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NHL Rumors: Maple Leafs, Oilers, Ducks, Coyotes, Islanders, More – The Hockey Writers

Published

4 years ago

March 15, 2021

In today’s NHL rumors rundown, there are questions about the stability of the Toronto Maple Leafs goaltending heading into the playoffs. But, does that mean the team will look to try and make an upgrade before the trade deadline? Meanwhile, the Anaheim Ducks have potentially added another name to the list of possible trade assets, the Arizona Coyotes could have an interesting name available and the New York Islanders may be looking for a replacement for Anders Lee. Finally, could the Edmonton Oilers try and make room for Evan Bouchard?

Don’t Expect a Maple Leafs Goaltending Change

James Mirtle points out in a recent Athletic article that there is some concern in Toronto when it comes to the goaltending and questions about whether or not Andersen — who rates out as having the second weakest playoff performance among goalies who have regularly started in the postseason since 2016-17 — is the man for the job this season. At the same time, Jack Campbell has proven to be a remarkably effective backup, but his health issues are a concern.

Frederik Andersen, Toronto Maple Leafs (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

Does that mean the Leafs might look at a goaltender before the trade deadline? The answer is probably no.

Mirtle writes:

Due to cap considerations, any move to add a starter would likely necessitate sending Andersen the other way. But can the Leafs survive for two weeks without a starter? And would the risk be worth the potential reward?

At this point, I would be very surprised to see Dubas pull the trigger on something like that.

source – ‘Mirtle: What’s wrong with the Maple Leafs? And how much of it is on Frederik Andersen?’ – James Mirtle – The Athletic – 03/15/2021

Mirtle writes the Leafs are going to hope Campbell returns and if effective but also that Andersen can boost his previous playoff numbers.

Ducks Taking Calls on Troy Terry

The latest name to watch out of Anaheim is that of forward Troy Terry. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that sources say the Ducks are evaluating whether or not to trade the 23-year-old forward. Friedman suggests talk is that Terry could stand to benefit from a change of scenery and that while the Ducks aren’t shopping him, they are listening to offers.

An excellent college and AHL player, Terry hasn’t been able to transition that success over to the NHL. He’s often been a healthy scratch by the Ducks this season and has seven points through 22 games.

Oilers Won’t Trade Barrie to Make Room for Bouchard

There’s a bit of an outcry in Edmonton that defenseman Evan Bouchard isn’t getting much playing time. Some are suggesting the Oilers consider selling high on Tyson Barrie before the trade deadline and let Bouchard take his slot. Don’t expect that to happen.

Tyson Barrie Edmonton Oilers — Tyson Barrie, Edmonton Oilers (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)

Allan Mitchell of The Athletic writes:

Bouchard is going to play before the end of the season and he’ll be needed before the playoffs are over. Trading Barrie to make room for Bouchard runs counter with the job at hand: Making the playoffs and going as deep as possible.

source – ‘Lowetide: How will Oilers GM Ken Holland make room in the lineup for Evan Bouchard?- Allan Mitchell – The Athletic – 03/15.2021

The Oilers do have more right-handed defensemen than they can actively play each night and it is possible Barrie moves on at the end of the season. That said, the Oilers want and need Barrie for their playoff push. GM Ken Holland is not about to trade him.

Clayton Keller’s Name Out There More Than People Think

According to Jimmy Murphy pf Florida Hockey Now, the Arizona Coyotes could hold a fire sale at the trade deadline and Keller’s name is out there. A source told Murphy the forward’s name has come up “more than you’d expect” but he stressed GM Bill Armstrong isn’t shopping the 22-year-old forward.

If Keller is dealt, it might not be during the season but something the Coyotes look at in the offseason around the NHL Draft.

Could Islanders Look at Taylor Hall?

With news that Anders Lee is on LTIR and the Islanders potentially needing to fill his spot with a top-line left-winger, connections are being made to Taylor Hall out of the Buffalo Sabres organization. It’s not a given that Hall is moved, but he could be one of the top left wing trade options at this year’s deadline.

Taylor Hall Buffalo Sabres — Taylor, Hall Buffalo Sabres (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

While he’s not the same kind of player as Lee, Arthur Staple of The Athletic sees Hall as a natural fit for the Islanders. He writes:

He’s not having a great year, with two goals and 16 points, but he’s the most skilled winger who could be on the market. He has a history with Jordan Eberle, and while he’s not a Lee-style player, few are. Hall also has an expiring contract and could be a pure rental, though a costly one — if the Islanders announce Lee is out long-term, no one’s going to run to help Lamoriello.

source – ‘What Anders Lee’s injury means for the Islanders at the trade deadline: Targets, cap space and more’ – Arthur Staple – The Athletic – 03/15.2021

As for what the return might be, Staple suggests that if the Islanders could somehow get the Sabres to take Thomas Hickey along with a first- or second-round pick (or two seconds), that could be a good deal for New York.

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Sports

Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.

“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”

Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.

The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.

Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.

“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”

Pakistan hosted last year’s Asia Cup but all India games were played in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model for the tournament. Only months later Pakistan did travel to India for the 50-over World Cup.

Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.

“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”

The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.

“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”

Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.

“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.

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AP cricket:

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Dabrowski, Routlife into WTA doubles final with win over Melichar-Martinez, Perez

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.

Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.

The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.

The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.

Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.

Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.

The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.

Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.

There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.

Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.

But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.

The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”

The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.

Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.

Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.

Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.

Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.

“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”

“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.

Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.

Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.

The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.

Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.

Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.

Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.

Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.

Canada Roster

Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).

Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).

Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).

Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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