NHL

The New York Islanders are playing the Mega Millions lottery to do something good for their fans, employees and charity organizations.

Per ESPN's Greg Wyshynski, the Islanders spent $50,000 on 25,000 Mega Millions tickets for Friday's drawing.

If the team hits the jackpot, it will split the net winnings between full-season ticket members, suite holders, staff and Islanders Children’s Foundation charity.

Wyshynski also noted if the total winnings for the Isles come to less than $250,000, the entire amount will be donated to the team's Children's Foundation.

Friday's drawing is up to $1.28 billion, the third-largest in lottery history. The biggest jackpot ever was a $1.586 billion in the Powerball that was split by three different winners in January 2016.

This will mark the second time in Mega Millions history with a $1 billion jackpot. The first was a $1.537 billion pot that was won by a player in South Carolina in October 2018. It's the largest lottery prize ever won on a single ticket.

Per CNN's Paul P. Murphy, the cash value option is $742.2 million if there is a winner.

If you happen to win the Mega Millions and take the cash value option, you could theoretically purchase an NHL franchise.

Per a December 2021 piece from Mike Ozanian of Forbes, there are 17 clubs valued at less than $742.2 million. If you wanted to try finding another investor who can chip in some additional money, you can add the New Jersey Devils ($775 million valuation) to the list.

No one has won a Mega Millions jackpot since April 15, a streak of 29 draws. Per the Mega Millions' release, nine tickets did match all five white balls from Tuesday's drawing. One of those winners received $3 million because it included the megaplier. The remaining eight winners collected $1 million each.

Former Dallas Stars defenseman John Klingberg is signing a one-year deal with the Anaheim Ducks that is expected to be worth around $7 million, according to The Athletic's Eric Stephens and ESPN's Kevin Weekes.

The news comes after Klingberg parted ways with his longtime agent, Peter Wallen, earlier this week. He is now represented by Newport Sports Management.

Klingberg, arguably the top defenseman available this summer, had been testing the free agent market since it opened on July 13. The Athletic's Saad Yousuf suggested last week that the market wasn't what Klingberg and his camp were expecting.

That said, it's no surprise Klingberg agreed to a one-year contract with the Ducks. He'll now have the opportunity to re-enter free agency next summer in hopes of signing a larger, long-term deal.

Klingberg had spent the first eight seasons of his career with the Stars, who selected him in the fifth round of the 2010 NHL draft. He burst onto the scene in 2014-15 and was named to the All-Rookie Team after notching 11 goals and 29 assists in 65 games.

In 552 games in Dallas, the 29-year-old tallied 71 goals and 303 assists. He also had a decent 2021-22 campaign, notching six goals and 41 assists in 74 games.

It's unclear how the Stars plan to replace Klingberg this summer.

Ryan Suter and Miro Heiskanen figure to be Dallas' top-pairing defensemen in 2022-23, but things get a little dicey beyond the duo with Esa Lindell, Jani Hakanpaa, Thomas Harley and Colin Miller expected to fill out the remainder of the defense.

The Stars are projected to have $11.5 million in cap space, per CapFriendly. Some defensemen still available include P.K. Subban, Calvin de Haan, Michal Kempny, Ryan Murray, Dean Kukan, Keith Yandle and Jack Johnson.

However, none of those players are likely to make up for the loss of Klingberg.

As for Anaheim, the Ducks will have an impressive defensive unit in 2022-23. In addition to Klingberg, the franchise also boasts a group of blue liners that includes Cam Fowler, Jamie Drysdale, Urho Vaakanainen, Kevin Shattenkirk, Simon Benoit and Josh Mahura.

Before signing Klingberg, the Ducks were projected to have nearly $26 million in cap space, per CapFriendly. They'll still have plenty of room to take a shot at some of the other top free agents available if they wish, including Nazem Kadri.

The NHL announced Thursday that it will not be continuing its jersey deal with Adidas after their contract expires following the 2023-24 season.

"The NHL and Adidas look forward to continuing to work closely together over the next two years and to a smooth transition to the new authentic NHL uniform supplier, which will be announced by the NHL at the appropriate time," the league said in a statement.

Per ESPN's Greg Wyshynski, it was Adidas that served as "the catalyst in not seeking to renew with the NHL."

The deal between the NHL and Adidas was for seven years, when the apparel company replaced Reebok starting in the 2017-18 campaign. Reebok had held the jersey rights starting with the 2005-06 season.

Reebok was paying the NHL $35 million per year for those rights. Per Wyshynski, Adidas reportedly doubled that payout.

Adidas also signed star players like Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid to promote the apparel company, though according to that report, "sources told ESPN that players with expiring endorsement deals have been told by Adidas that those deals would not be renewed, which was a harbinger that the company was heading for a split with the NHL."

Adidas has a large footprint in the soccer world, with kit deals with clubs like Real Madrid, Arsenal, Manchester United, Juventus and LAFC, along with several national teams.

