In Thursday’s “First Call,” Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster opens up about free agency. Steelers rookies are getting rated for upcoming fantasy football drafts. The Washington Capitals and New York Rangers lived down to expectations Wednesday night. And former Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury jumps another notch on that all-time NHL wins list.
JuJu shoots straight
Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster is admitting his disappointment with how his first foray into free agency went.
“Everything this year did not play out to how I wanted it to be when I look back five, four years,” Smith-Schuster told Pro Football Talk’s “PFT PM.” “It’s a lot different. It’s betting on myself, going with the team I’ve been with before, and going out trying to get paid again.”
Smith-Schuster was predicted to make as much as $14 million to $17 million on a multi-year deal during the free-agency bidding process. But, with a limited salary cap this year, no one came close to those figures. As a result, he decided to come back to the Steelers on a one-year $8 million deal.
Smith-Schuster insists that he had offers from the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs. But he felt that on a one-year deal, he’d be best served staying in Pittsburgh.
“Going back to where I know my quarterback, I know my receivers coach, I know my offense,” Smith-Schuster said. “They know me, they know my body. Just betting on myself is something that I’ve looked at, and I don’t regret it at all.”
Smith-Schuster went on to say he’d like to sign another four-year deal with the Steelers after this one. But we’ll have to see where the cap stands and what other bids Smith-Schuster gets.
And who the Steelers quarterback might be by that point may come into play, too.
According to script
In the wake of Tom Wilson’s shenanigans at Madison Square Garden Monday night — and the NHL’s ensuing failure to suspend him — Wednesday night’s Washington Capitals rematch against the New York Rangers was an absolute circus.
As we all were expecting.
There was a full-line brawl at the opening puck drop. Then 40 seconds into the game, Brendan Smith engaged Wilson for a fight, one that Wilson appeared to win. And it looked like he was about to do some real damage just before the officials jumped in to break up the fracas.
Two more fights then broke out shortly thereafter. New York’s Anthony Bitetto fought Washington’s Michael Raffl at 4:14 in the first period. Then the Rangers’ Ryan Strome dropped gloves with Lars Eller.
Wilson and New York’s Kevin Rooney received matching 10-minute misconducts after dusting up during a stoppage at 15:56 of the first. In the second period, Wilson only had one shift. Then he left the game after suffering what was called a “lower-body injury.”
The teams combined for 27 penalties totaling 141 minutes. What an outstanding moment for the NHL.
By the way, Alexander Ovechkin did not play again. An injury has limited Washington’s star scorer to just one shift over the last six games.
Fine Flower
Marc Andre-Fleury now has the third-most wins in NHL history. He got No. 490 as his Vegas Golden Knights beat the Minnesota Wild 3-2 in overtime Wednesday night.
The Golden Knights sent out this tweet in celebration after he passed Roberto Luongo on the all-time wins list.
Marc-Andre Fleury has taken sole possession of 3rd on the NHL all-time wins list!!! #VegasBorn pic.twitter.com/YlE3wGm9tp
— x-Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) May 6, 2021
Fleury made 26 saves. He needs 62 wins to jump Patrick Roy for second place.
Tough. But not impossible.
If he gets two more regular-season wins this year, that will get the number of wins needed to 60 – or two 30-win seasons for “The Flower” to pass Roy.
Fleury has nine seasons with at least 30 wins in his career. He has 24 wins this year. He’s 36 years old and on pace for a career-best 2.07 goals against average.
We just need to have a normal 82-game NHL season again to start projecting the math. Former New Jersey Devils star Martin Brodeur holds the record with 691 victories.
Full-on fantasy
CBS Sports came up with its list of fantasy football running back rankings. They have Steelers rookie Najee Harris at 14th. The franchise selected him No. 24 overall in the first round of the NFL Draft.
Harris is rated nine spots ahead of fellow rookie Travis Etienne who was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars one pick later.
Former Steeler James Conner — now with the Arizona Cardinals — is 29th. Carolina’s Christian McCaffery has the top spot.
As for its Dynasty tight end rankings, the site has Steelers rookie Pat Freiermuth 22nd, three spots behind current starter Eric Ebron. Fellow rookie Kyle Pitts (Atlanta) is third. San Francisco’s George Kittle is first and Kansas City’s Travis Kelce is second.
Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at [email protected] or via Twitter. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.
