Timmins, Sabres Settle On A Two-Year Contract Extension

Just under a week before the two sides were scheduled for saiary arbitration, the Buffalo Sabres and defenseman Conor Timmins agreed on a two-year, $4.4 million contract extension. The 26-year-old blueliner was acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins in a deal for veteran Connor Clifton and the Sabres 2025 second-round pick on day 2 of the NHL Draft last month. 

The St. Catharines, ON native coming off a 15-point season with the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Penguins (3 goals, 12 assists) in 68 games was expected to get a slight raise from the $1.1 million salary he made last season, but with the cap going up and the Sabres buying an unrestricted free agent year, Timmins salary doubled to an AAV of $2.2 million. That amount is still $1.1 million less than Clifton’s 2025-26 salary.    

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Timmins ranks fifth in salary on the Sabres blueline, behind team captain Rasmus Dahlin ($11 million), Owen Power ($8.35 million), Bowen Byram ($6.25 million), and Mattias Samuelsson ($4.285 million), and ahead of the recently acquired Michael Kesselring ($1.4 million), Jacob Bryson and Zac Jones ($900,000). Although he will be a restricted free agent with arbitration rights next summer, Sabres GM Kevyn Adams may try to be proactive and try to get Kesselring extended, after he was the main piece in the trade that sent JJ Peterka to Utah.

The signing of Timmins leaves the Sabres with one remaining restricted free agent in goalie Devon Levi. The 23-year-old is not arbitration-eligible and cannot be signed to an offer sheet, but after spending the last one-and-a-half seasons in AHL Rochester and the signing of veteran Alex Lyon to a two-year contract earlier this month, there may begin to be some concern of how motivated Levi is to sign a new deal with Buffalo.  

 

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What we learned as Matt Chapman's two-homer game wasted in Mets' sweep of Giants

What we learned as Matt Chapman's two-homer game wasted in Mets' sweep of Giants originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants did something this weekend that they haven’t done in nearly 100 years. 

While losing 5-3 to the New York Mets on Sunday, the lineup went hitless in seven at-bats with runners in scoring position. That followed a pair of 0-for-8 games, meaning they went 0-for-23 with runners in scoring position over three games. All three were losses for a team that now is just two games above .500 and became the first Giants group to go at least 0-for-20 with runners in scoring position in a series since 1931, when the New York Giants also went 0-for-23 against the Brooklyn Robins. 

In their first pre-planned bullpen game of the year, the Giants actually found themselves in a pretty good spot through five. A couple of Matt Chapman homers gave them a 3-2 lead, and up to that point, they had only used long reliever Spencer Bivens and lefties Matt Gage and Joey Lucchesi

The Mets stunned Randy Rodriguez in the seventh, though, getting a game-tying homer from Ronny Mauricio and then a go-ahead blast from Juan Soto. 

The Mets tacked on a run in the ninth but wasted an opportunity to add more. In the bottom of the inning, that immediately became a factor. 

All-Star closer Edwin Diaz walked Jung Hoo Lee with one out, grazed Heliot Ramos, and then walked Rafael Devers to load the bases. But Diaz bounced back quickly, blowing away Willy Adames and Chapman to end the game. 

Double Trouble

There was a lot of talk at the end of the first half about how Devers (groin and back tightness) needed the four days off. Chapman was right there with him after rushing back from a hand sprain.

Chapman had just one extra-base hit in eight games after he came back, but since the All-Star break, he has returned to his old ways. He homered twice on Sunday, giving him four in nine games since the four days off. Chapman also has a homer and triple during that span. 

Chapman’s first homer on Sunday was a 110 mph blast to left, and his second one went to dead center and gave the Giants a 3-2 lead. The multi-homer game was his 13th in the big leagues and first since last Sept. 21, and it put him at 16 for the season. That’s one ahead of Adames among Giants who have been here all year (Devers has 19).

The Bullpen Game

The Giants have used just two bullpen games this year, and both have come on Sunday Night Baseball. They also did it last month after trading Kyle Harrison just before the first pitch at Dodger Stadium.

This one started well, with Gage throwing a dominant first inning as The Opener. Bivens allowed two runs in three innings, and after that, Bob Melvin started searching for innings. That seemed to catch up with him in the seventh. 

Melvin tried to get multiple innings out of Lucchesi, but he was replaced by Rodriguez after giving up a double in the sixth. Rodriguez was brought back for the seventh and gave up two homers for the first time all year. 

Mauricio’s splashdown was the first homer off Rodriguez since April 29. Soto followed that by taking a fastball into the seats in left. 

Best Ballpark in Baseball

If you were on social media late Saturday night, you probably saw some discussion about changing the ballpark’s dimensions after Lee’s potential game-tying homer in the ninth hit the bricks and went for a double. It would have been a homer in 29 other ballparks, and that led to some foolishly calling for the fences to be brought in. 

A day later, the Giants benefited from basically the exact same play. With the Mets trailing by a run in the sixth, Jeff McNeil hit a 408-foot rocket to right-center. Like Lee, he was stuck with a double. And, you guessed it, the ball would have been a game-tying homer in 29 other ballparks. 

Never change, Oracle. 

