Jun 15, 2020Every year, the Selke Trophy, for my money anyway, requires the most research if you’re going to look at as many layers as possible before making your choices.The award goes “to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game.”Last season’s winner, deservedly, was Ryan O’Reilly of the St. Louis Blues.But the debate right off the bat is how loose with that definition you’re willing to be when you’re voting. My definition of who the best defensive forward in the league might be different than it is for the best two-way forward in the league. And I think what’s...…Jun 15, 2020Every year, the Selke Trophy, for my money anyway, requires the most research if you’re going to look at as many layers as possible before making your choices.The award goes “to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game.”Last season’s winner, deservedly, was Ryan O’Reilly of the St. Louis Blues.But the debate right off the bat is how loose with that definition you’re willing to be when you’re voting. My definition of who the best defensive forward in the league might be different than it is for the best two-way forward in the league. And I think what’s...WW…

Jun 14, 2020On March 8, 1986, Quebec Nordiques forward John Anderson showed up for a road game in Hartford and was told by the trainer that GM Maurice Filion wanted to see him.Uh oh.Anderson had been acquired the previous offseason from the , the team that had taken him 11th-overall in the 1977 draft.He’d had a pretty good gig in Toronto playing with Rick Vaive and Bill Durlago, but Quebec wasn’t so bad either. The team was rock solid, with Peter Stastny, Michel Goulet and Dale Hunter, and his life away from the rink included a house with an indoor pool that was situated on a mountain...…Jun 14, 2020On March 8, 1986, Quebec Nordiques forward John Anderson showed up for a road game in Hartford and was told by the trainer that GM Maurice Filion wanted to see him.Uh oh.Anderson had been acquired the previous offseason from the , the team that had taken him 11th-overall in the 1977 draft.He’d had a pretty good gig in Toronto playing with Rick Vaive and Bill Durlago, but Quebec wasn’t so bad either. The team was rock solid, with Peter Stastny, Michel Goulet and Dale Hunter, and his life away from the rink included a house with an indoor pool that was situated on a mountain...WW…

Aug 29, 2022 is guaranteed more than double what the gave three years ago and probably will end up with more than triple. The minimum Rodríguez will earn with the ($209.3 million) is more than the Braves’ pre-arbitration guarantees to Acuña ($100 million), ($72 million) and ($35 million) combined.Less than five months into his major-league career, Rodríguez, 21, already is assured of enough money to make his family comfortable for generations. He likely will spend his entire career in Seattle, an outcome that most fans will view as good for baseball. Yet some player representatives believe...…Aug 29, 2022 is guaranteed more than double what the gave three years ago and probably will end up with more than triple. The minimum Rodríguez will earn with the ($209.3 million) is more than the Braves’ pre-arbitration guarantees to Acuña ($100 million), ($72 million) and ($35 million) combined.Less than five months into his major-league career, Rodríguez, 21, already is assured of enough money to make his family comfortable for generations. He likely will spend his entire career in Seattle, an outcome that most fans will view as good for baseball. Yet some player representatives believe...WW…

Nov 25, 2019In this week’s installment, I want to quickly touch on a few topics from the last week.First, I want to revisit the concept of marginal contributions on the team level. Using a framework of marginal gains or losses is extremely helpful across the gamut of topics for analysis, as when we are trying to determine the “value” of a given player, team or strategy, it’s always relative. There are 1,230 wins to go around in an NBA season — . I’m perhaps too much of a traditionalist to be supportive of the sort of omnibus approach to schedule changes that has been floated, but discussion...…Nov 25, 2019In this week’s installment, I want to quickly touch on a few topics from the last week.First, I want to revisit the concept of marginal contributions on the team level. Using a framework of marginal gains or losses is extremely helpful across the gamut of topics for analysis, as when we are trying to determine the “value” of a given player, team or strategy, it’s always relative. There are 1,230 wins to go around in an NBA season — . I’m perhaps too much of a traditionalist to be supportive of the sort of omnibus approach to schedule changes that has been floated, but discussion...WW…

Apr 30, 2020The announced cost-cutting measures in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on Thursday afternoon in a call with local reporters.Twenty percent of the Stars’ office staff will be furloughed starting May 3 and running through July 4 according to team president Brad Alberts. The furloughed employees will still have health insurance during the 60-day period, and the Stars have committed to paying the insurance premiums. Alberts said the Stars have also made sure those employees will be eligible for government unemployment benefits.“These people didn’t do anything wrong. We...…Apr 30, 2020The announced cost-cutting measures in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on Thursday afternoon in a call with local reporters.Twenty percent of the Stars’ office staff will be furloughed starting May 3 and running through July 4 according to team president Brad Alberts. The furloughed employees will still have health insurance during the 60-day period, and the Stars have committed to paying the insurance premiums. Alberts said the Stars have also made sure those employees will be eligible for government unemployment benefits.“These people didn’t do anything wrong. We...WW…

