drury to Colorado while adding winger Taylor Hall - did not work out the way they had hoped. Carolina added an intriguing talent in getting 22-year-old Logan Stankoven and plenty of high draft picks from the Stars but fell short in adding elite talent to help this season. East-leading Washington made only one move, sending a second-round pick to Pittsburgh for winger Anthony Beauvillier. Third-place New Jersey added some players but won't have No. 1 center and leading scorer Jack Hughes for the rest of the season and playoffs, while the New York Rangers traded away pending free agents Ryan Lindgren, Jimmy Vesey and Reilly Smith. Capitals' general manager Chris Patrick was happy to see so many players go West, but he doesn't think the Metro is easy to get through. "You're going to have to be ready to play at a high level and relatively mistake-free hockey, so that's what we're expecting," Patrick said. "It doesn't matter who's in or who's out for these teams. These are the top teams in the East, and we have to be ready to match their play." Pacific Division Vegas reacquired Smith, who was part of the 2023 Cup team, Edmonton added offensive-minded defenseman Jake Walman and rough-and-tumble forward Trent Frederic, and Los Angeles boosted its scoring potential by getting Andrei Kuzmenko. Those seem like minor moves compared to the colossal activity in the Central. But the Oilers got to Game 7 of the final last year, still have Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, and could still get Evander Kane back in the playoffs. The Golden Knights are stacked for another deep run. "We liked our team," Vegas GM Kelly McCrimmon said. "We like our centers, we like our defense - I think they're among the very best in the NHL." By STEPHEN WHYNO AP Hockey Writer
Fox Sports
08-03-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Avalanche, Jets and Stars raise stakes in NHL' s Central Division with big trades at the deadline
Associated Press Just before midnight on the eve of NHL trade deadline day, Chris MacFarland bolstered the Colorado Avalanche for a long playoff run by getting center Brock Nelson. His rival general managers in the Central Division slept on it, then responded big time. Jim Nill's Dallas Stars acquired the top player available, Mikko Rantanen, without having to give up more than one of his blossoming young stars, while Kevin Cheveldayoff's league-leading Winnipeg Jets got tougher and deeper with forward Brandon Tanev and rugged defenseman Luke Schenn. Oh, and MacFarland wasn't done, shoring up Colorado's lineup down the middle with Charlie Coyle and deepening the blue line by bringing back Erik Johnson. The arms race heated up in the Central — and the Atlantic, where defending Stanley Cup champion Florida looks even more formidable with Brad Marchand, first-place Toronto added help up front in Scott Laughton and on the back end in Brandon Carlo, and Tampa Bay traded multiple first-round picks for Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand. "Wow, what a first-round matchup it's going to be in our division, what a first-round matchup it's going to be between Florida, Toronto or Tampa (and) Colorado, Winnipeg, Dallas,' St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said. "It's going to be great hockey. The league is going to be the massive benefactor of it. But someone's going to be really unhappy 14 days after the season ends.' Even if there weren't a lot of sellers making players available, the moves made shifted the balance of power in the Eastern and Western conferences. The Stars and Panthers are now co-favorites to hoist the Cup, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. Central Division As long as Miro Heiskanen can return from knee surgery in time for the playoffs, the Stars made the most of losing their Norris Trophy-caliber No. 1 defenseman for much of the second half of the season. Putting him on long-term injured reserve along with center Tyler Seguin cleared the salary cap space necessary to get Rantanen, who had 101 points in 81 postseason games with Colorado and was a key part of the 2022 Cup run. The Avalanche sure weren't expecting to have Rantanen back on their side of the bracket after trading him to Carolina in January. Now he's squarely in their path to another title for the better part of the next decade thanks to an eight-year, $96 million extension Colorado was worried about affording. 'We made a really hard decision, and it was a hockey decision,' MacFarland said. 'We got some really good hockey players. Mikko is a great hockey player and a great person, and I'll always wish him the best. But no, we don't spend much time on seeing what other teams may or may not do. I think the Dallas Stars got a great hockey player and a great person.' It is Winnipeg that is atop the standings and the front-runner for home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs behind goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. And the Jets filled two important areas of need with Schenn and Tanev. So did the Avalanche. It was clear to MacFarland that a couple of big centers were needed. 