Newsmakers
Traded The Buffalo Sabres acquired embattled LW Evander Kane from the Winnipeg Jets in a seven-player trade. Buffalo continued its rebuild by sending D Tyler Myers, forwards Drew Stafford and Joel Armia, the rights to 2014 second-round pick Brendan Lemieux and Buffalo’s latest first-round pick in 2015. In exchange, Winnipeg is sending Kane, D Zach Bogosian and G Jason Kasdorf to the Sabres. Kane is out four to six months after undergoing elective shoulder surgery. The 6-2, 195-pound winger had 10 goals and 12 points in 37 games this season.
Retired An emotional Evgeni Nabokov announced his retirement from the NHL, just two days after he was traded by Tampa Bay to the San Jose Sharks, the team that drafted him in 1994. Nabokov played 10 seasons for the Sharks and owns a long list of franchise goaltending records, including most wins (293) and games (563). A two-time NHL All-Star, Nabakov was a Vezina Trophy finalist in 2008.
Finalized The San Diego Padres finalized a $75 million, four-year contract with righty James Shields. Shields helped Kansas City reach the World Series last season but declined a $15.3 million qualifying offer from the Royals. Injured All-Star catcher Jonathan Lucroy will miss four to six weeks of spring training for the Milwaukee Brewers because of a mild strain of his right hamstring. Lucroy finished fourth in voting for the N.L. MVP award last season.
Awarded The Miami Marlins were awarded the 2017 All-Star Game according to sources, and an announcement by baseball commissioner Rob Manfred is planned for this week at the team’s ballpark in Miami. The All-Star Game will be played in Cincinnati this year and in San Diego in 2016, meaning a National League team will host the game in three consecutive seasons.
Released The Tampa Bay Buccaneers terminated the contract of quarterback Josh McCown. The 35-year-old McCown went 1-10 as a starter.
• The Indianapolis Colts released safety LaRon Landry, inside linebacker Andrew Jackson and offensive tackle Xavier Nixon.
Upgraded Shot putter Dylan Armstrong will receive an Olympic medal, upgraded to bronze after a competitor was banned for doping at the 2008 Beijing Games. Armstrong finished fourth in 2008, just a centimeter behind bronze medalist Andrei Mikhnevich of Belarus. Mikhnevich was banned for life for a second doping offense.