Latest news with #FreeAgentFrenzy
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
New twist in Carter Hart to Edmonton Oilers talk after insider Kevin Weekes' report sparks speculation a rumor in NHL trading
Oilers are reportedly considering signing Carter Hart (Credit: Getty Images) When NHL free agency officially opened, Kevin Weekes shocked the hockey world by reporting that Edmonton Oilers general manager Stan Bowman was considering controversial free agent goaltender Carter Hart. The mention came within the opening moments of TSN's Free Agent Frenzy show, instantly triggering headlines. Bowman, who had already spoken about improving goaltending, has yet to make a major move. The Oilers' interest is striking, given the intense public scrutiny surrounding Hart. The 25-year-old goaltender is one of five players charged in connection with an alleged group sexual assault after the 2018 World Junior Championship. While the legal process is still ongoing, Bowman's name has also drawn controversy due to his involvement in the 2010 Kyle Beach scandal during his time with the Chicago Blackhawks. What Will The Oilers Do At Goalie? | NHL Free Agency 2025 Carter Hart's Edmonton ties deepen speculation around potential Oilers contract Adding fuel to the fire, Caleb Kerney of The Hockey News recently revealed more personal details linking Carter Hart to Edmonton. According to Kerney, Hart grew up in the area and shares a longstanding friendship with current Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Our one of a kind Patented Cold Water Extraction Process Superior Ginseng Undo This local connection may provide additional context for why Bowman and the Oilers would consider Hart as an option. Trial verdict looms as Oilers risk major backlash with Carter Hart link The timing of the speculation is delicate. Carter Hart's trial verdict in the 2018 Hockey Canada scandal is expected on July 24. If found not guilty, the NHL will still need to review and determine any potential disciplinary action. And that process could further delay or complicate any plans for a return to the league. For now, there is no confirmation from the Oilers camp. But with free agency in full swing and the team still needing goaltending help, and the story is far from over. Whether Carter Hart returns to the NHL may depend less on performance. And more on timing, perception, and legal outcome. Also Read: What Connor McDavid's mindset looks like now, according to insiders' view on Oilers contract extension drama For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here . Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Edmonton Journal
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
'Disappointing': Oilers GM blasted as a "loser" for free agency work. Maybe that's a good thing
You will not find Stan Bowman's name on any major list of NHL July 1 free agent frenzy winners. Article content Bowman had limited cap space to work with. He cleared out Viktor Arvidsson and Evander Kane's contracts and said good-bye to Corey Perry, Connor Brown, Jeff Skinner and John Klingberg in large part to pay for $6.6 million and $5.5 million million per year raises for Evan Bouchard and Leon Draisaitl respectively. Article content Article content The cap shot up, which helped pay for new deals for free agent Andrew Mangiapane and prospective free agent Trent Frederic. Article content Article content One test of an NHL GM is to use cap space wisely on July 1, something interim GM Jeff Jackson failed to do last season. Bowman did it this year but that's an easier test to pass when your cap space is limited, as Bowman faced this year in Edmonton. Nonetheless, he made what looks to be two solid bets on two solid forwards, Mangiapane and Frederic, as well as a great cheap bet on energy forward Curtis Lazar. For all this, however, Bowman has now been labelled a 'loser,' by many a hockey commentator on their annual Free Agent Frenzy winner and loser lists. Article content Here's what former NHL goalie Martin Biron had to say at TSN. 'They did not address their goaltending. So there's a lot of question marks. Is the Edmonton Oilers a better team now? They're not. They're not a better team now than they were when the season ended. They're not a better team now that they were at the start of the season when they didn't even have Evander Kane healthy like they did in the playoffs. So, I'm looking at the Oilers and I'm saying this is disappointing.' Article content Article content At the Athletic, VGK writer Jesse Granger also put the Oilers in the 'loser' category when it came to the NHL's goalie carousel. 