On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
One of the projected top 10 selections for the 2025 NHL Draft has found a new home in the NCAA’s Big Ten Conference. According to Scott Wheeler of The Athletic, defenseman Jackson Smith has committed to Penn State University for the 2025-26 NCAA season.
Smith isn’t a consensus top 10 prospect in the upcoming draft, as he’s ranked as high as sixth by Elite Prospects, and as low as 13th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting. Still, he’s widely recognized as the third or second-best North American defenseman behind Matthew Schaefer and likely behind Radim Mrtka, who’s coming from Czechia, but plays in the Western Hockey League (WHL).
Like Mrtka, Smith is coming from the WHL; however, he played with the Tri-City Americans instead of the Seattle Thunderbirds. Smith recently completed his sophomore campaign with the Americans, scoring 11 goals and 54 points in 68 games with a +2 rating.
Smith projects as an offensive-oriented defenseman at the NHL level. He has demonstrated strong skating and stick-handling skills from the point, but he needs to mature in the defensive zone. The NCAA, and the Big Ten Conference specifically, should help tremendously with the latter.
Although the Nittany Lions finished fifth in the Big Ten Conference, and 13th in the entire NCAA during the 2024-25 season, they made some noise in the National Tournament. After knocking out the University of Maine, and stunning the University of Connecticut in overtime, Penn State reached the Frozen Four for the first time in program history.
Smith will have plenty of expectations and competition on a highly competitive Nittany Lions’ roster. Playing in a top-ranked conference should help grow his offensive and defensive talents.
More must-reads:
- Blue Jackets' extension talks with young star will have major impact on salary
- Aroldis Chapman is quietly putting together a historic season
- The 'Most 1,000-rushing yard NFL seasons' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
TODAY'S BEST
The Dallas Stars just locked up a defenseman built for playoff wars, and he's only getting started
Fans are furious over this proposed Jason Robertson trade to the Toronto Maple Leafs
Some NHL trade rumours make you think, and others feel like pure fantasy. A recent proposal linking the Dallas Stars and Toronto Maple Leafs falls firmly into the second category, sparking debate over the future of Jason Robertson. The Dallas Stars are fresh off another deep playoff run and remain loaded with talent heading into 2025-26. Their top line of Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz, and Mikko Rantanen is arguably the best in hockey, a group carefully built through patience, planning, and smart cap management. So when a recent article from Heavy.com floated the idea of Dallas trading Robertson to the Toronto Maple Leafs in a one-for-one swap for veteran defenseman Morgan Rielly, eyebrows shot up across the hockey world. No prospects. No picks. Just Robertson for Rielly. The Dallas Stars trading Jason Robertson for Morgan Rielly would be a massive mistake Robertson isn't just another forward. He's a franchise cornerstone, a 40-goal scorer, and a player with multiple 80-point seasons already on his résumé. His full stats are available at NHL.com. He's also only 26 and entering his prime years. Rielly, meanwhile, is 31, carries a no-move clause, and while steady, does not address a pressing need in Dallas. With Miro Heiskanen, Thomas Harley, and Lian Bichsel leading the way, the Stars already have a strong defensive core with youth and upside. Even Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos recently cautioned about the complexity of Robertson's next deal, but nothing about that analysis justifies moving him for an aging defenseman. "The Stars need to be careful with how they handle Robertson," Kypreos noted. Careful, however, does not mean giving him away. I think Dallas would be foolish to even entertain this type of move. Robertson isn't just a player, he's part of the identity of the Stars and a key piece of their Stanley Cup hopes. This isn't NHL 26, this is real life, and stars like Robertson simply don't come around often.
Jelena Ostapenko responds to racism allegations after post-match confrontation with Taylor Townsend
A heated post-match exchange between former World No. 5 Jelena Ostapenko and Taylor Townsend marred an otherwise action-filled fourth day of the U.S. Open on Wednesday. After Townsend defeated the 2017 French Open champion in straight sets, 7-5, 6-1, Ostapenko accused her opponent of unsportsmanlike conduct, pointing out that the American didn't apologize when a net cord helped her win a crucial point earlier in the match. The Latvian wrote on social media that Townsend "was very disrespectful" and didn't show the proper etiquette expected of a pro tennis player. "If she plays in her homeland, it doesn’t mean that she can behave and do whatever she wants," she wrote in a scathing address of Townsend. Townsend offered more details on their post-match confrontation, which led to some suggesting she was racially targeted. "She told me I have no class and no education, and to see what happens if we play each other outside the U.S.," Townsend revealed. Townsend refused to call Ostapenko a racist. "I didn't take it in that way," she said, via BBC. "But also that has been a stigma in our community of being not educated, and all of the things, when it's the furthest thing from the truth. Whether it had racial undertones or not, that's something she can speak on." Ostapenko was widely lambasted on social media, with even World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka asking her to control her emotions. The under-attack Latvian responded to allegations of her being a racist, while reaffirming her stance on Townsend disrespecting her during the match. "I was never racist in my life and I respect all nations of people in the world, for me it doesn't matter where you come from," she wrote on social media. Townsend will next face Russian teenage prodigy Mirra Andreeva in the third round. The World No. 46 American is trying to reach the fourth round of her home major for the first time since 2019.
