Watch: Fitzgerald passes Gonzalez to become No. 2 all-time receptions leader
Cardinals veteran receiver Larry Fitzgerald passed Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez on the NFL’s all-time receptions list. © Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY SportsThe reception was the 1,326th of his career, and now only the great Jerry Rice has more catches than Fitzgerald in NFL history..@LarryFitzgerald has passed Hall of Fame TE Tony Gonzalez (1,325) for second place on the NFL’s all-time receptions list behind only Jerry Rice (1,549). pic.twitter.
The rumor mill is usually relatively quiet at this time of year, but the trade whispers surrounding Jonathan Quick that began last season simply haven’t gone away. Much of the discussion is likely internal or at least hypothetical, as there is no reason believe there is a solid market for Quick right now, especially given his start to the season.
© Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports Through two starts, Quick is 0-2 and has allowed a shocking 14 goals on just 56 shots. His .750 save percentage, very bad in its own right, is more than 70 points lower than the next-worst save percentage, while his 7.17 goals-against average is one of only two in the league over 6.00 early on. When Quick is on his game, he has proved himself to be one of the top goaltenders in the NHL, but after a miserable 2018-19 campaign, he’s off to the wrong start if he wants to show that he can still be that guy.
Five NBA roster battles to watch
For certain NBA teams, the path to finalizing their regular season roster is obvious.In other NBA cities, though, the regular-season roster isn’t quite so clear cut. A number of clubs haven’t filled their two-way contract slots and/or don’t have 15 players with guaranteed salaries, leaving the door open for camp invitees to compete for those final roster spots.
Quick’s early struggles have both local and national hockey pundits weighing in on his future. With backup Jack Campbell coming off a breakout campaign and signed affordably through 2022 and promising collegiate prospect Cal Petersen waiting in the wings, the rebuilding Kings would likely be open to moving Quick and his $5.8M cap hit through 2023.
The question is whether there is a team willing to gamble on Quick’s history and upside at the risk of his injury issues and performance problems. With a change of scenery or perhaps the right coaching staff, Quick’s salary could actually still be a bargain if he gets back to peak form, however unlikely it may seem to some. The Columbus Blue Jackets and Ottawa Senators are the only obvious teams with both the need and cap capacity to add Quick, and neither is likely to pull the trigger on a trade this early in the season. The Kings are likely stuck with him for a while and need to start thinking of different ways to help improve the play of a longtime franchise leader and star.
Penn State football: James Franklin responds to 'racist' fan letter
The Penn State head coach began his weekly press conference with a passionate response to a disparaging letter directed at one of his players.He never actually mentioned it or the Penn State fan who sent it. The letter condemned the long, flowing dreadlocks of junior safety Jonathan Sutherland, who is black.
More goalie news from around the league...
- Robin Lehner is set to make his first appearance as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks, getting the start on Saturday, and the door is wide open for him to make far more starts moving forward. Through two games, incumbent Corey Crawford is 0-2 with an .875 save percentage and a 4.63 GAA that is third-worst among goalies with multiple starts. It’s a bad start for Crawford after missing considerable time due to injury in each of the past two seasons and performing poorly in the majority of looks he did get last year. Meanwhile, Lehner is a reigning Jennings Trophy winner and Vezina candidate after a dominant season with the New York Islanders. A strong start to his Blackhawks tenure could easily change the status quo of the tandem. Lehner isn’t just fighting for starts this season either; both he and Crawford are impending UFAs at season’s end, and a 28-year-old with a recent history of success is going to have a much better shot at a new long-term commitment than a 35-year-old with a recent history of injury and inconsistency. The first step toward Lehner potentially becoming the main man in net for Chicago for a long time begins Saturday night.
- After the whistle blew on an intense matchup between the Boston Bruins and Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday, Bruins starter Tuukka Rask limped off the ice with help from his teammates. There was little word from the team as to the extent of Rask’s injury, but he did dress as the backup for their game on Thursday night. Saturday night, in what would normally be his regular turn in net, Rask appears ready to go. The longtime Bruin is expected to make the start, and the Boston Globe’s Matt Porter relays from head coach Bruce Cassidy that there are no lingering issues from whatever did occur on Tuesday. Rask is 2-0 with just four goals allowed on 63 shots so far. He and backup Jaroslav Halak have both picked up right where they left off last season, as both are in the top 10 in save percentage and goals-against average early on.
