NHL

11:50 AM PT -- We spoke with Cantor's lawyer who tells us ... the 59-year-old man was at the game with his son when he reached out with his hand to block the puck from hitting his kid's face.

We're told Cantor was struck in the left thumb -- leaving him with significant damage to his thumb, hand and shoulder ... damage which required surgery to repair.

A hockey fan who says he was hit by a puck at a NY Rangers game is suing the team -- claiming he was permanently injured during a 2013 game ... TMZ Sports has learned.

The man behind the suit is Robert Cantor -- who claims he was in the stands at Madison Square Garden on March 3, 2013 to watch the Rangers play the Sabres when things went terribly wrong.

In his suit, filed in state court in NY, Cantor claims he was "struck by a high speed projectile (puck) and [sustained] severe and permanent injuries."

Cantor says he suffered pain, shock and mental anguish and is unable to perform normal activities.

NHL star Mike Richards just caught a big break in his drug possession case in Canada, but should be on his best behavior for the next year.

A judge in Manitoba just stayed the charge ... which means the charge is off the table, but can be brought back to life within a year. If Richards manages to stay out of trouble during that time, the case will be completely dismissed.

As we previously reported, the ex-L.A. Kings player faced up to six months in jail after he was popped for smuggling Oxycodone across the border in June and charged with possession of a controlled substance.

Canucks goalie Ryan Miller's going super old school with a sweet custom made throwback helmet that gives props to his hot actress wife -- and could be worth $10,000 when it's all said and done.

Miller, one of the best in the game, is prepping for the 20th anniversary game at Vancouver's Rogers Arena next month by ordering a helmet that features the team's old color scheme -- black, red and yellow.

Here's what's really cool about the gear -- the back of it has his nickname, "Miller Time" ... and it also says, "Puck Noureen Bodhi." Bodhi is for his son, Puck is his dog, and Noureen is for his wife, Noureen DeWulf from "Anger Management."

Bishop Designs in Michigan (Ryan's a Michigan State guy) did the paint job, and tells TMZ Sports ... Ryan only plans to wear the mask once -- which will instantly jack up its value.

Warwick Mask made the helmet itself, and owner Gary Warwick says after the game it could be worth somewhere between $6,000 - $10,000!! Keep in mind, it only cost $2,700 to make and paint the thing.

Go 'Nucks!

Dustin Penner -- former hockey star for the Ducks and Kings -- is accused of assaulting a local gym manager ... but cops say it's just a civil dispute over money.

Chris Chelios does NOT want the NHL to start messing with the rules to create more goals -- telling TMZ Sports if Americans can't appreciate the game we have now, it should move to Europe.

It's a big topic in the NHL right now -- with Patrick Roy recently telling ESPN he thinks smaller goalie equipment and larger nets will lead to more goals ... which will help create more interest in the game.

But Chelios ain't feelin' Roy ... with the Hall of Famer telling us, "The NHL should move to Europe and we shoudn't play hockey anymore here."

The point is ... if Americans can't appreciate hockey the way it is now ... maybe we don't deserve it at all.

Chelios says there is ONE thing wrong with the NHL -- but it doesn't have to do with equipment.

Ex-L.A. Kings star Slava Voynov is taking his talents back to Mother Russia in the wake of his prosecution for domestic violence -- choosing to leave before getting deported.

As we previously reported ... Voynov pled no contest to domestic violence stemming from an incident where his wife accused him of kicking and choking her. Immigration officials have had Voynov in custody since earlier this month when he completed his jail sentence.

Deportation was on the table, but Voynov just announced he would leave on his own.

He says, "I sincerely apologize to those in and around the game of hockey, who have been affected by my situation, and I also wish the players of the L.A. Kings success in the future.’’

The Kings say they had already decided to cut Slava, and were going to announce it later this week.

L.A. Kings star Slava Voynov could be shipped back to Russia -- after immigration officials took him into custody ... following his release from jail stemming from a domestic violence conviction.

Ex-L.A. Kings player Mike Richards has been charged with possession of a controlled substance over an incident involving prescription drugs ... TMZ Sports has learned.

As we previously reported, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police were investigating the NHL player for allegedly transporting Oxycodone across the border back in June.

Now, we've learned he's been charged with a crime -- and if convicted as a first time offender, he faces up to 6 months behind bars.

NHL God Mike Bossy just got a HUGE assist from a famous rich guy -- Gavin Maloof -- who shelled out a fortune to reunite Mike with a legendary hockey puck ... TMZ Sports has learned.

We broke the story, Bossy lost his famous "50 in 50 puck" -- which he used to score his 50th goal in 50 games back in '81 -- 30 years ago, after his daughter mistakenly gave it away.

The guy who ended up with the puck put it up on eBay back in May -- and when Maloof caught wind of the sale, he tells us he felt compelled to take action to help Bossy get it back.

"I said, 'We need to get this puck. It means a lot to Mr. Bossy,'" Maloof tells TMZ Sports.

"50 goals in 50 games. Only a handful of people have ever done that. I needed to buy this puck. I don't care how much it costs."