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From The Archive: Nashville Pull

Apr 11, 2006; St. Louis, MO, USA; Nashville Predators forward Paul Kariya (9) skates up ice against the St. Louis Blues during the first period at the Savvis Center in St. Louis, MO. Mandatory Credit:Scott Rovak-Imagn Images Copyright © Scott Rovak

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Sep 19, 2006/vol. 60, issue 03

Nashville pull

Predators attracting prime free agents as Music City emerges as hockey hot spot

BY JOHN GLENNON

In the old days of NHL free agency, players generally considered one variable – money – when it came to signing with a new team.

While that’s still usually the case, the league’s salary cap has evened out many offers, meaning players also are looking for what makes them feel warm and fuzzy in addition to rich and famous.

The short-term result has seen the small-market Nashville Predators become somewhat surprising players in free agency during the past two off-seasons.

The trend began last summer when left winger Paul Kariya stunned the hockey world by choosing to sign with Nashville, continued this past June when center Jason Arnott picked the Preds and resumed last month when right winger J-P Dumont selected Music City over a number of other suitors.

Dumont signed a two-year deal that will pay him $2 million this season and $2.5 million in 2007-08.

“We had some offers, but I talked to (former Predator) Joel Bouchard, who played there a few years ago and he told me good things about the town and organization,” Dumont said. “He told me (Nashville) would be the best pick by far and he didn’t even know who the other teams were.

“He said those guys really know how to treat everybody as a family. I wanted to go somewhere where I feel wanted and welcome.”

Dumont, who became a free agent when Buffalo chose to walk away from a salary arbitration award of $2.9 million, was one of the last significant players on the open market.

Carolina also made a notable late addition by signing defenseman David Tanabe to a one-year, $900,000 deal, after Boston walked away from Tanabe’s arbitration award of $1.275 million.

With training camp fast approaching, only a few notable free agents remained; winger Anson Carter being the most prominent.

In Nashville, management and coaches were excited over the arrival of Dumont, who has scored at least 20 goals in four of his past five seasons.

“I thought our forwards were (already) good and now in my mind they’re the best forwards we’ve ever had,” said Preds GM David Poile.

Nashville also was pleased with its growing reputation as a players’ choice destination. Arnott’s signing process, for instance, actually began when his agent asked Poile why the Predators hadn’t been inquiring about Arnott, explaining Arnott had Nashville on his wish list.

Dumont seemed equally enthusiastic about his move.

“His interest was as great, if not more, than ours from that standpoint,” Poile said. “It points out two things: We’re a very competitive team and the city of Nashville is a great place to play.”

The Final Four NHL Skaters Who Play Without Visors

Only four players who don't wear visors remain under an NHL contract.

Two years ago, TheHockeyNews.com examined the eight players who were still playing NHL games without the visor on their helmets. Half of those players either retired or didn't play in the NHL in 2024-25.

The NHL introduced the mandatory visor rule in 2013-14. All players who appeared in fewer than 25 NHL games before that season must wear a visor "properly affixed to their helmet."

Of all the league's active players, 101 of them played games before the 2013-14 season. Of that group, 83 played at least 25 games. In fact, Alex Ovechkin had already played 601 games by that point. Corey Perry, Brent Burns, Anze Kopitar and Shea Weber, who hasn't played since 2021 due to injury but is under contract for one more season, each passed 500 games as well.

That said, all those longtime NHLers wear visors. Let's take a fresh look at the four active visor-less players before seeing who dropped off the list since April 2023.

Zachary L'Heureux and Ryan O'Reilly (Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)

Ryan O'Reilly, C, Nashville Predators

O'Reilly, 34, played 265 regular-season NHL games and recorded 45 goals and 82 assists for 127 points before the visor rule came into effect.

The 6-foot-1 center from Clinton, Ont., is currently an alternate captain on the Nashville Predators. He has two years left on his contract at a $4.5-million cap hit, and he's still bringing some scoring power and two-way play to the lineup. He followed up his 69-point campaign in 2023-24 with 21 goals and 32 assists for 53 points in 79 games in 2024-25. His 746 faceoff wins were the 11th-most in the NHL, good for a 55.7 win percentage.

O'Reilly is also 48 games away from 1,200 in his NHL career.

Corey Perry and Jamie Benn (Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)

Jamie Benn, LW, Dallas Stars

Benn, 36, has been the Dallas Stars' captain for as long as the visor rule's been in effect. Before 2013-14, he had 82 goals and 111 assists for 193 points in 263 games.

The 6-foot-3 left winger from Victoria, B.C., re-signed with the Stars on a one-year contract with a $1-million cap hit and $3 million worth of performance bonuses – $500,000 each at 20, 30, 50 and 60 games played, $500,000 for winning the third round and another $500,000 for winning the Stanley Cup while playing in at least half of his team's playoff games. 

After recording 78 points in 2022-23 and 60 points in 2023-24, Benn put up 16 goals and 33 assists for 49 points in 80 games this past season while winning 56 percent of his faceoffs, going 296-for-529. He's eight games away from 1,200 in his career, one goal away from 400 and 44 points away from 1,000.

Zach Bogosian (Matt Blewett-Imagn Images)

Zach Bogosian, D, Minnesota Wild

Bogosian, 35, played 297 games before mandatory visors became grandfathered in, recording 34 goals and 69 assists for 103 points.

Bogosian played 81 games in 2024-25, which ties a career high set initially with the Atlanta Thrashers in 2009-10, his sophomore season. He had four goals and 12 assists for 16 points with the Minnesota Wild in 2024-25. He averaged 15:48 of ice time and had 80 blocked shots and 81 hits.

