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Anze Kopitar, Andrei Kuzmenko and Adrian Kempe each had a goal and an assist in the Los Angeles Kings' 4-1 win over the visiting Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday.
Los Angeles swept the season series with the Jets, winning the three games by a combined 10-3 margin.
The Kings (42-23-9, 93 points) are 28-4-4 on home ice and have the best home points percentage (.833) in the NHL.
Trevor Moore scored the Kings' other goal. Darcy Kuemper stopped 18 of 19 shots to earn his 26th win of the season.
Acquired from the Philadelphia Flyers at the trade deadline, Kuzmenko has been sparked by the change of scenery. Kuzmenko has nine points (four goals, five assists) in 14 games with Los Angeles, after recording a modest 20 points in 44 games before the trade.
The loss ended Winnipeg's three-game winning streak. The Jets (51-20-4, 106 points) remain atop the NHL standings.
Cole Perfetti scored the Jets' only goal, and Connor Hellebuyck stopped 16 of 19 shots.
Los Angeles built an early lead on two goals within an 82-second span in the first period, starting with Moore's tip-in at the 8:28 mark. A Jets turnover in the neutral zone set up the Kings' next tally, as Kopitar's 19th goal finished off a nice tic-tac-toe passing play.
Perfetti put Winnipeg on the board 11:40 into the second period, taking the shot himself on a two-on-one rush with Kyle Connor. Emerging from the penalty box just as a Kings power play ended, Perfetti was in perfect position to take the puck and spark the Jets' scoring play.
Kuzmenko restored the Kings' two-goal lead on another two-on-one play and another neutral-zone turnover. Kuzmenko poked the puck away from Jets defenseman Logan Stanley, then used Kempe as a decoy before burying a wrist shot 16:07 into the second period.
Winnipeg had two power-play chances during the third period but couldn't narrow the deficit. Kempe sealed Los Angeles' win with an empty-net goal with 55 seconds left.
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Three best fits for Winnipeg Jets' Kyle Connor if he hits free agency in 2026
The Winnipeg Jets have done an excellent job of locking up their top talent to long-term extensions over the years. Superstar goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, star center Mark Scheifele and defenseman Josh Morrissey have all recently extended their stays in Winnipeg, keeping their core intact. However, one key member of that nucleus, Kyle Connor, is entering the final year of his contract and doesn't appear to be in any rush to re-sign with the Jets, according to insider Frank Seravalli. The 28-year-old is set to play out the final season of his seven-year, $50 million deal signed back in 2019. Connor will surely receive a substantial pay raise on his next contract. Given that his camp wants to evaluate their options, let's examine three teams that would be the best fits to pry the two-time All-Star out of Winnipeg next summer. Detroit Red Wings A team that's already been linked to Connor, and for good reason, is the Red Wings. The Shelby Township, Michigan, native would likely be interested in a potential homecoming, and it makes sense for both sides. Detroit is looking to put an end to a lengthy nine-year playoff drought, and the addition of one of the game's best wingers would certainly help the cause. The Red Wings have their core of center Dylan Larkin, wingers Lucas Raymond and Alex DeBrincat and defenseman Moritz Seider locked in, with some top prospects soon to join the big club. The time to strike is now. They are poised to have over $44 million in cap space next offseason, per PuckPedia, allowing them to throw a massive offer that could be hard for Connor to resist. Washington Capitals Another great fit for Connor would be the Capitals. Washington came down to the wire in the Nikolaj Ehlers sweepstakes this summer but was narrowly edged out by the Carolina Hurricanes. Given their strong interest in Ehlers, there's a good chance Caps general manager Chris Patrick would push even harder for a player of the caliber of Connor. Placing a seven-time 30-goal scorer on the reigning top seed in the Eastern Conference could be dangerous for the rest of the league. They are set up well to compete against anyone in a bidding war, with $36.5 million in projected cap space following the 2025-26 season, according to PuckPedia. Columbus Blue Jackets Lastly, how about the Blue Jackets? Not many teams' futures look brighter than Columbus's, and it sounds like general manager Don Waddell wants to be active in aiding them along. The Blue Jackets almost landed star defenseman Noah Dobson via trade before the 2025 draft, demonstrating their newfound aggressive approach as their young core continues to show improvements. While they appear to be on the rise, it remains evident that they're lacking a true star up front, a problem that Connor could solve. Currently slated to have over $46 million in available cap space, via PuckPedia, money will not be an issue for Columbus in its pursuit of Connor.