'The Oilers shocked many by standing pat in the crease – at least for now. Edmonton still has Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard under contract for one more season, and GM Stan Bowman chose not to add a goalie on Tuesday. In Bowman's defense, it's not as if there was a bounty of options available to upgrade his goaltending. Still, he passed on John Gibson, who Anaheim traded to Detroit for Petr Mrazek and two draft picks. He also passed on signing one of the veteran backups on the open market.' Article content At the Daily Faceoff, writer Matt Larkin also has the Oilers as overall losers: 'The Oilers got two big swings at the Stanley Cup and missed. Now Leon Draisaitl's and Evan Bouchard's new deals kick in at a combined $24.5 million, and voila, you've squeezed Corey Perry, Connor Brown, Evander Kane, Arvidsson and John Klingberg from your roster while adding nothing on July 1. It's not an utter catastrophe given the Oilers' top-end stars remain aboard, but when your depth gets decimated and you don't address your goaltending problem…we have to call it like it is and say the Oilers are a significantly weaker team now than they were even two weeks ago.' Article content At The Athletic, writer Shayna Goldman also said that teams (like Edmonton) looking for a goalie ended up as losers. 'The goalie market was incredibly weak this year. ' Article content And at Bleacher Report, writer Lyle Fitzsimmons also pegged the Oilers as NHL free agency losers. '(Bowman) did prompt some league-wide head scratching by signing middle-six forward Trent Frederic for eight years at $3.85 million annually, but it hardly seems the kind of move that'll convince Connor McDavid, who's entering the last year of his deal, to stick around.' Article content And at The Hockey News, writer Adam Proteau also had the Oilers as losers: 'Despite nearly winning a Cup this past season, the Oilers weren't able to persuade key role players to re-sign with the team… At best, the Oilers are approximately the same in terms of all-around talent, and that may not be good enough to keep Pacific Division and Western Conference teams at bay next year. That makes them a loser on our list.' Article content Article content The same went for Ryan Dixon at Sportsnet: 'A lot of valuable depth — from Corey Perry to Connor Brown to John Klingberg — went out the door and any notion the Oilers could do something to upgrade the crease was killed by a grim goalie market that became completely barren once Jake Allen re-upped in New Jersey.' Article content 1. Maybe it's a good thing that so many commentators see the Oilers as 'losers' just now. Maybe it's not so wise to be hailed as a winner early in July. Article content We will all recall that last year at this same time that interim GM Jeff Jackson and the Oilers were widely seen as major winners of free agency. The team went over the cap momentarily to sign Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner, while retaining Adam Henrique, Connor Brown and Mattias Janmark, while saying good-bye to Warren Foegele. Everyone raved about Jackson's brilliant moves. Article content Article content A few days later Edmonton traded Ryan McLeod for prospect Matt Savoie, and folks loved that move to. Article content Said Sportsnet Caglary's Eric Francis: 'I'm just going to tell you right now that that team on paper is the most terrifying team in the West and I think in all of hockey. Kudos to the Oilers.' Article content Dom Luszczyszyn of The Athletic found that of the teams that made the Final Four in the 2024 playoffs, the Oilers were the only one that got better during the July free agency period and not worse. 'Most Stanley Cup finalists don't get to run it back. Usually, they have to lose some key pieces to make the cap work the following year. Lucky for Edmonton, the Oilers not only didn't have to lose any vitals cogs, they actually got to add reinforcements… A team that was a goal away from glory getting better — even marginally so — is a big deal.' Article content And hockey writer Scott Wheeler of The Athletic: 'Really nice offseason in Edmonton for Jeff Jackson.' Article content And NHL podcaster Peter Blackburn of the What Chaos show: 'The Oilers are having an outrageous offseason.' Article content And Oilers blogger Matt Henderson: 'Jeff Jackson has thoroughly blown me away.' Article content And hockey writer Jonathan Willis: 'I'm not prone to unconditional praise, but this was just a great day for Jeff Jackson, his staff, and the Edmonton Oilers.' Article content And The Athletic's Thomas Drance: 'The Edmonton Oilers forward group is shaping up to be nasty. After Edmonton's moves today, the 'to win Stanley Cup' futures market has adjusted to price them as the favourite at +850. And that's dead right. Article content And Spittin' Chiclets podcaster Ryan Whitney: 'I am actually over the moon right now.' Article content And me, David Staples of the Cult of Hockey: 'Jackson has had an outstanding off-season, the best in twenty years in Edmonton.' Article content And, most importantly, Oilers captain Connor McDavid: 'I thought the whole management staff has done a great job. They've had a great offseason so far.' Article content Article content 2. So all was good, right? Not ever close. Doomsday came six weeks later when the St. Louis Blues took advantage of Jackson's over-exuberant, over-extended spending spree and made offer sheets to Oilers prospects Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway. And then came the regular season, when Broberg and Holloway both stepped up, as did Foegele in Los Angeles and McLeod in Buffalo, but Arvidsson and Skinner failed to shine as hoped in Edmonton, with Janmark's play dropping