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  • Associated Press

Aug 31, 2023, 06:23 PM ET

NHL free agent forward Patrick Kane told The Associated Press on Thursday he has been on the ice about 20 times already and is on track, if not ahead of the initial four-to-six-month projection, in returning to play since having hip resurfacing surgery on June 1.

“It’s just exciting to see progression and just feeling better on the ice,” Kane said by phone. “Kind of getting back to my old self, so it’s pretty exciting.”

The 34-year-old, three-time Stanley Cup winner says he has an upcoming doctor’s appointment during which he hopes to be cleared for contact.

Kane elected to have surgery to repair a nagging injury that hampered him over the past year with the Chicago Blackhawks and then down the stretch and in the playoffs after being traded to the New York Rangers.

Though eager to resume playing, Kane said he intends to stick with the six-month rehabilitation timetable.

“I think we’re at the point now where, I mean, could I come back early? Yeah, probably,” Kane said. “But does it make sense? You know, it might be better to take the full time and just make sure I’m at 105-110% instead of just 90-95. But it’s a lot better than I was last year.”

As for where he’ll be playing, Kane is staying patient while expecting to field offers once NHL teams open training camp in three weeks.

Then again, he added: “If someone wanted to come and give an offer that I was excited about, and a situation that I’m excited about, it’s not like I wouldn’t be listening just because of the situation I’m in.”

Kane’s production dipped last season, when he finished with 21 goals and 57 points in 73 games. Part of that was a result of his injury, with another spending the first 54 games on a Blackhawks team already retooling for the future.

His production went up upon being traded to the Rangers, with whom he had five goals and 12 points in 19 regular-season games, and adding a goal and five assists in New York’s seven-game, first-round series loss to New Jersey.

From Buffalo, New York, Kane is second only to Mike Modano in scoring among U.S.-born players with 1,237 points. Kane was one of the centerpieces of Chicago’s Stanley Cup-winning teams in 2010, ’13 and ’15 and won the Hart Trophy as league MVP in 2016.

The NHL’s No. 1 draft pick in 2007, Kane joined Washington’s Nicklas Backstrom and Carl Hagelin as players to have the invasive hip surgery over the past year. It involves dislocating the upper end of the thighbone, trimming it, capping it and removing cartilage before putting it back in place.

Backstrom, who also was seeking to fix a lingering hip ailment, played seven months after the surgery and finished the season with 21 points in 39 games. Hagelin announced his retirement on Wednesday, citing an eye injury that has sidelined him for nearly a year and a half.

Before Backstrom, the only NHL player to come back from hip resurfacing surgery was longtime defenseman Ed Jovanovski, who got into 37 more games before calling it a career.

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3 hours ago

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October 7, 2025

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Phillies’ 2025 ballpark bite to beat: the ‘Fall Classic Shake’

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October 6, 2025

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Phillies' 2025 ballpark bite to beat: the 'Fall Classic Shake'

Move aside, hot dogs, peanuts and Cracker Jack. Baseball teams are becoming more innovative and stepping up their food game in 2025.

One of those creations is the Philadelphia Phillies‘ limited-edition “Fall Classic Shake,” which includes a vanilla soft serve, blended with dulce de leche. If that wasn’t enough, an apple cider donut tops it off. Philadelphia has been on a heater in the kitchen recently — it also unveiled a postseason 9-9-9 challenge box last Friday.

Here are more ballpark innovations that can be found at MLB concession stands this season:

Houston Astros: Fried chicken waffle sandwich

Washington Nationals: Jake and Jake’s Smoked Brisket Sandwich

In collaboration with Joe’s Kansas City BBQ, the Royals will offer a new item this season: the Z-Man Sandwich. It includes slow-smoked beef brisket and provolone cheese on a toasted kaiser roll, topped with two onion rings.

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Braves GM: No candidate list yet for manager

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October 6, 2025

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Braves GM: No candidate list yet for manager

  • Associated Press

Oct 4, 2025, 01:22 PM ET

ATLANTA — Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos said Saturday that he hopes to move quickly as he begins his search for a successor to Brian Snitker as manager but that he has not conducted any interviews.

Snitker, 69, announced Wednesday that he won’t return after 10 seasons as the Braves’ manager.

Even though Snitker’s decision wasn’t a surprise, Anthopoulos insisted he wasn’t going to begin compiling a list of candidates before giving the manager time to finalize his plans.

Asked what the Braves would have done if Snitker wanted to return for the 2026 season, Anthopoulos said: “He would have been back. That’s why we were going to wait and give him the time he needed.”

Former Braves catcher and Chicago Cubs skipper David Ross told The Associated Press on Thursday that he wants to manage again. Ross said an opportunity to manage the Braves “would be amazing.”

Anthopoulos insisted “we do not currently have a list” and said “I wanted to get some things done internally” before beginning his search.

“I will now turn my attention to the manager,” Anthopoulos said. “… We have not spoken with anybody.”

Snitker led the Braves to the 2021 World Series championship as the highlight of almost a half-century with the organization. He will remain in an advisory role and will be inducted into the team’s hall of fame next season.

Anthopoulos said he and Snitker have an agreement on a five-year term as senior adviser but added that could change.

Two coaches on Snitker’s staff have experience as a manager. Bench coach Walt Weiss is the Colorado Rockies‘ former manager. Third base coach Fredi González is a former manager with the Braves and Miami Marlins.

There has been speculation that other possible candidates are former Braves infielder Mark DeRosa and Cubs bench coach Ryan Flaherty. Former Marlins manager Skip Schumaker was named the Texas Rangers‘ skipper Friday night.

“Before Skip Schumaker was named, there were eight openings,” Anthopoulos said. “That’s a lot of openings. … That makes it incredibly challenging.”

Anthopoulos said his timeline to make a hire could be impacted if he focuses on a candidate who is also of interest to another team.

“Of course as soon as possible with so many openings,” Anthopoulos said when asked how soon he hopes to make a hire. “You can’t just rush it or force it. … You’d love to be able to do it sooner than later.”

Snitker posted a record of 811-688 as manager. He ranks third in franchise history in wins, trailing Bobby Cox (2,149) and Frank Selee (1,004). He led the Braves to seven postseasons, including six National League East titles.

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