England back row James Haskell is to retire at the end of the season.

The 34-year-old, who has won 77 caps and played in the past two World Cups, has struggled with ankle and toe problems with Northampton this season.

He joined Wasps in 2002 and spent seven years with the club before moving to Stade Francais, the Ricoh Black Rams in Japan and Super Rugby's Highlanders.

Haskell returned to Wasps in 2013 and moved to Saints last summer, but has only played four times this season.

"I have loved every minute of my career in rugby and feel very privileged to have played with and against some exceptional players," said Haskell, who also toured with the British and Irish Lions to New Zealand in 2017.

"This next chapter was supposed to go a very different way, however that is the nature of professional sport. I've never spent so much time injured in my entire career, but I'm doing everything I can to help the squad here until my contract ends.

"Retiring is obviously a really difficult decision for me to make; professional rugby has been the centre of my life for such a long time now and while it's weird to imagine living without it, I look to the future with huge excitement."

'One of the game's great characters'

Haskell won three Six Nations titles with England and was part of the team that won the Grand Slam in 2016 before starring in the side that whitewashed Australia on tour that summer.

He played in England's 2011 World Cup quarter-final loss to France and was part of the Wasps side that won the 2007 Heineken Cup final.

England head coach Eddie Jones said: "It was a privilege to coach him, but also great fun. He's what I'd describe as a glue player - someone who always tries to bring a squad together.

"His tour to Australia in 2016 sticks in my mind. He was absolutely outstanding on that tour, amazingly physical, uncompromising and just totally dominant.

"Despite injuries preventing him from achieving his goals this season, he should be remembered for a great career and as someone who never gave less than 100% for club and country.

"Not only a superb player, but also one of the game's great characters; rugby will be poorer without the old fella."

Analysis

BBC rugby union correspondent Chris Jones

Haskell's dream was to bow out after a successful Rugby World Cup in Japan, but - as he acknowledges - sport doesn't always do fairytales.

Either way he can reflect on an outstanding career, where he not only achieved a huge amount on the pitch, but broadened his horizons off it.

And while as an international player he perhaps didn't have the consistency of say a Richard Hill, Haskell did produce some remarkable displays at the highest level.

His individual performances against Wales in Cardiff in 2015, and in Australia a year later, will go down in English rugby folklore.

BARTLETT, Tenn. – Sides Motorsports will have a two-car team at Eldora Speedway this weekend.

Veteran Tim Kaeding is joining Jason Sides during the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series doubleheader at the high-banked oval on Friday and Saturday.

“I don’t think TK’s been there in a while so it’ll be fun to watch him,” Sides said. “It helps me because it’s another driver that can talk about what we need to do. I think it’s good to have two guys bouncing ideas off each other.”

Sides has two World of Outlaws wins at Eldora Speedway. He won the Kings Royal in 2004 and was victorious during a World of Outlaws show in 2009.

“I figure with all the weather the track will be somewhat wetter than normal, which could be good,” he said. “There might be a top and a bottom.”

World of Outlaws races were rained out last weekend at Riverside Int’l Speedway in West Memphis, Ark., and at Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, Ind.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Only a few days remain until the opening round of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, and MX Sports Pro Racing has announced that a record total of prize money and contingency will be on the line.

Support from the championship’s six competing manufacturers has surpassed $6 million, providing an unprecedented level of funding for American motocross.

“The unwavering commitment from our manufacturers has helped the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship reach an all-time level of contingency support, which will only serve to benefit the hundreds of riders that will contest the Nationals this summer,” said Davey Coombs, President of MX Sports Pro Racing. “The OEMs play a crucial role in elevating the global influence of American motocross, and Pro Motocross provides a platform for manufacturers to showcase their off-road endeavors. Our record sum is also a welcome indication of the overall health of the motorcycle industry.”

Manufacturer participation in the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship is anchored by the factory and factory-supported efforts of Honda, Husqvarna, Kawasaki, KTM, Suzuki, and Yamaha. Each respective brand’s contingency contribution will be up for grabs across the 40-rider fields in both the 450 Class and 250 Class, who will also compete for nearly $1 million in pro purse money.

Reigning back-to-back 450 Class champion Eli Tomac of Monster Energy Kawasaki will look to join elite company in his quest for a three-peat, while a wide-open field of 250 Class competitors will each look to claim a vacant title, which would serve as the first for any of these riders. It all kicks off on Saturday, May 18, with the Bell Helmets Hangtown Motocross Classic, followed by a summer-long quest highlighted by visits to the most legendary and iconic racetracks in the country, from which a pair of champions will emerge at the Ironman National on Saturday, Aug. 24.

