NFL Players’ Association executive George Atallah told ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” on Wednesday the league has given no reason why the players — Green Bay Packers linebackers Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers, former Packers linebacker Mike Neal and Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison — have to speak with league investigators. “So far there has not been any credible evidence of any kind that the league has provided to substantiate such an investigation and to substantiate the interviews,” Atallah told ESPN’s Bob Ley....

NHL 15 is now available as one of the games in the EA Access “Vault”. That aspect of the service relates to older games from EA’s portfolio that are offered playable in full to anyone who is a current EA Access member and they get those games for the entire life of their membership. The other games in the Vault are: Madden NFL 15, NBA Live 15, EA Sports UFC, Need for Speed Rivals, Madden NFL 14, FIFA 14, Battlefield 4, Peggle 2, and Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare....

For the fourth consecutive year, the format features a 3-on-3 tournament between the four divisions. The skills competition will take place 9 p.m. ET on Jan. 25. Each division has a fan-voted captain. Connor McDavid will represent the Pacific Division, Nathan MacKinnon will represent the Central Division and Auston Matthews will represent the Atlantic Division. Alex Ovechkin was selected as the captain for the Metropolitan Division but has since withdrew from the event....

The 2023 NHL Draft is still seven months away, but NHL Central Scouting released its initial list of prospects for this upcoming year’s draft class. They gave out grades to players, either an A, B or C. Those with an A rating are considered potential first-round picks, B ratings are considered possible second- or third-round choices and C ratings are potential fourth-, fifth- or sixth-round selections. To the surprise of no one, one of those players with an A rating is Connor Bedard, considered to be the consensus top pick in the 2023 draft....

Bettman said during Friday’s pregame press conference in Stockholm that he and NHLPA executive Don Fehr met with René Fasel, the executive director of the International Ice Hockey Federation, about NHL players skating in the Olympics. He characterized the meeting as “more a philosophical and procedural discussion” than decisive on the NHL’s participation in the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, and also said there was “no news to report” on the matter....

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman put Toronto on blast Friday when he was asked about the league’s postseason format while in Regina, Sask. for the Heritage Classic. “We think the format we have works extremely well,” Bettman said, “unless you’re a Leafs fan.” MORE: Heritage Classic 2019: Time, TV channel, livestream, uniforms, weather Low blow, commish. Here’s what the league commissioner was referring to: What is the current NHL playoff format?...

The “Two Man Advantage” contest may fill easily based on increased demand. That has an $8 entry with $34,000 prize pool. Several games have an over/under of six from Las Vegas, including a 6.5 mark for New York-Pittsburgh. As we always caution, Vegas is not always right, as games could dud like many did the past two nights. MORE: SN DFS | DFS Lineup Builder Because of the volatile nature of goalies (and other reasons), there will be more information on social media coming closer to roster lock....

The “Poke Check” may fill easily based on increased demand. That has an $5 entry with $40,000 prize pool. There is a “$75,000 Line Change” with $15,000 to first at $33. Also, with scoring expected up, Vegas has four over/unders at 6 or greater. MORE: SN DFS | DFS Lineup Builder Because of the volatile nature of goalies (and other reasons), there will be more information on social media coming closer to roster lock....

While there’s not a supreme talent like Connor McDavid or Auston Matthews in this year’s NHL draft, there are some future All-Stars who could change the course of a franchise. MORE: Complete draft order, Rounds 1-7 Everything you need to know about the 2017 NHL Draft is below, and here’s everything you need to know how the Expansion Draft unfolded. When is the 2017 NHL Draft? The 2017 NHL Draft will take place over two days from June 23-24....

While it will be years until we know who the real winners and losers of this draft are, it’s an interesting exercise to provide some instant analysis and grades regarding the various NHL team’s performance in the draft. NHL DRAFT: News, grades on selections, signings & trades Given the impact of COVID-19 on the hockey world, this year more than ever had many surprises throughout the annual event. Some players went much higher than expected, such as Tyler Boucher to the Ottawa Senators at No....