'Those two guys have been in deep runs, and they've been around a long time,' reigning MVP Nathan MacKinnon said of Nelson and Coyle. 'Two huge bodies down the middle. I think both can play wing or whatever. Versatility's great, and I'm really excited.' Atlantic Division Lightning GM Julien BriseBois stole the show earlier in the week. Florida counterpart Bill Zito got the last laugh by sending a draft pick to Boston for Bruins captain Brad Marchand. Adding Marchand to a group that already includes Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett makes the Panthers even tougher and harder to play against than they were before — and increases the odds of the final including a team from the Sunshine State for a sixth consecutive season. Toronto has a Cup-winning coach in Craig Berube, and Laughton and Carlo give them a better chance of hanging with the Panthers or Lightning. But Florida not only got Marchand but in previous days added top-four defenseman Seth Jones and depth center Nico Sturm to remain the team to beat in the East. Metropolitan Division The Hurricanes' midseason gamble for Rantanen — sending leading scorer Martin Necas and young forward Jack Drury to Colorado while adding winger Taylor Hall — did not work out the way they had hoped. Carolina added an intriguing talent in getting 22-year-old Logan Stankoven and plenty of high draft picks from the Stars but fell short in adding elite talent to help this season. East-leading Washington made only one move, sending a second-round pick to Pittsburgh for winger Anthony Beauvillier. Third-place New Jersey added some players but won't have No. 1 center and leading scorer Jack Hughes for the rest of the season and playoffs, while the New York Rangers traded away pending free agents Ryan Lindgren, Jimmy Vesey and Reilly Smith. Capitals general manager Chris Patrick was happy to see so many players go West, but he doesn't think the Metro is easy to get through. 'You're going to have to be ready to play at a high level and relatively mistake-free hockey, so that's what we're expecting,' Patrick said. 'It doesn't matter who's in or who's out for these teams. These are the top teams in the East, and we have to be ready to match their play.' Pacific Division Vegas reacquired Smith, who was part of the 2023 Cup team, Edmonton added offensive-minded defenseman Jake Walman and rough-and-tumble forward Trent Frederic, and Los Angeles boosted its scoring potential by getting Andrei Kuzmenko. Those seem like minor moves compared to the colossal activity in the Central. But the Oilers got to Game 7 of the final last year, still have Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, and could still get Evander Kane back in the playoffs. The Golden Knights are stacked for another deep run. "We liked our team," Vegas GM Kelly McCrimmon said. 'We like our centers, we like our defense — I think they're among the very best in the NHL.' ___ AP Sports Writers Pat Graham and Alanis Thames and freelance writers W.G. Ramirez and Denis Gorman contributed. ___ AP NHL: recommended
Washington Post
08-03-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Avalanche, Jets and Stars raise stakes in NHL' s Central Division with big trades at the deadline
Just before midnight on the eve of NHL trade deadline day, Chris MacFarland bolstered the Colorado Avalanche for a long playoff run by getting center Brock Nelson . His rival general managers in the Central Division slept on it, then responded big time. Jim Nill's Dallas Stars acquired the top player available, Mikko Rantanen, without having to give up more than one of his blossoming young stars, while Kevin Cheveldayoff's league-leading Winnipeg Jets got tougher and deeper with forward Brandon Tanev and rugged defenseman Luke Schenn. Oh, and MacFarland wasn't done, shoring up Colorado's lineup down the middle with Charlie Coyle and deepening the blue line by bringing back Erik Johnson. The arms race heated up in the Central — and the Atlantic, where defending Stanley Cup champion Florida looks even more formidable with Brad Marchand, first-place Toronto added help up front in Scott Laughton and on the back end in Brandon Carlo, and Tampa Bay traded multiple first-round picks for Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand. 'Wow, what a first-round matchup it's going to be in our division, what a first-round matchup it's going to be between Florida, Toronto or Tampa (and) Colorado, Winnipeg, Dallas,' St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said. 