WELCOME, N.C. – Tame the Beast, a men’s grooming product brand, will back Tyler Reddick when he makes his second Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series start this weekend at Kansas Speedway.

Tame the Beast encourages men to embrace their inner beast with their uniquely masculine grooming products. Products include a variety of scents and purposes, such as the Extreme Yawp Hair, Beard & Body Wash, Nutt Butter, and Caffeine Conditioner. The Nashville, Tenn.-based company uses all-natural, intense botanicals, including eucalyptus, ginseng, and pomegranate, in all of their products.

“We’re thrilled to support Tyler,” said John Cascarano, founder of Tame the Beast. “We’re all about helping men perform at their peak, and clearly Tyler is racing at the top of his game.”

Reddick made his NASCAR Cup Series debut earlier this year in the Daytona 500, finishing 27th after being caught up in a wreck late in the race. The defending NASCAR Xfinity Series champion is currently leading the points in the Xfinity Series season, capturing one win, two pole awards, eight top-five and nine top-10 finishes so far this year.

Tame the Beast, whose motto is to groom boldly, has found a great match in Reddick, who is known for his aggressive driving style and giving each lap everything he’s got.

“Tame the Beast is an edgy, bold brand that’s making noise in the men’s grooming industry,” said Reddick. “I think that fits well with my driving style and the attitude of my RCR team this season. We’re out there every weekend, going hard to get every spot we can and often driving on the edge to get it. I’m excited to be partnering with Tame the Beast and helping spread their message to groom boldly.”

This will be Reddick’s first Kansas Speedway start in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. The 22-year-old driver has two starts at the 1.5-mile speedway in the Xfinity Series, collecting one pole and two top-five finishes.

MOORESVILLE, N.C. – OutWest Express, a provider of transportation services in the Southwest, will join Front Row Motorsports and Matt Tifft for the Digital Ally 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race this weekend at Kansas Speedway.

Headquartered in El Paso, Texas, OutWest Express provides cost-effective and dependable transportation services, including 24-hour dispatch, expedited freight transit and company-owned tractors and trailers. Featuring performance-based engine monitoring systems and aerodynamic equipment designed to promote fuel efficiency, OutWest Express’s top-of-the-line fleet is ready and well-equipped for all types of transportation situations.

“We are excited to team up with Matt Tifft and Front Row Motorsports this weekend at Kansas Speedway,” said Zachary Chilson, VP of OutWest Express. “Kansas City is a major hub for our fleet and we are proud to provide stable job opportunities to the community. Teaming up with the 36 car is a great way to show NASCAR fans across the country who we are and what we can do.”

“It’s always great to team up with a new partner, especially a company like OutWest Express, whose core values resonate so well with the NASCAR fanbase,” said Tifft. “I’m proud to have them on the car this weekend and I’m glad we can help carry their message on track.”

DENVER -- Desperation is typically the emotional fuel for a team facing elimination from the Stanley Cup playoffs.

While the Colorado Avalanche certainly burned through their share of it during their Game 6 overtime win over the San Jose Sharks on Monday, the highest octane available in forcing a Game 7 was pure frustration.

Witness J.T. Compher.

Or, more to the point, witness the trash can back at the Shark Tank in San Jose that Compher bludgeoned with his stick after their Game 5 loss on Saturday night. The sound of his lumber denting the metal receptacle was so loud that it startled arena workers, and it echoed the frustration he and the Avalanche had after that defeat.

In Game 6, that frustration fueled what coach Jared Bednar said was the best game Compher's played in the postseason: two goals and an assist on Tyson Jost's opening goal, the kind of performance from their supporting cast that the Avalanche have sought all series.

"I think I felt good right away. Was able to play physically right away. It's always fun playing with this group. We believe we have what it takes," Compher said.

Captain Gabriel Landeskog said whatever line Compher was on in Game 6 was a difference-maker all game.

"It's deflating to take the lead and then give it up three times. But they [were] just coming and coming. And even when they weren't scoring, they were creating chances," Landeskog said.

Their effort helped to send this game back to San Jose.

Has he thought about that poor trash can since the incident?

"No. I don't care. It's not anything I've put any thought into," Compher said. "We're going to a Game 7. It's a huge opportunity for this team, not only for the future but for the present."

Witness Landeskog.

