Page 22 - ARUBA TODAY

A22 sports
Tuesday 28 January 2020
NHL players in favor of 'international flavor' All-Star idea

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Nathan think it's always an honor to
MacKinnon enjoyed when play for your country."
the NHL All-Star Game After the International
featured North America Olympic Committee didn't
against the World in the give the NHL the same insur-
late 1990s and early 2000s. ance, travel and accom-
Something similar could be modations benefits in 2018
coming back next year, as the previous five games,
but with a twist. the league ended its streak
The league is in talks with of participating. And de-
players to bring what Com- spite significant investment
missioner Gary Bettman in and fascination with the
called a "distinct interna- Chinese market, there's no
tional flavor" to 2021 All-Star guarantee NHL players go
Weekend in South Florida. to Beijing in 2022.
Not quite North America "I can't say that with cer-
versus the World but more tainty — not to give people
like a miniature 3-on-3 tour- false hope," Bettman said.
nament with players rep- "From our standpoint, we
resenting the U.S., Cana- believe and our experi-
da and other top hockey ence both with going to
countries. five Olympics and then not
It's not a replacement for Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) reaches back to block a shot by Edmonton going to Pyeongchang tells
the Olympics, but players Oilers forward Connor McDavid (97) in the NHL hockey All Star final game Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020, us that going is extraordi-
are largely in favor of spic- in St. Louis. narily disruptive to the sea-
ing up All-Star festivities and Associated Press son."
playing for more than divi- Because the 2016 World
sional pride. Eichel, or Sweden's Victor holding a 3-on-3 All-Star Given the success of the Cup of Hockey featured a
"Ooh, that would be cool," Hedman, Elias Pettersson tournament by division. The 3-on-3, it would be silly to Team North American with
Canada-born Dallas Stars and Filip Forsberg facing winning team gets to split abandon it now. But af- the best age 23 and under
center Tyler Seguin said. "I off against Finland's Patrik $1 million, and the wide- ter the league and play- players from the U.S. and
wonder if that would get it Laine, Aleksander Barkov open ice has proven more ers couldn't come to an Canada, Crosby, McDavid
even more competitive. I'm and Mikko Rantanen. entertaining than the old agreement on holding a and MacKinnon have nev-
not sure. It would be inter- "I think any time you get format. World Cup of Hockey in the er played together, and
esting." some country rivalries go- "I like the 3-on-3 the most," winter of 2021, an interna- neither have Matthews,
Think about MacKinnon, ing, there'll be a little more said Seguin, who has made tional All-Star tournament Kane and Eichel. Doing so
Connor McDavid and Sid- aggressiveness," U.S.-born six All-Star appearances. "I would be a consolation at All-Star Weekend would
ney Crosby playing for Carolina Hurricanes defen- played in a couple of the prize."I don't think anything provide some entertain-
Canada against Ameri- seman Jaccob Slavin said. 5-on-5 games and they really means as much as ment, but Kane is still hold-
cans Auston Matthews, "It would be cool." were fun, but I think the the Olympics, to be honest ing out hope that it can
Patrick Kane and Jack The NHL is five years into 3-on-3 is the best." with you," Kane said. "But I happen for real in Beijing.q

Diggins-Smith wants to leave Dallas and play elsewhere

Diggins-Smith missed last the opportunity to trade Diggins-Smith has been the
season after giving birth to her on the 16th day of next face of the franchise since
a son last spring. season." she was drafted third in
Dallas Wings President and Bibb said he believes that 2013 when the team was
CEO Greg Bibb told the AP both sides would rather still in Tulsa. She's averaged
on Monday that the team work out an agreement to 15.9 points and 4.9 assists
has given their four-time find Diggins-Smith a new in her career. She won the
All-Star a core designation. team. league's most improved
That means the franchise It's the second consecutive player award in 2014 and
still controls her rights for the year that the Wings could guided the Wings to the
upcoming season and can potentially lose one of their playoffs in 2017 and 2018.
potentially sign and trade marquee players. Liz Cam- "Skylar has been the face
her instead of losing her as bage was traded before of the organization and
an unrestricted free agent. last season to Las Vegas. most prominent player on
"It gives us a lot of options," "Every situation is different, the roster," Bibb said. "We
Bibb said in a phone call. including this one and Liz," do have a number of play-
In this Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2017, file photo, Dallas Wings guard
Skylar Diggins-Smith, center, looks to pass against Chicago Sky "We could negotiate a Bibb said. "Like Liz landing ers who, if Skylar does in
forward Jessica Breland, left, and guard Cappie Pondexter dur- multiyear agreement to in a place she felt comfort- fact leave the organiza-
ing the second half of a WNBA basketball game in Rosemont, Ill. stay in Dallas, work with able going, we hope to tion, can ascend into that
her on a sign-and-trade exit this process with both higher role with the team."
By DOUG FEINBERG Dallas next year," Diggins- agreement to send her to sides satisfied. That would Dallas has the No. 2 pick in
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Smith told The Associated another team. Or we could include Skylar playing in a this year's draft as well as
Skylar Diggins-Smith wants Press in a phone interview execute the one-year core city where she wanted to the ninth selection. Arike
to find a new team to play Sunday. "I'm happy to be designation and she'd re- play and us getting a re- Ogunbowale was the run-
for next season. playing in this league and I main with us. If none of that turn of equitable assets for ner-up for league's rookie
"I don't plan on playing in want to play." gets done, we would have her playing rights." of the year.q