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LAS VEGAS — As if Derek Stevens himself had choreographed the theatrics one month ago Saturday, Cincinnati tallied two in the top of the ninth for a 4-2 lead at Petco Park in San Diego.

In the bottom of the inning, the Padres smacked a pair of two-run homers for the victory. Circa Sports and Stadium Swim, the Stevens entities that occupy Petco’s ninth-inning signage behind home plate, made every highlight, too.

“He was very happy how that inning played out,” Circa Sports director Matt Metcalf said.

More precious Petco exposure materialized July 8. Down 8-0, the Padres beat the Nationals 9-8. With two outs and two strikes in the bottom of the ninth, Trent Grisham singled in Tommy Pham with the winner at 9:50 p.m.

Four minutes later, Scott Van Pelt showed Grisham’s clutch hit — and Circa Sports and Stadium Swim — to a national ESPN “SportsCenter” audience. As did Linda Cohn 19 minutes later.

“We’ve gotten a lot of notoriety by owning the ninth inning in San Diego,” Stevens said. “The Padres are a helluva lot of fun to watch. We make sure we don’t miss the ninth.”

The 53-year-old native of Grosse Pointe, Michigan, is on such a roll he is pondering a gubernatorial run next year.

His new adults-only, 35-story downtown Circa is all the rage. That it created about 1,500 jobs at the lowest point in the city’s history made its October opening “uniquely special,” Stevens said.

His Circa Sports sportsbook and extravagant theater have raised industry standards. His Vegas impact might best be encapsulated by Michael “Roxy” Roxborough, who has worn every possible sports-betting hat in the city.

“I thought I would never see another Jackie Gaughan,” said Roxborough, 70. “I am glad he is here when I can enjoy his efforts.”

LOW HOLDS, HIGH LIMITS

Gaughan, the late Vegas legend, placed customers on a pedestal. That philosophy governs his son Michael, who owns the South Point, and Stevens, among the city’s few independent hotel-casino moguls.

Stevens often strolls the casino floors of his three properties. He engages visitors, chats about wagers, discusses games. Only the seasoned, however, should joust with him drink for drink at his Long Bar at The D.

As much as any guest, he enjoys his 16,000-square-foot Stadium Swim — its six pools on three levels, its 41-by-135-foot, 14 million-pixel LED screen — at Circa, especially when holding a cold one.

In his pinstriped suits, Stevens can be shrewd in the boardroom. In public, he’s affable and approachable.

“You can find him at the bar,” Metcalf said. “He’s excited to talk with anybody, establishes that connection. Those are the people that help make him successful, so he gives back however he can.”

That desire to cater to customers compelled Stevens to lure Metcalf from the other side of the counter. Metcalf had worked with Jay Kornegay at the Imperial Palace and the Westgate SuperBook. In 2010, Metcalf went out on his own to bet and fared well. He “got lucky,” he said, when he met Stevens in 2018. They talked for a few hours, and their visions matched. Stevens hired Metcalf.

Metcalf hails the further enlistment of Chris Bennett (assistant manager/oddsman) and Jeffrey Benson (operations) as vital to the Circa Sports dynamics.

They all bristle at the competition’s increasing penchant to ban those who win, even just $300 to $500.

“We wanted to embrace the professional, or sharp, bettors,” Stevens said. “They were being squeezed out, but we’re trying to utilize them and their networks. The guy that gets the information first deserves to make a living off of that.”

They offer yes/no propositions, allow cross-sports future parlays and unveil the first college football lines late Sunday mornings.

They released alternate NFL regular-season victory totals July 3. At 6 1/2 victories for the Bears, the Over is -195 (bet $195 to win $100), Under +170 (risk $100 to earn $170). Over 7 1/2 -115, Under -105. Over 8 1/2 +155, Under -180.

“I just like to take bets,” said Metcalf, 42. “Derek’s really helped lead that charge, letting us do what we want to do, whether it’s creating yes/no’s or having lower holds and higher limits.”

SHOW EARLY, STAY LATE

A year ago, Stevens guaranteed $3 million in his Circa Millions II NFL contest, at $1,000 per entry. Circa would be responsible for any shortfall, but it covered that nut in the final weekend before games started.

