Sports

With NHL trade deadline two weeks away, news on Rielly injury could determine Dubas' path – Toronto Sun

Published

5 years ago

February 9, 2020

Three crucial games are on the schedule for the Maple Leafs this week, but it’s what happens off the ice that could chart the course of what the club does before the trade deadline.

Defenceman Morgan Rielly, out of the lineup since Jan. 12 when he suffered a broken foot against the Florida Panthers, is slated to have another appointment with doctors late in the week to assess how he is recovering. Based on that meeting, general manager Kyle Dubas should have a clearer idea as to how serious he will be in pursuit of a defenceman before the National Hockey League’s deadline hits on Feb. 24.

The original prognosis on Rielly was that he would miss at least eight weeks, which would put him out of the lineup until some time around mid-March. If it’s determined that Rielly could be out longer, perhaps until the end of the regular season, the player would stay on long-term injured reserve.

With Ilya Mikheyev (wrist) and Cody Ceci (ankle) in a similar position, Dubas would have the money to acquire a defenceman, provided there is certainty that Rielly, Mikheyev and Ceci would stay on LTIR until the regular season ends. With no salary cap implications in the playoffs, any of the three, if not all, could return to the lineup.

The Leafs have enough on their plate on the ice, beginning the week in third place in the Atlantic Division, two points up on the Panthers, who have two games in hand.

Home games against the Arizona Coyotes and Dallas Stars, on Tuesday and Thursday respectively, will be followed by a date on Saturday in Ottawa against the Senators that starts a three-game trip.

What would be best for the Leafs, likely in a playoff race until the final week of the season, would be to get Rielly back as soon as possible. If Dubas — who indicated last week that Rielly’s appointment will be this Friday — makes a trade for a defenceman, there is little chance he would get one of Rielly’s calibre.

Youngsters Rasmus Sandin and Timothy Liljegren have performed admirably, but the Leafs need Rielly for the playoff push, even if the original diagnosis of eight weeks is correct.

“We’re playing hard, but that’s a huge loss for us,” Tyson Barrie said. “He is, in my opinion, one of the best defencemen in the league and it hurts to have him out.”

If Dubas decides to stand pat, Sandin and Liljegren will have to shine.

“We have a bright future with those two kids,” Leafs captain John Tavares said on Saturday after playing in his 800th career NHL game. “Especially the meaningful games we are playing right now and how important each and every shift is, they’re stepping up and playing great.”

SIMMERING SOUP

Two games are an awfully small sample size to judge what a player potentially can add, but it’s apparent the Leafs have in Jack Campbell a goaltender who brings the kind of temperament required to be a strong backup.

Campbell’s first two games in a Leafs uniform resulted in three of a possible four points, and after each outing, the 28-year-old was on point.

The word on Campbell when the Leafs acquired him from the Los Angeles Kings last Wednesday, along with burly forward Kyle Clifford, was the club was getting a genuinely good person who will be a pillar in the dressing room.

Again, it’s early, but that idea is bearing out in what Campbell has been saying.

“I felt great,” Campbell said after starting twice in a 24-hour span, the first time he had done so in the NHL. “I’m just thankful for the opportunity to get back in there.

“For me, I’m on my game when I’m not thinking so much and it’s nice to be able to to get some rhythm going. I know Freddy (Andersen) will be healthy, whenever that is, and I know he’s going to play great down the stretch. It’s my job to be ready whenever my number is called.”

Fatigue was not an issue for Campbell after he made 26 saves against the Anaheim Ducks on Friday and then 28 against the Montreal Canadiens.

“There’s a little taste to what some No. 1s go through,” Campbell said of the back-to-back starts. “It’s about battling for your teammates and that’s what drove me (Saturday), was just forget about how I feel and whether I’ve ever done it. I just know this team needed two points. We got one … and we’ll get two points next time.”

Campbell had been perfect until a point shot by Canadiens defenceman Marco Scandella got past him with under three minutes to play.

“I just made one small little error,” Campbell said. “I was trying to stay a little bigger (and failing to keep his stick on the ice). I’ll fix it and I know I’ll be even better next game.”

Campbell is under contract through the 2021-22 season. That has to make Leafs Nation happy.

NICK TICKS ALONG

As Auston Matthews closes in on 50 goals — he needs 10 in the Leafs’ final 26 games to reach the milestone — prospect Nick Robertson continues to fill the net with the Peterborough Petes.

Robertson, the Leafs’ second-round pick last year, has been scoring at an eye-opening rate and is approaching an Ontario Hockey League record.

Robertson has scored at least one goal in 14 consecutive games, bringing him to 42 goals in 37 games this season.

The OHL record for most consecutive games with at least one goal is 19, set by the Petes’ Mike Ricci in 1988 and tied by Alex DeBrincat of the Erie Otters in 2017.

When the Leafs chose Robertson 53rd overall last June in Vancouver, the feeling in some corners was that Toronto got a steal. Robertson, whose shot and accuracy already would be the envy of many players across the NHL, is proving that notion correct.

It’s safe to assume Robertson would have hit 50 goals a while ago had he not missed a total of 16 games, first because of a finger injury and then because of his participation with the United States at the world junior championship in the Czech Republic.

When Robertson signed an entry-level contract with the Leafs last fall, he eschewed insisting on performance bonuses, figuring it could eventually help him get to the NHL quicker considering the salary-cap constraints Toronto faces.

“Signing for a little less would help me in the fact that, theoretically, if they were to call me up, it wouldn’t affect their cap (as much),” Robertson told us recently. “Right now, I don’t really care about how much the first contract is or how much the second one is. It was just good for me to sign and it gave me confidence and it has worked out so far.”

LOOSE LEAFS

The Leafs return to practice on Monday after having Sunday off, and we should have a better idea whether Andersen (neck) will be able to play on Tuesday against the Coyotes. The Leafs are hopeful that another day away from the rink gave forward William Nylander, who missed the past two games because he was sick, the time he needed to get healthy … Given a chance to have a do-over, Barrie wouldn’t have taken a shot off the rush on Canadiens goalie Carey Price in overtime on Saturday night. Price made a relatively easy save, re-directing the puck with his blocker to Nick Suzuki. The Canadiens forward wheeled up ice on a breakaway and Montreal scored seconds later when Ilya Kovalchuk buried Suzuki’s rebound for a 2-1 win. “I shouldn’t have shot it,” Barrie said. “Probably should have pulled up and waited for something better to present itself. It was a perfect scenario for them.” … Campbell’s initial impression of Tavares: “What a leader. I’ve been with a couple of awesome captains, Jamie Benn (in Dallas) and Anze Kopitar (in Los Angeles) and I love those guys. J.T. brings that. He says some great stuff and he backs up everything. It’s only been a couple of days for me with him so I won’t elaborate too much but it’s just an honour to play with him.” … Mason Marchment scored his sixth goal in three games on Sunday to help the Toronto Marlies beat the visiting Laval Rocket 5-2. Egor Korshkov, Kristians Rubins, Matt Read and Pontus Aberg also scored for the Marlies, who won for the second time in as many games. Toronto goaltender Kasimir Kaskisuo made 25 saves.

tkoshan@postmedia.com

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Sports

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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Sports

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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Sports

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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