Bristol Bears fly-half Callum Sheedy has signed a new two-year extension to his contract with the Premiership club.

The 23-year-old, who joined the Bears in 2014, played for England against the Barbarians earlier this summer.

"It's pleasing to secure Callum's services for another two years following this one, as he's a young man with a bright future in the game," said director of rugby Pat Lam.

"Callum really excites us because he's a leader and he understands our game."

Sheedy, who will now stay with the club until at least 2022, added: "Bristol is the club very close to my heart. They gave me my first professional contract and, since Pat Lam's arrival, my game has really progressed."

Ulster forward Marcell Coetzee has been ruled out of South Africa's squad for the Rugby World Cup with an ankle injury.

The back row hurt his ankle and suffered a blow to the head during the Springboks' warm-up win over Argentina in Pretoria.

Coetzee is expected to be sidelined for 12 weeks.

Lizo Gqoboka, Marvin Orie, Thomas du Toit and André Esterhuizen have also been released by South Africa.

Coetzee was recalled to the Springboks training squad for Japan after an impressive season for Ulster, which saw him named Ulster Rugby Writers' Player of the Year.

He had endured an injury-hit spell after moving to the province in 2016, putting his Springbok career on hold.

The injury will rule him out of the start of the 2019-20 season for Dan McFarland's side, who begin their Pro14 campaign at home to Ospreys on 27 September.

Wales must maintain the standard of the 13-6 win against England in their remaining warm-up matches and into the World Cup, says hooker Ken Owens.

Warren Gatland's side were confirmed as World Rugby's top-ranked team after Saturday's win in Cardiff.

The squad are in Turkey for a week's training before facing Ireland twice and starting their World Cup campaign against Georgia on 23 September.

"We have got to be on the money," said British and Irish Lion Owens.

Wales lost 33-19 against England on 11 August, but bounced back to win a tense World Cup warm-up match in Cardiff six days later.

"We've probably had our poor performance out of the system, that slow start people talk about, and we have got to keep building and improving," added Owens.

"We can't let that standard drop."

Victory at Principality Stadium saw Wales overtake New Zealand at the top of World Rugby's rankings for the first time since they were introduced in 2003, but Owens says that will count for nothing unless the side deliver at the World Cup, which reaches its climax on 2 November.

"I would prefer to be there at the start of November, but it is now just a table and something to talk about," he said.

Gatland will name his final 31-man squad for the tournament on 1 September, the day after Wales play Ireland in Cardiff.

And with places in the final party still up for grabs, Owens warns there will be no respite for the players in Turkey.

"I'd like to work on my tan, but that's probably not going to happen," he joked.

"It's a good nine days to get away and get a little bit more training in away from everything.

"We can just concentrate on the rugby again and get our combinations working and get more time on the training field in full rugby situations and hopefully peak for the two games against Ireland to come."

Wales are drawn in Pool D at the World Cup along with Australia, Fiji, Georgia and Uruguay.

SPEEDWAY, Ind. – Chase Briscoe, who currently ranks sixth in NASCAR Xfinity Series standings, has filed an entry for the Driven2SaveLives BC39 powered by NOS Energy Drink on Sept. 4-5 at The Dirt Track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

With the addition of Briscoe and other new entries, the entry list for the second running of event has grown to 69.

Briscoe, who’ll pilot his own No. 5B in the event, has extensive experience in midget and sprint car racing, including an appearance at the BC39 in the inaugural event a year ago.

Of late, the Mitchell, Ind. native has made a name for himself in NASCAR. The 2016 ARCA Menards Series champion was a recent NASCAR Xfinity Series winner at Iowa Speedway in July, and was also victorious with the series last year at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s ROVAL.

He made his debut on 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the series’ stop in 2018, charging from his 22nd starting position to finish ninth in the Lilly Diabetes 250.  Briscoe also owns a pair of victories in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series, winning the finale at Homestead in 2017, then winning the Eldora Dirt Derby in 2018.

Among the newest entries joining Briscoe is 1989 USAC National Midget champion Russ Gamester, a winner in all three of USAC’s National divisions throughout his career, with 12 National Midget wins, six Silver Crown victories and one National Sprint Car triumph.

Making his BC39 debut is Cannon McIntosh, who burst onto the USAC scene in a big way in March when he scored his first USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget victory indoors at the Southern Illinois Center in DuQuoin, Ill.  In six starts this season, the Bixby, Okla., driver has finished in the top-five on three occasions, including a runner-up finish at Gas City I-69 Speedway during Indiana Midget Week.

Travis Berryhill, a 2017 Chili Bowl prelim night feature winner, is teamed with Ray Seach and David Budres for a three-car Manic Racing effort.  Budres finished 20th in last year’s BC39 feature event.  Meanwhile, series regular Ethan Mitchell has signed on for his second BC39 appearance.

Below is the compete BC39 entry list as of Aug. 19.