Related slideshow: The best pick from every NHL Draft (Provided by Yardbarker)
15 key questions for NFL Week 6
Week 6 of the NFL has an exciting matchup between winless teams along with several divisional battles for who gets a division title and a more favorable playoff setting. © Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports Here are 15 key questions for NFL Week 6.1. Can the Buccaneers halt Christian McCaffrey again?Only one team has managed to come close to stopping Christian McCaffrey this season, and surprisingly, it’s the Buccaneers. In their Week 2 matchup, McCaffrey was held to just 37 yards on 16 carries in Tampa Bay’s 20-14 victory.
-
2018: Rasmus Dahlin, D, Buffalo Sabres
Dahlin was the first-overall pick, but the Swedish defenseman was still the choice here. Only a handful of the players from this class have gotten any real playing time in the NHL, so the options were limited. Brady Tkachuk was considered, but Dahlin tallied 44 points as an 18-year-old defenseman. That’s practically unheard of. Kevin Hoffman/USA TODAY Sports
-
2017: Elias Pettersson, C, Vancouver Canucks
Pettersson, taken fifth overall, announced himself as a future star with a rookie campaign that made him a lock for the Calder by the All-Star break. The shifty Swede scored 28 goals and tallied 38 assists, doing so in only 71 games. Finally, the Canucks have a successor to the Sedin twins throne. William Purnell/USA TODAY Sports
-
2016: Patrik Laine, RW, Winnipeg Jets
This was a head-to-head battle between Auston Matthews, who went first overall, and Laine, who went second. There’s no reason to knock Matthews. However, Laine has looked like a future 50-goal scorer since he was a rookie. He’s never failed to score at least 30 goals in a season. That gets him the nod by a hair. Jeff Curry/USA TODAY Sports
-
2015: Connor McDavid, C, Edmonton Oilers
Yes, Sebastian Aho is a stud, and he was drafted in the second round. You still can’t go with anybody other than McDavid. He’s the best player in the NHL right now, and he already has two Art Ross Trophies to his name. McDavid is going to be the face of the league for the next decade. Even as the first pick, he was the best pick. Sergei Belski/USA TODAY Sports
-
12 Highly Unnecessary Things People Waste Money On
Ad Microsoft
2014: David Pastrnak, RW, Boston Bruins
Pastrnak showed that he had a ton of potential when he debuted as an 18-year-old rookie despite being drafted so late in the first round. He managed only 10 goals in 46 games, but now the Czech forward is one of the best goal scorers in the NHL. "Pasta," who you’ve probably seen in Dunkin ads, just tallied 38 goals in only 66 contests. Jeff Curry/USA TODAY Sports
-
2013: Aleksander Barkov, C, Florida Panthers
This was another battle between the top two picks in a class. Nathan MacKinnon has been great for the Avalanche, though he did have a bit of a (mild) slump in the middle of his career. He just had a fantastic season, but Barkov did as well, scoring 35 goals and notching 96 points. The thing that gave Barkov the edge? He’s also a stellar defensive player. Robert Mayer/USA TODAY Sports
-
2012: Connor Hellebuyck, G, Winnipeg Jets
Hellebuyck has had an up-and-down career in net so far. That being said, at his peak he posted a 2.36 GAA and .924 save percentage. More to the point, he did that as a fifth-round pick. If you get a decent starting goalie at that point in the draft, and Hellebuyck seems better than that, you’ve gotten a steal. Jeff Curry/USA TODAY Sports
-
2011: Nikita Kucherov, RW, Tampa Bay Lightning
Kucherov seemed to have taken his game to a new level when he notched 100 points in the 2017-18 season. Then he exploded this past season, tallying a whopping 128 points. Those are Jaromir Jagr-level numbers, and naturally he won the Art Ross Trophy. Not too shabby for a second-round pick. John E. Sokolowski/USA TODAY Sports
-
2010: John Klingberg, D, Dallas Stars
Klingberg is an offensive dynamo from the blue line, and he’s already made one All-Star team, although the NHL All-Star Game is weird now. At his peak he tallied 59 assists in a season, which is amazing. The Stars got him for a song, too, as nobody drafted Klingberg until the fifth round. Jerome Miron/USA TODAY Sports
-
2009: Victor Hedman, D, Tampa Bay Lightning
You could go with John Tavares, the first-overall pick, and nobody would argue with you. He’s been one of the best forwards in the NHL for a while. However, Hedman has been perhaps THE best defenseman in the NHL at times. He has a Norris Trophy to back up that claim, and he’s had over 50 points in each of his last three seasons. A tough battle, but Hedman wins it. Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports
-
