First Call: Ex-Pitt star cuts his NFL Combine workout short; Le’Veon Bell to box again; Kasperi Kapanen scoring with BluesVideo
It wasn’t a great NFL scouting combine for former Pitt wide receiver Jordan Addison. Ex-Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell is boxing again. Derek Carr may be figuring out his situation. Kasperi Kapanen is making a quick impression with the St. Louis Blues. And Pitt men’s hockey is rolling into its...
Rangers, Bruins among winners at close of NHL trade deadline
The New York Rangers and Boston Bruins loaded up for a potential Stanley Cup run, making bold moves to add talented players in the days leading up to the NHL trade deadline. Coincidentally, the contenders face off Saturday afternoon in Boston. The Detroit Red Wings and Philadelphia Flyers were not...
Jonathan Quick goes to Vegas; Bruins get Tyler Bertuzzi before NHL deadlineVideo
Jonathan Quick is on the move again, back to the Pacific Division to solve the Vegas Golden Knights’ latest goaltending quandary. Vegas acquired Quick from Columbus on Thursday, less than 36 hours after the Los Angeles Kings traded the two-time Stanley Cup-winning goaltender and 2014 playoff MVP to the Blue...
Bruins lock up David Pastrnak with 8-year, $90M deal through 2031Video
BOSTON — The Bruins were already on pace for the best record in NHL history when they added toughness and depth for what they hope will be a long playoff run this spring. Now general manager Don Sweeney has helped secure the team’s future, too. Boston signed All-Star forward David...
Senators acquire defenseman Jakob Chychrun from CoyotesVideo
Jakob Chychrun’s long wait is over. After sitting out eight games while awaiting a trade, the defenseman is finally on the move after being dealt from the Arizona Coyotes to the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday. Rather than wait until the NHL’s trade deadline to hit on Friday, the Coyotes found...
Red Wings sign Dylan Larkin to 8-year, $69.6M dealVideo
DETROIT — The Detroit Red Wings have signed center Dylan Larkin to an eight-year, $69.6 million contract, banking on their captain being a key player in the next phase of their rebuilding plan. The Red Wings announced the deal Wednesday, two days before the NHL trade deadline. Larkin’s new contract...
Patrick Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuildVideo
CHICAGO — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The...
Hurricanes, Leafs, Oilers among Stanley Cup contenders loading up with tradesVideo
The New York Rangers are far from the only top contender making big moves with still three sleeps left before the NHL trade deadline. The Rangers acquired Patrick Kane from Chicago in a three-team trade Tuesday night, adding the three-time Stanley Cup champion to their core that reached the Eastern...
Rangers acquire star winger Patrick Kane from BlackhawksVideo
The New York Rangers acquired Patrick Kane in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday, reuniting the star winger with former teammate Artemi Panarin and stamping themselves as a Stanley Cup contender in the loaded Eastern Conference. New York was believed to be out of the running for Kane...
First Call: NFL considers onside kick replacement; pitching Tee Higgins to Pats; Connor McDavid pushing Mario-esque pace
In Tuesday’s “First Call,” could Tee Higgins go from one AFC rival of the Pittsburgh Steelers to another? We consider some NFL rules changes. Connor McDavid is on a Mario Lemieux-esque scoring pace. And the Pitt Panthers are enjoying success on the ice as well as the hardwood. Rules are...
Lightning add grit in acquiring Tanner Jeannot from Predators
The slumping Tampa Bay Lightning added an element of grit into their lineup to punch up their late-season playoff push by acquiring forward Tanner Jeannot in a trade with the Nashville Predators on Sunday night. And the Lightning paid a high price in doing so by trading away third-year defenseman...
First Call: Hines Ward gets 1st XFL coaching win; Marc-Andre Fleury has Sidney Crosby comparison for Wild teammateVideo
Monday’s “First Call” tells you how some former Pittsburgh Steelers are doing as coaches in the XFL. Marc Andre-Fleury has a Sidney Crosby comparison for one of his current teammates. A former Penguins player gets his number retired in his original city. Another former Penguins defenseman is getting traded. And...
Devils acquire Timo Meier in blockbuster trade with SharksVideo
The New Jersey Devils acquired Timo Meier from the San Jose Sharks in a blockbuster trade Sunday in advance of the NHL trade deadline. New Jersey sent a 2023 first-round pick, a conditional 2024 first-rounder, forward Andreas Johnsson and prospects Shakir Mukhamadullin, Fabian Zetterlund and Nikita Okhotiuk. In return, the...
