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One of the many burning questions surrounding the Vancouver Canucks this offseason is when will the organization get Tom Willander signed?
The contract negotiation drama between the Canucks and their 2023 11th overall pick continues.
Donnie and Dhali’s Rick Dhaliwal is now reporting that the gap between the two sides may only be $200,000.
“Funny thing is they’re not super far apart,” said Dhaliwal, on Sportsnet’s Halford & Brough Friday morning. “Some say the gap is only $200,000. Cooler heads should prevail and get this kid a part of the Canucks. He wants to turn pro, he was willing to go to Abbotsford. He never ever asked for guaranteed ice time, he’s not even asking for full max bonuses. This is a big piece of your blue line in the future, get the kid signed.”
After completing his season with Boston University earlier this month, Willander was expected to sign his entry-level contract and join the Abbotsford Canucks for their Calder Cup run. Instead, Willander went to Sweden to play with his home country in exhibition games ahead of the IIHF World Championship in May. The 20-year-old defenceman is considered one of the Canuck’s top prospects, coming in at number two on CanucksArmy’s mid-season prospect rankings.
Dhaliwal touted the benefits Willander could see in training with the team in Abbotsford under head coach Manny Malhotra, even if his minutes are limited. He called it “just mind-boggling” that the two sides haven’t come to an agreement, considering it seems like it’s just a case of stubbornness if the disagreement point is really only a couple of hundred thousand.
That being said, there is clearly some drama behind the scenes that is holding this back. At the end of year press conference, Canucks GM Patrik Allvin said that they’ve been informed Willander intends to return to college for another year, contrary to reports that he is ready to go pro, including from Dhaliwal.
If Willander does go unsigned into the summer, Dhaliwal said he may end up being a primary asset for the Canucks on the trade market as they look to acquire some top-six offensive talent in the offseason. For now, Canucks fans will have to wait and see if cooler heads prevail to get Willander signed, or if this stalemate cannot be broken.
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How will Sullivan set up the Rangers forward lines?
While a good deal of the Rangers core remains intact, there is a breath of new life surrounding the upcoming season. Looking to reload after a disappointing 2024–25, the Rangers turn to new coach Mike Sullivan to reconstruct the lineup. With a few new faces and a crop of young talent, Sullivan will have some options in his efforts to reinvigorate the team. Let’s take a closer look at some questions that will define the lineup. Who plays 3C? When it comes to the forward group, the biggest question might revolve around Mika Zibanejad. The Rangers tough season shone a particularly harsh light on Zibanejad’s individual totals, a decline that bemoans many Rangers faithful. Between his contract’s cap hits and clauses, getting a bounce back from Zibanejad seems necessary for the best version of this team. How to do so remains more of a mystery, as a growing contingent begins to contemplate a move to the wing. Vincent Trocheck’s strong chemistry with Artemi Panarin takes a top centre spot, as does J.T. Miller. This leaves Zibanejad with an apparent third-line role as a centre, where his production would hardly be optimized. A top-six winger role would seem flashier on paper, but would it make the team better? A look back at Sullivan’s Stanley Cup-winning rosters with the Pittsburgh Penguins reveals a belief in a strong top-nine forward group. Famously, star winger Phil Kessel helped power a dangerous third line. Perhaps this indicates how Sullivan might approach the situation. A strong centre group is always in vogue, and Zibanejad is a clear cut above other possibilities like Juuso Parssinen. Obviously, the decision will not be set in stone, but working out the rest of the forward group hinges on where to play Zibanejad. Outside of Igor Shesterkin’s hold on the crease, this centre group might be one of the defining strengths of the roster. Though none of Miller, Trocheck, or Zibanejad are thought of as Hart Trophy contenders, as a trio, they are impressive. They match up quite favourably against many top teams around the league. Perhaps playing to this roster’s strengths will require a focus on finding the right blend around their centres. Stepping up Thankfully for the Rangers, there are several young wingers pushing for more ice time. During the offseason, optimism is easy to come by, though in truth, younger players do not always trend positively. There are a number of players who might help fill out a top-nine, and wingers are often the least expensive to acquire if help is required in season. Alexis Lafreniere stalled last season after it seemed he had truly arrived