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10 Best Cannabis Seed Banks To Buy Seeds Online in 2022 (Ships to US)

Cannabis has never been more popular in the United States, with an overwhelming number of Americans expressing support for legalization, according to the Pew Research Center. With some 37 states having legalized cannabis for medical use, and sixteen for recreational purposes, more Americans than ever are considering growing their own cannabis.

Buoying this surge further is the 2018 Farm Bill, which helped dramatically boost both cannabis and hemp production in the U.S. Now, demand is higher than ever among Americans looking to grow their own. So, where are they turning? Most likely, to the hundreds if not thousands of cannabis seed banks found online, just a Google search away.

Seed banks, for the uninitiated, are repositories that store seeds to maintain and propagate genetic diversity. Cannabis seed banks online thus provide would-be growers with the seeds they need to get started growing cannabis. The problem, however, is that not all of these are reputable, and there is a wide range in overall quality among these vendors. So many options might leave beginning growers understandably scratching their heads.

Well, that’s where we come in! Today, we’re looking at ten of the very best seed banks from which U.S. citizens—at least in states that have legalized growing your own—can order seeds and start producing their very own cannabis.

Top 10 Cannabis Seed Banks To Buy Cannabis Seeds Online

RankBrandBest For1.Seed SupremeBest overall2.I Love Growing Marijuana (ILGM)Runner-up best3.SeedsmanBest variety4.Crop King SeedsBest for global shipping5.MSNL SeedbankBest delivery6.Quebec Cannabis SeedsBest for promotional offers7.HerbiesBest for convenience8.Ministry of CannabisBest for dependability9.Amsterdam Marijuana SeedsBest for guaranteed delivery10.Weed Seed ExpressBest “new kid on the block”

Click here to go straight to the reviews.

Ranking Criteria

To some extent, your choice of cannabis seed bank will depend on whether they have the strains that you want to grow. We obviously could not consider that in our rankings, as it varies from person to person. Instead, we focused on the following equally important factors.

Quality of Seeds

Perhaps the most important consideration in our rankings is the quality of the seeds. You need high-quality seeds if you want to maximize your chances of successful germination. High-quality seeds also optimize the quality of your plants, including the buds.

Satisfaction Guarantees

For a seed bank to be considered one of the top options, it needs to have a satisfaction guarantee. Even seed banks with a high quality of seeds will occasionally have lower-quality seeds. The best ones acknowledge that this can happen and take steps to remedy any issues customers have. Of course, a satisfaction guarantee also shows that the seed bank in question has a high level of trust in its products.

Discreet Shipping

Even if cannabis is legal in your state, it may not be in the states your package passes through. And there are still some negative connotations and stigma associated with cannabis. Because of this, we prioritize seed banks that use discreet packaging. Many of the best seed banks not only use discreet packaging but also purposely package it to look like something else, like a DVD case or toy.

Why Trust Us

You should feel comfortable taking our advice when it comes to cannabis seed banks. We’ve helped cannabis growers find reputable seed banks online for years. Over this time, we have reviewed most of the largest and most popular stores, along with many of the smaller ones. We have taken the time to thoroughly compare and contrast each based on the above ranking criteria. 

Simply put, our rankings are the result of years of knowledge, experience, and research, along with a careful point-by-point comparison. 

Types of Cannabis Seeds

Autoflower

Autoflowering seeds will begin to flower after two or four weeks of growing. Importantly, growers don’t need to change the light schedule to start and continue the flowering phase of growth. 

Beginner

This refers to seeds that are easy enough for beginners to grow. They tend to be resistant to mold, powdery mildew, disease, and pests. 

CBD Hemp or CBD

These seeds are for plants legally considered hemp. As such, they have less than 0.3% THC. They tend to be higher in CBD, but that is not always the case. 

Fast or Fast Flowering Strains

Fast strains, fast flowering strains, or quick strains reach the flowering phase one or two weeks more quickly than other strains. 

Feminized

Feminized seeds will only produce female plants. This is important as most growers want female plants due to their buds. Feminized seeds save you the hassle of growing seeds and then going through them and removing the males.

High CBD

These are strains that are particularly high in CBD concentration. What each seed bank considers to be high CBD varies. 

High THC

These are strains with higher-than-average concentrations of THC. As with high CBD strains, the definition of high THC depends on the seed bank. 

High Yield

High-yield strains produce more buds for every square meter. They let you get the most buds in the smallest amount of space. 

Hybrids

Hybrids have genetics that combine indica and sativa strains. 

Indica

One of the two main categories of cannabis strains, indicas tend to have full-body effects. The plants tend to be short and stocky, featuring broad, wide, and chunky leaves. They grow more quickly and produce more buds than sativa. They tend to have higher CBD levels without sacrificing THC levels. 

Indoor

These seeds excel at growing indoors. They are ideal for anyone looking to grow inside a greenhouse or other space. 