08 CANNON McINTOSH/Bixby, OK (Dave Mac Motorsports)
1BR CHASE JONES/Greenwood, IN (SFH Racing Development)
1NZ MICHAEL PICKENS/Auckland, NZ (RMS LLC)
1ST TBA (Daryl Saucier)
2 RYAN HALL/Midlothian, TX (Mark Bush)
2B MATT LINDER/Hoschton, GA (Mark Bush)
2x TBA (Jeff Taylor)
3N JAKE NEUMAN/New Berlin, IL (Jim Neuman)
4A JUSTIN GRANT/Ione, CA (RAMS Racing)
4D ROBERT DALBY/Anaheim, CA (Ken Dalby)
5 KEVIN THOMAS, JR./Cullman, AL (Petry Motorsports)
5B CHASE BRISCOE/Mitchell, IN (Chase Briscoe Racing)
7 CRITTER MALONE/Pittsboro, IN (Seven LLC)
7BC TYLER COURTNEY/Indianapolis, IN (Clauson/Marshall Racing)
7u KYLE JONES/Kennedale, TX (Trifecta Motorsports)
7x THOMAS MESERAULL/San Jose, CA (RMS LLC)
8 RANDI PANKRATZ/Atascadero, CA (Wally Pankratz)
9 CHRIS BAUE/Indianapolis, IN (Chris Baue)
9H EMILIO HOOVER/Broken Arrow, OK (James Hoover)
11L AARON LEFFEL/Springfield, OH (Chuck Taylor)
11T TBA (Chuck Taylor)
14H TBA (Mike Dickerson)
15 DAVE DARLAND/Lincoln, IN (Petry Motorsports)
15J JEFF WIMMENAUER/Indianapolis, IN (Jeff Wimmenauer)
15s SHANNON McQUEEN/Bakersfield, CA (Broc Garrett)
15x CARSON GARRETT/Littleton, CO (Broc Garrett)
17 JUSTIN PECK/Monrovia, IN (Bus Racing Team)
17BC CHRIS WINDOM/Canton, IL (Clauson/Marshall Racing)
17s RICKY STENHOUSE, JR./Olive Branch, MS (Clauson/Marshall Racing)
19 SPENCER BAYSTON/Lebanon, IN (Brodie Hayward)
19m ETHAN MITCHELL/Mooresville, NC (Bundy Built Motorsports)
20 CODY WEISENSEL/Sun Prairie, WI (Kevin Weisensel)
21 CHRISTOPHER BELL/Norman, OK (Keith Kunz Motorsports/Curb-Agajanian)
21D JUSTIN DICKERSON/Pittsboro, IN (Mike Dickerson)
22Q DAVID PRICKETT/Fresno, CA (Neverlift Motorsports)
23m DAVID BUDRES/Beloit, WI (Manic Racing)
25 JERRY COONS, JR./Tucson, AZ (Petry Motorsports)
27 TUCKER KLAASMEYER/Paola, KS (Keith Kunz Motorsports/Curb-Agajanian)
28 ACE McCARTHY/Tahlequah, OK (Jim Neuman)
31 TRAVIS BERRYHILL/American Canyon, CA (Manic Racing)
35 TBA (Petry Motorsports)
39BC ZEB WISE/Angola, IN (Clauson/Marshall Racing)
41 OLIVER AKARD/Ft. Myers, FL (Dan Akard)
43 BRENT BEAUCHAMP/Avon, IN (Kevin Arnold)
46 RUSS GAMESTER/Peru, IN (Gamester Racing)
47BC ANDREW LAYSER/Collegeville, PA (Clauson/Marshall Racing)
50 TONY DiMATTIA/Malvern, PA (Tony DiMattia Motorsports)
54 MATT WESTFALL/Pleasant Hill, OH (Steve Bordner)
54m RAY SEACH/Beloit, WI (Manic Racing)
56A COLTEN COTTLE/Kansas, IL (Travis Young)
57A SHANE COTTLE/Kansas, IL (Bill Ecker)
57D DANIEL ROBINSON/Ewing, IL (McCreery Motorsports)
57K KEVIN STUDLEY/Plainfield, IN (Kevin Studley)
61 TREY OSBORNE/Columbus, OH (Mel Kenyon)
67 LOGAN SEAVEY/Sutter, CA (Keith Kunz Motorsports/Curb-Agajanian)
67F KYLE O’GARA/Beech Grove, IN (SFH Racing Development)
67K HOLLEY HOLLAN/Broken Arrow, OK (Keith Kunz Motorsports/Curb-Agajanian)
71 JESSE COLWELL/Red Bluff, CA (Keith Kunz Motorsports/Curb-Agajanian)
71K TANNER CARRICK/Lincoln, CA (Keith Kunz Motorsports/Curb-Agajanian)
71s CODY SWANSON/Norco, CA (Marcie Campbell)
76 KEN DRANGMEISTER/Hobart, IN (Ken Drangmeister)
76E BRADY BACON/Broken Arrow, OK (FMR Racing)
76m JASON McDOUGAL/Broken Arrow, OK (FMR Racing)
88 TYLER NELSON/Olathe, KS (Tyler Nelson)
91T TYLER THOMAS/Collinsville, OK (Brian Thomas)
97 KYLE LARSON/Elk Grove, CA (Keith Kunz Motorsports/Curb-Agajanian)
97A AUSTIN O’DELL/Rochester, IL (Patrick O’Dell)
98 TANNER THORSON/Minden, NV (Keith Kunz Motorsports/Curb-Agajanian)
TBA (Clauson/Marshall Racing)

MOORESVILLE, N.C. – Brad Keselowski will pay tribute to another iconic Rusty Wallace paint scheme during the Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on Sept. 1.

Keselowski’s No. 2 Ford Mustang will carry the same colors Wallace sported during the 1996 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season. The scheme was revealed Monday afternoon via Team Penske’s Twitter account.

It’s here! ?@keselowski is throwing it back to @RustyWallace‘s 1996 @MillerLite paint scheme at @TooToughToTame. ?#NASCAR | #NASCARThrowback pic.twitter.com/T81hdXoilh

— Team Penske (@Team_Penske) August 19, 2019

Wallace earned five of his 55 career victories during the 1996 season, resulting in a seventh-place finish in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series standings.

Last year Keselowski’s car carried a throwback scheme honoring Wallace’s 1990 colors that he sported when he drove for Raymond Beadle. The scheme turned out to be good luck as Keselowski drove it to victory in the Southern 500.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – With days until the final round of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship season, MX Sports Pro Racing has announced that STACYC Inc. will serve as the title sponsor of the season finale at Ironman Raceway, in Crawfordsville, Ind.

The fifth anniversary of the STACYC Stability Cycle Ironman National will commence on Aug. 24 bringing an action-packed, highly competitive summer to a dramatic conclusion.

STACYC Inc. is the creator of the original and patented kids electric balance bike. The up-and-coming brand has been an advocate for the sport of motocross since its inception, and continues to cultivate the next generation of motorcycle riders and racers. Established in 2016, STACYC has already made an impact in the market by introducing kids, ages 3-7, to motorcycles in a less intimidating and more engaging way.