Stevens pressed his guarantees, concocting this year’s $4 million Circa Millions III and $6 million Circa Survivor contests. As of Wednesday, 394 had entered the former (creating a $3.606 million overlay) and 329 the latter ($5.671 million overlay).

“He’s willing to put himself out there … [but we] are sweating them!” Metcalf said.

“I wanted to push it,” Stevens said. “But, yeah, you always think about, ‘Oh, man. How did I screw this up?’ “

They believe both will again be covered by the final sign-up weekend.

What has keyed all that choreography going so well for maybe the lone billionaire who, en route home, is prone to popping into the Taco Bell drive-thru? Stevens laughed.

“Maybe I got lucky,” he said. “I don’t take myself too seriously. Surround yourself with people who are a helluva lot smarter than you, show up early and stay late, and you’ll be all right.”

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In this quiz, we will shake things up a bit. Each of the questions offers the same three answers: over, under or the same. Sounds easy, right? I’m no oddsmaker, but I’m going to say the over/under for correct answers is seven. Email me or tweet me and tell me how you did.

Here’s the Chicago Nine:

1. Jose Abreu had 15 home runs at the All-Star break. How does that compare with his per-season average at the break in the last six seasons?

a. Over b. Under c. Same

2. At the All-Star break, the Cubs were below .500 at 44-46 (sigh). In the eight seasons since 2013 (excluding 2020 and including 2021), which is true?

a. The Cubs have had more seasons above .500 than below at the break.

b. The Cubs have had more seasons below .500 than above at the break.

c. The Cubs have had the same number of seasons above and below .500 at the break.

3. Since 2010, Addison Reed has had the most saves for the Sox at the break. Liam Hendriks has 23 this season. How does that total compare with Reed’s?

a. Over b. Under c. Same

4. This season at the break, the Sox had allowed 339 runs. The last time the Sox won the World Series was in 2005. How do the 2021 Sox’ runs allowed compare with the 2005 Sox’ runs allowed at the break?

a. Over b. Under c. Same

5. Like this season, Kris Bryant was an All-Star in 2015, 2016 and 2019. This season, he had walked 33 times before the break. How does that compare with his lowest total in his previous All-Star seasons?

a. Over b. Under c. Same

6. At the break in 2007, David Ross was hitting .196 (41-for-209). While he wasn’t an All-Star, it was the most hits Rossy had before the break. How do those 41 hits compare with Tony La Russa’s career hit total in his 132 games?

a. Over b. Under c. Same

7. Shohei Ohtani and Anthony Rizzo are both left-handed hitters. At the break, Ohtani had 33 homers and Rizzo 10 (and they both pitched well). How do Ohtani’s homers against lefties compare with Rizzo’s overall homer total?

a. Over b. Under c. Same

8. Dylan Cease, Lucas Giolito, Dallas Keuchel and Carlos Rodon each had seven victories at the break, and Lance Lynn had nine. That’s five pitchers with seven-plus victories. How does five compare with the total number of pitchers with at least seven victories in the rest of the American League Central?

a. Over b. Under c. Same

9. Is it just my imagination, or does Javy Baez strike out a lot? It does feel that 115 times is excessive — or is it? How does it compare with the highest total of any Cub at the break?

a. Over b. Under c. Same

ANSWERS

1. UNDER – Abreu averaged 17.33 dingers. 2. SAME – The Cubs were above .500 in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019 and below .500 in the other four seasons. 3. UNDER – In 2013, Reed had 24 saves. 4. SAME – They each allowed 339 runs. 5. UNDER – It’s the fewest walks Bryant has had at any season at the break. 6. OVER – La Russa went 35-for-176 (.199) in his career. 7. OVER – Ohtani hit 11 homers against lefties. 8. OVER – The Indians had Shane Bieber and Aaron Civale, the Twins had Jose Berrios and the Royals and the Tigers had none. 9. OVER – Baez exceeded his 2019 total of 108, which was the previous high. Since 2016, Baez’s whiff total has been higher at the break in every season: 54, 68, 91, 108 and 115.

