Latest Nhl News | Fox News

Vegas Golden Knights star Mitch Marner is doing the funniest thing ever with postseason explosion

Fri, 15 May 2026 20:44:24 -0400

One of the biggest stories of the Stanley Cup Playoffs has been Vegas Golden Knights star Mitch Marner.

Everyone knew he was an elite player in the NHL, but the biggest knock against him during his time in Toronto was his play in the postseason. And, truthfully, it was not great.

But, the second he skips town? Well, he's led Vegas to the Western Conference Final, and that's kind of hilarious because we've seen this happen before.

Marner scored just over a minute into Game 6 against the Anaheim Ducks, which Vegas went on to win 5-1 to punch its ticket for a date with the Colorado Avalanche (lucky them).

GOLDEN KNIGHTS REPORTEDLY BLOCK OILERS FROM INTERVIEWING THEIR FORMER HEAD COACH BRUCE CASSIDY

The goal was Marner's seventh of the postseason, and he leads the playoffs in points with 18 points, three clear of the player tied for second, Quinn Hughes and Kirill Kaprizov of the now-eliminated Minnesota Wild.

I think a lot of people saw this coming. Toronto's playoff problems are well documented. No Stanley Cup since 1967, and the Maple Leafs went nearly 20 years between series wins between 2004 and 2023.

So, it's kind of hilarious to see Marner explode the second he gets a taste of the playoffs with another team after arriving in Sin City via a sign-and-trade last summer.

In fact, I feel like we've all seen this before.

Remember when Phil Kessel was a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Much like Marner, he became a popular target among fans and the media.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

Then, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the very next season, he won a Stanley Cup.

Something similar happened with Nazem Kadri, who won a Cup in Colorado a couple of seasons after leaving Toronto.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

It seems like Marner got out of Dodge at the right time.

Now, we'll see if that remains the case. While Marner avoided an abysmal 2025-26 season, the Leafs are expected to use the first-overall pick in the upcoming draft on Penn State star Gavin McKenna, the kind of player who should be able to help right the ship in a hurry.

Golden Knights, head coach John Torotella hit with major punishment after advancing to the conference final

Fri, 15 May 2026 18:37:22 -0400

The Vegas Golden Knights are on to the Western Conference Final, where they will face the Colorado Avalanche, but some news that broke on Friday is going to put quite the damper on the celebrations.

The NHL is taking away a draft pick at the upcoming draft, and head coach John Tortorella is going to have to cut one heck of a check.

The reason? Tortorella refused to talk to the media after Vegas' 5-1 Game 6 win over the Anaheim Ducks.

However, after the game, Tortorella did not take part in the post-series handshake line and refused to speak to the media. Only players Brett Howden and Mitch Marner appeared at the podium.

GOLDEN KNIGHTS REPORTEDLY BLOCK OILERS FROM INTERVIEWING THEIR FORMER HEAD COACH BRUCE CASSIDY

On Friday, the league levied some serious punishments.

"The National Hockey League announced today that, as a result of flagrant violations of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs Media Regulations following Game 6 of their Second Round series against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday, May 14, the Vegas Golden Knights will forfeit a second-round pick in the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft," the league said in a statement. "In addition, Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella has been fined $100,000."

The statement also notes that "these penalties come after previous warnings were issued to the Club regarding their compliance with the Media Regulations and other associated policies," and the team has the option to appeal.

That doesn't make the situation any less crazy, though.

Losing a draft pick and the coach having to cut a $100,000 check for not talking to the media? That seems virtually unprecedented.

Vegas declined to comment on the penalties after they were announced.

As for Tortorella's reason for skipping the handshake and media obligations, he hasn't given one.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

However, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports that the veteran bench boss who took over in Vegas with just eight games left in the regular season was mad about the suspension of defenseman Brayden McNabb.

McNabb was assessed a one-game suspension — which he served during Game 6 — after a controversial hit on Anaheim forward Ryan Poehling in Game 5.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

We should hear from Tortorella before the Western Conference Final gets underway, so hopefully he'll explain.

He's not exactly the kind of coach who is afraid to speak his mind.

Daniel and Henrik Sedin are now co-presidents of the Vancouver Canucks after team cleans house

Thu, 14 May 2026 19:27:02 -0400

Sometimes I think we forget how wild it was that in the 1999 NHL Draft, the Vancouver Canucks were able to draft identical twins Henrik and Daniel Sedin with the second and third picks. They both went on to play 17 seasons, all of them in Vancouver.

Now, they're officially co-presidents of the Canucks...

...And I'm kind of starting to wonder if they're capable of doing anything independently.

The Swedish brothers hung up their skates in 2018, and the two Hall of Famers started working in the Canucks front office in the year that followed.

Now, the team is getting a fresh front office after the firing of GM Patrik Allvin and former president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford stepping down after the upcoming draft.

"For the past 26 years, Daniel and Henrik have dedicated their entire professional hockey careers to Vancouver," team owner Francesco Aquilini said, per NHL.com. "Whether it's as players or in various management positions, they've always committed themselves to excellence."

Meanwhile, the team has also promoted Assistant General Manager Ryan Johnson to general manager.

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS DEFY SLIM ODDS TO WIN THE NO. 1 OVERALL PICK IN THE 2026 NHL DRAFT LOTTERY

This new Canucks brain trust has its work cut out for it.

While it looked like things were on the upswing during the 2024 playoffs, the team collapsed the following two seasons, and even traded franchise centerpiece Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

They need a refresh in more ways than one, and they're getting it.

The first big point of business comes in June at the NHL Draft. The Canucks have the third-overall pick behind the Toronto Maple Leafs at No. 1 and the San Jose Sharks at No. 2.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

That's a golden opportunity to inject some talent, maybe even on the blueline after that Hughes trade.

While Gavin McKenna is the presumptive No. 1 pick, there are a lot of highly rated defensemen like Chase Reid, Carson Carels and Alberts Smits that could fit the bill.

OIlers axe head coach Kris Knoblauch in first move to show Connor McDavid they know business

Thu, 14 May 2026 13:19:09 -0400

We all got the sense it was coming, but it still seems shocking that after two straight Stanley Cup Final appearances in 2024 and 2025, the Edmonton Oilers have told head coach Kris Knoblauch his services are no longer needed.

Of course, this was kind of obvious amid reports that the Vegas Golden Knights were blocking the Oilers from talking to head coach Bruce Cassidy.

However, while it's another move that underscores how short the leash NHL coaches have these days, it was necessary to show Oilers superstar Connor McDavid that the front office means business.

McDavid will start a new two-year "show me" deal in Edmonton, and they'll realistically only have a year to prove to him that their Cup-winning window hasn't slammed shut.

Step one was making an aggressive coaching decision.

Knoblauch goes way back with McDavid and was his head coach in juniors. When he joined the team partway through the 2023-24 season, he turned them around and led them to a Cup Final loss to the Florida Panthers.

The next season ended in another loss to Florida, while this season ended with a first-round loss to the Anaheim Ducks.

In years past, a coach like Knoblauch would've built up enough goodwill to at least get one more year to prove that he can get the team back to the Cup Final and win it all. That doesn't seem to be the case anymore, and teams are getting more aggressive with coaching decisions.

Of course, this can't be the only thing that happens this summer because coaching was far from the Oilers' biggest problem.

I'd say the biggest is what it has been through the entire McDavid era: depth.

ALL-TIME TALENT, ZERO TITLES: THE MOST UNDERACHIEVING FRANCHISES IN NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS

Sure, McDavid and Leon Draisaitl put up mega numbers upfront, while blueliner Evan Bouchard does the same on the backend.

But the drop-off after those three is wild.

Just this season, McDavid had 138 points (a league high), Draisaitl had 97, and Bouchard had 95.

The next highest on the team? Ryan Nugent Hopkins with 57.

They needed to spread out the scoring because, as great as it is to have Connor McDavid lighting things up, he's only on the ice for 22 minutes a game. Others need to step up in the other 38.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

But you can get away with this if the goalies are playing lights out... but they are not.

