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TORONTO -- Former Arizona Coyotes captain Shane Doan has been hired as a special adviser to new Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving, the team announced Friday.
The 46-year-old Doan spent his entire 21-year playing career with the Coyotes franchise, starting in its final year in Winnipeg in 1995-96. He was an All-Star in 2004 and 2009.
After his retirement as a player following the 2016-17 season, Doan spent three years in the NHL's hockey operations department. He later worked in the Coyotes' front office for two years and most recently served as assistant GM of the Canadian national team, which won gold at the 2023 world championship.
"The Maple Leafs have a such deep history and a passionate fan base, and I'm excited to contribute in any way I can in the organization's pursuit of their ultimate goal," Doan said in a statement. "I'm also thrilled to once again work alongside Brad Treliving and continue a working relationship that began during Brad's time with the Coyotes."
Toronto billionaire Steve Apostolopoulos has withdrawn his bid to purchase the Ottawa Senators, a source confirmed to ESPN's John Keim on Friday.
Apostolopoulos, who was also in the running to purchase the NFL's Washington Commanders, had made a bid of at least $1 billion but pulled out after growing frustrated with the length of the process, the source said.
News of Apostolopoulos' withdrawal was first reported by the Ottawa Sun.
Apostolopoulos is the second prospective buyer to rescind an offer for the Senators. Real-estate developer Remington Group, which included actor Ryan Reynolds in its consortium, retracted its offer in May.
Apostolopoulos' departure now leaves three prospective owners to take over the club.
Toronto investor Michael Andlauer, billionaires Jeffrey and Michael Kimel of the Toronto-based Harlo Capital and Los Angeles businessman Neko Sparks remain in the running to own the Senators.
Andlauer and his group are believed to have the inside track while remaining "highly motivated" to see out the process, sources confirmed to ESPN.
Sportico reported in March that the Senators sale could surpass $900 million, which would set an NHL record. If the Senators were to be purchased for more than $900 million, it would overtake the Pittsburgh Penguins' $900 million sale to Fenway Sports Group in 2021 as the richest transaction in league history.
Jimmy Dunne talks potential reward for loyalists, punishment for LIV defectors
Jimmy Dunne, a PGA Tour policy board member, continues to provide details as to how the partnership between the Tour, DP World Tour and the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund will come together.
According to Dunne, players who remained loyal to the Tour instead of defecting to LIV Golf would receive equity shares in the new for-profit enterprise.
"The new [company] would grow, and the [current PGA Tour] players would get a piece of equity that would enhance and increase in value as time went on," Dunne said in an interview with ESPN. "There would have to be some kind of formulaic decision on how to do that. It would be a process to determine what would be a fair mechanism that would be really beneficial to our players."
This comes on the heels of harsh criticism that the partnership would essentially reward the players who left the Tour in favor of LIV, while the players who remained loyal to the Tour would have no way to make up for the money they left on the table by choosing to spurn LIV’s offers.
Players such as (but not limited to) Hideki Matsuyama, Jon Rahm, Patrick Cantlay and Cameron Young reportedly turned down contracts worth as much, if not more than, $100 million guaranteed to remain with the Tour.
The players who left the Tour for LIV Golf would not be eligible to participate in the new company’s equity plan.
Dunne said Tour commissioner Jay Monahan would have oversight of LIV Golf under the new agreement, which would allow him to determine whether the 54-hole, shotgun start league will continue beyond this season. Monahan will serve as CEO of the new entity, while PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan will be chairman.
If LIV Golf ceases to exist, Dunne said a committee consisting of current Tour members and administrators would determine potential punishment for players who left for LIV but wanted to return to the Tour.
"I think we would form a panel, including Tour players, that would evaluate what the terms would be," Dunne said. "Remember, they're coming back to compete on the Tour, so they have to be confident that they would be good enough to continue to play, and they have to be willing to incur the penalty for having gone."
According to ESPN, punishment would likely be considered on a case-by-case basis. For example, the 11 players who sued the Tour after bolting for LIV might face harsher punishment than those who quietly jumped to the opposition.
"Players on the LIV [tour] that wanted to reinstate into the PGA Tour would go through a process [and] suspension," Dunne said. "Whatever the penalty was, they'd have to decide whether they wanted to do that or not and then they could play."
