NHL eyes 3-on-3 overtimes
The NHL will go to 3-on-3 in overtime for five minutes in regular-season games next season, pending approval by the league’s Board of Governors, as originally reported by TSN’s Bob McKenzie on Tuesday.
If no goal scored in the five minutes, the game will be decided by a shootout, although the change to fewer players on the ice should greatly reduce games being decided by the skills competition.
League general managers and the NHL Players’ Association came to the agreement Monday after the players rejected the hybrid seven-minute overtime played in the American Hockey League this past season. In the AHL, overtimes were four-on-four until the first whistle after three minutes before being switched to three-on-three for the duration. If the game was still tied, a shootout decided the winner.
Also, the Board of Governors will vote on a pitch by GMs for a coach’s challenge for video review on offside and potential goalie-interference plays, with the key being that a timeout is needed to challenge, according to NHL.com’s Dan Rosen.
Kings owner won’t allow Cousins trade
Sacramento coach George Karl wants to trade forward DeMarcus Cousins. The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly interested in acquiring the 24-year-old All-Star and are willing to give up the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft.
One problem: Kings owner Vivek Ranadive will not approve trading Cousins.
Ranadive told USA Today on Monday that the Kings have “zero interest” in trading Cousins.
King vice president of basketball operations Vlade Divac also was adamant that Cousins will not be traded, and he told the Sacramento Bee that Karl is not pushing for Cousins to be traded.
Former coach Henson hospitalized
Former University of Illinois and New Mexico State basketball coach Lou Henson is in a Houston hospital awaiting test results stemming from a weakened immune system.
The 83-year-old Henson, who has battled non-Hodgkins lymphoma for more than a decade, suffered from dehydration last week and was admitted to a hospital in Champaign, Ill.
After spending a few days in isolation at the Illinois facility, Henson went to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
It was unclear how long Henson, who will be inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in November, will remain in Houston, the Las Cruces Sun-News said.
Henson compiled a 779-413 record in a career that spanned 41 years.
Mistrial request granted in Vanderbilt rape case
A judge declared a mistrial on Tuesday in the case of two former Vanderbilt football players who were convicted earlier this year of rape.
Brandon Vandenberg, 22, and Corey Batey, 21, were found guilty in January on multiple counts of aggravated rape, aggravated sexual battery and other charges.
It was later discovered that the jury foreman, 31-year-old Todd Easter, was a statutory rape victim 15 years ago but intentionally withheld that information. Defense attorneys argued last week that a mistrial should be declared because the juror’s personal experience compromised his impartiality.
Nashville Criminal Court Judge Monte Watkins sided with the defense and granted the request.
“The defendants have a right to a fair and impartial trial, a right that was violated by juror #9’s conduct,” the judge’s order read.
Rangers activate Beltre
The Texas Rangers activated third baseman Adrian Beltre, and he was in the starting lineup and batting fourth in Tuesday’s game against the Oakland Athletics.
Beltre was placed on the disabled list on June 2 with a sprained thumb. He is batting .257 with six homers in 51 games this season.
The Rangers sent right-hander Jon Edwards optioned to Triple-A Round Rock to make room on the roster for Beltre. Edwards had a 6.00 ERA in six innings pitched for the Rangers this season.
Maple Leafs sign two defensemen
The Toronto Maple Leafs signed defensemen Petter Granberg and Tim Erixon to one-year contracts and reached agreement Tuesday with forward Zach Hyman on a two-year, entry-level contract.
Erixon, 24, played in 15 regular-season games for the Maple Leafs last season and had one goal. He also appeared in 19 games for the Columbus Blue Jackets and eight games for the Chicago Blackhawks.
Granberg, 22, did not have a point in seven regular-season games with the Maple Leafs this past season.
Hyman, 23, was the Big Ten scoring champion in 2014-15 while playing at Michigan with 54 points (22 goals, 32 assists) in 37 games. He was one of 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Award.