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Quarterback prospect Trae Taylor, one of the top passers in the 2027 recruiting class, announced his commitment to Nebraska on Thursday.

A coveted recruit from Mundelein, Illinois, Taylor becomes the first player committed to the Huskers in the 2027 cycle, giving his verbal pledge roughly 20 months before he is eligible to formally sign. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound pocket passer follows Ohio State pledge Brady Edmunds as the second elite quarterback prospect to announce his 2027 commitment.

Taylor chose the Cornhuskers over Illinois, LSU and Texas A&M. He is the son of former Eastern Illinois running back J.R. Taylor, who ran for 51 touchdowns as a college teammate of four-time NFL Pro Bowl quarterback Tony Romo from 1999 to 2002.

Trae Taylor threw for 3,061 yards with 20 touchdowns and 7 interceptions as a sophomore at Carmel Catholic High School last fall. His commitment comes days after he spent time with Huskers quarterbacks coach Glenn Thomas and starting quarterback Dylan Raiola during his latest visit.

“Sitting down with Coach Thomas and getting into the offense, seeing how he coaches Dylan and how he can prepare me for the next level — I really just can’t wait,” Taylor told ESPN. “For me, it’s kind of hard committing too early because I have to wait so long to get there.”

Despite his early pledge, Taylor has had a lengthy recruitment — with him estimating he’s visited as many as 70 campuses since attending college camps as a sixth grader. Taylor received his first Division I scholarship offer from Maryland a year later.

A smooth throwing motion and standout footwork and accuracy later turned Taylor into one of the top quarterback prospects in the 2027 class.

After visiting Nebraska on March 27, Taylor next went to Texas A&M. He told ESPN that the attention he received from the Huskers immediately after he visited the Aggies — paired with Nebraska’s offensive scheme under coach Matt Rhule — was part of the connection that ultimately helped sway his commitment to the Huskers.

“The day after I got home from A&M, I was in contact with one of Coach Rhule, Coach Thomas and Dylan [Raiola] every day for the next two weeks before I decided this was where I needed to be,” he said. “Everybody in that building has made it clear that they want me. Their offense fits me the best — very pro-style. Any quarterback who wants to go to the NFL can be successful there.”

Nearly two years out from the early signing period, Taylor said he doesn’t intend to visit campuses other than Nebraska, but he said he will continue contact with other programs. He is expected to remain a top target for the likes of Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Illinois and LSU, among others.

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Canucks, Boeser agree on new seven-year deal

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Canucks, Boeser agree on new seven-year deal

The Vancouver Canucks have come to terms with forward Brock Boeser on a new seven-year contract, carrying a $7.25 million AAV.

Canucks GM Patrik Allvin announced the deal on Tuesday during the first hour of NHL free agency. Boeser, 28, was an unrestricted free agent on a previously expiring contract.

Drafted by Vancouver 23rd overall in the 2015 NHL draft, Boeser has collected 204 goals and 434 points in 554 games with the Canucks to date. A top-six scoring threat, Boeser has elite playmaking skills and the potential to produce big numbers offensively. He had his best year offensively in 2023-24, producing 40 goals and 73 points in 81 games.

Boeser didn’t hit those marks again last season — settling for 25 goals and 50 points in 75 games — but was still second amongst teammates in output. He also plays a prominent role on Vancouver’s power play and when he can generate opportunities at 5-on-5, he is a true difference-maker up front for the Canucks.

The extension is a happy ending for Vancouver and Boeser. When the regular season ended, Boeser admitted “it’s tough to say” whether he’d be back with the Canucks. Boeser reportedly turned down a previous five-year extension offer with the club and Allvin subsequently looked into deals for him at the March trade deadline, with no takers. Boeser looked — and sounded — poised to explore his options on the open market.

Ultimately, Boeser decided to stay put by committing the best years of his career to the Canucks.

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Jake Allen agrees to 5-year deal with the Devils

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Jake Allen agrees to 5-year deal with the Devils

Jake Allen, one of the top goaltenders available entering free agency, is not heading to the market after agreeing to a five-year deal with the New Jersey Devils, sources told ESPN on Tuesday.

Allen’s average annual value on the deal is $1.8 million, sources told ESPN. That AAV allows the Devils to run back the same goaltending tandem for next season.

Jacob Markstrom has one year remaining on his contract for $4.125 million. Nico Daws is also under contract for next season, before becoming a restricted free agent next summer.

Several teams were interested in the 34-year-old veteran, whom sources said could have made more money on the open market. However, the deal with the Devils gives Allen long-term security. Allen has played for the Blues, Canadiens and Devils over his 12-year-career. He has started in 436 career games.

Last season, Allen started 29 games for the Devils, going 13-16-1 with a .906 save percentage, 2.66 GAA and four shutouts.

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Capitals sign Fehervary to 7-year, $42M extension

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Capitals sign Fehervary to 7-year, M extension

Washington Capitals defenseman Martin Fehervary signed a seven-year extension through the 2032-33 season that is worth $6 million annually, the team announced Tuesday.

Fehervary, who had one year of team control remaining, will enter the final season of a three-year bridge deal that will see him make $2.675 million before his new contract begins at the start of the 2026-27 season.

He finished the season with five goals and a career-high 25 points while logging 19 minutes. Fehervary also played a crucial role in the Capitals’ penalty kill by finishing with 245 short-handed minutes for a penalty kill that was fifth in the NHL with an 82% success rate.

Securing the 25-year-old Fehervary to a long-term deal means the Capitals now have seven players who have more than three years remaining on their current contracts.

It also means the Capitals front office has one less decision to make ahead of what is expected to be an active offseason in 2026 that will see the club have what PuckPedia projects to be $39.25 million in cap space.

That’s also the same offseason in which captain and NHL all-time leading goal scorer Alex Ovechkin‘s contract will come off their books along with that of defenseman John Carlson.

But until then, the Capitals have their entire top-six defensive unit under contract as they seek to improve upon a 2024-25 season that saw them finish atop the Metropolitan Division with 111 points before they lost in the Eastern Conference semifinal to the Carolina Hurricanes in five games.

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