off appreciably. Only Brown and Henrique maintained steady levels of play from the 2024 Stanley Cup run. Article content 3. Who knows how things will turn out this time? No one knows, evidently. Article content Things can change fast. But it was imperative to sign up Draisailt last summer and Bouchard this summer. Bowman did both. I see both the Mangiapane and Frederic signings as decent bets, but I also worry Kane and Arvidsson will come up big in new cities. Article content Article content 4. I went into this free agent period hoping the Oilers would get a new goalie and a bunch of fast, nasty and aggressive forwards on value contracts, two-way players like Vasily Podkolzin, a major Bowman find after Holloway went to St. Lou. Article content Lazar can be that kind of player if he's healthy. As for the goalie situation, the market wasn't there to bring in the right player and the right price, so that's a move that will come as the season develops. Article content 5. Bowman described to Bob Stauffer of Oilers Now the early July 2025 goalie market as following: 'We looked around at different options and certainly there were some things, but we didn't think any of them really came close to making sense as far as making our situation better. So we certainly want to try to improve there, whether it's the current group we have, you know, we're comfortable with them. We've gone with them, you know, with Stu and Picks in the past and they got us right to the Final two years in a row. So I think there's a lot of positives there. And can we improve? Sure. And we want our not just the goalies, though, want everyone to try to take a step forward next year. And, you know, sometimes incremental little benefits can make your team better. So we're looking for that. But we're comfortable with where we are right now. Part of your job as a manager is to always see what the options are. There was a lot of movement yesterday with goalies moving around. But none of those really made sense for us.' Article content Article content
New York Times
02-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Hockey insider Bob McKenzie retires after 48 years: A tribute from those he inspired
In a flurry of free-agency moves on July 1, it was the deal that was — in Bob McKenzie's own words — 'one for none' that stole the show. The longtime hockey insider, who will turn 69 in August, announced his retirement from the industry on TSN's 'Free Agent Frenzy' show and social media. 'The trade is one for none,' McKenzie said. 'Which is to say I'm exchanging my semi-retired TSN life of the last five years — doing the World Junior Championships, NHL Draft Rankings, a handful of Toronto Maple Leaf broadcasts, TradeCentre and Free Agent Frenzy — for a fully-retired life of doing absolutely nothing. Well, nothing work related anyway. Today's Free Agent Frenzy is the last working day in a 48-year professional career that included stops at The Sault Star, The Globe and Mail, The Hockey News (twice), The Toronto Star, TSN, ESPN and NBC, amongst others. It's been quite a ride.' McKenzie, nicknamed 'The Bobfather,' has been semi-retired since 2020 and said now is 'as nice a time as any to call it a career.' End of an era for @TSNBobMcKenzie, as we celebrate his retirement in his last #FreeAgentFrenzy on TSN. — TSN (@TSN_Sports) July 1, 2025 We reached out to McKenzie's friends, colleagues and those who looked up to him here at The Athletic to share their memories and well wishes. Here's what they had to say. When you're young and scared to death and certainly not confident in your own abilities as a hockey writer but sure pretend to be, you remember the legends who treat you with respect and, frankly, like an adult. I started covering the NHL as a 21-year-old in 1995 and still remember to this day how nervous I was to introduce myself to Bob. Even then, he was a titan in the business. Advertisement But he didn't treat me like a kid. He treated me instantly like a colleague. I can't convey how much I've looked up to Bob over the years and am thankful for how he's helped me and treated me. I still remember, even as a veteran hockey writer in 2017 during the Stanley Cup Final, sitting at a table on the roof of Tootsies in Nashville with Bob and an agent, thinking how cool it was to have a couple of drinks with them, and that I was even allowed to sit there. A week or so later, I still remember sitting at the Center Bar at the Encore in Vegas with Bob, witnessing Bob get scoop after scoop about the expansion draft and marveling at just how he operates. I am sure that I've never met a reporter as universally respected by everybody in the business — media colleagues, GMs, owners, players, commissioner Gary Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly — as Bob. He's truly one of a kind — the original Insider, the GOAT, 'The Bobfather' — and this sport and all of us hockey fans, and especially those of us who have gotten to know Bob and worked alongside Bob, are eternally grateful. — Michael Russo It wouldn't be exaggerating to say that I wouldn't have a career in sportswriting without Bob McKenzie, who was the first 'real' pro to boost my profile