NHL – Red Wings aim for relevancy with moves in NHL free agency
Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman just kick-started the franchise’s rebuild. Yzerman made bold moves when free agency opened Wednesday, generating a jolt of excitement for the once-proud franchise that it has not had since the former team captain was hired three-plus years ago. The Hockey Hall of Famer signed center Andrew Copp to a $28.1 million, five-year contract soon after the market opened. Yzerman also signed defenseman Ben Chiarot to a $19 million, four-year contract and a pair of wings to two-year deals. David Perron signed for $9.5 million and Dominik Kubalik for $5 million.
NHL – Blackhawks make some minor free agent signings, nothing on Kane or Toews.
The Chicago Blackhawks signed 4 players on the first day of NHL Free Agency. Three forwards signed deals, Max Domi and Andreas Athanasiou each signed for one season, and Colin Blackwell signed a tow year deal. Goalie Alex Stalock inked a one year deal. The news is still quiet on Patrick Kane and Jonathon Toews, who each have one year left on their current contracts, which are for $10.5 million for this season.
NHL – Blue Jackets sign top NHL free-agent, "Johnny Hockey"
The Columbus Blue Jackets landed the biggest prize on the opening day of NHL free agency by signing Johnny Gaudreau to a $68.25 million seven-year contract. The signing came a day after Johnny “Hockey” rejected an eight-year contract to stay in Calgary. Gaudreau’s signing highlighted a busy day. Claude Giroux is leaving Florida for a homecoming in Ottawa. The Washington Capitals landed Stanley Cup-winning goaltender Darcy Kuemper from Colorado. The New York Rangers signed forward Vincent Trocheck to a seven-year contract. There was also a big trade with 2017 Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Brent Burns going from San Jose to the Carolina Hurricanes. Top free agents Nazem Kadri and John Klingberg were still available.
MLB – Major League Baseball
Yesterday
Kansas City Royals 5, Detroit Tigers 2
Chicago White Sox 2, Cleveland Guardians 1
Baltimore Orioles 7, Chicago Cubs 1
Royals 5, Tigers 2 – Singer leads Royals to 5-2 victory and series win vs Tigers
Brady Singer won for the first time in over a month as the Kansas City Royals beat the Detroit Tigers 5-2. The Royals earned their first winning homestand since July last year. Singer allowed 12 baserunners and repeatedly pitched out of trouble for his first victory since June 8. Andrew Benintendi collected his tenth multi-hit game out of his last 16 starts as he prepares for his first All-Star Game. Kansas City batted around in the fourth against Tarik Skubal, who has lost six of his last seven starts. Scott Barlow finished with his 15th save.
White Sox 2, Guardians 1 – White Sox beat Guardians 2-1, gain split in 4-game series
Lucas Giolito pitched one-run ball into the seventh inning and the Chicago White Sox beat Cleveland 2-1 after Guardians’ starter Aaron Civale exited after one inning because of a sore right wrist. Giolito yielded an unearned run in 6 1/3 innings and extended his dominance of Cleveland hitters. The right-hander is 5-1 with a 0.83 ERA in 10 starts against Cleveland since May 17, 2019. Giolito’s strong outing, along with RBIs by José Abreu and Andrew Vaughn, helped the White Sox earn a split of the four-game series between teams battling for second place in the AL Central.
Orioles 7, Cubs 1 – Orioles beat Cubs 7-1, extend winning streak to 10 games
Anthony Santander hit a two-run double to spark Baltimore’s three-run first inning, Spenser Watkins and four relievers scattered six hits and the Orioles extended their winning streak to 10 games with a 7-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs. It’s the Orioles’ longest winning streak in a single season since they won 13 in a row from Sept. 7-22, 1999. With the victory, the Orioles (45-44) also went over the .500 mark for the first time since April 8, 2021, when they were 4-3. The Cubs lost their sixth consecutive game, their longest skid since dropping 10 straight games June 4-16.
Today
Detroit (Rodriguez 0-2) at Cleveland (McKenzie 6-6), 7:10 p.m. WSJM/WCSY 6:50
Chicago White Sox (Cueto 3-4) at Minnesota (Gray 4-2), 7:40 p.m.
