First Call: Gerrit Cole’s runaway 2019 continues; ex-Penguin Ryan Reaves injured
In Friday’s “First Call,” the “Cole Train” looks to keep rolling. Injury issues for a former Penguin. Some early MLB struggles for a WPIAL star. Meanwhile another WPIAL legend is going into the West Virginia Hall of Fame. Ten in a row? Former Pirate Gerrit Cole looks to continue his...
All eyes on revamped Rangers as NHL training camps prepare to open
Henrik Lundqvist wants training camp to begin with an honest conversation. The long-time face of the New York Rangers sees this as an important time to define expectations for this season after watching the team fast-track a rebuild by signing winger Artemi Panarin, trading for defensemen Jacob Trouba and Adam...
First Call: New Coyote Phil Kessel speaks; Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott gets huge contract
Wednesday’s “First Call” features details on Ezekiel Elliott’s new contract. Phil Kessel speaks for the first time as an Arizona Coyote. Austin Meadows homers again. And two local pitchers break new ground in the Major Leagues. Kessel the Coyote Phil Kessel may have been traded to Arizona two months ago,...
First Call: Ex-Steeler Chad Brown screws up nickname; Gerrit Cole is strikeout leader; Phil Kessel to speak
In Tuesday’s “First Call,” a former Steeler gives us some bad broadcasting. A former Cowboy looks for big broadcasting bucks. Le’Veon Bell’s ironic tweet. Gerrit Cole’s huge afternoon. And Phil Kessel finally speaks. Brownout of the brain Chad Brown is now providing color commentary for the Pac-12 Network. He had...
Sabres defenseman, ex-Penguin Matt Hunwick likely to miss season
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Buffalo Sabres defenseman Matt Hunwick is expected to miss this season due to a neck condition that bothered the 12-year veteran for much of last season. General manager Jason Botterill based Hunwick’s prognosis on offseason medical evaluations in making the announcement Wednesday, about two weeks before the...
Capitals’ Evgeny Kuznetsov tests positive for cocaine, banned from Team Russia
GENEVA — Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov tested positive for cocaine at the world championship and has been banned from the Russian national team for four years. Kuznetsov failed a doping test after a sample was taken May 26 — the day Russia won the bronze medal game against the...
Former Rangers and ‘Miracle on Ice’ player charged in attack
GRAND MARAIS, Minn. — Mark Pavelich, a forward on the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” U.S. Olympic hockey team who went on to play for the New York Rangers and two other NHL teams, has been charged with assault for allegedly beating a neighbor with a metal pole and breaking several...
Panthers to retire goalie Roberto Luongo’s number
SUNRISE, Fla. — Roberto Luongo regrets not having more friends and family at his last game with the Florida Panthers. If he had known he was retiring, a decision he didn’t make until weeks later, he would have ensured that more of the people closest to him were there that...
First Call: Le’Veon Bell’s laughable rap video; incredible NHL miscue
In Monday’s “First Call,” hockey hilarity. Le’Veon Bell’s new rap video is completely on brand. A massive baseball bet goes haywire. And one of the best dunks you’ll ever see. Understated and tasteful A teaser for Le’Veon Bell’s new video, “Slide,” is out. Now I know why he needed so...
Lightning give goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy 8-year, $76 million extension
TAMPA, Fla. — Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy has signed an eight-year, $76 million contract extension with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The team announced the deal — worth an average of $9.5 million per season — with the Vezina Trophy winner on Monday. Lightning vice president and general manager Julien BriseBois says...
Ex-Penguin Ron Francis has big hopes as GM of Seattle expansion team
SEATTLE — Ron Francis has all kinds of eye-popping statistics attached to his Hall of Fame career. The former Pittsburgh Penguin averaged more than point a game, is second in NHL history in assists behind Wayne Gretzky and fifth in career points. When CEO Tod Leiweke and the ownership group...
AP: Ron Francis nears deal as GM of Seattle’s NHL expansion team
SEATTLE — Seattle’s NHL expansion team is close to an agreement with Hockey Hall of Famer Ron Francis to become its first general manager, a person with direct knowledge told the Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Tuesday night because the team had not made an announcement....
Convincing Taylor Hall to stay is a Devil of a task for New Jersey
After the New Jersey Devils acquired P.K. Subban, Taylor Hall texted Ray Shero a green checkmark. “Like, ‘Check that box off,’ ” Shero said. “I guess that’s good.” The Devils have a much longer checklist to complete to convince Hall to re-sign and not leave as a free agent next...
