Duddoo

BUFFALO — Zeev Buium arrived at the NHL Draft Scouting Combine with, perhaps, the best label a young player can carry into the event: ‘Winner.’

Certainly, the combine and draft itself is always going to be about tangible skill and, to be sure, Buium has that in spades. But it never hurts to have a little confetti still stuck between your toes and following a season in which Buium won World Junior Championship gold with Team USA and an NCAA Frozen Four title with Denver — to say nothing of being a World Under-18 champion in 2023 — one aspect of his pre-NHL resume is bulletproof.

“It’s pretty cool,” Buium said on Friday after several days of interviews with NHL clubs in Buffalo. “I was fortunate to be on two really good teams. It was two awesome experiences and it feels really good to have won both of those.”

And let’s be clear; it’s not like Buium was some passenger on these title-winning squads. At the WJC, Buium’s three goals were the most by any defenceman in the tournament. At the Frozen Four, he faced an old friend in the final — a guy who’s going to go first overall at the NHL Draft in three weeks — and beat him with a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory. Macklin Celebrini has known Buium dating back to the time they were prep-school teammates at Minnesota-based Shattuck-St. Mary’s, and he couldn’t believe what he saw at the Frozen Four when his Boston University lined up versus Denver with everything on the line.

“He’s a great kid, great player,” Celebrini said of the California native. “I saw him at the end of the year, I saw him at world juniors; we went to Shattuck together, kind of grew up a little bit. To see how he’s been able to progress the past couple years and to see the player he is today, I was blown away when I saw him at the Frozen Four. I felt like he was the best player on the ice.”

In terms of what type of player the six-foot, 183-pound Buium is on that ice, think Quinn Hughes and adjust a little for hyperbole. The 2005-born D-man — his December birthday prevented him from being selected at the 2023 draft — notched 11 goals and 50 points as an NCAA freshman this year to lead everybody at his position.

Buium — whose older brother, Shai, was also on the championship Pioneers team and is a 2021 second-round pick of the Detroit Red Wings — knows offence is his calling card. That said, under coach David Carle — who guided him at both Denver and on the Team USA bench at the WJC — Buium is determined to round out his game and be the kind of player who can be sent over the boards in every situation.

“Just my ability to defend different kinds of players and just the consistency of my defence,” he said when asked about where he made strides this year. “I want to be a guy who can play the big moments at the end of games whenever we need to kill a play.”

Whether all this adds up to the left-shooting Buium being the first defenceman off the board at the Sphere in Vegas remains to be seen, especially given the intense competition in this draft that’s saturated with high-end blue-liners. One who isn’t here, Russian Anton Silayev, is a six-foot-seven behemoth who moves well and likely has teams dreaming of a Victor Hedman-type presence. There’s also a handful of premier guys who are in Buffalo, like right-shot offensive wizard Zayne Parekh and two-way force Sam Dickinson.

Then there’s the guy who sat to Buium’s right at the podium on Friday and also lines up as a much-coveted right-shot D-man in the NCAA, Artyom Levshunov. 

The six-foot-two Belarussian just finished his second season in North America, having logged a year of USHL hockey with the Green Bay Gamblers before joining Michigan State in the NCAA. 

Also a late birthday — Levshunov was born Oct. 28, 2005 — the 18-year-old originally had his sights set on major junior hockey, but had to shift his plans in the wake of Russia invading Ukraine early in 2022 and the Canadian Hockey League banning Russians and Belarussians from being part of the circuit’s import draft.

“I wanted to play in the CHL before the USHL, but unfortunately it was cancelled for [Russians and Belarussians] so I had an option to play in the USHL and I had an option to go to college [after that]. I just wanted to go chase my dream.”

He’s done that and more while adjusting to life in North America. Levshunov is about to be the highest-drafted player ever from Belarus and could well go No. 2 if the Chicago Blackhawks — who dined the youngster on Thursday night in Buffalo — wish to pair a potential No. 1 defenceman with last year’s first-overall pick, centre Connor Bedard.