The Highest Paying Cash Back Card Is Finally Here
Ad Microsoft
2008: Erik Karlsson, D, Ottawa Senators
If Hedman isn’t the best defenseman in the NHL, it’s because it might be Karlsson. No defenseman has been better on the puck than the smooth-skating Swede. His point totals have been staggering. He once had 82 points in a season, making him the first defenseman to finish in the top five in scoring since Paul Coffey way back in the 1985-86 campaign. Karlsson also has two Norris Trophies, even though he was drafted 15th overall. Aaron Doster/USA TODAY Sports
-
2007: Jamie Benn, RW, Dallas Stars
Normally, 87 points wouldn’t win you an Art Ross, but that was the case for Benn when he took home that trophy. The next season he notched 89 points but didn’t get another Art Ross for it. He’s closing in on 300 career goals, even though he was drafted in the fifth round. Jeff Curry/USA TODAY Sports
-
2006: Brad Marchand, LW, Boston Bruins
Marchand has irked many a player with his divisive, occasionally dirty, actions. Most players, and people, tend to not like being licked by some random person. Marchand is more than just a pest though. He’s scored over 30 goals in each of his last four seasons and just had his first 100-point campaign. This comes after the undersized forward lasted into the third round. Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports
-
2005: Sidney Crosby, C, Pittsburgh Penguins
We can’t get cute here. Sure, a lot of future All-Stars were drafted this year, but you can’t argue with Sid the Kid. He immediately became the face of the NHL and was the best player in the league for a decade. Crosby has won two Hart Trophies and, just as importantly, two Conn Smythes. He’s led three teams to a Cup and has turned into the franchise player he was hyped to be. Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports
-
2004: Alex Ovechkin, RW, Washington Capitals
We’re going with back-to-back first-overall picks, but argue with us at your own peril. In Ovechkin, the Caps got not only a franchise player but also the best goal-scoring player of his generation, and perhaps any generation. He’s led the league in goals a whopping eight times, and Ovi could end up becoming the third-ever player to cross the 800-goal mark. James Guillory/USA TODAY Sports
-
2003: Joe Pavelski, C, San Jose Sharks
We wanted to go with Patrice Bergeron, who went in the second round, to highlight every player from Boston’s top line. In reality, though, Pavelski was a better value. He’s had a great career in his own right, as he’s a three-time All-Star who was named captain of the San Jose Sharks. What’s truly impressive is that he’s done all that after being a seventh-round pick. Stan Szeto/USA TODAY Sports
-
Forget Amazon; Here’s a Better Stock to Buy
Ad Microsoft
2002: Duncan Keith, D, Chicago Blackhawks
The Blackhawks’ dynasty was built on the strength of high-draft picks like Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. They also got some good value picks, though, including Keith. The defenseman was drafted 54th overall out of Michigan State, and eventually he would become the winner of not just a Norris Trophy but also a Conn Smythe. Kamil Krzaczynski/USA TODAY Sports
-
2001: Patrick Sharp, C, Philadelphia Flyers
Speaking of members of the Chicago dynasty, Sharp was actually drafted by the Flyers at the end of the third round. He stayed with Philly for only a couple of years before moving to the Blackhawks, where he took his career to the next level. When he retired — he’s now an analyst for NBC Sports — Sharp had 620 regular-season points to his name, not to mention all the postseason success. Stan Szeto/USA TODAY Sports
-
2000: Henrik Lundqvist, G, New York Rangers
When you draft a player in the seventh round and he eventually earns the nickname “King Henrik,” you know you’ve struck gold. Lundqvist has been a stalwart in net for the Rangers since he made his debut after the NHL’s season lost to the lockout. In addition to winning one Vezina, Lundqvist was named the MVP of the Rangers a whopping nine times. Harrison Barden/USA TODAY Sports
-
1999: Henrik Zetterberg, LW, Detroit Red Wings
We’re thankful for the presence of Zetterberg in this draft, or we would have had to split hairs on the Sedin twins as the best pick. Instead, the honor goes to the former Red Wings captain, who was drafted in the seventh round. He made his NHL debut right after the Wings won the 2002 Cup, and he would go from promising young player to Conn Smythe winner when the team hoisted the Cup again in 2008. Hank’s number is going to be retired by the Wings eventually, and it all started with a late-round flyer. Raj Mehta/USA TODAY Sports
-
1998: Pavel Datsyuk, C, Detroit Red Wings
