Ranger Danger
03/01/2023By: Jeff Yoder
Good Morning,
It’s a Wednesday for win streaks. The Milwaukee Bucks (15) and Boston Bruins (8) are leading the NBA and NHL with epic runs into March. Our first edition of the month may be our last without a college basketball feature, but there’s still madness at the NHL trade deadline.
Editor’s Note: Detroit Mercy’s Antoine Davis needs just 26 points tonight in the Horizon League Tournament to break Pete Maravich’s all-time NCAA scoring record (3,667 points).
Letter Rip!
NHL
Trade Tracker: Ranger Danger
Rangers Acquire Patrick Kane From Blackhawks in NHL’s Latest Blockbuster
Another big move by a team from the Big Apple? The NHL trade deadline is anything but quiet this season. After the Islanders landed Bo Horvat and the Devils added Timo Meier, who knew the biggest move by a New York-area team was yet to come. The Rangers acquired Patrick Kane from the Blackhawks on Tuesday, and they did it by fleecing Chicago with just two conditional draft picks. The 34-year-old veteran winger provides offense to the Rangers front line, bringing 16 goals and 29 assists this season to New York — a team that ranks 10th in scoring offense. Kane clearly wanted to go to a contender with the Blackhawks flapping in the wind of the Western Conference. The Hurricanes may be leading the Metropolitan Division at the moment, but the Devils, Islanders, and Rangers (2-3-4) just made splashes.
Trade Details
Rangers Get: Patrick Kane & Zech Cooper
Blackhawks Get: Conditional 2nd & 4th-Round Picks, Andy Welinski
*The Coyotes were also involved in the trade
For those keeping score, that’s Kane, Mika Zibanead, and Artemi Panarin on the front line with Igor Shesterkin in the net. The Rangers are loaded, but so are a lot of contenders. The 2023 NHL trade deadline has been frenetic, and it’s not done yet.
NHL Trade Tracker (Last 48 Hours)
D Rasmus Sandin (Maple Leafs) → Capitals
Maple Leafs Get: D Erik Gustafsson & 1st-Round Pick
D Mattias Ekholm (Predators) → Oilers
Predators Get: Tyson Barrie
D Jake McCabe, F Sam Lafferty & Picks (Blackhawks) → Maple Leafs
Blackhawks Get: F Joey Anderson, F Pavel Gogolev & 1st/2nd-Round Picks
Other Major NHL Trade Deals
Bo Horvat (Canucks) → Islanders
Timo Meier (Sharks) → Devils
Tanner Jeannot (Predators) → Lightning
Full 2023 NHL Trade Deadline Tracker
NHL Trade Deadline: Friday, March 3 (3:00 pm ET)
Additional Storylines
NY Post: Patrick Kane Trade Shows Rockstar Rangers Are Going For It
CBS Sports: NHL Trade Deadline Bold Predictions: Time for GM Surprises
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NFL
NFL Offseason Notebook
Roster Cuts, Franchise Tags & Coaching Decisions Flood the Headlines During Combine Week
The NFL’s top executives and scouts are in Indianapolis all week for the scouting combine, but that’s not stopping them from doing business (or not doing business) with their current rosters and coaching staff. More notable roster cuts have happened, as well as the first franchise tag of 2023, and a number of coordinator moves, too. Quarterbacks Carson Wentz and Marcus Mariota — two former No. 2 picks — are back on the market while Daron Payne (Commanders) got the league’s first tag. Meanwhile, the Eagles filled both coordinator vacancies after Super Bowl LVII, and Taylor Lewan showed everyone just how cold the NFL can be when the Titans dropped off his stuff in a trash bag after nine years in Tennessee. Ice…
Here are the top news stories from the NFL this week. The combine continues today with field drills beginning tomorrow.
Notable Roster Cuts
Notable Franchise Tags
Coaching Decisions
Eagles Promote QB Coach Brian Johnson to OC
Eagles Hire Seahawks Associate Sean Desai as DC
Bills DC Leslie Frazier to Take 2023 Season Off
Additional Storylines
CBS Sports: Sleepers Ready to Emerge at NFL Combine
Yahoo! Sports: Titans Drop Off Taylor Lewan’s Equipment in Trash Bag at Front Door
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THE HIGHLIGHTS
NBA: Morant’s 39-Point Triple Double Fuels Grizzlies
The much-anticipated Lakers-Grizzlies matchup last night lost a little luster with the news of LeBron James’ foot injury, but Ja Morant delivered with a 39-point triple-double (39-10-10) to lead Memphis (121-109). Jaren Jackson Jr. also delivered the highlight of the night — a putback dunk worth the watch.
Other NBA Highlights
Warriors Rally From 23 Down to Beat Blazers
Nikola Jokic Records 100th Triple Double in Nuggets Win
Bucks Win 15th Straight Behind 33 & 15 From Giannis
NHL: Bruins Extend Streak to 8 With Late OT Win
Nothing can stop the Bruins. Boston won its eighth straight on Tuesday night thanks to Charlie McAvoy’s overtime winner with 4.3 seconds left to beat the Flames (4-3, OT). Linus Ullmark made a career-high 54 saves, and the Bruins (99 points) are on pace to break the NHL record for wins (62) and points (132).
Other NHL Highlights
Kings’ Anze Kopitar Nets 4-Goal Game to Top Jets (6-5, SO)
Blue Jackets’ Eric Robinson Scores 1st Career Hat Trick
Wild Extend Point Streak to 7 With Shootout Over Islanders (2-1, SO)
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THE STORYLINES
Not too long ago Kentucky and North Carolina were both at serious risk for missing the NCAA tournament. We’ll have to wait and see how things shake out for the Tar Heels, but the Wildcats have long since navigated their way past that danger. (ESPN+)
Is Bryce Young Too Small for No. 1?
The 2021 Heisman Trophy winner currently has the shortest odds to become the first overall pick in the NFL Draft. His actual height and frame might be the biggest obstacle in him going No. 1. (FOX Sports)
Despite Mother Nature trying to complicate things, Major League Soccer kicked off season No. 28 in a major way. If Week 1 was any indication of what’s to come, we’re in for a lot of goals, big performances, and pure chaos — so basically MLS at its best. (Yahoo! Sports)
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THE HEADLINES
- Padres Ace Joe Musgrove Breaks Toe in Weight Room Accident (USA Today)
- Dodgers SS Gavin Lux Suffers Season-Ending ACL Tear in Spring Training (CBS Sports)
- Rafael Nadal Pulls Out of Indian Wells & Miami Open With Hip Injury (ESPN)
- Double Pitch Clock Violation in Spring Training Has Fans Sounding Off (SI)
- Commanders Owner Dan Snyder Accused of Fraud in $55 Million Secret Loan (Yahoo! Sports)
- Raptors Sign Will Barton After Wizards Buyout (NBC Sports)
- Vanessa Bryant & LA County Settle Lawsuit Over Helicopter Crash Photos (SI)
- Orioles & Pirates Play Unnecessary Half-Inning at Spring Training Without Umps for Extra Reps (AP News)