menu_open Columnists

Sportsnet

We use cookies to provide some features and experiences in QOSHE

More information  .  Close

NBA Finals Takeaways: Late letdown against Knicks puts Spurs in huge hole

NBA Finals Takeaways: Late letdown against Knicks puts Spurs in huge hole

The San Antonio Spurs have done some amazing things this spring. Knocking off the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference...

latest 9

Sportsnet

Michael Grange

What we learned about Canada after final World Cup tune-up

What we learned about Canada after final World Cup tune-up

MONTREAL — The Canadian men’s team will enter the FIFA World Cup on the back of a seven-game unbeaten run and with just one regulation time loss...

latest 9

Sportsnet

John Molinaro

Reinforcements nearing return as Blue Jays continue to tread water

Reinforcements nearing return as Blue Jays continue to tread water

TORONTO — Shane Bieber reconnected with his Toronto Blue Jays teammates Friday, did some throwing on the field, packed up his gear and bounced, off...

yesterday 1

Sportsnet

Shi Davidi

Golden Knights' Howden providing premium scoring at bargain-basement price

Golden Knights' Howden providing premium scoring at bargain-basement price

RALEIGH, N.C. — In the middle of one of the most unlikely playoff scoring heaters the National Hockey League has seen in years, Brett Howden got a...

yesterday 1

Sportsnet

Eric Francis

Canadiens' Suzuki, Caufield win Selke, Lady Byng trophies

Canadiens' Suzuki, Caufield win Selke, Lady Byng trophies

MONTREAL — Nick Suzuki, Frank J. Selke Trophy winner. We’re not sure the London, Ont., native ever envisioned this but he adopted a defensive...

yesterday 2

Sportsnet

Eric Engels

Questions remain as Canada faces Ireland in final World Cup tune-up game

Questions remain as Canada faces Ireland in final World Cup tune-up game

MONTREAL – We finally have the answer to what was the biggest question facing the Canadian men’s team going into the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Coach...

yesterday 5

Sportsnet

John Molinaro

Tortorella challenge steals spotlight, but didn't cost Golden Knights Game 2

Tortorella challenge steals spotlight, but didn't cost Golden Knights Game 2

RALEIGH – The question was obvious.  The challenge wasn’t. What did John Tortorella see that made him issue a coach’s challenge in a 2-2 game...

yesterday 10

Sportsnet

Eric Francis

Blue Jays respond to significant challenge vs. Braves after eventful week

Blue Jays respond to significant challenge vs. Braves after eventful week

ATLANTA – All things considered, this has been quite a week for the Toronto Blue Jays. They’ve played seven games since they left Toronto last...

previous day 3

Sportsnet

Ben Nicholson-Smith

Malhotra’s full-circle return to Canucks transcends friendship: 'It's their vision'

Malhotra’s full-circle return to Canucks transcends friendship: 'It's their vision'

VANCOUVER — If you were watching U-15 boys lacrosse in Barrie, Ont., on Monday and thought you heard a joyful whoop unrelated to the game from the...

previous day 5

Sportsnet

Iain Macintyre

Darnell Nurse's time with Oilers running out

Darnell Nurse's time with Oilers running out

EDMONTON — Darnell Nurse and the Edmonton Oilers are headed for a breakup. The clock is ticking on the veteran defenceman’s time in Edmonton,...

previous day 9

Sportsnet

Mark Spector

Sources: Dylan Larkin requests trade from Detroit

Sources: Dylan Larkin requests trade from Detroit

Quick Thursday blog before Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final: According to multiple sources, Dylan Larkin recently requested a trade from Detroit....

previous day 2

Sportsnet

Elliotte Friedman

Stanley Cup Final Game 2 notebook: Marner doing 'anything he can' to win

Stanley Cup Final Game 2 notebook: Marner doing 'anything he can' to win

 RALEIGH, N.C. — Mitch Marner, who has done a little bit of everything in these playoffs, received plenty of praise for his shot block in the dying...

previous day 4

Sportsnet

Eric Francis

Canadiens' Demidov incentivized to sign long-term extension as soon as possible

Canadiens' Demidov incentivized to sign long-term extension as soon as possible

BROSSARD, Que. — This shouldn’t be a particularly hard decision for Ivan Demidov, even if it will be a life-altering one. The 20-year-old is...