The Wings can thank these two drafts for all their success after the turn of the millennium. Datsyuk was a great defensive player and arguably the best stickhandler the NHL has ever seen. He wasn’t a force of personality — a native of Russian, he never seemed to take to America or the English language — but he did it all on the ice. Datsyuk might be uncomfortable when he gives his Hall of Fame induction speech, but that day is coming eventually. Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports
-
1997: Marian Hossa, RW, Ottawa Senators
Joe Thornton, the first-overall pick, would have been a great choice. He’s had an outstanding, and long, career. And yet by value, Hossa going 12th overall feels like a slightly better pick. Unfortunately, health issues cut his career short, but despite that he tallied over 500 goals and 1,100 points. The Slovakian threw in another 149 playoff points for good measure. Dennis Wierzbicki/USA TODAY Sports
-
1996: Zdeno Chara, D, New York Islanders
Not to call this a bad draft, but the top 20 picks made a total of zero All-Star teams combined. Chara, the tallest player in NHL history, lasted to the second round. Perhaps his atypical body type put people off. The Islanders didn’t hold onto him either. Instead, he became a legend with the Boston Bruins thanks to his massive slap shot and tremendous defensive positioning. Russell LaBounty/USA TODAY Sports
-
1995: Jarome Iginla, RW, Dallas Stars
Iginla never played a game with the Stars, but they used him in a deal to get Joe Nieuwendyk, which paid off. Still, Dallas might wonder what could have been. Despite losing an entire season of his career to the lockout, Iginla finished with 625 goals and 1,300 points to his name. He’s arguably the best player in Flames history. The Stars drafted him with the 11th pick. Chuck Myers/MCT/Sipa USA
-
1994: Daniel Alfredsson, C, Ottawa Senators
It feels like kind of a shame that Alfredsson played the final season of his career with the Red Wings. Otherwise, he could have retired as a career-long Senator. After being drafted in the sixth round, the Swedish center would become the franchise leader in Ottawa in terms of goals, assists and points. Alfredsson also served as the captain of the Sens for several seasons. Chuck Myers/MCT/Sipa USA
-
1993: Paul Kariya, LW, Anaheim Mighty Ducks
The 1993 NHL Draft is the first class we’ve gotten to that features current Hall of Famers. Chris Pronger, who went second overall, is one. Kariya, who went fourth overall, is our pick though. Both of those guys had careers hindered by concussions, and the NHL’s lack of exercising caution with head injuries, but he still managed 989 points in 989 career games. He made seven All-Star teams and along with Teemu Selanne basically made hockey in Anaheim a thing. Dave Sandford/Getty Images/NHLI
-
1992: Sergei Gonchar, D, Washington Capitals
Gonchar got overshadowed by playing in an era of great offensive defensemen, but he really packed a punch on that end of the ice. He had two 20-goal seasons with the Capitals, impressive for a defenseman, and he had multiple 60-point seasons. The Russian was taken 14th overall and took a job as a coach with the Penguins, a team he won a Stanley Cup for, after he retired. Francois Laplante/Freestyle Photo/Getty Images
-
1991: Zigmund Palffy, RW, New York Islanders
Ziggy Palffy entered the NHL with a bang. He scored over 40 goals in each of his first three seasons and then in his fourth campaign had 50 points in 50 games. Palffy also had a few good campaigns with the Kings before he headed back to his native Slovakia to play several seasons. The 26th-overall pick’s career numbers would have been even better if not for his early return to his homeland. Denis Brodeur/NHLI via Getty Images
-
1990: Jaromir Jagr, RW, Pittsburgh Penguins
Had Jagr been the first-overall pick, he would have been the choice here. The fact he fell to the fifth pick makes it an even easier decision. Jagr racked up five Art Ross Trophies and put up some truly gaudy numbers in his career. That includes finishing with 766 career NHL goals despite the time he spent in the KHL. If not for that sojourn, he could have challenged Wayne Gretzky for the NHL record. Paul J. Bereswill/Newsday/MCT/Sipa USA
-
1989: Nicklas Lidstrom, D, Detroit Red Wings
Lidstrom is the best defenseman of his era. He’s one of the best defensemen of all-time. Period. And you could make the argument he was the best ever. The Swede is a true legend of the game. Somehow he fell to the third round. This is the steal to end all steals. Julian H. Gonzalez/Detroit Free Press/MCT/Sipa USA
-
1988: Mark Recchi, RW, Pittsburgh Penguins
