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Detroit — You wonder if Kailer Yamamoto even got a Red Wings jersey.
Acquired by the Wings Thursday from Edmonton along with Klim Kostin for future considerations, Yamamoto has been bought out by the team and will become an unrestricted free agent Saturday.
The key piece in Thursday's trade, from the Wings' perspective, was Kostin, a promising 24-year-old power forward. Kostin is a restricted free agent but is expected to sign with the Wings, after having told Edmonton he was considering playing in Russia.
Kostin had 11 goals in 57 games with the Oilers, then had three goals and five points in 12 playoff games.
Pressed against the salary cap ceiling, the Oilers felt Yamamoto and Kostin were expendable.
To acquire Kostin, Yamamoto and his contract had to be included in the deal, forcing the Wings to consider also keeping Yamamoto or not.
The Wings chose not.
Yamamoto, 24, had one more year left on his contract worth a $3.1 million salary cap hit. According to CapFriendly, the Wings' cap hit for the next two years regarding Yamamoto's buyout will be $433,334 (2023-24) and $533,334 (2024-25).
Yamamoto had 10 goals and 25 points in 58 games with Edmonton last season, then had one goal and four points in 12 playoff games.
After a promising start to his career, Yamamoto (5-foot-8, 154 pounds) has been riddled with injuries and had two lengthy stays on the long-term injury list last season.
ted.kulfan@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @tkulfan
Blake Wheeler's tenure with the Winnipeg Jets has come to an end.
The Jets placed Wheeler on unconditional waivers on Friday with purpose of buying out the final year of the former captain's contract.
Wheeler's average annual value for the 2023-24 season was US$8.25 million.
"We would like to thank Blake for his dedication and service to the Jets, the city of Winnipeg and the province of Manitoba," said Winnipeg general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff. "We are incredibly grateful for the contributions that he has made during his 12 seasons with the franchise."
The 36-year-old forward joined the franchise -- via a trade with Boston -- in 2011 when the team was still in Atlanta. He leaves as the franchise leader in regular-season games played (897), points (812), assists (550) and shots (2,462).
His 262 goals are the third-most in franchise history.
"I want to thank everyone in Winnipeg for all the love and support over these past 12 years," Wheeler said in a statement. "It has been my absolute honour and privilege to be a Winnipeg Jet and to represent this city and organization. My family and I can't thank everyone in the city and province enough for everything you've done for us."
Wheeler served as Winnipeg's captain for seven years before having the title stripped from him at the start of training camp by new head coach Rick Bowness, who then installed a three-alternate leadership group of Adam Lowry, Josh Morrissey and Mark Scheifele.
The player and coach clashed publicly following Winnipeg's first-round playoff loss to the Vegas Golden Knights.
Wheeler told reporters he didn't like the harsh assessment Bowness gave to the media after the Jets were eliminated with a 4-1 loss in Game 5 against the Knights.
"I'm so disappointed and disgusted right now, that's my thoughts," Bowness told reporters. "No pushback. But it's the same (stuff) we saw in February. It was. As soon as we were challenging for first place and teams were coming after us, we had no pushback. This series we had no pushback. Their better players were so much better than ours, it's not even close."
Wheeler believed the coach's criticism should have been kept inside the locker room.
"I think (Bowness) could have been honest with us," Wheeler said. "We could have had those discussions behind closed doors. So I didn't agree with how he handled himself after that game."
The move comes as Winnipeg looks to revamp its team, with Cheveldayoff saying the team is open to trading players like Scheifele and Connor Hellebuyck if the right deal comes along.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 30, 2023.
Vancouver’s Macklin Celebrini is expected to be the first-overall pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, following in the footsteps of another Vancouver star in Connor Bedard.
Macklin won’t be the first Celebrini drafted into the NHL, however, as the Vancouver Canucks took his older brother, Aiden Celebrini, with the 171st pick of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.
Celebrini is the son of former Canucks physiotherapist — and former professional soccer player — Rick Celebrini, so he’s very familiar with Rogers Arena. He’s also a right-side defenceman, making him the third right-side defenceman of the draft for the Canucks, as they clearly looked to address a weakness in their prospect pool.
The 6’1” defenceman put up 21 points in 47 games with the Brooks Bandits in the AJHL. While his point totals don’t jump off the page, Celebrini leans more heavily on the defensive side of the game.
“Celebrini was mostly used as a shutdown defenceman, a penalty killer, and a stabilizing presence at 5-on-5,” reads his scouting report from Elite Prospects. “Those are the roles he could fill at higher levels too, next with Boston University, and eventually, at the professional level if his development goes right.”
Still, a lack of points in junior hockey, particularly Junior A hockey, is rarely a good sign, as the puck skills that a player needs at the NHL level typically result in points at the junior level.
“I don’t think he’s a natural puck-mover, and whether he has enough offense for the pro game is a real question,” said The Athletic’s Corey Pronman.
