Give the Miami Dolphins credit for trying to upgrade the running back position this offseason. Miami was in the running for Dalvin Cook before he signed with the New York Jets and has interest in dealing for Jonathan Taylor amid his standoff with the Indianapolis Colts. Trading for Taylor is still a possibility, but the star back is on the PUP list and will be sidelined for the first four games.
Do the Dolphins even need a featured back like a Cook or Taylor? Miami is 25th in the NFL in rushing average, 22nd in rushing touchdowns, and 19th in yards per carry. This was with two players returning who averaged 4.9 yards and 4.7 yards per carry, respectively, last season. It didn’t help the Dolphins affected those numbers by averaging just 22.9 carries per game (31st in NFL), making the franchise go six consecutive seasons without a 1,000-yard rusher — tied for the fourth-longest drought currently in the NFL.
While the Dolphins likely won’t have a 1,000-yard rusher this season, Mike McDaniel’s rushing attack should thrive with a running back-by-committee approach in Year 2. The Dolphins have an impressive stable of backs to use throughout the year.
The leading rusher on the Dolphins last season, Mostert put up a respectable 181 carries for 891 yards and three touchdowns in 2022 (averaging 4.9 yards per carry). He started 14 games and 70.25 yards per game, averaging 6.2 yards per carry. Miami’s rushing attack was significantly hindered when Mostert was inactive for the playoff loss to Buffalo (the game Skylar Thompson started).
Mostert is the lead back in the committee approach, but he won’t be getting the bulk of the touches every week.
The Dolphins acquired Wilson at the trade deadline last season, reuniting him with McDaniel. Wilson played eight games in Miami, finishing with 84 carries for 392 yards and three touchdowns (4.7 yards per carry). Over the final three games, he had 40 carries for 154 yards and a touchdown (3.8 yards per carry).
Wilson, who Miami re-signed this offseason, is likely best suited to complement Mostert, as he’s averaged 10.5 carries per game since arriving to Miami. Mostert averaged 10.0 in that stretch, so there should be a fairly even distribution.
The third-round rookie will add some explosiveness to the running game, even with a shoulder injury that kept him out most of the preseason. He has the highest ceiling of this group, and his 4.32 40-yard dash at the combine is nothing to scoff at.
The Dolphins will ease Achane into the rushing attack, but don’t be shocked if he’s the back getting the most touches in the second half of the year. If Achane can stay healthy, he’s a home run threat in the zone-run scheme.
View Profile Ahmed only had 12 carries for the Dolphins last season despite playing 12 games. He’s at the bottom of the depth chart, but will be relied upon at some point with the injury history of Mostert and Wilson. Ahmed just isn’t a high-volume back, but provides excellent depth for a group that needs it.
An undrafted rookie, Brooks finished with 22 carries for 104 yards and two touchdowns in the preseason — highlighted by a 52-yard rushing touchdown. The Dolphins felt highly enough of Brooks to keep him on the 53-man roster, likely due to his two-touchdown showing in the preseason finale.
At 6-1, 223 pounds, Brooks beat out Myles Gaskin for the roster spot. The Dolphins could use Brooks as a short-yardage back, given the lack of physical backs on the roster. Brooks has a role in this offense.
Joshua Dobbs is battling for the starting quarterback job in Arizona, less than a week after the Cardinals acquired him and moved on from Colt McCoy. There’s a starting spot up for grabs as Dobbs will compete with rookie Clayton Tune for the job.
“I put starting expectations on myself,” Dobbs told reporters Wednesday, via the Cardinals website. “I know the QB situation will play out however the coaches see fit. For me, I am ready to compete every day.”
The Cardinals acquired Dobbs from the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick in 2024. On a rebuilding team, Dobbs gets the opportunity to start for the entire season as the Cardinals look toward the future.
That is, if he wins the job.
“I have put in a ton of work, I have a ton of sweat equity and I am extremely prepared for the opportunity,” Dobbs said. “But it doesn’t mean I’m ever complacent.”
Dobbs hasn’t had much of an opportunity to start in the NFL, only getting his two opportunities with the Tennessee Titans at the end of last season. He completed 58.8% of his passes for 411 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions (73.8 rating), while also having eight carries for 44 yards.
The Titans signed Dobbs in Week 16 and started him the final two weeks of the year to salvage a playoff collapse. Dobbs was the best option to keep the team in games after Ryan Tannehill was injured, an option he hopes to be in Arizona.
