NHL salary cap could initiate trade free-for-all
Matt Niskanen wasn’t totally shocked when the Washington Capitals traded him to Philadelphia last week. One look at their salary cap picture explained it. “I know what kind of situation Washington was in, so I knew there was a possibility,” he said. General managers say there is more trade chatter...
Fantasy sports podcast: Penguins lead hockey interest, MLB offense soars, NBA chaos
We’ve moved up our Rotowire fantasy sports podcast for the week. Good timing. There’s a lot to get to in the fantasy sports world with Jeff Erickson. That record-setting Padres-Rockies series over the weekend was reason enough. Then there is the injury to Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard and the improvement...
Sharks re-signing Erik Karlsson sets table for busy NHL offseason
Erik Karlsson had no wanderlust to test the free-agent market before re-signing in San Jose. “I never thought outside that box,” Karlsson said. “I’m happy that it didn’t get to that.” A handful of other teams aren’t so happy because the two-time Norris Trophy-winning defenseman would have been the best...
Lightning re-sign Braydon Coburn to $3.4M, 2-year deal
TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Lightning have re-signed defenseman Braydon Coburn to a $3.4 million, two-year deal. Coburn will count $1.7 million against the salary cap in each of the next two seasons. General manager Julien BriseBois announced the contract Tuesday. The 34-year-old had four goals and 19 assists...
First Call: Josh Bell maintains All-Star lead; what could Penguins trade 1st-round pick for?
In “First Call” Tuesday, the Pirates need to get fat against the Tigers. Josh Bell still leads in All-Star voting at first base, but not by much. Draft picks are good currency in the NHL. And Lavar Ball continues to act like a moron. Terrible Tigers Boy, the Tigers are...
Sharks sign D Erik Karlsson to monster 8-year deal
SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose Sharks have re-signed pending free agent defenseman Erik Karlsson to an eight-year deal. The Sharks announced the deal on Monday, two weeks before Karlsson was eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. TSN first reported the deal that is expected...
First Call: Carl Hagelin stays with Capitals; another Carmody commits to Notre Dame
For “First Call” Monday, the Stanley Cup celebration in St. Louis was quite a show. There were a few hockey signings of note for Penguins fans. And another WPIAL star is heading to South Bend. Home for Haggy Carl Hagelin is staying with Washington. The former Penguin played in Pittsburgh,...
Escrow looms as biggest issue in upcoming NHL CBA talks
Jonathan Toews said he just wants his contract to be worth what it says on paper. Right now, it’s not that simple. Under terms of the collective bargaining agreement, NHL owners and players divide hockey-related revenue 50/50, and if player salaries exceed that split a certain percentage is withheld in...
Capitals trade Niskanen to Flyers for Gudas, clear cap space
The Flyers acquired Matt Niskanen from the Capitals for Radko Gudas on Friday in a one-for-one swap of defensemen that upgrades Philadelphia’s blue line offense and gives Washington much needed salary-cap space. Niskanen provides the Flyers with an offensive-minded, right-handed shot who can also help on the power play. Philadelphia...
Heartache turns to triumph for St. Louis sports fans
ST. LOUIS — At age 100, Marge Kirchhoefer is among the oldest St. Louis Blues fans and now that they are Stanley Cup champions, she knows exactly how she will celebrate. “It’s too good to be true,” Kirchhoefer said. “I have friends and we all party together. We’re going to...
Blues win Stanley Cup title in Game 7 road victory over BruinsVideo
BOSTON — Ryan O’Reilly scored for the fourth straight game, and rookie Jordan Binnington stopped 32 shots in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday night to lead the St. Louis Blues to a 4-1 victory over the Boston Bruins and their first NHL championship. Alex Pietrangelo added...
Eric Lindros backing anti-concussion efforts in native Canada
TORONTO — Hockey Hall of Famer Eric Lindros is hoping a new campaign launched across Ontario will help amateur athletes, parents and coaches better identify the signs and symptoms of a concussion after his career was cut short by repeated blows to the head. “You see anything that’s off or...
NHL competition committee recommends expansion of instant replay
After several controversial calls sparked outrage during the Stanley Cup playoffs, the NHL/NHLPA competition committee has recommended an expansion of instant replay. The committee called for changes to the coach’s challenge system as well as the expansion of a referee’s ability to review calls on his own. The committee did...
