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Barry Petchesky

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)

The NHL Has Given Up On New Year’s Day

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

Heather Wei-Xi Chen

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

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.

My Child Has Been Taken By The Sharks

Jake Oettinger during pregame introductions

The Stars Crashed Down To Earth

Kelsey McKinney

Ryan Reaves takes a sniff of smelling salts

Hockey Man In Need Of Third, Just-Smelliest Enough Salt

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

Dan McQuade

Scott Laughton squinting as he looks up touching a flagpole

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CULTURE

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NHL

The NHL Has Given Up On New Year’s Day

Everyone Is Terrified That Fanatics Will Screw Up Hockey, Too

My Child Has Been Taken By The Sharks

The Stars Crashed Down To Earth

Hockey Man In Need Of Third, Just-Smelliest Enough Salt

Flyers’ Scott Laughton Struggles To Raise Flag, Stares Directly Into The Sun

The NHL Has Made It Clear The COVID Outbreak On The Canucks Is Nothing To Worry About

Looking Ahead To The NHL Season And Societal Collapse, With Lauren Theisen

The Time Has Come For The NHL To Show Feet