Greg Wyshynski, ESPNJun 15, 2024, 12:52 PM ET CloseGreg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer. EDMONTON, Alberta — Edmonton Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch defended the play of center Leon Draisaitl, the playoffs’ second-leading scorer who has yet to register a point in the Stanley Cup Final ahead of Saturday night’s Game 4. Draisaitl had 28 points in 18 games entering …

With one of the highest capacities in the country at over 100,000, LSU’s Tiger Stadium is widely considered to be one of the toughest venues for opposing teams to play in college football. ESPN analyst Greg McElroy, a two-year starting quarterback at Alabama, knows that better than most. On his “Always College Football” podcast, McElroy ranked the most hostile environments …

LSU already holds a commitment from the top quarterback and No. 1 overall player in the 2025 class, Bryce Underwood. While anything can happen in recruiting, Underwood’s commitment to the Tigers seems to be solid, and that has opened up co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Joe Sloan to turn his focus to the 2026 class. The Tigers hosted a pair …

Getty Images Tee Higgins’ holdout with the Cincinnati Bengals appears to be reaching its end. The star wide receiver is signing his franchise tag on Saturday and is expected to be at training camp, according to ESPN. Higgins had been away from the team and did not attend mandatory minicamp as he currently seeks a contract extension. While this does …

Tee Higgins is expected to be at training camp for the Cincinnati Bengals as the wide receiver will sign his franchise tender, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter and the Cincinnati Inquirer’s Kelsey Conway. Higgins had reportedly asked to be traded in March when contract negotiations were going nowhere. But a month later, the 25-year-old said he did “anticipate” playing for …

For the third season in a row, LSU will open its season in a standalone Labor Day weekend game against a power conference opponent. The Tigers are heading to Las Vegas to face Lincoln Riley and the USC Trojans in a matchup that will put two teams with a lot of new pieces against each other. It will also be …

Getty Images The Detroit Lions are tapping into the United Football League to deepen their kicking room. The defending NFC North champions have signed kicker Jake Bates to a two-year deal, according to ESPN. The financial terms of the agreement were not immediately disclosed. On top of the Lions, the 24-year-old received interest from the Green Bay Packers and Washington …

Your weekly serving of college football roster acquisition thoughts — recruiting, transfer portal, you name it — from 247Sports Director of Scouting Andrew Ivins.  Will Ohio State sign a WR class up to its standards? Ohio State has never signed the nation’s top-ranked recruiting class, but as we cross the halfway point of June, the Buckeyes are one of the few programs …

LSU is looking to add to its receiver class after losing a commitment from No. 1 wideout Dakorien Moore — who it remains in the mix for — last month. The Tigers are in luck as they made the cut for four-star receiver CJ Wiley, son of former LSU defensive end Chuck Wiley. They’re joined by Georgia and Florida State, …

Madray Johnson competes on the floor during the U.S. Gymnastics Championships, Sunday, June 2, 2024, in Fort Worth, Texas. | Julio Cortez The future is here for NCAA gymnastics. Beginning Saturday, coaches from across the country can officially, per NCAA rules, talk to prospects in the class of 2026 — gymnasts who recently finished their sophomore years in high school. …

With one of the top recruiting classes in the Big Ten and all of college football, Rutgers football is certainly trending in the right direction. Two national college football analysts who cover the Big Ten certainly see it that way. Speaking on ‘Red Corner Blue Corner‘ on the Stadium streaming network, former Ohio State linebacker Joshua Perry and Michigan tight …

Criminal trials boil down to one issue — did the defendant do it? Civil trials have two big questions. Did the defendant do it, and if so what was the financial harm? The NFL’s last major antitrust trial, from 38 years ago, resulted in a finding that the NFL did violate the law as to the USFL, but that the …

Greg Wyshynski, ESPNJun 15, 2024, 07:45 AM ET CloseGreg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer. EDMONTON — The 2024 Stanley Cup Final is a battle between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers. Two teams from different countries with different legacies. Each team has their own philosophy about how to properly pass the time on marathon flights between the cities. …

Jun 15, 2024, 07:30 AM ET The NHL postseason is steeped in tradition: playoff beards, post-game handshakes, and high-stick salutes to teams’ loyal fans. Yet there is one ritual that eclipses them all. “You don’t touch the Stanley Cup until you’ve earned it,” said Philip Pritchard, vice president and curator of the Hockey Hall of Fame. “It’s an unwritten rule, …

Rutgers football will be hosting their CHOP Elite camp on Sunday. Layton von Brandt, one of the top recruiting targets in the class of 2027 will be in attendance. Offered by Rutgers football in early April, von Brandt is turning into one of the most-sought after recruits in the region. He is a 6-foot-6 and 255-pound offensive tackle at Appoquinimink …