The 33-year-old center scored 26 points (10 goals, 16 assists) in 55 games with the Wild this season and also can help in the face-off circle; he won 52.8 percent and has won more than 50 percent in each of his past four seasons. Bonino plays in all situations; he averaged 14:51 of ice time per game with 1:54 coming on the power play and 1:52 on the penalty kill. The two-time Stanley Cup champion has scored 308 points (132 goals, 176 assists) in 681 regular-season games with the Anaheim Ducks, Vancouver Canucks, Pittsburgh Penguins, Nashville Predators and Wild.
Blake Coleman, Tampa Bay Lightning
Coleman is a versatile forward who can play up and down the lineup. He scored 31 points (14 goals, 17 assists) in 55 games. He is a two-way player with 2:13 of his 15:28 of average ice time per game coming on the penalty kill. The 29-year-old was second on Tampa Bay with 109 hits (two behind Barclay Goodrow), and has scored 126 points (71 goals, 55 assists) in 301 regular-season games with the New Jersey Devils and Lightning and has won the Stanley Cup each of the past two seasons.
Phillip Danault, Montreal Canadiens
Danault scored 24 points (five goals, 19 assists) in 53 games and led the Canadiens in face-off percentage (52.5, minimum 100 face-offs). He has won 53.1 percent in his seven NHL seasons. The 28-year-old center also led Montreal forwards in shorthanded ice time per game (2:17) and has not had a negative plus-minus rating since the 2015-16 season. He has scored 199 points (55 goals, 144 assists) in 392 regular-season games with the Chicago Blackhawks and Canadiens.
Nick Foligno, Toronto Maple Leafs
Known for his grit and leadership, the physical left wing had 133 hits this season and was captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets for the past six seasons before being traded to the Maple Leafs on April 11. Foligno averaged 17:46 of ice time per game with 1:52 on the penalty kill. He scored 20 points (seven goals, 13 assists) in 49 games. The 33-year-old has scored 486 points (203 goals, 283 assists) in 957 regular-season games with the Ottawa Senators, Blue Jackets and Maple Leafs.
Ryan Getzlaf, Anaheim Ducks
Getzlaf is the Ducks all-time leader in games played (1,101) and assists (703), ranks second in points (982) and fourth in goals (279). The 36-year-old center could decide to retire, but if not, likely would join a team in a reduced role. He scored an NHL career-low 17 points five goals, 12 assist) averaging 16:35 of ice time in 48 games, and won 51.8 percent of his face-offs.
Taylor Hall, Boston Bruins
After scoring 19 points (two goals, 17 assists) in 37 games with the Buffalo Sabres, Hall was rejuvenated following a trade to the Bruins on April 12, scoring 14 points (eight goals, six assists) in 16 games. The 29-year-old left wing has scored at least 20 goals six times in his 11 NHL seasons. Hall has scored 596 points (228 goals, 368 assists) in 680 regular-season games with the Edmonton Oilers, Devils, Arizona Coyotes, Sabres and Bruins, including 171 (66 goals, 105 assists) on the power play.
It was a down season for Hoffman, who scored 36 points (17 goals, 19 assists) averaging 15:04 in ice time in 52 games and was a healthy scratch at times. The forward had scored at least 22 goals and 56 points in each of his previous six seasons, including at least 21 power-play points in each of his previous four. The 31-year-old has scored 395 points (189 goals, 206 assists) in 545 regular-season games with the Senators, Florida Panthers and Blues.
David Krejci, Boston Bruins
Krejci doesn’t get the recognition some of his teammates do, but the center has done it all for the Bruins. He scored 44 points (eight goals, 36 assists), including 16 on the power play (three goals, 13 assists), and won 54.2 percent of face-offs in 51 games. The 35-year-old averaged 17:08 of ice time per game, including 2:32 per game with the man advantage. In the past 13 seasons, Krejci has had a negative plus-minus rating twice. He has scored 730 points (215 goals, 515 assists) in 962 regular-season games with Boston.
Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche captain scored 52 points (20 goals, 32 assists) in 54 games, and has scored at least 20 goals in eight of his 10 NHL seasons and at least 50 points in seven. He was second among Colorado forwards in ice time per game (19:57) behind center Nathan MacKinnon (20:22), led them in hits (81), and won 56.6 percent of face-offs. The 28-year-old left wing has scored 512 points (218 goals, 294 assists) in 687 regular-season games with the Avalanche.
Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
It’s hard to see Ovechkin playing anywhere other than Washington. The 35-year-old left wing scored 42 points (24 goals, 18 assists) averaging 19:30 of ice time in 45 games, the 16th straight season he’s scored at least that many goals. Ovechkin ranks sixth on the NHL all-time goals list with 730 and has scored 1,320 points, including 499 on the power play (269 goals, 230 assists), in 1,197 regular-season games. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2018 to help the Capitals win the Stanley Cup and has won the Rocket Richard Trophy as the leading goal scorer an NHL-record nine times.
Palmieri had scored at least 20 goals in five straight seasons prior to scoring 10 in 51 games with the Devils and New York Islanders. His 21 points were his fewest since scoring seven in the 2011-12 season. The 30-year-old right wing is a gritty player who can help on the power play and also get to the front of the net. He has scored 359 points (185 goals, 174 assists) in 612 regular-season games with the Ducks, Devils and Islanders.
Corey Perry, Montreal Canadiens
The 36-year-old right wing said he plans to continue playing in the NHL and would like to remain with the Canadiens. He scored 21 points (nine goals, 12 assists) averaging 13:44 of ice time in 49 games and was second on Montreal with 39 penalty minutes (Defenseman Ben Chiarot had 50). Perry has scored 818 points (386 goals, 432 assists) and has 1,219 penalty minutes in 1,094 regular-season games with the Ducks, Dallas Stars and Canadiens and has 167 games of Stanley Cup Playoff experience.
Brandon Saad, Colorado Avalanche
Saad may have earned himself a new contract after scoring seven goals in the playoffs, one behind MacKinnon for the Avalanche lead. The 28-year-old left wing scored 24 points (15 goals, nine assists) and averaged 14:06 of ice time in 44 regular-season games and has scored double-digit goals in each of his nine full NHL seasons. Saad has scored 371 points (184 goals, 187 assists) in 632 regular-season games with the Blackhawks, Blue Jackets and Avalanche and won the Stanley Cup with Chicago in 2013 and 2015.
Jaden Schwartz, St. Louis Blues
Schwartz is in line for a bounce-back season after scoring 21 points (eight goals, 13 assists) and averaging 17:42 of ice time in 40 games; he scored at least 22 goals four times in his previous seven seasons. The 29-year-old left wing has scored 385 points (154 goals, 231 assists) in 560-regular-season games and helped St. Louis win the Stanley Cup in 2019.
Paul Stastny, Winnipeg Jets
Stastny scored 29 points (13 goals, 16 assists) in 56 games, his fewest since scoring 24 points (nine goals, 15 assists) in 2012-13. The 35-year-old center won 54.7 percent of face-offs and has won 53.6 since entering the NHL in 2006-07. Stastny has scored 755 points (263 goals, 492 assists) in 1,001 regular-season games with the Avalanche, Blues, Jets and Vegas Golden Knights, and has played in 103 playoff games.
Joe Thornton, Toronto Maple Leafs
The 42-year-old forward scored 20 points (five goals, 15 assists) and averaged 13:43 of ice time in 44 games. Though his offense may be on the decline, Thornton can still be a playmaker and ranks seventh on the NHL all-time assists list with 1,104. He is a respected leader on and off the ice and has scored 1,529 points in 1,680 regular-season games during his 23 NHL seasons with the Bruins, San Jose Sharks and Maple Leafs and has played in 186 postseason games.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
