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Canadiens’ off-season spending spree brings much-needed depth and balance – Sportsnet.ca

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MONTREAL — There it is, shining in all of its glory on the Montreal Canadiens’ balance sheet: a big fat zero.

Zero, as in zero cap space. Not a number closer to 10, which is the amount the Canadiens carried into three consecutive failed seasons, but zero.

That would be a problem for most other teams—especially now, with the global pandemic snuffing out NHL revenues for the foreseeable future—but not for this one. For this one, it’s the result of a monumental transformation since the middle of March.

It’s also a sign that Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin is betting on this group with everything he’s got.

With backup Jake Allen and his $4.35-million salary on the books, the Canadiens’ have secured the most expensive goaltending tandem in the league. Damned if it isn’t the best one.

Joel Edmundson and Alexander Romanov have bolstered their defence for close to $5 million. And there’s nearly $10 million going to newly-signed top-six forwards Josh Anderson and Tyler Toffoli.

Here’s the kicker: there isn’t much maneuvering for Bergevin to do from here to the start of next season, whenever that will be. He’s got a full NHL roster signed, a full AHL roster signed, and both groups are much-improved on paper. And he can make some minor tweaks to free up the $1.5-$2 million he said he’d like to have as a cushion for trade deadline additions, which should be easier to make with 14 total in the next draft—six in the first three rounds—and with one of the deepest prospect pools in the league to dish from.

So you could say the Canadiens are about as well-positioned today as they had a chance of being before this off-season got underway.

Zero has never looked better in this context.

“They look like a legitimate playoff team to me,” texted one Western Conference executive just moments after the Canadiens announced Toffoli’s four-year, $17-million contract on Monday.

He liked the deal, and we think it has promise too. Especially at $4.25 million per season.

We’re talking about a 28-year-old pure shooter. A reliable right-hander who can help the five-on-five numbers as much as he can the power play.

Toffoli’s a four-time 20 goal-scorer who topped out at 31 in 2016. He’s scored 145 goals at this level, with just over 22 per cent of them coming on the power play. And with a 155 assists, it’s fair to say he’s an underrated playmaker.

“He’s very, very good at finding open space,” texted former Canadien Nate Thompson, who played with Toffoli with the Los Angeles Kings from 2017-19.

“He’s also a lot more gritty than people think,” Thompson added.

We got a glimpse of Toffoli’s edge with the Vancouver Canucks this past summer, when he played a hand in their impressive run to within one win of the Western Conference final. He was a threat nearly every time he hit the ice.

And if you’re wondering what Toffoli brings off of it, Thompson saying, “He’s a great teammate and the guys will love him,” seems reassuring.

Max Domi, who was traded from the Canadiens to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Anderson last week, said something similar about his former teammate with the OHL’s London Knights.

“I’m so excited for Montreal to have a guy like him,” Domi said about the six-foot-three, 222-pound Anderson. “It’s definitely something that they haven’t had for a long time, and Josh is a guy that there’s very few guys that can do what he does. He can go out and be a force in all aspects of the game. He’s obviously a power forward on the wing. He can skate very well for his size, a big body. He’s the kind of player that will come up big for you in games where you need some physical presence, and also a guy that can put the puck in the back of the net.”

Anderson had an injury-plagued 2019-20 season and scored just one goal and four points in 26 games. But one he’s only one year removed from scoring 27 goals, and he says he feels healthy and primed to deliver.

At 26, Anderson still has the upside to score 30, and the Canadiens hope he’s able to at least be close to the number on multiple occasions over the duration of his new seven-year contract with the team.

When you look at what he and Toffoli could bring, it’s easy to recognize how the dynamic up front changes. It’s fair to say neither of them are bona fide top-liners, but their additions help give the Canadiens three second lines and push some players from what was a decent third down to the fourth.

Edmundson and Romanov joining the defence core will have a similar effect.

Edmundson is a no. 5 defenceman who’s capable of playing up the lineup, and Romanov’s a future no. 2 who’s being afforded time to develop on the third pair thanks to the depth the Canadiens now have at the position. The former is a six-foot-four veteran with 337 games of NHL experience under his belt, and the latter is five-foot-11 rookie who plays big.

They round out a group that has Shea Weber, Jeff Petry and Ben Chiarot at the top end—three oversized players who play with bite.

“That whole defensive group is not going to be fun to play against,” texted the Western Conference executive.

And then you’ve got Carey Price and Allen behind them.

It’s a full squad. A deeper, stronger and better squad, with every penny invested. Bergevin should have zero regrets about that.

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

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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.

___

AP cricket:

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

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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.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

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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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