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Florida Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola was fined $5,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct on Monday.
The fine is in response to a slapshot Mikkola sent down the ice with two seconds remaining on the game clock with the Panthers down 4-2 to the Canadiens on Sunday. The puck almost hit Montreal's players, with some Canadiens expressing their displeasure.
Mikkola was assessed a minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct as well as a 10-minute game misconduct, despite there being no time left on the clock.
The fine, announced by the NHL Department of Player Safety, is the maximum allowed by the collective bargaining agreement.
Mikkola, a 28-year-old from Finland, is in his second season with the Panthers after four with the St. Louis Blues and one with the New York Rangers.
On the season, he has set career season highs for goals (five), assists (16) and points (21) to go along with his 62 penalty minutes in 68 games.
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Oilers Could Land Alex Debrincat in Suggested Deadline Blockbuster With Red Wings
The Edmonton Oilers are going to be trying to make another deep playoff run next season after coming up short in the last two seasons, in the Stanley Cup Final to the Florida Panthers, and are hoping their team is deep enough now to finally win their first championship with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, and their first franchise Stanley Cup victory since 1990. With that being said, the Oilers have shown they aren’t scared to make big moves if it means improving their team and being able to make a deep postseason run, which was evident when they acquired Jake Walman before the 2025 Trade Deadline from the San Jose Sharks, who has proved to be an incredible fit with the Oilers, and seems to be lined up for a long-term extension. If the Oilers are truly willing to spend big, they might fit a trade partner in the Detroit Red Wings, depending on how their 2025-26 season turns out. If they are in contention, they won’t sell and will look to make a strong playoff run after having missed the past several playoff campaigns, but if they are on the outside looking in, they could be willing to take advantage of increased value for some of their top players. One player who stands out as a potential trade target for the Oilers is superstar forward Alex Debrincat, who has solidified himself as a star in the NHL, and while it took him a while to get going after he departed from the Chicago Blackhawks a few seasons ago, he has found his footing again and could be someone contending teams want on their team for a playoff run. A deal like this would take a lot of moving parts, considering Debrincat has a 16-team no-trade list and has a $7,875,000 annual cap hit. He is also extended through the 2026-27 season, making him an even more valuable player, considering he wouldn’t just be a rental addition for the Oilers. Let me be clear: this idea is purely hypothetical, as there is no indication the Red Wings have even begun to consider trading Debrincat. They want to contend and will keep him around so he can help them do so. This idea stems purely from a “what if” standpoint, and shouldn’t be viewed as a report or a rumour. So, let’s assume Debrincat is open to a trade to the Oilers. What next? What Would a Trade Look Like? Debrincat has some connections to the Oilers already in Jeff Jackson, who currently works for the Oilers but used to be Debrincat’s agent, as well as McDavid, who used to be his teammate when they played together for the Erie Otters in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Realistically, a trade looks like the Oilers acquiring Debrincat in exchange for Mattias Ekholm, Beau Akey, their 2027 first-round pick, and their 2028 second-round pick. The Red Wings get a top prospect, two great draft picks, and a veteran defender who stabilizes their blue line and can keep their young guys in line. The Oilers bring in a superstar for their top-six forward group, and with deep defensive depth, they can afford to move on from Ekholm. They would create, arguably, the best forward lineup in recent NHL history, and likely become the favourite heading into the postseason. The Red Wings would also likely start to move out assets and bring in future pieces in hopes of retooling their lineup, and this move allows them to start doing that. If there is any world where the Red Wings consider moving Debrincat, the Oilers should be all over him, and should do whatever it takes to get a deal done. As the 2025-26 season approaches, be sure to continue following The Hockey Writers as your source for news from around the NHL and the hockey world. Salary cap data courtesy of PuckPedia.
Oregon suspends former five-star WR recruit indefinitely
Oregon wide receiver Jurrion Dickey has struggled to live up to expectations in his first two seasons with the Ducks, and he is now in a terrible position heading into 2025 as well. Dickey has been suspended indefinitely by Oregon, head coach Dan Lanning announced on Tuesday. Lanning also suggested that Dickey may not play for the Ducks again. "We have two team rules; that’s respectful, be on time,” Lanning said, via James Crepea of The Oregonian. “There’s some pieces of that where I felt like he needed a break from us and we needed a break from that so we could focus on what’s in front of us right now. "Wishing him nothing but the best, as far as success and want to see him get back to where he can be a contributor somewhere; that might be here that might be somewhere else.” Dickey was a five-star recruit and rated as one of the top wide receivers in the country when he came out of Menlo-Atherton High School in Atherton, Calif., in 2023. He suffered an injury in his senior year in high school and redshirted as a freshman at Oregon. Dickey has two catches for 14 years during his time with the Ducks. Oregon went 13-1 in Lanning's third season with the program last season. The Ducks lost to eventual national champion Ohio State in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.
Vikings WR gets brutal injury news for second straight season
A Minnesota Vikings wide receiver's season is already over. The Minnesota Vikings announced on Tuesday that wide receiver Rondale Moore is being placed on season-ending injured reserve due to a leg injury that he suffered in the team's first preseason game against the Houston Texans this past weekend. It is a devastating blow for Moore, who is now being sidelined for an entire season, before it even begins, for the second year in a row. Moore signed a one-year, $2 million contract in free agency with the Vikings this offseason in the hopes he could return from a different injury that cost him the entirety of the 2024 season. Moore was a member of the Atlanta Falcons in 2024 after being acquired in a trade with the Arizona Cardinals for backup quarterback Desmond Ridder. This is now two different teams that Moore has been a part of, but will never play a game for them due to injuries. Moore was injured while returning a punt. He began his career with the Arizona Cardinals, catching 135 passes for 1,201 yards over three seasons before being traded. He was never going to be counted on to be a key contributor for the Vikings offense this season, especially given the superstars they already have at wide receiver in Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, but he still had a chance to be an interesting depth player. Now it is fair to wonder what the rest of his career might even look like. Missing two full seasons due to two different leg injuries is going to be a brutal thing to try to come back from. Missing two seasons for any reason is difficult, but when you add the leg injuries to the equation, it makes the obstacle even steeper.
Another Cowboys star could hold out amid Micah Parsons' contract drama
The Dallas Cowboys need to figure out what to do with Micah Parsons because whatever they're doing right now isn't working. Team owner Jerry Jones said he was willing to "stir the pot" when asked about Parsons' contract stalemate and trade request. Given Parsons' character, that may have rubbed him the wrong way. However, that's not the only contract situation they need to address. While everybody's focused on the Penn State product, CB DaRon Bland is also waiting for an extension of his own. More importantly, he recently said that he hoped it would get done before the Cowboys open the season on Sept. 4. "I do, but I'm not here to talk about it really too much," Bland told the team's website. "But yea, hopefully." Jerry and Stephen Jones aren't that fond of players setting deadlines for contract negotiations, and they've shown that they're willing to wait until the very last second to get a deal done, relationships be damned. Bland has been an instrumental piece of the Cowboys secondary, especially with fellow CB Trevon Diggs struggling with injuries. When asked about his goal for next season, he opened up about his desire to dominate opposite Diggs. "Always hopeful for both of us to be healthy first of all, and for both of us to show out on the field together. Can't wait until it happens," Bland said. Still, given the way the Cowboys have treated their stars and have dealt with contract situations, it wouldn't be much of a surprise to see Bland also go to desperate measures to get what he's earned.
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