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Chicago Blackhawks: Predicting Seattle Kraken protected list by Vincent Parise

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Chicago Cubs (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

The 2021 MLB trade deadline is nearing, and the Chicago Cubs are ready for what may end up being a retool.

For now, we know the Cubs will be sellers. To what extent, however, is the real question. There are new reports that the Cubs will work on extending both Javier Baez and Anthony Rizzo before they talk about any potential trades. That, alone, should give some fans a little bit of hope.

Maybe, just maybe, the Ricketts will allow Jed Hoyer to spend a little money in the coming offseasons and these Cubs can contend once again.

For now, though, the Cubs will be selling at least a couple of names. Craig Kimbrel is as good as gone, but will Kris Bryant be following him out the door?

while Kris Bryant, Craig Kimbrel and other Cubs are on the block, there are signs the Cubs will try to lock up Javier Baez and Anthony Rizzo before talking trades for them @MLBNetwork

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 16, 2021

The Chicago Cubs very well could trade Kris Bryant, and the New York Mets are a possible landing spot.

A recent report has the New York Mets as a potential buyer for Bryant, according to MLB Trade Rumors. The report includes a tweet from MLB Network’s Jon Heyman which says the Mets are one of “multiple teams” that are interested in Bryant.

At the moment, the Mets are 3.5 games ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies out in the NL East. They will definitely look at adding some pieces before the deadline, and Bryant just might be one of them.

If the Cubs dealt Bryant to New York, what would a potential trade look like? Let’s go through three different options, starting on the low end in terms of a return.

Next: Trade Number 1

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SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Long before Dillan Gibbons launched the ”Take Timothy to Tally” fundraising campaign in honor of his friend and biggest fan, Timothy Donovan, Florida State’s visionary offensive lineman took an unsettling glimpse into the future.

As he patiently waited his turn at Notre Dame, Gibbons found himself in discussions with some of his Irish teammates about how allowing NCAA student-athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness might play out.

”I was kind of appalled by some of the things I was hearing, some of the predictions of things that were going to happen,” Gibbons told reporters this week. ”I had the picture in my head of the star player on the team rolling up in an Escalade or a really fancy car the first day. Just imagine how the rest of the team would feel and what kind of separation that would cause in the locker room.”

Gibbons, a graduate transfer, decided to take NIL in a different direction, one that ultimately would allow the Donovan family to travel from Dayton, Ohio, for an unforgettable Labor Day weekend around Gibbons’ debut with the Seminoles against his former team.

His brainstorming began long before July 1 and the national rollout of open season in the NIL arena. While his former mates on the offensive line at Notre Dame recently signed a sponsorship deal with a barbecue chain, Gibbons launched a GoFundMe initiative for Donovan, who suffers from a rare medical condition that has required numerous surgeries.

They had met in the fall of 2017 outside Notre Dame Stadium, Gibbons’ gaze naturally falling on the frail teenager hunched over in a wheelchair. Gibbons, a 6-4, 309-pound product of Clearwater (Florida) Central Catholic High School, signed a pair of his gloves, kneeled down for a few photos and exchanged contact information.

The relationship grew steadily from there. Gibbons, 21, would try to inspire Donovan through his health struggles, and Donovan would try to motivate Gibbons to remain optimistic through multiple foot injuries that slowed his progress.

”Once I made a connection with him, I made a very distinct decision in my life to engage with him and not just have a one-off relationship or a one-off day where I gave him a pair of gloves and walked away,” Gibbons said. ”I wanted to do as much as I possibly could.”

About a year ago, Gibbons was in a class on strategic business decisions at Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business when he had a revelation. With the NIL doors about to be flung open, why not devise an initiative that would have a life-changing effect on someone less fortunate?

What began with a modest goal of a few thousand dollars to pay for Donovan’s travel expenses since has blossomed into a national cause that has raised $49,000 toward a mountain of family medical expenses. About a third of that sum came from a single company, Super Coffee.

Gibbons had to pull over to compose himself when he heard the news as he made the drive home from Tallahassee.