“He’s a guy that understands football,” Cardinals tight end Zach Ertz said. “He’s got a really good grasp of this offense, so him coming into the huddle, calling the formations, calling the plays, has been seamless so far. And he throws a very catchable ball.”
Head coach Jonathan Gannon won’t name a starter yet, but Dobbs has a good of a chance as any signal-caller on the roster.
Now that NFL cutdown day has come and gone, it’s time to highlight the underrated youngsters ready to contribute to the respective teams they made this summer.
Let’s highlight the rookies, who went either undrafted or were selected on Day 3 of the 2023 NFL Draft, you’ll want to keep tabs on throughout the season. They’ll make an impact.
Jaleel McLaughlin, RB, Broncos McLaughlin could be the next Pierre Thomas. Remember him, an undrafted runner out of Illinois who snuck his way onto Sean Payton’s Saints roster way back in 2007 who ultimately became a reliable checkdown, screen, and swing-pass option for the Super Bowl-winning Saints.
McLaughlin isn’t nearly as sizable as Thomas was — he is more explosive. After a dazzling career at FCS powerhouse Youngstown State with a bulky career yards-per-carry average of 6.4 across more than 530 attempts with 30 scores and countless highlight-reel jukes and hurdles in space, McLaughlin was a nifty, twitched-up stud this preseason for the Broncos with 113 yards on 21 rushes with three ground-game touchdowns and 33 extra yards on seven catches. Javonte Williams and Samaje Perine are built like traditional feature and No. 2 backs. McLaughlin can be the third-down lightning bug when needed, and you better believe Payton — one of the early adopters of the running back-by-committee approach — will creatively use him in 2023.
Ivan Pace Jr., LB, Vikings Pace was the talk of Vikings camp, and his ultra-aggressive style at inside linebacker translated to splash plays in the preseason. On just 46 snaps, the former Miami of Ohio and Cincinnati star made eight tackles and had a pressure of the opposing quarterback. The thing with Pace is, he’s short. Not small. Just short with limited length. There aren’t many off-ball linebackers who stand less than 5-foot-11 in today’s NFL.
On film, Pace plays like he’s 6-foot-3. And at 231 pounds, he has plenty of mass to deal with enormous blockers climbing to the second level. He attacks those blocks with authority and sheds like he has 34-inch arms. He’s a deft mover in coverage as well. It felt like Pace locked up a roster spot after the second preseason outing, an extreme rarity for a rookie undrafted free agent. And new defensive coordinator Brian Flores — who was hyper-aggressive calling the shots in Miami — must be enamored with Pace’s blitzing capabilities. At Cincinnati in 2022, Pace generated 55 pressures on 180 pass-rush snaps (almost all as a blitzer), which equates to a gargantuan pressure-creation rate of 30.5%.
Kaevon Merriweather, S, Buccaneers Merriweather had a middling combine. He still had no business going undrafted. Zero. While he wasn’t a high-volume stat-sheet filler at Iowa, he was efficient and rarely out of position. Merriweather had seven interceptions in his final two seasons in Iowa City and at 6-foot and 205 pounds with nearly 32 inch arms, he entered the league with serious NFL safety size.
In the preseason, Merriweather played 84 snaps, registered eight tackles while only missing one, moved the quarterback off his spot twice, recovered a fumble, and had a pass breakup. That’s the type of player he was at Iowa. When he had an opportunity, he was around the football. The Buccaneers have budding star Antoine Winfield Jr. at one safety spot. Newcomer Ryan Neal is penciled in as the other safety starter. But now Tampa Bay has three heady, instinctive back-line defenders given the emergence of Merriweather this summer.
Ronnie Bell, WR, 49ers Bell is a classic, “what if?” case in the NFL Draft. What if he didn’t tear a knee ligament in Michigan’s season opener back in 2021? Where would he have been selected in the 2022 draft? Instead, Bell rehabbed for a year and came back with the same urgent-play style that lends itself to tremendous yards-after-the-catch skill, which is likely the reason Kyle Shanahan gravitated toward Bell on Day 3 in April.
Then with plenty of opportunity to showcase himself in the preseason, Bell rocked for San Francisco — 11 touchdowns for 185 yards and a collection of ricochets off tacklers in space to accumulate extra yardage. Of course, the 49ers are loaded at the skill positions. Yet it’s vital as a legitimate Super Bowl contender to have capable depth at those positions. Bell demonstrated he can be a weapon on short, underneath throws in which the 49ers coaching staff hopes YAC will be accentuated.