The 6-foot-3 blueliner from Massena, N.Y., has one season left on a two-year contract worth $1.25 million annually.

Ryan Reaves (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)

Ryan Reaves, RW, San Jose Sharks

Reaves, 38, played 131 games and recorded nine goals, five assists, 14 points and 281 penalty minutes before 2013-14. His 29 major penalties are the most among the NHL's active players who played before the visor rule took effect.

The 6-foot-2 right winger from Winnipeg still has the most major penalties among active players to date, with 93. He's arguably the most feared fighter in the NHL, with Georges Laraque, Andrew Peters and Craig Rivet each ranking him as the league's top active fighter in 2023.

After recording two assists in 35 games, the Toronto Maple Leafs put Reaves through waivers in March and traded him to the San Jose Sharks on July 10. He has one season left on a three-year contract with a $1.35-million cap hit.

Who Else Was In The Final Eight?

Jordie Benn, Zack Kassian, Milan Lucic and Matt Martin were among the final eight visor-less NHL players in 2022-23.

Jordie Benn, 38, is now a development coach and amateur scout on the Stars, recently working with the team's prospect pipeline at development camp. He retired from professional hockey in September 2024.

Martin, 36, retired on June 24 after playing 987 regular-season games and recording 3,936 hits, the second-most in the NHL since 2005-06 when the stat was first tracked. The New York Islanders hired him as a special assistant to GM Mathieu Darche.

Kassian, 34, retired from the NHL in October 2023 and played eight games in Czechia in 2023-24. He spent the 2024-25 season as a pro scout with the Edmonton Oilers.

Lucic, 37, last played in the NHL with the Boston Bruins in October 2023. He took a leave of absence from the Bruins after being arrested on a domestic violence charge, but the case was later dismissed. His partner, Brittany Lucic, posted a photo of her and Milan Lucic smiling to Instagram on July 22, with the caption saying, "healing is real... and it's exactly what this world needs more of."

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Ichiro Suzuki adds humorous touches to Hall of Fame induction ceremonies

Ichiro Suzuki adds humorous touches to Hall of Fame induction ceremonies originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

If you want someone for your next celebrity roast, Ichiro Suzuki could be your guy.

Mixing sneaky humor with heartfelt messages, the first Japanese-born player to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame stole the show Sunday in Cooperstown.

Morning showers and gloomy skies delayed the ceremonies by an hour, but the moisture gave way to bright skies and warm temperatures. The sun seemed its brightest during Suzuki’s acceptance speech.

The outfielder was joined by pitcher CC Sabathia, also elected in his first year of eligibility, and closer Billy Wagner, who made it in his final try on the writers’ ballot. Suzuki fell one vote shy of being a unanimous selection and he took a jab at the unidentified sports writer who didn’t vote for him.

“Three thousand hits or 262 hits in one season are two achievements recognized by the writers. Well, all but one,” Suzuki said to roaring laughter.

“By the way, the offer for the writer to have dinner at my home has now expired,” he added, with emphasis on “expired” for good measure.

A pair of Era Committee selections rounded out the Class of 2025: Dave Parker, who earned the nickname Cobra during 20 big league seasons, and slugger Dick Allen. Parker died June 28, just a month before he was to be inducted.

An estimated 30,000 fans crowded onto the field adjacent to the Clark Sports Center, sun umbrellas and Japanese flags sprinkled around. Suzuki’s No. 51 was seemingly everywhere as fans, thousands of them Seattle Mariners boosters who made the trek from the Pacific Northwest, chanted “Ichiro” several times throughout the day. A sign that read “Thank You Ichiro! Forever a Legend” in English and Japanese summed up the admiration for Suzuki on his special day.

With 52 returning Hall of Famers on hand, Suzuki paid homage to his new baseball home in Cooperstown and his adoring fans by delivering his 18-minute speech in English. His humor, a surprise to many, delighted the crowd.

He threw shade at the Miami Marlins, the last stop of his professional career.

“Honestly, when you guys offered me a contract in 2015, I had never heard of your team,” Suzuki joked.

He kidded that he showed up at spring training every year with his arm “already in shape” just to hear Mariners broadcaster Rick Rizzs scream, “`Holy smokes! Another laser-beam throw from Ichiro!’”

He even took a moment for some tongue-in-cheek modesty.

“People often measure me by my records. Three thousand hits. Ten Gold Gloves. Ten seasons of 200 hits.

“Not bad, huh?” Suzuki said to more laughs.

He thanked his late agent Tony Anastasio for “getting me to America and for teaching me to love wine.”

But he also took time to get to the root of what made him extraordinary.

“Baseball is much more than just hitting, throwing and running. Baseball taught me to make valued decisions about what is important. It helped shape my view of life and the world. … The older I got, I realized the only way I could get to play the game I loved to the age of 45 at the highest level was to dedicate myself to it completely,” he said. “When fans use their precious time to see you play, you have a responsibility to perform for them whether you are winning by 10 or losing by 10.

“Baseball taught me what it means to be a professional and I believe that is the main reason I am here today. I could not have achieved the numbers without paying attention to the small details every single day consistently for all 19 seasons.”

Now he’s reached the pinnacle, overcoming doubters, one of whom said to him: “`Don’t embarrass the nation.’” He’s made his homeland proud.

