RANGERS ACQUIRE KANE FROM ’HAWKS
The New York Rangers acquired Patrick Kane in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday, reuniting the star winger with former teammate Artemi Panarin and stamping themselves as a Stanley Cup contender in the loaded Eastern Conference.
New York was believed to be out of the running for Kane after it acquired Vladimir Tarasenko from St. Louis on Feb. 9. Kane, 34, also had been noncommittal when asked about leaving his only NHL home.
But Kane loved playing with Panarin for two seasons at the beginning of the Russian winger’s NHL career, and the three-time Stanley Cup champion was in control of his situation because of a nomovement clause in his contract.
After days of rumors and salary cap maneuvering, the Rangers sent a conditional 2023 second-round pick, a 2025 fourth-rounder and minor-leaguer Andy Welinski to the rebuilding Blackhawks and received 24-year-old Cooper Zech. Arizona received a 2025 fifth-rounder from New York to retain 25 percent of Kane’s salary, with Chicago keeping 50 percent.
Kane could make his Rangers debut tonight at Philadelphia, the same place he scored the biggest goal of his NHL career: an overtime winner in Game 6 of the 2010 Stanley Cup Final, ending Chicago’s 49-year title drought.
He was in the middle of his best stretch of the season when he left the Blackhawks during their road trip amid the trade talks. He has seven goals and three assists during
a four-game point streak.
Locally
Asia Avinger scored 17 points to lead the San Diego State women’s basketball team (22-9, 12-6 MW) past Air Force (13-17, 8-10) on Senior Night.
Five members of the Cal State San Marcos women’s basketball team took home All-CCAA honors as Dynnah Buckner, Kelsey Forrester and Jordan Vasquez earned first-team accolades while Mina Tameilau was named to the second team and Charity Gallegos was an honorable mention.
Point Loma Nazarene first baseman Jakob Christian homered in his eighth straight game, which is just one short of tying the NCAA record, in an 18-1 victory over San Diego Christian.
PLNU’s Kaden Anderson and Luke Haupt were named to the All-PacWest first team in basketball. Anderson was conference player
of the year and Matt Logie was coach of the year after going 20-0 in conference.
Soccer
French soccer federation President Noel Le Graet resigned after a government audit found he no longer had the legitimacy to lead because of his behavior toward women and his management style.
Le Graet, 81, is under judicial investigation for alleged sexual and moral harassment. He had already stepped away from his duties until the audit’s findings were reviewed by the federation’s executive committee.
He submitted his resignation to a meeting of the executive committee Tuesday, according to a statement from the federation.
Phil Foden scored in each half and Kevin De Bruyne netted the other goal in Manchester City’s 3-0 win at second-tier Bristol City in the FA Cup to secure a place in the quarterfinals. Leicester was beaten 2-1 by second-tier Blackburn while Premier League teams Fulham and Brighton also advanced.
College football
College football administrators are looking at ways to reduce the number of plays in games in the name of player safety, with a tweak in clock operating procedures likely the first step.
The NCAA Football Rules Committee is meeting in Indianapolis this week, and recommendations it forwards and approved in the spring would take effect next season.
The issue has taken on urgency because some teams will be playing more games as the College Football Playoff expands. The playoff goes from four to 12 teams in the 2024-25 season.
Also
As expected, Rafael Nadal pulled out of the upcoming hard-court tournaments at Indian Wells and Miami because of the left hip flexor injury that has sidelined him since the Australian Open.
The rematch between undisputed women’s boxing champions Katie Taylor and
Amanda Serrano won’t take place as planned on May 20 because of a Serrano injury.
Jessie Diggins became the first American to win world championship gold in an individual cross country ski race, finishing 14 seconds in front of Sweden’s Frida Karlsson in Planica, Slovenia.
Bob Richards, a twotime U.S. Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, has died at age 97.