A top hockey player has praised the brevity of this season’s summer break, calling it an opportunity for players to return refreshed. The informal skate at a local arena marked the unofficial start of training, with the athlete emphasizing the benefits of a shorter offseason. Fans and teams alike may be watching closely to see how this compressed schedule impacts performance as preparations ramp up. The comment suggests a shift in how some players view traditional summer breaks in professional sports.

"Short summers are a great sign. We want more short summers, but this one might have come at the right time," Leon Draisaitl said after Thursday's informal skate at the Downtown Community Arena ...