“Going into America’s Baseball Hall of Fame was never my goal. I didn’t even know there was one. I visited Cooperstown for the first time in 2001, but being here today sure feels like a fantastic dream.”

Sabathia thanked “the great players sitting behind me, even Ichiro, who stole my Rookie of the Year award (in 2001).” He paid homage to Parker and spoke about Black culture in today’s game.

“It’s an extra honor to be a part of Dave’s Hall of Fame class. He was a father figure for a generation of Black stars. In the ’80s and early ‘90s when I first started watching baseball and Dave Parker was crushing homers, the number of Black players in the major leagues was at its highest, about 18%. Me and my friends played the game because we saw those guys on TV and there was always somebody who looked like me in a baseball uniform.

“Baseball has always been a great game for Black athletes, but baseball culture has not always been great to Black people. I hope we’re starting to turn that around. I don’t want to be the final member of the Black aces, a Black pitcher to win 20 games. And I don’t want to be the final Black pitcher giving a Hall of Fame speech.”

Wagner urged young players to treat obstacles not as “roadblocks, but steppingstones.”

“I wasn’t the biggest player. I wasn’t supposed to be here. There were only seven full-time relievers in the Hall of Fame. Now, there are eight because I refused to give up or give in,” he said.

Suzuki received 393 of 394 votes (99.7%) from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Sabathia was picked on 342 ballots (86.8%) and Wagner on 325 (82.5%), which was 29 votes more than the 296 needed for the required 75%.

After arriving in the majors in 2001, Suzuki joined Fred Lynn (1975) as the only players to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season.

Suzuki was a two-time AL batting champion and 10-time All-Star and Gold Glove winner, hitting .311 with 117 homers, 780 RBIs and 509 stolen bases with Seattle, the New York Yankees and Miami.

He is perhaps the best contact hitter ever, with 1,278 hits in Nippon Professional Baseball and 3,089 in MLB, including a season-record 262 in 2004. His combined total of 4,367 exceeds Pete Rose’s major league record of 4,256.

Sabathia, second to Suzuki in 2001 AL Rookie of the Year voting, was a six-time All-Star who won the 2007 AL Cy Young Award and a World Series title in 2009. He went 251-161 with a 3.74 ERA and 3,093 strikeouts, third among left-handers behind Randy Johnson and Steve Carlton, during 19 seasons with Cleveland, Milwaukee and the New York Yankees.

A seven-time All-Star, Wagner was 47-40 with a 2.31 ERA and 422 saves for Houston, Philadelphia, the New York Mets, Boston and Atlanta.

Tom Hamilton and Tom Boswell were also honored during Hall of Fame weekend. Hamilton has been the primary radio broadcaster for the Cleveland Guardians franchise for 35 seasons and received the Ford C. Frick Award. Boswell, a retired sports columnist who spent his entire career with The Washington Post, was honored with the BBWAA Career Excellence Award.

Phillies had ingredients for a win but couldn't sweep Yankees in finale

Phillies had ingredients for a win but couldn't sweep Yankees in finale originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

NEW YORK — All the ingredients were there for the Phillies to complete a three-game sweep of the New York Yankees on Sunday afternoon.

•The Phillies had won the previous two games averaging 10.5 runs on a combined 27 hits.

•Two players who collected a couple of injuries during the weekend were deemed good to go.

•The opposition’s best player, maybe the best in the league in Aaron Judge, was put on the Injured List due to a right flexor strain in his elbow.

•And the ace of the National League was on the mound in Zack Wheeler.

If not for one uncharacteristically bad inning for Wheeler, perhaps that sweep could have been attained. But the Phillies couldn’t overcome a four-run second inning by the Yankees that featured two hit batsmen by Wheeler in what turned into a 4-3 loss at Yankee Stadium.

With the loss, the Phillies are now 60-45 and a game behind the New York Mets in the East. The Mets face the San Francisco Giants Sunday evening. 

The Yankees profitable inning began with a single by Giancarlo Stanton, before Wheeler plunked both Jazz Chisholm, Jr. and Jason Dominguez. Newly acquired third baseman Ryan McMahon then rolled a double down the third base line to score two. A sacrifice fly and a single plated two more runs for the Yankees. But that was it for them for the day.

All this came after the Phillies had scored two in the top half with home runs by Nick Castellanos and Otto Kemp. Yet another ingredient for a win by the Phillies in staking Wheeler to a two-run lead. But it wasn’t to be on a steamy day in the Bronx. The Phillies begin a three-game series Monday in Chicago against the White Sox.

“I just wasn’t sharp, same thing as last game,” said Wheeler, who fell to 9-4 and now has a 2.56 ERA after going 5.2 innings with four earned runs and eight strikeouts. “First two games off the (All-Star) break haven’t been as sharp. Hitting three guys today and two walks. Just have to clean it up a little bit and keep it going.”

In Wheeler’s last outing against Boston he gave up just two earned runs in six innings and struck out 10. That’s how high the expectations are for himself and, quite frankly, from others because he has been so dominant.

“Just a little bit off, he was yanking a lot of pitches, three hit batsman, less than 60 percent of strike percentage,” said manager Rob Thomson. “So that’s a little bit off. But, hey, he grinded through it. He had that one tough inning, threw a bunch of pitches, but he got through it and we had a chance to win.”

A good amount of chances, due to some spectacular defense and balls that were hit well but just couldn’t find their ways out of the confines of Yankee Stadium.

