Trending
Flyers give star extended deal
PHILADELPHIA -- Owen Tippett signed a $49.6 million, eight-year extension with the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday, a deal that keeps the franchise cornerstone wing in the fold for the team through its rebuilding stage and beyond.
General manager Daniel Briere announced the contract Friday. Once it kicks in next NHL season, Tippett will count $6.2 million against the salary cap through 2031-32.
Tippett, 24, is second among Flyers players in goals with 18 and is tied for second in points with 30 in 46 games. He scored in highlight-reel fashion last week against the Dallas Stars, passing the puck to himself off the boards, skating around a defender and lifting a backhander past goaltender Jake Oettinger.
He also has the fastest burst of speed by a player this season at 24.21 mph, late in overtime against Montreal on Jan. 10.
Picked 10th in the 2017 draft, Tippett has been with Philadelphia since the team acquired him from Florida at the 2022 trade deadline in the deal that sent longtime captain Claude Giroux to the Panthers. The Peterborough, Ontario, native has 86 points in 144 games with the Flyers after 33 in 94 with Florida.
Montreal player gets suspended
NEW YORK -- Montreal Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher has been suspended five games for an illegal check to the head of New York Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech.
The NHL announced the suspension Friday after a disciplinary phone hearing with Gallagher. Gallagher was ejected for hitting Pelech in the head with his right elbow midway through the teams' game Thursday night.
Pelech did not return. Gallagher had no other prior history and will forfeit $169,271 in salary. He's eligible to return Feb. 15 at the New York Rangers.
Gallagher, 34, and now in his 12th season, had been fined once before in his career and not suspended before.
Rangers add veteran closer
ARLINGTON, Texas -- The World Series champion Texas Rangers are adding veteran reliever David Robertson to their bullpen.
Robertson and the Rangers have agreed to a one-year contract. He has pitched for five teams since coming back from Tommy John surgery that caused him to miss the pandemic-shortened 2020 season and much of 2021.
The 38-year-old reliever has pitched for seven teams in his 15 big league seasons, the first seven with the New York Yankees. He has been to the playoffs nine times, winning the 2009 World Series with the Yankees and the 2022 National League pennant with the Phillies.
He has a 63-42 record with 175 saves and a 2.90 ERA in 793 regular-season games. He has pitched 47• innings in 42 postseason games, with a 6-0 record and 3.04 ERA.
ESPN, citing anonymous sources, reported his deal with the Rangers is for somewhere in the range of $11 million to $12 million.
Robinson statue stolen from park
WICHITA, Kan. -- A Kansas town is in uproar after a prized Jackie Robinson statue was stolen from a public park.
Wichita police on Friday were still searching for the statue of the baseball legend and civil rights icon, which was cut at the ankles and hauled away Thursday.
Robinson played for the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues before joining the Brooklyn Dodgers, paving the way for generations of Black American ballplayers. He's considered not only a sports legend but also a civil rights icon.
Robinson's feet are all that remain of the statue. City leaders say the community is feeling disgusted and angry, and demanding justice. The police chief says it's even more upsetting that the statue was stolen shortly before the start of Black History Month.
There's a $2,500 reward for tips leading to arrests and $5,000 for tips that lead to the statue's return.
The Associated Press