Aug 18, 2022

NFL NationESPN

ESPN polled over 50 league executives, coaches, scouts and players in order to rank the top 10 at each position, and of the top five wide receivers, two will be wearing new uniforms this season, including No. 1 Davante Adams, who's now a member of the Las Vegas Raiders.

It was an offseason of receivers on the move, from huge trades to free agent signings. Six wide receivers were also taken in the first 18 picks of the draft, the most ever taken through No. 18.

That means there will be new No. 1 receivers lining up for nearly half of the teams in the NFL, and that's not counting Michael Thomas' return from injury to resume his role as the New Orleans Saints' top wideout. Some of the new No. 1s will flourish, some likely will struggle as they try to fit in with new quarterbacks and offenses.

NFL Nation reporters who cover teams with new No. 1 receivers break down why the move could work and what could go wrong.

Who is the new No. 1 wide receiver: It is likely rookie Drake London, the No. 8 pick in this year's draft.

Who was No. 1 last season: Calvin Ridley was expected to be Atlanta's No. 1 receiver last season, but he missed 12 games to deal with personal issues. He's since been suspended indefinitely for gambling.

What prompted the change: Ridley was never a lock to be with the Falcons in 2022 -- there was consideration of trading him before the suspension -- but the suspension, combined with tight end Kyle Pitts' emergence, and drafting London brought on the switch.

Reasons to believe the change will work: The 6-foot-4, 213-pound London is the big-bodied receiver coach Arthur Smith has used successfully in the past, plus he provides a target for quarterback Marcus Mariota with a good catch radius and the ability to win contested balls in the red zone.

What could go wrong? There are questions about how Mariota will play this season, and with rookies, there is always a bit of the unknown. But London is a high-level prospect with the potential to be a game-changing receiver who shouldn't have too much pressure on him early because of Pitts.

-- Michael Rothstein

Who is the new No. 1 wide receiver: Rashod Bateman

Who was No. 1 last season: Marquise "Hollywood" Brown. On the first day of the draft, the Ravens traded Brown and a third-round pick to the Arizona Cardinals for a first-round pick (which Baltimore used to select center Tyler Linderbaum).

What prompted the change: Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said Brown requested a trade at the end of the season, saying he was unhappy with the team's run-heavy offense and wanted to play elsewhere.

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Reasons to believe the change will work: Bateman, a first-round pick from the 2021 NFL draft, is an extremely polished route-runner who exudes confidence. Teammates rave about his ability to get open and his deceptive speed. Over the final 12 games last season, Bateman nearly had as many receiving yards (515) as Brown (557).

What could go wrong? Hands and health. Last season, Bateman missed a chunk of training camp and the first five games of the regular season after undergoing groin surgery. This offseason, he's been dealing with dropped passes. But catching the ball wasn't a problem for Bateman last season, when he dropped 2.9% of passes thrown his way (sixth-lowest among rookies).

-- Jamison Hensley

Who is the new No. 1 wide receiver: Amari Cooper, acquired from the Dallas Cowboys for draft picks.

Who was No. 1 last season: Jarvis Landry was released by the Browns after they traded for Cooper. Landry signed with the Saints.

What prompted the change: The Browns' receiving corps underwhelmed last season as Landry battled injuries, while Odell Beckham Jr. was released following the trade deadline after his father ripped quarterback Baker Mayfield in an Instagram video. The Browns, just three years ago, had high hopes for the OBJ-Landry pairing. But after the offense cratered down the stretch of last season, Cleveland sought a change.

Reasons to believe the change will work: Cooper could bring a big-play threat that was desperately lacking last season. During his time in Dallas, which dates back to the 2018 season, Cooper ranked fourth among NFL wide receivers with 17 TD catches on vertical targets, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

What could go wrong? The unit around Cooper is mostly unproven, which means all the attention from opposing defenses will be squarely on him. That will be a stark change from all the talent he played with at receiver in Dallas.

-- Jake Trotter

1:50

Tyreek Hill reveals he probably would have stayed with the Chiefs if their offer was closer to the one from the Dolphins.

Who is the new No. 1 wide receiver: CeeDee Lamb

Who was No. 1 last season: Amari Cooper

What prompted the change: The Cowboys didn't believe Cooper was worth the $20 million price tag, and they selected Lamb in the first round of the 2020 draft for a reason -- to be a No. 1.

Reasons to believe the change will work: In his first two seasons, Lamb has a 1,000-yard season and a Pro Bowl to his credit. He and quarterback Dak Prescott have established a strong chemistry in their short time together, with Lamb leading the Cowboys in targets (146) and receptions (100) since joining the team, according to ESPN Stats & Info.

What could go wrong? How will Lamb adjust to the extra attention? He doesn't have Cooper around anymore, and Michael Gallup will miss at least the first few games of the season because of a torn ACL in his left knee injury. Defenses will key in on Lamb, but the Cowboys plan to counter by moving him around the formation as much as they can.

-- Todd Archer

Who is the new No. 1 wide receiver: TBD. The Packers don't have a true No. 1. Allen Lazard will get the first crack at it. Randall Cobb has the most experience, but he's mostly a slot receiver. Sammy Watkins was the only veteran addition in free agency, and second-round pick Christian Watson was the highest pick of the three receivers they drafted, but fourth-round pick Romeo Doubs has made the most plays of anyone in camp.

Who was No. 1 last season: Davante Adams. He was traded to the Raiders in March for first- and second-round picks.

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What prompted the change: Adams wanted out. The Packers put the franchise tag on him after the two sides failed to come to a long-term extension. Adams then decided he'd rather play with his college quarterback, Derek Carr, and orchestrated a trade to Las Vegas.

Reasons to believe the change will work: The Packers went 7-0 in games Adams missed over the past three years. Perhaps this will force Aaron Rodgers to spread the ball around a little more after Adams was targeted 169 times last season. Lazard was wide open on the final play of the final drive of the playoff loss to the 49ers, yet Rodgers threw to Adams, who was double-covered, and it went incomplete.

What could go wrong? Lazard doesn't make the jump. Cobb and Watkins can't stay healthy. Watson and the rookies don't gel with Rodgers. History says any or all of those things could happen.

-- Rob Demovsky

Who is the new No. 1 wide receiver: Christian Kirk, whom the Jaguars signed in free agency. He isn't a true No 1 receiver in the mold of Adams, Cooper Kupp or Justin Jefferson, but he is by far the Jaguars best receiver.

Who was No. 1 last season: Marvin Jones Jr. He was the best receiver on a team that didn't have very good receivers. He's still with the Jaguars but is now the No. 3 behind Kirk and Zay Jones, whom the Jaguars also signed in free agency.

What prompted the change: The Jaguars needed to get more playmakers around second-year quarterback Trevor Lawrence, so Kirk and Zay Jones were the team's top two receiver targets in free agency. Marvin Jones had 73 catches for 832 yards and four TDs last season, but he played 92% of the team's offensive snaps last season and is 32 years old. The team wants to ease some of his workload.

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Reasons to believe the change will work: Kirk had the best season of his career in 2021 (77 catches for 982 yards), and the Jaguars believe he's an ascending player. Offensive coordinator Press Taylor moved Kirk around during OTAs, and while Kirk's best spot is in the slot, the Jaguars believe he can be effective outside as well. Adding Zay Jones and tight end Evan Engram, along with the healthy return of running back Travis Etienne Jr., gives the Jaguars more playmakers than they've had in a while. That should mean teams won't be able to focus only on Kirk.

What could go wrong? Though he led Arizona in receptions last season, Kirk has not had to be the top receiver in his first four seasons in the NFL. He played alongside Larry Fitzgerald (who is almost certainly headed for the Hall of Fame) and DeAndre Hopkins (who seems to be on the same trajectory). Last season he also played with A.J. Green and tight end Zack Ertz. The Jaguars' supporting cast isn't at that level. Can Kirk handle the pressure of being No. 1?

-- Mike DiRocco

Who is the new No. 1 wide receiver: The Chiefs have no shortage of candidates and spent the offseason and training camp sorting through this issue. JuJu Smith-Schuster seems to be the logical choice. He's been moved around to a variety of spots and is at home in a more versatile role than the one he filled largely as a slot receiver the past couple of seasons with the Steelers.