JL Skinner, S, Broncos Skinner went in the sixth round almost purely due to medical concerns. He had, at worst, late Day 2 talent and production at Boise State. Heck, before the 2022 season, Skinner had serious first-round buzz after a 92-tackle, seven tackle-for-loss, two-interception, three pass-breakup junior season for the Broncos.
At 6-foot-4 and 209 pounds, Skinner is not only an intimidating presence at safety but possesses the size teams are looking for today to match the proliferation of super-talented, pass-catch specialists at tight end across the league. While not someone who was dominant in the preseason, Skinner proved on 84 snaps he belongs. He had five tackles and only allowed one catch on three targets in his coverage area. The Broncos have plenty of new faces on defense, and Skinner can be a specific matchup type strong safety/linebacker hybrid for Vance Joseph’s defense.
Keaton Mitchell, RB, Ravens Just like Gus Edwards in 2018, the Ravens uncovered another undrafted free agent gem at running back in Mitchell. At East Carolina, the tiny runner was seemingly impossible to corral on the first attempt, and importantly at his size, tested like an NFL-caliber back with 4.37 speed and a 38-inch vertical. Lesser competition be damned — in college, Mitchell averaged 6.5 yards per tote, including a ridiculous 7.2 in his final season for the Pirates.
Of course he has J.K. Dobbins and Edwards in front of him on the roster, two thick, highly capable runners. However, both have dealt with injuries early in their careers, and Mitchell has fresh, 21-year-old legs. In the preseason, he averaged 6 yards per carry on seven attempts and had a long run called back on a holding penalty. By November, Mitchell will be the hot name to add on waiver wires in fantasy leagues all over the country.
Antoine Green, WR, Lions Green is the outside wideout the Lions need on their offense given the loss of D.J. Chark and the suspension of 2022 first-round pick Jameson Williams. At a shade under 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, Green has prototypical X receiver frame and flashed his boundary receiver skill along with serious breakaway speed this preseason. He had a 70-yard touchdown which came on a deep in-breaking route in which he caught in stride, flipped on the afterburners and was gone. I actually had a higher grade on him than fellow North Carolina wideout Josh Downs, who went four rounds earlier.
Green too was a pesky YAC option who consistently absorbed contact like a much more compact receiver through his Tar Heels career. For as fun as the Detroit offense should be, the receiver group is relatively thin, which should provide Green with ample opportunity as a seventh-round rookie to prove he should’ve been picked much higher in April.
Jason Brownlee, Xavier Gipson, WR, Jets Take your pick here. While vastly different in size, at least one of these pass catchers will make a difference for the Jets in 2023. Yes there’s Garrett Wilson, Randall Cobb, Allen Lazard and Mecole Hardman. I’m not sure if any of those beyond Wilson are high-volume, incredibly consistent options for Aaron Rodgers.
There’ll be room for others to contribute to New York’s aerial attack in 2023. Gipson is a dynamic, speedy return-man type who can run away from defenders underneath and down the field. I’ve described Brownlee like this since the pre-draft process — he is who we all thought/wished Laquon Treadwell was in the 2016 NFL Draft. He’s long and spindly, and attacks the football in the air like an All-NBA rebounder. Both flashed in camp and the preseason with a collective total of 19 catches for 199 yards.
Eli Ricks, CB, Eagles Possibly the headliner of my currently only existing in my head No Business Going Undrafted Team, Ricks enjoyed a stellar start to his college career at LSU before transferring to Alabama and defending four passes in nine games for the Crimson Tide.
The former five-star recruit was lockdown in the preseason after a noteworthy camp — on 102 snaps, he had five tackles, a pick six, and four other pass breakups. The appeal with Ricks beyond his natural mirroring capabilities, he possesses that built-in-a-lab look at outside corner — 6-foot-2 and 188 pounds with nearly 33-inch arms.
Philadelphia boosts two rock-solid veteran cornerbacks in Darius Slay and James Bradberry. Ricks will pop in as a rookie on occasion to remind everyone he’s the future at one of those spots.
The Washington Capitals have signed veteran forward Tom Wilson to a long-term extension, the team announced on Friday. Wilson, 29, inked a seven-year contract worth $45.5 million.
Wilson’s extension will kick in at the start of the 2024-25 season, and it carries an AAV of $6.5 million. The Capitals’ first-round pick in the 2012 NHL Draft, Wilson has spent his entire career with the franchise, and this extension makes it a real possibility that he will retire in Washington.
Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan said Wilson has made substantial contributions to the Capitals in his 10 seasons with the team, and he believes that will continue well into the future.