In the United States, Nike has a stronghold on the jersey game, with deals in place with the NFL, NBA and MLB. Nike also has a number of deals with college programs.

Now, the door will be open for apparel companies to work with the NHL.

Former NHL forward Bobby Ryan was arrested Monday at Nashville International Airport in Tennessee and charged with public intoxication, but the charge has already been dropped.

TMZ Sports reported Wednesday responding officers said Ryan had "slurred speech, bloodshot eyes and smelled strongly of an alcoholic beverage" when they made contact with him at the airport bar after he allegedly tried to steal items from a shop.

"Ryan was unaware of his location, the day or time and posed a danger to himself," the officers wrote in a police report.

Ryan issued a statement on the arrest on Twitter:

Local prosecutors didn't respond to TMZ's request for comment about why the charge was dismissed.

Ryan stepped away from hockey in November 2019 to receive treatment for alcohol addiction through the joint NHL/NHL Players Association assistance program.

The New Jersey native, who was playing for the Ottawa Senators at the time, scored a hat trick in his second game after returning in February 2020 and went on to win the 2019-20 season's Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, which is awarded for "perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication" to hockey.

Ryan discussed his decision to seek help after returning to play for the Senators.

"I was trying the white-knuckle thing and do things the wrong way," Ryan said in 2020. "I'd have 20 days of nothing and one real, bad one and you just can't get better without help. There's such a stigma around asking for help and I was trying to do it. I've done that for a long time."

Now 35, the 2005 first-round pick hasn't formally announced his retirement from the NHL, though he hinted his on-ice career is over in a December post on Twitter. He didn't sign with a team during the 2021-22 season.

Ryan played 14 seasons after making his debut with the Anaheim Ducks during the 2007-08 campaign. He recorded 569 points (261 goals and 308 assists) across 866 regular-season appearances with the Ducks, Senators and Detroit Red Wings.

He also represented the United States at the international level, highlighted by winning a silver medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

One of the biggest moves of the NHL offseason occurred on Friday when Matthew Tkachuk was traded from the Calgary Flames to the Florida Panthers. But at one point, it seemed like Tkachuk's hometown St. Louis Blues were the favorites to land him.

According to The Athletic's Jeremy Rutherford, the Blues were one of the three finalists (along with the Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes) to acquire Tkachuk. But he ended up picking Florida as his new team.

In exchange for Tkachuk, the Panthers traded forward Jonathan Huberdeau, defenseman MacKenzie Weegar, prospect Cole Schwindt and a 2025 conditional first-round pick to the Flames. If the Blues had acquired Tkachuk instead, they likely would have parted with a similar return package.

But one player who St. Louis apparently wouldn't have traded? Vladimir Tarasenko.

Andy Strickland of Bally Sports Midwest reported that the Blues never asked Tarasenko to waive his no-trade clause so that they could include him in their offer for Tkachuk, and they also never even checked in with him to see if he'd consider doing so.

That may seem like a bit of a surprise, considering Tarasenko previously requested to be traded from St. Louis last July. However, the 30-year-old forward was never dealt and stayed with the Blues for the 2021-22 season.

It worked out for both Tarasenko and the team. In his 10th year in the NHL, he tallied a career-high 82 points with 34 goals and 48 assists in 75 games. And the Blues made it to the playoffs for the 10th time in 11 seasons.

Once St. Louis was eliminated from the postseason in the second round, general manager Doug Armstrong seemed optimistic about Tarasenko staying with the team for the 2022-23 season, which will be the final year of his contract.

"I’m not concerned about Vladi for next year at all," Armstrong said in May, per Rutherford.

With Strickland's latest report, it seems things might be better between Tarasenko and the Blues. That would be good for St. Louis because Tarasenko is a talented player who makes the team better.

So the Blues are making the right move in no longer entertaining the possibility of a Tarasenko trade. The only way they should even consider it again is if he again becomes unsatisfied with his situation.

But Tarasenko has now proved that he can stay healthy for a full season. And when that happens, he's a tremendous offensive player who can anchor one of the team's top lines.

The next decision that St. Louis should have to make regarding Tarasenko is what to do following next season. He'll be 31 when the 2022-23 campaign is over, so he'll likely still have plenty of productive years still ahead of him.

Not only is not trading Tarasenko wise, but the Blues may even want to try to sign him to an extension in the near future. Is that something he'd be open to? It isn't yet clear. However, St. Louis should at least try to make it happen.

We're nearly two weeks into NHL free agency, and yet, standout center Nazem Kadri somehow remains unsigned.

The fact that Nadri is still available is surprising. He's coming off a tremendous 71-game, 87-point (28 goals) season and just won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche. At 31, Kadri may be nearing the end of his playing prime, but he's still a high-level player.

According to the latest free agency buzz, the New York Islanders may be interested in scooping up Kadri in an effort to bolster their offense.

