WINNIPEG — The evidence was mounting and it was starting to get to the point where it was looking to be a matter of when, and not if, Logan Stanley was going to find the back of the net.
Given the high volume of shot attempts the Winnipeg Jets‘ towering defenceman had been able to generate during his first NHL season, it’s not a stretch to suggest Stanley was operating in the realm of being due.
But that’s part of the beauty of hockey: whether you’re a raw rookie or seasoned veteran, goals can often be tough to come by.
Some nights, a glorious chance rings off the iron or is quickly erased by an acrobatic save by the opposing goalie.
But sometimes, the stars align and magical milestones end up on national television.
After showcasing an uncanny ability to get his shot through from the point during the first 22 games of his career, Stanley found himself in the slot with the puck on his stick during the second period on Saturday night against the Calgary Flames.
When he ripped his shot bar-down on David Rittich, Stanley let out a guttural roar that told you all you needed to know about what it meant for the Kitchener/Waterloo product to deliver his first NHL goal.
“It’s a pretty good feeling to get that one. Something you dream of as a kid, playing your first NHL game and scoring a goal in the NHL,” said Stanley. “I’ve had some chances to score that haven’t went in. I try not to think about it that much. My primary job is to keep the puck out of the net. Just nice to get one past the goalie.
“My parents would say it’s because all the pucks I would shoot at the wall in the basement, maybe, working on that stuff. It’s just something I like to work on after practice and I like shooting the puck. When I get a chance, I like to shoot it. Sometimes, there’s other plays to be made.”
Stanley’s marker made the score 2-2, but the story took a twist and ended with the Jets suffering a 4-2 loss to a Flames team that played with the desperation required for a group trying to keep its fading playoff hopes alive.
Despite the defeat, the praise for Stanley was pouring in from his teammates.
Given the appreciation for the journey Stanley has been on to reach this point, the reaction was expected.
“It was just a matter of time. He gets so many pucks through, he’s got such a heavy shot,” said Jets captain Blake Wheeler. “(Stanley’s) probably been our biggest pleasant surprise this year. We couldn’t be happier with him, so it was great to see him get rewarded.”
There’s nothing quite like the look on the face of a player after they score for the first time.
“Yeah, it’s awesome. That’s one of those things you can carry with you for life,” said Jets centre Adam Lowry. “It’s one of those great memories he’ll have. To see him come so close last game, ring one off the post. For him to get a nice one (Saturday), we’re all really happy for him. Hopefully it’s the first of many.”
Stanley was viewed as a long-term project when the Jets made a trade with the Philadelphia Flyers to move up to the 18th spot in the 2016 NHL Draft and selected him.
At a time when Jets first-rounders were routinely jumping into the lineup within a couple of seasons, let’s just say a portion of the fan base was beginning to grow impatient with the progress of the defence prospect.
Stanley went back for two more seasons in the Ontario Hockey League and spent the first two seasons of his pro career with the Manitoba Moose in the American Hockey League.
There were signs of growth during that rookie campaign and a couple of injuries to overcome last season, but Stanley was the first to admit he wanted more from himself.
He was determined to take a step forward and wasn’t afraid to share that opinion publicly during training camp.
Well, after Luca Sbisa was claimed off waivers by the Nashville Predators and Tucker Poolman tested positive for COVID-19 following the season opener, Stanley was thrust into the Jets lineup.
Stanley made his NHL debut against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Jan. 18 and suited up in 13 consecutive contests before he was replaced by Poolman.
Then, after sitting out for nearly a month, Stanley got another opportunity when Nathan Beaulieu suffered a hand injury.
Since returning to the lineup, Stanley is building confidence and showing signs of growing into a steady NHL regular.
Sure, Stanley is being sheltered to a degree on the third pairing, but that’s not uncommon for a player of his age and experience.
“Early on, you kind of, you have the tendency your first few games in the NHL, you don’t want the puck on your stick a whole lot,” said Lowry. “I think now he’s gotten used to the pace, he’s gotten used to the speed, he’s kind of gotten used to the positioning. He’s starting to use his body. You saw him in Vancouver, he steps up and kind of sets the tone for us with a good fight. He’s been real good at stopping the cycle in our zone and getting shots through from the point.
“So he’s continuing to get better every day. As the games progress, he’s looked more and more comfortable out there.”