Down 4-2 in the third inning, Wheeler gave up a leadoff triple to Cody Bellinger that bounced under the glove of a charging Castellanos in right field. After a strikeout of Giancarlo Stanton, Jazz Chisholm, Jr. hit a line to left-center that Johan Rojas made a catch while running at top speed towards the infield. Bellinger tagged and Rojas fired a bullet to home that catcher J.T. Realmuto leaped high for and somehow caught and made a sweep-tag on Bellinger for the final out of the inning.

“That was two athletes right there, making a really good play,” said Thomson.

Kemp got the Phillies to within one with his second home run of the day. That was all the scoring anyone could put together, though Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, J.T. Realmuto and Bryson Stott all hit long fly balls that seemed to have a chance when they left the bat. Kemp also had a terrific diving catch to his left from his third base spot in the seventh inning off the bat of Bellinger. All-in-all, a pretty good day for the rookie.

“It’s one of these parks that’s pretty iconic,” said Kemp. “To get a couple starts here and hit two out today is pretty sweet, it’s a dream. This is what you play for, to compete in places like this. It’s all new so there’s that but at the same time it’s just another day in the life. It’s the same game I’ve been playing my whole life. The scenery is a little different and a little bit more people watching but it doesn’t change too much.”

The ingredients were there for the Phillies on Sunday. They all just didn’t mesh together.

Bohm sighting

Third baseman Alec Bohm, who continues to recover from a fractured rib, joined the team in New York Sunday and will travel with them to Chicago. He did some throwing but no swinging before Sunday’s game. There is no timetable for his return as of yet.

Scary moment

Later in the game a foul ball went off the head of a lady sitting down the third base line. It turns out the ball hit Nick Castellanos’ mom. Castellanos said after the game that his mom was good, “has a hard head,” and was being treated for a minor concussion.

Judge sidelined

Yankees superstar Aaron Judge was sidelined after the first game of the series with what turned out to be right flexor strain. He was placed on the 10-day Injured List and will be used as a designated hitter upon his return, according to manager Aaron Boone. Judge is hitting .342 with 37 home runs and 85 RBI.

Alex Formenton's Lawyer: 'The Crown Attorney Knowingly Forged Ahead With A Hopeless Prosecution'

Daniel Brown, the lawyer for former Ottawa Senator Alex Formenton, made a statement to the media this week after his client was found not guilty of sexual assault charges. Formenton and four other members of the 2018 Canadian World Junior Team were accused of sexual assault by a then 20-year-old woman in a London, Ontario hotel room.

Brown said in his statement that London Police "got it right" when they first investigated this case seven years ago and decided then not to lay charges against Formenton.  Brown asserts that it was political and media pressure that brought the case back into the spotlight, and the Crown Attorney knowingly forged ahead with a hopeless prosecution.

Here is Brown's full statement:

Alex Formenton was barely 18 years old, on the verge of a promising hockey career that came to a screeching halt on June 18th, 2018, after what was meant to be a night of celebration with coaches in two minutes.

For the last seven years, he's lived under a dark cloud.

The public now knows what Alex has always maintained, that he is completely innocent of this false allegation. But only after his case has erupted into a massively publicized social cause.

Alex's face has appeared on millions of screens and newspaper pages, and there can be little doubt that an untold number of people out there believed he was guilty simply because he was accused of a crime, long before any evidence was presented in court.

This rush to judgment, to believe the worst of people, is one of the most regrettable of human traits. So, too, is our reluctance to change that opinion, even when it's proven wrong, after a full and fair trial.

Notwithstanding, just as Justice Carroccia’s unequivocal exoneration of Alex today, there will inevitably be those who will still believe he committed a crime.

Nobody in room 209 that night has emerged unscarred from this event. The criminal court process is a bruising experience for everyone, but never more than when a case's high profile incorporates such high stakes.

In Alex's case, he was condemned and felt banished from society. This experience for him has been crushing. Nonetheless, the impact of this case has changed Alex as a person, and he's matured well beyond his years.

It is inevitable that some people will not forgive Alex for what he was accused of doing. Others, however, will understand that this tragic matter rightly comes to an end today.

Alex has never minimized his role in the sexual encounter, or denied engaging in consensual sexual activity with the complainant. He fully cooperated with the police investigation, and provided investigators with a complete account of his behavior back in 2018.

Alex's narrative isn't conjecture. His police statement was corroborated at trial by several crown witnesses, by video evidence, and was even supported in large measure by the complainant’s evidence herself.

Even Justice Carroccia said today that she accepted that Alex told the truth in that police statement. And while no police investigation is perfect, the London police got it right seven years ago when they decided it would be a mistake to charge Alex.

The evidence always demonstrated that he didn't commit a sexual assault. However, political and media pressure brought this allegation back into the spotlight in 2022, and the Crown Attorney knowingly forged ahead with a hopeless prosecution.

Besides the human toll on everyone involved, this lengthy legal process exhausted valuable resources that could have been deployed elsewhere in the justice system, but were lost here.

Alex, his family, and his defense team are grateful to Justice Carroccia for her careful consideration of all the evidence that was presented at this trial. She's reached a just and correct verdict that must be respected.

Nobody disputes that sexual assault is a terrible societal plague, and Alex sincerely hopes that this prosecution doesn't stop the quest to combat sexual violence and to bring genuine offenders to justice.