This season, their top netminder is Connor Ingraham with a .899 save percentage and a 2.60 GAA.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

So, while getting rid of Knoblauch and potentially bringing in a Bruce Cassidy or a Craig Berube may be a shock to the system for the team, they need to make some moves this summer.

And, you can bet that No. 97 will be keeping an eye on it.

Scuba enthusiast Nathan MacKinnon atones for missed Olympics shot with identical goal to help Avs advance

Thu, 14 May 2026 13:10:46 -0400

Hockey, much like football, is a game of inches.

And no one knows that better than Colorado Avalanche superstar (and amateur scuba enthusiast) Nathan MacKinnon.

Less than three months ago, MacKinnon had a golden opportunity (literally) presented to him in Canada's gold-medal game against the United States against the United States.

Sitting just to the left of the net with American goaltender Connor Hellebuyck still hugging the opposite post, MacKinnon sailed a wrist shot just wide of the pipes.

TEAM USA MEN'S HOCKEY WINS GOLD MEDAL IN OVERTIME AGAINST CANADA AT WINTER OLYMPICS

The Americans would rally in overtime, with defenseman Jack Hughes slotting home the golden goal and sending MacKinnon and the Canadians home with a consolation prize of silver and a stuffed animal for their troubles.

Fast forward to Wednesday night, with time winding down in the Avalanche's Game 5 tilt with the Minnesota Wild, and Colorado needing a goal to tie it. MacKinnon was presented with the exact same opportunity from a similar spot on the ice.

And you had better believe he didn't miss twice.

For context, look at how identical both scoring opportunities look. You could even make the argument this one was more difficult given Minnesota netminder Jesper Wallstedt's perfect positioning.

The goal from MacKinnon would send the game to overtime, where the Avs would wear down the depleted Wild roster en route to a win and a gentlemen's sweep.

It's on to the Western Conference Finals for the Avalanche, where they will await the winners of the Anaheim Ducks-Vegas Golden Knights series.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

Colorado should absolutely be seen as the favorites to not only come out of the West, but to win the whole thing, given their mix of Cup experience and firepower.

When you couple that with the fact that MacKinnon looks like he's on a warpath to win another Stanley Cup and atone for his miss in the Olympics, the Avs feel like a team of destiny.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

If it's the Golden Knights who end up prevailing and facing Colorado in the Conference Finals, that might be the series of the entire playoffs, given Vegas has its own share of superstar talent and Stanley Cup history.

Either way, good luck to any team that has the unenviable task of slowing down Nathan "Nate Dogg" MacKinnon.

Isles Matthew Schaefer annihilates Calder Trophy field, rookie wins award unanimously

Wed, 13 May 2026 18:10:25 -0400

The Calder Trophy — awarded to the NHL's rookie of the year — is usually one of the most talked-about awards that the league dishes out, and that's because there's usually a pretty compelling race for the award.

Well... not exactly this year.

Instead, Islanders rookie standout Matthew Schaefer was the runaway winner.

Schaeffer, who was selected by the Isles with the first-overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, was surprised with the trophy during an appearance on ABC's 'Good Morning America', with his father on hand.

Also in attendance were former Islander Matt Martin and his family, with whom Schaefer lived this season.

Emotions were high as Schaefer overcame some personal tragedy when his mother passed away in 2024.

He has quickly become a key piece of an Islanders team that looked to be on course for the postseason but faded down the stretch.

Despite the disappointment for the team, Schaefer had an incredible 59 points (23G, 36A) as a defenseman and a +13 rating after appearing in all 82 games this season.

It was so impressive that he won the Calder Trophy unanimously, taking all the first-place votes ahead of Montreal Canadiens forward Ivan Demidov and Anaheim Ducks winger Beckett Sennecke.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

And that's not to imply that Demidov and Sennecke were slouches this year. Far from it.

Demidov racked up 62 points (19G, 43A), while Sennecke had 60 points (23G, 37A), and both were key pieces that helped their respective teams not only make it into the playoffs at all, but into the second round.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The win makes Schaefer the first unanimous Calder Trophy winner since Teemu Selanne won the award in 1992-93 as a member of the original Winnipeg Jets.

Schaefer — who seems like a really good dude — capped off the day by taking his new hardware to a local children's hospital.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE

Are teams that insist on singing 'Sweet Caroline' during games the worst thing in sports?

Wed, 13 May 2026 17:08:06 -0400

It's Wednesday, which means it's time to fire off whatever has been bugging us over the last week in another edition of The Gripe Report!

Y'know, this is OutKick, and what does OutKick do?

Creates must-read, watch and listen content across a variety of platforms?

Have a gripe? Send it in!: matthew.reigle@outkick.com

Well, yeah, but what else?

Employs a very handsome and funny writer who is great at complaining and is also surprisingly good at sit-ups when he forces himself to do them out of shame and/or guilt?

I mean, that goes without saying, but I was thinking of something else.

Sports?

CAROLINA HURRICANES DROP THE NATION'S NEXT GREAT NOVELTY BEER CUP

Bingo.

So, this week, I wanted to run through a few sports gripes, so, without further ado, let's get this griping show on the road.

The 1-Up Sound Effect After Penalty Kills

I’ve been watching a lot of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, as I do every year, but I’ve been noticing something that now drives me crazy.

It's teams that play the 1-Up sound effect from Super Mario Bros. when they kill a penalty and the player returns to the ice.

I’ve noticed that the Pittsburgh Penguins do this, and so do the Buffalo Sabres, but there could be others.

I get the joke. It’s a hacky joke, but I get it.

THE PHILADELPHIA FLYERS CHALLENGE FANS TO EAT THREE CHEESESTEAKS AND THREE ORDERS OF FRIES IN A SINGLE GAME

But it’s not the hackiness that bugs me; it’s the fact that they’re actually doing something that can hurt the team.

So, usually when a team’s power play winds down, their goalie will start banging his stick on the ice to let everyone on the ice know that a player is about to come out of the penalty box. When play is in the offensive zone, it means the player coming out of the box will be behind them.

They need to be aware of this so that the team that has just killed off a penalty can’t grab the puck and airmail the dude coming out of the sin bin a home run pass for an easy breakaway.

But what if the goalie forgets to do that or doesn’t keep an eye on the clock? That would mean that the power play unit might give up one of these easy breakaways.

Well, the 1-Up sound makes this impossible, because it takes the place of the goalie banging his stick and will always sound, no matter where the play is.

So, teams that play this are preventing themselves from sneaking a player out of the box.

They're sabotaging themselves.

I can’t believe any teams will take a very done-to-death joke, even if it means sort of hurting their team.

Don’t get me wrong, when my Flyers played the Penguins, and they were dumb enough to do this, I loved it.

SHOULD YOU WATERBOARD YOURSELF IF YOUR TEAM FALLS DOWN 3-1 IN THE PLAYOFFS?

But if they’re smart, they’ll throw that sound effect in the trash.

‘Sweet Caroline’

I’ve written about this before, but it was years ago, and obviously fell on deaf ears because I still hear it: stop playing "Sweet Caroline" and acting like it's some unique tradition.

There are so many teams at the college and pro level who are like, "It’s our thing to all sing ‘Sweet Caroline.’"

DIANNA RUSSINI'S ALLEGED PLAYLIST WITH MIKE VRABEL IS HOT GARBAGE

Well, if everyone does it, it’s not much of a unique team tradition, is it?

I’ll answer that for you: it is not.

At the very least, pick a better song, because "Sweet Caroline" absolutely stinks.

Never has a mediocre song gotten so much mileage out of the fact that idiots like going, "Bah-bah-baaaaaaah!"

It's maybe an okay song if you hear it once or twice, but it's inescapable. You hear it at every game, regardless of whether it's professional, collegiate or even high school.

And that's why it bugs me when fanbases are like, "This is our tradition." It would be like someone saying that cheering when their team came out on the field was their tradition.

Everyone does it!