That said, there are some clear positives to Celebrini’s game. He’s a plus skater, which he leverages defensively to close quickly on opponents and deny them time and space with the puck. His gap control against the rush is very good and he combines his mobility with a physical edge.
“Celebrini’s ability to read plays at a high level makes him one to watch,” said Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis. “He’s very aggressive, showing a willingness to lay out an opponent to gain access to the puck.”
That defensive game earned him a chance to play for Team Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge, where he tallied one assist in six games. Despite the lack of points, however, he showed that he can move the puck well.
“He’s physical, pinches hard on opponents, defends well in this tournament, and he moves the puck in controlled, clever ways, for the most part: passes into space, quick one-touches, and cross-ice feeds,” said Elite Prospects’ David St-Louis in one prospect report from the tournament.
While some serious questions exist about Celebrini’s offensive upside and his ability to move the puck at the NHL level, there are some positive puck-moving tendencies in his game. He defaults towards the safe play, but he’s also able to use his mobility to beat a forechecker and hit a teammate with a stretch pass.
“Every time he was out there, Celebrini made solid plays: difficult passes around two forecheckers, through the middle of the ice, after having evaded them with a giant, separating lateral step,” said St-Louis after another game from the World Junior-A Challenge.
Celebrini’s defensive game makes him a solid bet in the sixth round for the Canucks.
“When you draft Aiden, you are going to get a very steady defenceman, who can easily make a first pass,” said Bandits assistant coach Taylor Makin. “I think Aiden is a guy that can come in and play in a shutdown role against a lot of world-class players — he proved that at World Junior-A.”
Celebrini has committed to Boston University for the 2024-25 season, so it’s unclear where he’ll be playing next season. He might be returning to the AJHL for another year or might head to Boston early to join his brother, Macklin. Once he gets to Boston, he’ll compete for ice time on the right side with fellow Canucks prospect Tom Willander, the team’s first-round pick.
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NEW YORK — Caroline Wozniacki, a former No. 1-ranked tennis player and the 2018 Australian Open champion, announced Thursday that she is returning to competition three years after she retired to start a family.
The U.S. Tennis Association said it will grant Wozniacki a wild-card invitation to participate in the U.S. Open, which begins in New York on Aug. 28. She also is receiving a wild-card entry for a tournament in Montreal that begins earlier in August, she intends to play in the Australian Open next January and hopes to represent Denmark at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Another aim: She wants to show women that it is possible to combine motherhood with a career.
Wozniacki, who turns 33 in July, has not played an official match since losing to Ons Jabeur in the third round of the Australian Open in January 2020. Wozniacki revealed a month earlier that her appearance at Melbourne Park would be the last of her career.
She and her husband, former NBA player David Lee, have a 2-year-old daughter and an 8-month-old son.
“Over these past three years away from the game I got to make up for lost time with my family, I became a mother and now have two beautiful children I am so grateful for. But I still have goals I want to accomplish. I want to show my kids that you can pursue your dreams no matter your age or role,” Wozniacki wrote Thursday on Twitter. “We decided as a family it’s time. I’m coming back to play and I can’t wait!”
She was No. 1 in the WTA rankings for a total of 71 weeks — first reaching that spot in 2010 — and earned 30 titles, including the first in Grand Slam singles for a player from Denmark when she triumphed in Australia about 5 1/2 years ago.
Wozniacki twice was the runner-up at the U.S. Open, in 2009 to Kim Clijsters and in 2014 to good friend Serena Williams, and reached the semifinals at Flushing Meadows three other times.
She announced in October 2018 that she has rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune condition that can cause pain and swelling in the wrist and other joints.
“Am I nervous? Not really. I’m coming back to something I love. Yes, I’ll be nervous before a match; I’m OK with that. I’m great with that. Can I win the U.S. Open? I think so. Can I win the Australian Open? I think so,” Wozniacki wrote in a first-person piece for Vogue magazine posted Thursday. “That’s why I’m doing this. And I guess we’ll see what happens.”
She wrote about speaking to women “who gave up on their own dreams because they wanted to be with their families, but somewhere deep down they have this yearning to do something they’re passionate about.”
Wozniacki continued: “I want to show those women that maybe there’s a way. It’s certainly not easy to find the right balance — and I’m so lucky to have a supportive husband and supportive parents, and the help of a nanny — but I think it’s possible. I want to prove that to myself and to those women. You can have both: You can be thrilled with your family and with everything at home and still have a career — and be great at it.”
Wozniacki said she began hitting tennis balls last year and, after her father — who was her coach for much of her career — agreed she was striking shots well, she “knew" she had to return.
“How long will I be able to play at my highest level — a year, two years, three years? I don’t know. But I know that five years from now, when the kids are in school, it will be too late,” she wrote. “I’m not going to make any bold predictions — but if I didn’t believe in myself, I wouldn’t be doing this: I’m too competitive to just show up and not feel like I’m going to be one of the best players out there.”
