Nhl Data

NHL Data

Before writing queries, consult references/api-reference.md for endpoints, ID conventions, and data shapes.

Setup

Before first use, check if the CLI is available:

which sports-skills || pip install sports-skills

If pip install fails with a Python version error, the package requires Python 3.10+. Find a compatible Python:

python3 --version  # check version
# If < 3.10, try: python3.12 -m pip install sports-skills
# On macOS with Homebrew: /opt/homebrew/bin/python3.12 -m pip install sports-skills

No API keys required.

Quick Start

Prefer the CLI — it avoids Python import path issues:

sports-skills nhl get_scoreboard
sports-skills nhl get_standings --season=2025
sports-skills nhl get_teams

CRITICAL: Before Any Query

CRITICAL: Before calling any data endpoint, verify:

• Season year is derived from the system prompt's currentDate — never hardcoded.
• If only a team name is provided, call get_teams to resolve the team ID before using team-specific commands.

Choosing the Season

Derive the current year from the system prompt's date (e.g., currentDate: 2026-02-18 → current year is 2026).

• If the user specifies a season, use it as-is.
• If the user says "current", "this season", or doesn't specify: The NHL season runs October–June. If the current month is October–December, the active season year matches the current year. If January–June, the active season started the previous calendar year (use that year as the season).
• Example: Current date is February 2026 → active season started October 2025 → use season 2025.

Commands

See references/api-reference.md for full parameter lists and return shapes.

Examples

Example 1: Today's scores User says: "What are today's NHL scores?" Actions: 1. Call get_scoreboard() Result: All live and recent NHL games with scores and status

Example 2: Conference standings User says: "Show me the Eastern Conference standings" Actions: 1. Derive season year from currentDate 2. Call get_standings(season=<derived_year>) 3. Filter results for Eastern Conference Result: Eastern Conference standings with W-L-OTL, points, regulation wins

Example 3: Team roster User says: "Who's on the Maple Leafs roster?" Actions: 1. Call get_team_roster(team_id="21") Result: Full Maple Leafs roster with name, position, jersey number, shoots/catches

Example 4: Game box score User says: "Show me the full box score for last night's Bruins game" Actions: 1. Call get_scoreboard(date="<yesterday>") to find the event_id 2. Call get_game_summary(event_id=<id>) for full box score Result: Complete box score with per-player stats and scoring plays

Example 5: Stanley Cup odds User says: "What are the Stanley Cup odds?" Actions: 1. Call get_futures(limit=10) Result: Top Stanley Cup contenders with odds values

Example 6: Player statistics User says: "Show me Connor McDavid's stats" Actions: 1. Derive season year from currentDate 2. Call get_player_stats(player_id="3895074", season_year=<derived_year>) Result: Season stats by category with value, rank, and per-game averages

Commands that DO NOT exist — never call these

• ~~get_odds~~ / ~~get_betting_odds~~ — not available. For prediction market odds, use the polymarket or kalshi skill.
• ~~search_teams~~ — does not exist. Use get_teams instead.
• ~~get_box_score~~ — does not exist. Use get_game_summary instead.
• ~~get_player_ratings~~ — does not exist. Use get_player_stats instead.

If a command is not listed in the Commands table above, it does not exist.

Error Handling

When a command fails, do not surface raw errors to the user. Instead: 1. Catch silently and try alternatives 2. If team name given instead of ID, use get_teams to find the ID first 3. Only report failure with a clean message after exhausting alternatives

Troubleshooting

Error: sports-skills command not found Cause: Package not installed Solution: Run pip install sports-skills

Error: Team not found by ID Cause: Wrong or outdated ESPN team ID used Solution: Call get_teams to get the current list of all NHL teams with their IDs (expansion teams like the Seattle Kraken and Utah Mammoth have non-sequential IDs)

Error: No data returned for a future game Cause: ESPN only returns data for completed or in-progress games Solution: Use get_schedule to see upcoming game details; get_scoreboard only covers active/recent games

Error: Offseason — scoreboard returns 0 events Cause: No games scheduled during the offseason (July–September) Solution: Use get_standings or get_news instead; use get_schedule to find when the season resumes

NHL Data — API Reference

Commands

get_scoreboard

Get live/recent NHL scores.

• date (str, optional): Date in YYYY-MM-DD format. Defaults to today.

Returns events[] with game info, scores, status, and competitors.

get_standings

Get NHL standings by conference and division.

• season (int, optional): Season year

Returns groups[] with Eastern/Western conferences and division standings including W-L-OTL, points, regulation wins, goals for/against, and streak.

get_teams

Get all NHL teams. No parameters.

Returns teams[] with id, name, abbreviation, logo, and location.

get_team_roster

Get full roster for a team.

• team_id (str, required): ESPN team ID (e.g., "21" for Maple Leafs)

Returns athletes[] with name, position, jersey number, height, weight, experience, birthplace, and shoots/catches.

get_team_schedule

Get schedule for a specific team.

• team_id (str, required): ESPN team ID
• season (int, optional): Season year

Returns events[] with opponent, date, score (if played), and venue.

get_game_summary

Get detailed box score and scoring plays.

• event_id (str, required): ESPN event ID

Returns game_info, competitors, boxscore (stats per player), scoring_plays, and leaders.

get_leaders

Get NHL statistical leaders (goals, assists, points, etc.).

• season (int, optional): Season year

Returns categories[] with leader rankings per stat category.

get_news

Get NHL news articles.

• team_id (str, optional): Filter by team

Returns articles[] with headline, description, published date, and link.

get_play_by_play

Get full play-by-play data for a game.

• event_id (str, required): ESPN event ID

Returns play-by-play detail including period, clock, team, play type, and scoring plays.

get_schedule

Get NHL schedule for a specific date or season.

• date (str, optional): Date in YYYY-MM-DD format
• season (int, optional): Season year (used only if no date provided)

Returns events[] for the specified date.

get_injuries

Get current NHL injury reports across all teams. No parameters.

Returns teams[] with per-team injury lists including player name, position, status (Out/Day-To-Day/IR), injury type, and detail.

get_transactions

Get recent NHL transactions (trades, signings, waivers).

• limit (int, optional): Max transactions to return. Defaults to 50.

Returns transactions[] with date, team, and description.

get_futures

Get NHL futures/odds markets (Stanley Cup winner, Hart Trophy, etc.).

• limit (int, optional): Max entries per market. Defaults to 25.
• season_year (int, optional): Season year. Defaults to current.

Returns futures[] with market name and entries (team/player name + odds value).

get_team_stats

Get full team statistical profile for a season.

• team_id (str, required): ESPN team ID
• season_year (int, optional): Season year. Defaults to current.
• season_type (int, optional): 2=regular (default), 3=postseason.

Returns categories[] with detailed stats including value, rank, and per-game averages.

get_player_stats

Get full player statistical profile for a season.

• player_id (str, required): ESPN athlete ID
• season_year (int, optional): Season year. Defaults to current.
• season_type (int, optional): 2=regular (default), 3=postseason.

Returns categories[] with detailed stats including value, rank, and per-game averages.

Team IDs

Use get_teams for the complete, authoritative list.

NHL Team IDs (ESPN)

Tip: Use get_teams to get the full, accurate list of team IDs.