The 2026-27 NHL season begins Tuesday. Over the summer, the Kings got older and the Ducks lost half their defense (not necessarily a bad thing). Here’s how things could look for them and the league.

The 2026-27 NHL season begins Tuesday. Over the summer, the Kings got older and the Ducks lost half their defense (not necessarily a bad thing). Here’s how things could look for them and the league.

Wait: Hockey isn’t life? They’ve always felt entwined. After cancer surgery, I’m looking forward to seeing the puck drop on a new season. My journey isn’t over but it’s on a good track.

Wait: Hockey isn’t life? They’ve always felt entwined. After cancer surgery, I’m looking forward to seeing the puck drop on a new season. My journey isn’t over but it’s on a good track.

I hoped I was through with breast cancer. But it wasn’t through with me.

The gloriously brash and defiantly noisy final Slam of the tennis year begins Sunday in New York. It could bring 46-year-old trailblazer Venus Williams closer to the end of her marvelous career.

The gloriously brash and defiantly noisy final Slam of the tennis year begins Sunday in New York. It could bring 46-year-old trailblazer Venus Williams closer to the end of her marvelous career.

The Lakers, owned by the Buss family for more than 40 years, were sold for the second time in just over a year. Josh Kushner and former Disney boss Bob Iger paid Mark Walter a record $12.5 billion.

The Lakers, owned by the Buss family for more than 40 years, were sold for the second time in just over a year. Josh Kushner and former Disney boss Bob Iger paid Mark Walter a record $12.5 billion.

The salary cap's rise is allowing the NHL's top young players to reach unprecedented salary averages. San Jose's Macklin Celebrini has followed Ducks center Leo Carlsson to the bank.

The salary cap's rise is allowing the NHL's top young players to reach unprecedented salary averages. San Jose's Macklin Celebrini has followed Ducks center Leo Carlsson to the bank.

Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 Sunday to win the World Cup, ending a tournament that was a success in many ways--often despite the heavy hand and ceaseless commercialism of FIFA.

Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 Sunday to win the World Cup, ending a tournament that was a success in many ways--often despite the heavy hand and ceaseless commercialism of FIFA.

The U.S. men exited the World Cup with a whimper, committing some baffling defensive errors in a 4-1 loss to vastly superior Belgium. No appeal to the corrupt folks at FIFA can change that.

The U.S. men exited the World Cup with a whimper, committing some baffling defensive errors in a 4-1 loss to vastly superior Belgium. No appeal to the corrupt folks at FIFA can change that.

General manager Ken Holland's moves on the first day of NHL free agency added a bunch of thirty-somethings and 41-year-old winger Corey Perry. The Kings got older, just what they didn't need to do.

General manager Ken Holland's moves on the first day of NHL free agency added a bunch of thirty-somethings and 41-year-old winger Corey Perry. The Kings got older, just what they didn't need to do.

The NHL draft ended Saturday with rounds 2-7, giving teams a chance to replenish their talent pipeline while giving a moment in the sun to long-shot picks who might never be heard from again.

The on-the-rise Ducks made two trades, acquiring two first-round picks and a second-rounder. The Kings, who lack top-notch prospects, chose skilled right wing Elton Hermansson of Sweden at No. 19.

The on-the-rise Ducks made two trades, acquiring two first-round picks and a second-rounder. The Kings, who lack top-notch prospects, chose skilled right wing Elton Hermansson of Sweden at No. 19.

The Carolina Hurricanes, descendants of the Hartford Whalers, won the Stanley Cup for the first time since 2006, ending a dominant postseason performance by stifling Vegas in six games.

The Carolina Hurricanes, descendants of the Hartford Whalers, won the Stanley Cup for the first time since 2006, ending a dominant postseason performance by stifling Vegas in six games.

My husband, Dennis D'Agostino, worked for the Knicks for 36 years in public relations and as the team historian. I'm sad he didn't get to see this championship. I think he would have loved this team.

My husband, Dennis D'Agostino, worked for the Knicks for 36 years in public relations and as the team historian. I'm sad he didn't get to see this championship. I think he would have loved this team.

In his introductory news conference, Peter Laviolette said his plans include a strong focus on offense. That's music to fans' ears. But it will take some roster upgrades to make that work.

In his introductory news conference, Peter Laviolette said his plans include a strong focus on offense. That's music to fans' ears. But it will take some roster upgrades to make that work.

The Kings will be the seventh NHL stop for Peter Laviolette. He likes to unleash his offense, which would be a nice change for the Kings--providing they give him more skill to work with.

The Kings will be the seventh NHL stop for Peter Laviolette. He likes to unleash his offense, which would be a nice change for the Kings--providing they give him more skill to work with.

The brash, aggressive Vegas Golden Knights will make their third Final appearance in their nine seasons. The stacked Carolina Hurricanes, 11-1 this spring, last won the Cup in 2006. Who to root for?

The brash, aggressive Vegas Golden Knights will make their third Final appearance in their nine seasons. The stacked Carolina Hurricanes, 11-1 this spring, last won the Cup in 2006. Who to root for?

The Final will match Vegas against Carolina, starting Tuesday in Raleigh, N.C. Let's hold off on analyses for now to remember Claude Lemieux, who was always a clutch player at this time of year.

The Final will match Vegas against Carolina, starting Tuesday in Raleigh, N.C. Let's hold off on analyses for now to remember Claude Lemieux, who was always a clutch player at this time of year.

Their second-round loss to Vegas featured a lot of what has been so good (and bad) about their season. But if they learn from this, they will be on track to make deep playoff runs in the near future.

Their second-round loss to Vegas featured a lot of what has been so good (and bad) about their season. But if they learn from this, they will be on track to make deep playoff runs in the near future.

Their first-round loss to Colorado extended their postseason futility streak and sent their Hall of Fame-bound captain into retirement with fans' cheers ringing in his ears.

Their first-round loss to Colorado extended their postseason futility streak and sent their Hall of Fame-bound captain into retirement with fans' cheers ringing in his ears.

They scored more than one goal for the first time in three games against top-ranked Colorado, but their 4-2 loss pushed them to the brink of elimination. Again.

They scored more than one goal for the first time in three games against top-ranked Colorado, but their 4-2 loss pushed them to the brink of elimination. Again.

The Kings were relentless physically and again played well, but their 2-1 overtime loss to Colorado on Tuesday left them facing a 2-0 playoff deficit as they return home.

The Kings were relentless physically and again played well, but their 2-1 overtime loss to Colorado on Tuesday left them facing a 2-0 playoff deficit as they return home.

The Kings hope to sustain a late push that carried them into postseason play. The Ducks, in the playoffs for the first time since 2018, skidded to the end. Colorado stands as the overall Cup favorite.

The Kings hope to sustain a late push that carried them into postseason play. The Ducks, in the playoffs for the first time since 2018, skidded to the end. Colorado stands as the overall Cup favorite.

This has been a strange season for the Kings, featuring significant injuries, blown leads, and a long-delayed coaching change. But they got hot at the right time, making more strange things possible.

This has been a strange season for the Kings, featuring significant injuries, blown leads, and a long-delayed coaching change. But they got hot at the right time, making more strange things possible.

The Kings picked a good time to tie their season-best streak of four straight wins. Postseason play is a real possibility for them, for better or for worse.