Pick a new song. Even another Neil Diamond song, if you have to, just give those of us with musical taste a break.

Fans Who Try To Be Characters

We recently had the NFL Draft, and one of my least favorite parts of the entire thing is when a team picks, and they herd a bunch of their fans right in front of the camera.

But what bugs me more is that a lot of these fans aren’t just fans, they’re trying to become some kind of character.

Usually one that ends in "Man."

"Bengals Man," "Colts Man," "Jets Man," etc.

Just kidding about Jets Man. No one wants that title.

It’s one thing to go all out, cheering for your team like David Puddy, throwing on some face paint and cheering on the Devils. I’m talking about people with elaborate costumes to try to become unofficial mascots for their team. They want people to stop them in the concourse to get photos with them. They’ve got Instagram accounts.

It’s just too much.

The only thing I like about this is imagining what family life is like for these people.

Like, imagine "Commanders Man" telling his kid he has to miss their starring role in their school musical because he has to go cheer on camera when the team makes their pick at the draft.

Misuse Of "Walk-Off"

Scot is going to land the plane for us, with a gripe that is also kind of a history lesson and will send us in a strange philosophical direction:

I am expressing a gripe I've had for years. The wildly inaccurate use of the phrase "walkoff" among baseball media. This term was brilliantly coined by Dennis Eckersley to describe the act of throwing a pitch and walking off the mound as you realize the batter just swatted it to the moon to win the game. Now, it is used ubiquitously in baseball circles to describe any game-winning hit, sac fly, walk, error, hit by pitch, etc. -- even those that involve plays at the plate. Get it right, people!

…

I was unaware of this, and am probably guilty of it. Does it bug me, too? Not really, but it probably will now.

It does, however, go along with something I was thinking about recently: if enough people say or use something wrong, when does the wrong version become the right version?

*Twilight Zone music plays*

The best example I can give is this: I think most people know what a whammy bar is on a guitar. It’s that piece of metal attached to the bridge (where the end of the strings go) that you push down on, and the pitch lowers.

You’ll sometimes hear this referred to as a "tremolo." That’s because Leo Fender designed something called the "synchronized tremolo" for Stratocasters.

But here’s the rub: the effect a "tremolo" creates isn’t tremolo — a fast fluctuation in volume — it’s vibrato, a fluctuation in pitch.

Still, you’ll hear this part referred to as a tremolo.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

And while you still get some hardos who will correct you, it's still so commonly used that if you walk into your local Guitar Center and say, "I need a guitar with a tremolo," the guy who works there will not bat an eye.

In fact, he’ll probably be like, "Damn, this guy knows guitars."

So, my point is, if everyone is using the term walk-off incorrectly… at one point, is the incorrect version the correct version?

I think there is a point, and we may have hit it with walk-off, but you have to be careful because we’re starting to stray into Orweillian "2+2=5" territory.

Alright, now I need to go take some Advil and lie down after that one…

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

...

That's it for this edition of The Gripe Report!

Be sure to send in your gripes for the next one!: matthew.reigle@outkick.com

Maple Leafs give head coach Craig Berube the boot after a miserable season, GM change

Wed, 13 May 2026 17:03:02 -0400

The 2025-26 NHL season was about as miserable as it gets for the and when you factor in the fact that the team recently hired a new GM, it was hard not to think a coaching change was imminent.

Well, now it's official: Craig Berube has been let go.

The Leafs fired former GM Brad Treliving late in the season and recently hired controversial former Arizona Coyotes GM John Chayka, with franchise legend Mats Sundin as an advisor.

Obviously, when a team's division, some changes need to be made, and one of the first of those changes was parting ways with Berube.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE

Berube had won a Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues in 2019 and joined the Leafs ahead of the 2024-25 season.

His first season ended with a second-round playoff elimination, so obviously, this season was a massive step in the wrong direction.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

"Craig is a tremendous coach and an even better person," Chayka said in a statement. "This decision is more reflective of an organizational shift and an opportunity for a fresh start than it is an evaluation of Craig. We are grateful for his leadership, professionalism and commitment to the Maple Leafs organization and wish Craig and his family nothing but the best moving forward."

The new GM didn't get into details about his big-picture plans for the team, per Leafs Nation, but he did say that his discussions with captain and star player Auston Matthews did not factor into his decision to fire Berube.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Those talks with Matthews are hugely important as well. The 28-year-old has two years left on his deal, and Chayka has to decide how he factors into the team's plans, or if Matthews even wants to stay in Toronto.

Those plans will also likely involve Penn State star Gavin McKenna, who the Leafs are likely to select with the first-overall pick in this year's draft.

PWHL announces new expansion franchises are coming to Las Vegas and Hamilton, Ontario

Wed, 13 May 2026 14:33:25 -0400

The Professional Women's Hockey League has proven to be a success with teams in Boston, Minnesota, Montreal, New York, Ottawa, Seattle, Toronto and Vancouver.

On Wednesday, the league announced that it will be adding another two teams, with franchises being awarded to Hamilton, Ontario, and Las Vegas.

That's right. I think we can officially call Las Vegas a "Hockey Town."

According to the league, the team in Hamilton — currently known as PWHL Hamilton — will play at TD Coliseum, while PWHL Las Vegas will play at T-Mobile Arena, home of the NHL's Vegas Golden Knights.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE

Both cities make a ton of sense. The league says that Hamilton has one of the most concentrated areas in the world for women's and girls' hockey. Meanwhile, Las Vegas has seen a 600% explosion in female hockey participation since the Golden Knights began play in 2017.

And I think it's probably reasonable to expect that number to rise even more when the PWHL team gets rolling.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

Of course, the addition of Las Vegas expands the league's footprint outside of the northern United States and Canada, which is a big deal and will get more eyes on the league.

Both teams will begin play next season, which is an impressive time frame considering the league's Walter Cup Final between the Ottawa Charge and Montreal Victoire is about to get underway this week.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Even more impressive, the league will also be welcoming a previously announced expansion team in Detroit.

It's great to see this kind of growth and more professional opportunities for women's hockey players. If you watched the Olympic tournament, you know there's a lot of talent both in North America and abroad.

All-time talent, zero titles: The most underachieving franchises in North American sports

Wed, 13 May 2026 11:40:00 -0400

When you think of the greatest sports franchises in North American sports history, I'm sure several different teams come to mind.

The New York Yankees and their 27 World Series titles have been the blueprint for every modern MLB franchise to follow.

If you're a football guy, organizations like the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots are some of the most historically dominant and consistently great in NFL history.

Unfortunately, those aren't the teams I wanted to talk about today.

SHOULD YOU WATERBOARD YOURSELF IF YOUR TEAM FALLS DOWN 3-1 IN THE PLAYOFFS?

That's right, folks, we are looking at some of the biggest losers in North American sports, but with a twist.

It would be easy to just say franchises like the Cleveland Browns or the Sacramento Kings suck and call it a day, but where is the fun in that?

I wanted to identify the biggest underachiever in each of the four major North American sports leagues (NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA).

ANGELS SEEM COMPLETELY UNAWARE THEY ARE THE WORST TEAM IN MLB: 'OUR BEST BASEBALL IS AHEAD OF US'

To me, an underachiever in this sense would be franchises who have seen a ton of talent through multiple eras come through their doors while never winning anything of significance.

Let's dive right in and piss off some fanbases, shall we?

NBA: Phoenix Suns

The NBA has plenty of franchises that have won next to nothing during their existence, but few have underachieved quite as spectacularly as the Phoenix Suns.

SUNS' KEVIN DURANT ISSUES 8-WORD POST AFTER SHOCKING NBA DRAFT LOTTERY RESULTS

For all you youngsters out there, you're probably well aware that this team wasn't able to get over the championship hump with future Hall of Famers like Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, and Devin Booker, as well as All-Stars like Bradley Beal among their ranks, but even in the '80s, '90s and 2000s, the Suns were massive underachievers.