PGA Tour rookie Carl Yuan leads RBC Canadian Open; Rory McIlroy in hunt
TORONTO — Carl Yuan moved into position to turn around a forgettable rookie year on the PGA Tour, shooting a 5-under 67 in cool, rainy conditions Friday to take a one-shot lead at the midway point of the RBC Canadian Open.
Two-time defending champion Rory McIlroy gave himself a chance heading into the weekend at Oakdale. He shot 67 and was three shots back of Yuan’s two-day total of 9-under 135.
“I felt like I putted pretty well (Thursday). But iron play was better, wedges were definitely better, got it in play a little more off the tee,” said McIlroy, who had never seen the course before the opening round. “So yeah, it was a better, more solid round.”
Corey Conners, seeking to become the first Canadian to win his national open since 1954, shot 69 and was one shot back. Joining him were Tyrrell Hatton — who shot 64 to set the course record for Oakdale’s composite routing — C.T. Pan (66) and Aaron Rai (69).
“Really happy with the start,” Conners said. “Fun playing in front of the Canadian fans. Just enjoying the walk out there.”
Conners is coming off a tie for 12th in the PGA Championship at Oak Hill.
“I would say this week I’ve been a lot more relaxed than even I was there and I felt like I was quite relaxed at the PGA Championship,” he said. “So I’m feeling good about my game and able to play with freedom and confidence. I’m just having a lot of fun.”
Yuan, a 26-year-old from China who played college golf at Washington, has made 7 of 20 cuts this season, with his best finish a tie for 21st at the Sony Open in Hawaii in January. With his playing status very much in jeopardy, Yuan is trying to block out the stress and have fun on the course.
“That’s my goal coming into the week. That’s my No. 1 goal,” Yuan said. “Not a result goal, just like being in the present, hitting shot by shot and, yeah, being out here trying to have the most fun. All of it.”
Yuan said the weather reminded him of his college days in the Pacific Northwest.
“I think this is right up my alley,” said Yuan, who was born in Dalian, China. “I went to school in Seattle ... That’s exactly what we deal with in the wintertime.”
Brendon Todd and first-round co-leader Justin Lower were among six players two shots back on a bunched leaderboard. Justin Rose, paired with McIlroy the first two days, shot consecutive 69s to match him at 6 under.
Former top-ranked amateur Ludvig Aberg made the cut in his pro debut. The former Texas Tech player from Sweden was 3 under after an opening 69 and a second-round 72.
Dani Holmqvist surprise leader after first round of ShopRite LPGA Classic
GALLOWAY, N.J. — Dani Holmqvist shot a career-best 7-under 64 Friday to take a one-shot lead over Jenny Shin and Chinese rookie Yan Liu after the first round of the ShopRite LPGA Classic.
Two-time ShopRite winner Anna Nordqvist and Georgia Hall were in a group of five who are two shots off the lead in the 54-hole event on the Bay Course at Seaview, close to the casinos in Atlantic City.
Having Holmqvist in front is a surprise. The 35-year-old Swede, who has never won on tour, had missed the cut in all five events she played this year. She had five birdies and an eagle playing in the afternoon groupings. She has two previous 65s, one here in 2018.
Holmqvist said she’s had a slow start to the season and hasn’t played enough to get herself into a rhythm. Being in front is a good feeling though.
“That’s what we all strive to do,” she said. “Some weeks you’re better than others, and some weeks you feel like you’re losing. So it’s fun to actually come up on top for you once. This game is tough, and just got to cherish the moments when you actually put together a good one.”
The 30-year-old Shin, from South Korea, had six birdies in a bogey-free round in search of her first win since 2016. It is her only win on tour but she has been a steady earner, pocketing $5.4 million since turning pro in 2010.
“Bogey-free rounds are always very happy rounds,” said Shin, who hit 12 of 14 fairways and 13 of 18 greens. “I dropped the putts when I needed to and I hit some good shots coming into the par-5s and gave myself really good opportunities for birdie. So, yeah, good round overall.”