First Call: Another big name ILB will hit free agency; Taylor Lewan renews interest in Steelers; Alex Ovechkin returns
Friday’s “First Call” looks at two recently released veterans that could fit positions of need for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Alex Ovechkin is back for the Capitals. Aaron Rodgers has left his darkness retreat. And the Duquesne men’s basketball team hunts for win No. 20 on Sunday. Taking another run? The...
NHL-leading Bruins acquire Orlov, Hathaway from CapitalsVideo
BOSTON — The NHL-leading Boston Bruins acquired defenseman Dmitry Orlov and forward Garnet Hathaway from the Washington Capitals on Thursday, the latest big trade acquisition by an Eastern Conference contender. Boston sent a 2023 first-round pick, a 2024 second-rounder, a 2025 third-rounder and forward Craig Smith to Washington and an...
Alex Ovechkin returns to Capitals following death of father
ARLINGTON, Va. — Alex Ovechkin is back with the Washington Capitals, eager to play hockey again while he and his family are still mourning the death of his father, Mikhail. Ovechkin missed four games over the past week to fly to Moscow. He went straight from the airport to the...
Islanders’ Mat Barzal out indefinitely with lower-body injuryVideo
New York Islanders center Mat Barzal is out indefinitely with a lower-body injury, the team announced Monday, a major blow to its playoff pursuit. He was injured on a hit from Boston’s Craig Smith early in a 6-2 loss on Saturday. Barzal appeared to take a knee-on-knee hit and left...
Blackhawks’ Jonathan Toews dealing with long covid-19 symptomsVideo
CHICAGO — Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews announced Sunday he is dealing with symptoms of long covid-19 and chronic immune response syndrome. Toews hasn’t played since Jan. 28. The Blackhawks placed the 34-year-old center on injured reserve Wednesday with what they said was a non-covid-19-related illness. “It has been really...
Hurricanes’ outdoor game marks another Sun Belt push for NHL
RALEIGH, N.C. — The Carolina Hurricanes were days away from hosting an NHL Stadium Series outdoor game and Don Waddell was feeling the stress of hoping that everything goes smoothly and the thrill of the opportunity ahead. It’s the same mix of emotions for NHL organizers, too. “It’s very exciting...
Alex Ovechkin away from Capitals due to death of his father
Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin says his father, Mikhail, has died at age 71. Ovechkin delivered the news Wednesday on social media along with family photos and video. “Today my father passed away,” Ovechkin posted in Russian on his Instagram account. “I thank everyone for their support but ask that...
First Call: JuJu Smith-Schuster ignites Twitter spat with Eagles; Steelers AFC rival loses QB; Alex Ovechkin out in D.C.
Former Pittsburgh Steeler JuJu Smith-Schuster ignited a post-Super Bowl Twitter spat with some angry Philadelphia Eagles. The Steelers will meet a frequent AFC rival with a new quarterback next year. The Capitals are facing a stretch of games without Alex Ovechkin. And it was a wild night in the Metropolitan...
Bruins’ Linas Ullmark NHL’s biggest goalie surprise this seasonVideo
Linus Ullmark moved to the Boston area in summer 2021 with his wife, their two young children and their dogs after signing with the Bruins. Settling in with his new team didn’t happen right away. Fresh off signing a $20 million, four-year contract, Ullmark shared the net with rookie Jeremy...
Blackhawks F Patrick Kane unsure about possible trade
CHICAGO — While Patrick Kane is deciding if he is OK with leaving the Chicago Blackhawks — his only NHL home — the veteran forward is keeping track of the rest of the league. So, yeah, he definitely noticed the New York Rangers trading for fellow winger Vladimir Tarasenko on...
Rangers acquire Vladimir Tarasenko in trade with BluesVideo
Vladimir Tarasenko is going to the New York Rangers in a trade that answers another big move by a rival and sets the stage for more to come before the March 3 deadline. The Rangers acquired the prolific scoring winger and defenseman Niko Mikkola from the St. Louis Blues on...
Devils All-Star Jack Hughes out with upper-body injuryVideo
NEWARK, N.J. — New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes has an upper-body injury and is considered week-to-week. Coach Lindy Ruff gave the injury update after the Devils morning skate ahead of their home game Thursday night against the Seattle Kraken. Hughes left practice early Wednesday. “He’s a young guy —...
