Sports
Kyle Dubas wraps up busy deadline by acquiring giant centre, leaving it up to Leafs to put it together
The GM’s work is done. We’ll find out, starting some time beyond mid-April, whether Dubas got it right.
Today, the Leafs are a better team than they were a few weeks ago, one with more depth, snarl and determination.
“We feel good about where we’re at right now,” Dubas told the media in Vancouver, where the Leafs play the Canucks on Saturday night. “I never set out to try to make a lot of changes. In a perfect year, I think you’d feel that you didn’t have to do anything.
“The goal of the team is to win, and I think we have tried to set up, as best possible, to give ourselves as good a chance against whomever we contest (in the Stanley Cup playoffs). It’s clinching our spot and making sure we are in, and then getting ourselves ready for who that opponent is.
With each of the six new players in the lineup for the first time on Thursday night in Calgary, we got a glimpse of how the Leafs might handle that tough road. Dubas liked what he saw as the Leafs shut down a Flames team that is in full-on desperation mode to make the post-season. Calgary had just five shots on goal in the third period and the Leafs scored the only goal in the final 20 minutes, winning 2-1.
“The third period exemplifies the difference of the team, a little bit more competitive, a little bit more sacrifice, willing to put themselves on the line to win pucks, do the right things defensively that are not necessarily the fanciest or the sexiest things, but they contribute to winning,” Dubas said. “I sense with the players we have added and the growth of some of the guys internally that we’re far better in that realm.”
In regard to the goaltending, Dubas told anyone who was listening in recent weeks that he was happy with Ilya Samsonov, Matt Murray (who is slated to return from an ankle injury and possibly start on Saturday) and Joe Woll. There was speculation the Leafs would try to add goaltending insurance, but Dubas indicated that once he made three trades on Tuesday (including shipping out Engvall for a draft pick), he knew he was done, more or less.
“I’m very confident in our goaltenders,” Dubas said. “If (Samsonov) has had any games where he has struggled, he has right away been able to stop that and get it rolling the other way.
Dubas also didn’t move out a defenceman, and that’s fine. That the Leafs have nine NHL D-men is not the problem some think it is. No team has ever lost because it had an abundance of depth.
The Leafs also left themselves enough financial room to sign forward Matt Knies once his season at the U. of Minnesota concludes.
Keefe has 20 games to get his lineup in order and to put the players in the best positions to succeed.
His boss has set him up well.
Vancouver Canucks winger Dakota Joshua is set to make his season debut Thursday after missing time for cancer treatment.
Head coach Rick Tocchet says Joshua will slot into the lineup Thursday when Vancouver (8-3-3) hosts the New York Islanders.
The 28-year-old from Dearborn, Mich., was diagnosed with testicular cancer this summer and underwent surgery in early September.
He spoke earlier this month about his recovery, saying it had been “very hard to go through” and that he was thankful for support from his friends, family, teammates and fans.
“That was a scary time but I am very thankful and just happy to be in this position still and be able to go out there and play,,” Joshua said following Thursday’s morning skate.
The cancer diagnosis followed a career season where Joshua contributed 18 goals and 14 assists across 63 regular-season games, then added four goals and four assists in the playoffs.
Now, he’s ready to focus on contributing again.
“I expect to be good, I don’t expect a grace period. I’ve been putting the work in so I expect to come out there and make an impact as soon as possible,” he said.
“I don’t know if it’s going to be perfect right from the get-go, but it’s about putting your best foot forward and working your way to a point of perfection.”
The six-foot-three, 206-pound Joshua signed a four-year, US$13-million contract extension at the end of June.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 14, 2024.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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.
Sports
Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere
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.
In the news today: More details emerge about fatal border crossing
Urban salmon return to Metro Vancouver streams to spawn and inspire recovery efforts
Famous Fredericton beaver sculpture finds new home in downtown art gallery
dynaCERT Inc. Invites You to Join Us at the Vancouver Resource Investment Conference | INN – Investing News Network
AP source: Bears acquiring quarterback Nick Foles from Jaguars – Sportsnet.ca
12 Bizarre Things People Did Just To Make Social Media Content
-
News20 hours agoRafael Nadal calls it an emotional day as he loses in the Davis Cup before retirement
-
News19 hours agoMontreal mayor supports Polytechnique survivors’ call for complete assault weapon ban
-
News17 hours agoCalgary doctor charged with sexual assaulting patients at clinic
-
News17 hours agoSex abuse case: Judge orders seizure of homes belonging to billionaire Robert Miller
-
Business18 hours ago
CANADIAN ACCOUNTANTS TELL ALL ON STATE OF SMB FINANCES IN NEW SURVEY
-
News20 hours agoTampa Bay Rays say new St. Pete stadium is unlikely to be ready for 2028 season, if at all
-
News17 hours agoGovernment spending in limbo as Tories, Liberals continue game of chicken in House
-
News19 hours ago
Jimmy John’s opens its first Canadian location
