Vancouver Canucks Sign Braeden Cootes To A Three-Year, Entry Level Contract
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Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Why Islanders No. 1 Pick Matthew Schaefer Chose No. 48
On Monday, the New York Islanders inked first overall pick Matthew Schaefer to his three-year entry-level deal as he walked to the Citi Field mound to throw out the inaugural first pitch. Islanders Sign No. 1 Pick Matthew Schaefer To Entry-Level Deal The New York Islanders announced that they have signed No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer to his entry-level deal. Prior to the game, he did a jersey swap with New York Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo, showcasing his No. 48 Islanders jersey for the first time after rocking No. 71 at development camp. 'Obviously, I had to work for my number, and I had to work for a spot on the team, and I still have to do that, right?' Schaefer said. 'I got the number, but I still got to work for a spot on the team. And, like I said, there's still a lot of work, and I gotta put my head down, put my work boots on, and get to work. Still a lot of work to come and a lot of exciting times, but can't wait for everything." So, you may be No. 48? The reason is because of his brother Johnny, who was a huge Danny Briere fan. "I'll give you a quick background information on why I wear No. 48," Schaefer told us at the 2025 NHL Combine up in Buffalo. "So my brother wore 48 because of Danny Briere, and then I wore it because my brother, so it was a big 360 moment. I mean, we're in Buffalo right now, and my brother met Danny Briere in Buffalo at a hockey tournament [when we were younger]. Danny was coaching his son, and then he ended up coming to meet my brother. Briere went to his eye level. He talked to him. And from that day on, my brother wanted to wear 48, and it's a great number. Very unique, obviously, Mr. Briere wore it. So, a pretty good player to wear the number. "It's pretty cool. He's a great person. I've got to know him. He's a really good person I got to meet. He cares about me a lot, and I'm very happy for everything they've accomplished with Philadelphia. They have a great team, obviously, a great organization, and a great staff." While the Flyers had an early pick in the first round, Briere knew that landing Schaefer wasn't happening, but that wasn't going to change anything about their relationship. "We text all the time. He will always have my back no matter what happens," Schaefer said. "I mean, he tells me he's just one call away. He's got to know my family. I got to know him. He really cares about people, and I'm happy I have someone like him." So, there you have it, the story on why Schaefer will be rocking No. 48. PHOTO: Kevin Hoffman-Imagn Images
New York Times
3 hours ago
- New York Times
The little-known Sidney Crosby stories you've never heard until now
PITTSBURGH — Covering Sidney Crosby's career has been a reporter's dream. Three championships, 16 straight postseason appearances, 625 goals and 1,687 points have provided more than ample material to write about over the years. Crosby's politeness and likability only make the job that much easier. I'm often asked about my favorite Crosby stories, and I've told many over the years. I try not to repeat myself. When you cover a team for as long as I have, you notice things when the cameras are off. For better or worse, that's typically when the real person is on display. Crosby is as real as it gets. So, years of being nosy — or observant, as I prefer to say — have opened the door to interactions with and impressions of Crosby that have left a permanent image in my mind. Here are just a few stories that demonstrate who he is. It was the final season at Mellon Arena — the 2009-10 NHL season. The rain was pouring down on a classic, dismal Pittsburgh day in November. About an hour earlier, the Penguins had completed their practice at the arena. Back when they didn't have a state-of-the-art practice facility, most of their practices were at the Igloo. Advertisement Fans knew this, and what I surmised to be a group of high school kids was braving the elements and hoping for an autograph following practice. One by one, the Penguins whizzed out of the parking lot, passing up on the opportunity to get drenched while signing autographs. Then a familiar Range Rover pulled up beside the young fans. One by one, Crosby signed autographs. That part was nothing new. But then, I saw Crosby — without an umbrella — get out of the car and pose for a group picture. He stood and talked with them for a few minutes while the rain poured down. The next day after practice, I explained to him that I wasn't stalking him but had noticed what he did during a rainstorm. His response: 'I mean, they seemed like nice kids. They were out there dealing with the rain. Was the least I could do.' If I had a dime for every time I've seen Crosby inconvenience himself to make a fan's day, I'd have retired long ago. He truly does not see himself as being better than anyone else. Ryan Reaves didn't score many goals during his time in Pittsburgh. In fairness, that's not what he was paid to do. However, on Feb. 6, 2018, Reaves did score in a 5-4 win against a Vegas team that would acquire him from the Penguins later that month. After the next day's practice, Reaves said he realized when he got home that he'd left his garage door open during the game. Crosby, whose locker was nearby, quietly sat and listened while Reaves regaled the media with this story. As Reaves began to walk away, Crosby summoned him. 'You're going to leave the garage door open before every game now, I assume,' Crosby said. 