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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

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Defector

The Defector Crewneck Sweatshirt Is Back In Stock

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Merch v3

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Barry Petchesky

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - MARCH 10: Simon Benoit #2 of the Toronto Maple Leafs fights against Michael Kesselring #7 of the Utah Hockey Club during the second period of a game on March 10, 2025 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images)

Toronto Maple Leafs v Utah Hockey Club

Was It Worth It?

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Lauren Theisen

Detroit Red Wings v Ottawa Senators

The Senators Are So Back

Mikko Rantanen celebrates his goal with teammates

Dallas Stars  v Vancouver Canucks

They Should Call Them The Dallas Even More Stars

Tom Wilson #43 of the Washington Capitals scores in overtime

Washington Capitals v New York Rangers

Alex Ovechkin Is Getting All The Help He Needs

ELMONT, NEW YORK - MARCH 04: (EDITORS NOTE: This image was created using in-camera multiple exposure). The New York Islanders skate in warmups prior to the game against the Winnipeg Jets at UBS Arena on March 04, 2025 in Elmont, New York.

Winnipeg Jets v New York Islanders

I Love Watching Warm-Ups

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Kelsey McKinney

Philadelphia Flyers v St Louis Blues

This Is So Stupid

Please Do Not Lie To Me About Hockey Butts

Zack Ostapchuk #38 of the Ottawa Senators and Moritz Seider #53 of the Detroit Red Wings battle during a game

Ottawa Senators v Detroit Red Wings

A Quick And Dirty Guide To The Eastern Conference Wild Card

Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin during player introductions at the 2017 skills competition

NHL: JAN 28 All-Star Skills Competition

A Pittsburgh Pilgrimage

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Ray Ratto

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - FEBRUARY 20: Connor McDavid #97 of Team Canada reacts after scoring the game-winning goal during the first overtime period of the 4 Nations Face-Off Championship game between Team Canada and Team United States at TD Garden on February 20, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Ben Jackson/4NFO/World Cup of Hockey via Getty Images)

NHL 4 Nations Face-Off – Championship

The Game Always Speaks For Itself

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - FEBRUARY 20: Connor McDavid #97 of Team Canada celebrates with teammates after scoring the game-winning goal during the first overtime period of the 4 Nations Face-Off Championship game between Team Canada and Team United States at TD Garden on February 20, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Ben Jackson/4NFO/World Cup of Hockey via Getty Images)

Hockey Remains Canada’s

MONTREAL, QUEBEC - FEBRUARY 13: (Top-Bottom) Charlie McAvoy #25, Jake Guentzel #59, Zach Werenski #8, Auston Matthews #34 and Jack Hughes #86 of Team United States stand at their blueline during the singing of the United Sates national anthem before the 4 Nations Face-Off game between the United States and Finland at Bell Centre on February 13, 2025 in Montreal, Quebec. (Photo by Vitor Munhoz/4NFO/World Cup of Hockey via Getty Images)

NHL 4 Nations Face-Off – United States v Finland

Please Stop Liking My Sport

Matthew Tkachuk #19 of Team USA and Brandon Hagel #38 of Team Canada fight during the first period in the 2025 NHL 4 Nations Face-Off on February 15, 2025.

2025 NHL 4 Nations Face-Off – United States v Canada

The 4 Nations Face-Off Really Might Be The Solution For All-Star Malaise

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - FEBRUARY 17: Connor McDavid #97 of Team Canada carries the puck against Juuse Saros #74 of Team Finland during the second period in the 4 Nations Face-Off game at TD Garden on February 17, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

NHL 4 Nations Face-Off – Canada v Finland

This Is What We Came For

J.T. Miller #10 of Team USA and Colton Parayko #55 of Team Canada fight

NHL 4 Nations Face-Off – United States v Canada

Canada Still Alive In 4 Nations Despite Pugnacious Defeat In Montreal

MONTREAL, QUEBEC - FEBRUARY: Matthew Tkachuk #19 of Team United States points to a teammate after scoring his second goal of the third period against Juuse Saros #74 of Team Finland during the 4 Nations Face-Off game between the United States and Finland at Bell Centre on February 13, 2025 in Montreal, Quebec. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/4NFO/World Cup of Hockey via Getty Images)

Rowdy Tkachuk Boys Wreak General Havoc On Finland

2019-01-01 00:15:14.989

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson (40) and Canucks center J.T. Miller (9) talk during the NHL game between the Nashville Predators and Vancouver Canucks, held on January 29, 2025, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.

NHL: JAN 29 Canucks at Predators

Beef-Ending Trade Of J.T. Miller Leaves Vancouver Sports Media With Nothing To Talk About

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 20: The Utah Hockey Club salutes the crowd after a win against the Winnipeg Jets on January 20, 2025 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Hunter Dyke/NHLI via Getty Images)

Winnipeg Jets v Utah Hockey Club

Utah Yeti? Not Yeti

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 21: Matt Rempe #73 of the New York Rangers and Brady Tkachuk #7 of the Ottawa Senators battle at Madison Square Garden on January 21, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Ottawa Senators v New York Rangers

Up Close And Personal With Good Matt Rempe

VANCOUVER, CANADA - JANUARY 18: Conor Garland #8 of the Vancouver Canucks checks Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers during the third period of their NHL game at Rogers Arena on January 18, 2025 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Vancouver won 3-2. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)

Edmonton Oilers v Vancouver Canucks

Connor McDavid Has Three Games To Think About What He’s Done

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - JANUARY 15: Ryan McLeod #71 of the Buffalo Sabres skates with the puck against Sean Walker #26 of the Carolina Hurricanes during an NHL game on January 15, 2025 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images)

Carolina Hurricanes v Buffalo Sabres

How To Complete A Hat Trick Without Taking A Shot

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 31: Tyler Bertuzzi #59 of the Chicago Blackhawks and Ryan Suter #22 of the St. Louis Blues look to the puck during the third period of the Discover NHL Winter Classic between the St. Louis Blues and the Chicago Blackhawks at Wrigley Field on December 31, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)

Discover NHL Winter Classic – St Louis Blues v Chicago Blackhawks

The NHL Has Given Up On New Year’s Day

Elias Pettersson #40 and J.T. Miller #9 of the Vancouver Canucks discuss game play during the second period of their NHL game against the San Jose Sharks at Rogers Arena on December 23, 2024 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

San Jose Sharks v Vancouver Canucks

Vancouver’s Favorite Sport Isn’t Hockey, It’s Talking About Locker-Room Beefs

ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - DECEMBER 15: Filip Chytil #72 of the New York Rangers reacts after losing to the St. Louis Blues 3-2 at Enterprise Center on December 15, 2024 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

New York Rangers v St Louis Blues

What Is Up With The Rangers?

Dylan Cozens #24 of the Buffalo Sabres is driven toward the net

New York Rangers v Buffalo Sabres

Sabres Still Bad

OSHAWA, ON - DECEMBER 5: Stuffed animals get ready for the annual Teddy Bear toss between the Kingston Frontenacs and Oshawa Generals in an OHL game at the Tribute Communities Centre on December 5, 2019 in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images)

Kinston Frontenacs v Oshawa Generals

Top NHL Prospect Suspended For Disrespecting Teddy Bears