Some of the subtle things Stanley does with the puck in tight areas have caught the attention of the Jets’ coaching staff and his teammates.
It’s tough not to stand out when you stand six-foot-seven, but Stanley is gaining trust and showing he’d love to secure his spot in the lineup even when the Jets are back to full health.
“You know what, he’s been so close. He’s had a couple of bars and he’s had a bunch of great shots,” said Jets head coach Paul Maurice. “But I’ve really enjoyed watching his confidence grow and the quality of his game. There’s not a lot of big men that can go bar down like that, so we think we’ve got a good find here. Really happy with where he’s at.”
Stanley has taken some time to appreciate what he’s been able to accomplish so far, even though the compressed nature of the schedule doesn’t always allow a lot of time for reflection.
“It’s going by fast this year, lots of stuff going on,” said Stanley. “It is kind of hard to take a breath and kind of look at what’s going on. I’m just enjoying myself and trying to get better every day here and try and help this hockey club win hockey games.”
The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for the Jets, who slipped to 21-11-2 and are now two points behind the Toronto Maple Leafs in the battle for top spot in the North Division.
Will the Jets view this as a missed opportunity, a chance to perhaps leave the reeling Flames in the rearview mirror, since the cushion would have expanded to 13 points (instead of nine) with another regulation victory?
Maybe, but for a team that responded to consecutive regulation losses to the Edmonton Oilers with three wins in a row, this looks more like a minor bump in the road going into the finale of this three-game series on Monday.
Goaltending has been at the foundation of the Jets’ success this season, but this was a rare off-night for Jets backup Laurent Brossoit.
Although two of the four goals changed direction off the sticks of teammates, including one in the opening minute of the third period, Brossoit directed the final goal into his own net when he misplayed a shoot-in from Sam Bennett that appeared to be going wide.
The Jets certainly weren’t pointing the finger in the direction of the crease, since Brossoit is still sporting a .914 save percentage in his nine appearances so far this season and has done his part to instill belief with his body of work.
“You learn over time that these guys are really proud professional athletes, so you wouldn’t say anything to anybody after a game like that,” said Maurice. “You’d wait, slap him on the pads the next time you’re on the ice and have a chuckle about it and move on.”
Part of the Jets moving on is staring at another opportunity to regroup.
As the Jets get set to close out a season-high seven-game road trip against the Flames, it’s sure to be another test.
The Jets are 8-1-1 in games following a regulation loss and that bounce-back ability has become their calling card, a critical part of their identity.
Leaning on that foundation piece is something the Jets plan to do with regularity during the stretch run, since it’s the only way they’ll be able to remain in the race for first place.
NEW YORK – Toronto Blue Jays reliever Chad Green and Canadian slugger Tyler O’Neill of the Boston Red Sox were named finalists for the Major League Baseball Players’ Association’s American League comeback player award on Monday.
Chicago White Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet was the other nominee.
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani and Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. were named player of the year finalists.
The award winners, selected via player voting, will be named Saturday before Game 2 of the World Series.
Green, who missed most of the 2022 and ’23 seasons after undergoing Tommy John surgery, was a high-leverage option for the Blue Jays this past season and filled in at closer over the second half of the campaign.
The right-hander converted his first 16 save opportunities and finished the year with a 4-6 record, 17 saves and a 3.21 earned-run average over 53 appearances.
O’Neill, a native of Burnaby, B.C., also endured back-to-back injury-plagued seasons in ’22 and ’23.
After being traded to the Red Sox in the off-season, O’Neill set an MLB record by hitting a homer in his fifth straight Opening Day. He finished with 31 homers on the year and had an OPS of .847.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2024.
Alabama’s Mark Sears and North Carolina‘s RJ Davis looked into the possibility of leaving for the NBA before deciding to return for another college season.
Their decisions helped their teams earn top-10 rankings in the AP Top 25 and earned both players some preseason honors, too.
Sears was a near-unanimous selection for The Associated Press preseason All-America men’s basketball team released Monday, earning all but one vote from a 55-person national media panel. Davis was right behind him, nabbing 51 votes.
They were joined by Kansas big man Hunter Dickinson, Auburn forward Johni Broome, Arizona guard Caleb Love and Duke freshman Cooper Flagg. Love and Flagg tied for the final spot, creating a six-man team that includes only the ACC, Big 12 and SEC.
