Big deals on night of NHL draft

NHL player moves were happening fast and furious leading up to the start of the draft Thursday night in Montreal, with many being made by teams that have won the Stanley Cup over the last decade.

The draft began after this edition went to print.

The Blackhawks made a big splash when they traded winger Alex DeBrincat to the Senators for the seventh and 39th picks this year and a third-rounder in 2024. Long since winning championships in 2010, 2013 and 2015, the rebuilding Blackhawks were expected to move on from DeBrincat, who has one year left on his contract at a salary cap hit of $6.4 million.

DeBrincat, 24, set career highs last season with 41 goals, 37 assists and 78 points.

The reigning Cup champion Avalanche also made a trade to shore up their goaltending situation and ensure Cup-winning Darcy Kuemper won’t be returning and will instead hit the open market when free agency opens. They acquired goaltender Alexandar Georgiev from the Rangers for third- and fifth-round picks this year and a third-rounder next year.

The Avalanche can now pair Georgiev, who needs a new contract as a restricted free agent, with Pavel Francouz as they try to defend their third Cup in franchise history.

The Penguins, who won it all back to back in 2016 and ’17, re-signed veteran defenseman Kris Letang, 36, to a six-year, $36.6 million contract that carries a $6.1 million annual salary cap hit.

Golf: Alex Cejka birdied two of the final three holes for a 6-under 64 and a two-stroke lead at the Senior Players Championship in Akron, Ohio. The 51-year-old Czech-born German is chasing his third senior major title after winning the Tradition and Senior PGA last year. David Toms was second (66).

WNBA: Sabrina Ionescu had 31 points in the highest-scoring triple-double in WNBA history and tied Candace Parker’s league record of three triple-doubles in the Liberty’s 116-107 victory over the Aces on Wednesday night in Las Vegas. Ionescu also had 13 rebounds and 10 assists. She hit a career-high seven 3-pointers in eight tries and was 10 of 13 from the field overall. The third-year pro has two triple-doubles this season.