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Lauren Theisen

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.

Get Excited About The Islanders’ Fearless Teen

Barry Petchesky

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"

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)

Connor McDavid Will Be The Biggest Bargain In Sports

Kirill Kaprizov #97 of the Minnesota Wild celebrates

Minnesota Is Good Enough For Kirill Kaprizov

Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.

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.

You Couldn’t Drag Bernie Parent Out Of Philadelphia

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

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)

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)

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)

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

Bills Week

The Wild’s Offseason Has Been Pretty Tame

El Segundo, CA - May 15: Los Angeles Kings general manager Ken Holland meets with Joel Edmundson, Jordan Spence and Warren Foegele at Toyota Sports Performance Center on May 15, 2025 in El Segundo, California. (Photo by Gary A. Vasquez/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Kings Did Their Free Agency Shopping At A Bin Store

SUNRISE, FL - APRIL 28: Aaron Ekblad #5 celebrates his goal with Brad Marchand #63 of the Florida Panthers against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the third period of Game Four of the First Round of the 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Amerant Bank Arena on April 28, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Aaron Ekblad;Brad Marchand

The Panthers Are Bringing Back All Their Guys

TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 22: Emergency backup goaltender Dave Ayres #90 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates with teammates after defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Scotiabank Arena on February 22, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images)

The End Of EBUGs Means The End Of Dreams Coming True

Ray Ratto

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JUNE 17: Kasperi Kapanen #42 of the Edmonton Oilers reacts after losing to the Florida Panthers 5-1 in Game Six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena on June 17, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)

It’s Getting Dark In Edmonton

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JUNE17: Sam Reinhart #13 of the Florida Panthers lifts the cup in the locker room during their team celebration after beating the Edmonton Oilers in Game Six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at the Amerant Bank Arena on June 17, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Panthers Grind All Before Them To Dust

Nobody Knows Who The Oilers Should Start At Goalie In The Most Important Game Of The Season

Brad Marchand #63 of the Florida Panthers shoots the puck into the net behind goaltender Calvin Pickard #30, Corey Perry #90, and Jake Walman #96 of the Edmonton Oilers

Panther Machine Never Breaks

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JUNE 12: Anton Lundell #15 of the Florida Panthers shoots on Calvin Pickard #30 of the Edmonton Oilers during the second period in Game Four of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena on June 12, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Calvin Pickard Saved The Day

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JUNE 12: Sergei Bobrovsky #72 of the Florida Panthers makes a save against the Edmonton Oilers during overtime in Game Four of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena on June 12, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Oilers-Panthers Isn’t A Rivalry, It’s A Saga

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JUNE 09: A plastic rat is seen on the ice after the Florida Panthers 6-1 victory in Game Three of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena on June 09, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)

Brad Marchand Is Still A Royal Pain In The Ass

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JUNE 09: Jonah Gadjovich #12 of the Florida Panthers tangles with Darnell Nurse #25 of the Edmonton Oilers during the third period of Game Three of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena on June 09, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Panthers Are Having A Laugh

EDMONTON, AB - JUNE 06: Edmonton Oilers Center Connor McDavid (97) races towards the puck in the third period in game two of Stanley Cup Final Edmonton Oilers game versus the Florida Panthers on June 06, 2025 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, AB. (Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

We Don’t Speak Connor McDavid

, TX - MAY 29: Dallas Stars head coach Pete DeBoer takes questions from the media after game 5 of the Western Conference Final between the Dallas Stars and the Edmonton Oilers on May 29, 2025 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Pete DeBoer Just Loves Making Conference Finals And Getting Fired

Edmonton Oilers Goalie Stuart Skinner (74) gets set in the first period of game one of Stanley Cup Final

NHL