___
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Just how good can Connor Bedard be in the NHL?
Connor Bedard is being billed as one of the greatest hockey prospects the sport has ever seen and Mackenzie Salmon helps explain why.
SportsPulse, USA TODAY
The first round of the NHL draft was a coronation for Connor Bedard, who claimed the No. 1 pick at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena after years of being touted as a generational prospect.
The Anaheim Ducks shook things up a little with the No. 2 pick by taking Swedish center Leo Carlsson over the University of Michigan's Adam Fantilli. David Reinbacher was the first defenseman taken, by the Montreal Canadiens at No. 5.
Talented Matvei Michkov, who's signed for three more years in the Kontinental Hockey League, dropped to seventh overall, one pick behind fellow Russian Dmitriy Simashev.
Here are the winners and losers from the first round of the NHL draft:
SCOUTING REPORTS: Sizing up the first-round picks
They get the most talented draft prospect since Connor McDavid, and Bedard will help their rebuild and be a good recruiting pitch for general manager Kyle Davidson during Saturday's start of free agency. He has an elite-level shot. Davidson used his second first-round pick on Oliver Moore, who's considered one of the best skaters in the draft.
Bedard will begin his NHL career on national television playing his idol, Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby. That, of course, is if he makes the opening day roster, as he says.
The Colorado Avalanche dealt Alex Newhook to the Canadiens on Tuesday to land the 31st-overall pick, but the first round was devoid of trade activity on draft day Wednesday. No one moved up or down. The St. Louis Blues had three first-round picks and used them all. That's a sign of how deep this year's draft is.
They get Michkov, who is considered the second-most-skilled player in the draft. They had met with him twice before the draft and decided to wait for his arrival, considering they're rebuilding. But when Michkov finally comes to North America, they'll have an exciting player to build around.
The Capitals are known for their Russian stars, led by Alex Ovechkin. Considering that, wouldn't Michkov have looked good in a Capitals jersey? But the Flyers took him one pick before Washington drafted at No. 8. The Capitals do get a very good prospect in right wing Ryan Leonard.
The Wolverines' Hobey Baker Award winner dropped to the Columbus Blue Jackets when the Ducks took Carlsson at No. 2 overall. He's close to where he played college and there are former Michigan players on the Blue Jackets, including Zach Werenski and Kent Johnson. Plus, he'll eventually get a chance to center Johnny Gaudreau.
Canadiens great Carey Price and Predators standout Pekka Rinne were asked to announce their teams' draft picks. Price had the viral moment of the draft when he couldn't remember Reinbacher's last name. Rinne had his chance but didn't get Tanner Molendyk's last name out right away.
Seven players from Swedish hockey leagues were taken in the first round, led by Carlsson. Six players were taken from the Western Hockey League, led by Bedard. There were four players taken from the U.S. National Team Development Program and four from Russia.
No league players were taken in the first round for the first time since 2008.
The Devils didn't have a first-round pick because they dealt it to the San Jose Sharks before the trade deadline for Timo Meier. Fitzgerald used the time wisely to get Meier signed to an eight-year, $70.4 million contract on draft day. He traded for Tyler Toffoli a day earlier to build on the team's breakthrough season.
The sons of former NHL players Radek Bonk (Oliver, Flyers) and Yanic Perreault (Gabriel, New York Rangers) went back-to-back at No. 22 and 23. But Denis Gauthier's son, Ethan, projected as a late first-round pick, had to wait until the second day of the draft. His brother, Julien, was drafted 21st overall in 2016.
Poile, the longtime Predators general manager who's retiring after 40 years in the league, had a nice farewell draft. He received a custom Gibson guitar and many shout-outs from other teams before they made their picks. The Dallas Stars' Nill was announced as the winner of the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year award.
The league and NHL Players' Association announced before the draft that the salary cap is going up only $1 million to $83.5 million. That will make GMs' jobs more difficult this summer.
Follow our live coverage of the 2023 NHL Draft
Corey Pronman details what to expect from the Toronto Maple Leafs’ new prospects and how they fit into the farm system. This page will be updated throughout the 2023 NHL Draft.
Complete coverage of the NHL Draft
May 20, 2005 | 5′ 10″ | 170 pounds
Tier: Has a chance to play games
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Background: Cowan’s stock trended up as the season went along. A second-round pick in his OHL Draft, Cowan became an important all-situations forward for a top OHL team this season in London.
Analysis: Cowan is a quick and competitive winger. He plays with a lot of energy and courage, not shying from getting to the net or engaging in after-the-whistle activities. Cowan has good skills and enough hockey sense to make you think he’ll score as a pro, but whether there’s enough pure offense in his game is a question, especially as a barely 5-foot-11 player. His scoring in the OHL postseason was encouraging though.
