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 Command Description get_scoreboard Live/recent NHL scores get_standings Standings by conference and division get_teams All NHL teams get_team_roster Full roster for a team get_team_schedule Schedule for a specific team get_game_summary Detailed box score and scoring plays get_leaders NHL statistical leaders get_news NHL news articles get_play_by_play Full play-by-play for a game get_schedule Schedule for a specific date or season get_injuries Injury reports across all teams get_transactions Recent transactions get_futures Futures/odds markets get_team_stats Team statistical profile get_player_stats Player statistical profile 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: 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: Derive season year from currentDate Call get_standings(season=) 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: 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: Call get_scoreboard(date="") to find the event_id Call get_game_summary(event_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: 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: Derive season year from currentDate Call get_player_stats(player_id="3895074", season_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: Catch silently and try alternatives If team name given instead of ID, use get_teams to find the ID first 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