in the 2023–24 playoffs. The Rangers owe it to themselves to move him into a top power play role, which will improve his baseline production rates and build confidence. The Rangers power play was well below league average last season, so clearly a jolt is needed. There are concerns, as last season saw a huge decline in his shot totals, to 153 from 217 the season prior. A spot alongside Miller might seem logical, giving the duo a chance to push Panarin and Trocheck in effectiveness. Meanwhile, Will Cuylle has become one of the Rangers best wingers, often sporting strong possession stats. Cuylle does a lot of hard work and finds shots from the net front. He will be a great help to whichever line he finds himself on, and could help highly skilled linemates convert their skills into offence. On merit, Cuylle deserves a chance in the top six, though he might be able to create a powerful tandem on the third line. In a copycat league, the cats are the meow of the moment, as the Florida Panthers use three separate forward duos to fill out their lineup. Line one has Sasha Barkov and Sam Reinhart, line two has Sam Bennett and Matthew Tkachuk, leaving Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen on line three. The Panthers rotate wingers in and out of each spot among these duos. The Rangers are able to throw together a reasonable comparable with Miller and Lafreniere on line one, Trocheck and Panarin on line two, and Cuylle and Zibanejad on line three. While Cuylle and Zibanejad are both worthy of spots in the top-six, a more well-rounded lineup is often more stout in the playoffs. Filling in It is fair to say that the top of the forward lineup presents these strengths, but the bottom of the Rangers roster will need to pull its weight to pay off the strategy. In this case, the Rangers would need players to step up into elevated roster positions. These players might be burdened with certain responsibilities to make space for their more skilled linemates. Brennan Othmann is particularly interesting here. The former first-round pick seems poised to become a full time NHLer, and has the tools to be a very functional player. His forechecking abilities will be a welcome addition to most lines. Brett Berard is smaller, but can bring similar elements. Both have some offensive qualities, but their path to more ice time lies in intensity and legwork. Taylor Raddysh brings some offence, but could be overtaken by rookie Gabe Perreault. Perreault is a huge x-factor for the Rangers, as he could add talent to the top six. At the same time, he likely needs an important offensive usage to be at his best, and the bar is high. Raddysh might be able to buy Perreault some time if he is not yet ready for an important role on a playoff hopeful. Juuso Parssinen and David Edstrom are entering their mid-20s, and both might be able to step into bigger roles with the team this season. Their spots in the roster are far from guaranteed, and their upside is seen as more limited. Still, Parssinen and Edstrom could provide a great deal of support if they are able to take a step over the summer. There will be competition from veterans like Sam Carrick and Jonny Brodzinski. Mock lines Let’s put all this together to make some potential forward lineups for next season. Naturally, there will be adjustments throughout the season as the power vacuum of a new coach unfolds. Loading up the top six Panarin—Trocheck—Zibanejad Cuylle—Miller—Lafreniere Othmann—Parssinen—Raddysh Edstrom—Brodzinski—Berard Zibanejad is insulated by high quality linemates, helping him rediscover higher offensive totals. Lafreniere gets a new place in the top-six, provided with a good deal of grit and skill. This should help Lafreniere play a more skilled game. Othmann and Parssinen might form a reasonable checking duo, given Raddysh here for some offensive credibility. The Rangers would have to lean heavily on their top players for this to work, as their bottom-six might be overmatched on a regular basis. If the bench is shortened while the team is trailing, it might make sense to load up in a similar fashion. This setup shields Perreault from being thrown into the lineup before his time. Three lines Perreault—Miller—Lafreniere Panarin—Trocheck—Othmann Cuylle—Zibanejad—Berard Edstrom—Parssinen—Raddysh Meanwhile, a reliance on rookies and going with Zibanejad at centre offers a much deeper look. There is no guarantee the ruling players can live up to such lofty roles, but at least they would have the support of stronger linemates. Perreault is given a good dose of skill and size to work with, while still having elite offensive talent on his line. Othmann can do a lot of important dirty work for Panarin and Trocheck, a jolt of youthful energy. Zibanejad and Cuylle can form a strong duo on both sides of the puck, and Berard given a chance to join in without much stress on his size. Even the fourth line looks strong here, showing how much of an impact growth for Perreault, Othmann, and Berard can have.
