The Sabres are riding a three-game win streak as they take on the Red Wings in a clash of teams fighting for their playoff lives. You can watch the game at 12:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 a.m. PT on Sportsnet or Sportsnet+ or follow along with our live NHL tracker.
Winnipeg Jets forward Gabriel Vilardi has been diagnosed with an enlarged spleen, head coach Rick Bowness told reporters Friday.
There is no timetable for his return.
Vilardi has been out since Feb. 29 when he suffered an undisclosed upper-body injury against the Dallas Stars.
In 38 games with the Jets this season, the 24-year-old forward has 16 goals and 14 assists.
The Jets acquired Vilardi this off-season as part of the return for Pierre-Luc Dubois.
Winnipeg is third in the Central Division with a 41-19-5 record.
New Jersey Devils coach Travis Green says defenceman Jonas Siegenthaler will be out for an “extended period of time” after he was elbowed by New York Rangers enforcer Matt Rempe on Monday.
Per Devils reporter Amanda Stein, Green added Siegenthaler suffered a concussion after the hit in the final minute of the second period.
As Siegenthaler dumped the puck in from the neutral zone, Rempe came across the ice and hit the Devils defenceman in the head with his elbow as the two collided against the boards. Siegenthaler was slow to get up and did not return to the game.
Rempe was suspended four games by the NHL on Tuesday.
The 21-year-old Rempe has played in only 10 games but has already made a name for himself, racking up 54 penalty minutes and four fights since the Rangers called him up from the minors last month.
Siegenthaler has one goal and eight assists in 49 games this season.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs have restructured quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ contract, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Wednesday, giving the Super Bowl champions some much-needed salary cap space.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the financial details were not public.
By restructuring the contract, which would have counted more than $58 million against the cap for the upcoming season, the Chiefs created more than $21 million to use elsewhere. That could include a much-publicized pursuit of help at wide receiver, their need for a new left tackle to protect Mahomes’ blind side, or in re-signing their own free agents.
Mahomes also adjusted his 10-year, $450 million contract in 2021 to help the Chiefs with their financial situation.
The Chiefs already signed All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones to a five-year, $158.75 million contract, which included $95 million guaranteed over the first three years. But that deal was structured so that it only cost $7.35 million against the cap this year.
Backup linebacker Drue Tranquill also signed a three-year, $19 million deal to return before Wednesday’s start to free agency.
The creation of some additional salary cap space also could mean that L’Jarius Sneed, who quietly emerged as one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks last season, could remain in Kansas City. The Chiefs used the franchise tag on him, which would equate to a one-year, $19.8 million deal, but many expected them to ultimately trade Sneed for draft compensation and salary cap relief.
Now, the Chiefs could keep him at the tag number or use their newfound wiggle room to sign him to a long-term deal.
Canadian Nathan Rourke is officially back with the New England Patriots.
The NFL club formally announced Rourke had signed a one-year deal Tuesday. Reports earlier this month had the former B.C. Lions star signing an exclusive rights free agent deal with the Patriots.
New England claimed the six-foot-one, 210-pound Rourke off waivers in December from the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Exactly where Rourke fits in with the Patriots is a mystery. New England has reportedly agreed to deal former starter Mac Jones to the Jaguars but is also said to have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with veteran free-agent quarterback Jacoby Brissett.
Brissett was a 2016 third-round pick of the Patriots and spent his rookie season with the club before being dealt to Indianapolis before the 2017 campaign. Brissett appeared in three games last season with the Washington Commanders.
The Patriots also have the third pick of the 2024 NFL draft and are expected to use it on a quarterback.
Jacksonville signed Rourke as a free agent in January 2023 shortly after the Victoria native was named the CFL’s top Canadian for his stellar 2022 season with B.C.
Rourke threw for 3,349 yards and 25 touchdowns TDs in 10 games with the Lions — his campaign was reduced due to a Lisfranc ligament sprain in his right foot. Rourke also ran for 304 yards and seven touchdowns to secure the league’s top Canadian award.
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