Who was No. 1 last season: Tyreek Hill, who was traded to the Miami Dolphins.

What prompted the change: The Chiefs and Hill were headed toward a contract extension, and then they weren't. Hill wanted to be the highest-paid wide receiver in the league, and the Chiefs weren't going there.

Reasons to believe the change will work: The Chiefs are unlikely to have one wideout as productive as Hill, but they're hopeful the combination of returning Mecole Hardman, free agent additions Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling and second-round draft pick Skyy Moore will be enough to cause problems for opposing defenses.

What could go wrong? None of the four has ever been a No. 1 receiver in the NFL. Smith-Schuster had 111 catches and 1,426 yards for the Steelers one season, but that was four years ago, when Antonio Brown was Pittsburgh's top wide receiver. Hardman was also carted off the field Tuesday with a groin injury and Smith-Schuster didn't practice for the second straight day because of a sore knee. The pair will need to stay healthy for this to work.

-- Adam Teicher

Who is the new No. 1 wide receiver: Davante Adams, acquired in a trade with the Packers for the Raiders' first- and second-round picks in the 2022 NFL draft.

Who was No. 1 last season: Hunter Renfrow caught 103 passes last season, basically out of necessity with tight end Darren Waller missing six games due to injury. Renfrow went to the Pro Bowl and remains one of the most dangerous slot men in the NFL.

What prompted the change: When the best receiver in the league becomes available and he actually wants to join your team, you make the trade, no?

Reasons to believe the change will work: Adams is in his prime and already has chemistry with Raiders quarterback Derek Carr, as they were college teammates at Fresno State, and Las Vegas has a new, some say elite, playcaller in coach Josh McDaniels.

What could go wrong? The chemistry between Carr and Adams is overblown; the O-line can't protect Carr long enough to give him time to find Adams downfield; McDaniels did not learn from his last head coaching stint in Denver; there's simply not enough balls to keep Adams, Renfrow and Waller happy.

-- Paul Gutierrez

1:40

Field Yates breaks down why he would not move A.J. Brown lower than 14 in rankings.

Who is the new No. 1 wide receiver: The Dolphins traded six draft picks, including first- and second-round picks in 2022, to the Chiefs for wide receiver Tyreek Hill -- and immediately made him the highest-paid receiver in NFL history.

Who was No. 1 last season: Jaylen Waddle was Miami's leading receiver in 2021 and returns as the 1B to Hill's 1A.

What prompted the change: Miami's new staff under Mike McDaniel wanted a large-scale change to its group of playmakers and acquiring Hill helped achieve that goal.

Reasons to believe the change will work: Hill is the most talented home run hitter in the NFL and joins an innovative offensive coaching staff that will find ways for him to get the ball in space. With Waddle on the field, defenses can't afford to send too much coverage in Hill's direction.

What could go wrong? With a new head coach, new talent on offense and a quarterback in Tua Tagovailoa, who has something to prove this season, Miami will need time to develop before it starts to see a return on investment. If those growing pains are tougher than expected, it could lay a rocky foundation for this team to build on.

-- Marcel Louis-Jacques

Who is the new No. 1 wide receiver: It's a close call. Jakobi Meyers has led the team in catches and receptions each of the past two seasons, so technically he's the No. 1. But part of that was a result of the Patriots not having as many traditional No. 1-caliber pieces around him. Trading for DeVante Parker, and with big-money free agent Nelson Agholor looking more comfortable in his second season with the team, they are also in the conversation with Kendrick Bourne.

Who was No. 1 last season: Meyers returned to the team after signing his $3.96 million restricted free agent tender.

What prompted the change: Parker became available in Miami when the Dolphins had the unexpected opportunity to trade for Tyreek Hill. The Patriots offered the best trade compensation (a 2023 third-round pick in exchange for Parker and a fifth-rounder).

Reasons to believe the change will work: More options for second-year quarterback Mac Jones, who had an offseason goal of building better chemistry with every player on offense, especially the wide receivers.

What could go wrong? The Patriots are in transition on their offensive coaching staff with former coordinator Josh McDaniels moving on to become the Raiders head coach. So while the Patriots look deeper and more diverse at receiver, they need to ensure they have the right plan of attack.

-- Mike Reiss

Who is the new No. 1 wide receiver: The Jets don't have a true WR1 -- yet. Elijah Moore and rookie Garrett Wilson have WR1 potential, but they haven't come close to reaching that status. Corey Davis is their most experienced wide receiver, but it's hard to label someone a WR1 when he doesn't have a 1,000-yard season.

Who was No. 1 last season: Jamison Crowder, their leader in receptions for three straight years, signed with the Bills ... but he wasn't a No. 1 receiver. Not even close. They went through the season without one.

What prompted the change: There were no significant losses; the Jets didn't even try to re-sign Crowder. They believe Davis will be better in Year 2 -- he's healthy after missing eight games due to injury -- but his production could be impacted by Wilson and Moore.

Reasons to believe the change will work: The Jets tried to trade for Tyreek Hill and Deebo Samuel and looked into A.J. Brown, but decided to go young with Wilson, who might have a higher ceiling than those vets.

What could go wrong? If Wilson and Moore don't develop as quickly as hoped, and if Davis stays what he is (a solid WR2), the Jets' offense will lack a dynamic playmaker on the perimeter.

-- Rich Cimini

Who is the new No. 1 wide receiver: A.J. Brown. He was acquired from the Tennessee Titans on the first night of the 2022 NFL draft for a first- and third-round pick.

Who was No. 1 last season: DeVonta Smith. The Eagles see Brown and Smith as wide receivers 1 and 1A. Smith, the 10th overall pick in 2021, is coming off a strong rookie season in which he led Philly in catches (64), receiving yards (916) and receiving touchdowns (five).

What prompted the change: The Eagles have been hovering near the bottom of the league in passing offense the past couple of seasons and want to get that corrected. They looked at multiple options this offseason, including Calvin Ridley (prior to his announced suspension) and Christian Kirk, before landing Brown.

Reasons to believe the change will work: The off-field connection between Jalen Hurts and Brown is well-established -- they're good friends -- and it's a safe bet that Brown's tackle-breaking, yards-after-catch style of play will vibe with Hurts as well, while complementing Smith's skill set. With Smith, Brown and tight end Dallas Goedert to account for, defenses will have a tough time keying on one player.

What could go wrong? Brown has dealt with multiple injuries over his first three seasons in the league, including calf, hamstring, chest and knee injuries in 2021 that cost him four games. Philadelphia gave Brown a four-year, $100 million extension after acquiring him in April and needs him to stay relatively healthy in order for that to be viewed as a sound investment.

-- Tim McManus

Link:
Which NFL teams added new No. 1 wideouts this offseason? Why 12 moves could work out -- or fail - ESPN

A look at Kansas football's schedule for the 2022 season

Who do the Jayhawks play in 2022? Here's a closer look at Kansas football's schedule this season.

Adam Hensley, Wochit

LAWRENCE When Rich Miller transferred to join Kansas football last year, he didnt expect to become the leader he has.

Miller, a senior linebacker this fall for the Jayhawks, cautioned Wednesday that it wasnt as if he doubted himself. Miller, among those who followed head coach Lance Leipold from Buffalo, noted he just wanted to be the best version of himself. Miller had never really been much of a vocal leader, and instead led by example which he described as akin to breathing.

But as the months went by, Miller has assumed a more significant role on and off the field at Kansas, and is now someone who he said teammates look to during player-led meetings to say something. Whether its then, or maybe in the weight room, Miller has seen teammates respond to what hes had to say. And according to his position coach, Chris Simpson, Miller is a catalyst for their defense and kind of the heart of what they are trying to do.

RELATED: Kansas football hasnt quite found its O-line depth, but Lance Leipold says it's developing

As much as anybody, I think (Miller) is, Jayhawks defensive coordinator Brian Borland concurred. And just, playing the centerpiece position there at the MIKE linebacker spot a lot of the times. Although, I think he could play any of our linebacker spots equally well. Knows the defense well. Knows what our expectations are.

"I think on the field, off the field, I think hes the kind of a good, model citizen. So, in that respect, I think he, Rich Miller, certainly would be kind of at the center of what were trying to do.

