Maple Leafs Goaltender Anthony Stolarz Spotted Back On Ice In New Training Video Shared by Offseason Coach George Bosak
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New York Times
18 minutes ago
- New York Times
Do the Edmonton Oilers need more of a rugged edge next season?
Midway through last spring's playoffs, it appeared the Edmonton Oilers were on their way to a Stanley Cup victory. The team was rugged, battle-hardened and effective in moving the puck out of its zone under control. Edmonton was playing a strong defensive game. It was a key element in the club returning to the Stanley Cup Final in 2025. Advertisement Once in the final, the old problems returned. The Florida Panthers were aggressive, filthy and deadly in suppressing outlets and took all of the oxygen out of the Edmonton end, defusing the team's top offensive talent. Breakouts that were brilliant in the three previous series were abandoned in favour of less creative and predictable outlets. The final result was predictable. How did the Oilers lose the hitting game, and why did that lead to a baffling change in deployment out of the Edmonton end? Can the team overcome it while playing well enough in other areas to make it to the final? All agreed that losing Zach Hyman during the series against the Dallas Stars was a major turning point for the Oilers. His relentless pursuit of the puck, along with a steady barrage of hits, left opponents frustrated by his non-stop motor. During the playoffs, Edmonton's five-on-five GA-60 when Hyman was healthy (1.86, best in the NHL) towered over the group's performance after he left the lineup (2.82 GA-60). The club simply couldn't get out of its zone under control, and once in the Florida zone, were unable to punish Panthers defencemen in the same way Edmonton's blueliners were getting overwhelmed at the other end of the rink. Hyman hit everything that moved, and he did it on a skill line. For Edmonton, turnovers caused by Hyman's forechecking have a better chance of resulting in goals because of his linemates. Keeping Hyman healthy through the last game of the season needs to be a priority, but that's obvious. Oilers GM Stan Bowman dealt for Vasily Podkolzin a year ago, before camp, and in doing so established the best template for procurement over the next several seasons. A young winger who brought a rugged edge and had enjoyed some degree of NHL success, Podkolzin was at a point with the Vancouver Canucks organization where the team had other, preferable options. It was an astute acquisition. Management added Trent Frederic at the trade deadline. In the postseason, the three players (Hyman, Podkolzin and Frederic, along with Evander Kane) provided a physical element for the Oilers up front. Here's a look at the first three rounds, then the final round, in the per 60 numbers. All numbers five-on-five Coach Kris Knoblauch marbled these wingers throughout his four lines for the first three rounds, enjoying a great deal of success. Against the Panthers, without Hyman, the straw that stirred the drink was not part of the Connor McDavid line. Losing Kane leaves the club with three wingers who can punish defencemen consistently, and Frederic should be able to do more in a completely healthy season. Advertisement That will be important, with two skill rookie wingers (Matt Savoie and Ike Howard) penciled in to the lineup. The young players won't bring much in the way of physicality, so it'll fall to Hyman, Podkolzin and Frederic to get the job done. There is a danger for Knoblauch in constructing his roster in anticipation of facing Paul Maurice and the Panthers for the third final in a row. His Oilers have to get there first, and the wins over the Los Angeles Kings, Vegas Golden Knights and Stars included plenty of high-end skill populating the top lines. It's possible the Oilers make a deadline deal for another aggressive winger, but it behooves management to see how well Frederic plays. Aggressive forechecking and unnerving opponents is his specialty, and he might be a strong fit on a line with Leon Draisaitl or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. If Hyman, Podkolzin and Frederic can deliver enough physicality, it should free up Knoblauch to run the kids on the high skill lines more often. That would represent an ideal situation. The Oilers have been to two finals in a row and have yet to win the Stanley Cup in this era. Fans have spent the summer worrying over the goaltending, the ability of the team's best players to stay healthy in the most pivotal moments of the season, and a possible downturn in physical play. This kind of frustration, caused by great teams being unable to take the final step, has a long history in the NHL. One of the best examples of the expansion era is the New York Islanders of the late 1970s. Long before modern free agency, teams built through the draft and via trade, and Islanders general manager Bill Torrey was the best of his generation. A modern comparable to Torrey is Florida general manager Bill Zito, who has built a possible dynasty since taking over in September 2020. Advertisement Zito built on what was already there upon arrival. A series of brilliant trades (Sam Bennett, Sam Reinhart, Matthew Tkachuk) in 2021 and 2022 expanded the already substantial talent base on the Panthers' roster. The Oilers, under Peter Chiarelli and then Ken Holland, have traded away young assets and acquired older players for a decade, flying by the 'in their prime' talents like Bennett, Reinhart and Tkachuk. When the final whistle blew in the final last spring, it was the Oilers who looked old and tired; the Panthers looked like a team at the beginning of something special. Bowman appears to be changing the procurement style of the Oilers and sending the team in a more aggressive direction. Part of that direction (along with puck movers on defence) involves a younger group of aggressive forwards like Podkolzin and Frederic. Youth is important to this Oilers team, as Edmonton was forced to fill multiple positions each summer via free agency. The club will still need to use the trade market for a goalie upgrade (if required) and would do well to grab the next Brad Marchand at the 2026 trade deadline (if there is a player like him available), but there is a need for youthful experience of the kind provided by Podkolzin last season. There is a crack in the Florida armour, as the organization spent heavily on its own aging free agents this summer. That kind of long-term commitment to 30-plus players has historically been the beginning of the end for top-flight teams during the cap era. For Bowman, finding players like Podkolzin is the key. Do the Oilers have a need for another rugged winger? The season to come will tell the story. A team in Edmonton's position must start as it means to go. Young players with NHL experience and room to grow are the key. It's imperative that Bomwan continues on this path in the months to come. (Photo of Trent Frederic and Matthew Tkachuk: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images) Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Malik Beasley evicted from Detroit apartment in latest financial blow during gambling probe