previous day 4

Sportsnet

Eric Engels

NBA Finals takeaways: Surging Knicks take Game 1 on road without their best stuff

NBA Finals takeaways: Surging Knicks take Game 1 on road without their best stuff

That didn’t take long.  While the 2026 NBA Finals may yet deliver a classic match-up between a young team with designs on reaching its destiny,...

previous day 10

Sportsnet

Michael Grange

Blue Jays under increasing pressure after fourth straight loss

Blue Jays under increasing pressure after fourth straight loss

ATLANTA – The pressure’s building again for the Toronto Blue Jays. Now granted, no one in uniform gains anything by focusing on that pressure or...

wednesday 3

Sportsnet

Ben Nicholson-Smith

Shea Theodore's evolution powering Golden Knights in playoffs

Shea Theodore's evolution powering Golden Knights in playoffs

RALEIGH – Mere seconds into the first shift of Tuesday's Stanley Cup final opener, Shea Theodore made the kind of mistake that would have...

wednesday 3

Sportsnet

Eric Francis

Blue Jays farm report: Bullard, Cook lead as Dunedin ‘running like crazy’

Blue Jays farm report: Bullard, Cook lead as Dunedin ‘running like crazy’

TORONTO — The low-A Dunedin Blue Jays are, in the words of farm director Joe Sclafani, “running like crazy” this season, part of an...

wednesday 10

Sportsnet

Shi Davidi

Brendan Gallagher has 'plenty more to give' as Canadiens tenure comes to end

Brendan Gallagher has 'plenty more to give' as Canadiens tenure comes to end

BROSSARD, Que. — This was Brendan Gallagher as we’ve always known him. Raw, honest and real, until he appeared as we’ve never seen him —...

wednesday 4

Sportsnet

Eric Engels

Wave of reinforcements could reshape Blue Jays' pitching outlook

Wave of reinforcements could reshape Blue Jays' pitching outlook

ATLANTA — The Worcester Red Sox are in for quite a challenge this weekend, when two Cy Young winners and a runner-up for the award are expected to...

wednesday 4

Sportsnet

Ben Nicholson-Smith

Hertl plays hero again for Golden Knights to open Cup Final: 'We found a way'

Hertl plays hero again for Golden Knights to open Cup Final: 'We found a way'

RALEIGH, N.C. — Tomas Hertl didn’t just win Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final — he rescued it, rewrote it, and stamped his name all over it in a...

wednesday 10

Sportsnet

Eric Francis

Struggling Blue Jays offence has no answers in third straight loss

Struggling Blue Jays offence has no answers in third straight loss

ATLANTA — A few days ago, the Toronto Blue Jays were on the brink of reaching the .500 mark for the first time since early April. Three losses...

02.06.2026 3

Sportsnet

Ben Nicholson-Smith

Malhotra has earned Canucks' trust by coaching through highs and lows

Malhotra has earned Canucks' trust by coaching through highs and lows

VANCOUVER — It wasn’t the championship season in the minors that convinced Vancouver Canucks general manager Ryan Johnson he had the right coach...

02.06.2026 4

Sportsnet

Iain Macintyre

In Spurs vs. Knicks, NBA gets dream Finals matchup

In Spurs vs. Knicks, NBA gets dream Finals matchup

The NBA is about to complete its first season under its new U.S. media rights deal, which is worth a mere $77 billion over 11 years.  It couldn’t...

02.06.2026 5

Sportsnet

Michael Grange

Stanley Cup Final Game 1 notebook: Can Vegas handle Carolina’s pressure?

Stanley Cup Final Game 1 notebook: Can Vegas handle Carolina’s pressure?

RALEIGH, N.C. — The night before the biggest game of his life, Jordan Martinook just tried being Dad. Like normal. “Cooked some steaks. Got yelled...

02.06.2026 5

Sportsnet

Luke Fox

Sources: Gary Bettman laying foundation for succession plan

Sources: Gary Bettman laying foundation for succession plan

Commissioner Gary Bettman gives his annual Stanley Cup State of the Union later this afternoon, and now, there is a potential new topic to discuss: a...

