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Update - ESPN has let go 20 on air personalities including Jalen Rose and Jeff Van Gundy. This is, interestingly, said to be separate from the Disney layoffs.
Kailer Yamamoto won’t even get to taste the coffee in Detroit. It looks like he is a buyout now (I thought they’d keep him, was very wrong). Detroit must have other plans. I don’t know if Mazur is being given a chance to try out for the main club or not. I really feel like a start in GR is imminent but who knows at this point. (Blake Wheeler and Matt Duchene also bought out).
It is “rumored… that Bertuzzi may have a price tag Boston won’t meet (sound familiar?). There are at least 3 other teams said to have interest including Florida. Whatever the final number is, it will be interesting to see. Detroit certainly had a breaking point and Boston has other priorities. If there is truth to interest from Toronto, he would likely have to take a cut on the ask unless salary was moved out.
As for the draft, the most “positive… sentiments I heard were “potentially solid 2nd line player… or, “possible surprise…. I try to be frank, most of you seemed unimpressed. A few of you with very good track records where I’ve been flat out wrong in a discussion are disappointed. I will try to catch the 3 on 3 play at development camp (available on WingsTV).
Unfortunately, another Disney acquisition just went down badly. National Geographic will now rely on freelance writers as several employees were let go including the president of DEI (a role that was also removed from another brand). Firings and content cancellation is picking up steam before the August shareholder call. I expect a Bally update by end of day.
Finally, Artificial Intelligence is a core issue in another potential strike. The Screen Actors Guild penned a list of demands with 300 “a list… celebrities (are there that many left?) focusing on a near ban on the use of AI. The Writers want something similar, and their strike is nearing the 2 month mark with no new negotiations. The Actors face another challenge. Some of their fellow thespians have already sold their voices (James Earl Jones) and likenesses to companies that can be used via AI or “deep fake…. I don’t see this as a fight that can be won. Some sort of compromise and limits agreement may be available, but many studios are losing money and AI is seen as a potential cost saver. Resist the robot overlords if you can, but prepare for some awkward transitions.