Marleau set free from ’Canes, is San Jose the next stop?
Patrick Marleau may have just moved another giant step closer to returning to the San Jose Sharks.
The Carolina Hurricanes bought out Marleau’s contract on Thursday, five days after acquiring the 39-yearold from the Toronto Maple Leafs in a salary dump move, the News & Observer in Raleigh, North Carolina, reported.
Marleau has been vocal about returning to San Jose, where he spent the first 19 years of his NHL career and was beloved by teammates and fans alike. Marleau’s desire to come back to the Sharks helped fuel the trade to Carolina, which took on the $6.25 million cap hit from the last year of his deal in exchange for both a conditional first-round NHL draft pick next year as well as a seventhround choice.
After attempting to see if Marleau would be open to play in Carolina, the Hurricanes decided to buy out his contract, which paves the way to resigning with the Sharks.
However, while Marleau’s family (wife and four children) is moving back to the South Bay regardless of where he plays his next NHL season, there’s still no definitive word on the level of the Sharks’ interest. Marleau had his worst statistical full season since his 1997 rookie year in San Jose, scoring just 37 points (16 goals, 21 assists) for the Maple Leafs, but he’s still valuable even if a third- or fourth-line forward.
First things first. San Jose has some cap issues itself that are complicating negotiations with its own free agents like Joe Pavelski, Joonas Donskoi and Gustav Nyquist, all of whom the Sharks would like to retain in a perfect world. Marleau wouldn’t seem to command much more than a minimum deal from the Sharks.
The Hurricanes will pay off Marleau’s $3 million remaining from his signing bonus in Toronto as well as two-thirds of his base salary of $1.25 million divided over the next two years ($416,667 per season), according to CapFriendly.com. Thus, Marleau would still be in line to receive his same $4.25 million salary this coming season if the Sharks only paid him a little more than the $650,000 league minimum.
With the recent retirement of Florida Panthers goaltender Roberto Luongo, Marleau (second overall pick) and the Sharks’ Joe Thornton (top overall pick) are the only players still active fromthe 1997 draft.
NBA
CELTICS REPORTED FAVORITE FOR WALKER » The Boston Celtics are expected to make All- Star guard Kemba Walker a four-year, $141 million contract offer when free agency opens Sunday, according to published reports. Walker, who spent his first eight seasons in the league with the Charlotte Hornets, is expected to accept the offer, according to the reports. In Boston, Walker would replace Kyrie Irving, who is expected to sign elsewhere. The 29-year- old Connecticut product averaged 25.6 points and 5.9 assists while starting all 82 games for the Hornets last season.
• The Celtics will hire former WNBA and Olympic champion Kara Lawson as an assistant coach, according to reports. Lawson, 38, has been a TV analyst for ESPN and the Washington Wizards. LAKERS REWORK TRADE, GAIN CAP SPACE » The Los Angeles Lakers reworked their trade for Anthony Davis to clear enough cap space to sign a free agent to a max deal, according to multiple reports.
The Lakers expanded their pending deal with the New Orleans Pelicans by adding the Washington Wizards, whowill receive center MoWagner, guard Isaac Bonga and forward Jemerrio Jones, as well as a future second-round pick, from Los Angeles, according to ESPN. The Wizards will send the Pelicans $1.1million, the Washington Post reported.
Davis also agreed to waive his $4 million trade bonus, giving the team $32million for the free agency period.
• LeBron James is set to give his No. 23 to Davis, according to Yahoo Sports. The NBA has been told of the planned change, according to the report.
What number James will pick with the Lakers is up in the air.
Golf
LASHLEY ROCKETS TO TOP IN DETROIT » Nate Lashley birdied the final three holes and five of the last six for a 9-under 63 and the first-round lead in the Rocket Mortgage Classic, the PGA Tour’s first event in Detroit. The 36-year- old Lashley had the lowest score in his PGATour career, a day after getting a spot at Detroit Golf Club as an alternate. Ranked 353rd in the world and No. 132 in the FedEx Cup standings, Lashley’s only top-10 finish in his two-year PGA Tour career is a tie for eighth in the Puerto Rico Open in February.
Ryan Armour and Nick Watney were at stroke back at 64.
Dustin Johnson, the second-ranked player in the world, opened with a 71. Gary Woodland had a 73 in his first start since winning the U.S. Open. STRICKER, TOMS SHARE U. S. SENIOR OPEN LEAD » Steve Stricker made his U.S. Senior Open debut with an eagle on the 17th hole for an 8-under 62 to share the lead with defending champion David Toms on a soft Warren Golf Course at Notre Dame, Indiana.
Toms set a U. S. Senior Open record with 10 birdies, finishing with four in a row for a 29 on the backnine. Jerry Kelly, whowon on the PGA Tour Champions event last week, and Kirk Triplett were at 64, one shot ahead of a group that included Vijay Singh.
High school basketball
“HOOPDREAMS” COACH DIES » The winningest boys basketball coach in Illinois history who gained national attention when he appeared in the 1994 documentary “Hoop Dreams” has died. Gene Pingatore was 83. Ronald Hoover, principal at St. Joseph High School in Westchester, says Pingatore died Wednesday at home.
At the time of hisdeath, hewas preparing for his 51st season coaching at the suburban Chicago school.
Pingatore’s teams won two state championships, advanced to the state finals six times and won 13 sectional titles.
Pingatore coached three McDonald’s All-Americans: Daryl Thomas, Deryl Cunningham and Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas.
Tennis
AMERICAN GAUFF, 15, QUALIFIES FOR WIMBLEDON » Cori Gauff became the youngest player in the professional era to survive the Wimbledon qualifying draw as the 15-year- old American thrashed Belgium’s Greet Minnen 6-1 6-1 to seal her place in next week’s main draw.
Gauff, who won the French Open junior title in 2018, was given a wild card into the Wimbledon qualifying event and took advantage in spectacular fashion. She will be the first 15-year- old in the main draw since Britain’s Laura Robson in 2009.