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Countdown To TradeCentre: All eyes on the Toronto Maple Leafs net with Andersen's status uncertain – TSN

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The National Hockey League’s Trade Deadline is on Monday, Feb. 24, and teams will be making decisions on whether to buy or sell and decide which players can make the biggest difference and hold the greatest value. Check out the latest trade rumours and speculation from around the NHL beat.

Needing Help

Michael Hutchinson allowed three goals on 10 shots in relief of the injured Frederik Andersen as the Toronto Maple Leafs blew a 3-1 lead in the third period of Monday’s loss to the Florida Panthers.

Following the performance, Jonas Siegel of The Athletic wrote that the Maple Leafs must look into upgrading their goaltending – whether or not Andersen misses time. 

Hutchinson dropped to 4-8-1 on the season with Monday’s loss with an .886 save percentage and a 3.62 goals-against average and Siegel writes that the team can’t rely on him to help their playoff push, either while covering for Andersen or in spot starts. 

Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe offered a defence of Hutchinson’s performance after Monday’s collapse, but declined to answer when asked about his confidence level in the 29-year-old should Andersen miss time.

“Obviously it didn’t go very well,” Keefe said. “But it’s a challenging scenario. He comes in cold when he’s not expected to play and goes into the second period [where] I don’t know that he [faced] any [good] shots. That’s a tough ask of any goalie. I’d take a lot more from games he’s played previously for us than tonight.”

The Maple Leafs are expected to have an update on Andersen Tuesday, with head coach Sheldon Keefe sounding optimistic about the goaltender’s status after Monday’s game.

“He’s feeling better, from what I’m told,” Keefe said. “They’re just going to have to give him the night and see how he is in the morning. He went through that whole [concussion protocol] process. My understanding is the results were positive on that, but given the nature of the injury, [the medical staff wanted] to take caution. We’ll give him tonight and see how he is in the morning.”

Siegel believes it will be close as to whether the Leafs will make the playoffs with Andersen, while any prolonged absence without an upgrade behind him could leave the Leafs on the outside looking in. He notes it may prove costly to acquire help, but asks whether the team can afford not to. He adds the position has been a weakness for the Leafs throughout the season with No. 3 option Kasimir Kaskisuo owning just one career NHL start.

Two goaltenders are currently listed on the TSN Trade Bait board in Alexander Georgiev of the New York Rangers (No. 17) and Robin Lehner of the Chicago Blackhawks (No. 23).  TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reported last month that the Maple Leafs were among the teams to have inquired on Georgiev, who has a 12-10-1 record with a .909 save percentage this season.
 

The Way Forward

With the Los Angeles Kings sitting last in the Western Conference with an aging core, forward Dustin Brown admitted to the Los Angeles Times that the team will need to start to finding young stars in order to be competitive moving forward.

“Eventually that’s the questions that need to be answered internally,” Brown said. “I want to keep playing as long as I can, but eventually there’s going to have to be guys that are going to be the next crop of guys that are going to be able to take this team to the next level.”

Helene Elliott of The Times points out that Tanner Pearson and Tyler Toffoli were once seen as key to the Kings future, but Pearson was dealt last fall and Toffoli now sits at No. 7 on the TSN Trade Bait board.

“I want to keep playing as long as I can but I want to be on a good team as well, so it’s finding ways to help the younger guys get better,” added Brown, who’s signed for two more seasons at a $5.875 million cap hit. “The big thing is that next group coming. None of us guys is getting any younger. …We need some guys to start taking the team over, eventually.”

In addition to Toffoli, Kings defenceman Alec Martinez is listed at No. 2 on the Trade Bait board, while forward Kyle Clifford checks in at No. 29. 

Los Angeles was ranked 30th in TSN Hockey’s Core 4 Under-24 ranking in November.
 

Trade Bait

TSN Senior Hockey Reporter Frank Seravalli reported Monday the Winnipeg Jets and Dustin Byfuglien are working toward a mutual contract termination, which will free the Jets to use their $7.6 million in salary cap space previously occupied by the defenceman.

The Jets have been in search of defensive help ahead of the deadline and now it appears will soon have the cap space to help move a deal along. The Jets, however, are believed to be looking for a defenceman with term on his deal with Paul Maurice making the following comments last week.

Trade Bait: Byfuglien, Jets heading toward mutual split

The season long impasse between Dustin Byfuglien and the Jets looks to be heading towards a resolution, as both sides are working toward a mutual contract termination, according to sources. The split would make Byfuglien an unrestricted free agent and give Winnipeg some much-needed cap clarity as the trade deadline nears. Frank Seravalli has more.

“Paying a high price for a rental, I don’t know that that makes a whole lot of sense for us,” Maurice told reporters on Friday. “If we can get a guy that can come in and play maybe more than the rest of the season, you’d think about doing that.”

Four defenceman signed through at least next season were listed on the updated TSN Trade Bait board on Monday – Alec Martinez, Shayne Gostisbehere, Matt Dumba and Jeff Petry. 

Martinez, listed at No. 2 on the Trade Bait board, is signed through next season at a $4 million cap hit. He has one goal and eight points in 35 games with the Kings this season while averaging 21:27 of ice time. 

Gostisbehere, listed at No. 8, is closing on a return to the Philadelphia Flyers lineup after undergoing knee surgery last month. The 26-year-old, who’s signed through 2022-23 at a $4.5 million cap hit, has five goals and 12 points in 40 games this season.

Dumba carries the highest cap hit of the group, signed at a $6 million cap hit through 2022-23. Ranked at No. 11 on the board, he has three goals and 16 points in 25 games this season.

Petry is listed at No. 20 on the Trade Bait board with one season left on his contract with the Montreal Canadiens at a $5.5 million cap hit. The 32-year-old has seven goals and 33 points in 54 games this season while averaging 23:20 of ice time.

See the full Trade Bait board here.

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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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November 8, 2024

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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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November 8, 2024

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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.

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Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

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November 8, 2024

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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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