The Avalanche star has been his own harshest critic. He had been held scoreless in four of five games against San Jose after scoring in four straight games against Calgary in Colorado's opening-round win. Those frustrations continued in Game 6 and included the defensive end of the ice: Landeskog was on for all three of the Sharks goals that tied the game thrice.

The apex of that frustration: San Jose's fluky goal with 2 minutes, 26 seconds left in regulation, as Marc-Edouard Vlasic's shot was deflected into the net by Avalanche defenseman Nikita Zadorov's skate. As the Sharks began to celebrate, a stumbling Timo Meier fell into Landeskog, knocking him to the ice. He got up and landed a cross-check to Meier that probably would have earned a penalty were it not the waning moments of a tied Game 6 in the playoffs.

In the intermission before overtime, Landeskog walked over to goalie Philipp Grubauer, acknowledging that his line was responsible for the tied game. Grubauer recalled Landeskog vowing that he'd scored a goal in overtime as penance.

"And he got one," said the goalie.

Landeskog started the play with a wicked forecheck on Erik Karlsson, knocking his helmet off. The Sharks' clearing attempt was intercepted by rookie defenseman Cale Makar, who snapped a pass that connected with Landeskog's stick blade. With Karlsson on him, the puck bounced ahead and Landeskog knocked it past Martin Jones for the first overtime playoff goal of his career.

The frustration, for a moment, had subsided.

"I haven't been happy with my offensive output this time of year. I haven't been dangerous enough. I haven't been a threat enough. It was nice to get this one tonight and hopefully we can build off of it," Landeskog said. "You just have to instill that doubt on the other side. And I doubt the last thing they wanted to do was play another one at home in San Jose."

Bednar said the determination of players like Compher and Landeskog personified their effort in Game 6, and how the Avalanche as a team pushed through their frustrations.

"It can be tough out there. It's tight checking. Not a lot of room to move. The officials are letting both teams play. There's a little bit more clutch and grab, hitting and hooking, holding ... all the things you'd expect. You have to fight through it. And that's what made me proud about my team tonight," he said.

This is the first Game 7 for the Avalanche since 2014, as they attempt to qualify for the Western Conference final for the first time since 2002. That year they were second overall in the conference and winners of their division. This season, they were eighth in the West and fifth in the Central Division.

"You want to give it the credit it deserves as a Game 7. But you don't want to blow it out of proportion, and all of a sudden if becomes this big monster. This big mountain we have to climb," Landeskog said.

"But it's a huge step for our team. We're 60 minutes away from the Western Conference final. Who would have thought before the series? Whoever thought before the season?"

In October, Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Dougie Hamilton walked into a barbershop to get a haircut.

"Do you have an appointment?" the receptionist asked. Hamilton did not.

"So I said, 'Screw it, I'm not getting a haircut,'" Hamilton said. "And that's how I ended up like this."

This -- the playoff version of Hamilton -- is a familiar hockey look: The strawberry blond hair Hamilton has been growing out since October rests in a curly nest down the back of his neck. He has since given his 'do some upkeep, and the top and sides of his head are cropped.

In pop-culture parlance: It's business in the front, party in the back. At the rink, it's yet another mullet.

The hairstyle was rampant in the 1980s, and one of the NHL's all-time greats, Jaromir Jagr, ushered the cut through the '90s into the 2000s. Though the style has died down, it's not quite extinct, with several mullets sprouting up in the league from time to time. This season alone, Hamilton, Buffalo's Jeff Skinner and Columbus' Ryan Dzingel have all sported the look.

But hockey culture isn't just obsessed with the mullet. It's all hair, really. The NHL fetishizes playoff beards -- and the San Jose Sharks' roster features two of the most epic bushels of all time, belonging to Brent Burns and Joe Thornton -- as well as the teenagers who can only grow peach fuzz. "Flow" is a common term in hockey vernacular. There's even more niche, hockey-specific words like "lettuce" or "salad" or "chop." In Minnesota, the high school hockey tournament now doubles as a hair show, with teenagers spending each spring one-upping each other with their locks, and the swagger with which they present them.

"I have no idea what the crazy obsession with hair is about," says Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin. "I think hockey players like to have pretty good style. My best guess is, a lot of other leagues show it with their clothes. Hockey players like to do it with their hair -- facial hair, or how it's coming out of their helmet."

Indeed, compare the NHL to the NBA, which shares the same 82-game schedule and season. When NBA players arrive at the arena, some look like they could be arriving for New York fashion week, with thousands of dollars worth of designer shoes, suits, hats, jewelry and even handbags (though they like to call them dopp kits). In the NHL? Consider when Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews showed up at an April playoff game with a high-brow look, he was ridiculed on social media.

