Montreal Canadiens defenseman Shea Weber will be out for an extended period after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. The Canadiens said Thursday that Weber’s recovery time is expected to be five to six months, meaning he won’t suit up until at least December. Weber, 32, also had a torn tendon in his left foot repaired in March. Team surgeon Dr. David Mulder said Weber’s knee damage was discovered last month as part of his foot surgery rehab. Weber, acquired in a June 2016 deal that sent defenseman P.K. Subban to Nashville, had six goals and 10 assists in 26 games last season.
Senators talking Karlsson trade
The Senators and Lightning are seeking a third team for a trade that would send two-time Norris Trophy winning defenseman Erik Karlsson from Ottawa to Tampa Bay, according to reports. With one season left on a seven-year contract, Karlsson could be an unrestricted free agent next summer. Ottawa offered Karlsson an extension Sunday but terms weren’t disclosed . . . The Blue Jackets re-signed forward Boone Jenner to a four-year, $15 million deal that will pay him $3.75 annually, according to a person with direct knowledge, who spoke to The AP on condition of anonymity because the Blue Jackets didn't reveal the value of the deal. Jenner had 13 goals and 19 assists last season . . . The Hurricanes agreed to a two-year, $4.6 million contract with defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk, who had three goals and a career-best 13 assists in his first season in Carolina . . . Forward William Karlsson heads a list of 43 players seeking salary arbitration after finishing third in NHL goals with the expansion Golden Knights. Karlsson had a career-best 43 goals and 35 assists, setting himself up for a big raise from his previous two-year, $2 million deal. Winnipeg has five players on the list, including goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who tied for the NHL lead in wins with a 44-11-9 record, and was eighth with a 2.36 goals-against average.
BASEBALL
Seattle’s LeBlanc could get $31.3m
Lefthander Wade LeBlanc is guaranteed $2.75 million under a new contract announced Tuesday with the Mariners covering 2019. The deal contains three options that would be worth $31.3 million over four years if he pitches 180 innings or more each season. LeBlanc gets a $300,000 signing bonus and $2 million salary in 2019. Seattle’s $5 million options for 2020, 2021, and 2022 options could become guaranteed . . . The Twins agreed to a minor league deal that includes a $2.55 million signing bonus with first-round draft pick Trevor Larnach (20th overall), an outfielder who helped lead Oregon State to a College World Series title last week.
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MMA/BOXING
Holloway bows out of UFC 226
Featherweight champion Max Holloway won’t defend his title against Brian Ortega at Saturday’s UFC 226 in Las Vegas, due to symptoms of an apparent concussion. The UFC confirmed the decision a day after Holloway’s management team said he wouldn’t fight. Holloway made two trips to the emergency room this week after his coaches and management noticed he was acting unusually. Ortega won’t fight a replacement . . . Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz, among the most accomplished fighters in MMA history, are coming out of retirement for a third fight in their MMA rivalry. They last fought in December 2006. Liddell, 48, hasn’t fought since June 2010, while Ortiz, 43, retired in January 2017. A date and location for the fight haven’t been set . . . World heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua’s next two fights will be at Wembley Stadium. He’ll defend his WBA, IBF, and WBO belts in London on Sept. 22, and return to Wembley April 13. His promoter, Matchroom, is in negotiations with WBA mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin for September.
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TRACK AND FIELD
Houlihan holds on to win 1,500
American Shelby Houlihan won the women’s 1,500-meter race at a Diamond League meet in Lausanne, Switzerland, running a personal best of 3 minutes, 57.34 seconds to beat Britain's Laura Muir, who clocked a season best of 3:58.18. Americans went one-two in the men’s 200 with Noah Lyles running a personal best and world-leading 19.69 to edge out Michael Norman. World and Olympic champion Christian Taylor of the US won the men’s triple jump with a leap of 17.62 meters, one centimeter further than Portugal’s Pedro Pablo Pichardo. American Chris Benard was third with 16.92. In the women’s 400 hurdles, American Shamier Little clocked 53.41 to narrowly beat Jamaican Janieve Russell’s personal best 53.46.
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MISCELLANY
Brunson sets WNBA rebounding record
Rebekkah Brunson grabbed 12 boards to become the leading rebounder in WNBA history, helping the host Minnesota Lynx beat the Los Angeles Sparks, 83-72. Brunson began the night in third place with 3,306 rebounds. She passed Lisa Leslie (3,307) early on and overtook Tamika Catchings (3,316) when she grabbed Candace Parker’s missed 3-pointer with 7:17 left in the fourth quarter . . . Houston Dynamo goalkeeper Tyler Deric was reinstated by Major League Soccer more than eight months after his October arrest on misdemeanor assault charges in a domestic case. The 29-year-old entered into a plea agreement and will have his charges dismissed if he completes a yearlong diversion program . . . Forward Nemanja Bjelica is leaving the Minnesota Timberwolves to join the Philadelphia 76ers. A person familiar with negotiations said he agreed to a one-year contract worth nearly $4.5 million . . . Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm has a ‘‘small fracture’’ in his left (non-throwing) hand but isn't expected to miss any summer workouts, school athletics spokesman Leland Barrow said.
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