NHL

Predators name defenseman Roman Josi as 8th captain all-timeNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) The Nashville Predators have named defenseman Roman Josi as the eighth captain in the franchise's history, replacing Mike Fisher who retired last month.The Predators announced their newest captain Tuesday before a doubleheader kicking off their preseason.Defenseman Ryan...

Kris Letang cleared for contact entering training campPITTSBURGH (AP) Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang has been cleared for contact before training camp opens Friday.Letang, who underwent season-ending neck surgery on April 13 to repair a herniated disc, said he felt healthy Tuesday but continues to take his recovery...

AP Hockey WriterOvechkin turns attention to Capitals staying a Cup contenderBy STEPHEN WHYNOARLINGTON, Va. (AP) Alex Ovechkin doesn't think the Washington Capitals suddenly stink.Forwards Justin Williams, Marcus Johansson and Daniel Winnik and defensemen Karl Alzner, Nate Schmidt and Kevin Shattenkirk are gone, as are the expectations of Washington...

AP Hockey WriterNHL '17: Penguins, Capitals losses make East wide openBy STEPHEN WHYNOA handful of Pittsburgh Penguins players whose names are on the Stanley Cup, some of them twice or even three times, are gone.The same goes for core players from the back-to-back Presidents' Trophy winning Washington Capitals.The goliaths...

AP Sports WriterCrosby, Penguins hungry for shot at rare NHL threepeatBy WILL GRAVESPITTSBURGH (AP) The chance to make history doesn't come up in the Pittsburgh Penguins dressing room. It doesn't have to.Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and company understand the stakes: that no team since the New York Islanders...

First-timers, familiar faces hop on NHL's coaching carouselBy The Associated PressWhen the Boston Bruins fired Claude Julien in February, Joel Quenneville took over as the longest-serving NHL head coach.Hired in October 2008, Quenneville enters his 10th season with the Chicago Blackhawks amid a continuously rotating cast of coaching peers....

Kings beat Canucks 4-3 after shootout in ChinaBEIJING (AP) The Los Angeles Kings beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-3 in a shootout to win both of the NHL's first preseason games in China.Saturday's game in Beijing caps a push by the National Hockey League to popularize the sport in...

AP Sports WriterGolden Knights ready to light up VegasBy JOHN MARSHALLThe Vegas Golden Knights have been the hit of Sin City, exciting a fan base that finally has a professional sports team to root for.After months of buildup, it's finally time to show what they can do on the...

AP Sports WriterAs Wild camp begins, Parise injured but 'not overly serious'By DAVE CAMPBELLST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) Minnesota Wild left wing Zach Parise is being held out of the beginning of training camp because of a back injury.Parise was not on the ice Friday for the first practice....

Nashville's Ryan Ellis out 4-6 months after knee surgeryNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Nashville defenseman Ryan Ellis will need a full six months to recover from offseason knee surgery, and general manager David Poile says they don't expect him back until possibly 2018.Poile gave an update on injuries Thursday...

AP Hockey WriterSabres' Jack Eichel focused on hockey, not contract talksBy JOHN WAWROWBUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) Buffalo Sabres center Jack Eichel is focused on taking on a larger leadership role, and not concerning himself with contract talks.Eichel says both sides know where they stand in negotiations. He adds if...

AP Hockey WriterOilers, Maple Leafs lead NHL's Canadian revivalBy STEPHEN WHYNOThe NHL's two most dynamic stars under 21 play there, and it's the home of five playoff teams from last season and potentially more this year.Oh, Canada, home of some pretty good hockey.Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews are at...