“Tom possesses all the intangibles needed to win in this League and we are extremely pleased to sign him to a long-term contract, giving him the opportunity to finish his career in a Capitals’ uniform,” MacLellan said in his statement. “Throughout his career, Tom has improved every facet of his game through his drive and competitiveness. We feel his work ethic and leadership qualities will be a tremendous asset to our organization for years to come.”
Wilson has played 680 games with the Capitals, earning a reputation as a hard-nosed power forward along the way. Throughout his career, Wilson has piled up 128 goals, 167 assists, and 295 points.
In the 2018 playoffs, Wilson was integral in helping the Capitals win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. He contributed five goals and 15 points in 21 games played.
Wilson missed significant time in 2022-23 due to his recovery from a torn ACL and a separate ankle injury he suffered during the season. He played in just 33 games, scoring 13 goals and adding nine assists.
The Pittsburgh Penguins made an important decision during the 2022 offseason when they re-signed Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang. With the team deciding not to break up their veteran core, Pittsburgh pushed its chips to the center of the table for another Stanley Cup run with the acquisition of star defenseman Erik Karlsson.
On Sunday, the Penguins acquired the reigning Norris Trophy winner as part of a three-team trade with the San Jose Sharks and Montreal Canadiens.
The trade was as follows:
The Penguins acquired Karlsson, forward Rem Pitlick, forward Dillon Hamaliuk and the Sharks’ 2026 third-round draft pick The Sharks acquired the Penguins’ 2024 first-round pick (top-10 protected), forward Mikael Granlund, defenseman Jan Rutta, and forward Mike Hoffman The Canadiens acquired the Penguins’ 2025 second-round pick, defenseman Jeff Petry, goaltender Casey DeSmith, and forward Nathan Legare Karlsson, a three-time Norris Trophy who’s been selected to seven All-Star Games, is signed through the 2026-27 season and helps to extend Pittsburgh’s window to compete for a Stanley Cup. The Sharks will also retain $1.5 million of Karlsson’s yearly salary as part of the deal.
How Karlsson fits in with the Penguins It’s been well-documented that the Penguins possess one of the NHL’s older cores, which features the likes of captain Sidney Crosby, Malkin, and Letang. After re-signing Malkin and Letang last offseason, the Penguins continued the tradition of adding veteran talent during the 2023 offseason.
In addition to Karlsson, the Penguins also beefed up their blue line with the signing of former New Jersey Devils defenseman Ryan Graves to a six-year, $27 million contract. Pittsburgh also improved their top-six forward group by acquiring Reilly Smith from the Vegas Golden Knights. Finally, the team re-signed goaltender Tristan Jarry to a five-year, $26.8 million contract extension.
The acquisition of Karlsson gives the Penguins two elite right-handed defensemen in their top two defensive pairings. It’s likely that Karlsson will be slotted with Graves on the team’s top defensive pairing once the 2023-24 campaign begins.
Karlsson brings an abundance of offensive talent that will fit in nicely with Pittsburgh’s already talented roster. It gives Pittsburgh another blue-liner that can help put the puck in the net. That’s a huge addition seeing as the Penguins go just 27 goals from their defensemen in 2022-23 with Letang scoring 12 of those.
The star defenseman is coming off of a massive season in which he registered 101 points (25 goals, 71 assists) in a full 82-game season with the Sharks. In doing so, Karlsson became just the sixth blue-liner in NHL history to record a 100-point season and the first since Brian Leetch in 1991-92.
Karlsson also led all defensemen in goals, assists, and points, while finishing 11th in points among all players. Since entering the league during the 2009-10 season, Karlsson leads all NHL defensemen in assists (583) and points (761), while also ranking second in goals (178) behind only Brent Burns (210).
The Penguins ranked 16th in goals-per-game (3.18) during the 2022-23 season, so it’s safe to say that they could use a boost in the goal-scoring department. While Karlsson had a career year in 2022-23, he’s registered double-digit goals in eight of his 14 NHL seasons, so he will be a much-needed spark plug on the offensive end for Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh’s Stanley Cup chances It goes without saying that the Penguins’ offseason moves were very necessary after missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since Sidney Crosby’s rookie season in 2005-06. This is a team that was fully capable of making a deep run at the Stanley Cup during the 2023-24 season following the moves they’ve made.