The 25-year-old Liu had a wild round that featured two eagles — on Nos. 9 and 18 — five birdies and three bogeys, all in her first five holes. She was 1 over heading to No. 9 and played the last 10 in 7 under. Her tie for 21st last week at Mizuho was her best finish of the year.
Had her early morning score held, it would have been her first time as the leader.
“I just want to stay focused on my game, and like today, easy golf,” she said.
Hall, who has five top-10 finishes including consecutive runner-up spots in March, had eight birdies and three bogeys. She is ranked No. 9 in the world and is looking for her third LPGA victory.
“I really like this golf course,” said Hall, who is returning home next week to rest. “It’s a little bit linksy, so reminds me of home a bit. And the greens are a little bit slow like they are in England, so I wanted to come play this week. And, obviously, a win is a win.”
Nordqvist won in 2015 and ’16. The 35-year-old Swede played a bogey-free round in her quest for a 10th title, the last the Women’s Open in 2021.
“I feel like when you do well at a golf course there is a lot of good memories, so I think that gives you a little bit of confidence and just like puts you in a really good state,” Nordqvist said.
American Sarah Schmelzel, Soo Bin Joo of South Korea and Paula Reto of South Africa were also at 5 under, a shot ahead of a large group that included Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand and Ayaka Furue of Japan, who both played well at the Mizuho Americas Cup last week in Jersey City.
Two-time NCAA champion Rose Zhang, who stunned the golf world by winning last week in her first start as a professional, is taking this week off.
Defending champion Brooke Henderson and Aditi Ashok of India were in a group at 2 under.
Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun said Gareth Southgate had no impact on his decision to switch allegiance and play for the United States after the England manager had urged him to be patient in waiting for a place with the senior national team.
The New York-born 21-year-old, who has been on loan at Ligue 1 side Stade de Reims, said last month that he would represent the U.S. after he played for England at Under-21 level.
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His decision is seen as a triumph for the Americans, as Balogun scored 21 Ligue 1 goals this season, after Southgate said it would take time for him to start for the Three Lions.
Balogun arrived at training camp in Carson, California, this week ahead of a showdown between champion the U.S. and rival Mexico in the Concacaf Nations League semifinals.
"My decision to come here was just really an internal decision between myself, my family and my agent. It wasn't anything to do with the comments of Gareth Southgate or anything to do with noise I heard from outside," Balogun said on Friday.
"That was something I wanted to do. It [was] something my family supported and at the end of the day, I just went with my heart and went with what I thought was the best," he added.
Balogun said he was already fitting in perfectly with the squad and had received an education in the history of the rivalry between the U.S. and Mexico.
"It's a fantastic opportunity, not just for me, but for the team," he said. "Mexico and the U.S. have a big rivalry, so I'm looking forward to it.
"And, of course, there'd be no better way to introduce myself than playing against a big opposition where it matters."
By the time Balogun started training with the U.S. team this week, interim coach Anthony Hudson had quit to become coach of Qatar's Al Markhiya and B.J. Callaghan took over as the second interim coach while the U.S. Soccer Federation searches for a long-term replacement for Gregg Berhalter.
"He was one of the first guys I called when I got the news," Callaghan said of Balogun. "He's someone that I spoke to about embracing the brotherhood that we have. It's a welcoming environment. The guys are going to welcome and they're all excited and he's excited. ... But at the same time, I challenged him and I said, listen, you have to put yourself out there and you have to integrate with the group."
Balogun joins a forward pool that includes Jesus Ferreira, who also is in camp, along with Ricardo Pepi, Josh Sargent, Daryl Dike and several others.
"We have to feed him the ball and he's going to put it in the goal," said midfielder Yunus Musah, who has known Balogun since they both were at Arsenal's youth academy. "That's pretty much it."
Information from Reuters and the Associated Press was used in this report.
Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani has reached an agreement to sell his stake in the club to 49ers Enterprises, the second-tier English side said Friday.
49ers Enterprises, the investment arm of the NFL's San Francisco 49ers, has been a shareholder at Leeds, recently relegated from the Premier League, since its initial investment in May 2018.
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Over the past few years, its stake increased to 44%, while Radrizzani's Aser Ventures owned the remaining 56%. Leeds said that a purchase has now been agreed.
"Both parties continue to work through the details, and further updates will be provided soon," they said in a statement.
