
Brian Costello discusses the news and events around the NHL and world of hockey
by Brian Costello - April 21, 2013 10:50 AM EDT
When the Devils were penalized for the Ilya Kovalchuk contract, they had to forfeit a first-rounder in one of the next four drafts.
A calculated risk Lou Lamoriello and the New Jersey Devils took at the 2012 draft is now trending in a bad direction and could backfire in a big way a year from now.
by Brian Costello - March 29, 2013 12:15 PM EDT
Perhaps the prospect Calgary picks with the Penguins first-rounder will amount to something, but history and the current outlook say the odds aren't good.
There’s a very good chance that when all is said and done a decade or so from now, the Calgary Flames will have garnered next to nothing from trading Jarome Iginla.
by Brian Costello - March 12, 2013 11:10 AM EDT
With THN's annual Future Watch available now, we take the opportunity to look back at the most recent NHL draft.
More than a few of scouts have mentioned to me it's typically the second season after a prospect is drafted that those in the evaluation business get a real sense of if the teenager is going to make it big, make it small, or not make it at all.
by Brian Costello - February 5, 2013 11:40 AM EST
This year's draft was originally touted as the best since 2003, but some scouts are stressing against that kind of optimism.
There’s good news and bad news for teams getting off to sluggish starts this lockout-shortened season. The good news is there’s some high-end young talent available in the 2013 NHL draft – Nathan MacKinnon, Seth Jones and Jonathan Drouin at the head of the class – for the bottom-feeders to feast on.
by Brian Costello - November 17, 2012 9:20 AM EST
With the 2012 class officially inducted, THN's HHOF guru handicaps the next in line.
The Hockey Hall of Fame is getting into this recycling thing, big time.
The trend the past few years with the Hall’s 18-member selection committee is to reconsider, then induct, previously passed-over NHL stars.
by Brian Costello - June 26, 2012 10:25 AM EDT
The Russian Rocket has been eligible for the Hall since 2006, but somehow hasn't been inducted yet, despite a terrific career.
The fact Pavel Bure isn’t in the Hockey Hall of Fame is one of the game’s great oversights for six years now.
First eligible for Hall induction in 2006 (after retiring in 2003), Bure is among the best pure goal-scorers in the history of the NHL.
by Brian Costello - June 21, 2012 11:22 AM EDT
With so many lists ranking the top prospects out there, we combined some of them to come up with the most accurate list possible.
NHL draft rankings and mock drafts congregate at the intersection between scouts and media. Scouts have the know-how to size up potential in teenage prospects.
by Brian Costello - March 17, 2012 2:55 PM EDT
The 2011 draft would unfold differently if we factored in scouts' current rankings of the first-rounders.
We came up with the idea of Future Watch 25 years ago because we wanted to gauge how draft picks were advancing in their most formative years.
by Brian Costello - January 28, 2012 11:42 PM EST
From Patrick Kane's Superman impression to Carey Price's blue ice antics, the skills competition was a show for the fans.
OTTAWA - There was a loud creaking sound coming from Scotiabank Place in Ottawa Saturday night. The pessimist will tell you it was the sound of hockey purists turning over in their graves seeing their beloved game reduced to a collection of buskers clowning around on the ice.
by Brian Costello - December 30, 2011 11:55 AM EST
While working as a second-year reporter, Brian Costello shares his story about being on the ill-fated bus.
Twenty-five years ago today, the Swift Current Broncos went on the longest road trip in the history of major junior hockey. They were headed a couple of hours down the TransCanada Highway to Regina for a Dec.
by Brian Costello - October 8, 2011 10:25 AM EDT
There are always many disagreements among THN staffers as to how the season will play out, so a little friendly competition is common.
Hockey pools and fantasy league drafts are standard fare this time of year in this corner of the world. But there’s also a bit of inside wagering amongst the crew at The Hockey News for stakes such as ice cream cones, burritos and sometimes even steaks.
by Brian Costello - June 28, 2011 5:15 PM EDT
Usually players have to wait before being inducted, but Ed Belfour made it in on his first try, which may be because of committee turnover.
Good call by the Hockey Hall of Fame’s selection committee this year inducting first-year candidate Ed Belfour and three stars passed over in previous years - Doug Gilmour, Joe Nieuwendyk and Mark Howe.
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"That hockey game will haunt me until the day I die…"
- Toronto's Joffrey Lupul reacting on Twitter to his team's meltdown loss in Game 7 to the Boston Bruins.