”I’m completely overwhelmed; my family is overwhelmed,” Gibbons said. ”The Donovan family can’t even see straight.”

Paula Donovan has been keeping a scrapbook of all the articles and social-media posts recognizing her son’s long-running fight. His latest surgery this summer increased his height by 4 or 5 inches while straightening a 90-degree bend in his spine to about 40 degrees.

Post-surgery complications, however, led to pneumonia, which has landed Timothy back in the hospital.

”He’s in good spirits,” Gibbons said, ”but he’s definitely still struggling.”

With the season opener seven weeks away, planning has swept into overdrive. A Tallahassee-area hotel has donated rooms, a local bookstore will outfit the Donovans with Seminoles gear and program boosters have donated game tickets and parking passes.

Gibbons’ new vision is to give Timothy ”his day in the sun,” to make him feel like a five-star football recruit from the moment he and his family land at the airport. The pinnacle, Gibbons said, would be for the Donovans to make their way onto Bobby Bowden Field, so the crowd of 80,000 could cheer Timothy for his lifelong courage.

At that moment, it would be hard to imagine any NCAA student-athlete making better use of NIL.

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Kahleah Copper grew up playing basketball on the corner of 33rd and Diamond Streets in Philadelphia.

She was the only girl from the neighborhood on the court with boys who were older and stronger players at the time. They held nothing back, and she kept returning to those courts.

That corner in North Philly is one of the places Copper earned her stripes and laid the foundation to become a WNBA All-Star. This week in Las Vegas, as she made her All-Star debut, the friends that became family from that corner park showed up to support her.

In their minds, she always has been an All-Star.

”About 30 people came to Las Vegas to support me,” Copper said.

Those 30 people included her mother, her sister, her old resident assistant from Girard College boarding school and several friends from the neighborhood. They all came with unique stories about whom Copper is, but one constant is that her friends mean everything to her.

Her grandma Bytia, who died in 2019, remains with Copper in a photo she wears on a chain around her neck everywhere she goes. Copper said her grandma always knew she would reach this moment in her career.

NBAE via Getty Images

Copper isn’t from Philadelphia, she’s from North Philly. And if you get it wrong, she’ll let you know. There’s a deep pride associated with what neighborhood you grew up in, and North Philly is known for its grit and hustle. Those are two characteristics that define Copper’s style of play.

”We had one play in middle school, and it was called, ‘Give the ball to Kahleah,’ ” said Michael Pinkney, Copper’s old coach and resident assistant at Girard.

Even back in those days, Copper was getting defensive rebounds and taking the ball from coast to coast. It’s something fans have come to expect from her this season, and it’s one of the reasons she was voted an All-Star. That, along with the fact she’s leading the Sky in scoring at 13.8 points per game.

A more important stat to her is her 4.9 rebounds per game. Entering this season, Copper wanted to establish herself as a rebounding guard who was a lockdown defender.

Copper often has been charged with guarding an opponent’s leading scorer this season. Her development on the defensive end of the court — something coach and general manager James Wade hounded her and teammate Diamond DeShields about — is a huge factor in why the Sky’s defensive rating is third in the league. Add it to the list of reasons she was voted an All-Star.

Copper’s All-Star nod made her the second woman from North Philly to earn the honor. Six-time All-Star Dawn Staley was the first.

”From year to year, she’s added more and more to her game,” Staley said. ”Her opponents have to really scheme for her. You’re seeing the evolution of her take form into a really, truly great Philadelphia guard.”

Staley and Copper always have been connected by North Philly. This year, that connection moved beyond the place they both call home when Copper was invited to participate in USA women’s basketball camps.

Copper’s most recent camp with Team USA was at the end of March, with teammates DeShields and Stefanie Dolson. Copper thought she performed well at the camp. Leading up to the announcement of the

Tokyo Olympics roster, she was confident she, DeShields or both would make the team.

After the Sky’s 91-81 victory against the Sun on June 19, Copper got a call from USA Basketball saying she didn’t make the team. DeShields was also left off the roster.

