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The Avalanche have placed forward Chris Wagner on waivers for the third time this season, reports Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. It’s likely Wagner’s departure from the roster tomorrow, one way or another, will be the corresponding move for defenseman Josh Manson’s activation from injured reserve. He’s traveled with the team on their road trip and is an option to return against the Sharks on Thursday, head coach Jared Bednar said yesterday.
Wagner, 33, signed a two-way extension with the Avalanche in April after signing as a free agent for his second go-around in Colorado in 2023. He was placed on waivers to begin the season and remained on the opening night roster after clearing, but he was sent to the minors on the opening day of the season after the Avs optimized their long-term injured reserve pool. He’s been ferried between leagues countless times since on paper transactions to extend his temporary waiver exemptions as long as possible. Still, it doesn’t matter how many days he’s been on the active roster once he’s played 10 games since last clearing waivers.
That’s the case, so he ends up back on the wire today as Colorado attempts to sneak him through to the minors without a competing claim yet again. Wagner has played in 22 of the Avs’ 33 games this season but has scored just one goal and is still looking for his first assist of the year. He’s averaged seven minutes per game, won 44.9% of his faceoffs, and has controlled a respectable 48.3% of shot attempts at even strength, given his usage as a defensive specialist.
Teams now have 24 hours to decide whether to submit a claim for Wagner to add him to their active roster or let him continue logging time in the NHL and AHL in Colorado. The Massachusetts native has made 395 career appearances in 11 seasons with the Bruins, Ducks, Avs, and Islanders, scoring 39 goals and 27 assists for 66 points with a -31 rating.
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Rangers could rival Maple Leafs for blockbuster signing
The New York Rangers have a couple of concerns regarding Artemi Panarin heading into the start of the 2025-26 NHL season. It was confirmed that Panarin, 33, got injured during the second day of the Rangers' camp, without even having played the first game of the season. Head coach Mike Sullivan categorized this injury as "precautionary," without confirming how much time the Russian will miss. The problem is the left winger is about to enter the seventh and final year of his contract with the Blueshirts, and so far, both parties have remained in complete silence. While Panarin told The Athletic that he's "focusing on hockey," there also hasn't been any indication of an offer from the New York team. Currently, there is also another forward with elite player status entering the final year of his contract with his current team: Connor McDavid. The 28-year-old center has so far not extended his deal with the Edmonton Oilers and has been the subject of speculation in recent days. Why it makes sense for the Rangers to wait for Connor McDavid Although recently TSN’s Pierre LeBrun pointed out that the Toronto Maple Leafs are among the teams interested in signing Connor McDavid, he also said that there are other teams interested, and it wouldn't be crazy for the Rangers to be one of them. The normal thing in a situation like this, which completely conditions the market, is that some teams are waiting for the McDavid situation to be resolved in order to operate normally. Considering that the Rangers' salary cap is already significant, it makes sense that they are waiting with the hope that later on they will have real chances to sign the Oilers' superstar. Historically, the Rangers have been a team that has known how to attract superstars, and it may be that GM Chris Drury is considering a move of this caliber in a season of reinvention.
Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield drops harsh quote about former coach after win
Quarterback Baker Mayfield was forced to lead a game-winning drive against the New York Jets after a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown took away a chance for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to ice the game at 29-20 with less than two minutes to play. With 1:49 remaining in the fourth quarter, Mayfield engineered a seven-play, 48-yard drive that ended in a successful 36-yard field goal attempt by kicker Chase McLaughlin to give the Buccaneers a 3-0 start with a 29-27 win over the Jets in front of 62,872 fans at Raymond James Stadium. What Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield had to say about former coach Following the game, Mayfield said he felt vindicated by beating New York, especially defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, who cut the former first-round pick (after using him as a scout-team defensive lineman) when he was the interim head coach of the Carolina Panthers in 2022. “I loved it," Mayfield said of beating the Jets via Ari Meirov of the 33rd Team. "Their D-coordinator (Steve Wilks) was the one who cut me in Carolina. A lot of stuff was personal today. Haason Reddick. Former Jet. A lot of people.” The loss dropped Wilks and first-year head coach Aaron Glenn to 0-3. The Jets fought hard with backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor filling in for Justin Fields, who is still in the concussion protocol from Week 2. Mayfield didn't impress Wilks during his time in Carolina, but he showed the defensive coordinator why he's worthy to be a starter in the league. Mayfield went 19-of-29 passing for 233 yards and one touchdown on Sunday. He added 44 yards rushing on four carries against Wilks' defense.