Earlier this season, Radrizzani and partner Matteo Manfredi made a purchase of the relegated Serie A club Sampdoria.
Leeds were relegated from England's top tier after a roller-coaster season under four different managers. They finished second from bottom in the standings on 31 points and will now compete in the EFL Championship next season.
"All of our focus remains on a quick return to the Premier League," the statement added.
Will Smeed blasts Somerset past rivals with rapid-fire 94
Somerset 231 for 4 (Smeed 94) beat Gloucestershire 151 (Hammond 61, van der Merwe 3-23, Bashir 3-26, Davey 3-26) by 80 runs
This was Somerset's seventh win in eight South Group matches this summer and victory over their neighbours served to maintain their advantage over nearest rivals Surrey and Hampshire. Beaten in four of their seven fixtures, Gloucestershire have a good deal of ground to make up if they are to challenge for a quarter-final place.
Having played himself into form when making 52 against Hampshire at Southampton last time out, Smeed picked up where he left off, treating a full house to an astonishing display of clean hitting after Somerset had been put in.
The 21-year-old right-hander was particularly severe on Gloucestershire's spinners, greeting Zafar Gohar with a huge six over backward square leg in the third over. He repeated the shot at the expense of Matt Taylor in the next over, while Banton drove Zafar and Taylor down the ground for four to give the powerplay lift-off.
Veteran left arm seamer David Payne managed to restore some sanity to proceedings in two overs with the new ball that cost just 10 runs, but Smeed launched a terrible assault upon Tom Smith, plundering a quartet of fours and a six to race to a 21-ball 50 at the end of an over that spawned 24 runs as the visitors raised 62 from the powerplay.
There was no respite for the bowlers, Smeed welcoming Danny Lamb with a towering six backward of square and then helping himself to another maximum, smashing the Lancastrian over long-on. Desperate to break the opening partnership, Gloucestershire skipper Jack Taylor called himself into the attack to bowl the ninth over, only to see his first delivery dispatched over long-on for six and his second, another full toss, put away through mid-wicket for four. When Banton hoisted him high over the long-on boundary, Somerset had raised 100 inside nine overs.
In attempting to post a hundred inside 10 overs, Smeed blotted his copybook, attempting to hit Zafar over deep square for six, only to fall short and hole out to Matt Taylor, much to the relief of Gloucestershire's players and supporters. Having held sway for 36 murderous minutes, the opener finished with eight sixes and eight fours, coming agonisingly close to registering what would have been a spectacular 35-ball century. Smeed has now been dismissed in the nineties on five occasions during his career.
Cast in the unaccustomed role of support act, Banton went in the very next over, falling to a brilliant catch by wicketkeeper James Bracey and departing for a run-a-ball 26 with the score still on 122.
Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Tom Abell added 40 in 3.5 overs for the third wicket, maintaining Somerset's impressive momentum. Hard-hitting Kohler-Cadmore struck 30 from 15 balls before taking on Zafar once too often and being held on the mid-wicket boundary by Hammond.
Gloucestershire stuck to their task, Ollie Price bowling Abell in the act of sweeping to reduce the visitors to 173 for 4 in the 16th over . Although Somerset raised 200 inside 18 overs, the record score for a T20 match at Bristol - 242 made by Gloucestershire against Middlesex in 2018 - was always likely to prove beyond them. Nevertheless, Lewis Gregory and Sean Dickson gave it their best shot, staging a frenzied unbeaten alliance of 58 in 24 balls for the fifth wicket as the home side wilted under pressure. Gregory mustered a brace of sixes and fours in scoring 30 from 13 balls, while Dickson's 28 occupied 17 balls.
Payne showed what was possible by sending down four overs for 25, but it was a painful experience for some of his teammates, Lamb conceding 53 from three overs and Smith 36 from two as Gloucestershire came under sustained heavy bombardment.
Craig Overton dismissed Ben Wells in the third over to render Gloucestershire's task even more difficult, but Hammond and Charlesworth matched one another blow for blow as the reply passed 50 inside five overs. The powerplay yielded 63 and the 50 partnership arrived via 33 balls as the second wicket pair served notice of their determination to make a game of it.
