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The passing of Mark Scheifele's father rocked the NHL world over the weekend, and now Panthers star Brad Marchand has delivered a touching message.
Ahead of Game 6 between the Winnipeg Jets and Dallas Stars, news broke that Mark Scheifele's father passed away, but through it all, the veteran forward paid tribute to his father by taking the ice and playing.
When he scored the Jets only goal of the game, it was an incredibly beautiful, emotional scene for the talented star, with his teammates and him paying tribute to his father after that goal.
Since that point, Stars fans and many other NHL fans have continued to donate to Scheifele's many charitable efforts, while Scott Arniel, Peter DeBoer and so many others paying tribute to Scheifele's courage for playing through the pain.
Ahead of a Game 7 of his own on Sunday, Panthers star and fellow Canadian Brad Marchand has also delivered a heartfelt message to Scheifele, praising him for the strength it took to play on Saturday night while also letting him know that his family and his late father would be incredibly proud of his efforts.
"There's very few people that could have found the strength to play through something like that. And to go out and to play the way that he did and step up for his team, his family must be extremely proud of him. And his dad would be."
This has been one of the biggest stories of the Stanley Cup Playoffs thus far, and given how much Scheifele's family meant to him, he should be incredibly proud of playing through the pain and the heartbreak, as the entire NHL world is behind him as he approaches what will be a very tough off-season ahead.
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Chicago Blackhawks’ rookie hid plans to stay away from team before draft: Report
Anton Frondell threw the Chicago Blackhawks a curveball after they selected him with the No. 3 pick in June’s draft. Per Scott Powers of The Athletic, Chicago learned about Frondell’s plan to return to the SHL after they drafted him. “The Blackhawks learned more about Frondell’s plan after drafting him. Originally, they hadn’t ruled out his coming to training camp and seeing how he stacked up against NHL competition in preseason games,” Powers wrote. “But as the Blackhawks negotiated Frondell’s entry-level contract and discussed what he sought for the upcoming season, he expressed his desire to return to Djurgården for another year.” Anton Frondell declined an invitation to Chicago Blackhawks camp Chicago offered Frondell an invite to training camp, but the forward declined. The decision is at odds with what he told reporters following his selection on draft night. “If I get the chance to take a spot on the team, I will do everything I can to do that, to play,” Frondell said on June 27. “And if I’m not good enough, if I don’t make it, I’m going back to Djurgårdens.” Per Powers, the decision for Frondell to return to Djurgarden was made last fall. “Actually, we already talked about it in October, November (of 2024) that it doesn’t matter if we’re going to play SHL or HockeyAllsvenskan, in the second league in Sweden,” said Djurgarden general manager Niklas Wikegård. “So it would be good for him to play at least one more year in Sweden and just mature physically as a player. “So we had a mutual agreement with the agents and him and his father that he’s gonna stay for one more year in Sweden and play.” The Blackhawks are okay with the plan The Blackhawks are “understanding” of the plan, as the SHL is superior to the play Frondell would see if he played on the Rockford IceHogs. Still, there was a possibility that Chicago would give Frondell a spot on the Blackhawks after training camp, allowing him to build chemistry with young players like Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar as their young core develops. That won’t happen until at least next year. One wonders why Frondell wasn’t honest with the Blackhawks before the draft. It’s a curious way to start a relationship.
Seattle Mariners Send Right-Handed Reliever Outright to Triple-A Tacoma
SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners added to their minor league bullpen depth by sending a familiar face to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers on Sunday. Mariners right-handed reliever Collin Snider was designated for assignment on July 30 following the club's trade acquisition of left-handed reliever Caleb Ferguson. Snider cleared waivers and he was sent to Tacoma outright. Snider hasn't made an appearance for Seattle in the majors in nearly two months. He was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right flexor strain June 4. He began a rehab assignment with Tacoma on July 5 and made nine appearances with the club. Snider was activated off the injured list the same day he was designated for assignment. Snider posted a 5.47 ERA with the Mariners with 24 strikeouts in 26.1 innings pitched across 24 appearances this year. While with the Rainiers, he had a 5.06 ERA with nine strikeouts in 10.2 innings pitched. Seattle claimed Snider off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks on Feb. 6, 2024, and had a career resurgence with the M's in 2024. Snider had a 1.94 ERA with 47 strikeouts in 41.2 innings pitched across 42 outings with the Mariners last season. Snider will provide Seattle with crucial reliever depth in the minors for the final two months of the season. The Mariners lost right-handed reliever Trent Thornton with a torn left Achilles tendon Thursday. Snider's will join many other Tacoma relievers who have made major league appearances for Seattle this season, including Troy Taylor, Tayler Saucedo, Casey Lawrence, Jesse Hahn, Jhonathan Diaz and others.
