Devils pick up Butcher
The New Jersey Devils landed college hockey’s top player by agreeing to sign defenseman Will Butcher to a two-year, $1.85 million contract.
The agreement announced by the Devils yesterday comes about two weeks after the University of Denver player became a free agent by turning down an opportunity to sign with the Colorado Avalanche before a deadline passed on
Aug. 15. The Avalanche selected Butcher in the fifth round of the 2013 draft.
Butcher received the maximum entry-level salary allowed under NHL rules, and he can reportedly also make an additional $850,000 in annual bonuses, which is also the maximum for rookie deals.
The 22-year-old Butcher had seven goals and a team-high 30 points in 43 games, leading Denver to the national title, and then becoming just the seventh defenseman to win the Hobey Baker Award, college hockey’s top honor.
Colleges: Alabama DE shot
Alabama defensive lineman Raekwon Davis was shot at a Tuscaloosa, Ala. bar early yesterday morning.
Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s spokesman Jason Powell said a 20-year-old was shot in the right leg while standing outside of Bar 17 early yesterday. Powell said in a statement the injury was minor, but he did not identify the victim, though the Tuscaloosa News later reported it was Davis that was shot.
Alabama coach Nick Saban said in a statement that Davis’ injury does not appear to be serious, but didn’t elaborate on what happened.
The top-ranked Crimson Tide opens Saturday against No.3 Florida State, and the 6-foot-7, 306-pound Davis is a potential starter . . . .
After seeing two starters move to the NFL, No. 9 Wisconsin has lost another linebacker with sophomore Zack Baun out for the year with a left foot injury.
Japan wins LL World Series
Tokyo Kitasuna blew open a close game with three home runs in the fourth inning, as the team from Japan beat Lukin, Texas, 12-2, to win the Little League World Series championship yesterday in South Williamsport, Pa.
Daisuke Hashimoto, Keitaro Miyahara and Natsuki Yajima homered, and Tsubasa Tomii buckled down after allowing two first-inning home runs, finishing with nine strikeouts in a game that was stopped in the bottom of the fifth inning after Japan went ahead by 10.
It’s the 11th time a team from Japan has won the LLWS, with Tokyo Kitasunaw taking three of the last six.
Xfinity first for Clements
Jeremy Clements battled Matt Tifft down the stretch at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis., before pulling away to the finish line after the two leaders spun out near the end of the second-to-last lap for his first career Xfinity Series victory.
The 32 year-old Clements recovered first from the spin and sped away on the last lap to capture the checkered flag for the first time in 256 Xfinity series races. Michael Annett passed Tifft to take second, 5.8 seconds behind Clements . . . .
Lewis Hamilton celebrated his record-equaling 68th pole position and his 200th career Formula One start with victory at the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, trimming championship leader Sebastian Vettel’s lead to seven points.
Misc.: Reds run rampant
Liverpool delivered a humiliating 4-0 beatdown of visiting Arsenal, as Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Daniel Sturridge scored in the English Premier League shocker. The Gunners didn’t even manage a single shot on goal.
Tottenham continued to struggle in its temporary home of Wembley, as Chris Wood scored in stoppage time to give Burnley a 1-1 draw.
Also, Chelsea posted a 2-0 win over Everton on goals by Cesc Fabregas and Alvaro Morata, while West Bromwich Albion’s perfect start ended with a 1-1 draw to Stoke — leaving Manchester United alone in first . ...
Host Real Madrid needed a late goal by Marco Asensio to take a 2-2 draw against Valencia in Spain’s La Liga . ...
The coach of Adelina Sotnikova said the Olympic figure skating champion will not defend her title at next year’s Winter Games in Pyeongchang because of injury . ...
Chris Froome moved to the front in the final climb to El Poble Nou de Benitatxell to win the ninth stage of the Spanish Vuelta and increase his overall lead to 36 seconds over Esteban Chaves.