RELATED: Heres where things stand with Kansas footballs special teams units as opener approaches

Leipold praised how Miller carries himself off the field and pointed to his ability to do anything they ask of a linebacker, too. Miller is someone who Leipold feels understands the expectations of how Kansas players should practice and handle their business.

The degree to which Miller has expectations for himself and his teammates is what Leipold explained they are striving for as a program.

To hear that type of praise means a lot to Miller, because it shows him the confidence a coach like Simpson who described the MIKE as the guy who runs the show defensively has in him. But Miller added he doesnt take any pressure from it. It actually meant more to him when he missed practice because he was sick and he had teammates reaching out to him to tell him they needed him back soon.

More: Where Kansas football quarterbacks coach Jim Zebrowski sees the separation at his position

Miller is a part of a position group thats much more competitive than it was a year ago, something coaches have said will help with special teams as well, because of improvements made by those who returned and the additions of transfers like super-senior Lorenzo McCaskill (Louisiana), redshirt senior Eriq Gilyard (UCF) and redshirt junior Craig Young (Ohio State). Its something that had Simpson saying there could be five or six guys hed feel comfortable starting.

And Miller indicated hes taken it all in stride.

Miller, who finished second on the team in tackles and sacks in 2021, said he has approached it as a learning opportunity. McCaskill has taught him how to be more efficient using his hands. Gilyard has taught him how to better drop into coverage during a play-action situation.

If you want to play youve got to step your game up, because its next man up, said Miller, who also tied for second in tackles for loss among Jayhawks last season. Like, that man can do the same thing you can do or maybe even better on some days. So, everybody knew that. Everybody knew you just step your game up.

More: Why Kansas football linebacker Taiwan Berryhills position coach was singing his praises

Miller also played a role in helping Kansas add quality transfers from the Detroit area, where hes from himself. Redshirt junior safety Marvin Grant, whose college career began at Purdue, attended the same high school as Miller. And in addition to those efforts meaning a lot to Leipold, theres also no doubt its helped Miller become more comfortable in his second year with the Jayhawks.

Miller said hes opened up more than he did in 2021 because there are more people around from where he grew up, like Grant. Miller wanted to bring in athletes from where hes from because he knows how passionate they are and what theyve had to go through to reach this point. If Kansas can have a locker room thats as close as his was in high school, he thinks thatll only raise the bar of how good the Jayhawks can be.

Weve got five dudes from Detroit here, like, thats all I needed, said Miller, who noted time helps as well and hes also more comfortable with the locker room as a whole. Like, not to say that I couldnt do it without them or anything like that, but, like, that just sparked even more. Because those guys already know who I am.

"They already know how I am. They know what I stand for, what Im about. So, it was just so much easier for me to be comfortable.

Jordan Guskey coversUniversity of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.

See original here:
Rich Miller has become 'kind of the heart' of what Kansas football's defense is about - The Topeka Capital-Journal

Aug 18, 2022

Adam Rittenberg

Tom VanHaaren

After a summer of significant news -- the expansion additions of USC and UCLA, followed by a record new media rights deal -- the Big Ten swaggers into the season. The league has proven it can compete with the SEC in revenue and realignment. National championships? That's a different story.

Ohio State has been the only Big Ten program to win a national title during the College Football Playoff era, and the only one to win a playoff game. Although the Buckeyes missed the CFP and saw their Big Ten title streak end at four last season, they are the overwhelming favorites to win the league. Anything short of a national championship -- and perhaps a Heisman Trophy for quarterback C.J. Stroud -- would be deemed disappointing. Michigan isn't getting as much respect as the defending league champ, but coach Jim Harbaugh's team returns a lot on offense and should start strong. Michigan State also aims to reload after a top-10 finish, and Penn State enters a key season after struggling since 2019. The West Division should be very competitive as top contenders Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Purdue return quarterbacks and other key pieces.

1. Will Ohio State end its national title drought?

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When Ohio State won the inaugural CFP eight years ago, the Buckeyes looked likely to pile up titles. While they've continued to dominate the Big Ten, they have just one CFP victory -- and only three playoff appearances -- since winning it all. Ohio State has a title-worthy team, led by an offense that could score at will. Stroud returns alongside top wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, running back TreVeyon Henderson and a host of other playmakers. Coach Ryan Day wisely hired coordinator Jim Knowles from Oklahoma State to improve a defense that didn't consistently threaten opponents. Ohio State has enough talent and motivation after last year to reach SoFi Stadium on Jan. 9 and win it all.

2. What will Michigan do for an encore?

Michigan finally has reference points for what it can achieve, both in the Big Ten and nationally. Last fall, the Wolverines beat Ohio State for the first time since 2011, won the Big Ten outright for the first time since 2003 and reached their first-ever CFP. They return quarterback Cade McNamara, explosive running back Blake Corum, a host of receivers and several pieces from the Joe Moore Award-winning offensive line. Still, Michigan isn't a popular pick to repeat, as it lost two first-round draft picks (Aidan Hutchinson, Daxton Hill) and a second-round pick (David Ojabo) on defense, plus coordinator Mike Macdonald. This fall, the Wolverines get a chance to show they will be regular CFP contenders -- and a problem for their archrivals.

3. Which quarterbacks will step up to propel their teams?

Starting quarterbacks return at all the projected Big Ten division contenders, but there are questions about who will join Ohio State's Stroud on the elite tier. Purdue's Aidan O'Connell has a good case after completing a team-record 71.8% of his passes last season. Penn State's Sean Clifford has records but wants to cement his legacy with a title run as a senior, while Michigan State's Payton Thorne set a team record for touchdown passes in his first season as the starter. Maryland's Taulia Tagovailoa has steadily improved and will throw to a gifted group of receivers. Will Michigan's Cade McNamara keep his job, or is J.J. McCarthy the answer in Ann Arbor? Minnesota's Tanner Morgan reunites with playcaller Kirk Ciarrocca. Iowa and Wisconsin each could win the West Division if they get marginal improvement from quarterbacks Spencer Petras and Graham Mertz.

Defending champ Michigan should rightfully feel disrespected, but Ohio State returns too much sizzle on offense -- plus a defense we see upgrading significantly under Knowles -- not to occupy the top spot. Things get interesting afterward, as four or five teams could make a case for the No. 3 spot.

Michigan State must improve significantly on defense, while Iowa, Wisconsin, Penn State and Minnesota are looking for a jolt on offense. Purdue and Maryland both return dynamic quarterbacks and could be sleepers if they get enough on defense. Nebraska likely must rise for coach Scott Frost to keep his job.

1. Ohio State2. Michigan3. Michigan State4. Iowa5. Wisconsin6. Penn State7. Minnesota8. Purdue9. Maryland10. Nebraska11. Illinois12. Northwestern13. Indiana14. Rutgers

Michigan State at Michigan, Oct. 29

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Michigan State handed Michigan its only regular-season loss last season, a 37-33 Spartans victory. Running back Kenneth Walker III scored five touchdowns in the game while running for 197 yards. Walker is no longer on the roster, and Michigan is going to be looking for revenge at home. This is always a pivotal game for both teams, and this season will be no different.

Ohio State at Penn State, Oct. 29

The Buckeyes and Nittany Lions have been part of some of the more exciting Big Ten games in recent years. The Buckeyes are going to have College Football Playoff aspirations, and Penn State is hoping to rebound from its 7-6 season to prove that was more anomaly than the norm.

Michigan State at Penn State, Nov. 26

This feels like a battle for position within the Big Ten. Both teams are trying to prove themselves and trying to get back to the conference championship. Ohio State is the clear leader in the conference, but the winner of this game could show us who is on the rise.

Minnesota at Wisconsin, Nov. 26

Both teams are coming off of 9-4 seasons, and both teams are hoping to take a step forward in 2022. This game could end up being the deciding factor on which team represents the Big Ten West. Iowa will be in the conversation as well, but the winner of this game could either propel themselves into the game or play spoiler.

Michigan at Ohio State, Nov. 26

This will be one of the most nationally anticipated games of the entire season. Michigan beat Ohio State in 2021 to put itself into the Big Ten championship game and eventually the College Football Playoff. The Buckeyes have focused on that loss all offseason and have vowed it won't happen again. This is gearing up to be one of the best games to end the season if both teams collide with everything on the line.