Everyone is aware of Hall of Famers like Steve Nash and Charles Barkley donning Suns jerseys for multiple seasons, but there were also several other HoFers littering the roster throughout the last several decades including Grant Hill, Jason Kidd, Dennis Johnson and Paul Westphal, just to name a few. Guys like Amar'e Stoudemire, Dan Majerle, Danny Ainge and even Shaq spent some time in the Valley of the Sun.

With names like those, you would think Phoenix would have been able to capture at least one Larry O'Brien trophy in the last four decades, but fate had different plans in mind.

NBA LOTTERY CHAOS: WASHINGTON WIZARDS STRIKE GOLD, PACERS PAY FOR TANKING GAMBLE NIGHTMARE

They got close a couple of times, namely 1993 and 2021, but both times they were thwarted by the Bulls and Bucks, respectively.

I'm not sure if their arena is built on a American Indian burial ground, but I can't think of any other explanation for their bad luck.

NHL: Buffalo Sabres

Buffalo came close to having both of their pro sports franchises make this list, but there is another, more notorious underachiever in the NFL, so the fine folks of Erie County will have to settle for just the Sabres being included.

FROM 4 STRAIGHT SUPER BOWL LOSSES TO JOSH ALLEN'S PATRICK MAHOMES PROBLEM, BILLS MIGHT BE CURSED

This particular race to fill the NHL's spot on the list was a tight one between the Sabres and the Vancouver Canucks, but I gave the edge to the Sabres because I can't think of any franchise in both recent and historical times to have this many players come through their ranks without ever hoisting a Stanley Cup.

The Sabres have practically been a feeder team lately for modern Cup winners, jettisoning top draft picks Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhardt to Vegas and Florida, respectively.

Eichel led the NHL in points during the playoffs when Vegas won its Cup in 2023 and is fresh off a 94-point season in 2025, while Reinhardt scored the game-winning goal in the Panthers' 2024 game seven thriller over Edmonton to secure the franchise's first Stanley Cup, then followed that up with a four-goal performance in their Cup clincher last season.

BRUINS' NIKITA ZADOROV REVEALS HE PLAYED MOST OF THE FIRST ROUND WITH A WILD INJURY

And that's just in the past three years!

Think about some of the absurd talent that has walked through the doors of the KeyBank Center, including Pat LaFontaine, Gilbert Perreault and Chris Drury, just to name a few.

They also could make the case for having one of the best all-time goalie rosters, with both Ryan Miller and Dominik Hasek calling Buffalo home at one time or another.

Time will tell if the Sabres can break their drought, but the fact that they not only haven't won a Cup, but have directly contributed to other teams hanging banners is the extra twist of the knife needed to make this dubious list.

NFL: Minnesota Vikings

You could make the argument that the entire state of Minnesota belongs on this list, as no fanbase has experienced heartache quite like those in the Land of Ten Thousand Lakes, but the Vikings are definitely the leaders in the clubhouse when it comes to underachieving.

Where do I even begin? Any team that has not one, but two Hall of Fame wide receivers on the same roster at the same time (Randy Moss and Cris Carter), and fails to win a Super Bowl is already a candidate for this list, but it doesn't stop there.

COWBOYS LEGEND DIGS DEEP INTO THE TEAM'S MISSING 'FIBER' THAT'S RESULTED IN SUPER BOWL DROUGHT

That infamous 1998 team alone had Moss and Carter along with guard Randall McDaniel and defensive tackle John Randle as their four Hall of Fame representatives, and you could make the argument Randall Cunningham is a fringe Hall of Fame candidate (Geez, there were a lot of Randalls on this team).

Other Hall of Famers to don the purple and gold include Fran Tarkenton, Alan Page, Steve Hutchinson and Jared Allen, and guys like Adrian Peterson and Harrison Smith will surely be in the Hall when they are eligible.

The Vikings have one of the most talented all-time rosters in the NFL, and certainly match up favorably with other franchises that have multiple Super Bowls to their names, so it's a complete mystery why Minnesota was never able to get it done other than the Twin Cities being cursed to an eternity of bridesmaid status.

MLB: Seattle Mariners

When I got the idea to do this list, I did so with the Seattle Mariners in mind.

Before I could even do a second of research, I knew the Mariners would be the MLB representative, and it's not even close.

Four of the greatest players of all-time at their respective positions once called the Pacific Northwest home, those being Ken Griffey Jr. (center field), Ichiro (left field), Alex Rodriguez (shortstop) and Randy Johnson (pitcher).

CAL RALEIGH GOES HITLESS IN 36 STRAIGHT AT-BATS AS NEAR-MVP CATCHER'S STUNNING COLLAPSE CONTINUES

What's even crazier is that Griffey, A-Rod and Johnson all played together on the same team for a few seasons in the mid-to-late '90s, and they even had a fourth Hall of Famer, Edgar Martinez, on the roster to boot.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

The fact that the Mariners never won a World Series in the 90s is a crime, though you could chalk it up to the Yankees becoming the dominant super power in baseball during that time.

Still, the Mariners had other Hall of Fame caliber talents in the 2000s and 2010s like the aforementioned Ichiro, Felix Hernandez, Adrian Beltre and Robinson Cano, and still couldn't even sniff an AL pennant, let alone a World Series.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Several, far less talented organizations were able to hang World Series banners in that time frame, including my beloved Florida Marlins, which just feels like the baseball gods laughing in the face of Mariners fans.

When discussing underachievers, the Seattle Mariners have to be one of the poster children, and it's safe to say they have more than "earned" their spot on this list.

Matthew and Brady Tkachuk tell the story of Team USA smuggling beer into the Olympic Village

Tue, 12 May 2026 19:06:19 -0400

The 2026 U.S. men's hockey team is going to go down as one of the most iconic teams in American sports history.

However, NHL stars Matthew Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers and Brady Tkachuk of the Ottawa Senators — both members of that team — said there was another moment they knew the team was different.

That moment? Smuggling some brewskis into the Olympic Village.

Say it with me: USA! USA! USA!

TEAM USA STAR BRADY TKACHUK SAYS HE WAS DRUG TESTED RIGHT AFTER MEN’S HOCKEY TEAM WON OLYMPIC GOLD

The Tkachuks — whose summers started earlier than I'm sure either one would've liked — welcomed ex-NHLer Shane O'Brien onto their "Wingmen" podcastWingmen podcast, and the two told a wild story about how trying to get some beers galvanized the boys in their quest for gold.

O'Brien, a Canadian, commended the Americans for shacking up in the Olympic Village, and Matthew said that helped the team bond.

They then told a story about how they brought some beers into the Village, which they were under the impression was dry.

It started with a team dinner and a plan to go to a bar. However, the bar they went into was about to close. When it was closing time, they loaded up on beers to take back to the Village.

Most of these were in brown paper bags, except for the ones being shepherded by star Tage Thompson, who simply had a case of cold ones that he carried on his shoulder.

"All of a sudden, Tage just has a case on his shoulder," Brady said. "(We) walk right through the security, (he) sets it down like on the X-ray machine, and like we're like, 'What is going on right now?'"

TAGE THOMPSON RESPONDS TO MAGA HAT CRITICISM AFTER TEAM USA GOLD: 'PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN'

The concern, of course, was that Thompson, a key player for the Americans, would get booted from the Village.

Instead, security said nothing, and Thompson walked around with a case of beer on his shoulder like it was a boombox, according to Brady.

"This is what I knew we had a tight group when we were going through that," he said. "It was that was a blast."

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

Matthew agreed.

"So yeah, I knew once Tage did that we had a very good chance of winning it," the Panthers forward said. "I'm like, 'Oh f--k, everything's working right for us right now, fellas.'"

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

He was right.

So, maybe at the 2030 Games in the French Alps, Team Canada will go on a few more beer runs.

Golden Knights reportedly block Oilers from interviewing their former head coach Bruce Cassidy

Tue, 12 May 2026 17:48:18 -0400

I'm all about respect and sportsmanship, but I also love a healthy dose of gamesmanship, and that seems to be what we're getting from the Vegas Golden Knights.