N.Y. Mets (Carrasco 9-4) at Chicago Cubs (Thompson 7-3), 8:05 p.m.
WNBA – Women’s National Basketball Association
Yesterday
Connecticut Sun 89, Indiana Fever 81
Sun 89, Fever 81 – Connecticut beats Indiana, Bonner moves into 12th in scoring
Jonquel Jones had 20 points and 14 rebounds, DeWanna Bonner added 19 points to move into 12th on the WNBA’s career scoring list, and the Connecticut Sun beat the Indiana Fever 89-81. Bonner passed Seattle star Lauren Jackson (6,007) on the career scoring list, becoming the 14th player in WNBA history to reach 6,000 points. Brionna Jones added 17 points, Natisha Hiedeman had 11 and Courtney Williams scored all 10 of her points in the first half for Connecticut. Kelsey Mitchell scored 21 points and Victoria Vivians added 17 for Indiana.
Tonight
Chicago Sky at Los Angeles Sparks, 10:30 p.m.
Golf – LPGA – Annika Sorenstam back on top of LPGA Tour leaderboard
Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam was back on top of an LPGA Tour leaderboard Wednesday, teaming with Madelene Sagstrom in the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational. Sorenstam and Sagstrom shot a 5-under 65 in alternate-shot play at Midland Country Club for a share of the first-round lead with fellow late starters. Sorenstam and Sagstrom, played alongside Lexi Thompson and Brittany Altomare, with the Americans shooting 71 in the round delayed 2 hours, 40 minutes because of morning rain. The 51-year-old Sorenstam is making her second LPGA Tour start of the season and only her third since retiring after the 2008 season. She missed the cut in the U.S. Women’s Open last month.
Golf – British Open – Tiger Woods now an honorary member of Royal & Ancient
Already a two-time winner at St. Andrews, Tiger Woods has another honor before he even hit a shot in the 150th edition of the British Open. He’s now an honorary member of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews. The R&A used the occasion of its big celebration week to confer honorary membership to Open champions Woods, Rory McIlroy and Paul Lawrie. Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau is still using a Bridgestone golf ball. He’s just not getting paid for it. Bridgestone says they have agreed to end their endorsement after DeChambeau signed on with the Saudi-backed LIV Golf series.
NBASL – NBA Summer League
Today
Detroit Pistons vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, 5:30 p.m. Thomas and Mack Center, Las Vegas
Chicago Bulls vs. Charlotte Hornets, 6:00 p.m. Cox Pavilion, Las Vegas
NCAAMBKB – Ahoy! Gonzaga, Michigan State to play on carrier deck
They’re going to try to play college basketball on an aircraft carrier again. Coach Tom Izzo and Michigan State will get a return trip to San Diego Bay to face Gonzaga on the flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln on Veteran’s Day. The game will be shown in prime time on Nov. 11 as part of ESPN’s Armed Forces Classic from the flat top moored at Naval Air Station North Island in Coronado, across the bay from downtown San Diego. The Abraham Lincoln is on deployment and is due back in port later in the summer.
NCAA – New commish: Big 12 open for business amid realignment talk
New Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark says the league is open for business. While nothing is imminent, he says all options will be explored as he prepares to take over with conference realignment again in the forefront. Yormark made his introductory marks at the start of the league’s football media days. He says he’s excited about the transformative moment and the opportunity to grow and build the Big 12 brand and business. The 55-year-old Yormark is joining the Big 12 from his role as an executive on the commercial side of Jay-Z’s Roc Nation. He was previously CEO of the Brooklyn Nets.
MILB – Midwest League Baseball
Last Night
Wisconsin 5, West Michigan 2 – F/11
Fort Wayne 8, Lansing 7
Great Lakes 5, Quad Cities 4 – F/11
South Bend 11, Peoria 1
Tonight
Wisconsin at West Michigan, 6:35 p.m.
Lansing at Fort Wayne, 7:05 p.m.
Great Lakes at Quad Cities, 7:30 p.m.
South Bend at Peoria, 7:35 p.m.
