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Report: Predators nearing sale to former Tennessee governor Bill Haslam
Former Tennessee governor Bill Haslam is nearing a deal to purchase the Nashville Predators, according to a report from Sportico reporter Eben Novy-Williams.
Since 2007, the NHL franchise has been owned by Predators Holdings LLC, which mostly consists of local executives in the Nashville metropolitan area. In 2019, Herb Fritch took over as the chairman of the Predators ownership group.
The reported purchase of the team is unexpected as there was little indication that Predators Holdings LLC was interested in selling the franchise.
Haslam, 63, was the mayor of Knoxville, Tenn. before getting elected as governor of Tennessee in 2010 and re-elected in 2014. He's the younger brother of Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam. According to Forbes, Bill Haslam's net worth is estimated at $2.3B.
The price tag of the reported sale hasn't yet been revealed, but Forbes most recently estimated the Predators to be worth $600M, making it the 25th most valuable NHL franchise. Predators Holdings LLC purchased the team 15 years ago for $174M.
The Predators reached the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in franchise history in 2017, but lost in six games to the Pittsburgh Penguins. While the team has made the playoffs in each of the last five seasons, they have failed to advance past the second round.
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An $18M Gamble That Could Pay Off Big for Edmonton
The Edmonton Oilers are facing a pivotal decision in goal — one that could define their playoff strategy for 2026 and potentially set them up in the years to come. Stuart Skinner, who has quietly backstopped the team to back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances, is entering the final season of his $2.6 million deal. And with the salary cap projected to climb significantly, the time to strike might be now. This argument won’t go over well with many Oilers fans. Specifically, those who believe Edmonton needs an upgrade in goal aren’t going to like the idea of investing in Skinner for a sizeable amount of money. Frankly, it’s hard to blame those skeptics; Skinner’s numbers won’t land him in the Vezina conversation. That said, his consistency has been good enough to keep Edmonton in contention, and if he has a solid 2025-26 season, you can bet the Oilers are going to wind up paying to keep him. When the Oilers’ defense holds up, Skinner performs as well as most mid-tier starters across the league. Under new goalie coach Peter Aubry, there’s optimism that Skinner could add another layer to his game — and if that happens, his price tag could soar. Goalie Deals, Like What’s Coming For Skinner, Aren’t Getting Cheaper League-wide trends suggest goalie deals aren’t getting cheaper. Locking Skinner in for something in the range of three years at $6 million per season could give the Oilers cost certainty and valuable cap flexibility. Comparable netminders like Logan Thompson, Tristan Jarry, and Darcy Kuemper already sit in that range, and Edmonton could find itself with a bargain if Skinner continues to grow. Lukas Dostal just signed on with the Ducks for five more years at $6.5 million per season, in what many are calling a bargain extension. The benefit isn’t just about saving money. A team-friendly deal keeps Skinner movable if things go sideways. Waiting comes with risk. A breakout season from Skinner would make negotiations far more expensive — especially in a market where quality goaltending is scarce. For a team operating in a tight Cup window, overpaying later could mean losing depth elsewhere. Is Skinner the Long-Term Answer Or Yesterday’s News? If the Oilers aren’t sold on Skinner, investing further in him isn’t the right play. But, if they believe he’s got the tools to rebound, buying low (or at least, lower) isn’t the worst idea. He’s experienced, and Edmonton has taken the time and shown patience to see him flourish. “I think going through it the first time, you go through that experience in the summer and then you realize the things you did well and the things you didn’t do well,” Skinner said to NHL.com’s Derek Van Diest. “So going through it a second time, but being able to say you went through this does help you get over it quicker, just because you have to go back into training and do it all over again.” Maybe the lows have shown themselves, and the highs could be around the corner. Moreover, one could argue the decision is less about whether Skinner is the long-term answer in net and more about innovative asset management. Betting on him now is a calculated gamble that could pay off in a big way, especially if Edmonton believes their championship core can win with steady — if not spectacular — play between the pipes. For general manager Stan Bowman, this isn’t just about a contract; it’s about strategy. Move early, and the Oilers could secure the cost certainty they need to keep their stars together. If Skinner remains average, a $6 million goaltender is potentially a tough sell, but not an impossible one.