Thoughts on the pick: Cowan is a bit of a surprise at 28. He’s a player who was rising all season, played a big role on a top CHL club and I thought was a strong candidate to go in the second round. He skates and competes well and has offense. I didn’t see the high-end offense or athletic profile for 28. The Leafs obviously disagreed, and are getting a true competitor in Cowan. Time will tell if this works for them.
(Photo of Easton Cowan: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
Corey Pronman details what to expect from the prospects and how they fit into the farm system. This page will be updated throughout the 2023 NHL Draft.
Complete coverage of the 2023 NHL Draft.
The Athletic has live coverage of NHL Draft 2023
The Montreal Canadiens hold the No. 5 pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. Montreal has nine picks in total this year, including Nos. 69, 101, 110 which the team acquired from the Penguins, 128 (via the Golden Knights), 133, 144, 165, and 197.
Follow our live coverage of the 2023 NHL Draft
Corey Pronman details what to expect from the Montréal Canadiens’ new prospects and how they fit into the farm system. This page will be updated throughout the 2023 NHL Draft.
Complete coverage of the NHL Draft
5. David Reinbacher, RHD, KLOTEN (SWISS)
October 25, 2004 | 6′ 2″ | 194 pounds
Tier: Top of the lineup player
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Above NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Player comparable: Brett Pesce
Background: Reinbacher was a top-four defenseman for his NLA team this season. He had the second most productive draft season by a player in NLA history, behind Auston Matthews, and the best by a defenseman. He was a top player for Austria at the 2023 world juniors. He played regular minutes for Austria’s senior team at the Deutschland Cup. He played for Austria’s U20 team at the 2022 world juniors as well.
Analysis: Reinbacher is an excellent all-around defenseman. His mobility stands out immediately, especially as a 6-foot-2 right-shot defender. Reinbacher’s gap control is quite strong; he kills a lot of plays due to his feet. He can close on guys with his body too, and shows a high compete level to win back pucks. He’s very polished defensively for such a young player, and projects to shut down good NHL forwards. He’s able to both skate and pass pucks up ice. He’s got good offensive touch, showing solid hands and better vision. He’s not dynamic with the puck but showed this season at a young age he could make plays and move the puck like a pro. His sense is very good and he projects to be a power-play guy in the NHL. Reinbacher is a potential top-pair, all-situations NHL defenseman.
Thoughts on the pick: In Reinbacher the Canadiens get a true premium defense prospect, a player with top pair potential and a chance to become a star if he really hits. Reinbacher immediately becomes the best defense talent in the Habs organization, and a future blue line with him, Kaiden Guhle, Logan Mailloux, Lane Hutson and Justin Barron looks like potentially a very good group. Reinbacher is a mobile, competitive defenseman with size and offensive upside.
(Photo: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
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Another day, another trade in the NHL that does not involve the Toronto Maple Leafs. We all knew that Pierre-Luc Dubois wanted out of Winnipeg, but it was unclear where he end up come next season.
Toronto Maple Leaf fans are aware to trade rumours involving star players (cough cough… William Nylander,) but none like the the rumours that surrounded Dubois prior to the trade being completed.
Leafs fans remember Dubois from back in the 2020 play-in round, PLD was a menace and was one of the key reasons why the Blue Jackets eliminated the Leafs in that series.
That seems so long ago based on how things have gone for Dubois. The season after that he was traded to the Jets for Patrik Laine and Jack Roslovic, and now he is on the move yet again.
Today, the Jets finalized a trade with the Los Angeles Kings that would send the 25-year-old to LA in exchange for Gabriel Vilardi, Alex Iafallo, Rasmus Kupari and a 2024 second-round pick.
It was a move that was going to happen either sooner or later as Dubois told Winnipeg he was not going to re-sign with them and wanted out. It was assumed that he was going to end up in Montreal, however, that is not the case.
Prior to the trade, Dubois signed a eight-year, $68 million deal., therefore making it a sign and trade.
But how did each team do? I am going to give my opinion by grading this blockbuster trade.
Los Angeles Kings – Grade: A
I love this deal for the Kings, and it is exactly what they need. LA has been bounced from the first-round in consecutive seasons and it is clear that they are on the rise with players like Quinton Byfield, and Arthur Kaliyev becoming full-time NHL players.
But the Kings need more to help them get out of that first round, and Dubois does exactly that. First line center’s are hard to get and I don’t think that the Kings overpaid to get him. The former third-overall-pick back in 2016 had a career year putting up 63 points in 73 games this season. Trading Vilardi is tough as he had a breakout performance with 43 points this year, but it is not the worst thing in the world.
LA managed to keep their future in tact without having to give up a ton of prospects and picks to get a star player in this league. I think Dubois will fit in perfectly with the Kings, so I give it an A.
