Many players from the 2022 Beijing Olympics are making an impact in the NHL
It has been two years since hockey at the Beijing Olympics went ahead without NHL players because of COVID-19 pandemic-related scheduling issues.
U.S. men take down Canada at Olympics for first time in 12 years
The U.S. and Canadian men's hockey teams met for the first time at the Olympics since 2014, and the Americans got the better of their rivals for the first time since 2010.
Jake Sanderson joins U.S. men's hockey team after clearing COVID-19 protocols
Promising young defenseman Jake Sanderson has joined his teammates ahead of the highly-anticipated tilt between the U.S. and Canada after clearing COVID-19 protocols.
Three members of U.S. men's hockey in COVID-19 protocols days before tournament starts
Three members of the U.S. men's hockey team are in COVID-19 protocols, including Jake Sanderson, Andy Miele, and Steven Kampfer.
![NY Rangers select Lafreniere with No. 1 pick in NHL draft](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/utAHW1ey0QlvdJlCPoysPyIvWiY=/1600x1150/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/BYCLOXFONVH5XHR37NU7PWXJ3I.jpg)
NY Rangers select Lafreniere with No. 1 pick in NHL draft
Alexis Lafreniere wanted to take the stage at Montrealโs Bell Centre near his home and hear his name announced at the NHL draft. From suburban Montreal, he was the first to earn both Canadian Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League MVP honors in consecutive seasons since Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby in 2004 and โ05. The Los Angeles Kings then selected Ontario Hockey League center Quinton Byfield with the second pick. It was an NHL draft like no other, the first one held in October, with teams selecting remotely from their home cities. โItโs pretty crazy and surreal,โ said Sanderson, the son of former NHL forward Geoff Sanderson, and the first American and defenseman selected.
![Rangers have work to do despite having top pick in NHL draft](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/dLEg-jEdFd7XdzxbYnAU6UdyOoI=/1600x1150/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/TKTCHR2H5JAABKR2MFUVJ3IW4Q.jpg)
Rangers have work to do despite having top pick in NHL draft
1 pick in the NHL draft while also coming off an appearance in the expanded 24-team playoffs. The Rangers only made the playoffs because the NHL expanded the format to 24, rather than 16 teams. 1 pick is going to be a very good hockey player, thereโs no question, maybe even a great player, hopefully. โTo be maybe having the chance to play with him, it would be an honor,โ Lafreniere said. General managers are bracing for a hectic weekend with numerous teams having to shed payroll this offseason with the NHL salary cap staying at $81.5 million.