However, an accusation is just that, an accusation. This case stands to the fact that we must never lose sight of the fundamental right to be presumed innocent. Now more than ever before, a fair response to sexual assault claims requires a balanced perspective and public trust in the decision-making of the courts.

Anything less only harms the justice system and the cause of eliminating sexual violence.


The complainant's lawyer, Karen Bellehumeur, said on Thursday her client was very disappointed with the judge's evaluation of the evidence, which the judge described as not credible or reliable.

"When a person summons the courage to disclose their story, the worst possible outcome is to feel disbelieved. It's a gutting experience that no one deserves. That's why today's verdict is so devastating. E.M. did everything in her power to recount her experience honestly and to the best of her ability.

"She agreed to do everything asked of her by the criminal justice system. She spoke to the police whenever requested, she reviewed her evidence, she prepared her testimony, she answered every question, she spoke with intelligence and from her heart.

"Yet it was not enough."


It's not clear yet whether Formenton will now attempt to resume a pro hockey career. The 26-year-old is an RFA whose playing rights are still held by the Senators. The CBC reported that there are court documents that indicate Formenton has embarked on a career in construction and has moved on from hockey. Whether his acquittal alters those plans remains to be seen.

If he does decide to return to hockey, he could return to play professionally in Switzerland, where he spent parts of two recent seasons, or somewhere else in Europe, the NHL says all five players remain ineligible to play in their league until they can thoroughly review the judge's findings.

The NHL Players' Association (NHLPA) has issued a statement saying that Formenton, Dillon Dubé, Cal Foote, Carter Hart, and Michael McLeod should be ruled eligible to play, particularly after they’ve already missed more than a full season. The union also raised concerns that the findings could be inconsistent with the disciplinary procedures outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa

This article orginally appeared at The Hockey News Ottawa, where you'll find all the latest Senators news:
2018 World Junior Trial Ends: Former Senator Alex Formenton Found Not Guilty
Croatia's NHL Trailblazer: Sens Prospect Bruno Idžan Takes NHL Road Less Travelled
Can The Senators Count On Dylan Cozens To Consistently Produce?
Senators Re-Sign 2021 First-Round Pick To One-Year Deal
Why Mason McTavish Isn’t Coming Home To The Senators

Former NHL First-Rounder Retires In Europe

American forward Peter Mueller, 37, has announced his retirement from hockey through the website of his last club, Kometa Brno of the Czech Extraliga.

A former NHLer, Mueller had played continuously in Europe since 2013 and was on his second tour of duty in Brno. Last season, he had 36 points in 36 regular season games and then 13 points in 20 playoff games. Mueller’s first-period goal in Game 7 of the finals against Dynamo Pardubice turned out to be the series-winner in a 3-0 Kometa victory.

In May, Mueller signed a contract extension with Kometa but has apparently had second thoughts about that decision this summer due to ongoing back issues.

“This is an unexpected decision for us,” said Kometa GM Libor Zábranský. “I have been in contact with Peter for the last 14 days and I respect his decision. Of course, we will miss him and it will be difficult to replace him at this time, but that’s just the way it is. We all wish his entire family only the best for the next stage of their lives.”

Eighteen years. Eighteen years of ups and downs, lots of different countries, different places, different styles and many adventures that always meant chasing the title.

I would like to take this opportunity to officially end my hockey career. Being able to play at the highest level for eighteen years and allowing hockey to take me and my family around the world has been the greatest gift I can imagine. Meeting amazing people along the way has turned into lifelong friendships. Thank you to all the organizations that believed in me and gave me the opportunity to play.

I would like to thank my parents for introducing me to hockey. The early morning wake-ups, the long car rides, and the lakes to skate on whenever it froze. They were the first to believe in me and always supported me.

To my wife Taylar and children Charlie and Rosie, thank you for being with me on this adventure and being my biggest fans. Thank you for always supporting me and keeping me going on bad days. You tried to take my mind off hockey when I needed it. Your support on this journey has been truly amazing and I couldn't have done it without you.

I have been incredibly lucky to play this sport professionally for eighteen years and I look forward to what is to come.
And thank you, Libor, for your trust, for believing in me and allowing me to play for more than twenty minutes (smile). Under your leadership, I experienced some of my most fun years in hockey and I am forever grateful to you for that. I will always be here to support Kometa!
- Peter Mueller

Originally from Bloomington, Minn., Mueller starred in junior hockey for the WHL’s Everett Silvertips and was chosen eighth overall by the Phoenix Coyotes in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

However, he never lived up to his potential in the NHL. He recorded 54 points his rookie season in 2008-09, but was never able to reach that total again. In 297 NHL games over six season with the Coyotes, Colorado Avalanche and Florida Panthers, Mueller scored 63 goals and added 97 assists for 160 points with 98 penalty minutes. He also went to the training camps of the St. Louis Blues and Boston Bruins.

Former Pens, Avs Defenseman Signs In CzechiaFormer Pens, Avs Defenseman Signs In CzechiaCzech-Canadian defenseman John Ludvig, 24, has signed a one-year contract with Dynamo Pardubice, the Czech Extraliga club announced on Wednesday.

Internationally, Mueller has represented the USA at two U-18 World Championships (winning gold in 2005), two World Junior Championships and two senior men’s World Championships.

In his first tour of duty with Kometa, he was the Extraliga MVP in 2018-19 and led the league with 64 points in 2020-21.