Winnipeg Jets – Grade: A-
Look, the Jets were in a tough situation. Dubois wanted out and was not going to sign an extension with Winnipeg, but the return they got for him is pretty darn good.
Winnipeg does not want to rebuild, therefore the assets they got make sense. Vilardi will be great for them. He’s only 23 and has plenty of upside, and I think his best years are ahead of him with the Jets.
Alex Iafallo is a great depth piece to get back in this trade. In 59 games this season, Iaffalo had 36 points. He is the most experienced player at the NHL level in this trade and has recorded 30 plus points in each of his six seasons with the Kings.
Rasmus Kupari is an interesting acquisition. At 23 years of age, he has yet to really break out in the NHL, but the potential is still there. In 66 games this season, Kupari recorded only15 points, but it was only his first full season in the league.
I mentioned the potential of Kupari still being there. He is a former first-round pick back in 2018, so he could still show what he has with more of an opportunity in Winnipeg
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The first domino has fallen for the Calgary Flames.
On Tuesday afternoon, new Flames general manager Craig Conroy consummated his first transaction as the chief hockey operations decision-maker, shipping the team’s leading scorer Tyler Toffoli to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for centre Yegor Sharangovich and the 80th overall pick at this year’s NHL Draft.
Toffoli had requested a trade following the Flames’ disappointing 2022-23 campaign – they missed the playoffs by two points – and can become an unrestricted free agent next summer. The 31-year-old native of Scarborough, Ont., is coming off a career-high 73-point season, his only full season in Calgary, while mostly playing alongside centre Elias Lindholm on the top line.
The 25-year-old Sharangovich, meanwhile, had a depth role with the Devils, producing 30 points, including 13 goals, over 75 games last season. Among the 13 Devils forwards who played 41 games, he was eighth in even-strength ice time per game but second in shorthanded ice time per game, trailing only captain Nico Hischier.
Conroy and the Flames are betting on Sharangovich (who is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights) producing more on a team where he’ll get more opportunity. Toffoli played in all situations, and his absence opens the door for Sharangovich to possibly play on a scoring line in his new colours.
“I think he’s going to get a real good opportunity with our guys, probably in the top-nine somewhere and a little more maybe power-play time, just to be put in a situation where he can be in offensive situations,” Conroy said in an interview with TSN.
“This year, he was more in defensive situations and still contributed. To be down a couple of minutes and maybe third-, fourth-line minutes and still produce the way he did is a positive. Now moving forward here with us, I think he’s going to get a little more ice time.”
With the Devils last season, Sharangovich played the bulk of his five-on-five minutes alongside Jesper Boqvist, Jack Hughes and Dawson Mercer. He was third on New Jersey in percentage of five-on-five shifts he started in the offensive zone (56.6), trailing only Hughes and Jesper Bratt. However, his on-ice goals-for percentage was 13th among those forwards (45.5). Conroy is banking on those underlying numbers to improve in this new situation.
“He can play all three forward positions, which is really versatile, so that helps,” Conroy said.
“He’s got a great shot. Good shot, size, he’s got good offensive instincts, so we thought bringing him in, obviously he didn’t get a lot of power-play time in New Jersey at times, but we feel like he’s a great penalty killer and, with our team, he’s going to get some power-play time, too, which will help him, too.”
For his part, Sharangovich is excited about the fresh start.
"Yegor, his wife Darya and baby boy Christian are extremely excited to join the Calgary Flames!” his agent Dan Milstein said in a statement to TSN.
“They look forward to settling in and embracing new community."
Despite Sharangovich’s upside, there is a real question as to whether the Flames maximized Toffoli’s value on the open market. While the forward had requested a trade, a return of a third-line forward and third-round pick is lower than many anticipated for a Stanley Cup-winning, bona fide top-six winger lauded for his leadership skills and who is coming off a career season.
Conroy implied that the market didn’t quite develop for Toffoli and said that the Devils and Flames had been working on the deal for five or six hours before it was finalized. The rookie GM mentioned asset management during his first press conference last month, but that did not ultimately work out for the Flames and Toffoli. They dealt a first-round pick, a mid-round pick, and prospect Emil Heineman for him on February 14, 2022. A year and a half later and coming off a significantly better season, Toffoli was ultimately dealt for a third-round pick and a third liner.
“The market was there, but wasn’t,” Conroy said.
“I think like everything, you’re watching the deals that are around. Everybody just feeling everybody out right now, but for us, we feel like we got a player we wanted, a younger guy at 25 that has proven he can score some goals, and then to get the third round pick, that’s really is what made it attractive to us.”
Toffoli was open to staying in Calgary, but ultimately the team and player did not see eye to eye on the parameters of an extension.
“I think he loved Calgary,” Conroy said.
“It was just one of those things where things weren’t working out maybe exactly [how] he wanted and the timeframe he wanted too. We didn’t do it for any other reason than we thought [it’s] a good deal for us.”