Crosby is still playing at an elite level after tallying 93 points (33 goals, 60 assists) in his 18th NHL season. The Penguins also still have a tremendous amount of forward depth with Malkin, Smith, Jake Guentzel, and Rickard Rakell. Guentzel will miss the start of the 2023-24 campaign, but shouldn’t be out of the lineup more than the first couple of weeks of the season, barring any setbacks from offseason ankle surgery.
With the addition of Karlsson, this has all the makings of a very dangerous offensive team. It’s likely going to come down to the play of Tristan Jarry in net.
Jarry tallied a less-than-stellar 2.90 goals-against-average, and only appeared in 47 games due to injury last season. If Jarry can return to form and stay healthy, the Penguins have all the makings of a Stanley Cup contender.
If you look up and down the Eastern Conference, the Boston Bruins most likely won’t be repeating their Presidents’ Trophy season after losing Tyler Bertuzzi and Dmitry Orlov in free agency and Patrice Bergeron to retirement. Teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs, New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers will be fighting for conference supremacy yet again, but there’s no reason that the Penguins can’t be in that mix following the acquisition of Karlsson.
At the very least, it’s fairly likely that the Penguins can grab one of those Wild Card spots in the East. As we saw last season with the Florida Panthers, anything is possible as long as you sneak into the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Following their failed attempt to build a new arena and entertainment district in Tempe, the Arizona Coyotes have set their sights on another city. On Wednesday, the Coyotes announced that owner Alex Meruelo has turned to Mesa in hopes of finding a permanent home in Arizona.
Back in May, Tempe voters rejected the Coyotes’ proposition to build a new arena, entertainment district, and residential housing in the area. The franchise had to go back to the drawing board in order to find a long-term solution in Arizona, and it seems like Meruelo has identified Mesa as a possible landing spot.
In its official announcement, the team revealed that Meruelo has “executed a Letter of Intent to purchase a parcel of land located in Mesa, Arizona.” The Coyotes made it very clear that their aim is to keep the franchise in Arizona permanently, despite rumors that the franchise could face relocation in the next few years.
“We appreciate the tremendous support that we have received from many communities, elected officials, and community leaders who have expressed their desire to see the Coyotes remain in the Valley permanently,” the team said in its statement. “We would also like to thank NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly for their steadfast support of the Club’s efforts to find a permanent arena solution, and for their recognition that Arizona is a tremendous hockey market.”
The team did add that it will “continue to explore other potential sites in the East Valley.”
For now, the Coyotes are sharing Mullett Arena with Arizona State University’s hockey program. Following the 2021-22 season, when Arizona lost Gila River Arena, the team signed a deal with Arizona State to play at Mullett Arena through at least the 2024-25 season. The Coyotes also have an option to stay there for the 2025-26 season.
The Coyotes have upgraded their roster this offseason, with additions like Sean Durzi, Jason Zucker, Alexander Kerfoot, and Matt Dumba. As they try to climb out of the NHL’s basement, the Coyotes will keep searching for some stability in the desert.
Boston Bruins forward David Krejci announced his retirement on Monday after 16 NHL seasons. Krejci spent all 16 of his NHL seasons as a member of the Bruins.
“When I was drafted in 2004, I had no idea that I would be working with such incredible and driven people who would lead us to three Stanley Cup Finals, and winning the ultimate goal in 2011,” Krejci said in a statement.
“I have made so many great friendships throughout the organization. You have always been there for me whenever I needed something and I will always be here for you.”
Krejci returned to the Bruins last summer on a one-year deal after spending the 2021-22 campaign playing for HC Olomouc in Czechia. The veteran center tallied 56 points (16 goals and 40 assists) during the 2022-23 season, which was his highest point total since 2015-16.
The 37-year-old helped Boston set league records for the most points (135) and victories (65) in a season. The Bruins were eliminated by the Florida Panthers in the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs despite their record-breaking regular season.
Krejci was originally selected in the second round (No. 63 overall) of the 2004 NHL Draft. Throughout his 16-year career, Krejci racked up 786 points (231 goals and 555 assists) in 1,032 career contests with Boston.
Krejci ranks fifth in assists (555) in team history, while also ranking fifth in games played (1,032), sixth in postseason points (43), and ninth in points (786).
The veteran center was a key part of the Bruins team that won the Stanley Cup in 2011 as he tallied 23 points (12 goals and 11 assists) in 25 postseason games. Krejci follows longtime teammate Patrice Bergeron into retirement after the Bruins captain hung up his skates July 25.
Toronto Maple Leafs legend Bobby Baun has died at the age of 86, the team announced on Tuesday. One of the toughest defensemen in franchise history, Baun was part of four different Stanley Cup championship teams with the Maple Leafs.
