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6 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Kyle Connor's Impending Payday Set To Challenge Jets' Financial Philosophy
The Winnipeg Jets have done a terrific job of building a core that has happily accepted less money than they could get on the open market. Whether it's superstar goalie Connor Hellebuyck, star center Mark Scheifele or star defenseman Josh Morrissey, Winnipeg's top players have chosen to stay in Winnipeg for considerably less money than other teams would've gladly paid them. However, there's a situation on the horizon that could upset the apple cart when it comes to the Jets' financial food chain. And it all has to do with star left winger Kyle Connor. For the past six seasons, the 28-year-old Connor has earned $7.14 million. And in return for that money, Connor has thrived on offense. In five of the NHL's last five full seasons, Connor has never produced fewer than 31 goals. And this past season, Connor posted 41 goals and set new career-highs in assists (56) and points (97). You really couldn't ask for more from Connor, who was named to the NHL's First All-Star Team for his efforts. But here's the issue: Connor will be a UFA at the end of the coming season, and if he does get to the open market, teams will be lining up to pay him at least $10-million per season, if not much more than that. And if Winnipeg intends on keeping Connor for the long haul, they're going to have to make Connor the big dog in terms of the salary structure for the Jets. Right now, no Jets player makes more than the $8.5 million Scheifele and Hellebuyck make. Even a top talent like Morrissey only makes $6.25-million per season, while veteran D-man Neal Pionk earns $7-million per year. And young winger Gabe Vilardi just signed an extension that will pay him an average annual amount of $7.5 million. So, with the salary cap rising to $95.5 million next season, do the Jets really want to play with fire and try to shortchange Connor on his next contract? Even limiting Connor to $8.5-million per year on an eight-year extension would represent a huge discount Connor would be giving to Winnipeg. Connor is in his prime, and he has a degree of leverage right now that he may never have again. Why would he accept a hometown discount of sorts when he and his agent are fully aware he could be earning at least $1-$2-million more per year? The answer is clear: he's not going to accept a hometown discount. Indeed, spread out over an eight-year deal, Connor would be leaving $16 million or more on the table to stay in Winnipeg by taking an $8.5-million AAV deal. We can understand why Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff would try his best to keep Connor's pay raise to a minimum, but he'd be running the risk of alienating a cornerstone player at a time when he could easily accommodate a $10-million-per-season payday for a star forward who can't be replaced in free agency or through trades. On the other hand, Cheveldayoff doesn't want to insult Scheifele, Hellebuyck and Morrissey by backing up the money truck for Connor when Cheveldayoff didn't do the same for those veterans. It's all an extremely delicate balance for Jets management, and it could wind up reshaping the Jets' roster. Only six NHL players had more goals than Connor had this past year, and only six players in the league had more points last season than Connor had. He's been a consistent menace with the puck and a savvy playmaker, and he deserves to have a significant raise. If Cheveldayoff can convince Connor to take, say, $9-$9.5 million on an extension, it will be a clear victory for the Jets, and it won't cause much, if any, friction with Winnipeg's other top stars. But there's no guarantee Connor will accept such a deal. In any case, Connor's next payday will likely reset the financial bar for Jets players. At a time when the business of the league is thriving, Connor should reap the benefits of it. And if and when Connor agrees to a new deal, Winnipeg's salary structure almost certainly is going to be significantly altered as a new financial era begins for the organization. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on
Yahoo
2 hours ago
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Lionesses set for bus parade celebration after dramatic Euros win
The Lionesses are set for an open-top bus parade in central London as part of the celebrations following their historic Euros win. England fans erupted with joy across the country as the team defended their Euros title in a penalty shootout win over Spain in the final in Basel, Switzerland, on Sunday. Chloe Kelly scored the winning spot-kick following two huge saves from goalkeeper Hannah Hampton – sending supporters in fan zones into raptures. The King said the team had the royal family's 'warmest appreciation and admiration' following their victory, adding: 'The next task is to bring home the World Cup in 2027 if you possibly can.' The team will attend a homecoming celebration event on Tuesday, with a ceremony due to take place outside Buckingham Palace. There will be an open-top bus parade along the Mall before the ceremony at the Queen Victoria Memorial, the FA said. Fans can attend for free and it will be broadcast live on BBC, ITV, and Sky. Supporters stood on tables, waved flags, threw drinks in the air and excitedly hugged each other as England claimed victory, while the Prince of Wales and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer watched on from the stands in Basel. Alessia Russo gave the Lionesses hope of retaining their Euros title with her second-half equaliser after Mariona Caldentey netted the opener for Spain in the 25th minute. In a statement posted on X after the game, Charles said: 'This brings you, your manager and all your support team my most heartfelt congratulations on winning the Euros 2025. 'For more years than I care to remember, England fans have sung that famous chant 'football's coming home'. 'As you return home with the trophy you won at Wembley three years ago, it is a source of great pride that, through sporting skill and awesome teamwork, the Lionesses have made those words ring true. 'For this, you have my whole family's warmest appreciation and admiration.' The King added: 'More than that, though, you have shown through your example over past weeks that there are no setbacks so tough that defeat cannot be transformed into victory, even as the final whistle looms. 'Well done, Lionesses.' A picture of the Prince of Wales with his arm around his daughter Princess Charlotte was posted to X following the presentation of the trophy to the Lionesses, with the caption 'champions of Europe'. The pair congratulated the team in a short statement, saying: 'What a game! Lionesses, you are the champions of Europe and we couldn't be prouder of the whole team. Enjoy this moment England.' The statement was the first message Charlotte has personally signed on the Prince and Princess of Wales's X account. Sir Keir was the first to congratulate England on their win – posting on X: 'Champions! Congratulations Lionesses – what a team. What a game. What drama. 