Vegas is still in the playoffs and currently tied with the Anaheim Ducks 2-2. However, they were the talk of hockey at the end of the regular season when they fired then-head coach Bruce Cassidy with just eight games left in the season and the team on track to make the playoffs.

It was a shocker — especially after Cassidy led the team to a Stanley Cup in 2023 — and the team moved on to John Tortorella.

Of course, this makes Cassidy, a former Jack Adams Award-winner, the hottest commodity on the coaching market.

LAS VEGAS WINGER MITCH MARNER SHEDS TORONTO PLAYOFF STINK WITH STELLAR POSTSEASON PERFORMANCE

One of those teams reportedly interested in Cassidy is the Edmonton Oilers; however, they needed, however they needed to get Vegas' permission to talk to him.

According to insider Frank Seravalli, they did, but the Golden Knights wouldn't give it to them.

The Golden Knights have a bit of a cutthroat reputation, and I kind of love that about them.

It feels old school. They may have cut bait with Cassidy, but they know what a great coach he is. They don't want him going to a division rival like Edmonton who they've met in the playoffs twice in the last four years.

Is it the gentlemanly thing to do? No, but neither is drinking a beer in the shower, and we all like that.

However, this report made things a bit uncomfortable for Edmonton because they don't have a head coaching vacancy. Despite a disappointing first-round exit, head coach Chris Knoblauch is still with the team.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

They of course could be mulling over a move, but if the hope was to keep these conversations on the down-low... well, better luck next time.

Perhaps some other jobs will open up — Toronto has a new GM so maybe there's a change coming there — so we'll see how this shakes out.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Still, you have to expect Cassidy will be behind an NHL bench next fall.

It just sounds like Vegas may be doing their damnedest to make sure it's not in Edmonton.

NHL Playoffs Game 5 preview: Why the under 6.5 is the play for Ducks vs. Golden Knights tonight

Tue, 12 May 2026 16:14:44 -0400

We are deep into the NHL Playoffs, but I haven't been doing a great job of putting out plays on the games. With the NBA Playoffs and baseball every day, it has been more sporadic than I like. However, I've still been tracking the games and trying to find the right spots to share looks. I have a play in tonight's game between the Ducks and Golden Knights in Game 5.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE

The Anaheim Ducks are a bit of a surprise team as they ended their year 43-33-6 and in third place in the Pacific Division. Last season, they were under .500, and they hadn't even been to the postseason since 2017-18. They were swept out of the playoffs that year. Joel Quenneville has made a great impact on the team, taking them from a league doormat to a winner in just about a year.

In the first-round series, the Ducks battled Edmonton and won in six games. It was a bit of an unexpected win for the Ducks, considering the Oilers were one of the more talented teams in the league. In this series, the two teams have alternated wins and losses. Tonight, they are expected to have Lukas Dostal in the net. He was 30-20-4 for the year with 3.10 goals allowed per game and a .888 save percentage. He hasn't been perfect by any means, allowing 29 goals in 231 attempts. He was pulled in Game 3 as he allowed three goals in the first period.

The Vegas Golden Knights led the Pacific Division this season with a 39-26-17 record. They first came into the league in 2017, and instantly made the playoffs before losing to the Capitals in the Stanley Cup Final. They have been in the postseason in all but one of the years they've been in existence. There is also a Stanley Cup in their trophy case in that span.

This year hasn't been a smooth ride in the postseason. They faced the Utah Mammoth in the first round, beating them in six games. However, two of those four wins came in overtime. That's typically where experience matters, but obviously, there is a bit of luck there, too. Their losses were fairly close as well. In their two wins in this series, they've covered the puckline. Tonight's goalie is probably going to be Carter Hart, who has started all of the Knights' postseason games. He has allowed 27 goals this postseason, but he has made 283 stops and saved about 91% of the shots.

This has been a pretty entertaining series, and we know this is a pivotal Game 5. According to a quick search, NHL teams in a 2-2 series winning Game 5 win the series about 82% of the time. That makes winning this game even more crucial. Unfortunately, I don't have a look for who wins because I think this is a toss-up. The Ducks are a good value at +136, though.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

My play in this one is the under 6.5. There have been five home games for Vegas this postseason, and only one has gone over tonight's posted total. The past two games have seen at least seven goals, and maybe that's because they've found holes in each other's defense. I think this game is too important, and the teams will be cautious. Give me the under.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

For more sports betting information and plays, follow David on X/Twitter: @futureprez2024

Butt-end incident leads to off-ice war of words between Wild's Michael McCarron and Avalanche's Josh Manson

Tue, 12 May 2026 13:14:22 -0400

The second-round series between the Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild was always destined to be a bit of a slugfest, and it's delivering the goods.

However, after Game 4 — which the Avs won 5-2 to take a 3-1 series lead — the intensity has boiled over off the ice, and it's all thanks to a butt-ending incident that earned Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson a four-minute minor.

In the first period, Wild forward Michael McCarron checked Manson hard and wound up falling on top of him. The two wrestled for a little before Manson could be seen striking McCarron in the side of the head with the butt-end of his stick.

McCarron went down in pain, and upon review, Manson was dealt a double-minor for butt-ending.

OTTAWA'S RIDLY GREIG DELIVERS DISGUSTING CHEAP SHOT IN GAME 4 AGAINST CAROLINA

The Wild scored on the ensuing power play, and McCarron laid into Manson during an intermission interview with ESPN.

After the game, McCarron continued to criticize Manson's brand of play.

"I blew him up, and he grabbed me and pulled me on top of him," he said. "He took his butt end and clearly butt-ended me in the face. I don’t know how it’s not a five-minute. I think the rulebook says it’s a five-minute if you butt-end someone in the face."

According to Sportsnet, Manson claimed that he simply lost awareness of where his hand was on his stick when he took a swing at McCarron, whom he said he was angry at for falling on him.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

"My intention wasn't to butt-end him. Did I want to punch him in the head? I did want to punch him in the head," Manson said.

The series shifts back to Denver for Game 5, and something tells me we probably haven't seen the last of this one.

OUTKICK IS NOW ON THE FOX APP: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

However, Minnesota is in quite a hole, so keeping their postseason alive should be at the front of their mind, not getting back at Josh Manson.

But, no matter how you want to look at it, the heat is certainly getting turned up in this one.

Flyers star Owen Tippett reveals he missed series vs Hurricanes due to internal bleeding

Tue, 12 May 2026 11:31:19 -0400

The Philadelphia Flyers were without star winger Owen Tippett in the second-round series loss to the Carolina Hurricanes due to internal bleeding, the team announced.

Tippett, 27, played the entirety of the team’s first-round series victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins, but said he sustained the internal bleeding issue during that series.

"I was unable to return for the second round series vs. Carolina due to an internal bleeding issue that I sustained during the first round series vs. Pittsburgh," Tippett said in a statement from the Flyers.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

"Following a series of medical evaluations, treatments, and rehabilitation under the care of Flyers' medical team, I am making progress and feeling better each day. Despite being cleared to travel and skate with the team at certain practices, things did not progress at a pace that I hoped for or would allow me to safely continue playing."

Tippett had a goal and an assist in the Flyers’ series vs. the Penguins. The Ontario native said how proud he was of their season and expressed his gratitude for the support he has received.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

"I am beyond proud of what our team has accomplished this season and truly moved by the tremendous support of the fans," Tippett said.

"I want to sincerely thank everyone for that support — both personally for me and my family, as well as our entire medical and performance staff."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Tippett said that he is confident in a full recovery and looks forward to training camp. The forward had one of the best seasons of his career, scoring 28 goals with 23 assists.

He began his career with the Florida Panthers before being traded to the Flyers in 2022 as part of the package for Claude Giroux. In 428 games across seven seasons, Tippett has recorded 121 goals and 115 assists, good for 236 points.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

PK Subban makes good on commitment, donates $10M to Montreal Children's Hospital

Sat, 09 May 2026 16:32:23 -0400

Over a decade ago, PK Subban was one of the top defensemen in the NHL. He had already won a Norris Trophy and was one of the faces of the Montreal Canadiens when he made a big promise: he was going to donate $10 million to the Montreal Children’s Hospital.

