NHL SET FOR VIRTUAL DRAFT; LAFRENIERE NO. 1
Alexis Lafreniere was supposed to hear his name called in front of family, friends and an adoring crowd inside Montreal’s Bell Centre.
The presumptive top pick in the 2020 NHL Draft from Quebec would then climb on stage, shake hands with Commissioner Gary Bettman and pull on the jersey of his new team — presumably the New York Rangers.
The pandemic, however, took care of that.
The draft originally was scheduled for June 26 and 27. Instead, the league this week will hold a pared-down draft by video conference. The first round is today, with rounds two through seven on Wednesday.
“It’s been a pretty long (wait),” Lafreniere said. “It’s coming pretty soon.”
The Rangers beat the odds and won the second phase of the lottery in August, setting them up to take the flashy winger.
Things should get more interesting once the Los Angeles Kings are on the clock, likely choosing between center Quinton Byfield of the Ontario Hockey League’s Sudbury Wolves or winger Tim Stuetzle from Germany’s top pro division.
More NHL
The Edmonton Oilers said Connor McDavid tested positive for COVID-19. The team said the star forward is selfquarantining at home and experiencing mild symptoms. The 23-year-old McDavid is widely considered the best player in the NHL.
The Minnesota Wild traded goalie Devan Dubnyk and forward Ryan Donato to the San Jose Sharks for draft picks in two separate deals, continuing their makeover under General Manager Bill Guerin.
The Flyers signed defenseman Justin Braun to a two- year contract at an annual average of $1.8 million.
The Jack Johnson experiment is over in Pittsburgh. The Penguins placed the 33-yearold defenseman on waivers so they can buy out the remaining three years of the deal he signed with the club in 2018.
College football
Arizona coach Kevin Sumlin tested positive for COVID-19 less than a week before the team begins its preseason practices. The school said in a statement that the 56-year-old Sumlin received back-to-back positive tests and has entered selfisolation.
Kansas State coach Chris Klieman agreed to a contract extension through the 2026 season. He will be paid base salaries of $3.1 million next season, $3.5 million in 2022, $4 million in 2023 and $4.3 million each year from 2024 to 2026.
Soccer
Manchester United bolstered its attacking options by signing free agent Edinson Cavani before the extended summer transfer window closed. The 33-year-old striker scored 200 goals in 301 games during seven years at Paris Saint-Germain but he left at the end of his contract in June.
• Everton is the surprise Premier League leader after winning four out of four. And after remodeling his midfield to great effect, Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti added a defender by bringing in Ben Godfrey from second-tier Norwich for a reported 25 million pounds ($32 million).
• French champion Paris Saint-Germain signed midfielder Danilo Pereira from Porto on a season-long loan.
• Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson will replace injured Liverpool stopper Alisson in Brazil’s squad for its two opening World Cup qualifiers.
Death
A former major league pitcher was found dead from a self-inf licted gunshot wound after he was identified by authorities as a suspect in the killing of his former girlfriend in Arizona, authorities said. Police found the body of the retired pitcher, 37-year-old Charles Haeger — a former Padre and Dodger, among other teams — Saturday along a trail at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon in Northern Arizona, Sgt. Ben Hoster of the Scottsdale Police Department said in a statement.