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NHL free agency live blog – NHL.com

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Welcome to NHL free agency. With the market opening at noon ET on Friday, a flurry of signings is expected, along with some trades. What players will change teams, which ones will stay with their current teams? Follow our live blog all day long for the latest news and reports.

[RELATED: 2020-21 NHL Trade Tracker]

11:17 a.m. ET

Paul Stastny has officially been traded to the Winnipeg Jets from the Vegas Golden Knights.

Vegas gets defenseman Carl Dahlstrom and a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft in return for Stastny.

Stastny fills a hole for the Jets as their No. 2 center behind Mark Scheifele and his acquisition should cool, at least for now, the trade rumors swirling around forward Patrik Laine.

Stastny, Laine and Nikolaj Ehlers formed a productive line for the Jets at the end of the 2017-18 season and in the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs after the Jets acquired Stastny from the St. Louis Blues on Feb. 26, 2018.

Stastny scored 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in 19 regular-season games and then scored 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in 17 Stanley Cup Playoff games, helping the Jets reach the Western Conference Final before losing to Vegas.

Stastny signed a three-year, $19.5 million contract with the Golden Knights on July 1, 2018. In two seasons with Vegas, he scored 80 points (30 goals, 50 assists) in 121 regular season games; he scored another 17 points (five goals, 12 assists) in 25 postseason games.

11:10 a.m. ET

The Montreal Canadiens have signed defenseman Victor Mete to a one-year contract worth $735,000, meaning one of the pending restricted free agents is off the board before 12 p.m. ET.

Mete scored 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in 51 games last season. He also scored two points, both assists, in 10 postseason games.

The 22-year-old Mete, a fourth-round pick by the Canadiens (No. 100), scored 31 points (four goals, 27 assists) in 171 games in his first three NHL seasons.

In other news, forward Mike Hoffman is expected to become an unrestricted free agent in 50 minutes, TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reported. Hoffman scored 29 goals last season, the most among all pending UFAs.

There was some thought Hoffman could sign with the Florida Panthers before the market opened, but it doesn’t look to be the case now. The 30-year-old will be an interesting player to watch, especially for any team that loses out on the Taylor Hall sweepstakes.

10:45 a.m. ET

The trade has not been officially announced, but TSN’s Darren Dreger is reporting the Winnipeg Jets will acquire center Paul Stastny from the Vegas Golden Knights for defenseman Carl Dahlstrom and a fourth-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.

Tweet from @DarrenDreger: Pending a trade call, the VGK have traded Paul Statsny to Wpg for a 4th in 2022 and Carl Dahlstrom

The Golden Knights will clear Stastny’s $6.5 million salary cap charge, but trading him means they have a hole at center behind William Karlsson.

It’s possible they believe it can be filled by Cody Glass. The 21-year-old scored 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in 39 games this season. He didn’t play in the postseason.

The Golden Knights could also consider Chandler Stephenson to be their No. 2 center with Glass as their No. 3. Stephenson signed a four-year contract with an annual average value of $2.75 million salary Wednesday.

Stephenson fit in well with the Golden Knights after they acquired him from the Washington Capitals on Dec. 2. He scored 22 points (eight goals, 14 assists) in 41 regular-season games and five points (three goals, two assists) in 20 postseason games.

Dahlstrom had one assist in 15 games with the Jets last season. The 25-year-old is 6-foot-4, 231 pounds. The Jets could be in the market to replace him.

10:30 a.m. ET

As we wait for news on a possible trade of Paul Stastny from the Vegas Golden Knights to the Winnipeg Jets, we have our first signing of the day.

Zemgus Girgensons signed a three-year, $6.6 million contract with the Buffalo Sabres. It has an average annual value of $2.2 million.

The 26-year-old forward could have become an unrestricted free agent at noon ET. Here are all the details.

10 a.m. ET

We’re two hours away from the start of the free-agent frenzy in the NHL and there is already rumblings of a trade that could have a big impact on the market.

Reports say the Winnipeg Jets are acquiring center Paul Stastny from the Vegas Golden Knights.

For the Golden Knights, moving Stastny opens $6.5 million on their salary cap, which could be used in a multitude of ways.

The most obvious is they could be going after a big-ticket free agent. Perhaps defenseman Alex Pietrangelo or defenseman Torey Krug.

There have been rumors that the Golden Knights are also shopping defenseman Nate Schmidt. If they move him and his $5.95 million salary cap charge for the next five seasons that opens a spot and more money to sign Pietrangelo or Krug, who are the top two UFA defensemen.

The Golden Knights may also be trying to move goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, who has a $7 million cap charge.

For the Jets, this is a no-brainer. They get Stastny in the last year of his contract and for now at least this should kill the rumors of the Jets looking to trade forward Patrik Laine.

Stastny played 19 games with the Jets at the end of the 2017-18 season after they acquired him from the St. Louis Blues. He scored 13 points (four goals, nine assists) playing on a line with Laine and Nikolaj Ehlers. He then scored 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in 17 Stanley Cup Playoff games, helping the Jets reach the Western Conference Final before losing to Vegas.

Stastny signed a three-year, $19.5 million contract with the Golden Knights on July 1, 2018.

Stay tuned. The news will be flowing in shortly and we’ll have it all here on this blog.

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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.

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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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