That was in 2015, and a little over a year later, the Canadiens shipped him off to Nashville in a blockbuster trade for Hall of Fame blueliner Shea Weber.

But that didn't mean that he was going to break his promise.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

It was announced on Friday that Subban has achieved his mission of donating $10 million to the hospital, something that, according to The Montreal Gazette, is the biggest philanthropic commitment by an athlete in Canada.

PATRIOTS OWNER ROBERT KRAFT REVEALS HE'S GIVEN NEARLY $1B TO CHARITY OVER DECADES OF PHILANTHROPIC WORK

"It was difficult. Definitely had its difficulties," Subban said. "Was there any doubt in my mind? No, because I made a commitment that I was always gonna follow through on."

Subban — who now works as an analyst for ESPN — said ahead of a Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation gala on Friday that getting to that lofty number was a serious challenge, and was made even more difficult by those who doubted his commitment and follow-through.

"At 23 years old, I think for people to see somebody take on that level of responsibility breeds questions," Subban said. "For those doubters, I hope they believe in themselves. Don’t doubt other people, just find that courage to believe in yourself, and believe that the impossible is possible, and we just proved that."

Hats off to PK for this one. The foundation says the funds he donated have helped 100,000 kids, and that is just awesome.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

It would've been easy to go the "Scott's Tots" route (fans of "The Office" know what I mean) when he was traded out of town, but nope. He was true to his word.

Great stuff from PK.

Is Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon a psychopath for wearing flippers and goggles in the hotel pool?

Sat, 09 May 2026 15:08:19 -0400

When spending time in the public swimming pool, there is a set of rules that everyone is expected to abide by.

Sure, they would prefer if you shower before entering, and if you've had diarrhea in the last 48 hours, it's highly suggested that you skip taking a dip, but those are all written on the sign at the front gate.

We are talking about unwritten pool rules here, and one of the biggest ones I can think of, at least personally, is "don't make anyone else in the pool uncomfortable."

That could be anything from proper bathing suit attire to not playing tonsil hockey with your significant other in a resort full of kids.

NATHAN MACKINNON IMPLIES CANADA WAS 'BETTER TEAM' DESPITE LOSING OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL TO TEAM USA

Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon tested the limits of what it means to be a public pool weirdo when he showed up to the local hotel swimming hole with his Navy SEAL training kit, and some innocent bystander caught the whole thing on video from the safety of their balcony.

Does anyone want to check the trunk of MacKinnon's car for ropes or bottles of bleach, because this is something a psychopathic killer would do.

I understand Nate Dogg is a bit of a fitness freak (as the comments section did their very best to remind me of), but flippers and a mask at the hotel pool in the middle of a playoff run is unhinged behavior.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

I'm sure wherever the Avalanche are staying in the Twin Cities has a nice enough gym where this isn't necessary.

Just get an adjustable flat bench and dumbbells so you can crush some Bulgarian split squats if you really need to get the quads pumping that badly.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The Avs are on a warpath in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and currently have a 2-0 series lead over Minnesota, and the only thing worse than getting swept as a Wild fan is getting swept by a guy who treats your hotel pool like his own waterobics studio.

I hate to say it, but it looks like MacKinnon has just watermogged the entire Minnesota Wild hockey organization.

Las Vegas winger Mitch Marner sheds Toronto playoff stink with stellar postseason performance

Sat, 09 May 2026 11:09:50 -0400

Things didn't exactly end well in Toronto for superstar winger Mitch Marner.

Few things ever "end well" between a franchise and its high-priced, underperforming talent, but the final chapters in the Marner-Maple Leafs saga were especially vitriolic.

You can probably chalk most of that up to the Toronto media, which is about as toxic as it gets when it comes to North American sports, but Marner wasn't exactly free of blame.

His regular-season point totals were some of the best in the league, but the playoff performances in critical moments were the subject of much scrutiny, so much so that most hockey fans thought all Marner needed was a change of scenery to unlock his postseason potential.

CANUCKS OFFLOAD DISGRUNTLED STAR J.T. MILLER IN TRADE WITH RANGERS AMID RIFT WITH TEAMMATE

So far, only nine games into his first postseason south of the Canadian border, Marner is thriving, with his "arrival" coming Friday night in the Las Vegas Golden Knights' 6-2 beatdown against the Anaheim Ducks.

That's Marner's first career playoff hat trick, but it gets even crazier than that.

The 29-year-old had previously played in 70 career playoff games as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and recorded only two multi-goal games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

He has two already in nine playoff games with the Golden Knights.

Marner's high-water mark for goals in an entire postseason before landing in Sin City was three goals, which he obviously matched in Friday's game alone.

Any way you slice it, Marner is exorcising an entire career's worth of playoff demons in just one year.

GOLDEN KNIGHTS MAKE MAJOR COACHING SHAKEUP AS STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS NEAR

The big question will be whether he can experience more team success in the postseason with his new club, considering the Golden Knights are in a familiar spot to Marner.

His time in Toronto was notoriously marred by the simple fact that the Leafs were unable to make it past the second round of the playoffs.

With a 2-1 series lead over the Ducks, Vegas is just a couple of wins away from showing its latest addition a side of the postseason he's never seen before: the Conference Finals.

The sky could be the limit for Marner and this Golden Knights team.

With the big bad bully on the Western Conference block, the Edmonton Oilers, getting sent home early from the big dance, coupled with Marner's stellar play, Vegas could find its way back to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since winning it all three seasons ago.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

It's been a perfect marriage so far between Marner and the Golden Knights, and it doesn't hurt that the Toronto Maple Leafs were so putrid in their first season without the man they ran out of town that they are now in position to draft yet another future star (Gavin McKenna) to foist lofty expectations onto.

Godspeed, Gavin.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

If things get bad enough for you, you can always move on to greener pastures and resurrect your career.

If it worked for Marner, it can work for you, too.

Buffalo Sabres' star Tage Thompson reveals the meaning behind the team's season slogan

Fri, 08 May 2026 16:51:05 -0400

It has been a heck of a year for the Buffalo Sabres.

They're in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2011, and won their first playoff series since 2007 after dispatching the Boston Bruins in the first round.

And all year long, the team has been leaning on one slogan, "Everybody Ropes, Everybody Rides."

Now the question on everyone's mind: What the hell does that mean?

SABRES WIN FIRST PLAYOFF GAME IN 15 YEARS IN DRAMATIC FASHION, STUN BRUINS WITH EPIC THIRD PERIOD COMEBACK

TNT hockey reporter Jackie Redmond shared a photo of the towels fans will receive for Game 2 against the Montreal Canadiens, and they all bear the slogan.

However, one fan thought that this slogan was nothing more than something the team's front office cooked up. Which, in fairness, we've seen from many teams over the years, especially come playoff time.

But Redmond shared that this isn't the case at all. Instead, it has been the Sabres' rallying cry all season, and she shared Sabres star and Team USA gold medalist Tage Thompson's explanation of the saying.

"It means no job is too big or too small for anybody," Thompson explained, per Redmond. "That when everyone is willing to do the little things that aren't always flashy — it shows the room that you care about winning and doing whatever it takes."

Well, it seems to be working.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

I love that kind of attitude in the postseason, too, because it underscores what I think is the key to winning the Stanley Cup: depth.

Especially in the modern NHL, you need everyone showing up and pitching in, whether that's the stars or the fourth-line grinders or the goalie, and the Sabres seem to be getting that.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The Sabres were one of the biggest surprises of the season by not just making the postseason, but by winning the tough Atlantic Division, which saw five teams make the playoffs.

Now it's just a matter of seeing how long they can keep it all going.

