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🏒 Good morning to all, however particularly to …
THE EDMONTON OILERS AND THE FLORIDA PANTHERS
Will Lord Stanley’s Cup lastly return to Canada, or will we see simply the third title repeat of the twenty first century? These are two of many storylines because the Oilers face the Panthers within the Stanley Cup Closing for the second straight 12 months, with the collection opening tonight in Edmonton.
That is the fifth repeat Stanley Cup Closing matchup within the growth period (since 1967), and after Connor McDavid‘s up-and-down 2024 Closing ended quietly, he will get one other probability to cement his legacy as an all-time nice, Chris Bengel writes.
- Bengel: “McDavid has logged seven NHL All-Star Sport appearances, received the Hart Trophy as league MVP on three events, led the league in factors 5 occasions, and even received the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP final season. Realistically, the one accomplishment that McDavid has failed to finish is profitable a Stanley Cup. … Whereas there’s loads of gifted gamers across the league, McDavid has assumed the title of the face of the NHL.”
One may not count on a hockey dynasty to return out of South Florida, however that is precisely what the Panthers have constructed. Austin Nivison says the Panthers’ profitable is a main win for the NHL, too.
- Nivison: “Florida has hit on its excessive draft picks, discovered some diamonds within the tough and been aggressive when elite expertise hits the commerce market. … The Panthers have constructed a enjoyable crew with respectable star energy, and the neighborhood continues to embrace the franchise and the game. That ought to give the league some hope that it will possibly increase its attain into much less conventional hockey markets properly into the long run.”
So, who wins? Chris and Austin made their picks, they usually’re in settlement.
👍 Honorable mentions
🏀 And never such a very good morning for …
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TOM THIBODEAU
Tom Thibodeau‘s reward for main the Knicks to their first Japanese Convention Finals since 2000 was a pink slip. New York fired its head coach three days after dropping to the Pacers.
There are a lot of methods the Knicks may go, with each their roster and their coach. Sam wrote on a possible Cities-for-Kevin Durant commerce, and with the Suns‘ asking value supposedly coming down, possibly that is the large transfer.
No matter what occurs with the roster, it wants a coach. Sam has six names to observe within the Knicks’ teaching search, together with …
- Quinn: “Jeff Van Gundy — Can I curiosity you in a feel-good story? Van Gundy is the final Knicks head coach to attain extra success within the function than Thibodeau did. He resigned in 2001, a choice he is lengthy regretted. … Van Gundy was out of teaching for 17 years, however his return to the bench for the Clippers final season was an unmitigated success. He served because the defensive coordinator for the NBA’s third-ranked protection, and he did so utilizing a wide range of inventive schemes and versatile lineups.”
There are the apparent school connections, too. After pondering the Lakers‘ opening final offseason, may Dan Hurley go away UConn? David Cobb says possibly. What about Jay Wright, who coached the “Nova Knicks” after they had been, in truth, at Villanova?
👎 Not so honorable mentions
🏀 Thunder vs. Pacers NBA Finals: Six large questions
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We’re sooner or later away from the Thunder internet hosting the Pacers in Sport 1 of the NBA Finals, a collection that includes the postseason’s greatest protection in opposition to the postseason’s prime taking pictures crew.
James has six large questions that may decide the collection, together with that very matchup.
- Herbert: “How can the Pacers choose at OKC? — The Thunder supply the Pacers no small, overmatched guards or clumsy, slow-footed bigs to choose on. … Indiana will not have the ability to run set performs that put two weak defenders in the identical motion as a result of there’ll by no means be two weak defenders on the ground. What Indiana has to do as an alternative is constantly exploit smaller benefits. Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren are wonderful defenders, however after they’re on the ground collectively, the Pacers want to check the Thunder’s willingness to A) change them onto Tyrese Haliburton and B) get into rotation.”
⚾ MLB’s 2025 All-Enjoyable Staff
Ted Hyman, CBS Sports activities
Certain, sports activities can put you thru the wringer. That is fandom.
However on the finish of the day, sports activities are enjoyable. It is enjoyable to observe superior athletes be superior. It is enjoyable to observe a recreation with no rooting curiosity.
And if that matches you as a baseball fan with the canine days forward, permit me to share with you Matt Snyder’s 2025 All-Enjoyable Staff, the place I used to be overjoyed to see James Wooden‘s title pop up in left area. (Hey, let this Nationals fan dream of higher days forward!) Subsequent to him, in middle area, is a participant whose crew simply beat Wooden’s Nationals.
- Snyder: “Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs — He was already enjoyable final 12 months and that is earlier than he was a risk with the bat. He acquired a little bit sizzling down the stretch final season to some extent the place 1) we knew he needed to play every single day, as a consequence of his worth on protection and on the bases, and a couple of) there was hope for an honest offensive season. As a substitute, he is turn into an utter pressure on the plate. He is on tempo for a 40-40 season at age 23 whereas sitting towards the highest of the RBI leaderboard and nonetheless being able to bunt for a success. All this from a man who skates across the outfield like prime Andruw Jones. Are you kidding me?”
This hypothetical roster would certainly be very enjoyable to observe … and was very enjoyable to examine.
📺 What we’re watching Wednesday
⚾ Angels at Crimson Sox, 1:35 p.m. on MLB Community
🏒 Sport 1: Panthers at Oilers, 8 p.m. on TNT/truTV
🥎 Sport 1: Texas vs. Texas Tech, 8 p.m. on ESPN
⚾ Mets at Dodgers, 10:10 p.m. on MLB Community