02.06.2026 4

Sportsnet

Elliotte Friedman

Predators granted permission to speak to Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland

Predators granted permission to speak to Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland

Good Stanley Cup morning everyone, quick blog with a major development: According to several sources, the Nashville Predators have permission to talk...

02.06.2026 5

Sportsnet

Elliotte Friedman

Takeaways: Canada dominates in second half for convincing win over Uzbekistan

Takeaways: Canada dominates in second half for convincing win over Uzbekistan

Say the word “Iceteca” to any soccer fan in this country, and it’ll instantly bring a smile to their face as they recall one of the best moments...

02.06.2026 8

Sportsnet

John Molinaro

Rasmus Andersson balancing difficult emotions at first Stanley Cup Final

Rasmus Andersson balancing difficult emotions at first Stanley Cup Final

RALEIGH – Staring blankly across the room at the Stanley Cup, Rasmus Andersson didn’t try hiding the mix of emotions swirling in his head. Four...

01.06.2026 8

Sportsnet

Eric Francis

Canadiens brass committed to filling holes in roster: 'Plenty of work to do'

Canadiens brass committed to filling holes in roster: 'Plenty of work to do'

BROSSARD, Que. — The holes were gaping, and they were thoroughly exposed to everyone by the end of the Montreal Canadiens’ promising run to within...

01.06.2026 4

Sportsnet

Eric Engels

Canada Basketball drawing line on commitment under new coach Herbert

Canada Basketball drawing line on commitment under new coach Herbert

TORONTO — First, we’ll start with who intends to be at the 2028 Olympics, playing for the Canadian men’s national basketball team, trying to...

01.06.2026 7

Sportsnet

Michael Grange

Wembanyama, Spurs appear destined for greatness after statement win over OKC

Wembanyama, Spurs appear destined for greatness after statement win over OKC

The series got the finale it deserved. The seventh game of the Western Conference Finals wasn’t a double-overtime nailbiter like the epic series...

31.05.2026 20

Sportsnet

Michael Grange

Canadiens' bright future will be shaped by pain from loss to Hurricanes

Canadiens' bright future will be shaped by pain from loss to Hurricanes

RALEIGH, N.C. — For now, there is nothing but pain, which might be more formative for the Montreal Canadiens than anything else they experienced...

30.05.2026 20

Sportsnet

Eric Engels

Marsch navigates injuries to finalize Canada's World Cup roster

Marsch navigates injuries to finalize Canada's World Cup roster

It’s getting very real for the Canadian men’s team ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.  Coach Jesse Marsch officially unveiled his World Cup squad...

29.05.2026 7

Sportsnet

John Molinaro

Canadiens must bring Gallagher's competitiveness to keep season alive vs. Hurricanes

Canadiens must bring Gallagher's competitiveness to keep season alive vs. Hurricanes

MONTREAL — Brendan Gallagher would give everything he has to keep this Montreal Canadiens season alive, but he won’t be turned to in Friday’s...

29.05.2026 7

Sportsnet

Eric Engels

What you need to know about the Champions League final

What you need to know about the Champions League final

Saturday’s UEFA Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain is a classic tale of an upstart team looking to unseat the reigning...

29.05.2026 10

Sportsnet

John Molinaro

How Raptors could benefit from NBA's draft lottery reform

How Raptors could benefit from NBA's draft lottery reform

TORONTO — The Toronto Raptors draft situation couldn’t be more mundane going forward:  They own all their own first-round draft picks and their...

28.05.2026 10

Sportsnet

Michael Grange

How Jakub Dobes stabilized Canadiens' crease by steadying his emotions

How Jakub Dobes stabilized Canadiens' crease by steadying his emotions

MONTREAL — For five minutes and eight seconds, Jakub Dobes stood at his stall getting peppered by questions after facing a 44-shot barrage from the...

28.05.2026 8

Sportsnet

Eric Engels

Damage runs deep as Canadiens lose again in Eastern Conference Final

Damage runs deep as Canadiens lose again in Eastern Conference Final

MONTREAL — It was an ominous statement from Joe Veleno, though it wasn’t meant to be. When the Montreal Canadiens forward said — just one day...