Anyway, back to the hair. "It's been going on for a long time, and it definitely feels more prevalent in hockey than other sports," surmises Washington Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik. "Now, I think the excuse would be social media. There's cameras everywhere, so guys are more focused on the way they look."

Adds Boston Bruins defenseman Torey Krug: "We have to wear a helmet at all times. If the helmet ever falls off, or if we're away from the rink, we want to be able to express ourselves in some way. That's how we kind of make our faces known."

When Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Markus Nutivaara first arrived in North America from his native Finland, he was shocked to find something in the locker rooms he had never seen before: hair dryers.

"You would be laughed at in Finland if you used one of those," Nutivaara says. "In Finland, hockey players are more like cavemen. In Sweden, it's the complete opposite."

Perhaps the most famous hair in the NHL belongs to a Swede: New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist. The 37-year-old is known for his perfectly coiffed locks. So much so that he is the spokesperson for Head & Shoulders in Sweden, having done several commercials for the company:

View this post on Instagram

"Den där schampokillen" träffar på @cissiforss... ? ? #HenrikLundqvist #NYR #NYRangers #HenkeLundqvist

A post shared by Hockeysverige Official (@hockeysverige_se) on Mar 27, 2019 at 4:18am PDT

According to Swedish hockey journalist Uffe Bodin, many in Sweden know Lundqvist as much for being "the shampoo guy" as he is for his hockey.

It felt fitting to ask "the shampoo guy" why he believed the mullet fell largely out of favor.

"Like any other trend, it comes and goes," Lundqvist responded. "It will be back. The question is when."

There have been touchstone moments for the mullet in hockey history, and one of the most recent examples was when Chicago Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane sported one for his team's 2010 Stanley Cup run. To this day, high school hockey players in the Chicago area cut their hair into mullets at state tournament time to look like Kane, and many visit Carmelo Preiti, the hairdresser who is responsible for Kane's cut:

Even tho 88s last mullet was in 2015 SCF Im still receiving high school kids going into hockey playoffs wanting the Kane mullet. It's great they're growing the hair long all year to get the kane mullet for playoffs.What a great tradition 88 started for the young ones #mulletmania

— Carmelo (@carmelo_p) February 12, 2019

"Me and Patrick Sharp had talked about doing it for the 2010 playoffs," Kane says. "After our regular season ended, we both went to get it done. I showed up at the rink the next day with my mullet, and he showed up with his regular haircut -- he got it all chopped off. His reasoning was that his dad would be mad at him if he saw him on national TV like that."

Many credit Kane with reinvigorating the tradition. Explains Bruins defenseman Steven Kampfer: "In 2011, when we were going on a run, we were like, 'Somebody has to have a mullet because Kane had it last year, so someone has to get it done.'" Then-teammate Shawn Thornton ran a program called Cuts for a Cause and, because defenseman Adam McQuaid was the player on the team with the longest hair, he was sacrificed as the volunteer.

"Across the board, hockey players are pretty superstitions," Washington Capitals winger T.J. Oshie says. "If it's something that started back in the day, that's probably why it's still here."

The playoff beard is the biggest example of this. The itchy but celebratory tradition dates back to the New York Islanders' dynasty of the early '80s and has become a fixation in playoff locker rooms ever since.

Non-mulletted long hair is making a comeback, too. (Or really, it never went away.) "Erik Karlsson can pull off the long hair. [Brock Boeser] has the shorter flow, he knows how to maintain it," Kampfer says. "But then you have some guys and you're like, 'Dude, cut your hair.'"

As to how it affects a player on the ice, Kane wondered if the shaved sides of his head would make him more aerodynamic but admitted it wasn't really the case. Kampfer grew his hair to shoulder-length in junior hockey. It's a look he very much regrets and cringes when he talks about.

"In juniors, that was the thing. Long hair -- that's when you knew you were a hockey player," Kampfer says. "When I look at pictures now, I'm like, 'What was I doing? Why didn't my parents just take me to the barber?' When I had my long hair, I thought if I went fast I would kind of be like Mike Modano's jersey when he was going -- just flapping in the wind. It was kind of like that, I guess."

Sometimes players change up their hair for attention. Krug says in college, many players "grew out the cul-de-sac on purpose, which was pretty disgusting." In the first round of these playoffs, much attention was paid to Calgary Flames winger Sam Bennett's moustache -- which evoked Lanny McDonald's notorious look.