'You dug deep when it mattered most and you've made the nation proud. History makers.' William was spotted in the stands applauding and celebrating with those around him – including Princess Charlotte. As the presentation ceremony took place, the Prince of Wales was among those to congratulate star striker Michelle Agyemang on being named young player of the tournament. William exchanged words with Agyemang, appearing to say 'well played, fantastic, well done'. Agyemang, 19, who had one England cap before the tournament, scored crucial equalisers in the Lionesses' quarter-final and semi-final comebacks. There was non-stop applause in her home town of South Ockendon as fans saw the Arsenal forward step through a guard of honour to pick up her award. Supporters at her old club Brandon Groves AFC danced a conga line to the sounds of Vindaloo after England's victory. The National Autistic Society congratulated their ambassador Lucy Bronze on the Lionesses victory, adding: 'We hope she has inspired the next generation of autistic girls to follow their dreams.' Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy also gave her reaction to the win, saying: 'What an absolutely extraordinary achievement by our Lionesses – once again they have made history and united the country with pride and joy.' England's path to the final was marked by late drama. They sealed their spot with a last-gasp extra-time win over Italy, following a penalty shootout victory against Sweden in the quarter-finals after nearly crashing out in extra time.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
A Woman's Son Died in the Air India Crash, and Now She Says She Was Given the Wrong Body: 'An Appalling Thing to Have Happened'
'We don't know what poor person is in that casket,' Amanda Donaghey said of the body she believed to be her son's After losing her son in the Air India plane crash, a grieving mother traveled to India to bring his body home. But the coffin she returned with, she claims, contained the remains of a different victim. On June 12, Air India Flight AI171, a London-bound Boeing 787-8 aircraft, crashed just after takeoff in India, resulting in the deaths of 241 people — everyone on board but one. Amanda Donaghey's son, Fiongal Greenlaw-Meek, 39, and his husband Jamie, 45, were on the flight, returning home to the United Kingdom after celebrating their wedding anniversary in India. Donaghey, who lives in France, traveled to the crash site to see where her son had spent his final moments, and to bring his body home — but the remains she brought back to London were not her son's, she claimed in a new The Sunday Times interview published on July 26. Donaghey, 66, first arrived in India five days after the crash, on June 17, and gave blood in order to find a DNA match among the remains of the 241 — 229 passengers and 12 crew members. On June 20, as she began to lose hope, someone informed her a 'match' had been found, she told The Sunday Times. Believing his body would now be able to join the body of his husband, which had already been properly identified and brought home, Donaghey arrived in London Gatwick Airport 'with the assurance that Fiongal was in the casket,' she told The Sunday Times. But she claimed she would soon make a 'heartbreaking' discovery that disrupted the family's plan to have the couple rest together. As Donaghey and her family planned Greenlaw-Meek and Jamie's funerals, police allegedly informed her that a coroner in the U.K. had determined that the remains she had brought home were not her son's. It happened in early July, when family liaison officers set up a meeting with Donaghey, along with Greenlaw-Meek's father, sister and brother, and allegedly told the family, 'We don't have Fiongal. We have carried out the DNA tests and we do not have Fiongal,' according to The Sunday Times. 'I had my doubts, but to be told that was heartbreaking,' the grieving mother recalled to the outlet of the revelation. 'We don't know what poor person is in that casket. This is an appalling thing to have happened,' Donaghey added to The Sunday Times. 'And we would now like the British government to do everything in its power to find out, and bring Fiongal home.' As Donaghey continues her effort to bring her son's body home, she fears, however, it may now be an impossible feat. 'We have spent every day since then on the phone to the Foreign Office, trying to get a response on where Fiongal is,' Donaghey told The Sunday Times. 'All the time, I feel like I'm just standing on the edge of a black hole thinking, 'Has he been disposed of?' ' Greenlaw-Meek's loved ones are not the only ones in this situation. James Healy-Pratt, an aviation lawyer who said he is representing multiple U.K. families in the wake of the crash, previously told CBS News and The Daily Mail that the remains of two British victims had been misidentified. Speaking with CBS News, he described it as 'a double psychological trauma.' In a statement shared on July 23, Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Shri Randhir Jaiswal said authorities 'have seen the report' about the mix-up and "have been working closely with the UK side from the moment these concerns and issues were brought to our attention.' "In the wake of the tragic crash, the concerned authorities had carried out identification of victims as per established protocols and technical requirements,' Jaiswal added. 'All mortal remains were handled with utmost professionalism and with due regard for the dignity of the deceased. We are continuing to work with the UK authorities on addressing any concerns related to this issue." In a statement to The Sunday Times, a U.K. government spokesperson said that "formal identification of bodies is a matter for the Indian authorities." 'We understand that this is an extremely distressing time for the families, and our thoughts remain with them," the spokesperson continued, in part. "We continue to liaise with the government of Gujarat and the government of India on behalf of the Inner West London senior coroner to support the coronial process.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. An official cause of the Air India Flight AI171 crash has not officially been released, but officials are currently investigating why the fuel to the engines was cut. The Ministry of Civil Aviation previously announced it was establishing a committee to investigate the incident, promising to assess "the root cause of the crash" and "contributing factors, including mechanical failure, human error, weather conditions, regulatory compliances and other reasons.' Read the original article on People
