The Chicago Blackhawks made the obvious choice official Wednesday, selecting potential franchise-altering prospect Connor Bedard with the first overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.
"This is incredible. ... It's a dream come true to be selected," Bedard told Sportsnet. "Chicago, what a storied franchise there. I can't wait to get to work."
Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid won the Hart Trophy and the Ted Lindsay Award on Monday on the heels of an otherworldly 2022-23 season.
The Hart is given out to the most valuable player as voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association, while the Ted Lindsay is awarded to the most outstanding player as judged by the players' association.
McDavid edged David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins and Matthew Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers for the Hart. Pastrnak and San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlssonwere the other nominees for the Ted Lindsay.
Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred has some regrets about the way he handled the Houston Astros' sign-stealing scandal.
Former Astros manager A.J. Hinch and ex-general manager Jeff Luhnow were suspended for the entire 2020 campaign. Houston also lost draft picks and was fined $5 million. However, the players weren't punished due to immunity for their indiscretions during the club's World Series-winning 2017 season and parts of 2018.
"I'm not sure that I would have approached it with giving players immunity," Manfred said, according to Sean Gregory of Time. "Once we gave players immunity, it puts you in a box as to what exactly you were going to do in terms of punishment. I might have gone about the investigative process without that grant of immunity and see where it takes us.
The Montreal Canadiens are bringing back Sean Monahan on a one-year, $1.985-million contract extension, the club announced Tuesday.
Monahan was limited to 25 games this past campaign due to injury. He sustained a season-ending lower-body ailment against the Vancouver Canucks on Dec. 5.
He'll receive a $15,000 bonus if he plays 26 contests, according to CapFriendly. The average annual value of the deal will be $2 million, but the cap hit will remain at $1.985 million.
Golden State Warriors veteran forward Draymond Green is declining his $27.5-million player option for the 2023-24 season and will enter unrestricted free agency, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul told The Athletic's Shams Charania.
"We will continue to talk to Golden State and explore all options," Paul told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. The Warriors are motivated to sign Green to a new contract, Wojnarowski adds.
"We really want Draymond back," Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. said Monday, according to Madeline Kenney of the Bay Area News Group. "We feel like we have to have him."
Jack Jones was arrested Friday evening at a security checkpoint at Boston's Logan Airport after two guns were found inside carry-on luggage, Massachusetts State Police said.
Police said 25-year-old Jackie K. Jones of Arizona was arrested Friday evening, WCVB-TV reported. He had been planning to travel from Boston to Arizona, according to police.
Police were called to the Transportation Security Administration security checkpoint in Terminal B at about 5:30 p.m. after two firearms were found in a traveler's carry-on luggage. Police said they identified the person as Jones and arrested him.
A bus driver hired to transport the Pittsburgh Pirates from Chicago to Milwaukee was arrested for driving under the influence while transporting the team, Illinois law enforcement officials said, according to Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
"We are deeply concerned regarding what transpired (Thursday) night," senior vice president of communications and broadcasting Brian Warecki said in a statement. "The important thing is that all of our personnel arrived in Milwaukee safely.
"Buses are contracted out to a local provider, which was consistent with this trip, and we are now in communication with the appropriate parties regarding this matter."
Pierre-Luc Dubois' future with the Winnipeg Jets has long been uncertain, but the saga has taken another twist, as the player is now hoping for a move elsewhere.
"(Dubois is) not eligible to be (an unrestricted free agent) until next summer in 2024, but our understanding is that (agent) Pat Brisson has informed the Winnipeg Jets that his client isn't inclined to sign an extension this summer," TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported on Wednesday's edition of "Insider Trading."
LeBrun added, "Brisson would like to work with the Winnipeg Jets on a trade for Dubois to another team."
The most disruptive year in golf ended Tuesday when the PGA Tour and European tour agreed to a merger with Saudi Arabia's golf interests, creating a commercial operation designed to unify professional golf around the world.
As part of the deal, the sides are dropping all lawsuits involving LIV Golf against each other effective immediately.
Still to be determined is how players like Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson, who defected to Saudi-funded LIV Golf for nine-figure bonuses, can rejoin the PGA Tour after this year.
The Pittsburgh Penguins named Kyle Dubas their new president of hockey operations on Thursday.
The 37-year-old executive replaces Brian Burke, who was fired in April after the Penguins missed the playoffs for the first time since 2005-06, Sidney Crosby's rookie season.
Dubas is tasked with establishing a strategic vision and philosophy for the Penguins.