Latest news with #32Thoughts
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Maple Leafs Reportedly Exploring ‘Creative' Contract in John Tavares Talks
Maple Leafs Reportedly Exploring 'Creative' Contract in John Tavares Talks originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Toronto Maple Leafs are actively working on a new contract for John Tavares but are facing resistance from the veteran forward's camp. Advertisement Despite what insiders are calling 'creative' proposals from Toronto, it looks like Tavares has not bought into those contract terms a week away from free agency. According to Sportnet's Elliotte Friedman, reporting during Monday's episode of the "32 Thoughts" podcast, both the Leafs and Tavares' agent are committed to securing the best possible deal, but the two sides remain apart. 'You've got a team trying to get Tavares to the best deal they can get, and you've got an agent trying to get Tavares to the best deal they can get,' Friedman said. 'Toronto is trying to be creative, and right now, Tavares isn't biting on what they're doing.' Friedman said that he 'a billion percent' believes Tavares wants to stay in Toronto, and noted the Leafs are exploring mechanisms like deferred money in the deal. Advertisement 'I think (a deferred-money-type contract) is possible,' Friedman said. 'This could be the last year you're allowed to defer money. There's a chance all of this could go away under the CBA.' Chris Johnston also referred to the team's approach as 'creative' on Monday's episode of "The Chris Johnston Show" podcast, aligning with Friedman's assessment about deferring money. Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Tavares (91) skates with the puck against the Montreal Canadiens in the third period at Scotiabank Arena. Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images "There are creative ways, and the Leafs are a creative team with their contracts," Johnston said. "I wouldn't be surprised. I've said all along that I think this is one of those times a deferred money deal might even make sense now (that) those are being wiped out, I believe, in the next CBA." Advertisement Tavares, coming off a 74-point season, has publicly expressed his desire to return to Toronto. 'Obviously, I've expressed my desire to stay and make it work,' Tavares said. 'Very optimistic that we can work something out where I'm back, but obviously haven't put a lot of thought into it, it's only been a couple of days.' Related: Maple Leafs Facing Major Decision on John Tavares Contract Related: Darren Dreger Predicts What John Tavares' Next Maple Leafs Contract Could Look Like This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 24, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Reports Link Marner to Golden Knights as Favorites
New reports suggest Vegas Golden Knights as heavy favourites to land Toronto's Mitch Marner. Image The Mitch Marner sweepstakes have dominated headlines over the past few weeks with new reports coming everyday on where the superstar winger is considering going. We started to see more clarity with the frontrunners recently with reports coming out on top contenders but Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman dropped the biggest tidbit of information yet. Advertisement On Monday, he reported on his podcast "32 Thoughts" that the Vegas Golden Knights are now being looked at as the team to beat when it comes to signing Marner. More NHL: Toews To Join Hometown Winnipeg Jets Next Season We recently explained current betting odds on Marner and that it was good time to pull the trigger on a bet for him to go to Vegas and time may be quickly running out. Free agency opens up next Tuesday on July 1st and there's no telling when Marner will come to a decision. Some insiders have noted it may be some time after that Marner decides who he wants to sign with, including a report from Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman saying there may be a team that will offer Marner a contract with a certain time limit for a decision as the team would like time to go out and make more decisions. Advertisement There's no telling who Marner will go with but the reports of him being interested in joining a Western Conference team, a contender and one that will be willing to pay him around $12-14 million per season all fit the Vegas mold. The Golden Knights have just $9.61 million in projected cap space currently but many insiders have noted that Marner may be willing to take a shorter term deal to help accommodate whatever team he is signing with. Vegas has also proven to be a hyper-aggressive franchise when it comes to making impactful roster moves and could very easily make a trade that would clear enough cap space to bring in Marner. Advertisement Nothing is ever confirmed until it happens but if betting odds are still available, you can feel comfortable in taking a shot at Marner joining the Golden Knights that is still listed at +185 on FanDuel Sportsbook. More NHL: 2026 Stanley Cup Odds: Oilers, Panthers Lead Early Contenders But One Unexpected Favourite Emerges Marner's elite playmaking and two-way ability would slot perfectly into the Knights' system, giving them another dynamic weapon alongside Jack Eichel and Mark Stone. With a proven championship core already in place, Marner could be the piece that puts them over the top, making +1200 odds a potential steal before any deal becomes official.
Edmonton Journal
5 days ago
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
'This ends now': It's time for change in Edmonton Oilers nets, but what to do?
