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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.

Defector

Ray Ratto

Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs kneels on the ice after being kneed by Radko Gudas of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks on March 12, 2026 in Toronto.

Auston Matthews Is Hurt And The Maple Leafs Are Burnt Toast

Tom Ley

Politics

We Have Obtained More Footage Of Kash Patel Falling Down While Playing Hockey

Lauren Theisen

Nathan MacKinnon #29 of the Colorado Avalanche scores a goal during a shootout after overtime to win the game against the Minnesota Wild

I Have So Many Nice Things To Say About The Avalanche And The Wild

Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers faces off against Sebastian Aho

I Bought A Ticket To The Connor McDavid Show And A Hurricanes Game Broke Out

A general view of the exterior of the Saddledome

It’s A Dome That’s Shaped Like A Saddle

Barry Petchesky

FBI Director Kash Patel is sworn in before testifying during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on "Oversight of the Federal Bureau of Investigation" on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on September 16, 2025. Patel faces the Senate panel amid criticism of his handling of the investigation into the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and the case of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)

Anyone Want To See Kash Patel Fall On His Ass While Playing Hockey?

The U.S. Olympic men's ice hockey team arrives for U.S. President Donald Trump's State of the Union

Olympics

The U.S. Hockey Men Spoil The Fantasy

Jack Hughes #86 of Team United States celebrates after their gold-medal win

Jack Hughes Sheds Blood And Teeth For His Country, U.S. Wins Olympic Gold

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Megan Keller #5 (R) of Team United States celebrates scoring a goal with teammates Hannah Bilka #23 (C) and Hilary Knight #21 (L) in the first period during the Women's Preliminary Round Group A match between the United States and Czechia on Day minus one of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena on February 05, 2026 in Milan, Italy.

Still Country For Old Women

Dylan Larkin #71 of the Detroit Red Wings celebrates scoring an overtime winning goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs

Dylan Larkin Overtime Winners Are Sweeter Than Ever Before

The Ottawa Senators celebrate a goal during the first period of the National Hockey League game between the Ottawa Senators and the New York Rangers

The Three Words That Best Describe The New York Rangers Are As Follows: Stink, Stank, Stunk

Dustin Wolf #32 of the Calgary Flames looses control of the puck as Joel Hanley #44 defends against Charlie Coyle #3 of the Columbus Blue Jackets during the third period of the game

The Blue Jackets Are The Fun Kind Of Bad Team

Jonathan Quick #32 of the New York Rangers reacts to a second period goal by Eeli Tolvanen #20 of the Seattle Kraken at Madison Square Garden

The World’s Angriest Rangers Fans Might Be Right

Macklin Celebrini #71 of the San Jose Sharks skates with the puck against the Los Angeles Kings during the third period at Crypto.com Arena on January 07, 2026 in Los Angeles, California

Here’s The Latest Cool Thing That Macklin Celebrini Did

Jake Guentzel #59 and Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrate the win against the Colorado Avalanche

The Lightning Refuse To Go Away

Gavin McKenna #9 of Canada reacts after winning best player for Canada during the Group B, Game 14 match against Denmark

Gavin McKenna Refuels The Hype Machine

Kelsey McKinney

Brandy Jensen

Arts And Culture

Some Thoughts On ‘Heated Rivalry,’ Including But Not Limited To: Ahhhh, Mmmm, And [Crying Emoji]

Eva Holland is a freelance writer and editor based in Whitehorse, Yukon. She&#8217;s a correspondent for Outside magazine and the author of the books Nerve and <a href="https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/no-sleep-til-fairbanks#/">No Sleep &#8216;Til Fairbanks</a>.

Eva Holland

‘Heated Rivalry’ Is Bringing Me Back To Hockey

ST. LOUIS, MO - SEPTEMBER 30: St. Louis Blues forward Milan Lucic (12) grabs a breath after a shift late in the game during a pre-season game where the St. Louis Blues hosted the Dallas Stars on Tuesday September 30, 2025, at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis MO (Photo by Rick Ulreich/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Milan Lucic Signed In Scotland And People Are Quitting Their Jobs Over It

Neal Pionk #4 of the Winnipeg Jets falls to the ice during the game against the St. Louis Blues on December 17, 2025 at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

The Jets Are Stuck On The Tarmac

Macklin Celebrini #71 of the San Jose Sharks celebrates scoring a goal in the third period against the Calgary Flames

Macklin Celebrini Is Must-See TV

Sabretooth, the mascot of the Buffalo Sabres falls to the ice after allowing plenty of intermission goals to youth hockey players on March 5, 2008 at HSBC Arena in Buffalo, New York.

The Sabres Finally Got Sick Of Kevyn Adams

Kirill Kaprizov #97 and Quinn Hughes #43 of the Minnesota Wild stand on the blue line during the National Anthem

Minnesota Goes Wild For Quinn Hughes

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

Who Can Stop The Avalanche?

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.

Hockey