‘It’s immoral’: Golden Knights’ Robin Lehner expands on his comments about NHL’s COVID-19 promisesGolden Knights goalie sparked discussion and controversy Wednesday when he spoke out against the NHL’s COVID-19 protocols and overall approach to mental health during the pandemic.Lehner sat at the press conference table inside the Vegas practice facility and delivered an emotional message, claiming that the NHL promised players a more relaxed version of the current protocols once players were vaccinated. He said that even though the majority of Golden Knights players have received their shots,...…‘It’s immoral’: Golden Knights’ Robin Lehner expands on his comments about NHL’s COVID-19 promisesGolden Knights goalie sparked discussion and controversy Wednesday when he spoke out against the NHL’s COVID-19 protocols and overall approach to mental health during the pandemic.Lehner sat at the press conference table inside the Vegas practice facility and delivered an emotional message, claiming that the NHL promised players a more relaxed version of the current protocols once players were vaccinated. He said that even though the majority of Golden Knights players have received their shots,...WW…

Aug 5, 2020On the first weekend of August, with pandemic restrictions easing and several provinces heading into a holiday Monday, millions of Canadians stretched their arms and reached for their television remote.According to Sportsnet, a third of the country spent part of the long weekend watching at least part of a live sporting event. The network said its programming reached 10.7 million Canadians on Saturday and Sunday, powered by the return of both the NHL and the defending champion Raptors.In one key demographic, Sportsnet had eight of Canada’s top 10 most-watched shows of the...…Aug 5, 2020On the first weekend of August, with pandemic restrictions easing and several provinces heading into a holiday Monday, millions of Canadians stretched their arms and reached for their television remote.According to Sportsnet, a third of the country spent part of the long weekend watching at least part of a live sporting event. The network said its programming reached 10.7 million Canadians on Saturday and Sunday, powered by the return of both the NHL and the defending champion Raptors.In one key demographic, Sportsnet had eight of Canada’s top 10 most-watched shows of the...WW…

Activate your free 30-day guest pass from DimitriActivate your free 1-year subscription to The Athletic1-Step CheckoutYou won't be charged until after your 30-day guest pass ends. No commitment, cancel anytime.Or Create AccountSign up with EmailBy creating an account above, you consent to The Athletic’s and . We use your email to provide you with news, updates and promotions.Free trial is for new subscribers only. After your 30-day trial ends, you will be charged a total of $71.99 for the first year. Your annual subscription will automatically renew for $71.99 on Oct 13, 2023 and each year...…Activate your free 30-day guest pass from DimitriActivate your free 1-year subscription to The Athletic1-Step CheckoutYou won't be charged until after your 30-day guest pass ends. No commitment, cancel anytime.Or Create AccountSign up with EmailBy creating an account above, you consent to The Athletic’s and . We use your email to provide you with news, updates and promotions.Free trial is for new subscribers only. After your 30-day trial ends, you will be charged a total of $71.99 for the first year. Your annual subscription will automatically renew for $71.99 on Oct 13, 2023 and each year...WW…

May 2, 2020It now seems more and more likely the will forge ahead with holding its draft in June – several months before when the league and its players hope they are able to resume the 2019-20 season.The NHL’s Board of Governors will meet remotely Monday and a decision on whether to have a June draft is expected by the end of the week. Given the details revealed in it is clear commissioner Gary Bettman and league executives think a draft in June is the most favorable course of action.Even though many NHL GMs oppose holding a remote draft prior to the conclusion of the season, something...…May 2, 2020It now seems more and more likely the will forge ahead with holding its draft in June – several months before when the league and its players hope they are able to resume the 2019-20 season.The NHL’s Board of Governors will meet remotely Monday and a decision on whether to have a June draft is expected by the end of the week. Given the details revealed in it is clear commissioner Gary Bettman and league executives think a draft in June is the most favorable course of action.Even though many NHL GMs oppose holding a remote draft prior to the conclusion of the season, something...WW…

Aug 29, 2022 is guaranteed more than double what the gave three years ago and probably will end up with more than triple. The minimum Rodríguez will earn with the ($209.3 million) is more than the Braves’ pre-arbitration guarantees to Acuña ($100 million), ($72 million) and ($35 million) combined.Less than five months into his major-league career, Rodríguez, 21, already is assured of enough money to make his family comfortable for generations. He likely will spend his entire career in Seattle, an outcome that most fans will view as good for baseball. Yet some player representatives believe...…Aug 29, 2022 is guaranteed more than double what the gave three years ago and probably will end up with more than triple. The minimum Rodríguez will earn with the ($209.3 million) is more than the Braves’ pre-arbitration guarantees to Acuña ($100 million), ($72 million) and ($35 million) combined.Less than five months into his major-league career, Rodríguez, 21, already is assured of enough money to make his family comfortable for generations. He likely will spend his entire career in Seattle, an outcome that most fans will view as good for baseball. Yet some player representatives believe...WW…

