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The Chicago Blackhawks have seen better days. The organization has missed the postseason for five straight years, and the team is still searching for some answers.
Chicago is a proud franchise, and missing the playoffs tends to make the fans anxious. The front office has some work to do if it wants to get this team back into a place of contending for Stanley Cups.
The Blackhawks have a decent young team, led by Connor Bedard. But Chicago is going to need more if it wants to truly compete.
NHL writer Lyle Fitzsimmons of Bleacher Report looked ahead at upcoming free agents and listed the Blackhawks as a potential option for Vegas Golden Knights star Jack Eichel.
Eichel will be entering the final year of his deal with Vegas next season, and then could enter free agency.
"Perhaps they'll now consider taking a run at Eichel in an effort to both placate their 19-year-old star and add legitimate prime-years talent into the top six. Eichel would be a prized trinket for whoever is hired as the team's new full-time coach, and he'd also fit nicely into its salary structure as the league's cap annually expands to $95.5 million, $104 million and $113.5 million through 2028."
If the Blackhawks could land Eichel, it would be a true game-changer. The Golden Knights' star would bring a "go-to" type of player to Chicago, pairing him with Bedard.
The Blackhawks are in the business of winning titles, and Eichel likely wants to win more. The pairing could be special, with Chicago possibly landing another franchise cornerstone.
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- The 'MLB mascot names' quiz
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Matt Rempe's Dangerous Charity-Game Hit Attempt Renews Rangers-Devils Rivalry
New York Rangers forward Matt Rempe joined a few NHL players, including New Jersey Devils defenseman Brett Pesce, in a supposedly friendly hockey game on Friday in Connecticut. Although the event was supposed to be just about skating for a good cause, Rempe found a way to make headlines for the opposite reason, as he nearly flattened Pesce during an offseason charity game. At the “Shoulder Check Showcase” in Stamford, Connecticut, Rempe drew attention when he locked in on the Devils defenseman and tried to deliver a high-speed check into the boards. Pesce narrowly avoided contact, dodging what could have been a serious hit in a game meant for fun, not full contact or suffering potential season-altering injuries. Pesce, who was wearing the Devils logo on his shoulder, might have flipped a switch for Rempe, who reacted instinctively despite the event’s nonprofit and non-competitive nature. That's because of the lingering tensions between the Rangers' enforcer and the Devils that track back to Rempe's rookie season in New York. The animosity started when Rempe completed a high hit on Devils player Nathan Bastian, and later escalated further during a line brawl in March, where Rempe was one of 10 players ejected two seconds into the game. The brawl got started when Rempe challenged the Devils' Kurtis MacDermid after previously knocking Jonas Siegenthaler out with a high elbow that led to a four-game suspension earlier in the season. The 23-year-old Rangers forward has yet to find an established role in New York, having played just 17 and 42 regular-season games for the franchise in the past two seasons. The Rangers must have liked Rempe's skill set, however, as they recently signed the enforcer to a two-year, $1.95 million extension.
Yankees manager provides major update on Aaron Judge's injury
New York Yankees star Aaron Judge missed Saturday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies with an elbow injury, and the slugger is now headed to the injured list. The Yankees fell 9-4 to the Phillies on Saturday at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, N.Y., which marked their third consecutive loss. Judge played in Friday night's 12-5 loss to Philadelphia, but Aaron Boone announced before Saturday's game that Judge was dealing with an "elbow issue" and would sit out. Following his team's latest loss, Boone shared some new information about Judge's injury. Judge has been diagnosed with a flexor strain, but the Yankees believe he can return in less than two weeks. When Judge returns to the lineup, Boone said it will initially be as a designated hitter. Judge is having an outstanding season. He entered Saturday batting .342, which is the best mark in baseball. The reigning American League MVP has 37 home runs, 85 RBI and a 1.160 OPS. The Yankees are now six games behind the AL East-leading Toronto Blue Jays and fighting to remain atop the wild-card race. It goes without saying that they are hopeful Judge will be able to return as soon as possible.
Green Bay Packers 3rd Year Receiver Turning Heads At Training Camp
The Green Bay Packers have one of the youngest rosters in the NFL. A big reason for this is their wide receiver room. For the past three seasons, they have relied on rookies and second-year players to carry the load on offense from a pass-catching perspective. However, that has led to some inconsistent play. Last year, drops were a huge issue, especially for former fifth-round pick Dontayvion Wicks. He was able to get open but would drop the ball in key moments. Wicks is determined to change the narrative and is already turning heads in training camp. Green Bay Packers WR Dontayvion Wicks Looking Good Wicks was the star of the 2-minute drill during Friday’s training camp practice. He found a hole in the zone and ran the post route. Quarterback Jordan Love saw him immediately and unloaded a long ball. The former Virginia receiver was all alone and caught a 49-yard touchdown pass to end the drill. This was one of the many great plays Wicks made throughout the practice. He was asked about the play after the practice. “I knew I had the post,” Wicks said. “I had a man on me. I released, ran full speed. I knew X was over the top. So I stemmed out a little bit and broke flat across. It was a runaway, and J-Love gave me the ball and I ran under it, and that was all from there.” This is great news for the Green Bay Packers. Drops can often be attributed to a lack of confidence. They can snowball. Once a player drops one pass, it can snowball into more drops. The same can be said about catches. Once a player gets confidence, it can be hard to stop. If Dontayvion Wicks has gotten his confidence, the league should watch out. No Problems Getting Open Wicks had no problems getting open last year. According to ESPN Analytics, he was open on 84% of his routes, thanks to a quick burst off the snap and his ability to find gaps in the zone. However, getting open doesn’t matter if a player can’t bring in the ball. The Green Bay Packers hope this is the start of a new player in 2025. Matthew Golden has also looked good in training camp, and Jayden Reed has vowed to drop fewer passes as well in 2025. If that trio can haul in passes, this offense could be one of the best in the league. Final Thoughts We always have to be cautious about training camp news. It can sometimes point to what will happen in the season, but not always. However, this seems like a step in the right direction for the Green Bay Packers. If Wicks gains confidence now, that should carry over into the season.
Sparks roll toward playoff spot with buzzer-beating win against Liberty
The Los Angeles Sparks are the hottest team in the WNBA right now, and they keep inching their way toward a playoff spot. Their winning streak extended to five games on Saturday night with what was their biggest win of the season, knocking off the defending champion New York Liberty by a 101-99 margin. They got the win when second-year player Rickea Jackson hit a game-winning, buzzer-beating lay-up at the end of the fourth quarter to break a tie. Along with making the game-winning shot, Jackson also finished with a team-leading 24 points in the win. It was not only the Sparks' biggest win of the season, but it was also one of the best games of the WNBA season overall. The Liberty overcame a 13-point halftime deficit and tied the game with less than 25 seconds to play in regulation, setting the stage for Jackson's winning shot. The five-game winning streak is huge for the Sparks because it has put them right back into the mix for a playoff spot. With Saturday's win, the Sparks (11-14) are just one game back of the Las Vegas Aces (12-13) for the final playoff spot. Whether they end up getting that spot or not, there is undeniable growth for the Sparks as this season has gone on. After finishing with the league's worst record a year ago and winning just eight games, they have already exceeded that win total and are on track to crush it this season. The Sparks have not made the playoffs since the 2020 season and are at least playing their way back into contention this season.
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