'It's going to be great hockey. The league is going to be the massive benefactor of it. But someone's going to be really unhappy 14 days after the season ends.' Even if there weren't a lot of sellers making players available, the moves made shifted the balance of power in the Eastern and Western conferences. The Stars and Panthers are now co-favorites to hoist the Cup, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. As long as Miro Heiskanen can return from knee surgery in time for the playoffs, the Stars made the most of losing their Norris Trophy-caliber No. 1 defenseman for much of the second half of the season. Putting him on long-term injured reserve along with center Tyler Seguin cleared the salary cap space necessary to get Rantanen, who had 101 points in 81 postseason games with Colorado and was a key part of the 2022 Cup run. The Avalanche sure weren't expecting to have Rantanen back on their side of the bracket after trading him to Carolina in January. Now he's squarely in their path to another title for the better part of the next decade thanks to an eight-year, $96 million extension Colorado was worried about affording. 'We made a really hard decision, and it was a hockey decision,' MacFarland said. 'We got some really good hockey players. Mikko is a great hockey player and a great person, and I'll always wish him the best. But no, we don't spend much time on seeing what other teams may or may not do. I think the Dallas Stars got a great hockey player and a great person.' It is Winnipeg that is atop the standings and the front-runner for home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs behind goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. And the Jets filled two important areas of need with Schenn and Tanev. So did the Avalanche. It was clear to MacFarland that a couple of big centers were needed. 'Those two guys have been in deep runs, and they've been around a long time,' reigning MVP Nathan MacKinnon said of Nelson and Coyle. 'Two huge bodies down the middle. I think both can play wing or whatever. Versatility's great, and I'm really excited.' Lightning GM Julien BriseBois stole the show earlier in the week. Florida counterpart Bill Zito got the last laugh by sending a draft pick to Boston for Bruins captain Brad Marchand. Adding Marchand to a group that already includes Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett makes the Panthers even tougher and harder to play against than they were before — and increases the odds of the final including a team from the Sunshine State for a sixth consecutive season. Toronto has a Cup-winning coach in Craig Berube, and Laughton and Carlo give them a better chance of hanging with the Panthers or Lightning. But Florida not only got Marchand but in previous days added top-four defenseman Seth Jones and depth center Nico Sturm to remain the team to beat in the East. The Hurricanes' midseason gamble for Rantanen — sending leading scorer Martin Necas and young forward Jack Drury to Colorado while adding winger Taylor Hall — did not work out the way they had hoped. Carolina added an intriguing talent in getting 22-year-old Logan Stankoven and plenty of high draft picks from the Stars but fell short in adding elite talent to help this season. East-leading Washington made only one move, sending a second-round pick to Pittsburgh for winger Anthony Beauvillier. Third-place New Jersey added some players but won't have No. 1 center and leading scorer Jack Hughes for the rest of the season and playoffs, while the New York Rangers traded away pending free agents Ryan Lindgren, Jimmy Vesey and Reilly Smith. Capitals general manager Chris Patrick was happy to see so many players go West, but he doesn't think the Metro is easy to get through. 'You're going to have to be ready to play at a high level and relatively mistake-free hockey, so that's what we're expecting,' Patrick said. 'It doesn't matter who's in or who's out for these teams. These are the top teams in the East, and we have to be ready to match their play.' Vegas reacquired Smith, who was part of the 2023 Cup team, Edmonton added offensive-minded defenseman Jake Walman and rough-and-tumble forward Trent Frederic, and Los Angeles boosted its scoring potential by getting Andrei Kuzmenko. Those seem like minor moves compared to the colossal activity in the Central. But the Oilers got to Game 7 of the final last year, still have Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, and could still get Evander Kane back in the playoffs. The Golden Knights are stacked for another deep run. 'We liked our team,' Vegas GM Kelly McCrimmon said. 'We like our centers, we like our defense — I think they're among the very best in the NHL.' ___ AP Sports Writers Pat Graham and Alanis Thames and freelance writers W.G. Ramirez and Denis Gorman contributed. ___ AP NHL:
