adplus-dvertising
Connect with us

Sports

NHL Mock Draft 2020: Buffalo Sabres select Anton Lundell with No. 8 pick – Die By The Blade

Published

 on


The top of the 2020 NHL Draft is full of forward prospects and that happens to be the biggest need for the Buffalo Sabres in their prospect pool. After the first pick in this draft things start to get interesting right away. There are a variety of scenarios that could unfold before the Sabres are on the board at eight.

This year in the SB Nation mock draft with how the board fell, we were left with two options to decide between at eight. Those two players were scoring winger Alexander Holtz and two-way center Anton Lundell.

The decision was made to pick the center in Lundell. It’s a big need in the system and still at the NHL level. The Finnish forward plays for HIFK in Liiga and has played an important role for them as a young player. He put together 10 goals and 28 points in 44 games last, which is impressive numbers for an 18-year-old.

He’s one of the top two-way players in this draft and may be one of the closest to being NHL-ready. Lundell’s ability to control play for his club when he’s on the ice showed through in his possession numbers last season. He was second in Liiga in shot share (61.9%) among all players to play at least 30 games, according to Liiga’s official site.

Some people have concerns about his offensive upside, but I’m not sure that’s going to be an issue for him in the NHL. He may never be a 70-80 point player in the league, but he has the potential to be a consistent 50-60 point player. Lundell has an underrated shot that can alone make him a dangerous offensive player.

He also has more playmaking ability than he’s given credit for. One of the biggest knocks on his game is his skating, but reports to start this season have said there has been improvement there.

Lundell is wearing a letter for his Finnish squad as a 19-year-old. That shows positive signs of maturity and leadership in a young player.

The Sabres may opt to go with the raw scoring talent of Holtz in that situation, but Lundell feels like a perfect fit for what the Sabres need down the middle.


Here were the picks before the Sabres were on the board –

7. New Jersey Devils — Cole Perfetti

6. Anaheim Ducks — Jamie Drysdale

5. Ottawa Senators — Marco Rossi

4. Detroit Red Wings — Tim Stützle

3. Ottawa Senators — Lucas Raymond

2. Los Angeles Kings — Quinton Byfield

1. New York Rangers — Alexis Lafreniere

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