Baun made his debut with the Maple Leafs in the 1956-57 season, and he played the first 11 seasons of his career with the franchise. Baun helped Toronto win the Stanley Cup in three straight seasons from 1962 to 1964.
In the 1964 Stanley Cup Final against the Detroit Red Wings, Baun scored the overtime winner in Game 6 on a broken leg. Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan released a statement on Baun’s death and said his legacy continues to inspire those within the organization to this day.
“The Toronto Maple Leafs are deeply saddened by the passing of Bobby Baun, whose enduring legacy of remarkable resilience includes his iconic overtime game-winning goal during a Stanley Cup Final despite playing with a broken leg.
“Bob possessed unquestionable toughness and incredible pride in being a Toronto Maple Leaf. His inspirational presence continues to embody the heart of the game. He will be greatly missed by our team and its fans. Our thoughts are with Bob’s loved ones during this difficult time.”
Baun was selected by the Oakland Seals in the 1967 NHL Expansion Draft, and he played one season there before being dealt to the Red Wings in 1968. Baun did return to Toronto for the final 137 games of his career.
Five games into the 1972-73 season, Baun suffered a neck injury that would end his career. In his 964 NHL games, Baun totaled 37 goals, 187 assists, 224 points, and 1,489 penalty minutes.
The Detroit Red Wings have bolstered their blue line with the acquisition of veteran defenseman Jeff Petry. On Tuesday, the Red Wings announced that they acquired Petry from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for a conditional 2025 fourth-round pick and defenseman Gustav Lindstrom.
This is now the second time Petry has been traded this offseason. After spending the 2022-23 season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Petry was traded to the Canadiens earlier this month, with Pittsburgh retaining 25% of his $6.25 million salary.
The Canadiens are now retaining 50% of Petry’s remaining salary, which means the Red Wings will get a veteran blue line presence for just over $2.3 million for the next two seasons.
Petry, 35, is entering his 14th NHL season, and he has remained a solid puck-moving defenseman well into his career. Last season, Petry tallied five goals and 26 assists in 61 games with the Penguins. According to Natural Stat Trick, Pittsburgh controlled 53.9% of the expected goals with Petry on the ice at five-on-five.
Petry will slot into a Red Wings defensive group that already features budding superstar Moritz Seider, Justin Holl, Jake Walman, Shayne Gostisbehere, and Ben Chiarot. Detroit allowed 279 goals against last season which ranked 23rd in the league, but that number should improve with Petry in the fold.
Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman has been busy trying to complete the team’s rebuild this summer, and he made one of the biggest moves of the offseason when he traded for sharpshooting winger Alex DeBrincat in July.
Lindstrom, a second-round pick by the Red Wings in 2017, has yet to establish himself as a full-time NHL player. He should get more of a chance to do just that on a Canadiens team with a less crowded blue line.
Jori Jones, who was a member of the NCAA Division III national champion Gustavus Adolphus College women’s hockey team, died Sunday in a two-vehicle collision in west-central Minnesota. Jones was just 19 years old.
Three other players were injured in the crash, which occurred at a rural intersection.
According to the Minnesota Star-Tribune, the accident occurred around 12:40 p.m. on Sunday an estimated 20 miles west of Willmar in Grace Township. The women’s SUV was heading east on Highway 40 when it collided with a southbound minivan.
All four women were taken to Montevideo Hospital, but Jones didn’t survive her injuries.
The SUV’s driver ended up being identified as Gianna K. Gasparini. Her grandfather, Gino Gasparini, served as the University of North Dakota men’s hockey head coach from 1978 to 1994, and he led the school to three national championships.
According State Patrol Sgt. Troy Christianson, one of the drivers failed to obey a stop sign, but he didn’t reveal who was at fault. The intersection where the accident took place is a four-way stop.
The players were in one of the three vehicles that were carrying teammates who were returning from an offseason trip to Aberdeen in eastern South Dakota.
“There was sort of a caravan coming back,” Gustavus Adolphus women’s hockey head coach Mike Carroll said. “One of the cars came upon the [crash] scene. They were there while the paramedics pulled the athletes out of the car. The other group heard and doubled back.”
All four women were freshmen this past season when Gustavus Adolphus won the NCAA Division III national title in March 2023. Prior to landing at Gustavus Adolphus, Jones played her high school hockey for Roseville (Minn.).
Gustavus Adolphus organized a private vigil on campus to honor the victims on Monday.