In addition to Kometa, Mueller also played in Switzerland for the Kloten Flyers, in Sweden for the Malmö Redhawks, in Austria for Red Bull Salzburg, in Czechia for HC Vítkovice and in Germany for Grizzlys Wolfsburg.

Photo © Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images.

Kometa Brno Returns To Top Of Czech ExtraligaKometa Brno Returns To Top Of Czech Extraliga Kometa Brno is once again the champion of the Czech Extraliga, defeating Dynamo Pardubice 3-0 in the seventh and decisive game of the finals on Tuesday night in Pardubice. It was the second series in a row that the team won a seventh game on the road.

Chapman leaves with injury, teammates step up as Red Sox take series from Dodgers

Chapman leaves with injury, teammates step up as Red Sox take series from Dodgers originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Aroldis Chapman, the Boston Red Sox’ All-Star closer, left Sunday’s game with an injury, but his teammates stepped up to help close out the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-3 to take the weekend series from the reigning World Series champions.

The Sox won the series 2-1, with Jordan Hicks closing out the game after Chapman was forced to leave. Hicks got a huge assist from second baseman Ceddanne Rafaela, who had an unassisted double play to end the 8th inning.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said after the game that Chapman had a tight back but should be OK and shouldn’t require a stay on the injured list. His velocity was down Sunday and he walked two of the three batters he faced before he was pulled.

“We saw it right away, and the stuff was way down,” Cora said.

“Just a little spasm that I felt yesterday,” Chapman said through a translator after the game. “Just felt a little uncomfortable today, but nothing big. I just hope that in the next couple days I’ll be able to get back out there.”

Hicks is expected to fill in as the closer if Chapman needs to miss any time.

Cora said Chapman wanted to face Teoscar Hernandez before he was pulled, but the team didn’t want to risk further injury.

The Sox manager also praised Rafaela’s defense, and in particular that huge 8th inning double play.

“His instincts are off the chart,” he said. “It’s a joy watching him play defense. At center, second, at short, it doesn’t matter, he is that good.”

Star rookie Roman Anthony was also injured Sunday when he was hit by a pitch on the foot, but he stayed in the game and later legged out a triple and ultimately scored on Alex Bregman’s 2- run homer.

“It was getting tighter, but he grinded through it,” Cora said. “That’s what big leaguers do.”

The Red Sox are now 57-50 on the season and 9-1 in their last 10 games at home. They will not travel to Minnesota for a three game series against the Twins.

Billy Donovan signs multi-year extension to remain head coach of Chicago Bulls

Conversations between the Bulls and head coach Billy Donovan regarding an extension began during the season and were well underway before the New York Knicks called to express interest and request permission to speak with Donovan. Chicago shot down New York, but for Donovan's camp, it never hurts negotiations to have other teams calling about the coach.

The deal is done, Donovan signed a multi-year extension, a story broken by ESPN’s Shams Charania and confirmed by Bulls PR.

Donovan has a 195-205 record across five seasons coaching the Bulls, and he led them to the playoffs once (a first-round exit at the hands of the Bucks in 2022). The past three seasons, the Bulls have not advanced past the play-in tournament.

That record would have a lot of coaches polishing their resumes and looking for a new gig, but two things are different with Donovan. First, ownership in Chicago likes the current power structure and has recently extended the contracts of executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley — the entire management team is locked in.

Second, how much of that record is on Donovan, and how much should be on Karnisovas and Eversley for the rosters given the coach? Donovan was given a roster that, for much of the past five years, was built around DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Nikola Vucevic, with the front office also making a big bet on Patrick Williams. You get what you pay for, and Donovan did as well with this as could be expected.

DeRozan and LaVine are gone, and the Bulls are betting Donovan is the coach to help them transition to what's next. Last season, Donovan attempted to change things up, pushing for a faster tempo, which worked with the arrival of Josh Giddey (who is at his best in open space). Chicago now has to work out its long-term contract with Giddey, although that will get done before the season starts.

Whatever the Bulls are going to look like in a couple of years, we know who their coach will be.

Yankees acquire infielder Amed Rosario in trade with Nationals

NEW YORK — The scuffling New York Yankees added infield depth on Saturday night, acquiring Amed Rosario from the Washington Nationals for pitcher Clayton Beeter and a minor leaguer.

“When I heard where I was going, I kind of didn’t believe it," Rosario said through an interpreter in Minnesota, where the Nationals beat the Twins 9-3. "I mean, at some point I kind of knew I was going to get traded, but I didn’t know it was going to be today.”

The move came hours after New York said star slugger Aaron Judge is headed to the injured list - and one day after the Yankees obtained third baseman Ryan McMahon from the Colorado Rockies for two pitching prospects.

McMahon made his Yankees debut on Saturday in a 9-4 loss to Philadelphia. New York is 21-28 following a 35-20 start and has slipped a season-high 6 1/2 games behind AL East-leading Toronto.

“He’s actually been a guy who we've tried to kind of get the last couple of years to varying degrees,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “Provides some defensive versatility, speed and really gets lefties, so I think it kind of makes our bench and the balance of our roster a little more workable.”

The versatile Rosario likely will be used mostly at third base, second base and outfield corners, and he also can play shortstop. He's a right-handed hitter with an .816 OPS against left-handed pitching this season, making him a good fit for a platoon with McMahon.