'Right?' Reaves responded, 'Are you crazy? It's winter, man.' Then Reaves laughed and walked away. Crosby, whose superstitions are legendary, looked at me with a completely serious face and said: 'Can you imagine not leaving your garage door up for the rest of the season when you have a game? At least a home game? And I'm the crazy one?' Advertisement It was March 3, 2012, and it was a very strange time in young Crosby's life. He had missed the second half of the 2010-11 season with a career-threatening concussion. This drifted into the next season, as Crosby missed the season's first six weeks. He finally returned in November and had 12 points in his first eight games back, only to miss another three months as the concussion symptoms returned after a game against the Bruins. By March, Crosby was traveling with the team and gearing up for another return. He would skate by himself following practice for long periods of time, pushing himself to the brink, testing if his body was truly better. He almost took things too far in the high altitude of Denver following the Penguins' morning skate. In an otherwise empty building, Crosby was on the ice, and assistant coach Tony Granato put him through one drill after another. I sat behind the net, taking in the scene. By the time it was over, I wanted to bang on the glass and tell him to take a drink of water. Crosby sprinted back and forth, time and time again, exhausting himself like I had never seen any hockey player endure. It was like the famous scene in 'Miracle,' where Herb Brooks made the American team sick after an exhibition game performance he didn't like, only Crosby was dealing with a concussion in high altitude. 'Oh my God,' Crosby said recently. 'I remember that day. So well. Tony G. Oh man.' When the grueling workout was over, Crosby fell to his knees and stayed there for a few minutes. It must have been torture. But I think it was also the day he knew he was able to return. It was May 12, 2010, and the Montreal Canadiens had just closed down Mellon Arena in much the way they opened the building some 43 years earlier: with a loss. The Penguins would not repeat as Stanley Cup champions as they had sustained a stunning upset in Game 7, the last game ever played in the Penguins' original home. Advertisement A group of Penguins employees went on the ice a couple of hours after the game had ended, having one final skate on the Igloo ice in near-dark conditions. About an hour later, my work was finally done, and I was departing the old barn for the final time. I'm the sentimental type and went to that arena so many times as a kid, so I decided to take a stroll through the concourse one final time. While walking through the concourse and a few rows of empty seats in what was by then a pitch-black arena, I was startled to come upon human life in what I thought was an empty building. Sitting there, in Section B-30, were Crosby and his father, Troy. I don't think they were talking all that much. Crosby, only 22 at that point, hadn't lost many big series in his life, and I think that one particularly stung. So, he sat there in silence with his dad. If you had seen him and the look on his face, you'd have bet money that he would win more championships. I think the great ones hate losing more than they enjoy winning, and running into Crosby on that night made it very clear this was the case with him.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Devils Ranked High for 2026 Stanley Cup Betting Odds
A recent report shows that among major sportsbooks, the New Jersey Devils have the eighth-best odds to win the Stanley Cup this season. ESPN Bet NHL Futures lists the Devils at +1600 to take home the Cup. This follows the 2024-25 season, when New Jersey was eliminated in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs by the Carolina Hurricanes, 4–1. The Devils finished the regular season 42-33, ranking 16th in the league and 7th in the Eastern Conference. 2024–25 Playoff ResultsFirst Round Eliminations: Ottawa Senators: Lost to Toronto Maple Leafs (4–2) Tampa Bay Lightning: Lost to Florida Panthers (4–1) Montreal Canadiens: Lost to Washington Capitals (4–1) New Jersey Devils: Lost to Carolina Hurricanes (4–1) St. Louis Blues: Lost to Winnipeg Jets (4–3) Colorado Avalanche: Lost to Dallas Stars (4–3) Minnesota Wild: Lost to Vegas Golden Knights (4–2) Los Angeles Kings: Lost to Edmonton Oilers (4–2) Second Round Eliminations: Toronto Maple Leafs: Lost to Florida Panthers (4–3) Washington Capitals: Lost to Carolina Hurricanes (4–1) Winnipeg Jets: Lost to Dallas Stars (4–2) Vegas Golden Knights: Lost to Edmonton Oilers (4–1) Conference Final Eliminations: Carolina Hurricanes: Lost to Florida Panthers (4–1) Dallas Stars: Lost to Edmonton Oilers (4–1) Stanley Cup Final: Edmonton Oilers: Lost to Florida Panthers (4–2) Stanley Cup Champions: Florida Panthers Sportsbook Odds for 2025–26 Stanley Cup Winner ESPN Bet: Florida Panthers +600 Carolina Hurricanes +800 Colorado Avalanche +800 Edmonton Oilers +850 Vegas Golden Knights +850 Dallas Stars +1000 Tampa Bay Lightning +1400 New Jersey Devils +1600 FanDuel: Florida Panthers +700 Carolina Hurricanes +750 Vegas Golden Knights +850 Edmonton Oilers +850 Dallas Stars +900 Colorado Avalanche +950 Tampa Bay Lightning +1300 New Jersey Devils +1900 BetMGM: Florida Panthers +750 Edmonton Oilers +800 Colorado Avalanche +800 Vegas Golden Knights +850 Carolina Hurricanes +900 Dallas Stars +1000 Tampa Bay Lightning +1600 New Jersey Devils +1800 Why New Jersey Is Still in the Top 8 Despite last year's early exit, the Devils' projected 2025–26 roster has both high-end talent and depth. Stars like Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Dawson Mercer, and Luke Hughes lead the way, supported by veterans Dougie Hamilton and Jacob Markstrom. Offseason additions Connor Brown and Evgenii Dadonov strengthen the bottom six, while continued development on defense and improved even-strength scoring are expected to boost the team's performance. If the Devils stay healthy, particularly Jack Hughes, maintain a solid goaltending rotation, and tighten their defensive identity, they could make a deep playoff push. Heading into the new season, they remain 8th in the league in Stanley Cup odds. Photo Credit: © Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
