• The Canadian Press

    The San Jose Sharks win the NHL draft lottery and right to No. 1 pick for 1st time in team history

    The San Jose Sharks won the draft lottery on Tuesday and earned the right to have the No. 1 pick in the NHL draft for the first time in franchise history. The Sharks finished last in the overall standings and retained their position in the lottery. San Jose had an 18.5% chance to win the lottery, and a 25.5% chance to pick first. The lottery proved anti-climactic with no changes to the draft order. The Chicago Blackhawks, who selected Connor Bedard with the No. 1 pick last year, retained the No.

  • The Canadian Press

    Canucks prepared to take on McDavid, star-powered Oilers in second-round action

    VANCOUVER — Rick Tocchet doesn't mind the fact that his Vancouver Canucks aren't favoured to win against their next playoff opponent. “I love being doubted," the head coach said. Analysts have been skeptical of the Canucks all season, Tocchet added. The team wasn't favoured to make the playoffs, but spent much of the regular season hovering around the top of the NHL standings. Many believed the Canucks would fall apart in the first round, but Vancouver eliminated the Nashville Predators in a gri

  • The Canadian Press

    Marchessault's future in Vegas is 1 key issue among many off-season questions for the Golden Knights

    LAS VEGAS — Vegas defenceman Brayden McNabb was asked Tuesday if he could imagine not having Jonathan Marchessault in the Golden Knights' locker room next season. “No,” he said succinctly, letting that word hang in the air before more fully answering the question two days after the Knights were eliminated in the first round of the NHL playoffs by Dallas. McNabb, who was sitting next to Marchessault, could've stopped at no. His short initial answer more than conveyed the feelings among teammates

  • The Canadian Press

    St. Louis Blues remove interim tag and name Drew Bannister full-time coach

    Drew Bannister is returning as coach of the St. Louis Blues after getting the interim tag removed from his title and being named Tuesday to the full-time role. He signed a two-year contract that gives him the chance to oversee a bit of organizational retooling but also show he can get the most out of a roster stocked with veteran talent. The expectation is still for the Blues to contend for a playoff spot in the Western Conference with Bannister in charge. Bannister, 50, replaced Craig Berube wh