McMahon and second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. both bat left-handed. And shortstop Anthony Volpe, a right-handed hitter, is batting just .217 in his third major league season.

The 29-year-old Rosario was hitting .270 with five home runs, 18 RBIs and a .736 OPS in 46 games and 158 plate appearances with Washington overall.

“I helped a lot, I think," Rosario said. "Especially the young players. I kind of showed them the hard work I put every day, so I hope they take that from me.”

Rosario was one of baseball’s highest-rated prospects when he broke into the big leagues with the New York Mets in August 2017 at age 21. He is a .273 career hitter with 68 homers, 110 stolen bases and a .707 OPS in nine major league seasons. He also has played for Cleveland, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cincinnati Reds.

“I feel great, because whenever teams are in playoff contention they always acquire me towards the end," Rosario said. "I just feel really good about that.”

Beeter, 26, was 0-1 with a 14.73 ERA in two appearances out of New York's bullpen this season. He was optioned by the Nationals to Triple-A Rochester.

The right-hander has made 83 minor league starts, and he struck out 39 batters in 23 2/3 innings over 21 minor league outings this season - his first as a full-time reliever. He was ranked the No. 20 prospect in New York's system by MLB.com.

The last-place Nationals also received 18-year-old outfield prospect Browm Martinez, who was hitting .404 (23 for 57) with three homers, 16 RBIs and 13 stolen bases in 18 games with the Dominican Summer League Yankees this year.

Former Maple Leafs Defenceman Conor Timmins Avoids Arbitration With Sabres, Doubles Previous Salary In New Two-Year Deal

The Buffalo Sabres avoided arbitration with former Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Conor Timmins, signing him to a two-year contract on Sunday. Timmins filed for salary arbitration just days after Buffalo acquired his rights, along with defenseman Isaac Belliveau, in a deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins for a second-round pick and defenseman Connor Clifton. The defender was previously scheduled for arbitration on August 2, according to PuckPedia.com, had he not been able to come to terms with the Sabres before then.

Timmins doubled the value of his previous two-year contract with the Leafs, which paid him $1.1 million AAV, by signing for $2.2 million AAV with the Sabres. The 26-year-old is coming off a career-high in games played last season (68) following a career that had been filled with injuries. With the Leafs, Timmins had two goals and six assists in 51 games before he was dealt, along with forward Connor Dewar, to the Pittsburgh Penguins \as part of a three-way deal and salary-cap clearing move that brought defenseman Brandon Carlo to Toronto.

Earlier this summer, Timmins shared his excitement about joining the Sabres, having grown up watching games in Buffalo since he is from nearby St. Catharines, Ontario. He will also be in proximity to several of his former Maple Leafs teammates. Timmins took to Instagram earlier this month, enjoying the Coldplay concert in Toronto with former Toronto teammates Bobby McMann and Joseph Woll.

Conor Timmins Shares Photos Attending Coldplay Concert In Toronto With Maple Leafs' Bobby McMann And Joseph WollConor Timmins Shares Photos Attending Coldplay Concert In Toronto With Maple Leafs' Bobby McMann And Joseph WollToronto was abuzz with Coldplay's four recent concerts at the new Rogers Stadium, but for Maple Leafs fans, an extra layer of excitement came courtesy of defenseman Conor Timmins. Earlier this week, Timmins, now with the Buffalo Sabres but clearly still close with his former teammates, shared photos on Instagram of himself, Bobby McMann, and Joseph Woll soaking in one of the shows. Timmins even playfully dubbed the newly created venue 'Middle Of Nowhere' in his post.

Timmins has played 101 of his 159 NHL games with Toronto over three seasons, scoring five goals and adding 27 assists while averaging 16:04 of ice time. With the Sabres, Timmins currently slots in as a projected third-pair defenseman.

(Top image credit Sergei Belski-Imagn Images)

Ex-Penguins Defender Signs Multi-Year Deal With New Team

Earlier this off-season, the Pittsburgh Penguins traded defenseman Conor Timmins and prospect Isaac Belliveau to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for blueliner Connor Clifton and a second-round pick. 

Now, after being a restricted free agent (RFA) over the last few weeks, Timmins and the Sabres have come to terms on his new contract. The Sabres have announced that they have signed Timmins to a two-year, $4.4 million contract. With this, the former Penguins defenseman will carry a $2.2 million cap hit for the Sabres until the end of the 2026-27 season. 

Timmins and the Sabres were scheduled to go to arbitration soon, but they have now avoided it by getting this new contract finalized. 

Timmins appeared in 68 games this past season, split between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Penguins, where he posted three goals, 12 assists, 15 points, 55 hits, and a plus-11 rating. He notably improved his play after being traded to the Penguins, as he had one goal, six assists, seven points, and a plus-9 rating in just 17 games with the Metropolitan Division club. 

Now, Timmins will look to be a solid part of the Sabres' blueline after getting this nice two-year deal. There is no question that the Sabres need help on the right side of their defense, and it will be intriguing to see if the former Penguin can help them on that front from here. 

Exciting Penguins Prospect Is Big Player To WatchExciting Penguins Prospect Is Big Player To WatchThe Pittsburgh Penguins have plenty of promising youngsters in their system as they focus on the future. One of them is defenseman Owen Pickering, as many believe that the 2022 first-round pick will emerge as a key part of the Penguins' blueline for many years to come. 

Photo Credit:  © Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images