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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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Barry Petchesky

TORONTO, ON - MAY 2: William Nylander #88 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates with mascot Carlton the Bear after defeating the Boston Bruins in Game Six of the First Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 2, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)

It’s Autumn And The Leafs Are Falling

Lauren Theisen

Johnny Gaudreau And His Brother Matthew Have Died

RALEIGH, NC - NOVEMBER 26: Patrik Laine #29 of the Columbus Blue Jackets looks on during the warmups of the game against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena on November 26, 2023 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Jaylynn Nash/Getty Images)*** Local Caption ***Patrik Laine

Bad Contracts Expose Bad Teams

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 26: An exterior general view is seen of Sphere prior to the 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft on June 26, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft will be held at the Sphere on June 28 and 29, 2024. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)

Journalismism

Jeff Marek Got Fired For Leaking Draft Picks To The Wrong Person

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Chicago Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman is interviewed during the 2017 NHL Draft at the United Center on June 23, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois.

No Retread Is Too Disgraced For The NHL

CALGARY, CANADA - FEBRUARY 25: A view of the exterior of the Scotiabank Saddledome home of the NHL’s Calgary Flames with the city skyline in the background on February 25, 2016 in Calgary, Alberta. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***

A Useful, Clear-As-Day, Couldn’t-Be-Simpler Guide To Canada’s Hockey Arenas, Places, And Centres

How Long Is The Yzerplan Supposed To Take, Anyway?

Tom Ley

Italian-American singer Frankie Valli (centre) with a late line up of The Four Seasons vocal group, circa 1975.

Remember When The Red Wings Celebrated Their Stanley Cup Victory With A Song About A Funny Little Guy Having Sex For The First Time?

TORONTO, ONTARIO - FEBRUARY 02: Wild Wing of the Anaheim Ducks competes in the NHL mascots game during the 2024 NHL All-Star Skills Competition at Scotiabank Arena on February 02, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images)

Wild Wing Keeps The Ducks Mighty

Ray Ratto

A closeup view of the Detroit Red Wings logo during the third period against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on April 16, 2024 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Montreal Canadiens 5-4 in a shootout.

All Hail The Winged Wheel Of Detroit

<p>Heather Chen is a former Defector intern and the managing editor at the <em>Columbia Daily Spectator</em>. She loves hockey, photography, and the good ol’ state of Michigan.</p>


Heather Wei-Xi Chen

CHICAGO - MAY 27: of the Chicago Blackhawks of the Philadelphia Flyers during Stanley Cup media day at the United Center on May 27, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

What’s The Use Of Insiders If They Only Scoop Press Releases?

Long Rebuilds Are For Prey, Not Predators

Joel Quenneville and Stan Bowman speak to media

The NHL Quietly Ends Its Punishments For The Blackhawks’ Sexual Assault Scandal

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JUNE 24: Matthew Tkachuk #19 of the Florida Panthers smokes a cigar while wearing the NHL/WWE Stanley Cup Championship belt in the locker room after Game Seven of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena on June 24, 2024 in Sunrise, Florida.

My Beloved American Girl Doll Will Not Stop Wearing His Big Belt

Citi Field scoreboard with NHL Trade Alert graphic on it

The Mets’ Pride Night, As Witnessed By Someone Who Cared A Lot About The NHL Draft

Macklin Celebrini sits in the stands while wearing a suit

Arrival Of The Mack

David Roth

Dave Lumley of the Edmonton Oilers skates against the Montreal Canadiens during an NHL Hockey game circa 1981 at the Montreal Forum.

Podcasts

Jurassic Hockey And Sticky Stuff, With Ray Ratto

SUNRISE, FL - JUNE 24: Florida Panthers team photo with the Stanley Cup during the NHL Stanley Cup Finals, Game 7 between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers on June 24th, 2024 at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, FL.

Everyone Is Terrified That Fanatics Will Screw Up Hockey, Too

Sergei Bobrovsky makes a save on his back

Don’t Forget That The Panthers Almost Choked It All Away

SUNRISE, FL - JUNE 24: Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice raises the Stanley Cup during the NHL Stanley Cup Finals, Game 7 between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers on June 24th, 2024 at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, FL. (Photo by Andrew Bershaw/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Paul Maurice Is A Gem

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JUNE 24: Aleksander Barkov #16 of the Florida Panthers enters the dressing room with the Stanley Cup ready to celebrate with teammates after beating the Edmonton Oilers in Game Seven of the Stanley Cup Final at the Amerant Bank Arena on June 24, 2024 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)

Momentum Or The Moment?

EDMONTON, ALBERTA - JUNE 21: Aleksander Barkov #16 of the Florida Panthers falls into goaltender falls into goaltender Stuart Skinner #74 of the Edmonton Oilers during the second period of Game Six of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final between Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place on June 21, 2024 in Edmonton, Alberta.

Game 7 Is For Haters, Too

TEMPE, ARIZONA - APRIL 17: The Arizona Coyotes mascot, "Howler" holds up a sign reading "thank you fans" following the NHL game against the Edmonton Oilers at Mullett Arena on April 17, 2024 in Tempe, Arizona. Tonight's game likely marks the end of 28 years for the franchise, playing in the NHL's smallest arena, with an anticipated move to Utah with the team's expected sale to the NBA's Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Go Ahead And Start Shoveling Dirt On Alex Meruelo’s Coyotes

The Oilers Are Astonishing

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 27: Ty Dellandrea #10 of the Dallas Stars is congratulated by Max Domi #18 after scoring a goal against the Vegas Golden Knights during the third period in Game Five of the Western Conference Final of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on May 27, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

NHL