Tennessee's groundbreaking Adidas deal a game-changer for college sports in NIL era
The Tennessee Volunteers are going back to Adidas as its primary apparel provider after a decade of wearing the Nike swoosh. On Wednesday, Adidas announced a $100M, 10-year deal to be the exclusive apparel provider for the school's sports teams. The deal is set to begin on July 1, 2026, following the expiration of the current agreement with Nike. On the surface, it's just another apparel deal between two popular brands, but in the era of NIL (name, image and likeness) in college sports, it's a game-changing agreement. As part of the agreement, Adidas will establish a fund for NIL deals between the University of Tennessee and student-athletes. The German-based company will provide Tennessee with at least $10 million annually for the NIL deals, which, as of now, is about half of the $20.5 million that schools participating in the revenue-sharing model are allowed to give directly to student-athletes. That figure will almost assuredly increase with each passing year, meaning both current and future Tennessee Volunteers will benefit directly from this deal. Adidas will aim to make top student-athletes brand ambassadors by giving them national marketing campaigns and signature shoe lines. With NIL deals becoming a centerpiece of how college athletic departments attract top recruits, this deal is a bellwether for how apparel deals will be renegotiated across the world of college sports. Of course, at the center of this deal is football, as it remains the most popular sport in the country. According to The Athletic, the Volunteers' football program is estimated to be valued at $1.37B, the ninth-highest valuation in college football. It's only natural, then, that Adidas wants to get its logo back on Tennessee football jerseys. Adidas sponsored the team for 20 years before the university switched to Nike in 2014. While some fans were hoping Tennessee would re-up their partnership with Nike, fans who remember the 1998 National Championship team will probably feel good seeing the Adidas logo on the jersey again. Adidas also sweetened the deal by providing assurances that Tennessee athletics can design its apparel in-house, in collaboration with the company. Aside from nostalgia and big business, Tennessee and Adidas both know that for the school to remain one of the top programs in the country, they'll need star recruits. Before the ascendance of NIL deals, recruiting top talent was a mix of promising top-of-the-line facilities and flaunting the pedigree of the program. NIL money has changed that equation and already impacted Tennessee. In April, star quarterback Nico Iamaleava shocked the school by not reporting to spring practice and transferring to UCLA. Reports suggested part of the disagreements between Iamaleava and the school was over his NIL deal. How Iamaleava plays this season will make Tennessee wonder if it should've allocated more NIL money to keeping him happy. If that's the case, it's safe to wonder if Tennessee will tap into this deal as much as possible to keep future stars away from the transfer portal. This deal with Adidas certainly opens new doors for athletes to maximize their branding and will test the NIL distribution system over the next decade. Expect these types of deals to become the norm, too, as universities seek every competitive advantage against one another.
Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth’s honest Aaron Rodgers verdict after joint practice
The Pittsburgh Steelers are getting closer to regular-season form, and tight end Pat Freiermuth is already liking what he sees. After Thursday’s joint practice between Pittsburgh and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Acrisure Stadium, the fifth-year veteran offered high praise for his new quarterback, while also pointing to strides being made across the offense. Aaron Rodgers’s joint practice performance was under the microscope — and Freiermuth’s take was clear. In an article posted by Steelers.com’s Teresa Varley, she noted that Freiermuth has been encouraged by what the team has shown offensively. He especially liked what he saw from the offensive line and their new signal-caller. “I thought the offensive line played pretty solid. I thought Aaron played really well. I think we came out here and did our job, and I thought we all looked pretty solid as an offense. We have to continue to grow, but I think we’re taking steps in the right direction.” The comments from Freiermuth reflect a broader theme from the day, progress with room for growth. Pittsburgh’s offense reportedly won the majority of the Seven Shots period during Thursday’s session, with strong execution in red-zone situations. The two-minute drill was more mixed, but the exposure to Tampa Bay’s different defensive looks — including four-man fronts — added real value to the day’s work. The Steelers offense update comes as Rodgers continues ramping up in live action after sitting out the first preseason game. Thursday’s joint practice marked his most substantial work of August so far, and his timing with the 2021 draft pick out of Penn State and the rest of the offense appears to be coming together. With a retooled wide receiver group and a revamped offensive line, joint sessions are providing valuable live reps in simulated game conditions. Rodgers is not expected to suit up for Saturday’s preseason matchup, as Pittsburgh continues to manage his workload ahead of Week 1. Freiermuth remains a key target in the red zone and in middle-field route concepts, and his chemistry with the 41-year-old quarterback is already drawing attention. The offensive line, meanwhile, earned a public shout-out — a sign that communication and protection are trending in the right direction. The staff continues to manage preseason usage carefully, meaning Rodgers and other starters may be limited again in Saturday’s exhibition against the Buccaneers. The Steelers and Buccaneers joint-practice offered the kind of controlled but competitive reps that coaches and players value most. No major injuries were reported, and the work helped refine offensive timing, especially in pressure moments. While Freiermuth emphasized that the unit is still building, Thursday’s showing was a positive sign. With Week 1 of the regular season approaching, the offense looks like it’s beginning to click — and the veteran tight end seems confident they’re headed in the right direction.
Vikings QB JJ McCarthy gets Justin Jefferson reminder after getting misled
JJ McCarthy is preparing for the second season of his NFL career with the Minnesota Vikings. After seeing his first year end early due to injury, he is back to play in his first-ever campaign as he got importance advice from star receiver Justin Jefferson. McCarthy made his preseason debut in the Vikings’ 20-10 win over the Houston Texans. He completed four passes out of seven attempts for 30 yards. While he practices with the team to finish up training camp and the preseason, McCarthy recalled a recent conversation he had with Jefferson. What the star receiver said to the young quarterback shows the awareness he already has about how opposing defenses will play against him. “I was talking to Jets the other day in the locker room and telling him the situation, and he’s like, ‘Dude, there’s going to be a lot of teams this year that are going to show one thing on and film, and then when they come play us, when they play me, they’re going to show a different thing.’ So yeah, it was great to get exposed to that early on,” McCarthy said. “Just like training camp has been this entire time, great learning lessons and capitalizing on situations.” What’s next for JJ McCarthy, Vikings It will be a big season for JJ McCarthy, being the Vikings’ starting quarterback for the 2025 season. McCarthy didn’t get his chance in 2024 after tearing his meniscus during the preseason. He successfully underwent surgery, which he seems to have made a full recovery as he looks to continue where he left off. Minnesota exceeded expectations by finishing with a 14-3 record last year, clinching a playoff berth with Sam Darnold as their starting quarterback amid McCarthy’s absence. However, they crashed out early after losing 27-9 to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Wild Card round. The Vikings will hope to have a similar record in the regular season this year. They will start the campaign on the road, facing the Chicago Bears on Sept. 8 at 7:15 p.m. ET.
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