Sports

JONES: Edmonton Oilers add one final piece in off-season of 'value contracts' – Edmonton Sun

Published

4 years ago

November 3, 2020

While it may be a flashing yellow light that the 25-year-old has played for Chicago, Pittsburgh and Buffalo in his two NHL seasons leading up to becoming an Oiler, his numbers are solid.

In 138 games, Kahun has scored 25 goals, put up 68 points and been a plus-18.

When and if the NHL ever starts the next season, the fans will certainly have a scorecard for Holland’s new help.

Kyle Turris was bought out by the Nashville Predators. The 31-year-old had four years remaining on a six-year $36 million contract.

Buyer beware.

Holland, however, decided to roll the dice to acquire a third-line centre capable of being a fit in Edmonton to rediscover his form from when he scored 24 or more goals in three different seasons with the Ottawa Senators. Holland signed Turris for two years at $1.65 million per season.

Tyson Barrie signed a one-year $3.75 million bounce-back contract with the Oilers following his disappointing five-goal season with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The chances of Holland winning this bet are actually pretty good with Barrie still having managed 39-points in his unhappy time in Toronto. With McDavid and Draisaitl for the right-handed defenceman to feed the puck to, Barrie is rolling the dice himself to reboot his numbers and his career.

Jesse Puljujarvi, of course, was still Oilers property after splitting to play in Finland in an ill-advised attempt to force the Oilers’ hand to trade him to another organization.

Holland didn’t bite. Now the No. 4 overall pick in the 2016 draft has been forced to return to the Oilers under new management and coaching, hoping the confidence boost and gaining maturity will result in his becoming a better pro and realizing his high-end potential.

Smith was the goaltender the Oilers allowed to go to free agency after making a mess of Game 1 of the playoff series and not seeing then net again. He was the guy they hoped to replace with Jacob Markstrom of the Vancouver Canucks, who chose to join the Calgary Flames instead.

It’ll be a fascinating study this season. And next year, Holland will finally have some cap space to work with.

E-mail: tjones@postmedia.com

On Twitter: @byterryjones

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Sports

Sports betting roundup: NFL and college football were all about the favourites

Published

20 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Anne Joseph

The past weekend of football was all about the favourites.

The favoured teams went 13-1 straight up and 10-4 against the spread in the NFL. In college football, the three most teams bet at the BetMGM Sportsbook in terms of number of bets and money all won and covered. All three were favourites.

Trends of the Week

The three most bet college teams that won and covered on Saturday were Ohio State (-3.5) vs. Penn State, Indiana (-7.5) at Michigan State and Oregon (-14.5) at Michigan. Penn State has now lost seven straight home games as underdogs. The Nittany Lions were up 10-0 in the first quarter and were 3.5-point favourites at the time. The Buckeyes won 17-10.

In the NFL, the three most bet teams in terms of number of bets and money were the Washington Commanders (-4) at the New York Giants, the Detroit Lions (-2.5) at the Green Bay Packers and the Buffalo Bills (-6) vs. the Miami Dolphins. All three teams won, but only two of the three covered the spread as Buffalo beat Miami 30-27.

When it came to the players with the most bets to score a touchdown on Sunday, only two of the five reached the end zone — Chase Brown (-125) and Taysom Hill (+185). David Montgomery (-140), Brian Robinson Jr. (+110) and AJ Barner (+500) did not score.

Upsets of the Week

The biggest upset in the NFL was the Carolina Panthers coming from behind to beat the New Orleans Saints 23-22. New Orleans closed as a 7-point favourite and took in 76% of the bets and 79% of the money in against-the-spread betting. The Saints fired head coach Dennis Allen following the loss. They have now lost seven straight games after starting the year 2-0.

Arguably the biggest upset in college football was South Carolina beating No. 10 Texas A&M 44-20 at home. Texas A&M closed as a 2.5-point favourite and took in 59% of the bets and 58% of the money.

Coming up

Right after the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the New York Yankees to win the World Series, odds for the 2025 World Series were released.

The Dodgers have the best odds at +400, while the Atlanta Braves and Yankees are next at +800.

The Baltimore Orioles and Philadelphia Phillies round out the top five, both at +1100.

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This column was provided to The Associated Press by BetMGM online sportsbook.

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AP sports:

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Sports

Longtime rivals Ovechkin, Crosby join Necas as NHL’s three stars of the week

Published

20 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Anne Joseph

NEW YORK – Washington Capitals left-wing Alex Ovechkin, Carolina Hurricanes centre Martin Necas and Pittsburgh Penguins centre Sidney Crosby have been named the NHL’s three stars of the week.

Ovechkin had a league-leading five goals and nine points in four games.

The 39-year-old Capitals captain has 14 points in 11 games this season, and his 860 career goals are just 34 shy of Wayne Gretzky’s record.

Necas shared the league lead with nine points (three goals, six assists) in three games.

Crosby factored on seven of the Penguins’ eight total goals scoring four goals and adding three assists in three appearances. The 37-year-old Penguins captain leads his team with 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 13 games this season.

Crosby and Ovechkin, longtime rivals since entering the league together in 2005-06, will meet for the 70th time in the regular season and 95th time overall when Pittsburgh visits Washington on Friday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 4, 2024.

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Oliveira, Mitchell named as finalists for CFL outstanding player award

Published

5 days ago

October 31, 2024

Anne Joseph

TORONTO – Running back Brady Oliveira of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell are the finalists for the CFL’s outstanding player award.

Oliveira led the CFL in rushing this season with 1,353 yards while Mitchell was the league leader in passing yards (5,451) and touchdowns (32).

Oliveira is also the West Division finalist for the CFL’s top Canadian award, the second straight year he’s been nominated for both.

Oliveira was the CFL’s outstanding Canadian in 2023 and the runner-up to Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for outstanding player.

Defensive lineman Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund of the Montreal Alouettes is the East Division’s top Canadian nominee.

Voting for the awards is conducted by the Football Reporters of Canada and the nine CFL head coaches.

The other award finalists include: defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr. of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Montreal linebacker Tyrice Beverette (outstanding defensive player); Saskatchewan’s Logan Ferland and Toronto’s Ryan Hunter (outstanding lineman); B.C. Lions kicker Sean Whyte and Toronto returner Janarion Grant (special teams); and Edmonton Elks linebacker Nick Anderson and Hamilton receiver Shemar Bridges (outstanding rookie).

The coach of the year finalists are Saskatchewan’s Corey Mace and Montreal’s Jason Maas.

The CFL will honour its top individual performers Nov. 14 in Vancouver.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 31.

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