Top free agent Gaudreau signs with Blue Jackets
A hectic start to the NHL’s free-agency period Wednesday closed with the Columbus Blue Jackets landing the highestprofile player: “Johnny Hockey.”
Johnny Gaudreau cashed in on a career season by signing a $68.25 million, seven-year contract with Columbus a day after turning down an eight-year deal to stay in Calgary.
The 28-year-old finished tied for second in the NHL with a careerbest 115 points and 40 goals last season.
Elsewhere, Claude Giroux is set to enjoy a homecoming in Ottawa, the Washington Capitals landed Stanley Cupwinning goaltender Darcy Kuemper and the New York Rangers made a major splash by signing versatile center Vincent Trocheck.
The day also included a major trade involving 2017 Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Brent Burns, who is headed to Carolina with forward Lane Pederson from San Jose for two players and a third-round pick.
CYCLING Vingegaard leads as Pogacar fades
The first big mountain stage shook things up at the Tour de France as defending champion Tadej Pogacar wilted toward the end of the 11th stage and lost the yellow jersey.
Jonas Vingegaard and his team JumboVisma were the big winners on the stage as the Danish rider claimed the famed jersey from Pogacar, the two-time defending champion who had been the dominant rider so far but cracked in the final ascent and fell more than 2 minutes behind.
Vingegaard moved away from Pogacar in the brutal climb to the top of the Col du Granon to enjoy a winning finish to an epic day in the Alps.
It was Vingegaard’s first stage win at cycling’s biggest race. The Danish rider was runner-up last year behind Pogacar.
“When I attacked, I felt he was going to crack,“Vingegaard said.
Vingegaard was first at the summit, 59 seconds ahead of Nairo Quintana, with Romain Bardet in third place, 1:10 behind.
After 11 stages, Vingegaard leads Bardet by 2 minutes, 16 seconds. Pogacar moved down to third, 2:22 back.
MISCELLANEOUS 10 Royals to miss series in Toronto
The Kansas City Royals will be without 10 of the 26 players on their active roster for their upcoming trip to Toronto due to Canadian restrictions on travelers who aren’t vaccinated against COVID-19. Manager Mike Matheny said the club will be without hitters Andrew Benintendi, Hunter Dozier, Cam Gallagher, Kyle Isbel, MJ Melendez, Whit Merrifield and Michael A. Taylor along with pitchers Dylan Coleman, Brad Keller and Brady Singer. …
Elsewhere: Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam teamed with Madelene Sagstrom to shoot a 5-under 65 in alternateshot play for a share of the first-round lead in the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational at Midland, Mich. They are tied with Pauline Roussin and Dewi Weber. The 51year-old Sorenstam is making her second LPGA Tour start of the season and only her third since retiring after the 2008 season. …
The Patriots traded 2019 first-round pick N’Keal Harry to Chicago for a seventh-round pick in 2024, ending a run in New England that never got going after the wide receiver missed half his rookie season with an ankle injury. Harry managed just 57 catches for 598 yards and four touchdowns in three seasons.