The Big Ten is returning some household names that have already proven to be stat leaders for their teams and all-conference players. Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud leads that list as a Heisman finalist last season, returning to try to duplicate his success from 2021. There are some new faces, though, and some potential breakout stars, including Wisconsin running back Braelon Allen, who came on strong late in the season, and Michigan defensive lineman Mazi Smith, who is poised for a big year. In what might be the most Big Ten thing the conference could do, one of the strengths within the conference will be at punter. If it weren't for number constraints, there very well could be more than one punter on the all-conference team with Rutgers' Adam Korsak, Iowa's Tory Taylor, Michigan State's Bryce Baringer and Michigan's Brad Robbins. Only one will survive, though, so may the best leg win.

OffenseQB C.J. Stroud, Ohio StateRB Braelon Allen, WisconsinRB TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio StateWR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio StateWR Jayden Reed, Michigan StateWR Rakim Jarrett, MarylandTE Sam LaPorta, IowaOT Peter Skoronski, NorthwesternOG J.D. Duplain, Michigan StateC John Michael Schmitz, MinnesotaOG Zak Zinter, MichiganOT Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State

DefenseDL Mazi Smith, MichiganDL Jacob Slade, Michigan StateDL P.J. Mustipher, Penn StateDL Ochaun Mathis, NebraskaLB Jack Campbell, IowaLB Nick Herbig, WisconsinLB Garrett Nelson, NebraskaS Ji'Ayir Brown, Penn StateS Ronnie Hickman, Ohio StateCB Riley Moss, IowaCB DJ Turner, MichiganCB Joey Porter Jr., Penn State

Special teamsP Adam Korsak, RutgersK Jake Moody, MichiganR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State

Ohio State over Wisconsin.

Read the original:
Big Ten college football preview - Breaking down the conference's best storylines, games and more - ESPN

Hours before President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act, the Energy Department released reports yesterday on the state of U.S. wind power that raise questions that may linger despite the new laws policy supports.

The three reports focused on onshore, offshore and distributed wind power, respectively outlined the wind industrys struggles over the past year while concluding that its healthy. The reports did not consider the IRAs possible effects on wind growth.

Thirteen gigawatts of wind came online last year, enough to power 4 million homes, DOE noted. That was the second largest amount ever, according to industry figures.

Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm predicted in a call with reporters the IRA would breathe new life into this industry and trigger a larger boom.

For all the fantastic growth wind energy has seen over the last decade, Im confident that the best years in this sector are ahead of us, Granholm said.

That rosy view has been backed by energy system modelers from Princeton Universitys REPEAT Project, who found American wind installations could double by 2025-2026 due to the IRA, which contains new and extended tax credits for wind production and domestic manufacturing of turbine parts (Energywire, Aug. 8).

But DOE researchers outlined problems in their reports that have acted as a drag on the industrys growth.

One problem is how long it can take to connect new projects to the grid, which can rack up development costs.

At the end of 2021, the reports say, a record amount of wind power, 247 GW, was waiting in transmission interconnection queues, including 73 GW that came onto the queue last year and 77 GW from offshore wind.

Speeding up interconnection queues may prove to be an enduring challenge for wind, despite the IRAs passage, said Ryan Wiser, a senior scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and corresponding author of DOEs report on onshore wind.

Were going to need to figure out how to properly move projects through the interconnection process in a faster way than we have in the past, Wiser said during DOEs media call.

New transmission lines would also be needed to connect high-quality wind resources to load centers, he added. Transmission and interconnection are key remaining barriers that are still to be resolved, he said.

An investment tax credit for transmission projects, which was promoted by transmission advocates, was left out of the IRA by congressional negotiators (Energywire, July 29).

The DOE reports also took note of market uncertainties that have plagued wind and other energy sources since the pandemic, including supply-chain disruptions and rising commodity prices.

Those reversed a decadelong trend of falling turbine prices and prompted outside analysts to predict a slower year for onshore wind additions in 2023, DOE researchers noted.

Corporate demand for clean energy contracts, state-level renewable goals and competition from cheap solar power could also change the trajectory of winds growth, among other factors, DOE researchers said.

The IRA itself may not directly address supply shortages and inflationary pressures, but the laws incentives could entice developers to invest in wind projects anyway, according to analysts from Wood Mackenzie who acted as peer reviewers for early versions of the DOE reports.

Whats important is the long-term policy horizon. Thats really critical for the industry to plan the business, invest in manufacturing and invest in projects, said Aaron Barr, the firms head of onshore wind research.

The laws policy supports would likely begin to drive winds growth beginning in 2023, said Samantha Woodworth, senior analyst for North American wind markets at Wood Mackenzie.

That could include a renaissance in U.S.-based production of turbine parts, something that could help wind developers skirt shortages of supplies from overseas, she and Barr said.

In 2021, U.S. production capacity for many wind parts declined. Blade manufacturing was hardest-hit, declining 50 percent due to the shuttering or idling of three American facilities.

But U.S. plants could launch or reopen to take advantage of the manufacturing tax credits, particularly to serve new offshore wind projects, Barr said.

The wind industry in general its mature, its become globalized, its well-established in the U.S. Its ready to go, he said. Its just been waiting on this policy signal from Washington.

Read more:
DOE outlines challenges for wind. Will the IRA help? - E&E News

Liverpool are gearing up for their trip to Old Trafford to face rivals Manchester United in the Premier League on Monday and the build-up contained a strange confrontation

Image: Jacques Feeney/Getty Images)

Liverpools trip to Old Trafford is now just two days away, but Jurgen Klopp is not busy exchanging words with Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag, like you might expect.

Klopp has instead been sticking up for Uniteds under-pressure manager following two successive defeats and his comments have sparked a war of words with somebody very different. The Liverpool managers pre-match press conference on Friday did contain some of the more unusual content, with injury updates and team news also on the agenda.

Meanwhile, the Reds do not need to worry about facing Uniteds 60million new midfielder Casemiro, despite a deal being agreed with Real Madrid on Friday evening. Here Mirror Football brings you all the latest Liverpool news.

Liverpool have been hit hard by injuries of late, so the news that Roberto Firmino is fit and ready to replace the suspended Darwin Nunez against Manchester United comes as a relief.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Friday, Jurgen Klopp said: "Bobby has trained completely normally and is ready."

The Brazilian missed Mondays 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace with a muscle complaint, but is very likely to start at Old Trafford, with Nunez out for three games after headbutting Joachim Andersen.

Firminos return is a boost, but Diogo Jota, Curtis Jones, Thiago Alcantara, Joel Matip and Ibrahima Konate all remain unavailable.

Read the full story here.

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Friday saw a strange spat emerge between the Liverpool manager and former Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor.

Klopp had been annoyed listening to Agbonlahors analysis on talkSPORT of Manchester Uniteds 4-0 defeat by Brentford last weekend, in which he called Erik ten Hags players "amateur" and their performance "a shambles". I was close to calling in! Klopp said. He wasn't a mentality monster when we beat Villa 6-0."

Agbonlahor responded to the dig about the defeat in February 2016 by posting on Instagram about Villas 1-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield the year before Klopp became manager.

Read the full back and forth here.

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Manchester United announced on Friday evening that they had agreed a deal in principle to sign Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro, but he will not feature against Liverpool.

The 30-year-old will reportedly fly into Manchester by private jet on Saturday after United agreed to pay an initial fee of 60m plus a further 10m in potential add-ons. The five-time Champions League winner will become the clubs fourth summer signing.

However, he will not be eligible to make his debut at Old Trafford on Monday because he still has to undergo a medical and complete all the paperwork. United will therefore have to try and turn around their rotten form without him.

Read more here.

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Liverpool news: Reds get Roberto Firmino boost as Jurgen Klopp spars with Gabby Agbonlahor - The Mirror

Actor and stuntman Kane Hodder is the man who has spent the most time behind the hockey mask in the "Friday the 13th" franchise. Hodder made his debut as Jason Voorhees in "Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood" and reprised the role three more times until Ken Kirzinger took up the machete for "Freddy vs. Jason." Hodder, who later reprised Jason for the 2017 "Friday the 13th" video game, has also played or provided stunts for a dizzying array of other movie killers, including Leatherface in "Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III," Victor Crowley in the "Hatchet" series, and even took up Freddy Kruger's gloved hand in "Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday."