Lindholm as well fellow Flames centre Mikael Backlund and defenceman Noah Hanafin will become unrestricted free agents next year and have indicated in recent reports that they may not re-sign with Calgary. Conroy addressed Lindholm’s future on Tuesday as well.
“We’re still just talking with Elias right now and that’s kind of where we’re at,” he said.
“Nothing really to report right at this moment.”
Connor McDavid walked away from Monday's NHL Awards with two new trophies, bringing his total from his sensational 2022-23 season to four. According to one voter though, he didn’t deserve to even be a finalist for one.
After the Edmonton Oilers captain received the Hart Trophy for league MVP, the voting totals were made public, and one person — specifically Seth Rorabaugh of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review — thought McDavid not only didn’t deserve the title, but that he deserved fifth.
In some seasons, the race for the Hart is so tight that no one truly knows how it will go. That wasn't the case this year. McDavid put up a career-high 153 points — a total not seen since Mario Lemieux scored 160 points 30 years ago — and led the league with 64 goals, the most since Alex Ovechkin scored 65 in the 2007-08 season.
For 82 games this regular season, no one could even come close to what McDavid was doing and every single voter but one thought he was deserving of the Hart title. One hundred and ninety-five people put the sensational center first on their ballot, but Rorabaugh decided not to.
Instead, he gave standout Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak his first-place vote. The 27-year-old had a terrific season in his own right, scoring 61 goals and adding 52 assists, but Pastrnak himself probably would have even voted for McDavid.
It's not the first time Rorabaugh has made waves with his rogue voting. He curiously left McDavid and Auston Matthews, last year's Hart Trophy winner, off his ballot entirely in 2021-22.
Along with the almost-unanimous Hart Trophy, McDavid also walked away with the Ted Lindsay Award for the league’s most outstanding player, as voted by the players. In addition to the two awards on Monday, McDavid earned the Art Ross Trophy for leading the league in points, and the Rocket Richard Trophy for leading it in goals scored.
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Connor McDavid walked away from Monday's NHL Awards with two new trophies, bringing his total from his sensational 2022-23 season to four. According to one voter though, he didn’t deserve to even be a finalist for one.
After the Edmonton Oilers captain received the Hart Trophy for league MVP, the voting totals were made public, and one person thought McDavid not only didn’t deserve the title, but that he deserved fifth.
In some seasons, the race for the Hart is so tight that no one truly knows how it will go. That wasn't the case this year. McDavid put up a career-high 153 points — a total not seen since Mario Lemieux scored 160 points 30 years ago — and led the league with 64 goals, the most since Alex Ovechkin scored 65 in the 2007-08 season.
For 82 games this regular season, no one could even come close to what McDavid was doing and every single voter but one thought he was deserving of the Hart title. One hundred and ninety-five people put the sensational center first on their ballot, but one person decided not to.
That lone dissenter gave standout Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak their first-place vote. The 27-year-old had a terrific season in his own right, scoring 61 goals and adding 52 assists, but Pastrnak himself probably would have even voted for McDavid.
There is a strong and stubborn contrarian in the Professional Hockey Writers Association, that’s all we’ll say.
Along with the almost-unanimous Hart Trophy, McDavid also walked away with the Ted Lindsay Award for the league’s most outstanding player, as voted by the players. In addition to the two awards on Monday, McDavid earned the Art Ross Trophy for leading the league in points, and the Rocket Richard Trophy for leading it in goals scored.
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Just how good can Connor Bedard be in the NHL?
Connor Bedard is being billed as one of the greatest hockey prospects the sport has ever seen and Mackenzie Salmon helps explain why.
SportsPulse, USA TODAY
The Chicago Blackhawks made a splash in the trade market on Monday, two days before they will make a splash at the NHL draft.
The Blackhawks acquired veteran forward Taylor Hall and pending unrestricted free agent forward Nick Foligno from the Boston Bruins in exchange for defensemen Ian Mitchell, 24, and Alec Regula, 22, who are both pending restricted free agents.
"We are thrilled to be adding players of Nick's and Taylor's caliber to our organization," Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson said in a statement. "The two bring a wealth of experience and leadership that will strengthen not only our forward group, but aid in the development of our entire roster."
NHL MOCK DRAFT: Who follows Connor Bedard in the first round?
Breaking down the trade:
The question after the Blackhawks won the draft lottery was who consensus No. 1 pick Connor Bedard would play with because the team was stripped down after moves in the 2022 offseason and near the trade deadline. Hall is an answer. He is a former No. 1 pick (2010 with the Edmonton Oilers) and a former Hart Trophy winner who will be able to mentor Bedard on what to expect at the NHL level. Hall was limited to 16 goals in 61 games last season, but those numbers should pick up alongside Bedard. The Blackhawks can negotiate with Foligno before he hits free agency on Saturday. He would give the team grit if he signs.
