Hockey's most important position got an overhaul across the NHL for a second consecutive offseason. Eight teams are expected to have new starting goaltenders.
The NHL is coming off its highest-scoring season in decades. The Colorado Avalanche beating the two-time defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning in the Stanley Cup Final was a showcase of the best playoff hockey can deliver.
A person with knowledge of the medical results tells The Associated Press that Broncos standout running back Javonte Williams is done for the season after tearing his right ACL on Sunday at Las Vegas. Williams got hurt on the first play of the third quarter when he was tackled for a loss on a handoff from Russell Wilson.
Russell Wilson had his most productive day with the Broncos, but it wasn't enough to overcome numerous mistakes by Denver's offense in a 32-23 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Colorado Avalanche will try to become the third team to repeat as Stanley Cup champions since the NHL's cap era began in 2005. The team's front office had a busy summer after the team dethroned the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games.
Rescuers in a helicopter are searching for a famed U.S. ski climber a day after she fell off near the peak of the world's eighth-highest mountain. An avalanche at a lower elevation on Mount Manaslu also swept several climbers, killing a Nepali guide and injuring others.
By Stephen Whyno and Pat Graham, AP Sports Writers
The Colorado Avalanche are making Nathan MacKinnon the highest-paid player in the NHL's salary cap era. The 27-year-old signed an eight-year contract that is worth $100.8 million, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the team did not announce terms of the contract. His new $12.6 million salary cap hit that goes into effect at the start of the 2023-24 season surpasses Connor McDavid's $12.5 million as the highest in the league.
Thairo Estrada hit a go-ahead, three-run homer in the 10th inning after igniting a tying rally in the ninth, and the San Francisco Giants came back to beat the Colorado Rockies 10-7. Mike Yastrzemski homered and Wilmer Flores had three hits and two RBIs for the Giants, who snapped a three-game losing streak and overcame four errors that led to two unearned runs. Michael Toglia had three hits for the Rockies, including a pair of run-scoring triples. C.J. Cron and Charlie Blackmon also had three hits apiece for Colorado.
Nathan MacKinnon expects to sign contract extension with the Colorado Avalanche soon. The face of the franchise for the reigning Stanley Cup champions says he hopes the deal gets done before the season starts in October. Agent Pat Brisson says the two sides are trying to get something done relatively soon. MacKinnon's new deal could surpass Connor McDavid's $100 million, eight-year contract as the richest signed since the NHL's salary cap era began in 2005. MacKinnon has been a finalist for the Hart Trophy as league MVP three times in the past five seasons and was one of Colorado's best players during their Cup run.
The only commissioner the Mountain West Conference has known is stepping down after nearly 24 years in charge. Craig Thompson's last day will be Dec. 31. Thompson has been at the helm of a league that started operations in January 1999. He saw Mountain West teams take part in five Bowl Championship Series or College Football Playoff bowl games. He also helped bolster the league's football portfolio by adding Boise State in 2011 when Utah left for the Pac-12 and BYU became an independent.
The Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche added more depth at forward by signing Evan Rodrigues to a one-year, $2 million deal. The move comes on the heels of losing Nazem Kadri in free agency to Calgary. The Avalanche are banking that Rodrigues can help fill the void. Rodrigues arrives in the Mile High City after a season in Pittsburgh, where he set career highs with 19 goals and 24 assists. Rodrigues was the lone Penguins player to skate in every game last season.
New Denver Broncos president Damani Leech says he's going to continue his goal of expanding the game of football in his new role. Leech spent the past four years as chief operating officer of NFL International. He has a quarter century of experience in leading sports initiatives. Leech spent 17 years at NCAA headquarters before joining the NFL in 2015. Leech is one of a handful of Black team presidents in the NFL. He'll be in charge of business operations in Denver while general manager George Paton handles football operations. Both Leech and Paton report directly to co-owner Greg Penner.
The Denver Broncos have changed head coaches, starting quarterbacks and even owners since going 7-10 last season and extending their playoff drought to six seasons. New owner Rob Walton paid a world sports record $4.65 billion for the franchise and second-year general manager George Payton hired new head coach Nathaniel Hackett and traded for quarterback Russell Wilson in the offseason. Although Hackett has never been an NFL head coach and he has three first-time coordinators the Broncos expect to return to contention in 2022 behind Wilson and a refurbished roster featuring Wilson, Patrick Surtain, Justin Simmons and Randy Gregory.
The Stanley Cup Final starts Wednesday night in Denver. Game 1 is scheduled for just after 6:00 PM at Ball Arena, with ticket prices the highest of any hockey game in over a decade.
Caleb Farmer hit his second home run in three games at Suplizio. Farmer also helped the Rockies walk it off in the ninth inning, beating Boise on a game-winning error.
Cowley and Central Arizona lost their JUCO World Series openers. Both teams have been unstoppable ever since, and now they'll face off in the championship Saturday night.
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