In addition to his most iconic roles, Hodder has essayed dozens of other maniacs, tough guys, and bad-to-know types in films ranging from the 2003 "Daredevil" and "Monster" with Charlize Theron to "House II: The Second Story" and "2001 Maniacs." As with most genre pics, some titles are better than others, but in the case of "City Limits," it's safe to say that most, if not all movies are better than that 1984 sci-fi pic

A post-apocalyptic thriller set in a Los Angeles where a plague has eliminated most of the adults, "City Limits" features a sizable of then-up-and-coming performers, including John Stockwell, Rae Dawn Chong, and future "Independence Day" writer-producer Dean Devlin as survivors who have formed motorcycle gangs. Kim Cattrall and Robby Benson are also on hand as members of a mysterious corporation sent to rebuild the city at the expense of the bikers.

Sounds confusing and poorly conceived, you say? Well, you're right and Joel and the 'bots on "Mystery Science Theater 3000" agree, since they torched the film in their original run but if you look carefully, you'll see Hodder as a member of the DAs, a hostile biker gang. Hodder is billed as one of the Unfriendly DAs, and with his powerful build and glowering face, he's more believable than anything else in the picture.

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Early Roles That Friday The 13th Actors Would Like You To Forget About - Looper

Merriam Park, St. Paul neighborhood home

Dreams come true with this striking two-story home. It's a wonderful find in today's market! Renovations preserved the charm of this 1914 home in the Merriam Park neighborhood.

The home glows with original woodwork, a majestic foyer, and ample space for entertaining with a large living room and dining room. This 4-bed, 2-bath home has a kitchen that encompasses original cabinets with new ones and a center workspace. A full-size bathroom on the second floor is convenient for the three bedrooms. Additionally, there is a 3/4 bath in the basement near the bonus room, which features an egress window.

A new garage door was installed on June 30th, 2022. Newer Hardie Board siding. Freshly painted porches and deck. The home has a beautiful interior with immaculate detailing throughout. It's filled with executive trim, crown molding and custom built-ins. Great corner yard ready for entertaining.

Are you interested in learning more about the home? Reach out to LakesArea Realty agent Barb Palmer at(612) 877-0530.

Excerpt from:
Gallery: Charming 1914-built home with original woodwork receives modern additions - Bring Me The News

City Works is a regular feature designed to provide a preview of upcoming city meetings including, but not limited to, Planning, Zoning and Board of Mayor and Aldermen.

The Planning Board met on Thursday, July 7. The following cases were reviewed and given approval to move forward at this meeting. If you missed the meeting or would like more information, the meeting will be available to watch on-demand.

The following cases were closed at the public hearing and will be decided at the next regularly scheduled business meeting.

The Zoning Board will hold its next public hearing on Thursday, July 14 at 6 p.m. This meeting will be televised on Manchester Public Television, Channel 22. Project Applications are available on-line for each of the projects below. You will find the detailed agenda here.

ZBA2022-063: 15 Cohas Avenue, Residential One Family High Density Zoning District, Ward 6

Applicant proposes to subdivide the property to create one new building lot, where proposed lot Tax Map 818, Lot 20-1 will remain improved with a single family dwelling, with lot frontage and width of 60 where 75 is required, and where proposed lot Tax Map 818, Lot 20 will have lot frontage and width of 20 where 75 is required and a proposed west facing primary faade where the primary faade is required to face the front lot line to the north and seeks a variance from sections 6.02 Minimum Lot Frontage and Width (2 counts) at Tax Map 818, Lot 20-1 and 3.03 Primary Faade and 6.02 Minimum Lot Frontage and Width (2 counts) at Tax Map 818, Lot 20.

ZBA2022-069 815: Goffstown Road, Residential One Family Medium Density Zoning District, Ward 12

Applicant proposes to convert a home occupation to an office of a health care practitioner, pediatric occupational therapy, with one employee in addition to the property owner and create three additional front yard parking spaces with two spaces partially on an unpaved surface and seeks a variance from sections 5.10(H-2)1 Offices of Health Care Practitioners and Outpatient Health Care, 6.01 Minimum Buildable Lot Area, 6.02 Minimum Lot Frontage and Width (2 counts), 6.03(C) Side Yard Setback (2 counts), 10.09(B) Parking Setbacks (3 counts) and 10.07(E) Parking Paving.

ZBA2022-056: 362: Union Street, Urban Multifamily Zoning District, Ward 3

Applicant proposes to expand an existing non-conforming planned development on a corner lot by constructing a second story addition for one residential dwelling unit above a commercial barbershop with a 1 street yard setback where 10 is required and a 3 front yard setback where 10 is required, construct an infill three-story addition that will connect the three family dwelling to the restaurant where the first floor will be used for storage and the top two floors will contain two dwelling units, where the infill addition has a 0 side yard setback where 10 is required, where the floor area ratio is 1.48 where 0.75 is allowed, and construct a new parapet on the front and sides of restaurant with a 3 front yard setback and a 0 side yard setback, where 10 is required in both instances and seeks a variance from sections 5.10(A)8 Dwellings in Upper Stories of Building with Commercial First Floor, 6.03(C) Side Yard Setback (2 counts), 6.03(A) Front Yard Setback (3 counts) and 6.06 Floor Area Ratio.

ZBA2022-079: 200 Frontage Road, General Industrial / Industrial Zoning District, Ward 9

Applicant proposes to replace a 40 high, 195 SF static illuminated pylon sign allowed by variance case 148-20-2008, with a 40 high, 98.5 SF electronic message center pylon sign and seeks a variance from sections 9.09 Signs in Non-Residential Districts and 9.10 Non-Conforming Signs.

ZBA2022-081: 8 Hummingbird Drive, Residential One Family Medium Density Zoning District, Ward 1

Applicant proposes to maintain a newly placed foundation with a 19.75 side yard setback where 20 is required and seeks an equitable waiver from section 6.03(C) Side Yard Setback.

ZBA2022-082: 111 Mooresville Road, Residential One Family High Density Zoning District, Ward 8

Applicant proposes to construct a 12 x 12 mudroom addition with an attached 3 x 12 deck on the front with a 9 side yard setback where 10 is required and maintain a front yard parking space and a second driveway 24 from another driveway where 30 is required and seeks a variance from sections 10.09(B) Parking Setbacks, 10.08(B) Driveways Location and 6.03(C) Side Yard Setback.

ZBA2022-083: 352 Lake Avenue, Residential Two-Family Zoning District, Ward 5

Applicant proposes to create four parking spaces within 4 from a building and lot lines, with two spaces within the street yard and seeks a variance from section 10.09(B) Parking Setbacks (8 counts).

ZBA2022-084: 50 Rosecliff Lane, Residential One Family High Density Zoning District, Ward 6

Applicant proposes to construct an attached 25 x 30 two-stall garage with a 5 side yard setback where 10 is required and a 19 wetland setback where 25 is required and seeks a variance from sections 6.03(C) Side Yard Setback and 6.09(A) Minimum Wetlands Setback.

ZBA2022-085: 9 Pepperidge Drive, Residential One Family High Density Zoning District, Ward 8

Applicants propose to convert a single family dwelling to a two[1]family dwelling with a proposed home occupation beauty salon occupying approximately 530 SF, maintain two undersized front yard parking spaces at the southern end of the property within 4 of the property line and 4 of a building, and maintain two parking spaces in the northern driveway within the front yard setback as well as use two parking spaces for the commercial salon use in a residential district and seek a variance from sections 5.10(A)5 Two-Family Dwelling, 8.25(B)9(a) Home Occupation Prohibited Uses, 10.09(B) Parking Setbacks and 10.02(F) Business Parking in Residential District.

ZBA2022-086 913 Elm Street, Central Business Zoning District, Ward 3

Applicant proposes to establish a tattoo parlor within 800 feet from another tattoo parlor and seeks a variance from section 8.06(A)1 Tattoo Parlors.

