UPDATE: Riders announce Trevon Tate extension, Ajou released for NFL chance
Jan 22, 2025
Tate is set to be the starting left tackle after Trevor Reid was released.
The New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils gave Team Canada and Team USA the bad news.
Alexis Lafreniere will not be loaned to Canada by the Rangers for the world junior hockey championship and neither will the Devils loan Jack Hughes to the United States.
I’m struggling to find a good reason. It’s not like the NHL season is happening. It’s very unlikely to start until mid-January, if not later.
Sure, there may be fear over injury with Lafreniere’s injury in last year’s tournament. He missed only two games and still won MVP.
But if it’s injury, the Rangers are allowing another first-round pick, defenceman Braden Schneider, to play.
The Devils are allowing their seventh overall pick from this year, Alexander Holtz, play for Sweden.
Is it worry about COVID-19? It shouldn’t be. The safest place for athletes has been in the hub cities.
I’d rather have my players playing at a high level of competition, giving them a chance to start their NHL season fast. Plus, I don’t think you should ever withhold your players from playing for their countries — unless they don’t want to. But that would deserve a separate commentary.