New Orleans Needs A Pro Hockey Team. They Also Need An Arena. Can Both Be On The Horizon?

New Orleans has a metro population of just over 1 million and they don't have a professional hockey team. Heck, they don't even have an ice hockey arena currently! They had both at one time in the past. The ECHL's New Orleans Brass played for a time at the historic Municipal Auditorium. The venue was badly damaged in Hurricane Katrina and has sat empty, without any renovations, since the hurricane in 2005. It's a building that could house hockey and other events if investment is put into making it a sports and entertainment venue again. This article here talks about how the PWHL might be a fit for a renovated Municipal Auditorium, but at just around 5,000 seats for hockey, the venue would be too small for the world's top women's hockey league. 

The best fit for professional hockey in New Orleans, primarily due to other teams in the vicinity, would be the Low-A level FPHL. The FPHL currently has two teams in Louisiana (Baton Rouge and Monroe) and the league is rapidly expanding. A franchise in the Tier 3 junior NA3HL could serve as another tenant for the building and could promote interest in minor hockey in the area. The NA3HL has Louisiana teams in Lafayette and Monroe. Despite not having an ice rink in the New Orleans area, Tulane University recently started a hockey club through Tulane's Campus Recreation Club Sports program (they currently travel outside of New Orleans to find ice!). With an arena in New Orleans, Tulane's club hockey program would have the ability to grow into playing in a sanctioned collegiate league like the ACHA. The establishment of minor hockey in New Orleans would also occur if the Municipal Auditorium were to be renovated for hockey use. 

PWHL Top 25 Players By Daily Faceoff

Here are the PWHL's Top 25 players heading into the 2026-27 season by Daily Faceoff. Minnesota forward Taylor Heise sits atop the rankings at #1, while 2026 PWHL Draft #1 overall, defender Caroline Harvey of Vancouver, comes in at #7.

FPHL's Oceanside Franchise To Be Known As Oceanside Shock

The FPHL's Oceanside franchise now has a name, as Shock has been unveiled as the team moniker. The logo is of a "determined jellyfish" holding a hockey stick and the team colours are Carolina blue, black and white. The story is here. 

Houston Bulls Season Tickets Sold Out Ahead Of Inaugural Season

The NAHL's Houston Bulls have sold out of their season tickets ahead of their inaugural season. The Bulls sold 1,122 season tickets in the 1,800 seat capacity Deep South Ice & Sports Plex. The story is here. 

NHL Network's Top Defencemen Heading Into 2026-27 Season

Here is the NHL Network's list of Top 20 Defencemen heading into the 2026-27 season. 

1. Cale Makar (Colorado Avalanche)

2. Quinn Hughes (Minnesota Wild)

3. Zach Werenski (Columbus Blue Jackets)

4. Rasmus Dahlin (Buffalo Sabres)

5. Miro Heiskanen (Dallas Stars)

6. Lane Hutson (Montreal Canadiens)

7. Matthew Schaefer (New York Islanders)

8. Jake Sanderson (Ottawa Senators)

9. Moritz Seider (Detroit Red Wings)

10. Evan Bouchard (Edmonton Oilers)

11. Charlie McAvoy (Boston Bruins)

12. Jaccob Slavin (Carolina Hurricanes)

13. Adam Fox (New York Rangers)

14. Brock Faber (Minnesota Wild)

15. Roman Josi (Nashville Predators)

16. Josh Morrissey (Winnipeg Jets)

17. Jackson LaCombe (Anaheim Ducks)

18. Victor Hedman (Tampa Bay Lightning)

19. Shea Theodore (Vegas Golden Knights)

20. Devon Toews (Colorado Avalanche) 

Cranbrook Bucks Name Roshen Jaswal As Head Coach And Assistant General Manager

The BCHL's Cranbrook Bucks have named Roshen Jaswal as their head coach and assistant general manager. Jaswal's previous stop was with the WHL's Swift Current Broncos as an assistant coach. The story is here. 

The Reason Why Alexei Yashin Wore A Turtleneck While Playing

Former NHLer Alexei Yashin has revealed the reason why he wore a turtleneck while playing. The story is here. 

Toledo Walleye Unveil New Jerseys

The ECHL's Toledo Walleye have unveiled new jerseys ahead of the 2026-27 season. The four distinct jerseys include Deep Water, Frozen Water, River Blue and Golden Era styles. There's more here. 

