Florida Panthers talking max contract with Aleksander Barkov

By: Andy Slater

The Florida Panthers are staying in Sunrise and now they want to make sure their rising-star center does as well. 

Aleksander Barkov and the Panthers are currently working on a long-term extension that would keep him with the team through the 2021-2022 season, possibly until 2024, I've learned from sources close to the situation. 

NHL teams can sign a current player to a maximum eight-year contract, a move the Panthers are willing to make with Barkov. 

Locking up a young star wouldn't be anything new for the Panthers. The team gave 23-year-old Nick Bjustad a six-year contract extension in Dec. 2014.

Barkov was the second overall pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. The 20-year-old has 78 points in 150 career NHL games and is set to be a restricted free agent in 2016.

 

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(Photo: NHL.com)

Joe Rose owes me an apology

By: Andy Slater

No one is perfect. Nope, not even me. 

Reporters, writers, and radio show hosts say things based on information they are personally given from trusted sources. That's how it works, or at least that's how it's supposed to work.

Longtime radio show host Joe Rose and his morning crew on WQAM (Curtis Stevenson and Danny Rabinowitz) publicly called me out on July 6 for my reporting on Jason Pierre-Paul's fireworks incident. Yes, sit tight --- there's audio.

The Giants star recently gave the details to the New York Post:

Ok, let's hear that audio.

Remember what I said? No one is perfect.  I was wrong once. I immediately apologized. 

Now it's Joe's turn.

 

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(Photo: New York Daily News, Audio: WQAM.com) 

LeBron was too tired to play, but not to party

By: Andy Slater

The crowd at AmericanAirlines Arena chanted "LeBron is tired," but that certainly wasn't the case at Rockwell Miami nightclub.

LeBron James didn't play in the Heat's 99-84 win over the Cavaliers Saturday night. He was ruled out for "rest". LeBron's rest didn't last long, though.

The NBA superstar partied at Rockwell --- one of Miami's newer nightclubs --- well into the morning, multiple people at the club told me. 

LeBron was chatting it up with many club-goers near him throughout the night, including one person who spoke with me.

The Heat's Justise Winslow, who is 19-years-old, was also at the club. Winslow wasn't with LeBron, I was told.

Rapper Wiz Khalifa, now also known as DJ Daddy Kat, was a big part of the night's festivities at the Miami Beach hot spot. 

LeBron seems to like Miami, but obviously not enough. 

 

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(Photo: AP/Wilfredo Lee)

Jose Fernandez is reportedly available for a "very very high" price

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By: Andy Slater

Major League Baseball's Winter Meetings begin Sunday, but the talks have already started. 

The Marlins discussed trading Jose Fernandez to the Arizona Diamondbacks at a "very very high" price, according to Phoenix sports radio host John Gambadoro. 

Marlins president of baseball operations, Michael Hill, told the Associated Press on Thursday that the team is "not shopping" Fernandez. 

While the Marlins may not be doing the shopping, teams have certainly inquired about the star pitcher --- as Sirius XM's Craig Mish previously reported.

Fernandez approached Marlins brass on multiple occasions last season asking when he'd be dealt, something that I noted in November. 

Will Fernandez get his trade wish and, if so, will the Marlins get their high asking price? We may find out soon.

 

(Photo: USATI)

Yahoo baseball writer loves bashing the Marlins

By: Andy Slater

There are many people that dislike the Marlins. Yahoo Sports baseball writer Jeff Passan seems to be one of those many and he spreads the message annually.

Passan posted a piece on Tuesday on how Barry Bonds would regret becoming a Marlins hitting coach if he accepts the reported offer. 

"For there is no greater set of fools in baseball than Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria and president David Samson," Passan wrote. 

If you missed Passan's other "I don't like the Marlins" stories, here they are for your reading enjoyment:


(July 2012) Marlins' Jeffrey Loria and David Samson conned Miami, lined their pockets and held a fire sale.

(Nov. 2012) Marlins trade is a baseball tragedy, and Bud Selig deserves his share of blame.

(Feb. 2013) Jeffrey Loria's spin cycle: Separating fact from flack for Marlins fans.

(Nov. 2014) Giancarlo Stanton playing a dangerous game: believing in the Marlins.

My apologies if I missed any. 

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