The flagship STACYC EDRIVE was specifically designed as a tool to bridge the gap from push bikes to motorcycles by giving kids a bike that allows them to learn balance, throttle control, and braking at their own pace, on an extremely lightweight and low-impact platform.

“As someone who was a former racer and motorcycle engineer, the sport of motocross has always been a passion of mine. I created STACYC with the intention of spreading my love of the sport, and was inspired to provide a more appealing, safer, and cost-effective way to introduce kids to motorcycling,” said Ryan Ragland, Founder & CEO of STACYC Inc. “When the opportunity came up to partner with MX Sports Pro Racing and the Pro Motocross Championship, I knew it was something we couldn’t pass up. I’ve been a fan of the series for decades, and now my kids are just as passionate about it, so the ability to serve as the title sponsor of such a great event at the Ironman National, and bring more awareness to STACYC, is something we’re all truly excited about.”

Kids attending Saturday’s STACYC Stability Cycle Ironman National will have the opportunity to ride the 12 or 16 EDRIVE models on the STACYC track inside the sponsor village at Ironman Raceway. For those who already have a STACYC, they are welcome to bring their bike to the track and ride alongside their fellow young riders. Additionally, STACYC will host a head-to-head exhibition races for aspiring young racers the day of the Ironman National.

GAFFNEY, S.C. — Team owner Johnny Davis was so impressed with Ryan Vargas’ NASCAR Xfinity Series debut for his organization that he’s bringing the California young gun back for another go-round.

Vargas will pilot JD Motorsports’ flagship No. 4 Chevrolet Camaro during Saturday’s CTECH Manufacturing 180 at Road America, the 23rd of 33 races on the Xfinity Series calendar.

The four-mile Wisconsin road course is a fan-favorite track on the schedule and will mark Vargas’ second-career start.

The 18-year-old is not only grateful that he got the call for an open race on the No. 4 car’s schedule, he recognizes the impact his solid debut last month at Iowa Speedway had within the garage area.

“This is really huge for me, to not only be asked to come back to JD Motorsports, but to do it in their flagship car this weekend and work with the No. 4 team,” Vargas told SPEED SPORT. “With all the hype around the (No.) 4 car, with what Ross was able to do with it last year and even what Landon (Cassill) was able to do at Bristol on Friday night with it … running inside the top 10. The car’s very competitive and Johnny knows the deal and knows the sport better than anybody.

“It’s really awesome to be able to go out, especially after Iowa, and show that I belong in the sport.”

In reflecting on his Iowa debut, Vargas was quick to note how much fun he had behind the wheel, staying out of trouble en route to a 17th-place finish, one lap off the lead pace.

“Iowa was honestly just a really awesome race,” said Vargas, who drove the No. 15 Chevrolet in that event. “You know, we ran up inside the top 15 at one point and battled with the lead pack; it was a lot of fun. I learned a lot, spent a lot of time working on my lines and just adapting to such a different race car, but to end the race with a P17 finish with that car was a really big deal, maybe bigger than I realized.

“We tied the best finish of the year for that (No. 15) car, so it was honestly a really successful night and something that really all hit home after the race, when I pulled into the pits and I heard Johnny come over and say, ‘Great job bud. You did awesome,’” Vargas added. “I knew that, you know, it was a good day … but that was still really special for me.”

A former California late model regular, Vargas is self-admittedly not a road racer, but he’s eager for the challenges that competing at Road America this weekend will bring.

He’s also keeping his goals very realistic going into the weekend as well.

“I’ve been watching a lot of video and doing a lot of iRacing trying to get ready for the race, getting used to hitting the marks and where they are, the braking points, the shifting points … there are a lot of technical nuances that go into road racing, but especially there,” said Vargas. “Really, for me, the whole plan is just to stay on the track and avoid the messes. This weekend is not about me trying to run and do really well and try to pass people and all that fancy stuff. It’s another race of getting experience.

“That’s the mindset I took into Iowa, and we ended up being really competitive. Who knows, we could be competitive, but if not, the whole goal is just to stay on course, keep the car clean and learn.”

As far as the pressure of jumping in the most recognized of the four JD Motorsports entries, Vargas isn’t focusing on that either. He’s worried about himself and about minimizing mistakes.

“Of course, there’s always going to be a little bit of pressure in a situation like this, knowing that Ross (Chastain) put that car up front and did a lot of good stuff with it last year,” Vargas admitted. “But the whole premise of this weekend, like I said, is just trying to keep the pressure off and learn.

“If we can do that and finish, you’ll see me smiling like usual after I get done on Saturday.”

In 2009-10, the New Jersey Devils were confident that 25-year-old Zach Parise would help define their next decade in the NHL. Ditto the Washington Capitals and their 25-year-old, 40-goal scorer Alex Semin. The Columbus Blue Jackets had a 25-year-old franchise player for the next decade in Rick Nash, having signed him to an eight-year contract the previous summer.

Three years into the next decade, all three were playing for different teams.

A lot can happen in the span of 10 seasons. (Heck, two teams that played last season didn't even exist in 2009 -- three, if you count the Phoenix Coyotes.) The best-laid plans for teams can change in an instant. One season's franchise pillar is next season's trade bait.

So as the decade nears its end, which players have thus far defined each team for the 2010s?

Your friends at ESPN have put together All-Decade teams for all 31 franchises. The criteria were simple: Which players had that combination of statistical achievement and historic importance? Which players defined the journey for teams from the 2009-10 season to the present?

Here is where the All-Decade teams currently stand, with the understanding that we have one more season to go before they are etched in stone.