“We’ll see,” Levshunov said. “For me to be drafted into the NHL it will be very cool and any team will be good for me.”

And, like Buium, he’ll likely be fantastic for that squad, too.

Edmonton Oilers general manager Ken Holland talks to the media about the pressure to win a Stanley Cup with Connor McDavid and their core and what goes into building a championship-contending team.

With the start of NHL free agency less than one month away, the Vancouver Canucks face questions about several key players.

Two important names eligible to test the open market on July 1 are forward Elias Lindholm and defenceman Nikita Zadorov. On the latest 32 Thoughts podcast, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said the Canucks have interest in keeping two players they acquired from the Calgary Flames in 2023-24, but it remains to be seen how negotiations will go in June.

With Lindholm, Friedman believes the Canucks are willing to offer a contract in the range of seven years with an average annual value of $7 million.

“I’m just not sure it’s going to get it done. I think the Canucks want this player,” Friedman said.

Friedman said he has heard Lindholm enjoyed his time in Vancouver after the big trade in late January. Though things didn’t go perfectly right away, Lindholm elevated his game in the playoffs as Vancouver took the Edmonton Oilers to a seventh game in the second round.

Zadorov, meanwhile, presents a different scenario.

“I believe Zadorov has a number and it might actually be a little less than he can get on the open market to stay in Vancouver,” Friedman said. “I don’t think Vancouver is far away from it, but I don’t think they’ve hit it.

“… I think Zadorov knows if he gets to the open market, he’s going to be happy with what’s out there, so it’s going to be up to the Canucks to get to the number he wants.”

Guentzel’s rights up for grabs

Another big name eligible for free agency on July 1 is Carolina Hurricanes forward Jake Guentzel, who was acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins before the trade deadline.

Friedman said the Hurricanes are open to trading the rights to negotiate with Guentzel before July 1.

“I believe Carolina has let everybody know if you want to trade for his rights and have a chance to sign him (before free agency), it’s possible for a mid-round pick,” Friedman said. “I’m sure there’s a ton of interest. You’ve just got … to think you’re going to get him” signed to a long-term deal.

When it comes to Guentzel, Friedman said one team to keep an eye on is the Chicago Blackhawks.

“Someone said to me Chicago is starting to make noises like like they’d like to move things along a little bit here” with their rebuild, Friedman said. “I don’t think it’s impossible that Chicago is considering this. We’ll see where it all goes.”

It will take far more than a mid-round pick to acquire another Hurricanes forward, Martin Necas, who becomes a restricted free agent on July 1.

“Carolina is letting people know that this is not a middling picks and prospects trade,” Friedman said. “They consider Necas a really good player.”

Draft and cap updates

The Buffalo Sabres, flush with young talent but in the midst of a league-high 13-year playoff drought, are open to trading the 11th-overall pick in the June 28-29 NHL Draft, Friedman said.

“They’ve said if you are really interested in that pick and it’s something that will help us, we’ll do it,” Friedman said. “i think they’re really interested in another top-six forward. That’s what I think they’re looking for.”

Meanwhile, there is talk the salary cap may rise slightly above the expected figure of $87.7 million for next season.

“There was going to be a conversation if the playoffs were a high-revenue playoffs between the league and players’ association,” Friedman said.

The Edmonton Oilers’ run to the Stanley Cup Final and the New York Rangers advancing to the conference final have helped made an increase possible. Both are considered high-revenue teams.

“Somebody said to me is if it happens, it’s not going to be a huge jump but maybe they round it to $88 (million),” Friedman said.

The cap was $83.5 million in 2023-24.

Edmonton Oilers veteran Ryan Nugent-Hopkins joins Sportsnet’s Gene Principe to discuss being the ‘O.G.’ on the Oilers, staying in Edmonton, and what it means to have an opportunity to win the Stanley Cup.

