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SPORTS Wednesday 27 June 2018
Carlson signing is first domino to fall in NHL free agency

By STEPHEN WHYNO at a standstill around the second-highest cap hit in
AP Hockey Writer league, but I think with the the league among defen-
The first big free agent re- free agent market being seman behind only P.K.
signing with his own team is opened up to be able to Subban’s $9 million with
just the beginning of what’s have discussions with the Nashville. Agent Rick Cur-
to come around the NHL. agents, that will help, as ran fielded calls from other
Defenseman John Carlson well. Once you talk, you teams Sunday before the
signed a $64 million, eight- have an idea that you’re deal got done with the
year deal with the Stanley going to be able to get a Capitals.
Cup champion Washing- free agent or if you won’t, “Whatever your intentions
ton Capitals. His agent then it might sort of move are, you still have to do
and the representatives for some teams to start looking your due diligence be-
other pending unrestricted at potential trades.” cause there’s more to it for
free agents were able to Only a handful of current me than that,” Carlson said
start talking to any interest- NHL players were traded Monday in Arlington, Virgin-
ed teams on Sunday at the over the weekend at the Washington Capitals’ John Carlson smiles during a media ia. “I was hoping we could
beginning of the negotiat- draft: four in a swap be- availability at their NHL hockey practice facility, Monday, June get something done and it
ing window that precedes tween Carolina and Cal- 25, 2018, in Arlington, Va. worked itself out.”
the opening of the market gary and Washington Associated Press The Sharks are worth
July 1. Serious talks between sending two to Colorado possibilities, pieces to move free agent center available watching after they shed
New York Islanders center to clear salary-cap space around,” Waddell said. followed by the likes of Tyler Mikkel Boedker’s $4 million
John Tavares and five suit- to re-sign Carlson. Mon- Tavares headlines this free Bozak, Derek Ryan and To- salary to clear cap space
ors begin Monday in what treal could still try to trade agent class and his deci- mas Plekanec. Teams that and watched as Ilya Koval-
should be the next step in captain Max Pacioretty sion — reportedly among don’t land one of them chuk signed with Los Ange-
shaking out signings and this week, and Hurricanes the Sharks, Maple Leafs, could turn to Buffalo’s Ryan les on a three-year, $18.75
trades. “There’s going to be GM Don Waddell wants to Stars, Bruins, Lightning, in- O’Reilly, who may be a bet- million deal. After saying
a lot happening,” Chicago make a move for a goal- cumbent Islanders and ter candidate to be traded San Jose will spend much
Blackhawks general man- tender and said there’s a perhaps a few more teams July 2 after the Sabres pay of its space to re-sign play-
ager Stan Bowman said lot of interest in winger Jeff — could set up the rest of him a $7.5 million bonus. ers, GM Doug Wilson ac-
Saturday in Dallas. Skinner. the market. At $8 million a year, Carl- knowledged there will still
“Things have sort of been “We have a lot of other Paul Stastny is the next-best son ties Brent Burns for the be room to make a deal. q

Joshua ordered by WBA to fight Povetkin and ditch Wilder

told Sky Sports on Tuesday and it all feels like a big when he beat Christian
they will not relinquish the game,” Hearn said. Hammer of Romania by
WBA belt to wait for Wilder. “We have to get on with unanimous decision. He
Joshua owns three of the our business. If Povetkin is enhanced his record in
big four belts, and aims to ready to sign a contract March by knocking out Da-
become the first undisput- then he’s next. Conversa- vid Price of England in the
ed champion since Len- tions and negotiations will fifth round on the under-
nox Lewis in 2000. His WBA continue with Deontay card of the Joshua-Parker
and IBF belts were joined Wilder and we’ll sign that fight in Cardiff.
by the WBO version he re- contract at any moment. Povetkin held the WBA
lieved from Joseph Parker “The important thing is to “regular” title from 2011 to
in March. maintain the belts.” 2013, when he suffered his
“We’re not going to lose Povetkin (34-1, 24 KO) be- only loss in a unification
a belt to the WBA through came the WBA mandatory fight with Wladimir Klitschko
ordering a mandatory,” challenger last December by unanimous decision.q
Hearn said. “If Povetkin is
In this file photo dated Saturday, March 31, 2018, Britain’s ready to go then that will
Anthony Joshua celebrates after his WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO be next. It will be in Sep-
Heavyweight Championship title bout against New Zealand’s tember, and then we fight
Joseph Parker in Cardiff, Wales. Wilder straight after, if he
LONDON (AP) — Anthony day in a statement: “The signs a contract.”
Joshua was ordered to sign WBA have allowed over a The WBA originally gave
a deal to fight Alexander month extension to nego- the promoters of Joshua
Povetkin “within 24 hours” tiations with Povetkin and and Povetkin until May 5 to
or face being stripped of also ongoing discussions reach an agreement then
the WBA portion of his world with Deontay Wilder. extended the deadline
heavyweight boxing titles. “It appears the Wilder team twice because of a poten-
The WBA lost patience with have not returned the tial deal with Wilder.
the talks between Joshua contract for the fight and Hearn said they gave Wild-
and WBC champion Deon- therefore we are request- er’s team a contract nine
tay Wilder for a unification ing a date for the Joshua days ago, and their reac-
bout, and want Joshua to versus Povetkin fight with tion didn’t come until Sun-
fight its mandatory chal- immediate effect.” day, when they proposed
lenger from Russia. There seemed no choice to offer comments this Fri-
WBA president Gilberto for Joshua (21-0, 20 KO). day. “They know we’re un-
Mendoza said on Tues- His promoter Eddie Hearn der pressure from the WBA