The many moves in the NHL salary cap era

Guardian sports editor left his mark on the P.E.I. sporting community

The National Hockey League is in the midst of its busiest non-playing portion of the season with this week’s Seattle Kraken expansion draft, the freeze on rosters, plus this weekend’s NHL Entry Draft.

The Montreal Canadiens, Colorado Avalanche and St. Louis Blues exposed goaltender Carey Price, forward Gabriel Landeskog and Vladimir Tarasenko, all three superstars. But in this whacky world of the salary cap, none were selected by Seattle, with the long-term health status of Price and Tarasenko likely a deciding factor.

Don’t expect the Kraken to have instant success like the Vegas Golden Knights enjoyed. There may be a long wait before a Seattle playoff appearance.

BASEBALL

The American League East is heating up with the Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees chasing first place.

The Red Sox need pitching and last weekend’s Chris Sale outing in the minors was promising. The big lefty, who underwent Tommy John surgery, hit 97-98 on the speed gun, and he’s almost ready.

The Yankees somehow took two of three games from Boston last week, but they are poor defensively down the middle. That means they are suspect at the catching, shortstop, second base, centre field positions.

New York’s three best players are on the sidelines, and manager Aaron Boone is no Billy Martin. I’m writing off my beloved Yankees.

Tampa Bay is held together by Gorilla tape, but, like Boston, has a top manager.

The Blue Jays really disappointed in their final two games in Buffalo, losing two straight to Boston this week as the Red Sox hammered Toronto’s two best pitchers.

Toronto can win the AL East if they get pitching help – preferably a starter or two. The Jays meet the NL East’s first-place New York Mets this weekend. Toronto faces a line-up without shortstop Francisco Lindor and will not see ace pitchers Jacob deGrom, who is injured, and Marcus Stroman, a shutout winner on July 21. If Toronto can’t sweep the Mets, forget about the playoff picture.

SAYING GOODBYE

If you’ve been around the P.E.I. sports community, especially Charlottetown the past decade, you will have crossed paths with Guardian sports editor Jason Malloy.

In the almost 50 years that I have been associated with the Guardian-Patriot – 60 years if you count as a paperboy at age 10 – I have had the pleasure of working with so many good newspaper people. Jason is right at the top of that list.

Earlier this week, I found out that Jason will be leaving The Guardian to return to the Kentville, N.S., area to be closer to family while staying in the newspaper business. This is a gigantic loss for P.E.I. sports in general.

I am certain that every sports body, starting with hockey and coverage of the UPEI Panthers, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Charlottetown Islanders and the major under18 hockey teams, wishes him well.

But it doesn’t stop there. All teams got prime coverage in The Guardian, whether it be baseball’s New Brunswick leagues and the Kings County Baseball League, UPEI sports, Holland College, curling, rugby, soccer, pro basketball and even cricket. Jason was at those facilities talking with the coaches and players for insights into his next articles.

In terms of coverage for my own Fiddlers Facts column, I argued with Jason for more space from his first day on the job. Here he was 10 years ago explaining to a far more senior writer that the space he allocated to me was final, and the reasons why.

He stuck to his guns. I admired him then, and even more so today after 10 terrific years on Prince Edward Island.

I am certain he is loved and appreciated by everyone he encountered. I will miss you Jason, and so will P.E.I.

BOOK LAUNCH

Just a reminder of the Tale of Two Fiddlers book launch at Red Shores on July 28.

Lee Drake is the master of ceremonies, and it should be a fun night with a few stories and some race clips that you will enjoy.

To reserve a seat and the meal, call Top of the Park at (902)-620-4264.

HARNESS RACING

Live harness racing continues July 24 at Red Shores Charlottetown with a 15dash card at 6 p.m.

The $3,400 top-class event features two newcomers in Mystery Phil and Rock Lights. They join McPat, Avatar J and Rose Run Quest in this field.

There’s also a $3,050 preferred class with Day Delight, Soccer Hanover, Power of Cruiser, Cowboy Logic and four others. . . Local driver Kenny Murphy, who has been quietly sneaking up the CDP leaderboard in wins, bagged four July 17 to give him 28. He is among the top five drivers, trailing Gilles Barrieau, Marc Campbell, Corey MacPherson and Jason Hughes. . . That was some outstanding racing last week at Truro. Time to Dance set a new track record of 1:51:3 in the $7,500 Lyndsay Construction Invitational. There was a new three-year-old track record by Woodmere Stealdeal in 1:52:2. Jadensmagicsteal (1:54:1) and Peter Smith and Gerald Morrissey’s twoyear-old Fern Hill General (1:55 and change) also put in impressive trips. Can’t wait until they are back here. . . At Mohawk, July 24, Saltwater Savage, co-owned by Mike Currie and Jerry MacKinnon, goes in the $22,000 Grassroots Stake and leaves from the rail for trainer Dr. Ian Moore and driver Bob McClure. Savage was a fastclosing second at Mohawk in 1:51:3 on July 19. . . Also, July 24, Jeff Lilley’s Bettim Again, who has been getting better, goes for $20,000 with Sylvain Filion aboard.

. . That was some picture of Mark MacDonald and Dr. Ian Moore after the 1988 Gold Cup and Saucer win with The Papermaker. Now the picture is everywhere, even on The Meadowlands Facebook page and Standardbred Canada web page.

. . The Adios eliminations go July 24 at The Meadowlands, with many of the Meadowlands Pace entries in the eliminations. Mark Mac drew the eight-hole with Billy Clyde, beaten a nose in 1:47.3 two weeks ago. It’s tough from out there!