ZBA2022-087: 215 St. James Avenue, Residential One Family High Density Zoning District, Ward 10

Applicant proposes to construct a 20 x 24 one-story addition with a 9.35 side yard setback where 10 is required, construct a 6 x 20 farmers porch with a 6.6 side yard setback where 10 is required and a 16 front yard setback where 20 is required and maintain a driveway width of 26 where 24 is allowed and seeks a variance from sections 6.03(C) Side Yard Setback, 6.03(A) Front Yard Setback and 10.08(C) Driveway Width.

ZBA2020-018 205 and 211 Second Street, Urban Multifamily Zoning District, Ward 10

Applicant proposes to establish a warehouse use without the required loading space and seeks a variance from sections 5.10(E) Warehousing or Wholesale Storage and Distribution Facilities and 10.05(2) Number of Off-Street Loading Spaces.

ZBA2022-089: 655 Coolidge Avenue, Residential One Family High Density Zoning District, Ward 11

Applicant proposes to construct an Accessory Dwelling Unit in the basement with approximately 886 SF where 750 SF is allowed and seeks a variance from section 8.26(C) Accessory Dwelling Unit.

ZBA2022-080 240 Pinecrest Road, Residential One Family Medium Density Zoning District, Ward 1 Applicant proposes to construct an Accessory Dwelling Unit above a proposed attached garage with 1,196 of gross floor area where 750 SF is allowed and seeks a variance from section 8.26(C) Accessory Dwelling Unit.

ZBA2022-092 80 Walsh Avenue, Urban Multifamily Zoning District, Ward 11

Applicant proposes to add a fourth dwelling unit on a 5,000 SF lot where 6,500 SF is required, resulting in a floor area ratio to 0.87 where 0.75 is allowed and create two additional parking spaces resulting in the reduced width of four parking spaces to 8 wide where 8.5 is required, with one space within 4 of a lot line, where the new spaces back out onto a public way, and the where the new spaces do not have parking bumpers and seeks a variance from sections 8.04 Minimum Buildable Lot Area, 6.06 Floor Area Ratio, 10.06(A) Parking Layout (5 counts), 10.06(B) Accessible Spaces Dimensions, 10.09(B) Parking Setbacks (4 counts), 10.07(K)1 Parking Bumpers and 10.07(D) Parking Maneuvering.

ZBA2022-093 243 Hanover Street, Urban Multifamily Zoning District, Ward 4

Applicant proposes to expand a funeral home use allowed by Special Exception in the R-3 zoning district by constructing a 1,914 SF garage addition with a 9.5 street yard setback where 10 is required, and maintain seven parking spaces that will be 2.5 from the new garage addition where 4 is required and where the seven parking spaces do not have parking bumpers and seeks an special exception from section 5.10(H-6)7 Funeral Parlors and Crematories and seeks a variance from sections 6.03(A) Street Yard Setback, 10.09(B) Parking Setbacks and 10.07(K)1 Parking Bumpers.

ZBA2022-094 342 Hazelton Avenue, Residential One Family High Density Zoning District, Ward 8

Applicant proposes to maintain a shed with a 1 side yard setback where 10 is required in the side yard and seeks a variance from section 8.29(A)2 Accessory Structures and Uses in the Side Yard.

ZBA2022-067 293 Wilson Street, Redevelopment Zoning District, Ward 7

Applicant proposes to erect two 16.5 SF building signs above the second floor windows for an upper floor tenant with no sign frontage and seeks a variance from section 9.09(A)3 Signs (2 counts).

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Housing, parking, additions, businesses and more on deck at this week's meetings - Manchester Ink Link

Well, the Denver Nuggets are four games through Las Vegas Summer League and their 2-2 record perfectly illustrates what a mixed bag it has been.

The whole roster has had ups-and-downs, including the candidates for the Nuggets final two-way contract, but for today we are going to take a closer look at the players on the Summer League roster who the Nuggets have already committed to in one way or another.

On the Summer League roster, Denver has three draft picks from this year Christian Braun, Peyton Watson and Ismael Kamagate as well as a two-way contract player Collin Gillespie all logging regular minutes. How have each of them handled their first taste of NBA basketball?

Braun has shown most of the skills that led to him being selected with the 21st pick by the Nuggets, but overall has struggled since his first Summer League game.

In that first game, against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Braun had 19 points on 8-17 shooting despite going 1-7 from beyond the three-point arc to go with six rebounds, three assists and a steal. He was a demon on defense, a smart off-ball scorer and a terror in transition.

Still, there is one skill that has been painfully absent from the Nuggets Summer League run: his three-point shooting. Over four games, Braun is shooting 3-24 from beyond the three-point line which is a horrid 12.5%. Brauns offensive ceiling is built around his three-point shooting. Without it, his NBA projection looks much worse.

With that being said, taking too much away from Summer League is not smart. Braun is adjusting to the speed of the game, being asked to handle the ball and create far more than he should, and is adjusting to a three-point line that is further away than it was in college. That combination easily could lead to a shooting slump for a player like Braun. Just to remind everyone, Jamal Murray missed his first 17 shots as a member of the Nuggets.

Give rookies a chance to grow into the game. Almost every single rookie blue-chip recruits or 21st pick in the draft require time to acclimate. Braun has been no different.

The Watson experience has been one helluva ride. Some of his high points completely smothering defense, immense size and length, and offensive flashes as a passer and creator are so salivating for viewers that all of his lows discombobulated jump shot mechanics, lack of coordination, less than stellar burst and a lacking basketball IQ at times can be overlooked.

Simply stated, Watson has shown every reason he was such a highly touted recruit out of high school and why so many feel he is more than a few years away from being ready for NBA basketball with real stakes.

Can Watson harness his length and size as a guard/wing to become a devastating cutter, surprisingly-effective offensive rebounder and dependable passer who uses his size to create passing lanes and angles others simply cannot reach? Can his three-point shot become at least passable? Will his dedication to the defensive end of the floor allow him to grow into a defender who can play a team-centric defensive scheme while also being a terrifying isolation defender? Will he be able to add weight to his lanky frame to handle stronger wings on both ends of the floor?

Watson has a long ways to go, but it is hard not to be excited about his approach to the game, his growth over four Summer League games, and the physical gifts he brings to the table. His Summer League performances thus far might be a mixed bag, but Watson looks like he belongs and his upside can be scary if things break right.

The Kamagate selection in the second round was puzzling to some, but the Nuggets who had him in the 20s on their big board entering draft night according to one source were excited to grab Kamagate even if he is expected to play next season overseas.

Kamagate stands six-foot-11 and weighs in over 220 pounds while possessing above average athleticism as a vertical athlete and mobility laterally when defending on the perimeter. He rolls hard to the rim and finishes above the rim. He is still sanding down his skillset and adding in more passing on the short roll, but it is hard to avoid just how good he could be in a year or two.

The Nuggets only have DeAndre Jordan as a true backup center on the roster with Zeke Nnaji, Jeff Green or Vlatko Cancar filling in for a smaller lineup. Greens contract is up after this year as is Jordans. The Nuggets will need an affordable backup center next year and if Kamagates Summer League performance is any evidence of what is to come, he should be in the mix to take over that role.

There was little doubt that Gillespie would be able to help a NBA team despite going undrafted. Yes, he was a five-year point guard at Villanova so he is older and his upside is not exactly immense, but what he does have is a complete understanding of how he can help his team win basketball games and a willingness fulfill his role as well as he possibly can.

In Las Vegas with the Nuggets, Gillespie has been asked to create offense with a roster full of non-creators which is not easy. This group has only been playing together since the start of July, a whole whopping two weeks ago, and every creation burden rests squarely on Gillespies shoulders. Braun has been a bad-to-horrible creator during Summer League. Watson has had some flashes, but generally has struggled. Matt Mitchell has done a little creating like Watson, but cannot be relied on. Kamagate is no where near a creator. Despite that, Gillespie is averaging over four assists and only 1.5 turnovers per game through four games.

On top of that, Gillespie has stacked up eight steals and blocks combined in four games, is scoring over 11 points per game despite being asked to create shots for everyone else and has rebounded extremely well as a point guard. Gillespie might not become a starter at any point in his career, but no matter what team he is on, he can be depended on to play mistake-free and unselfish basketball. That is what Denver needs from him as a two-way contract player and that is exactly what he has given them in Las Vegas.

