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SPORTS Wednesday 24 april 2024
Defensemen injuries are already piling up early in the NHL playoffs

By STEPHEN WHYNO Tampa Bay has been deal-
AP Hockey Writer ing with life without Ser-
Deep NHL playoff runs Ja- gachev since the 25-year-
son Demers went on during old broke his left leg in early
his playing career usually February. He has been
ended the same way. ruled out for the first round
“The injuries just accumu- against Florida, but has
lated too much,” he said. been skating and could
“And then you’re just not return if the Lightning beat
playing at 100%.” the defending Eastern Con-
That attrition is already ference champions and
showing early in the first advance to face Boston or
round this spring at Demers’ Toronto.
old position, as defenses To do so, coach Jon Coo-
have been depleted by per said Max Crozier, sum-
existing and new injuries, moned from the minors on
from Tampa Bay’s Mikhail Monday, “might have to
Sergachev and Colorado’s play” because Nick Perbix
Samuel Girard being out is banged up. The Lightning
long term to Carolina’s got eliminated in the first
Brett Pesce going down round last year only after
Monday night and Wash- experienced D-man Erik
ington being down to mi- Cernak was concussed.
nor leaguers to fill its many New York Islanders’ Bo Horvat (14) collides with Carolina Hurricanes’ Brett Pesce (22) during the Girard, who was side-
voids. first period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., lined for much of the Ava-
There were 70 goals scored Monday, April 22, 2024. Associated Press lanche’s 2022 Cup run that
over the first 10 games in finished by beating Tampa
the first round, a product of the slight Stanley Cup fa- es for weeks now, finishing nothing else, the team is Bay because of a broken
not just hot offense sparked vorite Hurricanes. the regular season with- accustomed to drawing sternum, has been out and
by some of the league’s Tony DeAngelo would be out injured Rasmus Sandin from AHL Hershey. in of concussion protocol
top players but team-wide the next veteran defense- and Nick Jensen, as well “The same way we have since injuring his head April
struggles to keep the puck man up. “We’re in kind of as Ethan Bear, who’s in with other injuries, depar- 13 against Winnipeg. Colo-
out of the net. wait-and-see mode right the player assistance pro- tures that we’ve had all rado lost its playoff opener
Pesce’s injury is the latest now,” Brind’Amour said gram. Rookie Vincent Iorio year: It’s going to be op- to the Jets 7-6 on Sunday
potentially significant one Tuesday, acknowledging was injured in their Game 1 portunity for other players night, the third time in six
to crop up, leaving Game there’s some extra time be- defeat Sunday at the New to step up and then also games the Avs have al-
2 against the New York Is- fore his team goes for a 3-0 York Rangers, pressing Lu- not putting that on one lowed seven goals.
landers hobbled following series lead Thursday night cas Johansen in for his NHL person’s shoulders,” coach Coach Jared Bednar said
a noncontact play. Coach on Long Island. “Don’t want playoff debut. Spencer Carbery said re- Girard is skating and “pro-
Rod Brind’Amour said after- to really jump the gun yet.” Johansen joined fellow cently. “The group D corps, gressing,” positive news
ward the situation was “not The Metropolitan Division- American Hockey League forwards doing a little bit that he could return when
looking good,” and it’s the rival Capitals have been call-up Dylan McIlrath in more to help alleviate (the the series shifts to Denver
first major test of depth for dealing with blue line loss- Washington’s lineup. If absences).” later this week.q

Caitlin Clark is set to sign a new Nike deal valued at $28 million

over 8 years, reports say

By The Associated Press Nike did not immediately re- the WSJ. Clark received offers
Caitlin Clark appears to be spond to requests for com- of $16 million over four years
on the cusp of setting another ment from The Associated from Under Armour and $6
record. Press. million over four years from
The most prolific scorer in Clark’s initial name, image Adidas, with both including
NCAA Division I history and and likeness deal, signed in a signature shoe, according
the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022, expired at the end of to the WSJ.
WNBA draft will continue her the 2023-24 season. Clark earned about $3 million
association with Nike by sign- The new deal would be the in NIL money at Iowa with
ing a $28 million contract that richest sponsorship contract deals she has had with State
spans eight years and includes for a women’s basketball Farm, Gatorade and others,
a signature shoe. player. according to On3.com.
The Wall Street Journal and Under Armour and Adidas Clark’s agents were working
The Athletic reported the also participated in contract on the new Nike contract
pending deal, citing un- discussions with Clark’s team even before she announced
named people familiar with in February, according to the she would turn pro instead
the negotiations between the WSJ and Athletic. Puma also of return to Iowa for a fifth
sportswear giant and Clark’s showed some interest but season under the COVID-19
agents. walked away when told the exemption offered to play- Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark holds her jersey following a WNBA
basketball news conference, Wednesday, April 17, 2024, in
Excel Sports Management, bidding would start at $3 mil- ers in college during the 2020 Indianapolis.
which represents Clark, and lion per year, according to pandemic season. q Associated Press