Jump to a team:
ANA | ARI | BOS | BUF | CGY | CAR | CHI
COL | CBJ | DAL | DET | EDM | FLA
LA | MIN | MTL | NSH | NJ | NYI
NYR | OTT | PHI | PIT | SJ | STL
TB | TOR | VAN | VGS | WSH | WPG

Metropolitan Division

Carolina Hurricanes

C: Eric Staal (158 G, 259 A, 0.83 PPG)
LW: Jeff Skinner (204 G, 175 A, 0.65 PPG)
RW: Justin Williams (39 G, 65 A, 0.63 PPG)
D: Justin Faulk (85 G, 173 A, 0.46 PPG)
D: Jaccob Slavin (23 G, 92 A, 0.37 PPG)
G: Cam Ward (198-167-66, .912 SV%, 2.64 GAA)

Coach: Rod Brind'Amour (46-29-7)

Brind'Amour has been the coach for only 82 games, but as the only one to lead the Hurricanes to the playoffs in the past decade, he wins by default. Otherwise, here are two franchise icons in Staal and Ward, a Calder Trophy winner with somewhat diminishing returns in Skinner, and two defensemen who were the team's best offensively (Faulk) and defensively (Slavin).

As for Williams, who played 164 games for the Canes in the past decade, his standing as the innovator of the "Storm Surge" would alone merit consideration. But the reality is that the only other right-wing candidate is Alexander Semin. And we do not speak of Alexander Semin in Raleigh.

Columbus Blue Jackets

C: Brandon Dubinsky (72 G, 153 A, 0.52 PPG)
LW: Artemi Panarin (55 G, 114 A, 1.06 PPG)
RW: Cam Atkinson (186 G, 156 A, 0.65 PPG)
D: Seth Jones (39 G, 126 A, 0.61 PPG)
D: David Savard (40 G, 109 A, 0.30 PPG)
G: Sergei Bobrovsky (213-130-27, .921 SV%, 2.40 GAA)

Coach: John Tortorella (176-118-27)

The defensive choices come down to this: Jones over Zach Werenski, even though these two could end up the best duo in franchise history; and Savard over Fedor Tyutin, in which we give the nod to a player who has been a rock in the latter part of the decade as the Blue Jackets achieved some franchise firsts in the playoffs. Savard over Werenski? Look, there's little question who will end up being the better NHL defenseman at the end of their respective careers. But we'll take 489 games of steady defense -- and a team-best plus-46 for the decade -- and pair him with Jones, who is demonstrably the best backliner for the Jackets.

The toughest call here wasn't Panarin over Rick Nash, because the latter was at his best in the previous decade; no, it was at center, and we'll give the slight nod to Dubinsky over Ryan Johansen (193 points), Boone Jenner (199), R.J. Umberger (204) and the late case made by Pierre-Luc Dubois (109).

New Jersey Devils

C: Patrik Elias (113 G, 206 A, 0.76 PPG)
LW: Ilya Kovalchuk (89 G, 112 A, 0.91 PPG)
RW: Kyle Palmieri (107 G, 97 A, 0.68 PPG)
D: Andy Greene (42 G, 168 A, 0.28 PPG)
D: Damon Severson (29 G, 103 A, 0.37 PPG)
G: Martin Brodeur (131-95-26, .908 SV% 2.36 GAA)

Coach: Peter DeBoer (141-146-41)

Kovalchuk over Taylor Hall is one of the most difficult (and controversial) calls in this project. The obvious gripe: How does one put a player who abandoned the Devils for Russia in place of a player who won the Hart Trophy for them? How can a player who posted 1.01 points per game in Hall not trump Kovalchuk's 0.91, with a gap of 41 games between them?

Here's the rationale: The most important accomplishment for the Devils in the past decade was making the Stanley Cup Final in 2012. They accomplished this thanks to two individuals: Martin Brodeur, who remarkably ends up their goalie of the decade for a third time, and Kovalchuk, who was Conn Smythe-worthy through three rounds until injuries caught up to him, and still finished with 19 points in 23 games. For that performance, he gets the very, very slight nod over Hall.

New York Islanders

C: John Tavares (272 G, 349 A, 0.93 PPG)
LW: Anders Lee (152 G, 106 A, 0.61 PPG)
RW: Josh Bailey (133 G, 275 A, 0.56 PPG)
D: Nick Leddy (40 G, 151 A, 0.48 PPG)
D: Johnny Boychuk (33 G, 87 A, 0.35 PPG)
G: Jaroslav Halak (88-65-19, .913 SV% 2.69 GAA)

Coach: Jack Capuano (227-192-64)

It took everything we had to not put Barry Trotz over Jack Cap for coach of the decade, but in the end, the latter's seven years of service and three playoff appearances won out.

The rest is fairly straightforward, unless you truly believe Thomas Hickey belongs here or that Bailey's longevity shouldn't overcome Kyle Okposo's impact (0.71 points per game). Or if you're some crazed Nassau zealot who believes Traitor John has erased himself from Islanders history by signing in Toronto.

New York Rangers

C: Derek Stepan (128 G, 232 A, 0.70 PPG)
LW: Rick Nash (145 G, 107 A, 0.67 PPG)
RW: Mats Zuccarello (113 G, 239 A, 0.69 PPG)
D: Dan Girardi (32 G, 142 A, 174 PPG)
D: Ryan McDonagh (51 G, 187 A, 0.46 PPG)
G: Henrik Lundqvist (307-215-59, .919 SV%, 2.45 GAA)

Coach: Alain Vigneault (226-147-37)

No skater played more games for the Rangers in the past decade than Marc Staal (678), but the defensive slots here have to go to McDonagh -- the team's best defenseman since Brian Leetch -- and Girardi, who spent a good chunk of the decade as a well-respected shutdown guy before he became an analytics pariah.

The only other debate here might have been Chris Kreider vs. Rick Nash, but as far as the definitive best of the decade, Nash gets the nod. Meanwhile, if all the calls on this list were as easy as Lundqvist, it would have taken around 14 minutes to write.

Philadelphia Flyers

C: Claude Giroux (227 G, 508 A, 0.95 PPG)
LW: Scott Hartnell (103 G, 120 A, 0.63 PPG)
RW: Jakub Voracek (203 G, 175 A, 0.83 PPG)
D: Kimmo Timonen (27 G, 156 A, 0.51 PPG)
D: Chris Pronger (15 G, 77 A, 0.63 PPG)
G: Steve Mason (104-78-36, .918 SV% 2.47 GAA)

Coach: Peter Laviolette (145-98-29)

The easy way out here would have been to move Giroux to left wing and open up the center spot for Sean Couturier, Mike Richards or Jeff Carter, but that's a cheat: Giroux only moved to the wing in 2017. The real question is whether 145 regular-season games of Pronger are enough to make a Flyers All-Decade Team, and the answer is that they made the Stanley Cup Final on his back (OK, his elbows), so that's good enough for us.