Steelers have major injury concern leaving preseason
The No. 1 priority for NFL teams in the preseason is to get out of the games without major injury. The Pittsburgh Steelers may have failed with that one on Thursday night against the Carolina Panthers. Defensive lineman Derrick Harmon, the team's first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, had to be carted to the locker room with a knee injury while also looking visibly upset as he was taken back. The team announced almost immediately that he would be out for the remainder of the game with a knee injury. Head coach Mike Tomlin provided an update after the game: Defensive line was a top priority for the Steelers this offseason, especially after their playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens where they allowed nearly 300 rushing yards to end their season. Along with Harmon, they also selected Iowa's Yahya Black in this year's class to help try to beef up their line. Harmon is expected to play a major role in this year's defense and was already in a starting position. With star defensive lineman Cameron Heyward holding in as he tries to get a new contract from the team, that puts even more importance on Harmon's ability to make an impact. He has had a strong training camp, and after a quiet first preseason game, he really took a big leap forward in the team's second game, recording a sack against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. If Heyward returns, and if Harmon's injury is not serious, the Steelers would have the potential to have a really strong defensive line with those two joining rising star Keeanu Benton. Right now, though, those are a lot of "ifs," especially as it relates to the availability for Heyward and Harmon for the team's season opener.
Commanders' Terry McLaurin reportedly wants more money than previously thought
Previous reports indicated that unsettled Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin was looking to land "parts" of the five-year, $150M contract that the Pittsburgh Steelers gave DK Metcalf earlier this year. For an article published on Wednesday morning, Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic offered an update regarding why McLaurin and the Commanders haven't come to terms on an extension after the 29-year-old requested a trade on July 31. "One person with knowledge of McLaurin’s contract negotiations said the veteran receiver has asked for more than DK Metcalf," Jhabvala revealed. McLaurin is in the final year of his current deal and will turn 30 years old in September. To compare, Metcalf will turn 28 in December. That said, McLaurin emerged last season as the favorite target for quarterback Jayden Daniels as Daniels guided the Commanders to the NFC Championship Game. "McLaurin believes he’s one of the best receivers in the NFL," Jhabvala added. "He’s been the Commanders' leading receiver every season since he entered the league (in 2019), and last year had the second-most receiving TDs in the league behind Ja’Marr Chase’s 17. He also ranked third in (expected points added) on targets and seventh in catch rate among receivers with at least 100 targets last year, but among that same group, McLaurin’s total receiving yards (1,096) ranked 12th and his average yards after the catch ranked 25th." Daniels seemed optimistic while speaking about the ongoing contract standoff during the ESPN broadcast of Monday's preseason game between the Commanders and Cincinnati Bengals when he said he knew McLaurin would "be coming through the door soon." However, Jhabvala noted that "it wouldn’t be a surprise if the [Commanders have] set a maximum range of $27M to $28M a year in average annual value for McLaurin." That seems to suggest the two sides aren't all that close to coming to terms on an agreement. It's unclear if McLaurin is willing to forfeit money by sitting out Washington's Week 1 game against the New York Giants on Sept. 7 amid his desire for a pay raise. If he isn't, he may have to soon accept the offer that's on the table to guarantee himself future earnings beyond the upcoming season.
Red Sox promote prospect who has incredible nickname
The Boston Red Sox are expected to call up a prospect who will quickly become known to fans because of his amazing nickname. Ian Browne of MLB.com reported on Thursday that the Red Sox have decided to promote outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia, who is the No. 3 prospect in Boston's system. Garcia has yet to play in an MLB game, but many baseball fans are already familiar with the 22-year-old because he has one of the best nicknames of all time: "The Password." How did Garcia end up with that nickname? Because his first name, which is pronounced "JOES-tin-son," is incredibly difficult to spell. Garcia's first name features such a rare structure and combination of letters that it would make an incredibly strong computer password. The Red Sox signed Garcia out of Venezuela in 2019. They signed his brother, Johanfran Garcia, three years later. As Browne notes, Johanfran is the No. 28 prospect in Boston's system, and he also has a great nickname that plays off his brother's. Johanfran's nickname is "The Username." Jhostynxon Garcia has split time between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester this season. He has batted .303 with 17 home runs and 56 RBI in 66 Triple-A games.
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