”Fall down nine times, get up 10,” Pinkney said. ”That’s her mentality.”

Copper was disappointed, but she maintained a positive perspective by acknowledging she’s just getting started.

Winning a gold medal is still a priority for Copper. She said her ultimate goal is to win at every level. The potential to win at the WNBA level is there this season, but a few things need to happen first.

Charles Rex Arbogast, AP Photos

The Sky closed the first half with an overtime loss to the Mystics and will begin the second half with a 10-10 record. After losses such as that one, Copper is desperate to play another game to hit the refresh button. The closest she’ll get to game action, however, is when the Sky return to practice July 26.

The point of emphasis in the second half, which the Sky open against the Storm on Aug. 15 at Wintrust Arena, needs to be consistency. Copper said she thinks the Sky have all the pieces to find it.

Candace Parker is the voice of reason who reminds everyone to relax in high-pressure moments.

Courtney Vandersloot is the player who holds others accountable.

Dolson brings the humor, and DeShields and Copper are the sparkplugs.

Combine these defining characteristics of the starting five with a bench led by one of the best knockdown shooters in the WNBA in Allie Quigley, and you have a championship contender.

Still, to reach their full potential, the Sky must make adjustments before August.

”We have to learn how to win in those tight situations,” Copper said. ”Practice is going to help us get there because we’re fighting through possessions. We’re going to challenge ourselves by pushing ourselves to the limit when we’re tired.”

Every member of the Sky’s starting five but Parker will be a free agent at the end of the season. Quigley, Astou Ndour-Fall and Lexie Brown also will be free agents.

It’s a near guarantee that the Sky will look markedly different in 2022. Copper said that the players don’t discuss the potential changes to the roster, adding that they love one another and will try to make things work however they can.

”It’s going to be a tough one for Mr. Wade,” Copper joked.

This season has been a continuation of Copper’s breakout performance in the WNBA bubble last season that had her in the running for the league’s most improved player award.

People beyond the league have taken notice. Copper joined Adidas’ roster, which includes more than 25 WNBA athletes, before the season.

Copper’s current focus remains on the present and winning with the Sky. Still, there’s no denying what might be waiting for her as a free agent.

”Free agency is like being recruited all over again,” Copper said.

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Three people have been killed and at least 12 others wounded in shootings across Chicago since Friday night.

A man was fatally shot during an argument Saturday morning in East Garfield Park.

About 1:45 a.m., the 31-year-old was shot in the head by a man during an argument outside in the 2800 block of West Van Buren Street, Chicago police said. He was transported to Mount Sinai Hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said.

The shooter was on the scene when officers arrived and was taken to Area Four headquarters for further investigation, police said.

One man was killed and three others wounded in a shooting late Friday night in Austin on the West Side.

About 11:55 p.m., the four men were standing outside in the 700 block of North Lockwood Avenue when three people approached them and fired shots, police said. A 29-year-old man was struck in the head and back and pronounced dead at the scene, police said. He has not yet been identified.

A man, 40, suffered gunshot wounds to the hip and leg and another man, 45, was also struck in the leg, police said. Both men were transported to Stroger Hospital in serious condition. A fourth man, 62, suffered a graze wound to the back and was taken to the same hospital in good condition.

Friday evening, a man was shot to death in a drive-by in West Pullman on the Far South Side.

The 26-year-old was on the street about 6:50 p.m. in the 12000 block of South Union Avenue when a vehicle pulled up and someone from inside fired shots, police said. He was struck multiple times on the body and he was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was pronounced dead, police said. The Cook County medical examiner’s office identified him as Antwan Davis.

In nonfatal shootings, a 25-year-old man was critically wounded in an attack early Saturday in the Loop.

The man was arguing with a group of people just after 2 a.m. outside in the 200 block of West Adams Street when a female shot him in the chest and arm, Chicago police said. He was transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in critical condition, police said.

Another man was shot during an attempted robbery Friday night in Austin on the Northwest Side.

The 32-year-old was walking about 9:50 p.m. when three males approached him and announced a robbery in the 5800 block of West Huron Street, police said.