Toronto Blue Jays utility man and roster mainstay Cavan Biggio was designated for assignment, the team announced on Friday.

The move made room for first baseman and designated hitter Spencer Horwitz, who was recalled from triple-A Buffalo for the weekend series against the Oakland Athletics.

Biggio still had options left on his contract but was a player with five years of service time in the majors. Therefore, he would’ve had to consent to an option, which he presumably did not, per Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi.

“Tough conversation obviously with Cavan,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said on Friday. “For a guy that we’ve all known, myself included, for a long time. Hoping that he gets a chance to land on his feet and play more.”

He is currently batting a career-low .200 this season with two home runs and nine RBIs in 44 games played.

The 29-year-old played 490 games with the Blue Jays since being called up in 2019. He owns a .227 batting average with 48 home runs, 176 RBIs and 32 stolen bases over his six seasons in the majors.

He was last sent down to Buffalo in the 2022 season, playing 10 games with the triple-A ballclub.

“He wasn’t playing a whole lot,” Schneider said in regards to the rationale behind DFA-ing Biggio. “Just us trying to take a different route with our roster and how we’re kinda constructed and the potential for a bit more offence with Spence.

“Nothing Cavan did wrong. … He’s been a really good major league player for a number of years and he’s going to continue to be that. I think it was more so where we want to go with our roster right now.”

Horwitz, meanwhile, has been on a tear for the triple-A Buffalo Bisons this season, slashing .335/.456/.514. Over his last six games, he has 12 hits in 21 at-bats, including five doubles, two home runs and eight RBIs.

A 24th-round pick of the Blue Jays in 2019, Horwitz is currently ranked among the offensive leaders in the International League — where the Bisons play — in a number of categories. He leads the league in doubles, ranks second in on-base percentage and fourth in batting average and walks.

“Hopefully he’s here to help the offence,” Schneider said. “I think with Spence you’ll see him at first base, second base, some DH at-bats maybe. But comfortable with the reps he’s done at second in Buffalo and we all know he can play first.”

Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl spoke to media about his team’s challenges as he and Connor McDavid grew as young players before they could make a run to the Stanley Cup Final.

WASHINGTON — Caitlin Clark put on a show in front of one of the largest crowds in WNBA history.

Clark made seven 3-pointers, equalled a career high with 30 points and converted enough of her free throws down the stretch to help the Indiana Fever hold on for an 85-83 victory over the winless Washington Mystics on Friday night.

“It felt good to shoot the ball well,” Clark said. “I feel like even my misses were right there.”

With fan interest in Clark still surging, the Mystics hosted this game at Capital One Arena instead of the smaller venue where they usually play at home. It was a sellout of 20,333 — the league’s largest attendance for a game since 2007, according to acrossthetimeline.com.

“I think we’re part of history, so I’ll take it,” Indiana’s Kelsey Mitchell said. “We embrace it. I’m pretty sure our organization can feed off of it, the state of Indiana.”

Clark said before the game she had no grudge against Chennedy Carter, the Chicago Sky player who flagrantly fouled her last weekend. Then she produced the type of performance that will help put the focus back on basketball and what she can do on the court.

Clark easily had the most 3-pointers of her young career and made three of her four free throw attempts late. She missed the last one, and the ball was knocked out of bounds as the Mystics (0-11) tried to rush up the court. That gave Washington one last chance with 1.4 seconds left, but the Mystics couldn’t get a shot off in time.

Clark had eight rebounds and six assists in perhaps her best all-around game so far. She went 8 of 15 from the field with four steals, although turnovers (eight) were an issue again for the former Iowa star.

Indiana (3-9) was coming off a four-day layoff after a grueling start to the season that included 11 games in 20 days.

“All of us would say that’s just not ideal,” Clark said. “It’s not an ideal way to play basketball. I think you could see the exhaustion on our faces — more mentally than probably physically.”

This time it was Washington that was put to the test, playing the second night of a back-to-back.

