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The Philadelphia Flyers acquired backup goalie Brian Boucher and defenseman Mark Alt from the Carolina Hurricanes in return for forward Luke Pither.

With early April the likely spot for the NHL's 2013 trade deadline, teams will have the luxury of acquiring assets for minimal real money, potentially spurring a flurry of deals.

Blog | Conversation | January 07, 2013

Carolina Hurricanes forward Tuomo Ruutu recently had hip surgery and is expected to be out until at least early May, a league source told ESPN.

As the lockout endures, the Minnesota Wild have yet to bring a significantly upgraded roster together. It ruined the momentum of a monumental summer, and will the Wild's new players have enough time to jell and compete in the West?

Blog | Conversation | November 01, 2012

Craig Custance explains why the negotiating tactics employed by the league and the players are creating distrust that might doom the NHL to a perpetual cycle of work stoppages.

Blog | Conversation | October 19, 2012

Craig Custance breaks down the NHL's latest CBA proposal to assess the impact on teams up against the salary cap, and those with salaries stashed in the minors. The verdict? Don't expect to see a flurry of panicked trades ... not yet anyway.

Blog | Conversation | October 17, 2012

Craig Custance writes that the ongoing NHL lockout presents unique challenges for North American goaltenders.

Blog | Conversation | October 16, 2012

Are the Oilers on the move to Seattle? Don't count on it. Craig Custance explains why meetings between the team's ownership and a new potential NHL market amount to little more than a leverage play.

Blog | Conversation | September 25, 2012

Craig Custance reports that the NHL -- lured by financial incentives, fan interest and the city's sizable media market -- might be setting up shop in the Emerald City through expansion rather than relocation.

Blog | Conversation | September 20, 2012

Craig Custance chats with several former players regarding the 2004-05 lockout. While some believe the lost season gave rise to a stronger players union, at least one star believes the cost was ultimately not worth it.

Blog | Conversation | September 18, 2012

As the lockout begins, Craig Custance reports that GMs are examining strategies from the league's previous stalemates to build post-lockout winners, and outlines team characteristics that will most likely lead to success.

Blog | Conversation | September 17, 2012

With a lockout all but finalized in the NHL, Craig Custance looks behind the lines to see where the players and owners stand in the battle of who will blink first.

Blog | Conversation | September 14, 2012

With a potential lockout looming and the CBA expiring, NHL teams are scrambling to get deals done under the old system. Craig Custance examines why.

Blog | Conversation | September 13, 2012

No one "wins" in a lockout, but there are some teams and players that are hit harder than others ... and there are a few that might benefit from some extra time off. Craig Custance surveys who might be affected more or less if the NHL shuts its doors.

Blog | Conversation | September 11, 2012

With the collective bargaining negotiations ongoing, a proposed change to the salary cap could end up hamstringing some teams financially, including the Sabres, Rangers and Wild.

Blog | Conversation | August 20, 2012

With the 2012 Summer Games serving as a back drop, Craig Custance starts looking ahead to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi Russia, projecting what a possible Canadian roster might look like given an influx of young talent.

Blog | Conversation | August 09, 2012