Aug 26, 2022ATLANTA — Jay Monahan sat down and pushed his shoulders back. Blue suit, subtle pinstripe. Pink tie. A two-term senator’s haircut. He exhaled, then, over the next 40 minutes, proceeded to reshape the for the foreseeable future.It felt comprehensive and ambitious. Because it was.It also felt impromptu and do-or-die. Because it was that, too.This was Monahan’s annual Tour Championship press conference. A year ago, sitting in the same seat at East Lake Golf Club, he addressed the pressing issues of the day. Mostly inane. He fielded multiple questions about Bryson DeChambeau’s...…Aug 26, 2022ATLANTA — Jay Monahan sat down and pushed his shoulders back. Blue suit, subtle pinstripe. Pink tie. A two-term senator’s haircut. He exhaled, then, over the next 40 minutes, proceeded to reshape the for the foreseeable future.It felt comprehensive and ambitious. Because it was.It also felt impromptu and do-or-die. Because it was that, too.This was Monahan’s annual Tour Championship press conference. A year ago, sitting in the same seat at East Lake Golf Club, he addressed the pressing issues of the day. Mostly inane. He fielded multiple questions about Bryson DeChambeau’s...WW…

Aug 18, 2022A year ago, when Seattle’s arena reverberated with chants of “One more year, one more year,” ’s eyes welled up.After a bubble 2020 season in which no one was able to see her play live and a 2021 season with limited capacity for most games, fans couldn’t believe that the icon’s final two seasons might’ve been spent away from those who’ve come to love and admire her.Ahead of the season, she assuaged fans’ fears by saying that yes, she would be back. But her retirement announcement didn’t come until mid-June, nearly halfway through the season.By that point, Bird’s fans had already...…Aug 18, 2022A year ago, when Seattle’s arena reverberated with chants of “One more year, one more year,” ’s eyes welled up.After a bubble 2020 season in which no one was able to see her play live and a 2021 season with limited capacity for most games, fans couldn’t believe that the icon’s final two seasons might’ve been spent away from those who’ve come to love and admire her.Ahead of the season, she assuaged fans’ fears by saying that yes, she would be back. But her retirement announcement didn’t come until mid-June, nearly halfway through the season.By that point, Bird’s fans had already...WW…

Oct 23, 2020“What do we have? What do we need? What do we have to do to get there?”—Every Executive, today. Possibly apocryphal.Editor’s Note: This story was originally published on Oct. 23 and updated throughout the week. The NBA playoffs can serve as a great separator. Every year, we relearn the lessons of just how big the difference can be between being effective during the grind of a long season and being able to perform against the higher level opposition in the intense, detail-oriented arena of a postseason series. Twenty-nine teams have been found wanting. Even the champion...…Oct 23, 2020“What do we have? What do we need? What do we have to do to get there?”—Every Executive, today. Possibly apocryphal.Editor’s Note: This story was originally published on Oct. 23 and updated throughout the week. The NBA playoffs can serve as a great separator. Every year, we relearn the lessons of just how big the difference can be between being effective during the grind of a long season and being able to perform against the higher level opposition in the intense, detail-oriented arena of a postseason series. Twenty-nine teams have been found wanting. Even the champion...WW…

Pass networks are some of the most familiar data visualisations in football. They’ll give you a quick glance at a team’s approach in possession: their average shape, the relative importance of different players, the hubs and spokes of the passing game. They show who passes to whom and how often. As nerd charts go, pass networks are easy to grasp — they look like an idealised version of what we see on the pitch. Here’s an example of a pass network from last month’s final: Let’s run through how to read them.Each player’s dot shows the average starting location of their passes between the...…Pass networks are some of the most familiar data visualisations in football. They’ll give you a quick glance at a team’s approach in possession: their average shape, the relative importance of different players, the hubs and spokes of the passing game. They show who passes to whom and how often. As nerd charts go, pass networks are easy to grasp — they look like an idealised version of what we see on the pitch. Here’s an example of a pass network from last month’s final: Let’s run through how to read them.Each player’s dot shows the average starting location of their passes between the...WW…

Aug 5, 2020Editor’s Note: This story was included in The Athletic’s Best of 2020. A late May evening walk after dinner in North Carolina’s Triangle was followed by a visit to a nearby candy store along the way. and his family blended right in with the crowd. He wasn’t the Carolina ’ All-Star defenseman, but a dad with his family. His wife, Kylie, was on stroller duty as they navigated the aisles of a candy store in search of something sweet.They made their way to the register and the checkout clerk peered into the stroller.“Did you adopt her?” the woman asked.“Yes,” Kylie answered...…Aug 5, 2020Editor’s Note: This story was included in The Athletic’s Best of 2020. A late May evening walk after dinner in North Carolina’s Triangle was followed by a visit to a nearby candy store along the way. and his family blended right in with the crowd. He wasn’t the Carolina ’ All-Star defenseman, but a dad with his family. His wife, Kylie, was on stroller duty as they navigated the aisles of a candy store in search of something sweet.They made their way to the register and the checkout clerk peered into the stroller.“Did you adopt her?” the woman asked.“Yes,” Kylie answered...WW…