We’re here largely for the hockey stuff, though. Unrestricted free agents can start signing contracts at noon. For the last week, they’ve been able to casually/“casually” talk to teams about their plans for each other. It’s a thin class, particularly at the top, but money will still get dumped into the ocean anyway. 5:32 — Brian Boyle felt like a guy who was going to get overpaid; he’s big, young enough and had a decent postseason....

This year’s free agent class is not exactly overflowing with strong candidates to be signed, but there are still a number of notable headliners to pay attention to as free agency gets set to start on July 13. Johnny Gaudreau is coming off a sensational season with the Flames, but between his deserved pay raise and Matthew Tkachuk also needing a new contract, it’s unclear whether or not Calgary can re-sign him....

Some uniforms have aged well over time, like the Hartford Whalers’ green jerseys that make appearances in Carolina, while others simply do not — hello, Vancouver Canucks bowling team sweaters, we’re looking at you. Sure, not everyone will completely agree with this list below, but it’s encouraged that you low-listers take a look at your closet. Look real hard at that raggedy sweater on that creaky wire hanger and think to yourself, “do I even like this jersey?...

Da Beauty League, the famed four-on-four offseason league featuring players with ties to Minnesota, took time in between playoff games to host a showcase game with players from Minnesota Special Hockey, a modified ice hockey program in Minnesota for players of all ages with developmental disabilities. Minnesota Wild forward Jason Zucker was on the ice with his nephew, 13-year-old Caden Hronski, for the first time during the showcase. “I hadn’t been on the ice with him before, so that was a first time for me,” Zucker said....

So it can become a fool’s errand to try and guess how the NHL’s second season will break down. MORE: Odds to win the 2018 Stanley Cup In the Eastern Conference, that’s never been more true. Two of the league’s most dominant teams are in the same division as the conference’s first and second overall seeds. Alex Ovechkin has the Capitals on a quest for verification and the Maple Leafs look like a dominant force for years to come....

Eight teams have punched their ticket to the next stage and are one step closer to winning the sports world’s greatest trophy. Remaining in the Toronto and Edmonton bubbles are six of the top eight teams when the coronavirus pandemic hit last March, a team you can never count out (the Islanders), and a dark horse that stands as the last remaining Canadian team (the Canucks). The qualifying round was wacky; the first round was just good old playoff hockey with lots of action, including crazy last-second goals and big-time saves, and one of the longest overtime games in NHL history....

Vegas finished off its sweep of the Kings on April 17. A day later, San Jose put a fork in the Ducks. Ever since, both teams have spent the better part of the last two weeks twiddling their thumbs and studying up while the rest of the Stanley Cup playoff field sorts itself out, so there’s plenty of angst to get this series on the road. GOLDEN STANDARDHow Vegas became the most successful expansion team in sports history...

As the Capitals trailed the Hurricanes 3-2 with 10:34 left in Game 6, Ovechkin scored what appeared to be the game-tying goal. The score was immediately waved off and the original call was upheld after a Washington challenge. “After reviewing all available replays and consulting with the referee, the Situation Room confirmed that Alex Ovechkin interfered with Petr Mrazek by pushing his pad, which caused the puck to enter the next," the NHL said in a statement....

Contenders have stocked up on rentals that give them a better shot at winning the Cup, while pretenders have accepted defeat, selling off what players they could to build towards their own future. After a flurry of activity, the NHL landscape has noticeably shifted. Here’s how all 32 teams in the league stack up against each other after the trade deadline. MORE: 2022 NHL trade deadline winners and losers: Maple Leafs, Panthers load up for Stanley Cup runs; Oilers doomed to fail...

It’s getting to be decision-making time soon for front offices. Are they sellers, buyers, a bit of both or neither? Luckily for general managers, there is still a month to be played before the NHL trade deadline. Teams like the Bruins, Hurricanes and Devils are maintaining their position atop the standings by consistently getting wins. The Oilers, Islanders and Penguins are examples of clubs yo-yo-ing up and down the rankings, and then there are the bottom feeders who have their eyes on their own, different prize — Connor Bedard....