The two players they received aren't the story. It's the cap space. Hall has a $6 million cap hit over the next two seasons. With that gone, they have nearly $11 million in cap space as they try to find the money to re-sign pending UFA forward Tyler Bertuzzi, who was acquired at the trade deadline. Bertuzzi tied for the team playoff lead with 10 points as the record-setting Bruins were upset in the first round by the Florida Panthers. Fellow trade deadline acquisitions defenseman Dmitry Orlov and forward Garnet Hathaway also are pending UFAs, and the Bruins need money to re-sign captain Patrice Bergeron if he decides to return.
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Actor and Wrexham owner Ryan Reynolds waves to fans ahead of a match at the Racecourse Ground Stadium, in Wrexham, north Wales, on April 22.OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images
After soccer, Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney are setting their sights on Formula One.
F1 team Alpine has secured a €200-million ($218-million) investment from a group of investors that includes the actors.
French automotive company Renault Group – Alpine’s parent company – said Monday that the group has acquired a 24 per cent stake in the team. It includes Otro Capital, RedBird Capital Partners and Maximum Effort Investments, which is led by Reynolds.
“The transaction values Alpine Racing Ltd. around $900-million following this investment,” the team said in a statement. “It will accelerate Alpine’s growth plans and sporting ambitions in F1.”
Other investors include actor Michael B. Jordan.
Reynolds and McElhenney completed a $2.5-million takeover of Welsh soccer team Wrexham in November 2020. The club was thrust into the global spotlight because of its A-list owners and secured promotion to the fourth tier of English soccer this season.
With drivers Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon, Alpine stands fifth in the constructors’ championship. The team was fourth in the constructors’ standings last year and has been struggling in its goal to close the gap on Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes this season.
Renault said the investors have an expertise in the sports industry, having previously worked with the Dallas Cowboys, Fenway Sports Group, the NFL, French soccer club Toulouse and Wrexham.
Renault said Alpine Racing SAS, the entity manufacturing F1 engines in France, is not part of the transaction and will remain entirely owned by Renault Group.
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Ouellette scores three touchdowns as Argonauts pound Elks Sportsnet.caView Full Coverage on Google News
On a stormy afternoon at Baltusrol Golf Club, it was Ruoning Yin lifting the trophy on the 18th green, victorious in the 69th playing of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship. The day began with Ireland's Leona Maguire leading the way at 7-under, but Jenny Shin quickly added her name to the conversation, making birdie on the first after an unbelievable second shot from the trees that she hit to three feet to tie the lead. Things were quiet until Maguire bogeyed the par-4, 6th hole to drop back to 6-under and Xiyu Lin began to charge, going out in 30 after recording five birdies on the front nine to move to 7-under and share the lead with Shin. Play was suspended at 1:02 p.m. for 1 hour and 52 minutes, resuming at 2:54 p.m.
Shin and Maguire both bogeyed the par-4, 8th hole after the restart, dropping to 6-under and 5-under, respectively, giving Lin the solo lead. A slew of players were in a share of second at that point, including Lin's groupmate and Mizuho Americas Open winner Rose Zhang, who birdied the par-4, 11th to get to 6-under, and Spain's Carlota Ciganda, who was charging late, working on a 7-under round that would tie the lowest single-round score of the week. But a watery tee shot on the 18th was ultimately the end of the line for the Spaniard, whose 64 just wasn't enough to capture her first major title.
Zhang dropped a shot on the 13th, bouncing back straight away with a birdie on 14 to remain one back of the lead at 6-under, and then hit her second shot tight on 15. But Zhang left her birdie try on the edge, tapping in for par to remain in a five-way tie for second with three holes to play. She would ultimately bogey the par-3, 16th hole after she was unable to get up and down for par out of the bunker, parring in, even with a tee shot in the water on 18, to fire a 4-under, 67 and record her first top-10 finish in a major championship.
While she was in the conversation early in the week, it was still a surprise to see Yin quietly climbing up the leaderboard late on Sunday. She birdied No. 7 early to move to 5-under and two back of the lead, then turned on the heat in the middle of the back nine, recording back-to-back birdies on holes 13 and 14 to tie her good friend and landlord, Lin, at 7-under. Japan's Yuka Saso was another player who put the pedal down late, making four birdies in six holes, including one on the par-4, 15th to move into a three-way share of the lead with Lin and Yin.
Lin hit her drive in the water on the par-5, 18th, making a bogey to drop back to 6-under and put herself out of it. Meanwhile, Yin's putt for birdie on the par-5, 17th to move to 8-under just eked by and after Saso made birdie on the 18th with an impressive shot from the bunker to move to 7-under, Yin came to the 18th hole needing a birdie to win. She hit it in the right rough off the tee, laid up on her second shot and left herself a birdie try inside 15 feet for the victory. Just like she did at the DIO Implant LA Open earlier this season, Yin poured it into the heart to win her second LPGA Tour title and first major championship by one shot.