As for the goalie ... picking the Flyers goalie of the decade is like picking the greatest Rob Schneider comedy of all time. Congrats, Steve Mason: You're "Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo."

Pittsburgh Penguins

C: Sidney Crosby (314 G, 505 A, 1.25 PPG)
LW: Chris Kunitz (162 G, 208 A, 0.67 PPG)
RW: Phil Kessel (110 G, 303 A, 0.92 PPG)
D: Kris Letang (94 G, 347 A, 1.25 PPG)
D: Brooks Orpik (7 G, 70 A, 0.24 PPG)
G: Marc-Andre Fleury (264-131-42, .915 sv%, 2.44 GAA)

Coach: Mike Sullivan (174-92-34)

Don't worry, Evgeni Malkin is used to being snubbed from all-time lists by now.

Washington Capitals

C: Nicklas Backstrom (195 G, 521 A, 0.98 PPG)
LW: Alex Ovechkin (439 G, 352 A, 1.04 PPG)
RW: T.J. Oshie (102 G, 106 A, 0.71 PPG)
D: John Carlson (90 G, 313 A, 0.59 PPG)
D: Karl Alzner (18 G, 112 A, 0.20 PPG)
G: Braden Holtby (257-108-40, .918 SV%, 2.47 GAA)

Coach: Barry Trotz (205-89-34)

It feels a little odd having Alzner on this list, seeing as how everyone else contributed to the Capitals' first Stanley Cup win in franchise history in 2018 (and the infamous revelry that followed). But his run with the Capitals made him one of the most effective shutdown defenders in the league and an essential partner for Carlson. His 561 games played were fourth most for the decade. Injuries, and an ill-conceived free-agent contract with Montreal, sullied his rep.

Maybe there's a Matt Niskanen argument to be made, but Alzner gets his name here, even if it's not on the much more important list that's engraved on the Cup.

Atlantic Division

Boston Bruins

C: Patrice Bergeron (241 G, 334 A, 0.81 PPG)
LW: Brad Marchand (262 G, 297 A, 0.82 PPG)
RW: David Pastrnak (132 G, 152 A, 0.89 PPG)
D: Zdeno Chara (96 G, 227 A, 0.45 PPG)
D: Torey Krug (58 G, 230 A, 0.62 PPG)
G: Tuukka Rask (262-149-57, .921 SV%, 2.28 GAA)

Coach: Claude Julien (325-198-72)

Rask or Tim Thomas? That's really the only debate to be had here. Thomas won a Vezina Trophy, the Stanley Cup and the Conn Smythe in the past decade, but was off the team by 2012. Rask was the primary goalie for the decade, won two conference titles while the crease was his, as well as a Vezina. The highest high of the decade was provided by Thomas. But the decade belonged to Tuukka.

Buffalo Sabres

C: Jack Eichel (101 G, 158 A, 0.91 PPG)
LW: Thomas Vanek (110 G, 127 A, 0.85 PPG)
RW: Jason Pominville (118 G, 159 A, 0.65 PPG)
D: Rasmus Ristolainen (36 G, 158 A, 0.46 PPG)
D: Tyler Myers (45 G, 106 A, 0.41 PPG)
G: Ryan Miller (138-100-31, .920 SV%, 2.54)

Coach: Lindy Ruff (133-98-32)

So it hasn't been exactly the best decade for the Sabres, what with the eight straight years without a playoff appearance, five different coaches and countless disappointing players. Hence, we rely on the early part of said decade, when Vanek, Miller and Myers were all still plying their trades in Buffalo and Ruff was the head coach. But a shout-out to Zemgus Girgensons for making the All-Star Game that one time.

Detroit Red Wings

C: Henrik Zetterberg (154 G, 401 A, 0.85 PPG)
LW: Justin Abdelkader (106 G, 143 A, 0.36 PPG)
RW: Johan Franzen (104 G, 123 A, 0.73 PPG)
D: Nicklas Lidstrom (36 G, 109 A, 0.62 PPG)
D: Niklas Kronwall (67 G, 243 A, 0.45 PPG)
G: Jimmy Howard (243-168-68, .914 SV%, 2.54 GAA)

Coach: Mike Babcock (245-170-67)

The past decade has consisted of two starkly different eras for the Red Wings. It began after a Stanley Cup Final loss to Pittsburgh in 2009, in the midst of a playoff streak that would last 25 seasons. Gaze upon the talent on that roster: Lidstrom, Pavel Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Marian Hossa, Franzen, Brian Rafalski, Tomas Holmstrom, Chris Osgood and so on. That was 10 years ago. It might as well feel like 90, with how the team has fared since.

As for the team selected above -- look, Justin Abdelkader isn't everyone's bucket of octopi. You could easily make the case for Tomas Tatar here considering he had better numbers and is a better player. But outside of Kronwall's 693 games, no one played more than Abdelkader's 686 for the Red Wings in the decade. If you're looking to define the past decade for the Red Wings, Justin Abdelkader is part of that definition (for better or worse).

Florida Panthers

C: Aleksander Barkov (135 G, 210 A, 0.84 PPG)
LW: Jonathan Huberdeau (125, 234, 0.77 PPG)
RW: Evgenii Dadonov (66 G, 89 A, 0.73 PPG)
D: Brian Campbell (28 G, 147 A, 0.47 PPG)
D: Aaron Ekblad (66 G, 105 A, 0.44 PPG)
G: Roberto Luongo (122-87-32, .918 SV%, 2.55 GAA)

Coach: Gerard Gallant (96-65-25)

The Panthers managed two playoff appearances during the decade and were defined by two things: managerial chaos behind the scenes (i.e. Gallant getting turfed after making the playoffs), and the methodical collection of young talent that -- with the right coach and goaltender -- could finally turn this team into a contender.

