espn.com / .espn-com-nhl / Page 2

It appears to be a two-team race for the No. 1 overall seed. Plus, updated playoff bracket projections.

The NHL has reached an agreement with Rogers Communications on a 12-year, $7.7 US billion media rights agreement in Canada, according to a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Monday, a new source of revenue as the salary cap .. ...

The Montreal Victoire are confident Ann-Renee Desbiens will return to action in the near future. Whether that's soon enough to suit up between the pipes for Canada at the women's world hockey championships still needs to be determined.

A number of promising pickups are on waiver wires in fantasy hockey leagues. Here are players to add this week.

Florida Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola, 28, was fined $5,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct for a slap shot that nearly hit Montreal's players. He also received a 10-minute game misconduct.

Florida Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk skated before practice Monday for the first time since suffering a lower-body injury during last month's 4 Nations Face-Off.

Boston College stars Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault are going pro -- to the Capitals and Rangers, respectively.

The Avalanche signed Taylor Makar, younger brother of Colorado star Cale Makar, to a one-year deal on Monday; he will play in the AHL Colorado Eagles for the rest of the season.

Dallas will need some help, but Winnipeg is vulnerable. Plus, projections for the entire playoff bracket.

Washington captain Alex Ovechkin, 39, is now five goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky's NHL record after scoring the 890th of his career during the third period of the Capitals' home game Sunday, an 8-5 loss to the Buffalo Sabres at Capital One .. ...