Article content The one big thing experts agree on when it comes to the goalie situation of the Edmonton Oilers is that it's time for change, even if that is for change itself. But in trying to make such a move, ESPN analyst Ray Ferraro said the Oilers are 'in a tough spot.' Article content On his Ray & Dregs podcast, Ferraro suggested there's no question that Florida's Sergei Bobrovsky was a better goalie in the 2025 Final than Edmonton's tandem of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard. Article content Edmonton could try to sign veteran New Jersey goalie Jake Allen as an Unrestricted Free Agents, but there a few teams competing to sign him, Ferraro said. 'He's a free agent. How much money can you put into your (goalie) position? Because you need it so definitively in other places (on the Oilers roster). They're in a tough spot.' Anaheim's John Gibson is another name out there, Ferraro said, but will Anaheim be willing to retain cap space? 'That's an expensive trade both, I would think, in assets and in dollars. Like, they're in a tough spot there. But I think might even be in the place of change for change, is part of what they need to do. I don't think you can go back with the same goaltending… There would be an undercurrent all year with the same goaltending. And that's unfortunately, I mean, that's the nature of that bloody position, right?' Article content At the New York Post, columnist Larry Brooks said $10-million-per-year Bobrovsky was, in fact, the difference-maker in both Florida's 2024 and 2025 Cup wins. It's wise to spend on a goalie, Brooks said. 'There have been exceptions to the rule, but the notion that legit contenders can get by with middle-tier netminders has always been patently absurd. I'm not sure whether Edmonton GM Stan Bowman was more derelict in his duty by attempting to get by with a goaltending tandem of Stuart Skinner ($2.6M per) and Calvin Pickard ($1M) — 3.6 percent of the cap, whoop-de-do — or failing to match last summer's offer sheets to Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway. Unless McDavid has already decided that it is best for him and his family to leave Edmonton for perhaps a major market city in the East — and we all know we are talking about New York and Toronto — then the Oilers' ability to acquire a franchise-type goaltender surely will impact No. 97's decision whether to sign an extension.' Article content And Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman said on his 32 Thoughts podcast, 'I don't know if they're going to bring in another goalie to go with Skinner, or they're going to move on. But one thing I do believe is that they have to end the uncertainty. Like teams that win the Stanley Cup, you don't have as much turnover or upheaval in net the way Edmonton's had the last two years. And I could see McDavid and the organization saying, 'Enough of that. We have to end that one way or the other. Whatever you do, this ends now.'' My take 1. I don't want to see the Oilers trade Stuart Skinner, not with Skinner on a bargain contract of $2.6 million this season. But his save percentage has decreased three years in a row, from. 913 to .905 to .896, and he's always been a hot and cold goalie. He was inconsistent in the 2025 playoffs, cold against Los Angeles, hot against Vegas and Dallas, then cold against Florida. His playoff save percentages the last three years have been mediocre, .883, .901 and .889. Article content Skinner may have a break-out season where he puts his game together. But it's evident that to challenge for the Cup, the Oilers need a goalie who can challenge Skinner for the starting job. 2. Calvin Pickard, 33, had an OK .900 save percentage in the regular season, then went seven wins and one loss in the playoffs on an .886 save percentage. He's a good back-up goalie, but he's not likely the guy to lead Edmonton to the Stanley Cup in the playoffs. I agree with Brooks that Bobrovsky has been Florida's best player in the Finals two years running. He stole two wins for the Panthers in 2024 and was the better goalie in Game 7 as well. He was the better goalie in at least four out of the six games this Stanley Cup Final. 3. All that said, OIlers GM Stan Bowman truly is in a tough spot here. First, there's limited cap space on the Oilers to pay a goalie. There's also a limited number of goalies available just now. Third, goalies really are voodoo, as Bowman has suggested, with Skinner and Pickard outplaying much more highly-paid and highly-rated goalies in VGK's Adin Hill and Dallas' Jake Oetteringer in the playoffs this year. Article content 4 It may well be that change for change's sake is needed here. The Oilers have rolled the dice with Skinner and Pickard twice and had some success, but not ultimate success. If a starter is available, possibly in a trade for Viktor Arvidsson, Bowman should think hard before pulling the trigger, but also think hard before rejecting the notion. 5. I fear things could get ugly if the Oilers stick with Skinner and Pickard, and the teams continue to get inconsistent goaltending. Why not mix it up? Pickard could be kept on as a goalie in Bakersfield in case of injury, or in case either of the other goalies flops. Latest National Stories
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Updating the pursuit for Gavin McKenna, a top Michigan State hockey target