Steelers’ Sutton Smith, ex-hockey player and Blues fan, breaks down Stanley Cup Final
It’s Blues vs. Bruins on Wednesday in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. So I turned to the best possible hockey expert in Pittsburgh for analysis for our podcast today. Look out, Bob Errey and Phil Bourque. Step aside, Colby Armstrong and Mike Rupp. This is Sutton Smith’s time...
Blues hoping for 1 last bit of road magic in Game 7 at Boston
BOSTON — If the St. Louis Blues beat the Boston Bruins in Game 7, perhaps Steve Hatze Petros should get his name on the Stanley Cup. He is the NHL schedule-maker, making him the most responsible for a January-March stretch when the Blues didn’t play more than one consecutive home...
Bruins’ consistency faces final test in Stanley Cup Final vs. BluesVideo
ST. LOUIS — The strains of Jay-Z and Linkin Park’s “Numb/Encore” mashup emanated from a small speaker on the hallway floor outside the visiting locker room following the Boston Bruins’ morning skate. “I don’t know what you’re expecting of me … put under the pressure … of walking in your...
Ex-Penguins defenseman Robert Bortuzzo draws ire of Boston fans with punch, wink
Former Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Robert Bortuzzo has become a hated man among Boston sports fans. In the waning moments of Sunday night’s 5-1 St. Louis Blues win over the Boston Bruins in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, Bortuzzo and forward Noal Acciari had words. Bortuzzo caught Acciari with...
Big, bad Bruins are back, force Cup Final Game 7 vs. BluesVideo
ST. LOUIS — Punch, counterpunch, Game 7. Just when it looked like the Boston Bruins were down and out, they remembered they can throw their weight around, too. Boston showed it can play St. Louis’ physical style of hockey and then some, and the Stanley Cup Final is tied at...
Brett Hull appeared inebriated at the Stanley Cup Final and the internet was quick to point it outVideo
Brett Hull appeared a little tipsy just before the start of the Stanley Cup Final on Sunday and he was quite popular on the internet. Hull joined former St. Louis Blues players Bernie Federko and Bob Plager as they were ramping up the crowd just before Game 6 against the...
Bruins-Blues Stanley Cup Final Game 6 could hinge on officiating
ST. LOUIS — Patrick Maroon doesn’t want to go there. Not even about how the St. Louis Blues handle the roller coaster of inconsistent officiating. “I’m not talking about it,” the usually talkative Maroon said. “If you want to talk about Game 6, I’ll talk about Game 6.” Except the...
Special team: Blues penalty kill has them on verge of Stanley Cup winVideo
Something is missing from the Boston Bruins power play. The uninterrupted puck movement and cross-ice passes to a wide open David Pastrnak aren’t there anymore. Torey Krug isn’t getting the chance to fire away from the top. Patrice Bergeron isn’t dominating between the faceoff circles like before. Boston rode its...
Blues on verge of joining exclusive list of teams to fire coach, win Stanley Cup
St. Louis Blues coach Craig Berube is one win away from joining an exclusive club. If the Blues can close out the Boston Bruins in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final on Sunday night (or in Game 7 on Wednesday), Berube will become the seventh NHL coach hired midseason...
Blues on cusp of 1st Stanley Cup after beating Bruins
BOSTON — Jordan Binnington stopped 38 shots, and Ryan O’Reilly and David Perron scored for St. Louis on Thursday night to give the Blues a 2-1 victory over the Boston Bruins and a 3-2 lead in the Stanley Cup Final. The Blues have won two straight since a 7-2 loss...
Bartender at Boston Bruins games doubles as national anthem singer
BOSTON — Todd Angilly’s co-workers have gotten used to him showing up late. The TD Garden bartender often arrives after the opening faceoff when the Boston Bruins are playing at home, but he has a good excuse: He is two floors down, singing the national anthem on the ice. When...
Plum’s R.J. Umberger makes Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame
Plum native R.J. Umberger is part of the 2019 class of the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame, the school announced Thursday. Umberger played three seasons for the Buckeyes from 2000-03, leading the team in scoring all three years. He finished his college career with 129 points in 112 games....
