Author name: Chris Blanchard

Chris Blanchard is a Boston, MA native and a student at Davidson College. He began writing about hockey as a Boston Bruins featured columnist for Bleacher Report in the fall of 2012. He has been covering the NHL for XN Sports since May of 2013. !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs');

NHL Free Agency: Picking the Best Available Player at Each Position

NHL free agency officially begins on July 5th, but new rules allowed GM’s to begin contacting players and their agents on Wednesday. All 30 teams are now in the hunt for players that can help establish them as title contenders. With the salary cap descending for the first time, compliance buyouts and limited budgets are […]

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NHL Free Agency: Philadelphia Flyers Win Vinny Lecavalier Sweepstakes

According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, the Philadelphia Flyers have acquired free agent Vincent Lecavalier. The long-time Tampa Bay captain was bought out by the Lightning last week, leading to a mad scramble for his signature. After meeting with a multitude of teams at the draft, it appears that Lecavalier has chosen to head to Philadelphia,

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NHL Draft Drama: Seth Jones Falls To Nashville, Devils Deal for Corey Schneider

The NHL Draft began as expected on Sunday with the Colorado Avalanche selecting Nathan MacKinnon from the Halifax Mooseheads, but the day was far from short on surprises. Though big names Kris Letang and Tyler Seguin were not dealt, the drama started early. Consensus top defenseman Seth Jones was the focus of attention at the

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NHL Trade Rumors: Kris Letang and Tyler Seguin Could Move on Draft Day

As the NHL descends on New Jersey’s Prudential Center for the 2013 NHL entry draft, there may be more top talent to offer than just teenagers Nathan MacKinnon and Seth Jones. Norris Trophy finalist Kris Letang could be shopped if Pittsburgh Penguins GM Ray Shero can’t get him to accept an extension, and in a

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Chicago Blackhawks Score Twice in Final 76 Seconds to Win the Stanley Cup

After sending Corey Crawford to the bench with a Game 7 seemingly imminent, the Chicago Blackhawks did the impossible, scoring twice in the final minutes to hoist the Stanley Cup at Boston’s TD Garden. Just 17 seconds after Bryan Bickell netted the equalizer, Dave Bolland beat Tuukka Rask to shock the capacity crowd in Boston

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Stanley Cup Finals: Injuries to Patrice Bergeron and Jonathan Toews Could Tilt Series

As the Blackhawks held off the Bruins in the third period of Saturday night’s Game 5, two familiar faces were absent in crunch time. The last two Frank J. Selke Trophy winners, Patrice Bergeron and Jonathan Toews combined for a grand total of zero minutes in the final frame of the 3-1 Chicago victory, and

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