Former Pistons guard and current free agent Malik Beasley was evicted from his Detroit apartment Wednesday amid alleged financial troubles and the FBI's investigation into purported gambling activity involving NBA games and prop bets, according to The Detroit News. This eviction came following two lawsuits after Beasley, 28, failed to pay rent for his downtown high-rise apartment at The Stott, which is part of Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert's business ventures, per the report. Advertisement The landlord has sued Beasley twice this year after he did not pay a 'collective' $21,500 in rent, according to the paper. Beasley, 28, reportedly did not respond to the second lawsuit, which alleged he did not pay $7,355, leading to a default judgment being filed against the guard Wednesday. 3 Malik Beasley during a 2025 NBA playoffs game vs. the Knicks. Getty Images Advertisement The outlet further reported that the case is pending. This development continues what has been a rough offseason for Beasley, who reportedly had been discussing a three-year, $42 million deal to return to the Pistons after a strong showing this past season before the revelation of the gambling probe in June. At least one U.S. sportsbook noted 'unusual heavy betting interest' regarding his statistics, with such wagers called prop bets, during the 2023-24 season when he played for the Bucks, according to ESPN. 3 Malik Beasley hoists a shot against the Knicks during the playoffs. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post Advertisement 'An investigation is not a charge,' Steve Haney, Beasley's attorney, said to ESPN in June. 'Malik is afforded the same right of the presumption of innocence as anyone else under the U.S. Constitution. As of now he has not been charged with anything.' As the investigation came to light, details emerged about his financial troubles. ESPN reported how Beasley's former marketing agency sued him for failing to pay back a $650,000 advance, with the company alleging 'financial issues' for the NBAer. 3 Malik Beasley in a message he posted recently to Snapchat. @Pistons__Talk/X Advertisement The Detroit News further revealed how Beasley accrued multiple debts to a barber, dentist, landlord and lender, and had been the subject of lawsuits. That July report noted the pair of lawsuits against him filed by the Detroit apartment. Beasley recently broke his silence amid the scandals while responding to questions on Snapchat, indicating his desire to return to the NBA. Warning: Graphic language 'I feel like people turned they backs on me,' Beasley said. 'Low key, people were saying some crazy things in the media. If you go on Instagram, you'll see the craziest s–t. People judging you. 'Have I made mistakes in my life? Yes. Am I proud of those mistakes? No. I'm human, but I know what I know. … Until something else is done, then I just gotta stay positive, stay low key. … I got a chip on my shoulder. I'm ready to destroy anybody in front of me, I'm ready to prove again that I belong in this league. For those who know me, I work too hard, I work every day. I put basketball before anything.' Advertisement Beasley signed a one-year, $6 million deal with the Pistons before the 2024-25 season and finished second in Sixth Man of the Year voting after averaging 16.3 points per game. The gambling probe raises uncertainty about whether he will join a roster for this upcoming season.
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Donald Trump Jr. Posts Photo of Trump Throwing Sex Toy at WNBA Game
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Donald Trump Jr. posted a photo to Instagram of President Donald Trump throwing a sex toy off the roof of The White House onto a Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) game, following multiple real-life incidents of people throwing sex toys onto the courts of WNBA games. Newsweek has reached out to the WBNA via an online contact form for comment outside of regular working hours. Why It Matters Since late July, there have been four separate incidents where sex toys have been thrown onto the court at WNBA games. The WNBA has vowed to ban anyone who throws toys onto the court for at least one year and has warned that they will people subject to arrest and prosecution from local authorities. The incidents have highlighted concerns about player safety, security, and the extent to which women's basketball is being taken seriously. L: Donald Trump, Jr., son of former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, speaks at a campaign rally in Sanford, North Carolina, on November 3, 2024. R: The WNBA logo is seen on... L: Donald Trump, Jr., son of former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, speaks at a campaign rally in Sanford, North Carolina, on November 3, 2024. R: The WNBA logo is seen on a basketball before the Las Vegas Aces play the Golden State Valkyries at Chase Center on August 06, 2025 in San Francisco, California. More GRANT BALDWIN/AFP via Getty Images/What To Know The series of sex toy incidents began on July 29, when a person threw a neon green toy in the fourth quarter of a match between the Golden State Valkyries and the Atlanta Dream at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. The WNBA have since said that the fan responsible was arrested and ejected from the arena, and that they will be facing a ban of one year minimum. On August 7, Trump Jr, posted an image to Instagram that depicted Trump throwing a green sex toy off the roof of the white house, down onto the court of a WNBA game. The image has been edited, and in it, there is a basketball court next to the White House, which has a number of female basketball players on it. Trump Jr. captioned the image "Posted without further comment," and it has received over 90,000 likes as of press time. This post came as a fourth sex toy was thrown onto the court at a WNBA game on August 7, according to a social media post from the account @BricksCenter on X. @BricksCenter, which describes itself as a "Worldwide Leader In Sports Fails," in its bio on X, posted a clip of the game being interrupted after an item was thrown on the court. The post was captioned, "The WNBA had a No Bag Policy for tonight's game. A fan still snuck in a dildo," and has been viewed over 400,000 times as of reporting. What People Are Saying The WNBA said in a statement: "The safety and well-being of everyone in our arenas is a top priority for our league. Objects of any kind thrown onto the court or in the seating area can pose a safety risk for players, game officials, and fans. In line with WNBA Arena Security Standards, any fan who intentionally throws an object onto the court will be immediately ejected and face a minimum one-year ban in addition to being subject to arrest and prosecution by local authorities." What's Next Whether these incidents will continue, and the impact they may have, remains to be seen.
