Shutdown corners are fine. Dominant closers are nice. But when it comes to hockey, keeping opponents in check is a group effort. Which makes having a spectacular defensive pairing almost mandatory for any franchise harboring something beyond fleeting hope ...

Hoglund had his best NHL season in 1999-2000, scoring an NHL career-best 29 goals with the Maple Leafs. He could join penalty-killing specialist Axelsson from the Boston Bruins and another power forward in Holmstrom, already a two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Detroit Red Wings.

It’s one thing to make a good pick in the first round of the NHL Draft, as the New York Rangers will try to do when this year’s draft begins Friday in Los Angeles. After all, you’re dealing with what’s supposed to be the cream of the crop of young ...