NHL and NHLPA reach settlement on Corey Perry's contract termination

The NHL and NHL Players' Association have reached an undisclosed settlement to resolve Corey Perry's situation with the Chicago Blackhawks when they terminated his contract, two people with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press on Thursday. The people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the settlement is not being made public. A grievance was threatened but never filed, and the league and union agreed to extend the window to consider it beyond the 60-day deadline specified in the collective bargaining agreement.

The Canadian Press also reported that NHLPA gears up to challenge NHL over player termination clause. The NHLPA intends to file a grievance, contending the clause violates limits on front-office interference and hurts players' ability to earn contracts based on their on-ice performance.

The NHL argued that the clause has been part of the CBA since 2005 and is a 'valid exercise of a club's rights.'

The Canadian Press further noted that the NHL has terminated contracts by using this clause for Ilya Kovalchuk, Mike Richards, and Shea Weber in the past. However, this is the first time a player has challenged the league on this issue.

The Chicago Blackhawks terminated Perry's contract last September, citing a "material breach" of the CBA. The NHLPA argued that the league and team knew about Perry's injury status when they signed him to a one-year, $2.6 million deal last December but failed to inform him.

Perry, 40, has not played this season due to surgery on his left knee and his right hip. He scored 11 points (five goals, six assists) in 56 games with the Flames last season after signing as a free agent.

Title: Shohei Ohtani unveils his new wife in a photo on social media

Content: Shohei Ohtani is sharing the identity of his new wife with a photo of the couple on his social media. The Los Angeles Dodgers star is next to Mamiko Tanaka in a photo showing him with teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto standing in front of an airplane. The photo was posted on Ohtani's Instagram account.

The Canadian Press reported that Ohtani, the Japanese star pitcher and hitter for the Los Angeles Angels, has enjoyed a strong first half with the Angels. He is expected to be among the starters for the MLB All-Star Game in July.

Ohtani, who will be the AL starting pitcher, will be the third Angel to start an All-Star Game on the mound and the first since Bartolo Colon in 2004.

Title: Barkley expresses displeasure over Sandy Hook conspiracy claims

Content: Hosts Gayle King and Charles Barkley expressed their displeasure over Sandy Hook conspiracy claims reportedly made in private conversations by NFL star Aaron Rodgers.

While Rodgers did not deny the content of those conversations, he said in a social media post that he has "never been of the opinion that the events did not take place."

Title: McDavid fired up for challenge as MacKinnon and Avalanche roll into Edmonton

Content: For Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid, there's a little something extra riding on Saturday's game against the Colorado Avalanche. Nathan MacKinnon, the NHL scoring leader, is going to be in Edmonton. And he's on a heater - MacKinnon has amassed 10 goals and 20 assists over the course of his 14-game point streak.

The Canadian Press reported that MacKinnon is the first Avalanche player to record a point in 14 straight games since Peter Stastny in 1980.

Title: Rory McIlroy shoots a 65 with 2 tee shots in the water and 1 uncomfortable dispute

Content: Rory McIlroy began The Players Championship with a 65 on his scorecard, two tee shots that went into the water and one lengthy dispute about where to take a penalty drop on Thursday.

The dispute occurred on the par-3 seventh hole when McIlroy's tee shot landed in the water. He argued with officials for a prolonged period, suggesting a drop location that would give him a better lie for his third shot.

Title: College swimmers, volleyball players sue NCAA over transgender policies

Content: Former Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines was among more than a dozen college athletes who filed a lawsuit against the NCAA on Thursday, accusing it of violating their Title IX rights by allowing transgender woman Lia Thomas to compete at the national championships in 2022.

The lawsuit documents the shock Gaines and other swimmers felt when they learned they would have to share a locker room with Thomas at the championships in Atlanta. It also details a number of races they swam in with Thomas, including the 200-yard final in which Thomas and Gaines tied for fifth but Thomas, not Gaines, was handed the fifth-place trophy.

Title: The suddenly surging Buffalo Sabres have inched their way back into playoff race with 8-3-1 run

Content: Someone evidently forgot to inform Dylan Cozens and the Buffalo Sabres they were considered counted out of playoff contention when falling 12 points out of the race a month ago. Then again, Cozens wouldn't have accepted the notion even if someone had.

The Canadian Press reported that Cozens had a goal and an assist in Buffalo's 4-0 win over the New York Islanders on Thursday night. It was the Sabres' eighth win in 11 games, moving them within five points of the Islanders for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Title: Eagles, Bucs, Packers and Commanders earn highest free agency grades; Cowboys get only F

Content: On Football analyzes the biggest topics in the NFL from week to week. For more On Football analysis, head here.

NFL teams have spent hundreds of millions of dollars this week to add new players, re-sign their own and try to improve their chances of winning. From Kirk Cousins and Saquon Barkley changing teams soon after the league's tampering window opened to Chris Jones and Mike Evans staying put before hitting the open market, it's been a wild spending spree.

The grades are in: Arizona Cardinals received an 'F' for their acquisition of former Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold. Though he has talent, Darnold has struggled to stay healthy and perform consistently.

The Eagles, Buccaneers, Packers, and Commanders received an 'A+' for their free-agency acquisitions. Notably, the Eagles added receiver A.J. Brown, who has emerged as one of the best young receivers in the NFL.