Despite slim odds, one of the eight placeholders teams won the NHL Draft lottery, and the right to select projected top pick Alexis Lafreniere.

Vancouver had been considered a frontrunner to host 12 NHL teams in an attempt to award the Stanley Cup, after the league paused the regular season on March 12 because of the pandemic, with 189 games remaining.

NHL players won't be expected to wear full face shields if games resume this summer, though there could be plenty of covered faces around them.

Edmonton is one of three Canadian markets vying to be named as a hub by the NHL.

It looks like hockey fans will be able to cheer on their favourite NHL team this summer but Canadians have issued a collective shrug about whether the Stanley Cup is hoisted on their home ice.

Two of the best-of-five play-in series in the Eastern Conference, and two in the West, have all the makings to be classics.

If the NHL gets the green light from government and health officials, 24 teams would be left to compete for the Stanley Cup.

The defending champion Toronto Raptors would have a much easier path to the NBA Finals if the league adopts a 16-team, non-conference playoff bracket to conclude the 2019-20 season.

Vancouver, Toronto and Edmonton are all being considered by the league as it looks to re-start play as early as July.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed Tuesday that the league will finish its truncated season by using a 24-team playoff format.