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Kaapo Kakko will likely wind up with the New York Rangers as the No. 2 overall pick in next month’s NHL Draft in Vancouver. On Friday, he showed why New Jersey Devils general manager Ray Shero should have second thoughts about going with Jack Hughes with the top selection . During Finland’s 3-1 win over Canada in their opening game of the 2019 IIHF World Championship, the 18-year-old forward scored twice, including this highlight-reel goal in the first period. Kakko’s profile on Elite Prospects tells you what we saw on that goal. “A quick-thinking winger, Kakko never seems to be in a rush. He reads the game exceptionally well and finds himself a step ahead while the play is still developing.” As soon as the Thomas Chabot turnover lands on Arttu Ilomaki’s stick, Kakko takes off up ice as he sees how the play is developing. Toni Rajala’s touch pass then sends Kakko through Chabot while Brandon Montour takes a penalty in an attempt to stop him. Then the young … [Read more...] about It was the Kaapo Kakko show vs. Canada at IIHF World Championship

The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) says Belarus is cooperating with an investigation by its disciplinary board into Dmitry Baskov, the head of the Belarusian ice hockey federation. Baskov is accused of being personally involved in the death of Raman Bandarenka, an opposition activist who died from brain injuries in November last year after he was attacked by a masked gang – said by opposition groups to be members of Belarusian security services. Authorities in Belarus say Bandarenka was intoxicated when he got into a fight with a group of civilians. Last Thursday, the prosecutor general's office announced that it had opened a criminal case into the activist's death. Baskov has declined to comment on the matter. Although the IIHF began its own investigation into Baskov's alleged role in the attack in December, it has come under criticism from the athlete-led Belarusian Sport Solidarity Foundation (BSSF) for not making enough progress with the investigation, amid … [Read more...] about IIHF: Belarus cooperating with investigation into accused ice hockey head Dmitry Baskov

Mikko Koivu has announced his retirement after 16 years in the NHL and only seven games into his tenure with the Blue Jackets. “This was not an easy decision for me as I have loved every minute of my short time in Columbus and really hoped to be able to help this team accomplish its goals this season, but the bottom line is I haven’t been able to get to the level of play that I need to be true to myself and fair to my teammates, so the time is right for me to retire from hockey,” said Koivu in a statement. “I have been extremely blessed and I am eternally grateful to the Minnesota Wild and Columbus Blue Jackets organizations for the opportunities they have given me to live out my dreams of playing in the National Hockey League for the past 16 years.” The 37-year-old Koivu signed with Columbus in October after spending his first 15 NHL seasons with the Wild. His Blue Jackets debut was delayed until Jan. 26 after he contracted COVID-19 and missed the … [Read more...] about Mikko Koivu announces retirement after 16 NHL seasons

It’s hard to believe Jocelyne and Monique Lamoureux were ever battling for ice time. In 2006, when the twins were just 17 years old and ready to make their international debuts, they weren’t on the map as two of the best the game had ever seen. That changed quickly. “We were pretty ticked off we weren’t on the power play,” said Monique Lamoureux-Morando. “Us coming in as 17-year-olds playing with Hilary Knight and thinking we should have found the power play was pretty laughable.” We’re a year from the 2022 Olympics and already three years since Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson’s “Oops, I did it again” shootout winner to give USA gold and forever change women’s hockey in the U.S. A lot has happened in the sport since then; new faces have emerged, and the new generation of women’s hockey has unprecedented talent. On Tuesday, the twins officially announced their retirement from hockey. It doesn’t come as a … [Read more...] about Lamoureux twins’ retirement from hockey passes the torch to next generation

Although NHL participation in the 2022 Beijing Olympics is still pending a formal agreement between the league, the players' union, the International Olympic Committee and the International Ice Hockey Federation, Team Canada is already taking shape. Canada, which has won a record nine gold medals in hockey, including three of the past five, this week named Doug Armstrong as head of a management group that includes Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland, Seattle Kraken GM Ron Francis and Florida Panthers adviser Roberto Luongo. They will be tasked with selecting a high-octane Olympic roster that is expected to be anchored by NHL superstars Connor McDavid of the Oilers, Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche. "This group that we're going to assemble is probably going to have a lot of faces that have never worn a Team Canada jersey at this level of competition," said Armstrong, GM of the St. Louis Blues. Armstrong was part of Hockey … [Read more...] about Hockey giant Canada cranks up Olympic preparations