CULTURE

Footer Column 2

Footer Legal

Footer Main

Nav Bar

OTHER

SPORTS

Subscribe, at any level, to play

Thanks for your interest in Defector Crosswords!

Become a subscriber today to get unlimited access

Thanks for reading!

Plans start at $8/month.

Subscribers enjoy unlimited, ad-free browsing.

Register to continue

Or click here to subscribe for unlimited, ad-free access!

Our gift to you: This year's post is unlocked. Register your email to get even more free articles.

Welcome to the 2025 Hater's Guide!

Just register your email:

This blog is free to read.

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

Barry Petchesky

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 22: Trevor Zegras #46 of the Philadelphia Flyers celebrates his second period power-play goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins with teammates Christian Dvorak #22, Travis Konecny #11, Matvei Michkov #39, Cam York #8(all in the penalty box), and Jamie Drysdale #9 in Game Three of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Xfinity Mobile Arena on April 22, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)

Philadelphia’s Hottest Club Is The Penalty Box

EDMONTON, CANADA - JANUARY 22: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins awaits a face-off during the second period of the game against the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place on January 22, 2026, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)

Sidney Crosby Is A Miracle

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 9: Ville Husso #33 of the Anaheim Ducks protects the net against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG PAINTS Arena on December 9, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images)

If It Wins Like A Duck

Lauren Theisen

Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin during player introductions at the 2017 skills competition

A Pittsburgh Pilgrimage

Our 18,000 Jaromir Jagr Bobbleheads Are No Longer For Sale

Anybody Need 18,000 Jaromir Jagr Bobbleheads?

Jagr Night Marred By Penguins Game

Kathryn Xu

Clayton Keller #9 of the Arizona Coyotes celebrates with teammate Sean Durzi #50 after a goal scored by Lawson Crouse.

Here’s How To Score On The Power Play Without Taking A Single Shot

Alex Ovechkin’s Hand Rises From The Mud

PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 30: Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish (23) skates with the puck on a break away during the third period in the NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Anaheim Ducks on October 30, 2023, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire)

I Can’t Believe The Penguins Managed To Lose That One

Ray Ratto

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JUNE 25: Erik Karlsson of the San Jose Sharks speaks with the media at the 2023 NHL Awards player availability at the Bridgestone Arena on June 25, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Erik Karlsson Had To Go

Jason Zucker sprays ice as he stops in front of Petr Mrazek

The Penguins And Islanders Are Having A Mid-Off

Sidney Crosby Calms The Waters

Kelsey McKinney

David Pastrnak #88 and Brad Marchand #63 of the Boston Bruins poses for a photo before the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic at Fenway Park on January 2, 2023 in Boston.

This Is So Stupid

The NHL Winter Classic Should Be Baseball Now

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 11: Jacob Trouba #8 of the New York Rangers checks Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Five of the First Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 11, 2022 in New York City. Crosby left the game shortly after the hit. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

SPORTS

CULTURE

OTHER

Pittsburgh Penguins

Philadelphia’s Hottest Club Is The Penalty Box

Sidney Crosby Is A Miracle

If It Wins Like A Duck

A Pittsburgh Pilgrimage

Our 18,000 Jaromir Jagr Bobbleheads Are No Longer For Sale

Anybody Need 18,000 Jaromir Jagr Bobbleheads?

Jagr Night Marred By Penguins Game

Here’s How To Score On The Power Play Without Taking A Single Shot

Alex Ovechkin’s Hand Rises From The Mud

I Can’t Believe The Penguins Managed To Lose That One

Erik Karlsson Had To Go

The Penguins And Islanders Are Having A Mid-Off

Sidney Crosby Calms The Waters

The NHL Winter Classic Should Be Baseball Now

The Penguins May Have Lost Who They Could Least Afford To Lose

The Rangers Need The Other Igor Shesterkin, Not This One

Brad Marchand Makes Another Enemy

Cower, Mortals, In The Face Of Evan Rodrigues’s Pittsburgh Penguins

JARRRR-EEEEEE. JARRRRRR-EEEEEE. JARRRR-EEEEEE.

Tristan Jarry’s Boner Was One For The Ages

Imagine What The Islanders Are Capable Of

How’s Your Lipreading?

Brian Burke’s “Pittsburgh Model My Ass” Model Finally Comes To Pittsburgh