Greg Wyshynski

  • Farewell, Puck Daddy readers

    After nine incredible years, I’ve decided to leave Yahoo Sports for new challenges. So today is my last day as Puck Daddy editor. Which is really, really weird to write.

  • Puck Daddy’s 2017-18 Western Conference predictions

    The 2017-18 NHL season is upon us. Which means it’s time to figure out what the hell is going on in the Western Conference, which is slightly less confusing than explaining the symbolism in Darren Aronofsky’s “mother!” while on a morphine drip. The Central Division is a collection of flawed, unpredictable teams.

  • Puck Daddy’s 2017-18 NHL Eastern Conference predictions

    The 2017-18 NHL season is upon us, and it’s already a weird one. Consider that the Olympics are happening during the NHL season, and NHL players aren’t participating in them. Consider that Gary Bettman is still the commissioner, and Jaromir Jagr is still an active players.

  • Jagr Watch: Blues GM leaves door open after Fabbri injury

    Jaromir Jagr, 45, is preparing to lace up the skates for Kladno, the Czech team he owns, this weekend. Jagr, to this point, doesn’t have an NHL contract. Like, for example, a significant injury that might open the door for Jagr to slide into their lineup.

  • KHL player gets 8-game suspension for monster hit (Video)

    Stepan Zakharchuk doesn’t shy away from the physical aspect of the game. The KHL defenseman gained infamy in 2016 when he broke the collarbone of Slovan sniper Radek Smolenak on a check. In the 31st minute of the match between Metallurg Magnitogorsk and Ak Bars Kazan, visiting defenseman Stepan Zakharchuk was sent to the locker room after being called for charging.

  • P.K. Subban says he’ll 'never' protest during national anthem

    P.K. Subban said on Tuesday that he will “never” kneel during the national anthem to protest something politically. Subban performed at a fundraiser on Tuesday night at Zanies Comedy Club in Nashville, to benefit Comedy Cares. He told the audience that he would “never” take a knee during the national anthem, because he has too much respect for the American flag. Earlier in the day, the Nashville Predators announced that, as a team, they would not engage in any protests during the national anthem.

  • NHL players that are no longer among Top 50 best

    * Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews, after one season, is No. 10, ahead of Nicklas Backstrom and John Tavares. Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner, after one season, is No. 50, ahead of … everyone not on the list, especially Willie Nylander, who is better. * Only five of the top 50 players are goalies.

  • USA Hockey coach looking to Europe for 2018 Olympians

    It must be hard for Tony Granato, head coach of the 2018 U.S. Olympic men’s ice hockey team, not to dip into the well at Lake Placid too many times. “I think we have lots of players in our country and in our talent pool that will give us the same kind of excitement we had in Lake Placid.

  • Rangers’ Andrew Desjardins suspended for hit on Miles Wood (Video)

    After handing out its first suspension over the weekend to Tom Wilson of the Washington Capitals for interference, the NHL Department of Player Safety rung up New York Rangers forward Andrew Desjardins for two preseason games on Monday, after his hit to the head of Miles Wood of the New Jersey Devils.

  • Golden Knights print season-ticket names on ice for first season

    The Vegas Golden Knights are days away from their inaugural season opener on Oct. 10. It’s going to be a massive celebration for the team and its fans, which worked together to make this NHL expansion dream come true. The Golden Knights have decided to do something symbolically to solidify that relationship.

  • ECHL equipment manager stole gear, sold during game: Police

    For nearly two years, the ECHL Reading Royals would notice a few things were disappearing from their equipment offices. According to Reading police, 36-year-old Thomas J. Plaugher was charged with felony counts of theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property after the Philadelphia Flyers affiliate reported the thefts in May. The thefts allegedly occurred from Dec. 2015 to March 2017. Criminal investigator Joseph N. Snell spoke to several people who bought equipment from Plaugher at Skateway, a skating facility on the Lancaster Pike in Cumru Township.