The toughest call here was Ekblad over Dmitry Kulikov, who was second to Huberdeau in games played for the club in this span. But half the decade and a Calder Trophy mean Ekblad makes the cut.

Montreal Canadiens

C: Tomas Plekanec (155 G, 267 A, 0.63 PPG)
LW: Max Pacioretty (223 G, 214 A, 0.74 PPG)
RW: Brendan Gallagher (151 G, 140 A, 0.60 PPG)
D: P.K. Subban (63 G, 215 A, 0.64 PPG)
D: Andrei Markov (45 G, 198 A, 0.58 PPG)
G: Carey Price (274-197-55, .919 SV%, 2.42 GAA)

Coach: Michel Therrien (194-121-37)

The Habs celebrated their centennial during this decade -- a celebration that felt like it lasted a century, but we digress. Back in 2010, the Canadiens shocked the world with a first-round 1-vs.-8 upset of the Capitals. That team had Scott Gomez on it and no fewer than two players named "Kostitsyn." It also had a 20-year-old defenseman named P.K. Subban, whose stats (leading to a Norris Trophy win in 2013) and swagger were a part of the Canadiens for seven years before a trade that reset the course of the franchise.

Ottawa Senators

C: Jason Spezza (103 G, 166 A, 0.95 PPG)
LW: Mike Hoffman (107 G, 123 A, 0.67)
RW: Mark Stone (123 G, 188 A, 0.85 PPG)
D: Erik Karlsson (126 G, 392 A, 0.83 PPG)
D: Chris Phillips (20 G, 64 A, 0.21 PPG)
G: Craig Anderson (191-151-44, .915 SV% 2.80 GAA)

Coach: Paul MacLean (114-90-35)

One goal. One stinkin' overtime goal against the Penguins in 2017 to win a Game 7, and how much differently would we view the Senators? How much differently would they view themselves, and how does that color their next moves?

It's the great "what if?" in a decade otherwise defined by gut-wrenching departures (Daniel Alfredsson, Karlsson and Stone), missed opportunities and outright tragedy (RIP, Bryan Murray). But what a collection of talent they once had.

Tampa Bay Lightning

C: Steven Stamkos (370 G, 350 A, 1.08 PPG)
LW: Alex Killorn (105 G, 156 A, 0.50 PPG)
RW: Nikita Kucherov (188 G, 274 A, 1.03 PPG)
D: Victor Hedman (94 G, 324 A, 0.60 PPG)
D: Anton Stralman (29 G, 101 A, 0.37 PPG)
G: Ben Bishop (222-131-64, .921 SV%, 2.28 GAA)

Coach: Jon Cooper (305-159-44)

One of the toughest calls of the decade: Martin St. Louis, the personification of the Lightning entering the decade, vs. Kucherov, who captured the Hart Trophy last season, on right wing. We'll give Kucherov the nod here because of his role in the Jon Cooper era and because his final year of the decade probably puts him over the top. But that 1.11 points-per-game average for the Hall of Famer St. Louis can't be taken lightly.

Toronto Maple Leafs

C: Auston Matthews (111 G, 94 A, 0.97 PPG)
LW: James van Riemsdyk (154 G 140 A, 0.71 PPG)
RW: Phil Kessel (181 G, 213 A, 0.88 PPG)
D: Morgan Rielly (51 G, 192 A, 0.52 PPG)
D: Dion Phaneuf (45 G, 151 A, 0.46 PPG)
G: Frederik Andersen (107-53-26, .918 SV%, 2.75 GAA)

Coach: Mike Babcock (164-123-41)

What a ride. From the squandered promise of the Ron Wilson and Brian Burke years through the tumultuous Dave Nonis years to winning the Auston Matthews lottery to adding Lou Lamoriello to stabilize things and Kyle Dubas for the future. The Phil Kessel trade. The Dion Phaneuf trade(s). The John Tavares signing. Let it never be said the Leafs had an unassuming 2010s.

Central Division

Chicago Blackhawks

C: Jonathan Toews (269 G, 363 A, 0.87 PPG)
LW: Patrick Sharp (158 G, 210 A, 0.77 PPG)
RW: Patrick Kane (310 G, 486 A, 1.07 PPG)
D: Duncan Keith (67 G, 338 A, 0.60 PPG)
D: Brent Seabrook (74 G, 272 A, 0.45 PPG)
G: Corey Crawford (243-140-49, .918 SV%, 2.41 GAA)

Coach: Joel Quenneville (407-227-85)

Whether the Blackhawks' three Stanley Cups in six years connotes a "dynasty" in a salary-cap world will always be up for debate.

What's not up for debate: that these six players are the best of the decade for Chicago for their respective positions. Remember, Brent Seabrook was a heck of a defenseman before he became a salary-cap albatross.

Colorado Avalanche

C: Matt Duchene (178 G, 250 A, 0.73 PPG)
LW: Gabriel Landeskog (177 G, 239 A, 0.72 PPG)
RW: Mikko Rantanen (80 G, 129 A, 0.87 PPG)
D: Erik Johnson (57 G, 139 A, 0.38 PPG)
D: Tyson Barrie (75 G, 232 A, 0.63 PPG)
G: Semyon Varlamov (183-156-38, .915 SV%, 2.72 GAA)

Coach: Jared Bednar (103-116-27)

Matt Duchene or Nathan MacKinnon? That's the question for the Avalanche in the past decade. No one played more games (586), scored more goals (178) or tallied more points (428) than Duchene did for the Avalanche since 2009-10. But no one had a better points-per-game average (0.88) than MacKinnon, who won the Calder and was a Hart finalist. We have to give Duchene the nod here, with the acknowledgement that MacKinnon is a next-level talent who will surpass Duchene's numbers in short order. In both his longevity, and his eventual departure, Duchene helped define the decade.

As for Bednar and Rantanen, both late arrivals, no one in their respective categories comes close to overtaking them. Maybe if Patrick Roy had made the playoffs twice, and didn't abruptly take his puck and go home, there could have been an argument.

