Sports

NHL Rumors: Bruins, Capitals, Sabres, Maple Leafs, Flames, More – The Hockey Writers

Published

4 years ago

March 6, 2021

In today’s NHL rumors rundown, the Boston Bruins are reportedly open to re-signing both of their goaltenders. Meanwhile, Tom Wilson is looking at sitting five or more games since the NHL Department of Player Safety appears ready to come down hard on his boarding play against Brandon Carlo. Jack Eichel has apparently not asked for a trade and Calgary Flames’ GM Brad Treliving tells his players it’s time to show a sense of urgency. Finally, what are the Toronto Maple Leafs really targeting at this year’s NHL Trade Deadline?

Wilson Offered In-Person Hearing by NHL

It appears the Department of NHL Player Safety is ready to levy a serious suspension for a Wilson play. The forward has been offered an in-person hearing, which means he could get more than five games. If accepted, the call will take place via Zoom.

Washington’s Tom Wilson has been offered an in-person hearing via Zoom for Boarding Boston’s Brandon Carlo. Date and time TBD.

— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) March 6, 2021

Wilson was not assessed a penalty on the play and reports are the NHL is not going after him for an illegal hit so much as they are a boarding play where the head was targeted and an injury may have occurred.

What’s interesting about all of this is that the NHL might need to find a workaround to really go after Wilson. TSN’s Frank Seravalli writes, “Tom Wilson’s hit on Carlo is not illegal.” and says Wilson is no longer considered a repeat offender in the eyes of the NHL rule book. Seravalli adds, “His last suspension (20 games reduced to 14) was on Sept. 30, 2018. Wilson has played 166 consecutive games (including playoffs) since then without incident.”

Bruins Prepared to Keep Rask and Halak Beyond This Season

NBC Sports analyst Bob McKenzie reports that the Bruins are open to extending both Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak, “if they get the sense from the goaltenders that’s what they want to do.” More than that, McKenzie notes that the Bruins would be willing to sign those extensions in-season.

That’s interesting, not only because re-signing both goaltenders will cost the Bruins a decent amount of money, but because the NHL Expansion Draft is playing a big role in team decisions when it comes to pending unrestricted free agents (which both goalies are).

Eichel Has Not Asked for a Trade

Sabres’ GM Kevyn Adams spoke with media on Friday and while he acknowledged he is looking to make moves and finds the play by his team unacceptable, he noted that there is no truth to any speculation that Eichel may have asked for or requested a trade out of Buffalo.

Adams didn’t rule out ever trading the center and did say that he’s active in trying to improve the team. He noted: ”I’m waking up every day looking for solutions… I’m on the phone every team, and I think what’s interesting, with all the protocols and quarantine, it’s going to be a challenging year. . . Teams clearly know where we’re at.”

Maple Leafs Looking for Grit Over Skill?

The Toronto Sun’s Michael Traikos feels the Maple Leafs will look to add to their roster sooner than later but doesn’t believe the club will be targeting skilled players like Buffalo’s Taylor Hall. Wanting to be a team that goes far in the playoffs but is already among the most skilled groups in the NHL, sandpaper is more of what the Maple Leafs need.

Mattias Ekholm, Nashville Predators (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

Traikos writes:

“It needs more blue-collar players like (Zach) Bogosian and (Wayne) Simmonds. Guys like Nashville defenceman Mattias Ekholm and Calgary forward Sam Bennett. It needs guys that can push back against Boston and Tampa and Vegas. Guys that can help the Leaf go the distance.”

source – ‘TRAIK-EOTOMY: Who should the Maple Leafs target at April’s trade deadline? – Michael Traikos – Toronto Sun – 03/03/2021

Despite what Toronto is looking for, they’ll need to make the dollars work and it’s not likely GM Kyle Dubas is looking to remove pieces from his current roster. It means the Leafs will have to convince another team to retain salary as they have just $130K in projected trade deadline salary-cap space.

Flames to Make Additional Changes?

On Friday, Treliving spoke with media about his decision to hire Darryl Sutter and noted the Flames needed a change and, more specifically, they needed this particular head coach. He sent a message to his players that Sutter isn’t going anywhere and that “Churning coaches is not something that leads to success”. He added, “It’s now on the players to perform.”

Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Larry MacDougal)

Treliving knows trades won’t be easy but he’s going to continue exploring ways to improve the team and spoke of emphasizing a new level of urgency. Scott Burnside wrote in a recent article for The Athletic that perhaps the Flames might be looking to make additional moves. He cited sources that said, “Change seems inevitable, and not just peripheral change but change at the very heart of the roster.”

The name mentioned was Johnny Gaudreau and if Treliving is looking to sell high on the player, this might be the time to do so. Burnside writes:

Gaudreau is off to an impressive start and has another year on his deal, so an acquiring team would get two playoff runs if they can get a deal together (even if Gaudreau’s playoff performances in recent years have left much to be desired). Maybe a move of this significance makes more sense in the offseason, but with uncertainty surrounding the 2021 draft, it would seem GM Brad Treliving has to keep all his options open if he’s going to undertake the kind of critical roster moves we’ve seen teams like St. Louis and Washington make prior to winning Stanley Cups.

source – ‘NHL trade deadline: 12 more players not on our trade board who could move’ Scott Burnside – The Athletic – 03/05/2021

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

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

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

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

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

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

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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