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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

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Lauren Theisen

Nathan MacKinnon #29 of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates with Gabriel Landeskog

Vancouver Canucks v Colorado Avalanche

Who Can Stop The Avalanche?

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Barry Petchesky

MILAN, ITALY - NOVEMBER 26: An general view of the Milano Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena located in the Santa Giulia district on November 26, 2025 in Milan, Italy. For the 2026 Olympic Games, a new multi-purpose arena will be inaugurated, where 16,000 people will be able to watch the best national teams and the great international stars of ice hockey and para ice hockey on November 26, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Vincenzo Lombardo/Getty Images)

General Views of PalaItalia – Milano Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena

Olympics

What’s Going On With The Olympic Hockey Arena?

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Ray Ratto

Cason Wallace #22, Isaiah Hartenstein #55, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2, Chet Holmgren #7, and Luguentz Dort #5 of the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrate during the first half against the Portland Trail Blazers on November 23, 2025.

Portland Trail Blazers v Oklahoma City Thunder

Are The Thunder Too Good?

Logan Cooley #92 of the Utah Mammoth celebrate a hat trick with the Utah Mammoth bench during the third period against the Vegas Golden Knights at Delta Center

Vegas Golden Knights v Utah Mammoth

The Hats Were Not Enough For Logan Cooley

MONTREAL, QUEBEC - NOVEMBER 22: Dakota Mermis #36 of the Toronto Maple Leafs fights Florian Xhekaj #63 of the Montréal Canadiens during the third period at Bell Centre on November 22, 2025 in Montreal, Quebec. (Photo by Reuben Polansky-Shapiro/NHLI via Getty Images)

Toronto Maple Leafs v Montreal Canadiens

You’re Either An Arber Xhekaj Or A Simona Xhekaj

Anaheim Ducks Wild Wing celebrates after their victory

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Truly The Most Random Men Scored For The Ducks Last Night

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 19: Devin Cooley #1 of the Calgary Flames stands during the singing of 'O Canada' prior to an NHL game on November 19, 2025 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Ben Ludeman/NHLI via Getty Images)

Calgary Flames v Buffalo Sabres

World’s Most Normal Goalie: “Nothing Matters, Nobody Cares, We’re All Gonna Die”

Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals skates before playing against the Los Angeles Kings during the first period at Capital One Arena on November 17, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Los Angeles Kings v Washington Capitals

When Will Alex Ovechkin Stop Scoring?

San Jose Sharks forward Collin Graf (51) beats Minnesota Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson (32) for the game-winning goal

NHL: NOV 11 Sharks at Wild

The Sharks Smell Blood

Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers carries the puck in the offensive zone

Columbus Blue Jackets v Edmonton Oilers

Connor McDavid Broke The Blue Jackets

A general view of the Enterprise Center during a game between the St. Louis Blues and the Edmonton Oilers

Edmonton Oilers v St. Louis Blues

How To Watch Hockey

EDMONTON, CANADA - OCTOBER 23: Evan Bouchard #2 of the Edmonton Oilers in action during the game against the Montreal Canadiens at Rogers Place on October 23, 2025, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)

Montreal Canadiens v Edmonton Oilers

Evan Bouchard’s Making It Messy Out There

DENVER, COLORADO - OCTOBER 23: Gavin Brindley #54 of the Colorado Avalanche fights for the puck against Charles-Alexis Legault #62 of the Carolina Hurricanes in the second period at Ball Arena on October 23, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Carolina Hurricanes v Colorado Avalanche

The NHL Has A Uniform Problem

The Montreal Canadiens celebrate on ice after a win in overtime against the Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome on October 22, 2025 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Montreal Canadiens v Calgary Flames

More Like The Calgary Wet Logs

ELMONT, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 21: Matthew Schaefer #48 of the New York Islanders looks on against the San Jose Sharks at UBS Arena on October 21, 2025 in Elmont, New York.

San Jose Sharks v New York Islanders

Get Excited About The Islanders’ Fearless Teen

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This Is Not Ideal Goalie Positioning

Posters of Connor McDavid and Kirill Kaprizov and a tear-out centerfold of "Defector Hockey Monthly 2025 season preview"

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Who’s Hot And Who’s Not? A 2025–26 NHL Preview

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JUNE 17: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers skates with the puck in the third period of Game Six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena on June 17, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)

2025 Stanley Cup Final – Game Six

Connor McDavid Will Be The Biggest Bargain In Sports

Kirill Kaprizov #97 of the Minnesota Wild celebrates

Vegas Golden Knights v Minnesota Wild – Game Three

Minnesota Is Good Enough For Kirill Kaprizov

Visual Editor. Runs <a href="http://defectorstore.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">defectorstore.com</a>. Philadelphia-based, if you couldn’t tell.

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Dan McQuade

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - CIRCA 1975: Goalie Bernie Parent #1 of the Philadelphia Flyers guards the net during a game against the New York Rangers circa 1975 at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Parent helped the Flyers to two Stanley Cup Championships in 1974 and 1975.

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You Couldn’t Drag Bernie Parent Out Of Philadelphia

TORONTO, ON - September 17 Head Coach Craig Berube chats to the media.

Toronto Maple Leafs held a media availability

The Maple Leafs Can’t Seem To Get Out Of The First Round Against Punctuation

ST. PAUL, UNITED STATES - MAY 1: the NHL Playoff game between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Minnesota Wild at the Xcel Energy Center on May 1, 2025 in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. (Photo by /NHL)

Vegas Golden Knights v Minnesota Wild – Game Six

Your Best Player Might Want Out. Enjoy The Season!

<a href="http://www.ddavisla.com">David Davis </a>is the author of Wheels of Courage: How Paralyzed Veterans From World War II Invented Wheelchair Sports, Fought for Disability Rights, and Inspired a Nation and Waterman: The Life and Times of Duke Kahanamoku. He lives in Los Angeles.
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David Davis

UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - CIRCA 2000: Photographer Bruce Bennett photographers a battle between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the of the New York Islanders circa 1990 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images)

Bruce Bennett Collection

Shots

After 50 Years Of Shooting Hockey, Bruce Bennett Finds An Even Tougher Challenge: Birds

The Ontario Court of Justice is seen in London, Ontario on February 5, 2024 where the five hockey players accused in the World Juniors sexual assault case were schedule to appear in court today. Four NHL players have been charged over their involvement in an alleged 2018 gang rape when they were part of Canada's junior national ice hockey team, local media and lawyers for the players. (Photo by Peter POWER / AFP)

CANADA-ASSAULT-IHOKEY-CHARGES

Five Players Found Not Guilty In Hockey Canada Sexual Assault Trial

General Manager Bill Guerin of the Minnesota Wild smiles during rounds 2-7 of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft at TRIA Rink on July 24, 2021 in St. Paul, Minnesota

NHL