Just when Somerset needed a breakthrough, Davey obliged, removing Charlesworth and Ollie Price with successive deliveries in the tenth over. Charlesworth had scored 41 from 25 balls and helped add 75 with Hammond, when he was held at long-on, while Davey took a fine return catch to account for Price via a leading edge as the hosts reached the halfway point of their innings on 100 for 3.
Hammond continued his defiance, going to 50 from 28 balls, but he chanced his arm once too often when attempting to hit van de Merwe over long-on and instead holed out to Overton. When Jack Taylor fell later in the same over, Gloucestershire were 124 for 5, requiring a notional 108 runs from 44 balls, and the outcome was beyond doubt.
Smeed said: "I was on about 77 when Tom Banton said to me 'you've got to go for the quickest hundred'. That was very much in my mind thereafter, and explains why I went for that big hit on 94. I do like scores in the nineties and it's a shame I was unable to go on and reach three figures. But I really enjoyed myself out there."
Bell-Drummond tolls for Hampshire as Kent win first in six
Kent 180 for 4 (Bell-Drummond 89) beat Hampshire 177 for 7 (Weatherley 67, McDermott 57) by six wickets
The general mood around the Spitfire Ground was one of contentment heading into the visit of Hampshire, if only because it was Friday night and the sun was shining. Five defeats on the bounce, most recently here against Essex three days ago, had created a palpable apathy around a Kent white-ball team who, on paper at least, spark joy.
Within six balls, apathy had turned to hope. James Vince, one of the tournament's form players with 406 runs from seven innings coming into tonight, had been seen off for a golden duck, off stump taken for a walk by Fred Klassen. A few hours later, they were celebrating a first win in six, toppling a target of 177 with three deliveries to spare. Somehow, they're still fighting for this Vitality Blast.
The vibe of Canterbury, even the expectation, dialled up with Vince's dismissal. The Hampshire captain sold it well, staring in the vague area Klassen's delivery had pitched and deviated enough to leave him totally flummoxed. When Klassen repeated the trick to leave Toby Albert off-stump-less in his next over, making it 17 for 2, the crowd were locked in. Kent had decided to bowl first this time, and things were beginning to go their way.
The aggression was solely on the Australian, though he quickly gave up a run to the striker's end when Weatherley called late after flicking straight to Klassen inside the circle at fine leg. This time, the Dutchman missed the stumps, and McDermott then lifted Grant Stewart over square leg to rub it in a little. An attempt to carve the next delivery over cover found Tawanda Mueyeye lurking in the deep.
It was from that point the visitors spluttered. Considering they were 102 for 2 midway through the 11th over, only adding 75 off the remaining 57 deliveries on a quick-scoring ground was an error from an experienced batting line-up, against an attack shorn of confidence.
There was willing, of course. Ross Whiteley and James Fuller, two middle-order bruisers who would not look out of place manning the doors at the rowdier establishments on Canterbury high street, failed to impose themselves, with 11 off 12 and 4 off 5 respectively.
Weatherley was willing, his own half-century (a second of the season) taking 35 deliveries, though found himself wallowing at the non-striker's end while the big hitters failed to find their feet. Weatherley's attempt to manufacture a six led to a steepling catch brilliantly taken by Stewart running around from short fine leg to square leg for Richardson's only wicket, returning the favour after the reverse had ended Whiteley's stay. Liam Dawson's 25 lifted Hampshire to par, but the fact he struck the last three boundaries of the innings across the final 19 deliveries of the innings - the last of which, a six carved over point, came second ball of the final over - spoke of misjudgements of sorts.
Kent's openers have been beacons amid the gloom, and they skipped to an opening stand of 59. That it ended in the final over of the powerplay looked a point of contention. Tawanda Muyeye looked bemused at being given leg before to the precocious John Turner, though the batter might not have been the best judge considering he was rolling over following an attempted lap.
The 22-year-old was lucky to have made it that far. Who knows what might have happened had James Fuller held onto a relatively simple chase to remove the opener on 5 and in turn, have Kent 9 for 1. That error was compounded when Fuller's first over was blitzed for 21, courtesy of a brace of sixes sandwiching a four from Bell-Drummond.