way back in the early days. That sort of endorsement was the difference between me becoming a forgotten name from the bygone blogging era and whatever I am today. And as I'd later learn, it wasn't remotely unusual — Bob was a guy who was happy to offer a hand up to others, in any way he could, even if they were no-names and/or potential competition. He's just a good guy who loves hockey and wants to see it covered well. That's a small part of what makes him the best to ever do this. — Sean McIndoe When I was a young writer, Bob went out of his way a few times in a manner I will always appreciate. Be it promoting my work on social, taking time out of his day to discuss his craft, or just chatting prospects when I ran into him at the rink, for a junior writer, I looked up to him, and those small gestures meant a ton. — Corey Pronman Everyone knows how incredible Bob was at breaking news. And evaluating talent. And connecting with sources in a way that only comes with unqualified trust. But I'll always appreciate the lengths he would go to help others in the industry. We were never on the same team, working for the same outlet, but any time I'd approach him about something, he never hesitated to help. He'd write a blurb for your book. He'd share his perspective on how to get ahead in the media. I remember asking him once about a player who was drafted on a team I covered, just to get some insight on what I should expect. He didn't just share what the player was like on the ice; he shared countless stories about the guy's brothers and family that only come from spending time up close at the rink and off. I couldn't believe how much he knew about this one random defenseman. But that's Bob. He knew everyone, and he helped everyone. He's the best. — Craig Custance I unfortunately did not get the chance to know Bob well over the years, but he did inspire me to move to Toronto and attend the same journalism school to try to be a hockey writer. So, I have always admired Bob. But he really showed why he's so respected in this industry when he endorsed a little fledgling startup called The Athletic back in the fall of 2016, when we were a group of a dozen writers struggling to build something new. Advertisement Even though we were technically 'the competition,' he wanted us to succeed and called on readers to support our work. I'll never forget the DM he sent me that day. 'Good luck, James. You're a brave man, giving up a job to go to a start-up, but here's hoping your faith is justified. Take care, all the best.' The ultimate class act. Thank you, Bob — enjoy retirement. — James Mirtle The bright lights of sports television can be a drug, especially for those who morph from the printed word to the spoken word. The drug is fame. The affliction is ego. You have seen this many times on American sports television, with many sequels. I grew up in New York, but I live in Toronto now. I didn't get to read Bob McKenzie in his writing prime for The Hockey News and The Toronto Star, but I have certainly watched him on TSN for many years. (Some Americans may remember him as an NHL insider for NBC when they had hockey.) The interesting thing for me about McKenzie on TSN was that he was very much the opposite of what we (Americans) think of as sports television. He wasn't loud. He didn't have a gimmick. His news gathering and informed analysis drove his appearances. He had a combination of competency and comfort. He was thoughtful. When I watched him, I would think to myself: I'm glad there is still a place for this on sports television. Very few people in this business get to depart clean and on their own terms. It looks like Bob McKenzie did — and that's a helluva lead NHL story on Canada Day. — Richard Deitsch Growing up watching hockey and wanting to be a journalist, I learned it wasn't right until Bob McKenzie said so. Both Bob and I — and countless others, of course — adore The Tragically Hip. In 2006-ish, a younger me stood outside the Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto before doors opened for an intimate Hip show. I had to get on the rail up front, of course. And so when he strolled by us keener fans waiting in line with his head down and walked straight into the venue with a pat on the back from The Hip's security guard, I thought, 'Good goddamn, that dude is the coolest.' Advertisement Almost 20 years later, Bob has continued to reveal what is both true and cool: He operates with respect for younger people when they come to him for advice. He never speaks about people in the industry in a remotely negative way. He loves the work and loves doing it fairly and honestly. And he puts all of his effort into an important second act: being a grandparent. I didn't think Bob could be any cooler than being buddies with a band I grew up adoring. Then I watched him closely, learned more about him and realized how wrong I was and how right he always is. — Joshua Kloke There was no such thing as an Insider in hockey media until Bob McKenzie invented that role. He is a trailblazer in the way he married a writing career with television before anyone else in hockey ever thought of doing it. He is not only the reason