It was a battle between Recchi and Teemu Selanne, who are both Hall of Famers. The edge went to Recchi because Selanne was a top-10 pick, while Recchi went in the fourth round. Although Recchi was never a star and bounced around from team to team, he finished with over 1,500 career points. That helped him make seven All-Star teams. GSB/SIPA USA
-
1987: Joe Sakic, C, Quebec Nordiques
Getting a future Hall of Famer, and franchise legend, with the 15th-overall pick is never a bad thing. Sakic moved with the team from Quebec to Colorado, where he captained the Avalanche to two Stanley Cups. One season he won a Cup and a Conn Smythe, and in another he won a Cup and a Hart. It was a tremendous career, and he’s one of the first names that comes to mind when you think of the Avalanche. John F. Rhodes/Dallas Morning News/KRT
-
1986: Adam Graves, LW, Detroit Red Wings
These days the 22nd pick would be toward the end of the first round. In 1986, though, that made Graves the first pick of the second round. Fittingly, he had his best season when the Rangers won their first Stanley Cup since 1940. He scored 52 goals during the regular season before adding 10 more in the playoffs. The Rangers would eventually retire his number. Denis Brodeur/NHLI via Getty Images
-
1985: Joe Nieuwendyk, C, Calgary Flames
We mentioned Nieuwendyk earlier when we were talking about Jarome Iginla. At the time, we noted that Nieuwendyk paid off for the Stars, and his Hall of Fame status is an indication of that. He won a Conn Smythe in leading Dallas to its first Cup, and flags fly forever. Overall, the 27th pick notched 564 regular-season goals and 66 more in the playoffs. Denis Brodeur/NHLI via Getty Images
-
1984: Luc Robitaille, LW, Los Angeles Kings
How is Mario Lemieux not the choice? Or Patrick Roy, who went in the second round? Well, for starters, Lucky Luc is a Hall of Famer with 668 goals and 1,394 points to his name. He won the Calder and made eight All-Star teams. That’s great, right? OK, now bear in mind that he was a ninth-round pick. Yeah, that’s how Robitaille ended up the best value of this class. Denis Brodeur/NHLI via Getty Images
-
1983: Dominik Hasek, G, Chicago Blackhawks
Hasek is maybe the best goalie of his era. He was an unconventional netminder, but it worked. Not only did he win six Vezinas, but he also actually won two Hart Trophies, almost unheard of for a goalie. Hasek could have been a steal if he was taken first overall; he lasted until the 199th pick. Denis Brodeur/NHLI via Getty Images
-
1982: Doug Gilmour, C, St. Louis Blues
You probably think of Gilmour as a Maple Leaf, but he played only six of his seasons with Toronto. It’s with the Leafs that he won a Selke, though, and set the franchise record for points in a year with 127. The Blues grabbed the future Hall of Famer in the seventh round, and they got five good seasons out of him before dealing him to Calgary. Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images
-
1981: Chris Chelios, D, Montreal Canadiens
Chelios played a long, long time in the NHL. He was so devoted to hockey that he played 46 games in the AHL in his 40s. It’s understandable why he loved the game so much, though. He won three Norris Trophies and got named to 11 All-Star teams. Getting 1,651 NHL games out of a 40th overall pick is real bang for the buck. Denis Brodeur/NHLI via Getty Images
-
1980: Jari Kurri, RW, Edmonton Oilers
The NHL was still a little iffy on European players in the early '80s, which may be how a player like Kurri fell to the fourth round. He stepped right into action by tallying 75 points in 75 games as a rookie for the Oilers. Sure, he spent a lot of his time skating alongside players like Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier, but Kurri was a legitimately great player in his own right. You don’t score 601 goals in 1,251 games if you aren’t a stellar talent. Denis Brodeur/NHLI via Getty Images
-
1979: Mark Messier, LW, Edmonton Oilers
Speaking of Messier, he was a steal much like his teammate Kurri. Messier, the future Rangers captain, was a third-round selection. The formidable forward won two Hart Trophies and finished his career with 1,887 points. Only two players in NHL history have more. You may have heard of them. Their names are Wayne Gretzky and Jaromir Jagr. Denis Brodeur/NHLI via Getty Images
-
1978: Craig MacTavish, C, Boston Bruins
We can’t really sugarcoat it: 1978 is maybe the worst NHL draft class ever. There are no Hall of Famers and only one player who made an All-NHL team: the little-remembered goalie Bob Froese. So we’re going with the ninth-round pick MacTavish. In addition to being the last NHL player who didn’t wear a helmet, and once ripped a mascot’s tongue off, he had 480 career points. That’s enough in this class. Denis Brodeur/NHLI via Getty Images
-