Mar 18, 2020If you’re a fan stuck at home dreaming of brighter, wilder days in the Muni Lot with cold beers and lots of barking, new Browns fullback wants you to know he’s heard about you.He’s ready to toast to you.“I’m excited,” Janovich told The Athletic on Wednesday. “I have a good buddy here in Denver, . He was drafted by the Browns years ago (the sixth round in 2012). Ryan called me last night and told me I’ll absolutely love Cleveland. He told me it’s my kind of place. I said, ‘Hey is there Busch Light there?’“He said, ‘Oh, gosh, they buy it by the pallet.’ And I said that sounds...…Mar 18, 2020If you’re a fan stuck at home dreaming of brighter, wilder days in the Muni Lot with cold beers and lots of barking, new Browns fullback wants you to know he’s heard about you.He’s ready to toast to you.“I’m excited,” Janovich told The Athletic on Wednesday. “I have a good buddy here in Denver, . He was drafted by the Browns years ago (the sixth round in 2012). Ryan called me last night and told me I’ll absolutely love Cleveland. He told me it’s my kind of place. I said, ‘Hey is there Busch Light there?’“He said, ‘Oh, gosh, they buy it by the pallet.’ And I said that sounds...WW…

Jun 20, 2020The received a significant wake-up call this week.Eleven players tested positive for COVID-19, leading to both inside and outside of team facilities. The known hot spots, at this point, are localized in Arizona and Florida, where the virus caseload has risen among the general public in recent weeks.The 11 players who tested positive were out of a group of more than 200 players tested, many of whom were taking part in Phase 2 of the NHL’s planned return to play. Phase 3 – the start of training camps – is scheduled to begin on July 10, less than three weeks from today.According to...…Jun 20, 2020The received a significant wake-up call this week.Eleven players tested positive for COVID-19, leading to both inside and outside of team facilities. The known hot spots, at this point, are localized in Arizona and Florida, where the virus caseload has risen among the general public in recent weeks.The 11 players who tested positive were out of a group of more than 200 players tested, many of whom were taking part in Phase 2 of the NHL’s planned return to play. Phase 3 – the start of training camps – is scheduled to begin on July 10, less than three weeks from today.According to...WW…

Jun 19, 2020“I decided to stick with it, for my teammates and for myself,” she said. “The love and support they’ve shown me, I didn’t want to stop and give up on them just because of people in the organization abusing their power.”“We have made efforts to reduce or eliminate the chance for interaction between the athletes during events managed by USA Hockey”Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to clarify Jeremy Kennedy’s titles within USA Hockey.(Top illustration: Wes McCabe / The Athletic)…Jun 19, 2020“I decided to stick with it, for my teammates and for myself,” she said. “The love and support they’ve shown me, I didn’t want to stop and give up on them just because of people in the organization abusing their power.”“We have made efforts to reduce or eliminate the chance for interaction between the athletes during events managed by USA Hockey”Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to clarify Jeremy Kennedy’s titles within USA Hockey.(Top illustration: Wes McCabe / The Athletic)WW…

Mar 13, 2020In response to the COVID-19 pandemic that has halted sports in the U.S., owner Arthur Blank has pledged to continue paying hourly employees who work for each of the businesses he owns.Speaking with The Athletic on Friday afternoon, Falcons team president Rich McKay said the decision to ensure hourly employees were not affected negatively during the pandemic was an easy one to make. McKay mentioned there are numerous hourly employees who work for Atlanta United and the Falcons and also at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and the remaining companies that are a part of The Blank Family...…Mar 13, 2020In response to the COVID-19 pandemic that has halted sports in the U.S., owner Arthur Blank has pledged to continue paying hourly employees who work for each of the businesses he owns.Speaking with The Athletic on Friday afternoon, Falcons team president Rich McKay said the decision to ensure hourly employees were not affected negatively during the pandemic was an easy one to make. McKay mentioned there are numerous hourly employees who work for Atlanta United and the Falcons and also at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and the remaining companies that are a part of The Blank Family...WW…

May 2, 2020It now seems more and more likely the will forge ahead with holding its draft in June – several months before when the league and its players hope they are able to resume the 2019-20 season.The NHL’s Board of Governors will meet remotely Monday and a decision on whether to have a June draft is expected by the end of the week. Given the details revealed in it is clear commissioner Gary Bettman and league executives think a draft in June is the most favorable course of action.Even though many NHL GMs oppose holding a remote draft prior to the conclusion of the season, something...…May 2, 2020It now seems more and more likely the will forge ahead with holding its draft in June – several months before when the league and its players hope they are able to resume the 2019-20 season.The NHL’s Board of Governors will meet remotely Monday and a decision on whether to have a June draft is expected by the end of the week. Given the details revealed in it is clear commissioner Gary Bettman and league executives think a draft in June is the most favorable course of action.Even though many NHL GMs oppose holding a remote draft prior to the conclusion of the season, something...WW…