Sports and News by Mr. Hot Coco

 Oh, Atlanta is thinking about getting another hockey team? Precious. Because if there’s one thing the city is known for, it’s definitely its long, stable, totally-not-chaotic history with professional hockey franchises. I mean, who among us doesn’t fondly remember the Thrashers? Or the Flames before that? Atlanta has treated hockey teams like houseplants: buy them with enthusiasm, forget to water them, then act shocked when they die. But sure, let’s do Round Three. Third time’s the charm, right? And you just know what happens next. The moment Atlanta gets a hockey team again, the city’s going to look around and say, “Wow, this is fun. What other sports can we collect like Pokémon?” Because Atlanta loves a good sports identity crisis. They’ll get halfway through the first season, sell out a few games, and suddenly someone on the city council will stand up and say, “You know what we really need? A professional football team.” As if the Falcons don’t already exist. As if the NFL hasn...

Montreal inherited Laine’s $8.7 million cap hit when they acquired him, and that contract expired after 2025–26.  Given his injury history — including appearing in only five games in 2025–26 due to a core muscle injury — he no longer fits the profile of a multi‑year, big‑money signing.  Analysts agree his next deal must be short-term, low‑guarantee, and bonus‑laden, with top‑six minutes and power‑play deployment baked into the plan.  Montreal would need to commit to giving him meaningful offensive opportunities, especially on the man advantage, where he still produces at a high rate (15 of his 20 goals in 2024–25 came on the power play).  The projected cost is surprisingly modest: Base salary: $1–2 million Performance bonuses: $2–4 million Role guarantees: Top‑six usage + PP1 time This structure mirrors what cap‑strapped contenders use for risky scorers. It protects Montreal from major cap damage while giving Laine a chance to rebuild his value. It also aligns with h...