That Bell-Drummond was Kent's leading run-scorer with just 158 from six innings going into this match was as much an indication of the lack of support down the order as his own profligacy. Even though he has stayed true to a domineering approach, standing a little squarer in this format and chocking the handle a little lower to flick and whip a little easier, there was a sense he might need to do things differently. Perhaps turn the attacking dial down a notch and spend a little longer at the crease as one of the few in nick.
As it turns out, there was no compromise to be made. Why not both? He rocked back and forth, carving boundaries on both sides of the wicket, before standing firm and crunching the usually unhittable Dawson over wide mid on for his fourth six to take the rate under a run a ball (28 off 30).
There was scope for a cock-up. When Billings lost his off stump to Ellis in the penultimate over, which reaped just two runs for Kent, Hampshire figured they would prey on a team who haven't closed well. Vince ramped up the anxiety with as many as three fielding changes before Chris Wood ran in for the first delivery of the final over.
It almost - almost - produced, with Mason Crane narrowly missing a run out of Leaning after Jordan Cox had tipped and run to midwicket. Alas, Kent held their nerve for a first win in six to hand Hampshire their first loss in as many.
Vithushan Ehantharajah is an associate editor at ESPNcricinfo
Foxes show bite thanks to Rishi Patel's maiden T20 hundred
Leicestershire 174 for 4 (Patel 104, Hill 54) beat Durham 172 for 4 (Turner 60*) by six wickets
It was Durham's second defeat by Leicestershire in six days although the Foxes remain bottom of the North Group table, having lost their other six games.
Asked to bat first, Durham posted 59 for 2 from the opening block of six, 35 of those runs coming in two overs after the visitors went hard against the two new faces in the Foxes attack, with Matt Salisbury and Tom Scriven drafted in for their county Blast debuts after injuries to Mikey Finan and Will Davis as well as Afghan international Naveen.
Salisbury, who did not play in the Blast during his four years at Durham but made eight appearances for Essex in 2014, took a wicket with his fifth ball against his ex-team-mates when Alex Lees swung optimistically and was bowled, but took some punishment in his second over as Clark and Michael Jones plundered 17 runs, the pair having taken 18 off Scriven in the previous over, although Clark survived a difficult chance to point on four.
Hull finished the powerplay well for the Foxes as Jones miscued to mid-on and when left-arm spinner Parkinson produced a fine, full delivery to trap Clark in the crease in the next over, Durham were 61 for 3. At halfway, with Colin Ackermann and Rehan Ahmed applying the squeeze, they were 80 for 3, advancing to 112 for 4 from 15 overs after Parkinson made another big breakthrough, bowling Robinson to register his 100th Blast wicket for the county.
The Foxes would have been disappointed not to claim more wickets in the last five, which saw Turner and Bas de Leede swell the total by 62 runs, both clearing the ropes of Rehan's legspin, but Hull, the 18-year-old left-arm quick of whom they have high hopes, produced an impressive final over costing just eight runs to finish with 1 for 26.
Needing to score at 8.65 runs per over, the home side suffered an immediate setback, losing Nick Welch to the fifth ball of their reply as he missed an attempted sweep against left-arm spinner Liam Trevaskis, but recovered well, with Hill pulling and scooping profitably and Patel hitting powerfully down the ground, to be 69 for 1 from six, although the latter had an escape when Ben Raine dropped what should have been a straightforward chance at wide long-on.
Back-to-back boundaries off Turner took Patel to a 21-ball half-century and two more off legspinner Nathan Sowter's next over brought the target down to 70 with 70 balls remaining.
And there was no holding the Foxes back on this occasion with Patel in destructive mood, needing just 24 more balls to reach his hundred, getting there his second six in three balls over wide long-on off Sowter, and although it all ended anticlimactically in the next over as an ill-advised decision to go for a second run to de Leede at midwicket off Wayne Parnell saw him run out.
Nonetheless, the home side went into the final five overs needing just 21 to win and though Parnell dismissed Colin Ackermann, who chopped on, and Louis Kimber, caught behind, with consecutive balls, to induce a little anxiety in the home crowd, only 14 more were needed, Hill finishing the job by pulling Sowter for his third six before driving the same bowler through extra cover for four next ball.
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