Indiana led 82-80 when Aliyah Boston missed two free throws with 25.6 seconds remaining, giving Washington a chance to tie. Ariel Atkins missed a driving attempt, however, and the ball went out of bounds. The Mystics then had to foul, and Clark made two free throws for a four-point lead.

Karlie Samuelson answered with a 3-pointer to cut the lead to one.

Clark has had one other 30-point game in the WNBA, in a loss to Los Angeles on May 28. She hadn’t made more than four 3s in a game and had shot over 50 per cent from the field only once.

Stefanie Dolson scored 19 points for Washington, but the Mystics missed a big chance when Indiana’s NaLyssa Smith was called for a clear-path foul with 1:37 to play. Down by three, Washington rookie Aaliyah Edwards made only one of two free throws, and the Mystics didn’t score on the ensuing possession.

Washington lost back-to-back games against top rookies — Angel Reese and Chicago beat the Mystics on Thursday in a game that was also played at Capital One Arena.

Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid spoke to media about how he’s grown as a leader during his time with the team and what captaincy has meant to him ahead of the Stanley Cup Final.

OAKLAND, Calif. — Alek Manoah is scheduled for June 17 surgery on the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, a procedure that leaves a massive hole in the Toronto Blue Jays’ rotation this year and for a significant chunk of next season, too.

Manager John Schneider revealed the news Friday, a day after the right-hander visited Dr. Keith Meister in Texas. Manoah will undergo either a full ligament replacement, known as Tommy John, or have a ligament repair with a brace.

A decision will be made once Meister can get a first-hand look at the ligament to assess the damage, as “you can only see so much on an MRI,” said Schneider.

Either way, an extended recovery awaits the 26-year-old, as return to play from Tommy John typically takes 12-18 months, while the repair can shorten that to as little as eight months.

Manoah underwent an MRI on May 30 and while a consult with Meister was scheduled after initial reads, they knew some type of surgery “was a possibility,” said Schneider.

“In that situation,” he added, “you’re preparing for the worst, hoping for the best.”

Manoah left his May 29 start at the Chicago White Sox after his 24^th pitch because of a “pinchy” sensation in his right elbow. He’d experienced some discomfort following his previous outing against the Detroit Tigers, but felt good enough to pitch between outings and told himself to really let it rip on the fateful 91.4-m.p.h., glove-side sinker.

“It sucks,” he said afterwards. “But I have my faith in God and I dealt with a lot of (expletive) this past year to get back to this point. And the game’s tough, you know?”

The setback for Manoah comes just as he seemed to be turning the corner on a year and a half of tumult after a brilliant 2022 in which he was a Cy Young Award finalist. Manoah started 2023 slowly, was optioned to triple-A Buffalo twice, ended up on the temporarily inactive list with the Bisons and received injections in his shoulder after multiple medical exams couldn’t find any structural damage in his arm.

His ERA jumped from 2.24 in 196.2 innings to 5.87 in 87.1 frames but this off-season he remade himself physically, and after a shoulder issue slowed him during the spring, he started to resemble his former self, with 3.70 ERA in five outings with 26 strikeouts in 24.1 innings. 

All that progress is on pause indefinitely now, leaving the Blue Jays scrambling to cover his rotation spot for the rest of the season, and likely part of next.

Trevor Richards threw two innings during the first start in his place, with Bowden Francis logging 3.1 innings of bulk relief, but the plans are “still fluid” for Sunday and beyond, with Yariel Rodriguez, currently on rehab at Buffalo, expected to be part of the solution.

“We’ll see where we land bullpen-wise for Sunday and then go from there,” said Schneider. “Obviously we’re monitoring what Yariel is doing. He’s scheduled to pitch again Tuesday in Buffalo and hopefully get that pitch count up a little bit (toward 70) and we’ll see how we land after that. Ideally you’d like for something to be pretty steady and keep everyone in working order in the bullpen. But I think we’re ready to do it at least one more time.”