Dallas Stars

C: Tyler Seguin (206 G, 258 A, 0.99 PPG)
LW: Jamie Benn (281 G, 368 A, 0.87 PPG)
RW: Alexander Radulov (56 G, 88 A, 0.95 PPG)
D: John Klingberg (52 G, 207 A, 0.71 PPG)
D: Alex Goligoski (32 G, 155 A, 0.49 PPG)
G: Kari Lehtonen (216-150-50, .912 SV%, 2.63 GAA)

Coach: Lindy Ruff (165-122-41)

Two tough calls here. The first is on right wing, where Radulov has just 152 games in Dallas. But the alternatives were Brett Ritchie (241), Valeri Nichushkin (223, somehow) and Ales Hemsky (166). So out of that group, Radulov had the most impact.

Then there was the other defenseman besides Klingberg. A case could be made for Trevor Daley (417 games) and perhaps Stephane Robidas (310 games), but the nod here goes to Goligoski.

Minnesota Wild

C: Mikko Koivu (144 G, 360 A, 0.73 PPG)
LW: Zach Parise (167 G, 169 A, 0.76 PPG)
RW: Nino Niederreiter (110 G, 118 A, 0.53 PPG)
D: Ryan Suter (44 G, 258 A, 0.57 PPG)
D: Jared Spurgeon (70 G, 178 A, 0.42 PPG)
G: Devan Dubnyk (165-98-26, .920 SV%, 2.32 GAA)

Coach: Mike Yeo (173-132-44)

Chances are you probably haven't thought of Mike Yeo since that disastrous "understudy" plan in St. Louis ended with Craig Berube taking over on an interim basis (and, you know, winning the Cup). Bruce Boudreau is a better coach than Yeo, to be sure. But Yeo presided over the Wild longer than Boudreau has, and was there for their two best seasons of the decade.

Full apologies to the Wild fans for having to list Niederreiter on the All-Decade Team since his numbers necessitate it. That trade still has to hurt.

Nashville Predators

C: Mike Fisher (111 G, 130 A, 0.56 PPG)
LW: Filip Forsberg (145 G, 160 A, 0.77 PPG)
RW: Craig Smith (144 G, 155 A, 0.51 PPG)
D: Roman Josi (93 G, 255 A, 0.62 PPG)
D: Shea Weber (118 G, 202 A, 0.61 PPG)
G: Pekka Rinne (311-171-66, .919 SV%, 2.38 GAA)

Coach: Peter Laviolette (229-128-53)

Colin Wilson actually played more games (502) than any other Predators center. Ryan Johansen (0.75) had the best points per game for any Predators center. But Mike Fisher's eight-year run with Nashville established him as a fan favorite, with the numbers to (cowboy) boot.

As for Smith, no one played more games with Nashville (592) than he did in the past decade, even as Viktor Arvidsson and Patric Hornqvist have their cases for decade-best right wing.

St. Louis Blues

C: David Backes (152 G, 200 A, 0.67 PPG)
LW: Alexander Steen (182 G, 273 A, 0.70 PPG)
RW: Vladimir Tarasenko (211 G, 207 A, 0.84 PPG)
D: Alex Pietrangelo (93 G, 304 A, 0.58 PPG)
D: Kevin Shattenkirk (59 G, 199 A, 0.61 PPG)
G: Jordan Binnington (24-5-1, .926 SV%, 1.91 GAA)

Coach: Ken Hitchcock (248-124-41)

Can Binnington make an All-Decade Team for what amounts to 33 regular-season games and a playoff run? Let me ask you this: When we look back at this decade for the Blues in, say, 30 years, what will we remember? Jake Allen's hapless attempts at being a solid starter? Jaroslav Halak and Brian Elliott's strong numbers in a defensive system? No, we're going to remember the kid who backstopped the team to its first Stanley Cup.

And yes, it is attempting to thread the needle by putting Binnington on the team but leaving Craig Berube off for Hitchcock, who ended up second on the career wins list for the Blues behind only Quenneville. But here we are.

Winnipeg Jets

C: Mark Scheifele (151 G, 220 A, 0.83 PPG)
LW: Andrew Ladd (110 G, 136 A, 0.71 PPG)
RW: Blake Wheeler (185 G, 384 A, 0.92 PPG)
D: Dustin Byfuglien (102 G, 261 A, 0.69 PPG)
D: Jacob Trouba (42 G, 137 A, 0.44 PPG)
G: Connor Hellebuyck (117-64-17, .915 SV%, 2.65 GAA)

Coach: Paul Maurice (235-162-48)

The Jets began the decade as the Atlanta Thrashers and end it having made the playoffs in two straight seasons. Not much controversy here, unless you're a big Toby Enstrom fan wondering why Trouba made the All-Decade cut. Or if you're Ondrej Pavelec.

Pacific Division

Anaheim Ducks

C: Ryan Getzlaf (173 G, 480 A, 0.95 PPG)
LW: Andrew Cogliano (102 G, 131 A, 0.40 PPG)
RW: Corey Perry (281 G, 300 A, 0.83 PPG)
D: Cam Fowler (58 G, 214 A, 0.44 PPG)
D: Hampus Lindholm (48 G, 123 A, 0.38 PPG)
G: John Gibson (119-77-28, .921 SV%, 2.42 GAA)

Coach: Bruce Boudreau (208-104-40)

Should Bobby Ryan be considered the left wing of the decade? He played 291 games and produced 222 points, skating with Getzlaf and Perry on a memorable line. What about Rickard Rakell (382 games, 241 points)? Perhaps. But ask a Ducks fan, and it's their Iron Man, Cogliano, who helped define the decade in his 584 games with Anaheim.

It was a tough call in goal between Jonas Hiller (257 games, 129-88-30 record) and Gibson, who played 236 games. We'll give Gibson the edge based on stats, and getting the Ducks to the conference final.

