EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsColorado Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog is taking his first strides toward a potential NHL comeback.The Avalanche announced Wednesday that Landeskog has been assigned to a conditioning stint with the American Hockey League's Colorado Eagles. That puts Landeskog in line to play his first professional hockey game since Colorado hoisted the Stanley Cup in 2022.Landeskog has been sidelined by…

EmailPrintRay Shero, a longtime NHL executive and son of a Hockey Hall of Fame coach, has died, the NHL announced in a statement Wednesday. He was 62.Shero started out as a sports agent before launching an NHL front office career that spanned three decades. He served as GM for the New Jersey Devils and Pittsburgh Penguins, turning the latter from…

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsFollowing a busy 10-game Tuesday night in the NHL, it's a relatively quiet five-game evening Wednesday.Nevertheless, there are playoff and draft lottery ramifications aplenty, so let's hit all five matchups rapid-fire:Toronto Maple Leafs at Tampa Bay Lightning 7 p.m. (ESPN+)While the Leafs appear destined for a top-two spot in the Atlantic, the Lightning can still catch them for…

EmailOpen Extended ReactionsThe 2024-25 NHL regular season has certainly been a journey, between the emergence of unexpected Stanley Cup and MVP contenders, an incredible 4 Nations Face-Off, blockbuster trades, big winning streaks and, most recently, Alex Ovechkin breaking Wayne Gretzky's record for career NHL goals.But we all know the real hockey season starts April 19 when the puck drops on…