Sports

As 11 NHL teams join the Edmonton Oilers bubble, a vital ingredient is still missing: 9 Things – Edmonton Journal

Published

4 years ago

July 26, 2020

4. A lot of bleeding hearts have written me over the past month complaining about the Oilers pursuit of the HUB. A lot of them have also been anti-arena types. Well all I can say, to borrow a phrase, is “go ahead and bleed”. In the middle of a recession and a global pandemic this tournament will bring in approximately $40m in desperately needed economic stimulus and 1,500 jobs to Edmonton. And none of it would have happened had Daryl Katz not built Ice District and then lobbied the NHL hard to come here this Summer. Tell me again how all this isn’t great for this town.

3. Two broader thoughts for you from the Colby Cave Memorial scrimmage Saturday on the lines. It is clear the unit of Connor McDavid–Ryan Nugent-Hopkins–Zack Kassian works. But the Leon Draisaitl–Kailer Yamamoto–Tyler Ennis trio clicked as well. Ennis had a strong, gritty performance and by most accounts has out-performed Andreas Athanasiou for that 2nd line spot. But I also think AA has the edge for the spot with Sheahan and Josh Archibald on the 3rd line.Jujhar Khaira looked more comfortable between Neal and Alex Chiasson. I like that threesome in a playoff series. They’re heavy but with some skill. I believe this is how Tippett will start Game 1.

2. The omission of any reporter not directly affiliated with the NHL from the bubbles in Edmonton and Toronto is troubling. As fans, we shouldn’t like this. Journalists have an obligation to the public that is in our (fans) best interest. It is written right into the codes they abide by. They place the public’s interests ahead of commercial, political and personal interests. They empower viewers, listeners and readers to make informed decisions for themselves. They do not tell people what to believe or how to feel. The fewer of those voices that are heard, the more two-dimensional the understanding of the truth becomes. I get the logistical challenge during a pandemic. But generations of reporters have employed pools to cover events where circumstances did not allow (like war time, for example). And never has the composition of that pool been at the whim or leisure of the subject. Not the best look, NHL.

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Red Wings sign Moritz Seider to 7-year deal worth nearly $60M

Published

2 hours ago

September 19, 2024

Anne Joseph

DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Red Wings made another investment this week in a young standout, signing Moritz Seider to a seven-year contract worth nearly $60 million.

The Red Wings announced the move with the 23-year-old German defenseman on Thursday, three days after keeping 22-year-old forward Lucas Raymond with a $64.6 million, eight-year deal.

Detroit drafted Seider with the No. 6 pick overall eight years ago and he has proven to be a great pick. He has 134 career points, the most by a defenseman drafted in 2019.

He was the NHL’s only player to have at least 200 hits and block 200-plus shots last season, when he scored a career-high nine goals and had 42 points for the second straight year.

Seider won the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie in 2022 after he had a career-high 50 points.

Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman is banking on Seider, whose contract will count $8.55 million annually against the cap, and Raymond to turn a rebuilding team into a winner.

Detroit has failed to make the playoffs in eight straight seasons, the longest postseason drought in franchise history.

The Red Wings, who won four Stanley Cups from 1997 to 2008, have been reeling since their run of 25 straight postseasons ended in 2016.

Detroit was 41-32-9 last season and finished with a winning record for the first time since its last playoff appearance.

Yzerman re-signed Patrick Kane last summer and signed some free agents, including Vladimir Tarasenko to a two-year contract worth $9.5 million after he helped the Florida Panthers hoist the Cup.

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Vancouver Canucks star goalie Thatcher Demko working through rare muscle injury

Published

3 hours ago

September 19, 2024

Anne Joseph

PENTICTON, B.C. – Vancouver Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko says he’s been working his way back from a rare lower-body muscle injury since being sidelined in last season’s playoffs.

The 28-year-old all star says the rehabilitation process has been frustrating, but he has made good progress in recent weeks and is confident he’ll be able to return to playing.

He says he and his medical team have spent the last few months talking to specialists around the world, and have not found a single other hockey player who has dealt with the same injury.

Demko missed several weeks of the last season with a knee ailment and played just one game in Vancouver’s playoff run last spring before going down with the current injury.

He was not on the ice with his teammates as the Canucks started training camp in Penticton, B.C., on Thursday, but skated on his own before the sessions began.

Demko posted a 35-14-2 record with a .918 percentage, a 2.45 goals-against average and five shutouts for Vancouver last season.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.

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Arch Manning to get first start for No. 1 Texas as Ewers continues recovery from abdomen strain

Published

4 hours ago

September 19, 2024

Anne Joseph

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — No. 1 Texas will start Arch Manning at quarterback Saturday against Louisiana-Monroe while regular starter Quinn Ewers continues to recover from a strained muscle in his abdomen, coach Steve Sarkisian said Thursday.

It will be the first career start for Manning, a second year freshman. He relieved Ewers in the second quarter last week against UTSA, and passed for four touchdowns and ran for another in a 56-7 Texas victory.

Manning is the son of Cooper Manning, the grandson of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning, and the nephew of Super Bowl-winning QBs Peyton and Eli Manning.

Ewers missed several games over the previous two seasons with shoulder and sternum injuries.

The Longhorns are No. 1 for the first time since 2008 and Saturday’s matchup with the Warhawks is Texas’ last game before the program starts its first SEC schedule against Mississippi State on Sept. 28.

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