One of the suspects shot him in the arm before they fled the scene without his property, police said. The man self-transported to West Suburban Hospital in good condition, police said.

At least seven other people were wounded in shootings since 5 p.m. Friday.

Last weekend, 13 people were killed and 33 others wounded in shootings citywide.

Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.

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On one hand, the end of defenseman Duncan Keith’s long tenure with the Blackhawks — via trade to the Oilers this week — was the most fulfilling of the many departures the Hawks have experienced recently.

He and the Hawks moved on from each other satisfied and on good terms. Keith wanted to be closer to his 8-year-old son in British Columbia; the Hawks wanted to free up salary-cap space and accelerate their youth movement on defense.

None of the other major departures in the last year or so have been so mutually voluntary, much less so mutually desired.

Goalie Corey Crawford was upset the Hawks wouldn’t re-sign him, then backed out of a new contract with the Devils days into training camp to retire. Defenseman Brent Seabrook and forward Andrew Shaw were forced into retirement by injuries after valiant comeback attempts failed. President John McDonough abruptly was fired in April 2020. At least Keith left Chicago amicably.

On the other hand, the end of Keith’s tenure with the Hawks arrived, happened and passed strangely quietly. Sure, the team published an emotional tribute video, Keith made a long Instagram post and fans mourned on all platforms, but the whole thing didn’t feel fittingly earth-shaking for a player of his stature.

Perhaps the nostalgia of the fan base already had been exhausted by the retirements of Crawford, Seabrook and Shaw, the seasonlong absence of captain Jonathan Toews and the expectations of an imminent breakdown similar to the one of the Cubs’ core.

Perhaps the two pending sexual-assault lawsuits have formed a dark cloud over the Hawks’ offseason and memories of the 2010 Stanley Cup.

Perhaps the pandemic — the very thing that separated Keith from his son and ultimately pushed him to request a trade — also separated the memories of the player Keith once was and the team the Hawks once were from how both are viewed now.

Keith’s last action in a Hawks sweater turned out to be May 6 in Carolina, where a linesman’s knee crushed his face, causing a concussion and a goal against. He then missed the last two games of the season, meaning not a single Hawks fan watched him play live at the United Center this past season.

His last goal with the Hawks, April 27 against the Lightning, cut a 6-2 deficit to 6-3. He barely reacted when the puck went in.

His last interview with the Hawks, after a 4-1 loss April 15 in Detroit, mattered just as little.

”The goals they scored we didn’t make them work as hard [for] as we had to for ours,” he grumbled over Zoom that night.

Three months later, no one remembers any of those goals.

All those things seem too trivial to count as lasts at all, much less for someone like Keith.

His individual decline during the last few seasons certainly mirrored the Hawks’ overall decline, even if his pride prevented him from accepting or acknowledging it. There’s a reason the Hawks were thrilled to receive a young, third-pairing defenseman (Caleb Jones) and third-round draft pick for him Monday.

But the sterile, somber irrelevance of this past season — which wasn’t his fault whatsoever — nonetheless wrote an unrepresentative final chapter for Keith’s time in Chicago.

Sun-Times file photo

In truth, Keith is the best defenseman in Hawks history. Once the trade analysis ceases, the two years left on his contract expire, his No. 2 is retired to the rafters and the Hawks’ 2010s dominance is considered in historical context, that will be hard to dispute.

Keith’s hardware alone makes a convincing case. He has three Stanley Cup rings, two Norris Trophies, one Conn Smythe Trophy, four All-Star Game selections and two Olympic gold medals. Those are some rarefied accomplishments.

It’s difficult to assess a defenseman’s impact accurately through counting stats, but Keith fares well in that regard, too. He finished his time with the Hawks with 105 goals, 520 assists, 1,628 blocked shots and 2,447 shots on goal in 1,192 career games — in the regular season alone.

He’s the Hawks’ all-time leader in games played by a defenseman. He ranks second to Doug Wilson, who played in a much higher-scoring era, in points by a Hawks defenseman.

He also led the Hawks in time on ice for 15 consecutive seasons and nine consecutive playoff runs, an almost-unfathomable streak in the youth-oriented league of today.