28.05.2026 20

Sportsnet

Eric Engels

Okamoto shakes off HBP to power Blue Jays to tense win over Marlins

Okamoto shakes off HBP to power Blue Jays to tense win over Marlins

TORONTO — John Schneider went out of his way to dispel the notion that Sandy Alcantara intentionally directed a changeup at Kazuma Okamoto — his...

27.05.2026 8

Sportsnet

Shi Davidi

Blue Jays acquire Seabold, select Voth to bolster thinning pitching depth

Blue Jays acquire Seabold, select Voth to bolster thinning pitching depth

TORONTO — Looking to bolster their ebbing pitching depth, the Toronto Blue Jays acquired righty reliever Connor Seabold from the Detroit Tigers for...

27.05.2026 10

Sportsnet

Shi Davidi

'We believe in the plan': Henrik Sedin says Canucks locked in on rebuild

'We believe in the plan': Henrik Sedin says Canucks locked in on rebuild

VANCOUVER — It wasn’t the prestige and lustre of the title that led Henrik and Daniel Sedin to become co-presidents of the Vancouver Canucks, but...

27.05.2026 10

Sportsnet

Iain Macintyre

Canadiens must follow Lane Hutson's lead to rebound in Game 4

Canadiens must follow Lane Hutson's lead to rebound in Game 4

MONTREAL — It wasn’t all Lane Hutson’s fault, but it didn’t matter. What mattered was that he wouldn’t let himself off the hook for his...

27.05.2026 9

Sportsnet

Eric Engels

Golden Knights out-execute Avalanche for shocking sweep in West Final

Golden Knights out-execute Avalanche for shocking sweep in West Final

LAS VEGAS - Five minutes into Game 4, the whole Colorado Avalanche season flickered in front of the hockey world like a loose puck on bad ice. Cale...

27.05.2026 10

Sportsnet

Eric Francis

Jesus Sanchez's grand slam propels Blue Jays to blowout win over Marlins

Jesus Sanchez's grand slam propels Blue Jays to blowout win over Marlins

TORONTO – In the span of two pitches Tuesday, a rather quiet game turned into something more dramatic. Heading into the bottom of the sixth inning,...

26.05.2026 7

Sportsnet

Ben Nicholson-Smith

Notebook: Avalanche counting on MacKinnon, Blackwood in do-or-die Game 4

Notebook: Avalanche counting on MacKinnon, Blackwood in do-or-die Game 4

LAS VEGAS — The Colorado Avalanche are counting on the Return of the Mack(s) to keep their season alive. Jared Bednar announced Tuesday morning...

26.05.2026 10

Sportsnet

Eric Francis

Otto Lopez a cautionary tale as Blue Jays manage outfield surplus

Otto Lopez a cautionary tale as Blue Jays manage outfield surplus

TORONTO — All season long, as a constant stream of injuries has tested the Toronto Blue Jays’ organizational depth, the one area where the club...

26.05.2026 20

Sportsnet

Shi Davidi

Canadiens searching for answers after consecutive losses to Hurricanes

Canadiens searching for answers after consecutive losses to Hurricanes

MONTREAL — Two nights after becoming just the second team in NHL history to have as few as 12 shots in a Stanley Cup Playoffs game that extended...

26.05.2026 10

Sportsnet

Eric Engels

Golden Knights' Marner bulldozing narratives with do-it-all playoffs

LAS VEGAS – If the Conn Smythe Trophy were handed out today, the engraver wouldn’t need to squint, hesitate, or double‑check the spelling. ...

25.05.2026 8

Sportsnet

Eric Francis

How could Blue Jays backfill Cease's rotation spot?

TORONTO – Despite opening the season with enviable pitching depth, the Blue Jays placed yet another arm on the injured list Monday, raising new...

25.05.2026 9

Sportsnet

Ben Nicholson-Smith

Eyeing greatness, Gilgeous-Alexander meets monstrous foe in Wembanyama

The Oklahoma City Thunder are knocking on the door of destiny, maybe even dynasty. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has one hand on basketball immortality. ...

25.05.2026 9

Sportsnet

Michael Grange