Arizona Coyotes

C: Martin Hanzal (456 61 G, 149 A PPG)
LW: Mikkel Boedker (367, 69 G, 116 A, PPG)
RW: Shane Doan (350, 144 G, 149 A, 0.49 PPG)
D: Oliver Ekman-Larsson (116 G, 218 A, 0.51 PPG)
D: Keith Yandle (52 G, 174 A, 0.60 PPG)
G: Mike Smith (128-132-41, .915 SV%, 2.69 GAA)

Coach: Dave Tippett (324-282-83)

When the decade started, the Phoenix Coyotes were emerging from bankruptcy hell, with the NHL actually running the team as it went through a collection of potential owners. As the decade continued, there were relocation fears and constant battles with the City of Glendale over the arena situation for the financially troubled team. The decade ends with billionaire Alex Meruelo having purchased the Arizona Coyotes, who are spending to the cap. Incredible.

Selecting the Coyotes' All-Decade Team was a little less chaotic than what occurred off the ice -- even if we ultimately couldn't find a spot for Paul Bissonnette.

Calgary Flames

C: Sean Monahan (172 G, 191 A, 0.77 PPG)
LW: Johnny Gaudreau (133 G, 254 A, 0.98 PPG)
RW: Jarome Iginla (116 G, 128 A, 0.88 PPG)
D: Mark Giordano (120 G, 297 A, 0.58 PPG)
D: T.J. Brodie (44 G, 203 A, 0.43 PPG)
G: Miikka Kiprusoff (115-88-29, .912 SV%, 2.53 GAA)

Coach: Bob Hartley (134-135-25)

The decade will be remembered as the end of the Jarome Iginla era for the Flames, and then with the rise of Monahan and Gaudreau as the team's new standard-bearers in the ensuing seasons. The constant, throughout: Norris winner Giordano, who played 720 games for the Flames during the decade.

Edmonton Oilers

C: Connor McDavid (128 G, 244 A, 1.30 PPG)
LW: Taylor Hall (132 G, 196 A, 0.86 PPG)
RW: Jordan Eberle (165 G, 217 A, 0.75 PPG)
D: Oscar Klefbom (29 G, 93 A, 0.39 PPG)
D: Darnell Nurse (24 G, 64 A, 0.32 PPG)
G: Cam Talbot (104-95-19, .912 SV% 2.74 GAA)

Coach: Todd McLellan (123-119-24)

Oilers fans might want to avert their eyes from the collection of talent up front for this All-Decade Team, with Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in reserve. As for the rest of the team -- well, there are many reasons Connor McDavid has seen the playoffs only once.

Los Angeles Kings

C: Anze Kopitar (233 G, 451 A, 0.89 PPG)
LW: Tanner Pearson (69 G, 75 A, 0.44 PPG)
RW: Dustin Brown (193 G, 233 A, 0.55 PPG)
D: Drew Doughty (104 G, 336 A, 0.57 PPG)
D: Jake Muzzin (51 G, 162 A, 0.43 PPG)
G: Jonathan Quick (287-198-61, .914 SV%, 2.35 GAA)

Coach: Darryl Sutter (225-147-53)

The only questions here were on the wings. Could you go Justin Williams (102 goals, Conn Smythe, Mr. Game 7) as the right wing over Dustin Brown? An argument could be made, although Brown's 768 games of service are hard to ignore.

And picking the definitive left wing for the Kings in the past decade means picking from Pearson, Dwight King, Kyle Clifford, Ryan Smyth, and Alex Iaffalo. And Milan Lucic and Ilya Kovalchuk, we guess. Pearson gets the edge.

San Jose Sharks

C: Joe Thornton (148 G, 488 A, 0.87 PPG)
LW: Patrick Marleau (232 G, 240 A, 0.76 PPG)
RW: Joe Pavelski (297 G, 337 A, 0.84 PPG)
D: Brent Burns (143 G, 323 A, 0.79 PPG)
D: Marc-Edouard Vlasic (56 G, 179 A, 0.33)
G: Antti Niemi (163-92-35, .917 SV%, 2.40 GAA)

Coach: Peter DeBoer (183-113-32)

One of the criteria for the All-Decade teams was that we weren't going to cheat when it came to positions. Well, the Sharks make that a little difficult when a half-dozen of their best players are listed as center but also saw copious amounts of time on the wing. That established, we'll treat Marleau as a left wing, Pavelski as a right wing, and slot them with Jumbo. Niemi had better numbers than Martin Jones, if not the Stanley Cup Final appearance.

Vancouver Canucks

C: Henrik Sedin (131 G, 479 A, 0.89 PPG)
LW: Daniel Sedin (214 G, 365 A, 0.87 PPG)
RW: Alex Burrows (143 G, 138 A, 0.53 PPG)
D: Alexander Edler (75 G, 233 A, 0.48 PPG)
D: Kevin Bieksa (31 G, 107 A, 0.37 PPG)
G: Roberto Luongo (137-73-28, .918 SV%, 2.38 GAA)

Coach: Alain Vigneault (202-108-30)

What a start to the decade for the Canucks. Henrik won the Hart. Daniel was a runner-up the next season, and the Canucks played for the Stanley Cup for the third time in franchise history in an instant classic series (that involved Burrows feasting on Patrice Bergeron, quite literally).

While Chris Tanev and Dan Hamhuis both played more games with the Canucks than did Bieksa, there's no question he most personified the Canucks' aesthetic during his time in Vancouver.

Vegas Golden Knights

C: William Karlsson (67 G, 67 A, 0.82 PPG)
LW: Jonathan Marchessault (52 G, 82 A, 0.84 PPG)
RW: Reilly Smith (41 G, 72 A, 0.80 PPG)
D: Nate Schmidt (14 G, 52 A, 0.48 PPG)
D: Shea Theodore (18 G, 48 A, 0.47 PPG)
G: Marc-Andre Fleury (64-34-9, .919 SV%, 2.40 GAA)

Coach: Gerard Gallant (94-56-14)

Granted, the Golden Knights' "decade" spanned two seasons since their inception, but in that short time they've found a few players who have established themselves as the franchise's best. Thanks, shortsighted teams in the expansion draft!