💰 Largest NHL Contract Ever Signed

Super Bowl Halftime, WNBA Commissioner Insulted, 3 MLB Managers Fired, and more!

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Sportie Newsletter
October 02, 2025

🏒 Hockey

Kaprizov Signs Largest Contract in NHL History

Minnesota Wild President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Bill Guerin announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has signed left wing Kirill Kaprizov to an eight-year, $136 million contract extension ($17 million average annual value) that begins in the 2026-27 season and goes through the 2033-34 season.

The contract is the largest in league history in terms of total dollars as Kaprizov's new deal will surpass Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin's 13-year, $124 million contract extension signed back in 2008. Meanwhile, Kaprizov's contract will also surpass Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl ($14.0 million) in terms of his annual cap hit.

Jonathan Toews Injured After Returning From Two Year Break

The Winnipeg Jets not only lost their preseason game to the Minnesota Wild but, might have the same time, lost a key player days before the opening night of the 2025-26.

In the 3-2 loss at the hands of the Wild, the Jets have to come to the hard reality that veteran forward Jonathan Toews, who is attempting a comeback into the NHL after two years of absence, tweaked something and miss the last 30 minutes of the contest. Toews had just over 10 minutes of ice time before leaving with the undisclosed injury in the second period.

Not much was revealed about Toews’ injury after the game when head coach Scott Arniel met with media.

🏀 Basketball

Napheesa Collier on WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert: 'We have the worst leadership in the world'

In a scathing critique of WNBA leadership, Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier directly called out league Commissioner Cathy Engelbert on multiple fronts Tuesday, describing her handling of leaguewide complaints over officiating as “negligence.”

Engelbert’s “response was ‘Caitlin should be grateful she makes $16 million off the court, because without the platform that WNBA gives her, she wouldn’t make anything,’” Collier said.

NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2025: Everything to know

For the fourth straight season, NBA basketball is headed back to the Arabian Gulf for the NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2025 presented by ADQ. Get ready for an exciting week of on-court action and off-court fan experiences, as the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers tip off the 2025 NBA preseason in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 2.

⚾️ Baseball

Three MLB General Managers Fired

The first managerial changes of the 2025-26 MLB offseason came on the first day after the season, when the San Francisco Giants dismissed Bob Melvin, the Minnesota Twins fired Rocco Baldelli, and the Texas Rangers announced that Bruce Bochy will not return.

Tuesday brought the news that manager Ron Washington and interim manager Ray Montgomery both will not return to the Los Angeles Angels and Brian Snitker informed the Atlanta Braves he won't return as manager.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Dodgers defeat Reds in Game 2 to advance to NLDS

The Dodgers are moving on to facing the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Division Series after beating Cincinnati in Game 2 to take the best-of-three wild-card series.

Game 1 between the Dodgers and Phillies will be Saturday (time TBD).

🏈 Football

Bad Bunny will headline the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show

Bad Bunny will bring his Latin trap and reggaeton swagger to the NFL's biggest stage next year as the star of the 2026 Apple Music Super Bowl halftime show. He celebrated the milestone, saying "this is for my people, my culture, and our history."

The NFL, Apple Music and Roc Nation announced Sunday that Bad Bunny will lead the halftime festivities from Levi's Stadium on Feb. 8 in Santa Clara, California — home of the San Francisco 49ers.

Browns bench Joe Flacco, turn to Dillon Gabriel as starting QB

The Cleveland Browns are benching veteran quarterback Joe Flacco and will turn to rookie Dillon Gabriel as their starter for Sunday's game in London against the Minnesota Vikings.

Flacco will serve as Cleveland's backup Sunday, while rookie Shedeur Sanders will remain the third-string quarterback.

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski, who noted that the decision to bench Flacco and start Gabriel was his, said it was "best for the football team."