"When I was on the 18th tee and I saw the leaderboard, and I know I have one-shot lead, but after the tee shot, I saw Yuka make an incredible birdie here, and I know I have to make birdie at this hole to win the championship. I'm glad I did it," said Yin. "Today, I didn't think too much. My goal was just no three-putts because the last couple days I made five bogeys, and four of them is made by three-putts. Today just no three-putts."
CALGARY — The Saskatchewan Roughriders came away with a 29-26 overtime victory over the Calgary Stampeders on Saturday night, capping a thrilling game from McMahon Stadium.
Rene Parades kicked a 53-yard field goal with 10 seconds left in the fourth quarter to tie the game and force overtime. The two teams traded field goals in the extra frame, then went ahead on a Brett Lauther 20-yard field goal, before Nic Marshall intercepted Jake Maier in the end zone on the next drive to seal the Riders’ victory.
Jamal Morrow had an excellent game on the ground, finishing with 22 carries and 133 yards rushing.
Trevor Harris finished 20-30 for 273 yards and a touchdown.
Maier finished 18-35 for 288 yards and a touchdown but threw three interceptions.
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Rene Paredes was clutch when the Stamps needed him, with a 53-yard field goal to send the game to overtime (Dave Chidley/CFL.ca)
Parades put the Stamps in front on their first drive, nailing a 47-yard field goal to give the Stamps the early three point lead, 2:14 into the game.
Harris was taken down by Derek Wiggan on the Riders’ first snap of the game. It was the veteran defender’s first sack of the 2023 season.
Morrow fumbled the ball on the Riders’ second possession, but after a review it was determined his knee was down before the ball came out. Harris also fumbled the ball later in the drive, but after it bounced around on the field between both teams, Jake Wieneke recovered the loose rock.
Lauther tied the game late in the first quarter with an 18-yard field goal of his own, but Parades put the Stamps ahead again at 3:16 of the second quarter with a 46-yard field goal.
The Riders were keeping the ball on the ground in the first half, with Morrow amassing 87 yards rushing by the break.
Mario Alford showed his speed on a Riders’ punt return, getting tripped up close to midfield before he could pull away from the Stamps defenders.
Calgary got to Harris three times in the first half, with Wiggan, Mike Rose and James Vaughters each recording a sack.
Former Rider Cameron Judge picked off Harris early in the third quarter, but the Stamps gave it right back on the ensuing drive when Rolan Milligan Jr. picked off Maier and took it 56 yards to the one-yard line. Shea Patterson would punch it in from there on a short yardage play to put the Riders up by three.
The Stamps finally found the end zone in the third quarter when Maier connected with Malik Henry for a 52-yard touchdown, putting them in front 13-9.
The Riders punted the ball 90 yards through the end zone late in the third quarter, which would cut their deficit to just three, making it a 13-10 game.
Marshall almost came away with an interception late in the third quarter, but couldn’t get both hands on the ball.
The Riders retook the lead on the final play of the third quarter after Harris connected with Tevin Jones for a touchdown, giving the Riders a 17-13 lead after Lauther added the extra point.
Calgary looked to take the lead, but a Maier touchdown pass attempt to Cole Tucker was bobbled and picked up by Larry Dean in the end zone after the ball was kicked up accidentally by his teammate, C.J. Reavis.
On the ensuing drive, the Riders extended their lead after a 60-yard play by Shawn Bane Jr. brought the Green and White to the one-yard line. From there, Patterson took it in for his second touchdown of the game, giving the Riders a 23-13 lead. Morrow added a six-yard run on the same drive that put him at 100 yards rushing in the game. The Riders attempted a two-point conversion but didn’t score.
With around five minutes to go in the game, Maier ran the ball in himself for the touchdown, with Paredes’ convert making it a three-point game. Paredes strode back onto the field with 11 seconds left in regulation and drilled the clutch field goal, setting the stage for the Riders’ dramatic overtime win.
With the win, Riders’ head coach Craig Dickenson is now 2-6 all-time as a head coach against his brother, Dave, the Stamps’ head coach and general manager.
Albert Awachie, Frankie Hickson, Juwan Brescacin, DeMarcus Christmas, Rodney Clemons and Jayden Dalke all sat this game out for the Riders due to injury.
Calgary’s leading receiver Reggie Begelton also sat this game out after suffering a rib injury in last week’s game against the REDBLACKS. He’s been moved to the six-game injured list.
The Stamps and the Riders both head into a bye week, as Week 4 of the CFL season features just three games. The Riders will host the Edmonton Elks on Thurs. July 6, while the Stamps will travel to Winnipeg to face the Blue Bombers on Fri. July 7.