Vancouver Canucks Should Absolutely Target Eeli Tolvaven In Free Agency

Winger Eeli Tolvaven is still available as an unrestricted free agent and the Vancouver Canucks should absolutely be targeting Tolvaven to add to their forward group. Tolvanen is just 27-years-old and his age fits the Canucks rebuild timeline. He is firmly a Top 9 option as a winger and the Canucks simply don't have enough NHL forwards on their roster, let alone those that can play in a Top 9 role. This Heavy article here suggests the Canucks sign Tolvaven for two years at $7.2 million ($3.6 million AAV). 

Former NHLer Cody Hodgson Now Co-Owner of Pro Pickleball Team

Former NHLer Cody Hodgson is now the co-owner of a pro pickleball team, as he purchased a stake in the Canadian National Pickleball League's York Yeti. The story is here.

Bleacher Report's Top 10 NHL Free Agents Still Available

Here is Bleacher Report's Top 10 NHL free agents still available. Now that we're into August and creeping closer to training camp, expect a few of these players to be signed to deals soon. 

If The Minnesota Wild Want Detroit To Bite On A Dylan Larkin Trade, They May Have To Offer Joel Eriksson Ek As Part Of Trade Package

The Detroit Red Wings have reportedly recently turned down a trade offer for Dylan Larkin from the Minnesota Wild that included centre Danila Yurov, defenceman David Spacek and Minnesota's 2027 1st round draft pick. If Minnesota wants to get Detroit's attention for a Larkin trade, they will likely need to include their current top line centre Joel Eriksson Ek in a trade package. Minnesota may not want to offer Eriksson Ek though, as they seem to be hoping to have Larkin and Eriksson Ek as a 1-2 punch down the middle. Eriksson Ek also has a no movement clause in his contract and would need to approve a trade to Detroit. There's more here on Minnesota's efforts to acquire Dylan Larkin. 

Minnesota Northern Lights Hosting Canadian Free Agent Camp In Edmonton

The FPHL's Minnesota Northern Lights will be hosting a free agent camp in Edmonton on Saturday, August 29. The details are here.

Let's Play Hockey's Story On Minnesota's Brick Tournament Championship Team

Here is a great story from Let's Play Hockey on Minnesota's Brick Tournament championship team.

Coventry Blaze 2026-27 Jerseys Revealed

The Coventry Blaze of the Elite Ice Hockey League have revealed their home, away and Challenge Cup jerseys they will wear during the 2026-27 season. The story is here.

Ottawa Senators Poised To Improve On Strong 2025-26 Season

The Ottawa Senators had a strong 2025-26 season in which they registered 99 points (44 Wins/27 Losses/11 OT Losses) and their head coach Travis Green believes the team is poised to improve in 2026-27. The story is here.

New Head Coaches Prepare For Fast-Approaching NAHL Season

The 2026-27 NAHL season is fast-approaching and here is a look at the new head coaches throughout the league.

This Article Is Right. Peter Laviolette Should Have Ranked Higher Than Jim Hiller In Yardbarker's New NHL Head Coach Hire Rankings

This article here is right. Peter Laviolette should have ranked higher than Jim Hiller in Yardbarker's rankings of new NHL head coach hires. Laviolette's NHL track record is well ahead of Hiller's.  

Hamilton Pursuing 2032 World Junior Hockey Championship

Hamilton, Ontario city council has voted unanimously to pursue the opportunity to host the 2032 World Junior Hockey Championship. A two-host city model is required to host the event, so nearby St. Catharines could be a possibility to host some games. There's more here.

Middle Of The Pack Edmonton Oilers Need To Target Teams Below Them For Player Additions, Not Teams Above Them

This article here is an interesting one. The Ottawa Senators were comfortably ahead of the Edmonton Oilers in the standings in 2025-26 and they will likely be again in 2026-27. The Oilers were a middle of the pack team last season in the NHL standings and they still have work to do this off-season to get better. Ottawa's Drake Batherson is an unrealistic trade target for the Oilers and Edmonton should be concentrating on forward trade targets on teams that were below them in last season's standings (if they can't find a solution this off-season in free agency). The Edmonton Oilers were a .500 hockey team in 2025-26. Media and fans need to dial back their expectations of the Oilers for the coming season, as it's a long way up to the top from the middle of the pack.