In fact, although the NHL has kept time-on-ice data only since 1997, Keith ranks fourth all-time in regular-season minutes played (29,732) and third in postseason minutes played (3,781). He has averaged 24 minutes, 57 seconds per regular-season game and 28 minutes per playoff game and missed only 50 total games to injury.

And Keith’s immeasurable impact as a person, teammate and leader cements his claim.

He entered the NHL as a rookie in 2005-06 and immediately initiated and led the Hawks’ on-ice transformation. Even when Toews became the captain and wing Patrick Kane the greatest star, Keith’s steadiness kept the Hawks’ dynasty moving.

His scraggly, weathered, occasionally toothless appearance became iconic, in part because of how perfectly it exemplified how he played. He never let the success go to his head, not for fear of arrogance — he possessed just the right amount of that — but because refuting others’ doubt fueled him.

”I’ve been an underdog my whole career, my whole life,” he said in a rare introspective interview last season. ”You can take any type of mentality, even if you’re expected to win. I never felt we were expected to win series, even if we had two Stanley Cups under our belt. It is what it is. You try to do your job. [It] doesn’t matter what people say [or] think. Just perform in the moment.”

Even in recent years, when he was asked to devote just as much of himself to leading and mentoring the Hawks’ next generation as to his own career, Keith played a huge part in the development of Adam Boqvist, Ian Mitchell and others.

This summer was probably the right time for Keith’s departure. The Hawks’ defense needs to enter a new era, one led by Connor Murphy, Boqvist, Mitchell and possibly Seth Jones or Dougie Hamilton. Meanwhile, the jury remains out on how much the just-turned 38-year-old has left to give the Oilers.

But Keith’s 16-year run in Chicago, even as it fades, deserves nothing less than the highest accolades.

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Notes come from around Chicago outdoors and beyond.

WILD OF THE WEEK

Aaron Weinstein emailed photos of two small red foxes with caught rabbits in Park Ridge. That leads multiple notes coming off the column last Saturday about rabbit populations.

WOTW, the celebration of wild stories and photos around Chicago outdoors, runs most weeks in the special two-page outdoors section in the Sun-Times Sports Saturday. To make submissions, email [email protected] or contact me on Facebook (Dale Bowman), Twitter (@BowmanOutside) or Instagram (@BowmanOutside).

WILD TIMES

FISHING DERBY

Through Sunday, July 18: Kankakee River Fishing Derby, kankakeefishingderby.com

FISH GATHERING

Tuesday, July 20: Biologist Frank Jakubicek, Arlington Anglers, Poplar Creek Banquets, Hoffman Estates, 6:30 p.m., arlingtonanglers.com

HUNTER SAFETY

Aug. 19 and 21: Mundelein, (847) 918-6145

Aug. 20-21: Ingleside, [email protected]

ILLINOIS BLIND DRAWS

Next Saturday, July 24, and July 25: Public waterfowl blind draws, most northern Illinois sites are next Saturday, July 24, Illinois River/Downstate sites on July 25

U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY

Monday, July 19: Boat America, Skokie, Dan O’Connell, [email protected]

Tuesday, July 20: SSS–Your Boat’s Radio, Waukegan, Curt Schumacher, [email protected]

Next Saturday, July 24: Boat America, Waukegan, Curt Schumacher, [email protected]

ILLINOIS PERMITS/SEASONS

Aug. 1: Squirrel hunting opens

Aug. 1: Applications begin for free upland game permits

DALE’S MAILBAG

Dale Bowman

Readers had many thoughts on rabbits. Donald Ayres emailed, “Best choice: get a kingsnake, bullsnake, or rat snake. Short-term solution, but we can always use more of the scaly guys, and they’ll give the rodents something to think about.” . . . Edward Marshall reported an explosion of rabbits in Wilmette/Northbrook.”Bigger question? Where are the coyotes?,” he wondered. “Two years ago and last year they were common here in all neighborhoods. This year I haven’t seen even one.” . . . Dean Campione emailed, “There is only one thing that works- Capsaicin. One Million Scoville Unit Capsaicin is marketed to growers in fact; it is non toxic, completely safe around humans and pets, can be used on anything considered non-edible. One tiny taste and they will never touch it again, guaranteed.” You can also make a similar home brew. . . . Edna Heatherington recalled a garden columnist “recommending purple poppy mallow (Callirhoe involucrata) as a plant that rabbits in her yard loved to eat but didn’t eat to the ground. She said she planted it in a part of her garden and it attracted them away from her vegetables and other plants. “

BIG NUMBER

2: Species of rabbits in Illinois: Eastern cottontail and the swamp rabbit.

