Page 22 - ARUBA TODAY

A22 SPORTS
Friday 20 September 2019
Continued from Page 17 when Colorado's Mikko
He's a guy that you'd want Rantanen and Winnipeg's
to have because he's go- Patrick Laine sign deals. For
ing to help and he's been example, Connor McDavid
in these situations. When it accounts for over 15% of
comes around again, it's Edmonton's cap space.
not going to faze him." It is a trend that shows the
Smith-Pelly and Andrew value of elite talent but it
MacDonald in Calgary, means there is less money
Troy Brouwer in Florida, Matt to go around for comple-
Read in Toronto and Drew mentary players who are
Stafford in Minnesota are not on entry-level con-
among the experienced tracts. A handful of play-
NHL players on camp try- ers also have expressed
outs this year. Even more concern that restricted free
are settling for one-year, agents are making more
prove-it contracts like 2019 out of their entry-level con-
Cup winner Patrick Maroon tracts than ever before, fur-
(31 years old) and defense- ther scrambling available
man Kevin Shattenkirk (30) money for support players.
with Tampa Bay, Derick "Teams, they want to take
Brassard (31) with the New a shot on a young guy that
York Islanders, defenseman has got an upside they In this Dec. 31, 2018, file photo, Washington Capitals right wing Devante Smith-Pelly (25) skates
Ben Hutton (26) with Los see," O'Reilly said. "It's tough with the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, in
Angeles and forward Riley because there's so many Washington.
Sheahan (27) with Edmon- good players out there that Associated Press
ton. aren't getting jobs because
Shattenkirk went from mak- of it." league aren't getting any Morrow is 26 and trying one-year deal and Richard
ing $7 million last season Chicago's Jonathan Toews, easier for players as they to make the Rangers and Panik for four years after
with the Rangers to a one- 31, and Patrick Kane, 30, get older. fellow defenseman Alex each player had bounced
year contract worth $1.75 eat up almost 26% of the "It's tough," Toews said. "It Petrovic is 27 as a long shot around the league.
million. Blackhawks' cap space. just goes to show you can't to get a contract with Bos- "Contracts are hard to
"There's something for me They combined to win the take anything for granted, ton. come by in this league,"
to prove," Shattenkirk said. Stanley Cup three times, even though you've been Grinding forward Garnet Hathaway said. "It's such a
"I think I have a huge chip but their deals and rich in the league or you're a Hathaway played the past competitive league. Guys I
on my shoulder right now." ones given to defense- proven player at this level. two seasons on one-year know personally that have
This is all related to how the men Duncan Keith and You start getting into your deals in Calgary making gone through it, they're
salary cap is managed. Brent Seabrook tend to be 30s ... you realize that the under $1 million each year. some of the most com-
Across the league, there blamed for a lack of depth league's only going to get He went into free agency a petitive guys. It's guys who
are 32 players who chew in Chicago, which has younger, it's only going to bit nervous but was able to have played in this league
up 10% or more of his missed the playoffs the past get stronger, it's only going land a four-year, $6 million a long time and have great
team's $81.5 million salary- two seasons. to get better." contract and some security careers. You wish them
cap space — with more Toews said he understands It's not just older players, ei- with the Capitals, who also the best of luck, but it's
potentially on the way the economics of the ther. Smith-Pelly is 27, Joe signed Brendan Leipsic to a competitive."q

Iran suspended from world judo over Israel boycott policy

LAUSANNE, Switzerland as not to face Israelis. He nescu said any ban won't
(AP) — Iran has been sus- is currently in hiding in Ger- apply to next year's Tokyo
pended from international many. Olympics. That's because
judo competitions be- The president of Iran's judo it's the Iranian Olympic
cause it boycotts bouts federation, Arash Mires- Committee, not the Iranian
with Israeli athletes. maeili, condemned the judo federation, that for-
Less than a month after IJF for suspending it and mally enters the Olympic
world champion Saeid called it "hasty and unfair", team.
Mollaei walked off the Ira- semi-official Mehr news Meanwhile, the IJF is ex-
nian team in protest of the agency reported Wednes- ploring ways to allow Mol-
boycott policy, the Inter- day. laei to compete on the In-
national Judo Federation Miresmaeli said the IJF sent ternational Olympic Com-
(IJF) said Wednesday that an e-mail on Sept. 13 and mittee's team of refugees.
Iran is suspended ahead of asked Iran to send a re- The IOC has signaled a
a full hearing. port to defend itself, "Un- harder line on boycotts in
Iran's judo federation is fortunately, once we saw recent years.
accused of discriminating the World Federation's e- In June, IOC President
against Israeli athletes and mail today, it is completely Thomas Bach criticized
breaking rules over manip- apart from the routine...". governments who "clearly
ulating competition results. Iran does not recognize abuse sport for their po-
"The IJF Executive Commit- In this photo taken Sept. 12, 2019, Iranian judoka Saeid Mol- Israel as a country, and litical purposes," noting a
laei poses for a portrait photo at an undisclosed southern city
tee considered that such a of Germany. Iranian sports teams have case in May of a Tunisian
conduct is intolerable," the Associated Press for several decades had court blocking four Israe-
federation said. a policy of not competing lis from competing at the
Mollaei has said he was re- an officials to lose matches tions, including last month's against Israelis. taekwondo junior world
peatedly ordered by Irani- or withdraw from competi- world championships, so IJF spokesman Vlad Mari- championships.q