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How have the Nuggets draft night additions fared in Summer League? - Denver Stiffs

Jul 13, 2022

Kristen Shilton

Greg Wyshynski

The opening hours of NHL free agency did not bring us an answer as to where Nazem Kadri and John Klingberg would be skating in 2022-23, but there was no shortage of money being doled out elsewhere. Plus, we were treated to some blockbuster trades, as the Carolina Hurricanes added Brent Burns and Max Pacioretty in separate swaps and Johnny Gaudreau landed with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Whose offseason is off the best start? Which teams haven't done so well so far? And who are the best remaining players left for teams to add before the fall?

More: Tracker | GradesTrade grades: Burns, Pacioretty, moreDraft recap: Every pick | Takeaways

General manager Steve Yzerman put in work on Wednesday, signing a haul of good players on solid contracts.

Let's run back the list of key additions: Andrew Copp (five years, $5.625 million AAV), Ben Chiarot (four years, $4.75 million AAV), David Perron (two years, $4.75 million AAV) and Dominik Kubalik (two years, $2.5 million AAV). That's a fine foursome of players in their own right, and Yzerman has to be pleased about how they'll complement the Red Wings' current group of young talent.

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Chiarot has a chance to pair up with Calder Trophy winner Moritz Seider, who will undoubtedly elevate Chiarot's game. Perron had a career season with the St. Louis Blues in 2021-22 and will be a versatile middle-six piece for the Red Wings. Copp is a Michigan native excited to be joining his hometown team after a successful post-trade tenure with the New York Rangers (18 points in 16 games). And Kubalik? He's a former 30-goal scorer who didn't receive a qualifying offer from Chicago. The 26-year-old will be motivated to prove he's still got it.

The newcomers up front will join Lucas Raymond, Tyler Bertuzzi and Dylan Larkin to make the Red Wings look suddenly much more formidable. That could also go a long way in keeping Larkin and Bertuzzi interested in remaining with the Red Wings long-term. Both players are unrestricted free agents after the 2022-23 season and Yzerman is obviously showing that Detroit won't be a pushover in the stacked Atlantic Division. Will that help get Larkin and Bertuzzi extended sooner? There's been some rough seasons recently for the Red Wings but winning helps everything.

Yzerman's moves on Wednesday will make Detroit far more competitive, exciting and potentially explosive for the coming season (and beyond). -- Shilton

The Avalanche aren't done winning.

On a day where most teams are scouring the open market for players to add, the reigning Stanley Cup champions went big on taking care of their own. Josh Manson is back on a four-year deal, Artturi Lehkonen got a new five-year pact and Darren Helm returns on a one-year contract. Add that to what general manager Joe Sakic did previously -- inking Valeri Nichushkin for eight more seasons -- and it's been a fantastic start to free agency for Colorado.

What Sakic did so seamlessly was prioritize. He let goaltender Darcy Kuemper walk (right on into a five-year deal with the Washington Capitals) by acquiring (and signing) Alexandar Georgiev for the next three seasons. Andre Burakovsky moved on to Seattle and Nazem Kadri is likely to sign elsewhere as well, but Sakic was strategic in who to keep and how much to pay, so that Colorado can chase another Cup.

It doesn't feel like the Avalanche took a step back at all despite the talent they will lose from their most recent playoff roster. Sakic has a great feel for his group and proved it again in how he's worked through free agency. -- Shilton

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Brian Boucher says the Capitals have more work to do in free agency and breaks down the Darcy Kuemper signing.

The Hurricanes came to play on free agency's opening day. They're a much better team for it.

First, Carolina acquired Brent Burns (and forward Lane Pederson) from San Jose in exchange for forward Steven Lorentz, goaltender Eetu Makiniemi and a conditional third-round pick in 2023 draft. They had the Sharks retain 34% of Burns salary in the swap, too.

That's a difference-making move for the Hurricanes' blue line. Carolina needed to replace Tony DeAngelo on the right side, and Burns is an elite offensive defenseman. He'll add good depth and puck-moving ability to Carolina's attack. Plus, he's no slouch in the production department, with 10 goals and 44 assists last season.

Carolina's other Grade-A move came later in the afternoon when they reeled in Max Pacioretty from Vegas for basically nothing (no, really ... the deal was for future considerations). The Hurricanes wanted more scoring depth, especially after they struggled to generate in that respect throughout the postseason. Vegas' cap issues forced it into moving Pacioretty's $7 million hit, and the Hurricanes jumped at a chance to bring in a regular 20-plus goal scorer who will have an immediate impact on their team up front.

Plus, the Hurricanes got defenseman Dylan Coghlan as part of the deal and he's a promising one to watch down the road.

Burns and Pacioretty will bring a better dimension to Carolina's lineup, and the team didn't have to give up much to make it happen. That's tidy work by general manager Don Waddell. -- Shilton

Columbus really, really wanted it some Erik Gudbranson.

The veteran blueliner cashed in with a four-year, $16 million contract from the Blue Jackets. That's a large investment by Columbus in a 30-year-old defenseman that tallied a career-high 17 points in 78 games last season.

Granted, Gudbranson is not an offensive defenseman. He's a physical, grinding player, he can kill penalties and he's a right-handed shot who will bolster that position for the Blue Jackets. General manager Jarmo Kekalainen said adding "size and toughness" to the blue line was a priority, which Gudbranson does. And Columbus has got some young players who may benefit from Gudbranson's experience. These are all positive things.

But the real winner here is Gudbranson's bank account. He made $1.95 million last season in Calgary. This is a somewhat jaw-dropping raise over that total. Will Gudbranson be worth Columbus' stake (in dollars or terms)? Plenty of time to judge that later. Today, Gudbranson has to be feeling really good. -- Shilton

There were some easy wins today.

One day after Lindblom was waived for the purposes of a contract buyout by Philadelphia, the cancer survivor signed a two-year, $5 million deal with the San Jose Sharks.

The Flyers donated $100,000 to a local cancer charity while parting ways with Lindblom. The reality is Lindblom's cancer battle has slowed his play on the ice. Philadelphia needed to create cap space to have any hope of landing Johnny Gaudreau. Sometimes the NHL really is a business.

To see Lindblom land so quickly on his feet was awesome. Lindblom was a 17-goal scorer in 2018-19 and on track to be a regular top-six presence in Philadelphia.

Since being declared cancer-free last year, Lindblom can now focus on reestablishing his game and he'll get to do that now with the Sharks on a good deal. Love that for him.

And then there's Marchment. Last week, Marchment lost his father Bryan when the 53-year-old died unexpectedly at the NHL draft in Montreal. While reeling from that devastating personal loss, Marchment was navigating a pivotal professional moment. The 27-year-old had a career season in Florida (47 points in 54 games) and this was his chance to capitalize as a free agent. He did that by landing a four-year, $18 million deal with Dallas. It'll be a fresh start for Marchment and shows how far he's come from being undrafted and appearing in just 34 NHL games total prior to last season.

There's no question dad would be proud. -- Shilton

If Flyers fans were frustrated with the direction of the team before free agency started, it's hard to imagine how they're feeling now.

GM Chuck Fletcher had talked about an aggressive retool of his team, rather than a rebuild. When the Flyers traded for defenseman Tony DeAngelo and signed him to a two-year deal, it looked like a harbinger of that plan. But then Wednesday arrived with the Flyers having an excellent shot at the biggest prize on the market: winger Johnny Gaudreau, who grew up in South Jersey as a Flyers fan. There was mutual interest. What there wasn't was cap space, and Fletcher said the price to create any more of it for the only franchise player on the market was too high.

"We don't have the space to pursue those high-end free agents," he said. "You have to move multiple contracts. In some cases it's hard to move players and in other cases there are players you don't want to move."

In the same breath, Fletcher said the Flyers have good forward depth but "we'd like to get more high-end skill." Huh, if only there were a forward that fit that description on the open market who probably had black and orange pajamas...

From a roster perspective, there wasn't a Plan B. The Flyers tried to improve a lackluster defense by running back Justin Braun, who was a part of it last season. They signed Nicolas Deslauriers, a punchy grit guy that new coach John Tortorella will love. But the closest thing they had to a Plan B was downshifting expectations from an aggressive retool to a "wait and see" season that will determine their timeline.

