Welcome to your daily dose of NHL News. The National Hockey League schedule may be officially paused for the next two weeks, but the hockey world is spinning faster than ever. For the first time since the 2014 Sochi Games, the world’s most elite NHL players have returned to the Winter Olympics, completely taking over the sporting world in Milano Cortina.
NHL Stars Finally Return to the Olympic Stage in Milan
The 12-year wait is officially over. Around 150 NHL players landed in Italy via charter flights this week, and the 2026 Men’s Olympic Hockey Tournament begins today, February 11. The preliminary puck drops feature Group B matchups, with Finland taking on Slovakia, followed by a heavyweight Team Sweden battling the host nation of Italy.
There was a collective sigh of relief for Team USA fans as New Jersey Devils superstar Jack Hughes—who missed games right before the Olympic break with a lower-body injury—was a full participant in practice and is 100% ready to go. Team USA is on a “gold or bust” mission, looking to secure their first top podium finish since the 1980 Miracle on Ice. Meanwhile, Team Canada, led by Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid, is heavily favored to continue their international dominance.
February 10 Olympic Scores: USA Women Stun Team Canada
While the men prepare for puck drop, the women’s tournament delivered massive fireworks yesterday. In a highly anticipated Group A showdown on February 10, Team USA completely dismantled their fierce rivals, Team Canada, securing first place in the knockout stages with a jaw-dropping shutout.
Final Score: Team USA 5 – Team Canada 0
- Game Notes: The Americans dominated puck possession from the opening draw, outshooting Canada 45 to 14. Hannah Bilka led the offensive charge with two goals, while Caroline Harvey, Kirsten Simms, and Laila Edwards also lit the lamp.
- Record Breakers: U.S. legend Hilary Knight tallied an assist to tie the all-time U.S. Olympic points record. Goaltender Aerin Frankel stopped all 20 shots she faced to earn the massive 20-save shutout.
- Injury Impact: Team Canada sorely missed their injured captain, Marie-Philip Poulin, struggling to generate any high-danger scoring chances against a suffocating American defense.
NHL Trade Rumors & Break Updates
Just because no NHL games are being played doesn’t mean general managers are taking a vacation. The NHL News cycle is red-hot as teams prepare for the March trade deadline. Just before the Olympic pause, the hockey world was rocked when superstar Artemi Panarin was traded from the New York Rangers to the Los Angeles Kings, immediately signing a two-year extension.
Looking ahead, the St. Louis Blues are emerging as massive deadline sellers. Word around the league is that GM Doug Armstrong (currently managing Team Canada in Milan) will be demanding sky-high returns for his roster assets once the Olympic break concludes. Meanwhile, the Toronto Maple Leafs are reportedly already evaluating their summer free-agency plans to revamp their blue line.
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