Micah Parsons Had Best Reaction Ever to Packers Trade
The Green Bay Packers’ blockbuster trade to acquire Micah Parsons from the Dallas Cowboys altered the landscape of the NFL, and raised the expectations in Titletown for 2025 and beyond. “They’re Super Bowl contenders now,” an AFC scout told me, on the condition of anonymity to speak freely about the trade. Parsons immediately bolsters the Packers’ pass rush and opposite Rashan Gary, has the potential to be a true difference-maker on a roster built to make a deep playoff run. Micah Parsons Fired Up After Packers Trade While those inside the league both resoundingly praised general manager Brian Gutekunst and the Packers while lampooning Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, Parsons’ reaction of pure joy may have been best of all. You can check out the video below: Parsos has plenty of reason to celebrate, both the change of scenery and the fact that he’ll collect $188 million with $120 million fully guaranteed on his new contract with the Packers after being traded away by Jones and the Cowboys. The All-Pro with 52.5 career sacks will also get the chance to exact some revenge on Jones and his former team when the Packers take on the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football, in Week 4.
Jerry Jones Has a ‘1-Word’ Response to How Other Cowboys Players Can Get Contract Extension After Micah Parsons Saga
Jerry Jones remains adamant that he handled Micah Parsons‘ contract negotiations perfectly, despite handing the edge rusher over to a team that humiliated the Dallas Cowboys in the playoffs a little over a year ago. The veteran owner asserted that his approach to future contract talks will stay the same. Jones and Parsons had a verbal agreement in place regarding his extension in April. Parsons had no qualms about the number he was offered, but he wanted to run it by his agent, David Mulugheta, before making the deal official. The Cowboys brass did not receive the memo. An emotionally hurt Parsons requested a trade. He wanted to leave the Dallas franchise. Several teams inquired about him. The Green Bay Packers eventually offered the best deal. Jones agreed to do business with the Packers because the NFC North side had the necessary cap space to pay Parsons. We only picked teams that had room on their cap, that can pay Micah, and we only picked teams that had top tackles. Interior tackles… that we wanted to have any dialog at all about a trade. That was the criteria of trading. Top existing tackle that could come in here and play for us right now. Jerry Jones said (H/T: FOX Sports) According to inside sources, Parsons had a $40 million deal on the table from the Cowboys. He declined to accept the terms. The Packers offered him a $47 million/year contract in exchange for two first-round picks and DT Kenny Clark. Clark is a three-time Pro Bowler with nine years of experience under his belt. However, he only logged 37 total tackles and 1 sack in 2024. Meanwhile, Parsons sacked NFL quarterbacks 12 times despite missing four games last year. Jerry Jones will continue to play hardball with player contracts Jones’ press conference following the trade explained his thought process that went into dealing with Parsons and his agent, or the lack of it. Will he take lessons and revise his way of handling player contracts? Unfortunately, Jerry Jones prefers dealing with players as if he’s negotiating in the 1990s. Quarterback Dak Prescott faced it, and so did CeeDee Lamb, Dez Bryant, and Emmitt Smith before them. And it’s likely to continue in 2026 when the Cowboys have to hold talks with DaRon Bland, Donovan Wilson, Dante Fowler Jr., CJ Goodwin, and a few others. There’s every possibility that these guys might experience the same as Parsons next year. So, what should they do when the time arrives? Jones, with a smirk on his face, said, “Ask Dak.” Prescott’s standoff lasted the entire 2024 offseason. He eventually signed a $61.5 million AAV deal to become the highest-paid quarterback ever. When you’re here in this organization, this is just how you see things are done, whether they’re right, wrong or whoever has their view about them. But what I think that does help is allow us just to stay focused on our jobs and understanding that us putting energy towards any of that doesn’t help. Dak Prescott said (H/T: Fansided) It’s unclear whether Prescott faced the same situation as Parsons or whether he was ever on the verge of a trade. Judging by the Pro Bowler’s latest statement, there may be hidden details that the Cowboys’ front office doesn’t want the general public to find out. Regardless, Parsons is no longer a Cowboy, which complicates their position in the NFC. With the Philadelphia Eagles waiting to host them in week one, they must quickly find another LB who can fill in until Clark gets the hang of Matt Eberflus’ defensive playbook.
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
