IBRAHIMOVIC WILL MISS ALL-STAR GAME, CONTEST VS. RAPIDS
ATLANTA» Galaxy forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic will remain in Los Angeles rather than play in Wednesday night’s Major League Soccer All-Star Game against Juventus.
In an announcement Monday, Ibrahimovic cited the grind of playing three matches in the past week as well as the cross-country trip to face the club he played for from 2004-06.
Per MLS rules, Ibrahimovic will have to sit out the Galaxy’s next league match at Colorado on Saturday.
The 36-year-old Swede got his first MLS hat trick on Sunday night, scoring the tying and go-ahead goals in a 4-3 victory over Orlando City. He has 15 goals since his debut with LA this season.
New York City FC forward David Villa also will miss the All-Star Game after missing six games with a knee injury.
Ibrahimovic and Villa were replaced on the MLS roster by Minnesota forward Darwin Quintero and New York Red Bulls midfielder Tyler Adams.
Hawks waive ex-Nugget Anthony.
ATLANTA» The Atlanta Hawks waived Carmelo Anthony, making official the move that was expected when the 10-time all-star and longtime Nugget was traded from Oklahoma City this month.
The 34-year-old Anthony may now sign with another team as a free agent. He averaged 16.2 points with Oklahoma City this season.
The Hawks acquired Anthony, a protected 2022 first-round draft pick from Oklahoma City and Justin Anderson from the Philadelphia 76ers in the three-team trade July 19.
In that deal, the Hawks traded forward-center Mike Muscala to Philadelphia and point guard Dennis Schroder to Oklahoma City. Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot was traded from Philadelphia to Oklahoma City.
Iginla officially retires at “home.”
CALGARY» Jarome Iginla closed his 20-year NHL career in the city where he was the face of the franchise.
The 41-year-old winger made his retirement official in Calgary, where he spent 16 seasons with the Flames.
Iginla entertained a packed news conference at Scotiabank Saddledome with humorous stories about his career and teammates.
He’s the Flames all-time leader in goals with 525. The captain for his last decade in Calgary also scored the most points and played the most games.
While a Stanley Cup eluded the likely Hall of Famer during his career, he was a dominant power forward in the NHL. Iginla played most of his final three seasons with the Avalanche, but his last 19 games were with the Los Angeles Kings.
Predators retain Salomaki.
TENN.» The Nashville NASHVILLE,
Predators signed restricted free agent Miikka Salomaki to a two-year deal worth $750,000 in each of the next two seasons.
The Predators announced the $1.5 million deal for the forward Monday.
Salomaki, 25, played 58 games last season for the Predators with two goals and six assists. He ranked fourth with 114 hits last season and blocked a career-high 35 shots. The 5-foot-11, 203-pound Salomaki also has the fourth-most hits for the Predators since 2015-16 with 299.
Originally the 52nd selection overall in the 2011 entry draft, the native of Raahe, Finland, has played 125 games since making his NHL debut Jan. 8, 2015.
Rangers sign Hayes.
The New York Rangers agreed to a $5,175,000, one-year deal with restricted free agent Kevin Hayes.
The deal means New York avoided arbitration with three players who filed. Forward Jimmy Vesey signed a $4.55 million, two-year contract last Tuesday, and defenseman Brady Skjei agreed to a $31.5 million, sixyear deal Saturday.