Green Bay Packers: MarShawn Lloyd’s Injury Opens Door For Experiment
The Green Bay Packers are dealing with some injuries heading into their first game in the 2025 NFL preseason. Among the hurt bodies on their roster is running back MarShawn Lloyd, who has impressed at Packers training camp but is down with a lower-body injury he suffered last week. The injury was initially blamed on a hit by defensive back Nate Hobbs, but it was later found out to be a non-contact type. With the former USC Trojans running back out of commission at the moment, the Packers are said to be open to testing out some creative approaches in the backfield. “I’m told the outlook for MarShawn Lloyd’s groin injury is roughly one to two weeks, so he could be back as early as next week,” wrote Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. “Don’t be surprised if the Packers, who love versatility on offense, experiment with backups Chris Brooks and Emanuel Wilson playing hybrid or fullback-type roles at times.” When will Green Bay Packers RB MarsShawn Lloyd be healthy again? As said by Fowler, the earliest Lloyd could return to the field is next week, which would rule him out for this coming Saturday’s preseason matchup versus the New York Jets at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. Also, under that projection, he can be back in action for the meeting with the Indianapolis Colts on the road in Week 2. The Packers can also just be extra careful and hold him back for the entire offseason, as they look forward to having Lloyd 100 percent healthy for their first assignment in the 2025 NFL season, which is a home game against the Detroit Lions.
Report: Giannis Antetokounmpo's future with Bucks is still uncertain
The Milwaukee Bucks were one of the most active teams in the early days of the NBA offseason. From signing Myles Turner to moving on from Damian Lillard, Doc Rivers' team didn't rest on its laurels early on. And while the front office has gone to great lengths to shut down all rumors of Giannis Antetokounmpo's discontent, ESPN insider Shams Charania reported they're not in the clear yet. On Monday's edition of "Get Up," Charania pointed out that Antetokounmpo is still considering all his options. "We're standing here, it's Aug. 4. Sources tell me there's still nothing set in stone about whether Giannis Antetokounmpo will stay in Milwaukee or whether he will be leaving," Charania said. "And so, he's going to continue to evaluate his future." He added that Giannis might still decide that the doesn't want to be there and force his way out this offseason, which would be a huge blow for a team that just waived-and-stretched the $113 million left on Lillard's contract. "They did that because they wanted to show Giannis, we're doing everything in our power to keep you here. But Giannis Antetokounmpo is the ultimate decider whether he feels this roster is good enough," Charania added. Giannis has always talked about winning the right way and staying loyal to the organization, but he's also been visibly frustrated with the early playoff exits and has been open about his desire to win another championship. He might want to give this new core a chance to show him that it can compete at the highest level. But if they get off to another slow start to the season, he may want to reconsider his options.
The 'Four+ 20-home run/20-stolen base MLB seasons' quiz
Seattle Mariners star Julio Rodriguez hit the 100th home run of his career against the Texas Rangers on Sunday, and it was an important one. His two-run home run came in a 5-4 victory over the Rangers to give Seattle an important series win for both the American League West and Wild Card standings. It was also his 20th dinger of the season, giving him a historic fourth-consecutive 20-home run/20 stolen base season to start his MLB career. Which brings us to today’ quiz. Rodriguez became the first player in MLB history to reach the 20/20 milestone four times in the first four seasons of his career. With that being said, can you name every player in MLB history to have at least four career 20/20 seasons? Good luck! Did you like this quiz? Are there any quizzes you’d like to see us make in the future? Let us know your thoughts at quizzes@yardbarker.com, and make sure to subscribe to our Quiz of the Day Newsletter for daily quizzes sent right to your email!
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