"One league source told The Athletic via text message Friday that he had 'heard rumblings' that the Islanders were making a push for Kadri," The Athletic's Kevin Kurz wrote.

There are reasons to believe this one. The Islanders have been painfully quiet this offseason and don't appear, on paper, much better than they were during last year's 37-win campaign.

New York tried and failed to make a push for Johnny Gaudreau before he signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Aside from acquiring Alexander Romanov during the draft, New York has failed to make a splash.

New York's interest in Gaudreau suggests that the Islanders are willing to go big-name, and they still have the sixth-most cap space in the league.

Nadri also has a bit of an Islanders connection, as general manager Lou Lamoriello was with the Toronto Maple Leafs toward the end of Kadri's time with the franchise.

Should Lamoriello bring in Kadri, it would add excitement to what has been a stale offseason and improve New York's prowess on the offensive end. The question is whether the Islanders could find a fit for Kadri when they already have a solid center rotation.

Brock Nelson, who had 37 goals last season, is a star. Mathew Barzal is an up-and-coming talent who accrued 44 assists in 2021. The Islanders also have J.G. Pageau, a capable player and a fine third-liner.

However, New York could tinker with the lineup by moving Barzal or Nelson to wing to accommodate Kadri. As Kurz pointed out, having the left-handed Kadri could make for a potent face-off lineup.

One unnamed NHL scout, though, told Kurz that moving Nelson to wing would make more sense, as he is a better shooter. This would likely mean bumping Josh Bailey down the depth chart.

Perhaps a mix of position shuffling would work, though Kadri is best suited to stay at center. It would take some experimentation, but it would give New York the potential to put more points on the board while still leaning on its stout defense.

The Islanders allowed the seventh-fewest (tied) goals this past season.

The other factor to consider here is that while New York is currently deep at center, it may not stay that way. Barzal will be a restricted free agent next offseason. There's no guarantee that the Canadian-born Barzal—who played his WHL hockey in Seattle—wants to stick around.

Signing Kadri would be a gamble, but at this point, the Islanders are running out of free-agent options. Kadri is younger than potential alternatives like Phil Kessel (34) and Paul Stastny (36) and would be more logical for anything other than a short-term rental.

And perhaps a short-term rental is where the Islanders end up. Of course, that would put them right back in the same spot next offseason.

If New York believes it can find success by sliding Nelson and/or Barzal to win, it should make a strong push to sign Kadri sooner than later. While he's available now, he isn't likely to remain so for much longer.

The Columbus Blue Jackets traded for forward Patrik Laine during the 2020-21 campaign and made sure they kept him for more than just the remainder that season and the next one.

Columbus and Laine have agreed to terms on a four-year, $34.8 million contract extension through the 2025-26 season, the franchise announced Friday. The pact is worth $8.7 million annually.

Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said in a statement:

"One of our priorities this summer was signing Patrik Laine to a contract extension. He is a special player, one of the truly elite goal scorers in the National Hockey League, and he has fit in extremely well with our group since his arrival. He is an integral part of the team we are building in Columbus, and we couldn't be happier that he will continue to be a Blue Jacket for the foreseeable future."

The right wing was a restricted free agent after the 2021-22 season ended.

Columbus acquired Laine and Jack Roslovic in a blockbuster trade in January 2021. It sent the Winnipeg Jets forward Pierre-Luc Dubois and a third-round pick in the 2022 draft for the two forwards.

Not only does bringing Laine back make it more likely that the trade is seen as a success for the Blue Jackets, but it also helps reverse a troubling trend recently.

Columbus had a reputation under former head coach John Tortorella that it was unable to re-sign its marquee players. Most notably, Artemi Panarin, Sergei Bobrovsky and Matt Duchene all left after the team's 2019 playoff run in which it swept the top-seeded Tampa Bay Lightning and before losing to the Boston Bruins in a tightly contested second-round series that went six games.

There was also some apparent tension between coach and player with Dubois before Columbus traded the forward.

However, it is a new era for the Blue Jackets after they parted ways with Tortorella following the 2020-21 campaign, which was his sixth with the organization. They made the playoffs four straight years during his tenure but were just 18-26-12 in his last season and last place in the Central Division.

Laine had just 21 points in 45 games in his first season with Columbus and posted a career-worst plus-minus of minus-29.

However, he bounced back some in 2021-22 with 26 goals and 30 assists for 56 points in 56 games.

The No. 2 overall pick of the 2016 draft will look to remain an impact player with this new deal. He wasted no time making an impression with 64 points in 73 games as a rookie. The 2017 All-Star selection posted 70 points in his second season, 50 points in his third and 63 points in his fourth.

Laine is known for his powerful one-timer and is someone who can score on the power play, draw attention to set up others and anchor the offense for stretches.

The Finn is just 24 years old and figures to be a key offensive contributor for Columbus with his new contract.