Sports

Marchand back in Boston, watches as Panthers fall

Published

4 months ago

March 12, 2025

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Associated Press

Mar 11, 2025, 04:48 PM ET

BOSTON — Brad Marchand stepped back onto the ice at the TD Garden on Tuesday — this time in a Panthers practice jersey as the longtime Bruin returned to Boston for the first time since he was traded to Florida.

Although Marchand is injured and was inactive for the game against his former team, the 11-minute morning skate was his first opportunity to practice with his new teammates.

“Definitely still a little bit that I’ve got to get through here,” said Marchand, who did play in Boston as a visitor for Canada last month in the 4 Nations Face-Off. “I got a little bit of a feel for it. It still felt weird.”

Marchand watched the game, which Boston rallied to win 3-2, from the locker room, then spent some time catching up with Charlie McAvoy and other former teammates in the hallway. A Bruins spokesman said the team had a video tribute ready but will hold it until Marchand can be on the ice to see it.

A four-time All-Star who is the Bruins’ career leader in playoff, short-handed and overtime goals, Marchand helped Boston win the Stanley Cup as a rookie and guided the Original Six franchise to NHL records of 65 wins and 135 points in 2023.

But with the Bruins losing eight of nine games and likely to miss the postseason for the first time since 2016, he was sent to Florida on Friday for a second-round draft pick that could become a first-rounder if Marchand returns to the ice and helps the Panthers advance to the playoffs. The trade deadline fire sale signaled the end of the franchise’s most successful era since Bobby Orr won two Stanley Cup titles in the 1970s.

Marchand, who is eligible to become a free agent after this season, had been offered a contract extension, but the sides could not agree on terms.

“I think they had the right intentions,” Marchand told reporters Tuesday, wearing a Panthers hat and T-shirt just down the hall from the locker room he called home for 16 seasons.

“They tried to do what was best for the team and also give me an opportunity to stay if I wanted to. And they put a position on the table that they felt was fair,” he said. “But I also understand that it may be time to kind of reset and go in a different direction. I think they were at a crossroads as well.”

Marchand has 21 goals and 26 assists this season but has not played since leaving the March 1 game against Pittsburgh with an unspecified upper-body injury. Panthers coach Paul Maurice said he remains week to week, with the goal of getting him back at the end of the regular season.

“That was the hope, that was kind of the idea,” Maurice said. “We wanted him to get on the ice and move some pucks around just to see where he was at. So that was a positive.”

Maurice said he’s liked what he’s seen from Marchand, an oft-suspended gadfly who gained a reputation as a troublemaker before maturing into his role as the Bruins captain for the past two seasons. The Panthers coach said he wants Marchand to be himself and not try to change just to fit in with a defending championship roster that already includes leaders such as Aleksander Barkov, Aaron Ekblad and Matthew Tkachuk.

“We have a lot of different personalities. It’s not all the same guy,” Maurice said. “But that’s what makes it fun. So bring your own personality; be exactly who you are. Don’t ever try to be somebody you’re not. Because that’s not what we traded for.

“If you’re funny, be funny. If you’re not, just sit there and laugh. Whatever it is that you are, be yourself,” the coach said. “And I think when you come into a little more veteran team, you have a better chance of doing that.”

Marchand said he didn’t feel obligated to be a vocal leader on his new team. But on the other hand, he doesn’t plan to tone down his outspoken style, either.

“Why would I do that? I think that’s just me. I wouldn’t be able to do that anyways,” Marchand said. “Do you think I need to tone it down? My wife does.

“So, yeah, I’m just going to be me.”

Sports

D-backs star Marte’s home robbed during break

Published

6 hours ago

July 17, 2025

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D-backs star Marte's home robbed during break

Associated Press

Jul 17, 2025, 01:35 AM ET

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — A home belonging to Arizona Diamondbacks star Ketel Marte was burglarized during the Major League Baseball All-Star break, according to police.