Matthew Tkachuk continues to chase Team USA Hockey dominance as 2026 IIHF World Championship begins

Thu, 07 May 2026 15:26:06 -0400

If anyone thought Team USA was satisfied with Olympic gold and ready to coast through the rest of the international hockey calendar, Matthew Tkachuk has a message.

Wrong.

The Florida Panthers star joined "The Pat McAfee Show" on Thursday and discussed his plan to play for Team USA at the 2026 IIHF World Championship in Switzerland. USA Hockey’s preliminary roster, announced May 7, includes Tkachuk for the first time, since the Panthers failed to reach the NHL playoffs this season.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

The tournament begins May 15 in Zurich and Fribourg, and the Americans are trying to win back-to-back gold medals at the event for the first time ever.

Tkachuk made his mindset pretty clear.

"Well, I sure as hell hope so," Tkachuk said when asked by McAfee if the U.S. is going to win the tournament. "[We're] not going over there for a vacation."

That’s exactly the kind of attitude USA Hockey needs to keep building around.

The Americans won the 2025 IIHF World Championship for the first time since 1933, beating Switzerland 1-0 in overtime on Tage Thompson’s goal. Jeremy Swayman made 25 saves in the win, and the Americans finally ended a 92-year drought at the event.

Canada leads all countries with 28 IIHF World Championship victories (last in 2023), just ahead of Russia's 27 (also counting Soviet Union victories). The United States has just three titles in the tournament's history (88 events). The total includes 1960 when the Olympics counted as the World Championship and the U.S. captured gold.

The 2025 U.S. victory was just an appetizer for the main course, when the Americans beat Canada to win Olympic gold at the 2026 Milano Cortina Games. Jack Hughes scored the winner, Connor Hellebuyck stood on his head and the Americans won their first Olympic men’s hockey gold medal since 1980.

The success of Team USA has greatly increased the excitement around hockey for Americans, with the NHL benefiting greatly from the renewed enthusiasm and putting up massive television viewing numbers since the Olympics.

So, yes, the mood around American hockey is different right now.

And it should be because it's not just the highest level, either.

The IIHF World Junior Championship (U20) occurs each year and is one of the premier annual international hockey tournaments. It matters because from 2005 through 2023, Canada won 10 gold medals, and all other countries combined to win nine (USA won four).

However, the United States won in 2024 and 2025, while Sweden captured gold in 2026.

For years, Canada dominated hockey on the world's stage. Everyone else was just trying to catch up. That’s not really the deal anymore.

The U.S. won the World Championship.

The U.S. men won Olympic gold. The U.S. women won Olympic gold. The U.S. juniors have won two U20 World Championships since Canada last won one.

And now Tkachuk is heading to Switzerland talking like a player who expects to keep the run going.

That’s what a winning culture looks and sounds like.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE

Tkachuk told McAfee this will be his first time playing in the annual world championship. In past years, he said, the timing didn’t work because he was either still in the NHL playoffs, dealing with a contract situation or managing the normal wear and tear that comes at the end of a long season.

But after representing the United States in February, he wanted to put the jersey back on.

"I think it’s just such an honor to wear a USA jersey," Tkachuk said. "Going here a few months later, I still have that feeling that I had representing back in February in Milan. It’s like, how could I not want to be a part of that again?"

Again, that’s precisely what American hockey fans want to hear. While there are some athletes complaining about representing the United States on a global stage, the hockey players have embraced being proud of wearing the red, white and blue. Tkachuk embraces his patriotism so much that he's heading to play in a tournament after going through the grind of an entire NHL season.

This is how a national program goes from having a moment to building a consistent winner. It happens when the best players treat every tournament as an opportunity to prove dominance to the world. They long to don the USA sweater, no matter the venue.

That’s how Canada dominated this sport for decades.

Talent was obviously a major part of the recipe. But it wasn't just about that. If people have learned anything, it's that America produces the best athletes in the world. What Canada has was buy-in. The best players cared. They took pride in being the best in the world at hockey. America, historically, cared more about dominating other sports.

Now, the United States suddenly has hockey energy.

And Tkachuk is a perfect face for it.

He’s skilled, tough, and works hard. He embodies American spirit. Plus, he's actually proud to be an American.

McAfee, naturally, leaned all the way into the American hockey swagger, noting the U.S. won the world title last year and joking that hockey feels like it belongs to America now.

Tkachuk didn’t correct the assertion.

"We won the big one," he said of Olympic gold. "That’s all that matters."

That gold medal win over Canada changed the conversation. The world championship last year was historic, but how many Americans even realize the U.S. won that tournament? But there are few American citizens who aren't aware that the United States captured Olympic gold in a tournament that included nearly all of the world's best hockey players. That’s the one that told the hockey world the Americans weren’t just lurking in the background.

They had arrived.

But, as has been said many times, staying at the top is often harder than getting to the top. Maintaining that attitude and grit when you go from being the chaser to being the chased can be one of the toughest things to do in sports.

OUTKICK IS NOW ON THE FOX APP: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

The World Championship isn’t the Olympics. It doesn’t generally feature every country’s best roster because the NHL playoffs are still going, players are banged up, and plenty of stars pass for understandable reasons. But winning it again would still matter.

A lot.

Team USA has never won back-to-back gold medals at the IIHF World Championship. The Americans open this year’s tournament against Switzerland on May 15 in a rematch of last year’s gold-medal game.

The U.S. ended a 92-year world-title drought by beating Switzerland last year. Now the Americans get Switzerland again, in Switzerland, with a chance to begin another gold-medal run.

Team USA has spent the last few years turning international hockey into another display of American excellence.

Tkachuk sounds ready to keep it going.

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs viewership surges as hockey rides wave from US Olympic gold medal

Wed, 06 May 2026 13:58:00 -0400

In February, we asked whether the NHL could capitalize on America’s renewed interest in hockey in hockey after Team USA’s Olympic gold medal victory. The answer is yes.

The first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs averaged 1.2 million viewers across ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, TBS and truTV, up nearly 70% from last year.

While Nielsen’s updated Big Data + Panel methodology has increased live sports averages, estimates put that bump at roughly 5% to 10%. The NHL’s surge goes well beyond any measurement changes. For comparison, that is not the case for the NBA playoffs.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

The NHL has steadily built momentum since the Olympics. The first eight nationally televised games after the break averaged 603,000 viewers across ABC, ESPN and TNT, a 23% increase from the league’s pre-Olympic average.

The Olympic finale reminded Americans how thrilling hockey can be. The playoffs have reinforced it. Few sports match hockey’s pace, chaos, and physicality. In many ways, it is the closest thing to football, America’s true pastime. Its intensity and passion are unmatched.

Distribution matters as well. The Stanley Cup Playoffs remain widely available on traditional television. Fans do not need multiple streaming subscriptions to follow the postseason, unlike in the NBA.

That aligns with audience sentiment. A Fox News national survey in March found that 72% of fans are frustrated with streaming and believe major sporting events should remain on free broadcast television.

NBA PLAYOFFS RATINGS ARE NOT ACTUALLY THE HIGHEST IN 33 YEARS, AS REPORTED

The sport’s culture also works in its favor. The conversation is not dominated by manufactured outrage or endless hot takes and race-baiting. The players are generally more focused on winning than on building personal brands on social media.

That said, hockey likely has a ceiling in the United States. The sport is less accessible than football, baseball or basketball. Ice time is limited, equipment is expensive, and there are far fewer rinks than fields or gyms.

Due to these structural disadvantages, hockey will never surpass football, basketball or baseball in overall popularity in America. However, it can still be bigger than it has been. We are seeing that now.

The next step is building stars.

In a fragmented, algorithm-driven media environment, individual stardom drives interest. The NHL has lagged here for years.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Fortunately, the league has marketable talent in Connor McDavid, Jack Hughes, Quinn Hughes, Connor Hellebuyck and Connor Bedard. It just has to market them properly.

Ultimately, for the first time in nearly a decade, hockey feels like a real factor in the American zeitgeist. It started with the Olympics.