Long story short ... Maloof sealed the deal for just under $7,000 and immediately got on the horn to get in touch with Bossy so he could give it back.

"We invited Bossy to Las Vegas, put him up in the Bellagio and are taking him out tonight for a nice steak dinner."

When Bossy got to Sin City, he authenticated the puck and checked out the model for the hockey rink Maloof is hoping to build if the NHL green lights his plan to start a new franchise in Vegas.

As for Mike's daughter, Maloof says Bossy joked that she's finally out of the dog house -- "Once he got the puck back, he let her know that she's finally off the hook."

Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane will no longer be on the cover of EA's "NHL16" due to the criminal investigation he's now facing.

Kane was slated to be on the cover of the game for the second time but EA just released a statement saying they're pulling the plug.The company said he won't be on the cover and he also will not be involved in any promos for the game.

As we've reported ... Kane is under investigation for an alleged incident that went down with a woman in an Upstate NY bar.

Things keep getting better for Jarret Stoll ... the NHL star just signed a 1-year, $800k contract with the N.Y. Rangers ... only months after being arrested for allegedly smuggling coke into a Vegas pool party.

As TMZ Sports previously reported ... Stoll -- a free agent -- got a sweet deal from prosecutors ... completely avoiding jail relating to his April arrest. Still, people wondered if a team would take a chance on signing him.

The Rangers did ... and there's more good news -- Erin Andrews is still hanging in there. The couple double dated this weekend at Disneyland!

Chicago Blackhawks superstar Patrick Kane is the subject of a police probe into an alleged bar incident involving another woman -- and there are reports it's a rape investigation.

The alleged incident went down at a bar in the upstate NY town of Hamburg ... just outside Buffalo. Kane is from the area and stays there in the off-season.

So far cops are keeping tight-lipped about the investigation ... which was first reported by the Buffalo News. It's unclear when this went down, but sources tell us Kane is known to frequent a few bars in the small town during the summer months.

Kane was arrested in 2009 for assaulting a Buffalo taxi driver over 20 cents. He pleaded guilty, and got off with an apology to the cabbie.

NHL officials have been notified that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police investigation into ex-L.A. Kings player Mike Richards involves the prescription drug oxycodone ... multiple sources tell TMZ Sports.

Our sources say Richards was stopped while crossing from the United States into Canada on June 17th ... and we're told he was questioned about oxycodone pills, a powerful painkiller.

For the record, Richards has NOT been charged with a crime.

However, he has since been cut from the team for "a material breach of the requirements of his Standard Player's Contract."

We reached out to Richards' agent for comment multiple times but haven't heard back. Canadian officials refused to comment, citing privacy laws.

Seems NHL star Jarret Stoll dodged TWO bullets after his cocaine arrest in Vegas -- 'cause not only did he duck jail, but now it seems he managed to hang on to his celeb GF too!

For the first time since he was busted allegedly trying to smuggle coke into a Vegas pool party, Stoll was out in public with his longtime girlfriend Erin Andrews.

There were rumblings Andrews dumped his ass after the Vegas drama ... but the two hit up a NASCAR event at the Sonoma Raceway this weekend ... acting as couply as they used to be.

As we previously reported, Stoll was facing 4 years behind bars ... but struck a plea deal in which he basically has to do some community service.

Dude's gettin' second chances all around -- don't blow it.

L.A. Kings hockey star Jarret Stoll just cut a great deal in his Vegas cocaine case -- because the felony drug possession charge was dropped and he'll do NO jail time.

As we previously reported, Stoll -- boyfriend of Erin Andrews -- was busted on April 17th for allegedly bringing cocaine and ecstasy to a Vegas pool party.

Now, we've learned ... Stoll struck a deal with prosecutors in which he agreed to plead guilty to 2 misdemeanors -- breach of peace and trespass.

Stoll was facing up to 4 years behind bars for the drug charge ... instead, he won't spend one minute in jail and will NOT be on probation.

As part of the agreement, Stoll will launch a hockey program for at risk kids in Vegas and also work with the Salvation Army.

In a statement issued through his lawyer, David Chesnoff, Stoll says ... "Now that the case has been resolved I am committed to meeting all of my obligations to the court am grateful for the chance to offer guidance and share positive life lessons to kids as part of the resolution of this matter."

"My focus remains on hockey and I am looking forward to getting back on the ice next season."

The Chicago Blackhawks brought a 6-pack to the Stanley Cup celebration -- with defenseman Johnny Oduya ripping his shirt off in the middle of a nightclub ... in a crazy celebrity turn up!

Oduya -- along with teammates Corey Crawford, Brandon Saad, Kris Versteeg and Scott Darling -- hit up The Mid nightclub in Chicago ... where they used Lord Stanley's favorite piece of silverware to sip expensive bubbly, like so many have before.

And who was supplying the beats? World famous DJ ($32 millon a year famous) Tiesto -- who pumped the club full of EDM and hip-hop hits while the crowd went insane!

At some point in the night Oduya's shirt came off ... dude's got some championship abs.

Check out the pics.