Napheesa Collier Injury Update Adds Drama to Lynx’s Historic Victory
If you’re a Minnesota Lynx fan, your emotions are probably still doing somersaults. Sure, the Lynx just steamrolled the Las Vegas Aces 111-58, accomplishing the largest road win in WNBA history. But the team’s MVP frontrunner, Napheesa Collier, left the game limping, and no amount of points can distract from that gut punch. Collier’s departure came late in the third quarter with her team already leading by a colossal margin. She collided awkwardly with teammate Alanna Smith while jostling for a rebound, and down she went, landing uncomfortably on her right ankle. It was one of those moments that takes the air out of any arena, no matter the scoreline. Why Collier’s Injury Sends Chills Through the WNBA Collier was in peak form before the injury. Earlier in the quarter, her scoring kicked into high gear, bringing her total to 18 points, to go along with five assists, three rebounds, and two steals in just 26 minutes. The Lynx were cruising with a confidence that comes naturally when your franchise player elevates everyone around her. Which is exactly why her injury stings so much. This isn’t just any player. Collier leads the WNBA in points per game this season with 23.8 and has been the focal point of Minnesota’s stellar 24-5 record. Losing her for any length of time could shake up the entire league, not just the Lynx’s season. Cheryl Reeve Faces Tough Questions Head coach Cheryl Reeve didn’t escape post-game scrutiny, as reporters questioned why Collier was still on the court with such a huge lead. The Lynx were up by a staggering 43 points at the time. Reeve defended her decision, saying, “I didn’t think the game was over… these things happen.” She added, “I get it. People are going to rail on me… but we did what we think was right.” Love her or not (and Lynx fans mostly do), Reeve’s response hits at a deeper truth of pro sports. Coaches have to make a thousand judgment calls mid-game, and hindsight always paints the clearest picture. That said, having your star player laid out on the hardwood in a game that was, for all practical purposes, already locked up, is a moment you’d wish you could rewind. Some Sweet Among the Sour As chaotic as the injury drama was, the game itself was a textbook example of how to make dominance look easy. Kayla McBride was the showstopper, going 8-for-8 from three-point range in the first half, setting a new WNBA record. McBride’s 23 points led all scorers and were emblematic of a Lynx squad firing on all cylinders. Even with Collier’s setback, Minnesota’s victory margin wasn’t just historic; it was a statement. Their 53-point blowout dethroned a 1998 Houston Comets win for the largest road victory in league history. For fans looking for something to smile about amid the concern for Collier, that’s a decent silver lining. The WNBA Holds Its Breath Now the league waits. Collier is set to undergo testing and imaging in the coming days. Whether she travels with the team to their next game in Seattle or heads back to Minnesota for further evaluation remains unclear. Players and fans alike, however, are feeling the weight of uncertainty. Kayla McBride spoke for all of us when she said postgame, “You hate to see anybody go down, but especially your MVP.” The Bigger Picture for the Lynx This season, Collier hasn’t just been a player. She’s been a beacon, driving Minnesota from mere playoff contention to outright championship conversation. If her ankle injury sidelines her for longer than a game or two, the ripple effects will be seismic. For now, the Lynx have an MVP-sized gap to fill in Seattle. They’ll look to McBride and others to step up. But as Reeve so eloquently put it, “I can be both happy for our team and worry about Napheesa Collier at the same time.” Fans, It’s Time to Rally The WNBA has a knack for delivering brutal cliffhangers, and this is no exception. Every die-hard Lynx fan, and plenty of Collier admirers league-wide, are crossing their fingers for a quick recovery. What’s certain is this: Collier’s passion and work ethic have always set the tone for her team. Whether she’s on the court or cheering from the sidelines, you can bet her influence will resonate. For now, though, the Lynx’s postgame celebration is muted. Their historic milestone feels like a warm cup of coffee spilled before you can even take a sip. Here’s hoping Collier’s injury doesn’t turn this sweet season bitter.
Lakers insider updates LeBron James' immediate future
LeBron James wasn't present at Luka Doncic's contract extension news conference. That doesn't necessarily mean anything, and he's more than entitled to some time off the clock just like everybody else. However, given all that has been said about his future with the Los Angeles Lakers, it didn't take long before people speculated whether there was something else going on. The Athletic's Dan Woike reports that there's nothing to it. "James has not asked for a trade or a contract buyout, team and league sources have said. He’ll turn 41 on Dec. 30," wrote Woike. James' agent and friend, Rich Paul, also made it loud and clear that he hasn't even talked about potentially leaving the Lakers, and while he still doesn't know if he'll re-sign with them or will continue to play beyond this season, that's a bridge they'll cross when they get there. Lakers GM Rob Pelinka also shut down rumors by pointing out that he's been in constant talks with James and his camp. “Yeah, so all the interactions we’ve had with LeBron and his camp, Rich (Paul) in particular, have been positive and supportive. So very professional and Rich has been great,” Pelinka said. “The dialogue with him has been open and constant.” The Lakers are doing the right thing by pivoting towards their younger star. Whether this will be the end of the line for James in Southern California remains to be seen.
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