  • Penguins explain their Trump White House visit decision

    The Pittsburgh Penguins have been defended, assailed, saluted and eviscerated for their announcement on Sunday that the Stanley Cup champions would attend a White House celebration with President Trump. Some fans, including some Penguins fans, are disappointed. The timing, at least for the NHL, was atrocious: Arriving on the same weekend that the president called NFL players peacefully protesting police brutality during the national anthem “sons of bitches” who should be fired by team owners, and formally disinvited the NBA champion Golden State Warriors (and star Steph Curry) from visiting the White House for their criticism of him.

  • Penguins wrong to accept Trump’s invitation with feeble statement

    In the last 48 hours, President Donald Trump made “sticking to sports” impossible, because he stuck it to sports. Or, more specifically, to athletes of color who dared protest police brutality through peaceful demonstration at NFL games, or decided not to be a human political commercial for a president whose words, deeds and actions they find abhorrent by visiting the White House. Trump said NFL players who “take a knee” during the national anthem are “sons of bitches” who should be fired by some of the rich Caucasian team owners that contributed funds to his inauguration.

  • Tom Wilson suspended two preseason games, put on notice

    The NHL Department of Player Safety decided that Tom Wilson’s hit on St. Louis Blues rookie center Robert Thomas on Friday night was way late, and suspended him for two preseason games. “Over a full second after Thomas loses control of the puck, well after he’s eligible to be checked” is how the Department of Player Safety defines it. As the video mentioned, it’s not just that it’s interference – the NHL deemed it suspension worthy because of “the predatory nature and force of the hit,” as they saw Wilson tracking Thomas and “altering the course of his approach” to land the forceful check.

  • Tom Wilson gets early start on season’s NHL suspension hearings

    The delightful Tom Wilson of the Washington Capitals has a hearing with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety on Saturday, which is not only the first hearing from the 2017-18 preseason but the first under new Player Safety boss George Parros. Wilson then ensured that Thomas was further separated from the puck by leaping into him near the boards. The Blues’ Dmitrij Jaskin skated over to Wilson to get punched in the face, including when he was down on the ice, because Tom Wilson is why.

  • Brad Marchand, Marc-Édouard Vlasic troll NHL on Olympics

    When it comes to players voicing their frustration with the NHL over its decision not to participate in the 2018 Winter Olympics, we’re not even at the tip of the iceberg. This week, two prominent Canadian players took to Twitter to poke the bear.

  • Sean Avery savages John Tortorella in new book

    Sean Avery’s new book “Ice Capades: A Memoir Of Fast Living And Tough Hockey” was a must-read the moment it was announced, and it’s every bit the scathing, funny, frequently infuriating celebration of all things Sean Avery as anticipated. It follows his NHL journey from the Detroit Red Wings to the Los Angeles Kings to the New York Rangers to the fiasco with the Dallas Stars through his eventual return to and retirement from the Rangers. It covers all the greatest hockey hits: ‘Sloppy Seconds’ and his NHL suspension, the Avery Rule, his on-ice role as a pest.

  • Stop crying about NHL slashing calls, let the power plays roll

    Kris Versteeg wasn’t around the last time this happened in the NHL, when a tidal wave of penalty calls came crashing down on preseason games to emphasize whatever the League’s cause célèbre was that season.

  • Larry Robinson magic now sprinkled on St. Louis Blues

    Larry Robinson possesses one such hockey mind. Then it was off to San Jose where he was an associate coach and director of player development and … well, look at that, the Sharks made their first Stanley Cup Final with Larry Robinson in the organization. The other constant on those Devils teams was, of course, Martin Brodeur, who is now an assistant general manager with the St. Louis Blues.

  • Jagr Watch: Jaromir Jagr will announce future in October

    The unfathomable absence of Jaromir Jagr from an NHL roster continues as the preseason rolls on. “The future of Jagr will be known in October, the day after NHL regular season begins, after which there will be where he will continue his career.” He noted that almost 100% of the rumors on Jagr’s next team on the internet are inaccurate and should be considered rumors. Please note that October 5th is one day after the start of the NHL season.