Comment on Column: It’s time for the Chicago Bears to take a look at Alex Leatherwood — and whether he can fill a need in 2023

The Colorado Avalanche and Sean Behrens finally made it official. Behrens signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Avs, the team announced Friday, allowing the University of Denver defenseman to join the franchise that selected him 61st overall in the 2021 NHL draft. The deal begins in 2024-25, but he will join the Colorado Eagles in the AHL for the remainder of the 2023-24 season on an amateur tryout. Behrens took part in the Avs’ development camp in back-to-back years in 2022 and ’23.

Nathan MacKinnon did not become one of five players to ever record 100 assists in an NHL season. He did not score the most goals in the league in nearly 30 years. He is still going to win the Hart Trophy or the Ted Lindsay Award (or both) as the NHL’s most valuable player for the first time in his career, and will do so despite going up against one of the greatest fields of candidates the league has ever seen. There are four candidates — MacKinnon, Auston Matthews, Connor McDavid and Nikita Kucherov — who had extraordinary seasons, and all would be worthy winners.

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With the draft merely days away, there’s still no clear idea of what the Broncos will do at No. 12 overall in the first round. Denver is open to doing anything, whether it’s trading up, down, or standing pat with its eight draft picks. Since doing this mock draft exercise, we’ve explored each scenario and how Denver could capitalize from them. In the final Broncos’ seven-round mock draft, we look at what happens if the team invests in adding playmakers on offense. (Previous mock drafts: Aggressively pursuing a QB | Trading back in first round | Post-combine mock draft | Strengthening the DL) First Round (No.

After a rash of pitching injuries contributed to last year’s 103-loss season, the Rockies have their first significant health issue on the mound in 2024. Colorado placed Kyle Freeland on the 15-day injured list on Friday with a left elbow strain, a move retroactive to April 16. “Relatively speaking, with the results of his scan and the doctor’s report, he’s going to be OK,” Rockies manager Bud Black said.

8212; College football is ready to put the signs away. Following a sign-stealing scandal that rocked the sport and hung over Michigan’s championship run in 2023, the NCAA’s football oversight committee approved Friday the use of coach-to-player helmet communications in games for the 2024 season. The football rules committee last month made a recommendation to allow — but not require — teams at the highest tier of Division I to use radio technology similar to what NFL teams use. Only one player for each team will be permitted to be in communication with coaches while on the field.