adplus-dvertising
Connect with us

Sports

It is finally time to admit defeat – Habs Eyes on the Prize

Published

 on


During the early afternoon, rumours were starting to circle on Twitter that Shea Weber’s injury would be much worse than expected. In fact, the wildest rumours before he went in to see a trusted medical expert in Wisconsin suggested that his career may even be over.

Quickly, Montreal went out to poke a hole in the rampant speculation with a newsflash of their own, stating that their captain would miss the upcoming four to six weeks, which leaves the possibility for a return later in the year.

At this moment, we do not know how severe the conditions of the injury are or whether there was any legitimate truth to the earlier rumours. What it does mean is that an already weak defence will be even weaker for the remainder of the season. After Wednesday night’s loss against the Boston Bruins, the Montreal Canadiens find themselves even further away from playoff contention, operating from seven points back with three-quarters of the season behind us and more games played than any team above in the Eastern Conference.

In the most optimistic of Habs circles, there was a slight shimmer of hope that this team, once healthy, could go on a run to squeeze into a wild-card spot. Weber’s absence — one of not only a steadfast member on the Habs’ shaky blueline but the captain and leader — has put an end to that. This defence is not strong enough to create a winning team in the NHL with Weber, let alone without.

Instead, these next two weeks will be The Marc Bergevin Show. Will he keep his team intact hoping for better things in the future, or will he finally admit that this team is still a few years away from contending and start selling off assets to further strengthen the prospect pool?

My hopes are that he senses the desperation in the market and cashes in. Earlier this week, the Minnesota Wild got back a haul of a first-round-pick, a top prospect, and a middle-six rental in Alex Galchenyuk from the Pittsburgh Penguins for Jason Zucker. Zucker is not a bad player by any means, being on a 50-point pace if he were to play this whole season. Also, the first-round-pick comes with conditions for the 2020 NHL Draft and could possibly be postponed, and would likely be a late one in either year. Still, this means that it is worth exploring thoroughly how the trade landscape views players like Tomas Tatar, Jeff Petry and Ilya Kovalchuk, as well as less valuable rentals like Marco Scandella and Nate Thompson.

Tatar is having a stellar year, already eclipsing the 50-point mark ahead of the trade deadline. Petry could very well be the best right-handed defenceman on the market. Kovalchuk may be old, but imagine if a cap-strained contender could get a player with power-play pedigree and point-per-game potential for about $150,000. Which of the 20 teams still hoping to make a run to the Stanley Cup would pass that option up?

Personally, it aches writing these lines as I have grown fond of the players I just mentioned, but from a team-building standpoint this is a no-brainer. Earlier this week, Scott Wheeler of The Athletic ranked Montreal’s current prospect pool as the second-best in the league. If only a handful of these highly touted youngsters turn into NHL assets, the Canadiens will have a core to build on for years to come. Unfortunately, there are few scenarios where the players listed above will be taking part once that future finally arrives.

It’s better to sell high now and get significant building blocks back instead of just postponing what is clearly inevitable for one more season.

Let’s block ads! (Why?)

728x90x4

Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

PWHL MVP Spooner set to miss start of season for Toronto Sceptres due to knee injury

Published

 on

 

TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.

The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.

She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.

Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.

Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.

The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

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

Published

 on

 

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:

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

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

Published

 on

 

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.

Source link

Continue Reading

Trending