1977: Mike Bossy, RW, New York Islanders
If not for an injury-shortened career, Bossy would have been an easy pick for this list. Even with the unfortunate injury, though, the Islanders legend was the top value at 15th overall. He played only nine full NHL seasons, and he never failed to cross the 50-goal mark. Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images
-
1976: Randy Carlyle, D, Toronto Maple Leafs
Carlyle has spent a lot of years as a head coach, which is where you probably recognize him. In his day, though, he was a hard-nosed defenseman and leader. In addition to captaining the Penguins and Jets, he won the Norris Trophy in the 1980-81 season. The 30th-overall pick was no scoring slouch, though, as he had 647 career points. Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
-
1975: Dave Taylor, RW, Los Angeles Kings
OK, maybe the 1975 NHL Draft is the worst one ever. At least it gave us Taylor, though, who was selected with the 210th pick. He played in a high-scoring era of hockey and on a line with Marcel Dionne, so you have to take his numbers with a grain of salt. That being said, he had three 40-goal seasons, and he made four All-Star teams. Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images
-
1974: Bryan Trottier, C, New York Islanders
We almost went with Taro Tsujimoto, but his career was hurt by the fact he didn’t actually exist because Sabres general manager Punch Imlach made him up as a joke. So let’s go with Trottier, who went 22nd overall. Trottier won a Calder and a Hart and then went on to four Cups in a row with the Islanders. Oh, and then two more with the Penguins. Trottier held basically every “fastest player to X milestone” in the NHL until a guy named Wayne Gretzky came around. Denis Brodeur/NHLI via Getty Images
-
1973: Bob Gainey, LW, Montreal Canadiens
We know, we know. Defense isn’t sexy. However, defense got Gainey into the Hall of Fame. Honestly, the Selke Trophy, for best defensive forward, could be named for Gainey given that he won four in a row in his career. The eighth-overall pick also had a total of 501 points. Denis Brodeur/NHLI via Getty Images
-
1972: Bill Barber, LW, Philadelphia Flyers
Bobby Clarke is the face of the ‘70s Flyers, but Barber was just as vital to their success. He was a goal-scoring machine, as he pumped out 30-goal seasons with gusto. Once, he hit the 50-goal mark to go with 62 assists. It was all good enough to get Barber not just two Stanley Cups in Philly but also a spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Not too bad for the seventh-overall pick. Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images
-
1971: Larry Robinson, D, Montreal Canadiens
The first round of the NHL Draft was only 14 picks in 1971, so to call Robinson a second-round pick feels like it needs an asterisk. That being said, Big Bird is a Hall of Famer who was drafted 20th overall. Playing the bulk of his career for a juggernaut Montreal Canadiens machine, he won six Stanley Cups and played a big part in them. That was especially true in 1978, when he won the Conn Smythe. Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images
-
1970: Billy Smith, G, Los Angeles Kings
Smith was left exposed by the Kings in the 1972 Expansion Draft, where he was snatched up by the Islanders. That worked out pretty great for both the goalie and the team. Smith, the first NHL goalie credited with a goal, won a Vezina, a Conn Smythe and four Stanley Cups in a row with New York. Smith rose from being selected 59th overall to making the Hall of Fame. Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images
-
1969: Butch Goring, C, Los Angeles Kings
This was a tough choice. Would we go with Bobby Clarke, the Hall of Famer who was taken 17th overall, or Goring, the not-quite-Hall-of-Famer who was taken with the 51st pick. After some hemming and hawing, we went with Goring. Yes, he won four Cups with the Islanders, which is notable, but from a personal perspective he notched 888 points for the Kings and Islanders (and also one year with the Bruins). Also, Goring basically invented the playoff beard. B Bennett/Getty Images
-
1968: Curt Bennett, LW, St. Louis Blues
The NHL Draft was a completely different thing at this point in its history, so the fact only two players out of the 24 taken made an All-Star Game isn’t that big of a deal. Bennett finished with 334 career points, making two All-Star Games representing the Atlanta Flames. He was also the first American player to score 30 goals in a season. Bennett was selected 16th. Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images
-
1967: J. Bob Kelly, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs
Only 18 players were selected in this draft, and most of them never played in the NHL or barely saw any NHL action. Kelly, at least, played in 425 NHL games. He tallied 196 career points. This is after being taken 16th overall, again, in an 18-player draft. B Bennett/Getty Images
-
1966: Brad Park, D, New York Rangers
Thank goodness: a player you may have heard of! Park wasn’t just a good player. He’s in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Though he never won the Norris, Park was the runner-up six times. Playing at the same time as Bobby Orr will do that to a guy. After being selected second overall, behind a guy named Barry Gibbs who was not a Bee Gee, Park racked up almost 900 points from the blue line. Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images
-
1965: Pierre Bouchard, D, Montreal Canadiens
This was an easy choice but not because Bouchard, who was selected fifth overall, had a great career. He was a middling, forgettable player. He’s also the only guy from this draft who basically had an NHL career at all. Melchior DiGiacomo/Getty Images
-
1964: Ken Dryden, G, Boston Bruins
You read that right. Dryden was drafted by the Bruins 14th overall. He was then immediately traded to the Canadiens. After debuting late in the season, Dryden won the Conn Smythe in 1971 and then proceeded to win the Calder as Rookie of the Year in 1972. Dryden would then proceed to win five Vezinas, not to mention six Stanley Cups. He’s an all-time great goalie. You think the Bruins wish they had held onto him? Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images
-
1963: Pete Mahovlich, RW, Detroit Red Wings
And here we arrive at the first NHL Draft. Mahovlich went second overall and is the only player from this class to make an All-Star Game. While he wasn’t quite as good as his Hall of Fame brother, Frank, “Little M” did have two 100-point seasons in his career and finished with 773 career points. Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images
-
-
-
Buddy Hield signs four-year extension with Kings that could reach $106M .
Hield enjoyed an underrated breakout season in 2018-19, establishing new career highs in PPG (20.7), RPG (5.0), APG (2.5) and several other categories. He increased his productivity while maintaining his impressive efficiency, converting 42.7 percent of 7.9 three-point attempts per game.His 278 three-pointers in ’18-19 placed him seventh on the NBA’s all-time list for threes in a single season. Only Stephen Curry (four times), James Harden (2018-19) and Paul George (2018-19) have ever made more outside shots in a season.
Cardinals veteran receiver Larry Fitzgerald passed Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez on the NFL’s all-time receptions list. © Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY SportsThe reception was the 1,326th of his career, and now only the great Jerry Rice has more catches than Fitzgerald in NFL history..@LarryFitzgerald has passed Hall of Fame TE Tony Gonzalez (1,325) for second place on the NFL’s all-time receptions list behind only Jerry Rice (1,549). pic.twitter. 
For certain NBA teams, the path to finalizing their regular season roster is obvious.In other NBA cities, though, the regular-season roster isn’t quite so clear cut. A number of clubs haven’t filled their two-way contract slots and/or don’t have 15 players with guaranteed salaries, leaving the door open for camp invitees to compete for those final roster spots. 
The Penn State head coach began his weekly press conference with a passionate response to a disparaging letter directed at one of his players.He never actually mentioned it or the Penn State fan who sent it. The letter condemned the long, flowing dreadlocks of junior safety Jonathan Sutherland, who is black. 
Week 6 of the NFL has an exciting matchup between winless teams along with several divisional battles for who gets a division title and a more favorable playoff setting. © Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports Here are 15 key questions for NFL Week 6.1. Can the Buccaneers halt Christian McCaffrey again?Only one team has managed to come close to stopping Christian McCaffrey this season, and surprisingly, it’s the Buccaneers. In their Week 2 matchup, McCaffrey was held to just 37 yards on 16 carries in Tampa Bay’s 20-14 victory. 
Watch: Fitzgerald passes Gonzalez to become No. 2 all-time receptions leader 
Five NBA roster battles to watch 
Penn State football: James Franklin responds to 'racist' fan letter 
15 key questions for NFL Week 6 
Despite hopes from Jaguars owner, Jalen Ramsey unlikely to play vs. Saints 
Seahawks celebrate TD with NSYNC's 'Bye Bye Bye' dance 
Quick’s continued struggles put Kings in tough spot 
Buddy Hield signs four-year extension with Kings that could reach $106M 
