Blackhawks getting younger
General manager Stan Bowman promised changes were coming after the Chicago Blackhawks were swept in the first round of the playoffs. Now, he’s delivering.
Chicago reacquired Brandon Saad and parted with Niklas Hjalmarsson and Artemi Panarin in two surprising trades Friday, giving the Blackhawks a younger look and more cost certainty.
Bowman traded forwards Panarin and Tyler Motte and Chicago’s sixth-round selection in this weekend’s NHL draft to Columbus for Saad, goaltender Anton Forsberg and a fifth-round draft pick next year. The deal was announced less than an hour after Hjalmarsson was traded to Arizona for defenseman Connor Murphy and forward Laurent Dauphin.
“I certainly like the fact that we’re getting younger,” Bowman said.
The Washington Capitals re-signed right winger T.J. Oshie to a $46-million, eight-year contract.
Jordan Spieth played well enough in the second round of the Travelers Championship to stay in the lead at Cromwell, Conn. Rory McIlroy played just well enough to stay in the tournament. Spieth shot a one-under 69 on Friday morning, then watched as a windy afternoon kept anyone from overtaking him. His total of 132 kept him in front by one stroke.
The conditions kept fourth-ranked Jason Day from making the cut for a second straight week. He bogeyed the 18th for a 70 to finish at two over. No. 3 McIlroy shot a 73, also closing with a bogey, but managed to just sneak into the weekend at even par.
Patrick Reed (66) and Troy Merritt (68) were tied for second. Chase Seiffert made two eagles and finished with a 66 to reach six under. Wesley Bryan (67), Daniel Summerhays (68) and Boo Weekley (68) also were six under.
Paul Broadhurst shot a nine-under 63 to take a two-stroke lead in the PGA Tour Champions’ American Family Insurance Open in Madison, Wis. Brian Henninger had a 65, and Steve Stricker joined Kenny Perry and Billy Andrade at 66.
A Michigan judge ordered a longtime doctor at Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics to stand trial on charges of sexually assaulting six young gymnasts who said he molested them while they were seeking treatment for various injuries. Judge Donald Allen Jr. made his decision after hearing testimony from the alleged victims over two days and watching a campus police interview of Dr. Larry Nassar. It is one of four Michigan criminal cases against Nassar.
John Hunter Nemechek raced to his second straight NASCAR Camping World Truck victory, passing leader Johnny Sauter with six laps left Friday night at Iowa Speedway in Newton. Sauter finished second.