LAST WORD

“Solitary animals, black bears roam large territories, though they do not protect them from other bears. Males might wander a 15- to 80-square-mile home range.”

National Geographic on black bears, which have been reported roaming this spring and summer in both southern Illinois and Indiana, click here for more

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Chicago Cubs Rumors: Extensions for current core not ruled out by Jordan Campbell

The Chicago Blackhawks, along with the rest of the National Hockey League, are preparing to submit their protected list to the Seattle Kraken ahead of the 2021 Expansion Draft. Each team can submit a list of either seven forwards, three defensemen, and a goalie, or eight skaters and a goalie. It is an interesting conversation for the Blackhawks because some hard decisions are needed.

It is impossible to predict exactly who they are going to go with but we are going to give it a try. It is fair to assume that they are going to go the route of seven forwards, three defensemen, and a goalie. They don’t have a good enough defense to sacrifice extra forwards for them. Players that are on entry-level contracts are exempt from this draft so you won’t see anyone like Kirby Dach protected or exposed.

F – Jonathan Toews

F – Patrick Kane

F – Alex DeBrincat

F – Dominik Kubalik

F – Dylan Strome

F – Henrik Borgstrom

F – Pius Suter

D – Connor Murphy

D – Caleb Jones

D – Riley Stillman

G – Kevin Lankinen

You might be surprised by some of the selections here. They may decide to protect someone like Calvin deHaan in favor of Riley Stillman but that would be a bad idea. He is an often injured older defenseman that only has one year left on his deal. The Hawks signed Stillman to a long-term contract for a reason. Nikita Zadorov is also someone for Seattle to consider if they want to take a Blackhawks defenseman.

As for the forwards, the top ones are obvious. It would make more sense to protect players like Borgstrom and Suter instead of players like Brandon Hagel, David Kampf, or Adam Gaudette. Those are good players but every team is going to lose a pretty good player. It makes more sense to leave those guys unprotected and give the younger players a chance.

Kevin Lankinen is the obvious goalie to protect. Collin Delia and Malcolm Subban are both exposed as each team needs to have at least one available. After the Expansion Draft is over, you can expect them to sign a backup (or 1A) in free agency to help Lankinen out.

The Chicago Blackhawks are going to lose a talented player to the Seattle Kraken.

With all of the talent around the NHL, the Seattle Kraken have a chance to put together a very formidable team in 2021-22. They also play in the very weak Pacific Division so you just never know. You can assume that they will make a trade or two during the Expansion Draft as well which is what helped the Vegas Golden Knights be so successful.

Related Story: The Chicago Blackhawks should consider a Wild buyout

Add in the fact that they have the second overall pick and it looks even better. The Blackhawks need to do whatever means necessary to make sure they handle this well. They are in a very important phase of their “retool” and this Seattle Kraken business is a big part of it.

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One man was killed and three others wounded in a shooting late Friday night in Austin on the West Side.

About 11:55 p.m., the four men were standing outside in the 700 block of North Lockwood Avenue when three people approached them and fired shots, Chicago police said.

A 29-year-old man was struck in the head and back and pronounced dead at the scene, police said. He has not yet been identified.

A man, 40, suffered gunshot wounds to the hip and leg and another man, 45, was also struck in the leg, police said. Both men were transported to Stroger Hospital in serious condition.

A fourth man, 62, suffered a graze wound to the back and was taken to the same hospital in good condition.

The shooters may have entered a gray Nissan after the attack, according to police.

There is no one in custody.

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