Of course, not everybody is on board, and the majority of players have generic, close crops. "Some guys care about their hair, the way they look," Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov says. "I don't really care about it. For me, it's not about hair. It's about what's inside."

Which brings us back to Hamilton. The Hurricanes defenseman says it took "some rough stages" to get to his eventual mullet, and not everyone was a fan. "I don't think the guys like it too much," Hamilton says. "But I've gotten some pretty good compliments. A couple girls, like waitresses and people around the arena, have said it's nice."

He does have some fans in the locker room.

"I'd never do it," Slavin says. "But I do think Dougie's is pretty solid. He has the personality to pull it off. He's a free spirit."

Fare thee well, Columbus Blue Jackets. It was quite a ride. Meanwhile, the Colorado Avalanche are headed back to California for a Game 7 showdown with the San Jose Sharks.

Here's what happened in the NHL last night (check out replays of every playoff game on ESPN+) and what to watch for tonight, in today's edition of ESPN Stanley Cup Playoffs Daily:

Jump ahead: Last night's games | Three stars
Play of the night | Today's games | Social post of the day

About last night ...

Game 6: Boston Bruins 3, Columbus Blue Jackets 0 (Bruins win series, 4-2)

The Blue Jackets pressured. They pressed. They fired pucks off the goal cage. They peppered Tuukka Rask with 39 shots. And for that effort ... they were eliminated. Rask was next-level good, stopping every shot for a Game 6 shutout. His 39 saves were tied for the fourth-most in a series-clinching shutout since the league began tracking shots on goal in 1955-56. On the other end, Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky gave up three goals on 29 shots, including a back-breaker to Marcus Johansson at 8:58 of the third period.

"The second goal ... that one hurts. Because you know what's happening down at the other end," said Columbus coach John Tortorella. The Bruins advance to face the Hartford Whale... , er, Carolina Hurricanes. The Blue Jackets fall in Round 2 after one of the greatest Round 1s in NHL history, and will now likely say goodbye to a few high-profile free agents.

Game 6: Colorado Avalanche 4, San Jose Sharks 3 (series tied, 3-3)

Gabriel Landeskog is a prophet. Before Game 6, he said a key to victory was scoring the first goal, because it's easier to play against the Sharks with a lead. The Avs did. He said it would take more activity from the Avs' defensemen to break through the "swarm real tight down low" from the Sharks. The game-winning goal was assisted by Cale Makar from the blue line. And before overtime, Landeskog took the blame for the Sharks tying the game at 3-3 at 17:32 of the third period on Marc-Edouard Vlasic's second of the game -- the third Sharks goal scored with Landeskog's line on the ice. He vowed to score in overtime, according to goalie Philipp Grubauer (19 saves).

"And he got one," said the goalie. Game 7 is Wednesday night in San Jose ... as is the expected return of Joe Pavelski to the Sharks' lineup, in case this game needed even more drama.

Three Stars

1. Tuukka Rask, G, Boston Bruins. What else can be said about the Bruins goalie? He was the difference in the series against Columbus. According to Natural Stat Trick, Tuukka Rask had a .955 save percentage at even strength in the last four games of the series against the Blue Jackets. He also stopped 26 of 27 high-danger shots at even strength (.963 save percentage) in that span. The critics are silent because their mouths are agape.

2. J.T. Compher, LW, Colorado Avalanche. Landeskog had the overtime game-winner, but Compher did the rest. He assisted on Tyson Jost's goal to open the scoring and netted two of his own. Compher infamously slammed his stick against a garbage can in San Jose after Game 5, denting it out of frustration. He should bludgeon the nearest trash receptacle before Game 7.

Here's the metal trash can JT Compher just smashed a few minutes earlier. #Avs pic.twitter.com/c7AaRAdxmu

- Ryan S. Clark (@ryan_s_clark) May 5, 2019

3. Marc-Edouard Vlasic, D, San Jose Sharks. Known as one of the best defensive defensemen in the NHL, the man they call "Pickles" scored two goals in Game 6, the second one off the skate of Colorado defenseman Nikita Zadorov to tie the game late in the third period. Vlasic entered the night with four career playoff goals in 134 career playoff games. Vlasic had just three goals during the regular season. He now has three in the postseason.

Play of the Night

Landeskog's first playoff overtime goal featured him pulverizing Erik Karlsson on the forecheck and then making a nifty play in the slot to beat Martin Jones (22 saves) for the game-winner. "We're 60 minutes away from the Western Conference final. Who would have thought that before the series? Who ever thought that before the season?" he said.