Michigan State hockey is in one of the most fierce recruiting battles of the offseason, the sweepstakes for Gavin McKenna. McKenna, a native of Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada, is planning to move on from junior hockey into the NCAA. While he was slated to be a lock to go to Michigan, this recruitment has blown wide open. The anticipated No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, McKenna played three years for the Medicine Hat Tigers where he accumulated 244 points in 133 games. With the superstar making his college decision soon, information is coming in within his recruitment. On the "32 Thoughts" podcast, Elliotte Friedman noted that McKenna has conducted Zoom meetings with four programs: Denver, Michigan, Michigan State and Penn State. As anticipated though, it appears the decision is going to come down to Michigan State and Penn State. As it appears with the intel, Penn State has made a massive NIL offer to McKenna, while Michigan State's continued professional development has made them a top player in many massive recruitments around the sport. This one should come down to the wire. Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on X @Cory_Linsner
Edmonton Journal
6 days ago
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Calgary Flames' draft-week primer: Picks, history, potential targets and more
Article content Is it Friday yet? That's the feeling around the Saddledome and for hockey fans in all sorts of other offices too, now that we're just days away from the 2025 NHL Draft. The prospect-picking starts with Friday's televised first round. Article content The 2025 NHL Draft is 'decentralized,' similar to the model used by the NFL and NBA. While the top prospects will be gathered at Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, the teams will submit the picks virtually from their respective home cities. Conroy, director of amateur scouting Tod Button and the rest of the Flames' braintrust will set up draft headquarters at the Saddledome. Friday's first round will be broadcast on Sportsnet at 5 p.m. MT. Rounds 2-7 run Saturday, starting at 10 a.m. MT. What will be the biggest Flames' storyline in the lead-up to the draft? This is an easy one. There are always some major trades during draft week and Flames defence workhorse Rasmus Andersson is among the big names who could potentially be on the move. Andersson, 28, is about to enter the final year of his contract in Calgary. The two sides have had preliminary conversations about the possibility of an extension, but the insiders seem convinced a trade is the most likely outcome. Article content As Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman wrote in his latest 32 Thoughts: 'The feeling across the league is the talented defenceman is ready for something new. I believe the Flames are willing, but only when they get what they want. There's significant interest, which helps.' Conroy can wait this out. He has already proven his patience as a general manager and he shouldn't feel pressured to make a move until closer to the trade deadline. But if rival executives are willing to offer up their first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, or if they will pay a premium to have the righty rearguard on their roster all season, it's certainly possible this could be Andersson's final week with the Flames. He has logged 536 career appearances with the club. What picks do the Flames currently hold? The Flames own seven selections, including a pair of plucks in Friday's first round. The full list: Article content First round — 18th overall and 32nd overall Second round — 54th overall Third round — 80th overall Fourth round — No pick Fifth round — 144th overall Sixth round — 176th overall Seventh round — 208th overall Why won't the Flames be selecting at 16th overall? Back in August 2022, when Brad Treliving still was the general manager at the Saddledome, the Flames swapped Sean Monahan and a conditional first-round pick to the Montreal Canadiens in a salary-dump deal. The conditions on that draft choice would have made a great sleep story, but it ultimately boiled down to this — if the Flames didn't score a Top-10 selection in 2025, they'd surrender their own swing to the Habs. After the Calgary-based crew barely missed the playoffs this spring, tying an unlucky record for most points by a team that failed to earn a post-season invite, they slotted in at No. 16. Article content Flames fans will now keep fingers crossed that the Canadiens won't scoop their top target in that slot. Who could be on Calgary's radar in the opening round? Looking long-term, the Flames' biggest need is at the centre position. Next on the wishlist would be right-shot wingers and lefty defencemen. The top of this particular draft class is heavy on pivot prospects, so it feels like a strong chance that Conroy & Co. will cash one or even both of their opening-round picks on future faceoff men. Among the potential targets at No. 18 are Seattle Thunderbirds captain Braeden Cootes, U.S. National Team Development leading scorer Cole McKinney and Cole Reschny, who put up 25 points in 11 playoff games with the Victoria Royals and has committed to the University of North Dakota. Another name to watch is Ben Kindel, who already is a fan fave at the Saddledome after filling the net for the Calgary Hitmen. While not everyone is convinced that Kindel projects as a pivot in the NHL, he can always slide over the right wing. Latest National Stories