Sabres favored to win Game 1 as Canadiens face fatigue after grueling seven-game series with Lightning

Wed, 06 May 2026 13:48:43 -0400

I've said it pretty much every year, but the NHL Playoffs are awesome. I don't really follow hockey all that much during the regular season. I follow it enough to sporadically bet on it, but of the big four, it is the one that I am the least confident in. I've been surprisingly successful some years, but this hasn't been the best one for me. So, I guess my advice here is to tread with caution as I share my bet with you on the Canadiens vs. Sabres game.

The Montreal Canadiens took out one of the biggest favorites in the sport in the first round. They were able to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning in seven games. This was an interesting series as the two teams alternated wins. None of the games were decided by more than one goal, either. Four of the seven games also went to overtime. To say this was a battle for Montreal would be an understatement. Kudos to their team for persevering through it and coming out to live for a second round of the playoffs.

For the season, the team scored 3.40 goals per game and allowed 3.06 goals per game. I always find it interesting, but they allowed more shots than they've taken on average. They went 24-9-8 on the road this season, one of the better marks in the league, and they won three games on the road in the first round. I expect them to put Jakub Dobes in the net once again after he started all seven games against Tampa Bay. He was 29-10-4 with a 2.78 goals allowed on average per game. He had a strong .901 save percentage in the regular season. In the postseason, he upped that to .923 and allowed no more than three goals in any game.

The Buffalo Sabres went 50-23-9 for the season, looking like one of the best teams in the league. They were solid at home, going 26-10-5 in their home arena. In the opening round, the team took down the Boston Bruins in six games. They had a significantly easier time than the Canadiens. In three of their wins, they took them down by at least two goals. Even in the two losses, they were rather competitive. They lost Game 2 by a score of 4-2, and Game five 2-1. Both of their losses at home are a bit concerning.

SABRES WIN FIRST PLAYOFF GAME IN 15 YEARS IN DRAMATIC FASHION, STUN BRUINS WITH EPIC THIRD PERIOD COMEBACK

Still, this is a team that has a lot going for it. Scoring 20 goals in six games means that this offense is firing on all cylinders. They made a major adjustment for the team by taking starter Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen out of the net after the first two games. They turned to Alex Lyon in Game 3, and he rewarded them with a total of five goals allowed in five games. He didn't allow a goal on seven attempts when he came in for Luukkonen in Game 2.

The playoffs are not a time for teams to worry about feelings. Pulling their starting goalie, who had done so much for them, needed to happen if Buffalo wanted to win the series. Lyon delivered and will be in the net until he cools off. The Sabres are playing with a ton of confidence at the moment, but they've looked a bit rough at home.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The Canadiens have to be rather exhausted after winning that first-round series. That was a grueling battle, and every game was tight. I don't think that's the type of game they want to play in this one. They were lucky to get a bit of extra rest. I expect the Sabres to win this game. They are the looser team, their goalie looks great, and the offense has been rolling. Give me Buffalo to win the opener as the Canadiens try to take a breath after getting out of the first round.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

For more sports betting information and plays, follow David on X/Twitter: @futureprez2024

Toronto Maple Leafs defy slim odds to win the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery

Tue, 05 May 2026 20:43:52 -0400

The Toronto Maple Leafs caught a franchise-changing break on Tuesday, defying the odds to jump from fifth to the No. 1 overall pick in the NHL Draft Lottery.

Coming into the selection ceremony with just an 8.5 percent chance, Toronto vaulted past multiple teams to nab the top selection, which hasn't happened since 2016.

The outcome gives Toronto a rare opportunity to add a blue-chip asset without sacrificing current roster pieces.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

This stroke of luck follows a disastrous regular season in which the Maple Leafs finished 32-36-14, placing eighth in the Atlantic Division, which marked a 30-point drop from the previous year and led to their first missed postseason since 2016.

The season was defined by turmoil, including a season-ending injury to captain Auston Matthews and 299 goals allowed, one of the league’s worst defensive marks.

The focus now turns to projected top pick Gavin McKenna. The dynamic Penn State left wing finished second in the NCAA in points per game. For a team that has struggled with depth scoring and cap constraints, drafting a player of McKenna’s caliber signals a clear path to strengthening the roster for the long term.

TOP NHL PROSPECT GAVIN MCKENNA CHARGED WITH ASSAULT IN DOWNTOWN PENN STATE INCIDENT, COURT DOCUMENT SHOWS

The lottery result also pulled Toronto away from a potential asset-management misstep tied to previous trades.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

By staying within the top five, the Maple Leafs triggered the protection clause on the first-round pick sent to the Boston Bruins in the Brandon Carlo deal.

Had the pick slipped outside that range, it would have gone to a division rival. Instead, Toronto keeps the No. 1 selection.

Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela

Lightning captain Victor Hedman opens up about mental health absence after first-round playoff exit

Tue, 05 May 2026 12:19:04 -0400

Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman’s absence in the final stretch of the regular season and during the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs was to address his mental health, he revealed in a statement Tuesday.

Hedman, who also missed a significant amount of time this season due to injury, addressed the situation in a statement shared by the team.

"I’ve spent most of my life in this game, and nearly all of my career with this organization. Wearing this jersey – and serving as captain – is the greatest responsibility of my professional life," his statement began.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

"That responsibility doesn’t only apply on the ice. Over the past couple of months, I made the decision to step away and focus on my mental health. It was not an easy decision, but it was the right one.

"I’ve always believed that being a leader means doing what’s best for the team. In this case, it also meant doing what was necessary to take care of myself, so I can be the best player, teammate, husband and father I expect to be."

Hedman expanded on his statement during his exit interview with the media on Tuesday, adding that he feels "way better" and that it was the "right decision" for him.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

"This is something that exists in our game more than people see. If this moment helps make it easier for others to take care of themselves when they need to, that matters," he said Tuesday. "I’m proud of this team, and I look forward to what’s ahead."

Hedman, who spent his entire 17-year NHL career with the Lightning, missed a majority of the season with an elbow injury that required surgery in December. He returned in time for the Olympic break, where he played for Sweden, before being sidelined again before the quarterfinal game against Team USA.

After playing in just 33 games this season, Hedman said he was looking forward to returning next year.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Tampa Bay was eliminated from the playoffs after suffering a 2-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens in Game 7 on Sunday. The loss marked the organization's fourth straight first-round exit.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Connor McDavid delivers message Oilers fans won’t want to hear

Sat, 02 May 2026 21:55:10 -0400

The Edmonton Oilers were bounced from the Stanley Cup Playoffs way earlier than they were certainly hoping after losing their first-round series to the Anaheim Ducks.

However, things may have just gotten worse for fans after what Connor McDavid had to say about the organization.

Now, before this year, the Oilers had been to two straight Cup Finals and lost both to the Florida Panthers.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

However, despite questions about his future with the team, McDavid signed a two-year, team-friendly $25 million deal that appears to be a "show-me" contract, giving the organization time to prove it can win a Cup.

Well, that deal kicks in next season, but the Oilers sure aren't showing him much.

After the loss to Anaheim, McDavid said the Oilers were an "average team with high expectations," and on Saturday, he said he stands by that assessment.

He also echoed comments made on Saturday by his longtime teammate Leon Draisaitl that the team is "not trending in the right direction."

BRADY TKACHUK ADDRESSES TRADE RUMORS (AGAIN) AFTER SENATORS PLAYOFF EXIT

"Yeah, I feel the same way," McDavid said, per NHL.com. "It's only a couple of days ago I made those comments, and I feel the same as I did a couple of days ago, and agree with Leon that the organization as a whole has taken a step back. It starts with me, it starts with Leon, we all can be better, we need to be better."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The Oilers have two years on that McDavid deal to get him to stay, but realistically, it's more like one year.

If McDavid isn't getting the sense that the Oilers still have a window to win the Stanley Cup, they have to start looking to move on.

Letting the best player on Earth walk in free agency is just not an option.

So, more than ever, which is saying a lot in the McDavid era, the pressure is on in Edmonton.