Dud of the Night

Shoulder targeting the head, not a big deal for the @NHL.>#CBJ>#StanleyCup>pic.twitter.com/BdoW75RLRy - The CBJ Artillery (@TheCBJArtillery) May 7, 2019

It seems every night of this postseason has offered an education about the NHL rulebook and its nuances. Like, for example, when Charlie McAvoy laid out Josh Anderson of Columbus with a hit that primarily made contact with his head late in the second period. It was the kind of hit that should have earned the Blue Jackets a five-minute major penalty power play. Except the officials decided it was an illegal hit to the head penalty, and there is no provision for a major penalty for that infraction -- only a match penalty for intent to injure, a level to which the officials likely felt this play did not rise. But a suspension for McAvoy seems likely.

On the schedule

Dallas Stars at St. Louis Blues, Game 7, 8 p.m. ET (series tied 3-3)

Ben Bishop said he's "all good" after taking a shot off the collarbone, which is good news for the Stars. He's 3-1 in the posteason following a loss, with a .937 save percentage. He's also 2-0 in Game 7s, with two shutouts. One concern for Dallas: Center Roope Hintz was wearing a walking boot on his left foot on Monday after blocking a shot in Game 6. As for the Blues ... well, they said they're trying to block out the "noise" surrounding Game 7, so to really capture the excitement of it, here's a really lovely video involving a young fan getting surprised with tickets:

Jayden Linden - an 11-year-old Blues fan in Grand Prairie, Alberta - just found out he's going to Game 7. #stlblues>#WeAllBleedBlue>#StanleyCup>pic.twitter.com/M6MXirqEQK - St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) May 6, 2019

Social post of the day

A double dose of Brad Marchand. First, the Boston Bruins forward gave a contentious interview to Kyle Bukauskas of Sportsnet after Game 6, with a series of one-word answers. Apparently, this tracks back to a joke Bukauskas made earlier in the series about Marchand getting his skates resharpened after stomping on and breaking Cam Atkinson's stick.

Brad Marchand wasn't enjoying the post-game interview pic.twitter.com/Yje2B4TiMK - Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) May 7, 2019

Marchand continued the bit in the Bruins' locker room, and here's a transcript of that exchange.

Brad Marchand's postgame transcript. It was 1:45. pic.twitter.com/Gxdh2n8FfO - Marisa Ingemi (@Marisa_Ingemi) May 7, 2019

Honestly, Marchand having gone from licking everyone in sight in 2018 to biting his tongue in 2019 should qualify as growth.

Quotable

"Don't even go there. Don't even go there with me. I'm not going to listen to that s--- about 'an accomplishment ... you get to the second round.' I'm not going to listen to it." -- Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella, when asked if he and his team could take pride in advancing to the second round for the first time in franchise history.

Manchester United are ready to renew their interest in Leicester defender Harry Maguire, sources have told ESPN FC.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is looking to bolster every area of his squad during the summer transfer window and Maguire, a target for Jose Mourinho 12 months ago, is a candidate to boost United's options at the back.

Maguire, 26, was one of the few centre-backs both Mourinho and the recruitment team agreed was a suitable target last summer but United were priced out of a move by Leicester who valued the England international at close to £80 million.

Maguire has a contract at the King Power Stadium until 2023 but there is hope he can be prised away by an offer from a top six side.

Any move for Maguire, or other targets including Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly, would rely heavily on one of United's central defenders leaving Old Trafford.

It is unlikely to be Victor Lindelof, one of the best performers this season, while Chris Smalling and Phil Jones have both signed contract extensions this year. There is, however, interest in Eric Bailly and Marcos Rojo.

Axel Tuanzebe, 21, is set to get a chance to impress Solskjaer on the summer tour of Australia, Singapore and China after playing a key role in Aston Villa's run to the Championship playoffs during a season-long loan spell at Villa Park.

Sources have told ESPN FC that Solskjaer, who saw his team condemned to the Europa League next season after Sunday's 1-1 draw with Huddersfield, is keen to overhaul his squad with at least one addition in defence, midfield and attack.

The new arrivals are set to total more than £200m in transfer fees. A number of departures are expected to make room with doubts of the futures of Alexis Sanchez, Romelu Lukaku, Matteo Darmian and Juan Mata, as well as Bailly and Rojo.

Ander Herrera and club captain Antonio Valencia are set to leave on free transfers when their contracts expire on June 30.