‘Huddle Up with Gus’: Dave Hanson goes behind the scenes of filming ‘Slap Shot’
Dave Hanson of “Slap Shot” fame wasn’t a shoo-in to play hockey. “I thought I was moving on to play collegiate football,” Hanson told Gus Frerotte and Dave Hager during this week’s “Huddle Up with Gus” podcast. “I had a couple opportunities to go on and play collegiate football.” An...
First Call: Redskins’ Josh Norman leaps over bull; Jagr trade anniversary; stealing 1st base
In Friday’s “First Call,” an NFL player tries “bull jumping.” A dumb rule change is on trial in minor league baseball. And an unhappy Penguin anniversary. Is this covered in his contract? There is a leaping penalty in football. But I don’t think this is it. Redskins cornerback Josh Norman...
Top pick Jack Hughes skates at New Jersey Devils camp
NEWARK, N.J. — Top draft pick Jack Hughes was a little disappointed on his first night with the New Jersey Devils at their development camp for young players. Sitting around a TV with Joey Anderson, fellow USA Hockey National Team Development Program teammate and Devils’ draft pick Patrick Moynihan and...
Rangers, Islanders, Devils all creating buzz in NHL offseasonVideo
The New York Rangers’ rebuild got a big boost with the additions of forwards Artemi Panarin and Kaapo Kakko. The New Jersey Devils drafted Jack Hughes with the No. 1 pick and traded for P.K. Subban to improve their defense. The Islanders are coming off a second-place finish in the...
NHL’s restricted free agents prove to be almost untouchable
Some of the NHL’s best, young players are available. Technically. Mitch Marner, Brayden Point and Jacob Trouba are just a few of the restricted free agents in a bumper crop. Every team in the league would like to add any of those players this summer. However, it would be a...
Fantasy sports podcast: NHL keepers hurt by new teams; MLB run barrage
It’s our weekly fantasy sports podcast with Jeff Erickson of Rotowire. This week we get into major player changes affecting hockey and basketball fantasy leagues. We’ve seen a ton of player movement in the NHL. Jeff and I each give you one player that has changed teams who could kill...
Maple Leafs acquire defenseman Tyson Barrie in trade with Avalanche
TORONTO — The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired defenseman Tyson Barrie, forward Alex Kerfoot and a sixth-round pick in the 2020 draft from the Colorado Avalanche on Monday. Toronto is sending Colorado forward Nazem Kadri, defenseman Calle Rosen and its third-round selection in the 2020 draft. Colorado will retain 50 percent...
Rangers sign Artemi Panarin to 7-year, $81.5M deal
NEW YORK — The New York Rangers’ rebuild just took a giant leap forward. Winger Artemi Panarin, the top free agent available this offseason, signed a seven-year, $81.5 million deal to join the Rangers, a person with knowledge of the signing told the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because...
Breakup of Blue Jackets highlights Day 1 of free agency
Artemi Panarin is heading to the Big Apple, Matt Duchene to the Music City and goalie Sergei Bobrovsky to South Beach as the expected breakup of the Columbus Blue Jackets’ star core of players became a reality Monday. Add in veterans Corey Perry and Joe Pavelski signing with Dallas, and...
Corey Perry, Joe Pavelski among veteran NHL free agents to watch
The goodbye came quickly if respectfully for Anaheim Ducks veteran Corey Perry. After a knee injury limited the 34-year-old forward to 31 games, general manager Bob Murray last week bought out the final two years of Perry’s contract and sent the franchise cornerstone unexpectedly into free agency. “This is one...
Some top NHL players stay put, avoid free agency
Erik Karlsson wanted some time and space. When the San Jose Sharks acquired the Norris Trophy-winning defenseman in a trade last September, he and his wife told them up front they wouldn’t sign a long-term contract until they played a season to see if it was a fit. They gave...
Goalie Roberto Luongo retires after 19 seasons
SUNRISE, Fla. — Roberto Luongo wanted to keep playing and keep chasing an elusive Stanley Cup, largely because he believes the Florida Panthers are finally in position to be a playoff contender. His body wanted otherwise. And Luongo ultimately listened. The most popular player in Panthers history announced his retirement...