"We'll find out this season," Fletcher said. "We'll see how we progress. We'll see which players can be a part of our future. There's a lot we need to learn about our group. Going into next offseason, we'll have more cap space than we had this offseason."

That's not exactly a quote for the season ticket brochure. -- Wyshynski

It's difficult to put the Flames in this category. As GM Brad Treliving said, they did everything they could to retain Gaudreau, putting an offer on the table that was eight years long and well north of $10 million annually. They wanted him back. They thought he wanted to come back. Until about 48 hours before free agency started, it looked like they might have been right. Until they weren't.

"We did everything possible to keep John here," Treliving said. "It's my strong belief that this is a family decision, and I respect that fully. He gave eight great years here, with a lot of memories. The hard part of this business is that we have to move on."

They didn't move on ... yet. Wednesday passed without the Flames addressing the offense that walked out the door with Gaudreau. Treliving talked about not making any hasty moves in reaction to this shocking news. That's understandable. Maybe in a week, we're reevaluating their offseason and their not spending that money on Gaudreau ends up looking like a happy accident.

But for now, the Flames look like a team who had an opportunity to win the Stanley Cup last season, lost in five humbling games to their archrivals from Edmonton and now could end up losing Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk in consecutive offseasons. Life comes at you fast. -- Wyshynski

The Golden Knights traded left wing Max Pacioretty to the Hurricanes for what amounts to a bag of air. They had to clear his $7 million cap hit in order to get under the ceiling and sign forward Reilly Smith to a contract they had promised him.

That they traded Pacioretty for nothing might be understandable from a certain point of view, given that he's an unrestricted free agent next summer. Except when this kind of move has come to define the Golden Knights, it's almost embarrassing:

They tried to trade Evgenii Dadonov to Anaheim with a draft pick sweetener for two injured players. When that trade fell apart, they traded him to Montreal for Shea Weber's contract.

They traded Marc-Andre Fleury for Mikael Hakkarainen, an ECHLer now playing overseas.

They traded Nate Schmidt to Vancouver for a third-round pick.

They traded Paul Stastny for a fourth-round pick and Carl Dahlstrom. And so on.

Sure, the flat cap deserves some blame, but the flat cap was there when they broke the bank for Jack Eichel's contract. This is just atrocious asset management and it goes beyond these sell-offs. Please recall they traded a first-, second- and third-round pick for Tomas Tatar, traded him, a second-rounder and Nick Suzuki (!) in a package for Pacioretty and then just traded Pacioretty to Carolina for nothing.

If this was a casino table game, they'd be walking away by now. -- Wyshynski

There were some teams that made out well in the goaltending market. The Capitals found a legit starter in Stanley Cup champion Darcy Kuemper. The Oilers found a good goalie in Jack Campbell. Both the Red Wings and Senators improved their tandems. Heck, the Sabres might have had one of the low key best signings of the day in Eric Comrie for two seasons.

Then there were teams that tried to get on the carousel, hit their faces on a porcelain horse and fell off the ride. It started with the Wild, who re-signed Marc-Andre Fleury and managed to anger Cam Talbot to the point where GM Bill Guerin felt the need to trade him to Ottawa to avoid "drama" next season. That came four days after praising the duo as a key to the Wild's success. "My goal is to win," Guerin said. "If we have Cam Talbot or Marc-Andre Fleury in the net, we have a pretty good chance."

Now they have Fleury, who turns 38 in November, paired with Filip Gustavsson, who has played 27 NHL games. That's not just a downgrade, it's a risk.

But the roughest fall off the carousel remains the Maple Leafs. Two years ago, they had Frederik Andersen and Jack Campbell. Last season, they had Campbell with an oft-injured Petr Mrazek. Now, they have an oft-injured reclamation project in Matt Murray and Ilya Samsonov, whom the Capitals didn't qualify as a restricted free agent despite being a 25-year-old former first-round pick.

"They're both young enough that we'll give them the runway here and see if they can become the long-term solution in net," Leafs GM Kyle Dubas said.

As for not getting the Senators to pick up more than 25% of Murray's contract? "We'd love to have pushed for more and done a better deal," Dubas replied. "But it was either make that deal or move on elsewhere, and we elected to make the deal."

It's astounding that the Leafs are staking their Stanley Cup chances, and Dubas likely his job, on a battery of Murray and Samsonov. But that's what happens when you can't hop on the carousel at the right moment. They're not the only team that couldn't. -- Wyshynski

The Chicago Blackhawks aren't doing a rebuild. They're doing a controlled demolition, like when they detonate a decrepit building and it falls to the ground in a cloud of debris.

The NHL hasn't seen anything like this: It's not aged veterans that are being shipped out, but players like Alex DeBrincat, Kirby Dach and Brandon Hagel that are in that "part of the solution, not part of the problem" age bracket. But the Blackhawks traded all three, while bringing on stop-gaps like Andreas Athanasiou and Max Domi on one-year deals that all but portend their getting flipped for draft picks at the trade deadline.

What are Kane, Toews and Jones thinking about all of this?

Agent Pat Brisson told TSN's Pierre LeBrun that the three star players, who all have no-movement clauses, are waiting to make the "best decisions as it pertains to the respective careers." But that overall "they're not necessarily in agreement with the direction of the team."

Toews and Kane are in the last years of their contracts. Jones, famously, has eight years on his. Do they somehow stick through this rebuild or ask out? Because the Blackhawks are in total tank mode. -- Wyshynski

Can it be anything else other than Gaudreau to the Blue Jackets?

The week began with the Flames giving Gaudreau eight-year contract proposals with average annual values of over $10 million. They thought they had a shot to keep him. But Gaudreau informed them that he was moving on.

When he hit the market on Wednesday, the Flyers, New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders lined up for him. Yet there were rumblings that the Blue Jackets could enter the fray as a stealth option. In the end, they won the derby with a contract that averaged $9.75 million annually -- under the $10 million AAV threshold and lower than other teams' offers.

The Blue Jackets were expected to be aggressive this offseason. They were in on Ryan McDonagh before the Lightning traded him to the Predators. They were looking around at moves during the draft. In the end, they made the biggest splash of any team in the offseason in landing Gaudreau. Suddenly, a team with a two-year playoff drought that punched above its weight last season has a legit superstar on its roster.

Columbus doesn't usually win these derbies. But fire the canon, because they won this one. -- Wyshynski

Some big fish still remain in the NHL free agent seas.

Nazem Kadri and John Klingberg remained unrestricted free agents hours after the bell rang at noon that allowed them to sign anywhere.

While their final destinations are unknown, some details have emerged about where those players won't be headed. Colorado appears to be out on Kadri after using ample cap space on other extensions. And Dallas doesn't seem to be the front-runner to retain Klingberg.

It could be that the lack of a landing spot for the top three UFAs remaining has had a ripple effect on other players waiting to be signed. That list includes Dylan Strome, Nino Niederreiter, P.K. Subban and Phil Kessel. How quickly will deals for those skaters materialize once the other dominoes fall? Will they be connected? Those are questions we're all waiting to be answered. -- Shilton

Claude Giroux to Ottawa was a big one for me. The Senators have had a nice offseason so far bringing in Alex DeBrincat, moving Matt Murray and now landing Giroux.

The veteran might be 34 but he's got so much left to offer, and he'll inject that franchise with much-needed optimism for the future. It's not like Giroux can immediately turn Ottawa into a Stanley Cup contender, but he will help it build toward being a playoff team. Plus, Giroux is from the area, and who doesn't love a local-boy-makes-good story? -- Shilton

Frank Vatrano to Anaheim really didn't get much attention, but he'll be a great addition to the lineup.

The Ducks have a ton of highly skilled talent up front already, and Vatrano will put some weight behind them with a grittier, more physical game that also includes some goal-scoring prowess. Vatrano had a strong postseason with the Rangers (13 points in 20 games) and if he continues to channel that, then Anaheim just got a versatile player for its middle six for less than $4 million per season. -- Shilton

See more here:
2022 NHL free agency - Winners and losers of Day 1, plus the best remaining players - ESPN