Wayne Gretzky’s iconic nickname, “The Great One,” originated from a profile of his youth hockey dominance (Getty Images) Wayne Gretzky is a name synonymous with greatness in the NHL, but the origin of his famous nickname, “The Great One,” has a surprising twist. During a recent segment on NHL on TNT’s Face Off, Wayne Gretzky…
With each passing decade, elite athletes seem to become faster, stronger and, dare we say it, better. Performance improves and, consequently, records tumble. But some records seem otherworldly. No matter what future technological or scientific advancements may be made, they feel out of reach and unbreakable. Although that is what many thought of Wayne Gretzky’s…
The NHL regular season is almost in the books, and every team had an MVP performance worth highlighting. But on the other side of the spectrum, some players have failed to impress. Before we turn the page to the playoffs for some teams and the offseason for others at the end of next week, The…
The NHL regular season is almost in the books, and every team from the top to the bottom of the standings had individual performances worth highlighting. Before we get set to turn the page to the playoffs for some teams and the offseason for others at the end of next week, The Athletic asked its…
It was a small moment in the Toronto Maple Leafs season, a late-January footnote that most of the NHL hardly noticed. But when the team captain remarked how he was disappointed in the home crowd for showing so little enthusiasm for an early-game fight, it set off plenty of commentary in the center of the…
OTTAWA — When asked to give his name, Larry Doshen instead grabbed his trading card. The photo was fairly recent, capturing him in black hockey pants as he cradled a hockey stick. He was helmetless, with a head of gray hair to match his “Silver Foxes” jersey. Holding the card aloft, Doshen’s hand shook. He…
President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia congratulated the hockey player Alex Ovechkin on Monday for breaking the N.H.L.’s goal-scoring record. Mr. Ovechkin, 39, captain of the Washington Capitals, scored his 895th career goal on Sunday evening in a game against the New York Islanders. That broke a record set by Wayne Gretzky that had stood…
WASHINGTON — Sometime soon — Sunday maybe, perhaps Thursday — Alex Ovechkin will reach the summit. In a career jammed with consequential goals, none will be remembered more than the next one. We’ll talk about it then, and we’ll do it in the grandest of terms, because that’s how it all works. To say he’s…
When it comes to stopping a scorer in a one-on-one situation, NHL goalies are better than they’ve ever been. The league-wide save percentage has dipped in recent years — steadily declining from .910 in 2019-20 to .900 this season — as offensive strategies improve and shooters find ways to beat goalies with screens, deflections and…
Three years ago, Brandon Halverson had all but given up on his hockey dream. He was delivering UberEats and groceries and working on a farm. He sold his truck. He borrowed money from his parents. Whatever it took to scrape out enough money for rent. Two weeks ago, he stepped into the net with the…