Stanzel’s Sports Takeout — BREAKING NEWS: 2.12.25

Feb 12

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Now that my head is out of the dance competition fog, I have a few more things to say about the 4 Nations Face-off this week. The timing on it just doesn’t sit well with me. This is a week where the NHL could rule - slow sports week right after the Super Bowl. Put your best teams on TV every night. I get it, they’re going to put their best players on TV, but I’m not sure how watching Canada/Sweden (tonight’s game FWIW) will draw in more than the serious hockey fan. Also, yesterday was media day, and NHL Network showed replays of games from last season all day. Yes, production takes money, but if you’re putting on this tournament, shouldn’t you make it easier for your fans to see behind the scenes?

Buffalo TV station got an interview with “Slick Rick”, a mailroom worker who Josh Allen thanked in his MVP speech. More of this.

Frost Loses Late in OT

In a league as tightly-matched as the PWHL (five of six teams with a goal differential under 10 goals), it’s no surprise the amount of one-goal games. And as Takeout subscriber Heather Rule points out, there’s a lot of games decided in the final seconds, especially involving the Minnesota Frost.

Renata Fast scored with less than four seconds left in overtime, leading Toronto to a 3-2 win last night in a game the Frost led by two goals. The goal came moments after a turnover by Frost veteran defender Lee Stecklein.

The PWHL returned after a two-week international play break of its own. Minnesota kicked off a four-game road trip (there are only five other teams) that continues tomorrow in Ottawa. The Frost are currently solid in second in the PWHL standings.

Wolves No Match for First-Place Cavs

Just hours after an arbitration case was settled in the Wolves ownership case, you’d have to wonder if A-Rod and Marc Lore had buyer’s remorse.

The Wolves missed their first 16 shots and made two (2) field goals in the first quarter en route to a lopsided 128-107 loss at first-place Cleveland. Anthony Edwards scored 44 points (it took him 28 shots) and had seven turnovers, but he was still miles better than any other Wolf. Nickell Alexander Walker, who was really good two nights ago, was an astonishing minus-33.

It’s a tough stretch upcoming too, with Milwaukee at home tonight (the Bucks have lost seven of 10 at least) and then West-leading Oklahoma City on Friday.

The Wolves had won eight of 10 prior to Monday’s humbling, but it’s hard not to think they’ve got a ways to go with this current roster to compete with an elite team in a seven-game series.

Twins Sign Ty France

The Twins are signing first baseman Ty France, who hit 13 homers and batted a Twins-like .234 with two teams last year, to a one-year contract, $1 million. He’s struck out at least 100 times in three of four MLB seasons, but he’ll provide another option to the Twins’ biggest question mark at first base. He’ll compete with Jose Miranda and Eddie Joulien for time at 1B. France was an All-Star in 2022. It’s a low risk move with at least a bit of upside.

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