Brendan Donovan Gets Solid Endorsement As Cardinals Trade Rumors Swirl
The St. Louis Cardinals are seemingly headed for a rebuild this offseason after years of mediocrity at the big league level. They're seemingly moving on from the aging veterans in an attempt to get younger for the future. St. Louis has a lot of talented young players, including All-Star infielder Brendan Donovan. Donovan was the team's only All-Star this year, but that doesn't mean he was their only top talent. Josh Jacobs of Redbird Rants recently listed Donovan as one of the Cardinals' most valuable players, only trailing young stars like Iván Herrera, Masyn Winn, and JJ Wetherholt in terms of future value. Brendan Donovan is crucial to Cardinals' future "If the season ended today, Donovan slashed .283/.351/.410 with 10 home runs and a 115 wRC+ in 501 plate appearances, but prior to the toe injury he suffered on June 11th, he was a 132 wRC+ bat with a .310/.379/.440 slash line during those 64 games," Jacobs wrote. "During the two months that Donovan played through his toe injury rather than going on the injured list, he slashed .234/.305/.349, which amounted to a terrible 84 wRC+ in 46 games. "With two years of club control remaining, Donovan is the leader in the Cardinals clubhouse, ranks 72nd out of 297 qualified hitters since the beginning of 2022 in wRC+, and has incredible defensive versatility to go with his bat. The Cardinals need to try to extend him this offseason, or else it probably does make sense to shop him on the trade market to maximize his trade value." The Cardinals have been mixed in trade rumors with Donovan for months now. The star infielder has two years of team control left in his deal, so the Cardinals don't need to trade him. Instead, St. Louis could look to sign him to an extension in order to make him a focal point of the future. With Chaim Bloom taking over as the president of baseball operations this offseason, the Cardinals will likely make a decision with Donovan, whether it be a trade or an extension. Either way, the versatile infielder is one of the most valuable players in the Cardinals' organization. The Cardinals will either use this value in a trade or on the field.
Maxx Crosby’s anger caught on camera during ugly Raiders loss to Commanders
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby didn’t hide his disappointment Sunday after Washington Commanders wide receiver Luke McCaffrey was left wide open for a touchdown late, and cameras caught Crosby shaking his head in frustration. Crosby looked visibly upset as the cameras caught him mouthing, “he was wide open,” after the TD as he sat on the bench. The Raiders dropped the game 41-24 at Northwest Stadium, a matchup that exposed holes in all three of Las Vegas’ phases. The Commanders hit big plays early and kept applying pressure. Washington quarterback Marcus Mariota, filling in for the injured Jayden Daniels, threw for 207 yards with a touchdown and added 40 yards on the ground with another score. McCaffrey’s highlight came with 2:05 left in the fourth when Mariota found him for a 43-yard touchdown, putting the game out of reach. That play visibly frustrated Crosby, who felt the defensive coverage broke down. Raiders quarterback Geno Smith had a tough day. He threw for 289 yards and three touchdowns, but was sacked five times, and the offensive line repeatedly failed to contain Washington’s pass rush. On the other side, Tre Tucker was almost single-handedly keeping Las Vegas in it early, catching eight passes for 145 yards and scoring all three Raiders touchdowns, one of which was a 61-yard bomb. The Commanders piled up big play after big play. Deebo Samuel set the tone with a 69-yard kickoff return. Jeremy McNichols rumbled 60 yards for a touchdown late in the first half to help Washington seize momentum. Jaylin Lane added a 90-yard punt return touchdown in the third quarter. Crosby’s visible anger wasn’t just about one play. It reflected the Raiders’ broader breakdowns, busted assignments, missed tackles, and explosive plays given up. As Las Vegas drops to 1-2 on the season, moments like the McCaffrey touchdown are going to sting. Win or lose, fans and teammates expect more discipline. For Crosby, who has made a reputation for relentless effort, this was one of those games that tests composure. And judging by his reaction, he knows it.
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