Five Minute Major

   I wasn't sure if it was ever going to be time to write a post like this, but I guess it is. At this point, it's best for me right now to take a step back from daily writing for Strikeout Central and Five Minute Fighting.    Why now? Another year is starting in college for me, and I need to prioritize what's going on there. For one, I'm the Sports Editor of The Suffolk Journal, so that already takes up a good chunk of my time. Besides that, I'm a contributor for 3 FanSided websites, those being Birds Watcher, BoSox Injection, and Causeway Crowd.    Between just my writing responsibilities and adding in the other commitments I give throughout the semester and the whole school year, there's a lot to do and not much time to do it. So, the time is now to take a step back from the projects I created in high school and turn my attention to what's more important now.    Honestly, I don't know how much I'll be writing on here and SC anymore, it's hard ...

*Photo from NBC Sports*    St. Louis Blues defenseman Torey Krug will undergo surgery on his left ankle and miss the entire 2024-2025 season, according to the team.    When asked how it might affect the rest of his playing career, Krug said "It's just something I've got to take care of and kind of take it day by day, week by week, month by month and kind of go from there. Obviously being out for the year, you can understand it's a pretty big surgery that I have to get. Looking forward, I can't forecast too much. Just got to stay in the moment."    Last season was Krug's 4th with the Blues after signing a 7 year deal with them in free agency. He ended the year with 4 goals and 35 assists for 39 points, posting a -31 rating while averaging 21:58 of ice time per game in 77 games.    Krug said the injury to his ankle occurred initially in the 2018 playoffs with the Boston Bruins. He had played through the injury for years and had tried nonsurgical rou...

*Photo from the Raleigh News and Observer*    According to an announcement made by the team, Carolina Hurricanes forward Jesper Fast underwent neck surgery in the offseason and is expected to miss the entire season.    Last season was Fast's 4th season with the Hurricanes after coming over from the New York Rangers. He had 6 goals and 13 assists for 19 points, notching an even 0 rating while averaging 12:36 of ice time per game across 73 games. He didn't play in the postseason as the Hurricanes were eliminated in the second round.    Fast was originally injured during the Hurricanes' final game of the regular season and missed the team's entire playoff run. He is under contract for $2.4 million this season, the last year of his current two year deal with the Hurricanes. He can become a UFA at the end of the season.    Being drafted in the 6th round of the 2010 draft, Fast has played for the Hurricanes and Rangers in his career. He has 91 goals and...

*Photo from The Hockey Writers*    Here's a big, big one. Center Leon Draisaitl and the Edmonton Oilers have agreed to an 8 year, $112 million contract extension, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. The deal has been confirmed by the Oilers.    Draisaitl said of signing the extension "I take great pride in being an Oiler and always obviously wear my heart on my sleeve, but I love nothing more than wearing that jersey and representing our city and our great fans. I'm really, really excited and happy to hopefully be an Oiler for life. I don't know anything other than Edmonton and I feel super proud and excited to wear that jersey every single day. I think we're building something really special and that's just something I want to continue to be a part of and hopefully get it one step further."    The coming season will be the final year of Draisaitl's current 8 year, $68 million contract, carrying an $8.5 million AAV. He could have bee...

*Photo from ESPN*    The Ottawa Senators have signed forward Nick Cousins to a one year, $800,000 contract, according to an announcement by the team.    Cousins is coming off a pair of successful seasons with the Florida Panthers, having made the Stanley Cup Final in both years and winning it this past season over the Edmonton Oilers in 7 games. He's only scored double digit goals in a season twice, but brings a 4th line tenacity role to what will be his 7th NHL team.    Last season was Cousins' 10th in the league and second with the Panthers. He ended the year with 7 goals and 8 assists for 15 points, averaging 12:11 of ice time per game to go with a +1 rating in 69 games. He had no goals and one assist with a -1 rating in 12 playoff games.    Ottawa GM Steve Staios said in a statement "Nick has gained a lot of valuable experience playing almost 600 games in the NHL and having played in the Stanley Cup Finals in two straight seasons. He brin...

*Photo from The Hockey Writers*    According to the team, the Carolina Hurricanes and forward Seth Jarvis have agreed to an 8 year, $63.2 million contract.    Jarvis entered the offseason as an RFA, and though it took longer to get a deal done, it got done ahead of training camp. He was the last RFA who remained unsigned by the team, and the deal he got is a rather unique one.    The AAV of the deal would've been $7.9 million usually, but the Hurricanes deferred money until July 1, 2032, the day after the contract expires, to lower the cap hit. The money will be paid as a signing bonus that day. As such, he'll now make $7.5 million annually and $29.24 million of the salary will be in signing bonuses.    Because of the deferred money and unique structure of the contract, the NHL Central Registry and NHLPA both signed off on the contract terms ahead of the announcement. The last 4 years of the contract also have a modified no trade clause in the for...

*Photo from ESPN*    Columbus Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew passed away Thursday night in their home state of New Jersey. The Blue Jackets confirmed the news Friday morning.    Johnny Gaudreau had turned 31 years old earlier in August, while Matthew is 29 years old. The brothers were riding bicycles in Oldmans Township, New Jersey Thursday night when they were struck by a vehicle that was attempting to pass two other vehicles. The driver was arrested and, according to police, was suspected of being under the influence.    The driver was charged with two counts of death by auto on the scene by police. The Gaudreau brothers were going to be groomsmen in the wedding of their sister Friday night. Johnny Gaudreau leaves behind a wife and two children.    The Blue Jackets said in a statement "The Columbus Blue Jackets are shocked and devastated by this unimaginable tragedy. Johnny was not only a great hockey player, but mo...