Alabama twin bill
Sears was a key cog in the Crimson Tide’s first trip to the Final Four a year ago, orchestrating one of college basketball’s highest-scoring teams.
The 6-foot-1 guard was named a second-team AP All-America after averaging 21.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists. He was the first Division I player in 31 years to have 795 points, 150 rebounds, 145 assists and 95 three-pointers in a single season while breaking the Alabama single-season record with 26 games with at least 20 points.
Sears worked out for NBA scouts during the offseason before deciding to return to Alabama, earning the Crimson Tide a No. 2 ranking in the preseason AP Top 25.
“I saw the team that we had and I wanted to be a part of it, and bring home Alabama’s first national championship in basketball,” Sears said.
Across the state at rival Auburn, Broome made a quick decision about his future, announcing in April that he would be back for a fifth season.
The 6-10 forward was a third-team AP All-American last season after averaging 16.5 points and 8.5 rebounds while shooting nearly 55% from the floor. With an eye on an NBA future, Broome worked hard on his perimeter shooting during the offseason and his return earned Auburn a No. 11 preseason ranking.
“My main goal is a team goal, which is to win the national championship, to make it as far as I can in March Madness,” Broome said. “When a team shines, everyone shines individually.”
Along Tobacco Road
Like Sears, Davis has similar aspirations after opting to return for his fifth season at North Carolina.
The 6-foot guard was an AP All-American last season and the ACC player of the year after averaging 21.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists on a team that reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Davis enters this year within reach of former North Carolina big man Tyler Hansbrough’s all-time ACC scoring record.
“I know there’s more work to be done,” Davis said. “I know my jersey’s not going up until I leave. So there’s some more records to break and some more work to be done. I’m satisfied but I’m not satisfied, if that makes sense.”
Up the road at Duke, Flagg was the only underclassman on the preseason All-America team after arriving with tons of hype. The 6-9 swingman was the No. 1-rated high school recruit out of Newport, Maine and has been projected as the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft.
Flagg has the skills of a guard, but can also play inside and has worked hard on his perimeter shooting, giving him the potential to be one of college basketball’s most versatile players. He’s part of a stellar recruiting class that has No. 7 Duke eyeing a deep March run.
Big 12 duo
Dickinson was the biggest move in the transfer portal last spring after leaving Michigan for Kansas. The 7-2 center lived up to the billing, averaging 17.9 points and 10.9 rebounds while leading the Jayhawks back to the NCAA Tournament.
Love’s decision to return for a second season at No. 10 Arizona has ratcheted up expectations in the desert for the Big 12 rival of Kansas.
The athletic 6-4 guard had a high-scoring career at North Carolina and continued it after transferring to Arizona last season. He was the Pac-12 player of the year and a third-team All-American after averaging 18 points per game and making 92 3-pointers.
Love tested the NBA waters this summer before deciding to return.
“He’s had a very successful college career thus far,” Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd said. “He’s kind of this last generation of player that’s going to get better with this extra year, and so I just encourage him to take advantage of it.”
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CLEVELAND (AP) — Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson will miss the rest of Cleveland‘s season after rupturing his right Achilles tendon on Sunday against Cincinnati, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Monday.
Watson will soon undergo surgery, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team has not announced the results of imaging tests taken on his leg.
It’s the second significant injury in two seasons for Watson, who broke the glenoid (socket) bone in his throwing shoulder last year.
The 29-year-old Watson went down without being touched on a draw play late in the first half. His right leg buckled and Watson collapsed to the turf. TV replays showed his calf rippling, consistent with an Achilles injury.
As he laid on the ground, there was cheering by some Cleveland fans, leading to some of Watson’s teammates criticizing that behavior during the team’s fifth straight loss.
The injury is yet another twist in Watson’s divisive stay with the Browns.
Cleveland traded three first-round draft picks to Houston and signed him to a fully guaranteed $230 million in 2022. The deal came amid Watson being accused by more than two dozen women of sexual assault and harassment during massage therapy sessions. He settled civil lawsuits in all but one of those cases.
Watson was suspended by the NFL for his first 11 games with the Browns and then made just six starts last season before hurting his shoulder.