I decided to try to follow in his path, but also the reason I came to TSN in 2011. The idea of working with 'The Bobfather' was surreal. And it didn't disappoint. What a privilege it was to work alongside a legend for 14 years. And what an amazing person to get to know. A caring, funny guy who cared about his coworkers and took great pride in TSN's successes. He is the GOAT. Plain and simple. — Pierre LeBrun Anyone who ever said 'never meet your heroes' never had the chance to meet Bob McKenzie. What can you possibly say about the best among us? Bob was the famous guy on TSN when I was a kid dreaming of chasing a career as a hockey reporter, and he became someone I was lucky enough to share laughs with, share meals with and share a spot on the Insider desk with. I once discreetly watched him work the phones for his best-in-class draft rankings list while sitting poolside in Las Vegas. What a legend. I also saw him graciously take the hit during one runaway media dinner at the Stanley Cup Final that ended in a misguided game of credit card roulette. Advertisement In getting to know the man behind the legend, what I came to admire most about Bob was his integrity and values. The glowing tributes you'll read here aren't the result of the mountains of scoops he produced over 48 years in the business. No, what really set Bob apart was how he delivered all of that news and, even more importantly, how he carried himself while doing it. To me, that's the legacy Bob leaves behind. He both created the job and did it so much better than anyone else ever could. — Chris Johnston
The Province
01-07-2025
- Sport
- The Province
Hockey insider Bob McKenzie set to retire after 38-year career at TSN
Award-winning hockey insider made the announcement on Tuesday during TSN's annual "Free Agent Frenzy" show Published Jul 01, 2025 • 1 minute read TSN analyst Bob McKenzie speaks during coverage of the NHL Draft Lottery on April 10, 2012 at the TSN Studios in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Photo by Tom Szczerbowski / NHLI via Getty Images TORONTO — Longtime sportscaster Bob McKenzie is retiring. The Toronto native made the announcement on Tuesday during TSN's annual 'Free Agent Frenzy' show. McKenzie joined TSN in 1987, covering the NHL, world junior championship, NHL draft, NHL trade deadline and free agency. He also covered six Olympic Games. Before joining TSN, McKenzie was the editor-in-chief of The Hockey News for nine years and a hockey columnist for the Toronto Star for six years. McKenzie became one of the top insiders in hockey circles over the years. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors The trade is one for none. Which is to say I'm exchanging my semi-retired TSN life of the last five years — doing the World Junior Championships, NHL Draft Rankings, a handful of Toronto Maple Leaf broadcasts, TradeCentre and Free Agent Frenzy — for a fully-retired life of doing… — Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) July 1, 2025 The 68-year-old also won numerous awards, including the Gemini Award for Best Studio Analyst for his work on the '2008 IIHF World Junior Championship: Gold Final' as well as the 2016 Canadian Screen Award for Best Sports Analyst. 'I certainly never set out to be the TSN Hockey Insider. It never occurred to me that I would work in television. All I wanted to be when I grew up was a hockey writer: to have a 'job' to watch, write, and talk about the game. You know, tell a few stories and try to capture the spirit of the thing. Mission accomplished, I guess,' he said in a news release. Read More
Vancouver Sun
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
Hockey insider Bob McKenzie set to retire after 38-year career at TSN
TORONTO — Longtime sportscaster Bob McKenzie is retiring. The Toronto native made the announcement on Tuesday during TSN's annual 'Free Agent Frenzy' show. McKenzie joined TSN in 1987, covering the NHL, world junior championship, NHL draft, NHL trade deadline and free agency. He also covered six Olympic Games. Before joining TSN, McKenzie was the editor-in-chief of The Hockey News for nine years and a hockey columnist for the Toronto Star for six years. McKenzie became one of the top insiders in hockey circles over the years. The trade is one for none. Which is to say I'm exchanging my semi-retired TSN life of the last five years — doing the World Junior Championships, NHL Draft Rankings, a handful of Toronto Maple Leaf broadcasts, TradeCentre and Free Agent Frenzy — for a fully-retired life of doing… The 68-year-old also won numerous awards, including the Gemini Award for Best Studio Analyst for his work on the '2008 IIHF World Junior Championship: Gold Final' as well as the 2016 Canadian Screen Award for Best Sports Analyst. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'I certainly never set out to be the TSN Hockey Insider. It never occurred to me that I would work in television. All I wanted to be when I grew up was a hockey writer: to have a 'job' to watch, write, and talk about the game. You know, tell a few stories and try to capture the spirit of the thing. Mission accomplished, I guess,' he said in a news release.
