Devils acquire Meier in trade with Sharks
The New Jersey Devils have acquired Timo Meier from the San Jose Sharks, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.
The person told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade had not been announced. It was not immediately clear what San Jose sent New Jersey in exchange for the rugged forward under team control for at least next year.
Meier, a 26-year-old Swiss winger, has 31 goals and 21 assists in 57 games this season. He joins a playoff race with the Devils after the rival Rangers and Islanders each made moves to improve their stock.
Meier is a pending restricted free agent who could earn up to $10 million next season.
STARS ACQUIRE DADONOV >> The Dallas Stars acquired Evgenii Dadonov from the Montreal Canadiens for Denis Gurianov in a swap of Russian forwards designed to give the Central Division leaders an offensive boost.
Montreal is retaining half of Dadonov's $5 million salary cap hit for the rest of the season as part of the trade. That saves Dallas some money while it sheds Gurianov's $2.9 million.
Dadonov, 33, has 18 points in 50 games this season for Montreal, which is in the middle of a rebuild. He does have a track record of producing offense in the NHL.
Golf KIRK WINS HONDA CLASSIC >>
Chris Kirk waited nearly eight years to win a PGA Tour event again. Waiting one more hole was no problem.
Kirk stuck his approach to the par-5 18th to tapin range, and his birdie on the first hole of a playoff lifted him past Eric Cole for the victory at the Honda Classic.
Cole had a chance, playing his third shot from the sand to just outside of 10 feet for a birdie that would have extended the playoff. But it lipped out, and Kirk
nudged his ball in for his fifth career win — his first since prevailing at Colonial in 2015.
And he'll be the last Honda winner. The car company is ending its title sponsorship of the event after 42 years, with a new sponsor set to be in place — the PGA Tour hopes, anyway — in the coming weeks.
AMERICAN WINS LPGA >> American Lilia Vu rode a hot putter to claim her maiden LPGA crown with a one-shot victory over home favorite Natthakritta Vongtaveelap at the LPGA Thailand.
Trailing the local rookie by six strokes at the start of the day, 25-year-old Vu unleashed eight impressive birdies, including five straight from the eighth hole to end her campaign with an immaculate round of 8-under 64 for a 22-under 266 total at Siam Country Club Old Course.
NICKLAUS WANTS STRONGER FIELD >> Jack Nicklaus thinks the Honda Classic should have a chance at a stronger field because of looming changes to the PGA Tour, which he said would mean Pebble Beach getting elevated status and the tour going to Mexico before the Florida swing.
Nicklaus, appearing at the final round at PGA National, said a reworked schedule in 2024 will give South Florida's lone tour event — by whatever name it will be known — a chance at attracting higher-ranked players.
MLB MACHADO GETS HUGE DEAL >>
All-Star slugger Manny Machado has agreed to a new $350 million, 11-year contract that will keep him with the San Diego Padres through 2033, according to a person with knowledge of the deal.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because Machado must pass a physical before the deal, which was first reported by ESPN, is finalized. Machado was scheduled to bat second in the Padres' spring training game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.