Scottsdale, Arizona, police confirmed that the department is investigating a “high-dollar residential burglary” that is believed to have happened on Tuesday night, which is when Marte was playing for the National League in its All-Star game win in Atlanta.

Numerous personal items and jewelry were stolen. No one was at home when the burglary occurred.

Police said the home is “reportedly” owned by Marte. Maricopa County Assessor’s Office records show Marte owns a home on the block near the investigation.

Police say the investigation is ongoing.

Marte hit a two-run double in the first inning of the NL’s win, which was secured after a home run contest at the end of the game after the score was tied after nine innings.

The burglary is the latest in a series of thefts from the homes of high-profile athletes across the country this year. Players have been targeted because of the high-end products believed to be in their homes and sometimes the thefts occur when they are away with their teams for road games.

The FBI has warned sports leagues about crime organizations targeting professional athletes. The NFL and NBA have issued security alerts to athletes.

A Seattle man was charged last month in connection with a string of burglaries at the homes of prominent active and retired professional athletes in the area.

Sports

Cubs icon Sandberg ‘continuing to fight’ cancer

Published

6 hours ago

July 17, 2025

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Cubs icon Sandberg 'continuing to fight' cancer

Field Level Media

Jul 16, 2025, 01:09 PM ET

Chicago Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg said Wednesday he is “continuing to fight” cancer and is prioritizing time with those closest to him.

He posted a letter addressed to his fans and extended baseball family on Instagram.

“I wanted to share an update regarding my health,” wrote Sandberg, 65. “It’s been a challenging few months as I have been going through treatment on a regular basis.

“While I am continuing to fight, I’m looking forward to making the most of every day with my loving family and friends.

“I haven’t been to Wrigley Field as much as I hoped in the first half but I’m watching every game and am excited for the second half.”

He threw out the first pitch, surrounded by fellow Cubs greats, before the home opener on April 4.

In January 2024, Sandberg announced he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, then last August announced he was cancer-free. In December, he said the cancer had recurred and spread. He vowed to “continue to be positive, strong, and fight to beat this.”

Sandberg spent 15 of his 16 major league seasons with the Cubs, along with 13 games at the start of his career for the Philadelphia Phillies (1981).

Sandberg was the 1984 National League MVP, when he batted a career-high .314 with a major-league-leading 19 triples and 114 runs scored as well as 19 home runs, 84 RBIs and 32 stolen bases.

The second baseman also earned the second of his nine career Gold Glove awards that year. He was a 10-time All-Star selection and a seven-time Silver Slugger honoree, batting .285 with 282 home runs and 1,061 RBIs in his 2,164-game career.

Sandberg, who was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005, also spent parts of three seasons (2013-15) as the Phillies’ manager.

Sports

Rangers give All-Star bonus to snubbed Eovaldi

Published

6 hours ago

July 17, 2025

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Rangers give All-Star bonus to snubbed Eovaldi

Jul 16, 2025, 02:10 PM ET

Despite an excellent first half to the season, Texas Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi wasn’t selected as an All-Star this year, but the team made sure that he’ll be paid like one.

Despite the snub, Eovaldi was given the $100,000 All-Star bonus in his contract by the Rangers after he posted a 1.58 ERA with 94 strikeouts over 91 innings. Teammate Jacob deGrom, who was selected as an All-Star, also received a $100,000 bonus.

Eovaldi, in his 15th major league season, would lead the majors in ERA, but after missing a month due to a triceps injury, he fell six innings short of the necessary 97 innings to qualify among leaders for individual statistical categories.

Eovaldi, a two-time All-Star, won his third straight game on Sunday to improve to 7-3, giving up five hits and a run with eight strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings against the Houston Astros.

The right-hander ranks second only to Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal among MLB starting pitchers in WHIP (0.85) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.71). Opposing batters are hitting a paltry .194 with a .237 on-base percentage, .286 slugging percentage and .523 OPS against Eovaldi.

Eovaldi is scheduled to make his first start of the second half at home on Sunday against Skubal and the Tigers at Globe Life Field.