Low or Extra-Low THC

These are strains with lower THC levels. Remember that what qualifies as “low” or “extra-low” will vary by seed bank. The THC will typically still be above 0.3%; otherwise, the plant would be hemp. 

Mix and Match or Mixed Packs 

This refers to when seedbanks sell packages of multiple types of seeds. They are ideal if you want variety in your growing.

Outdoor

These seeds flourish only when grown outdoors, so they are not ideal for indoor growers. You should only consider them if you have ample outdoor growing space. 

Photoperiod 

Unless otherwise specified, all cannabis seeds are photoperiod, with autoflowering seeds being a notable exception. Photoperiod seeds require you to change the lighting conditions for the seeds to enter and maintain the flowering phase. 

Regular 

Regular cannabis seeds contrast with feminized seeds. They include both male and female seeds. This means that you have to grow all of the seeds and wait for them to reach the stage where you can tell whether they are male or female. Then, you can remove the males and continue growing the females. You must do so promptly, however, or you risk your female seeds becoming fertilized. 

Sativa 

Sativa is the other major category of cannabis strains. They tend to deliver a mind high, reducing anxiety or energizing the user. They grow tall and thin, and their leaves are finger-like. They take longer to mature compared to indica and tend to have less CBD and more THC. 

1.) Seed SupremeBest Overall (*Top Pick August 2022*)

Seed Supreme is our best overall pick for a variety of reasons. For one, not only do they accept cryptocurrency, like many of the other seed banks featured here, they even have special discounts for Bitcoin. This makes it an appealing choice in particular for Bitcoin holders, as they can save quite a good bit of money.

In terms of the other usual suspects, Seed Supreme excels. If you’re specifically looking for autoflower and feminized seeds, Seed Supreme is the right seed bank. The quality is second to none.

Pros

Quality seedsDiscounts (up to 30 percent!) for paying in BitcoinAbove-average strain varietyLoyalty rewards program

Cons

Lacking in customer service

Seeds Offered

Autoflower, Feminized

2.) I Love Growing Marijuana (ILGM)Runner-up best

ILGM is a quality seed bank with a well earned reputation. In addition to fantastic customer service and a wide variety of seeds to choose from, they also provide tons of sales and discounts while educating customers through an extensive library of growing resources.

As far as their seeds, the quality is excellent and, importantly, backed by a germination guarantee. They have a variety of classic cannabis strains as well as some you may have never heard of before. As far as safety, ILGM has an extremely solid reputation and their customer service easily competes with the best out there. In fact, on TrustPilot they have more than 4,000 user reviews with an average rating of 4.8/5.

Considering how reputable ILGM is, coupled with an extensive collection of top-quality seeds, it was not at all difficult to select them toward the top of our list. The only real downside—and it’s a minor one—with ILGM is that it will cost a pretty penny if you want tracked shipping, as it costs $25 (compared to their standard shipping, which is free).

Pros

Monthly deals and promosExtremely reputable and highly ratedGermination guarantee (money back)Discreet packagingFree standard shippingFeatures all the best-known strainsGrowing resources and 24/7 support

Cons

Delivery with tracking will set you back $25

Seeds Offered

Beginner, High THC, High Yield, CBD Hemp, Autoflower, Indoor, Outdoor, Sativa, Indica 

3.) SeedsmanBest Overall Variety

Seedsman—true to its name—offers an amazing variety of seeds, many of which are top quality. Whether you’re after feminized seeds, auto-flowering seeds, or rare seed strains, Seedsman will almost certainly have you covered. OG Kush, White Widow, Purple Haze, Girl Scout Cookies—they’ve got all your favorites.

Another nice aspect of Seedsman is they tend to give out a lot of free seeds when buying in bulk. So if that’s you, you’ll reap some additional seeds by going through Seedsman. They also offer worldwide shipping, which makes them a solid option if you’re outside of the U.S.

Although Seedsman is one of our top picks overall, thanks in particular to its extensive seed variety, it does lose some points due to its questionable customer service and somewhat clunky website.

Pros

Worldwide shippingMassive seed varietyFree seeds with bulk purchases

Cons

Subpar customer support

Seeds Offered

Autoflower, Feminized, Regular, Fast strains

4.) Crop King Seeds — Best for International Customers

Crop King Seeds gets points for its easy-to-use site—some of its competitors still feature clunky sites, which can be unappealing to the modern cannabis grower, skewing younger every year. Crop King Seeds also wins points for being a beginner-friendly site, with germination guides to help you grow (literally!).

With a massive variety of strains, Crop King has received thousands of positive reviews for its seeds, and its reviews are regulated, helping keep out biased or paid reviewers and showing you who are regular customers. Their reviews frequently indicate high germination rates, from 80 to even 100 percent.

To help narrow your choices, use the site’s filters to find what’s best for you. Crop King is also reasonable in terms of shipping, with $10 and $30 for regular and express, respectively, plus free shipping on orders over $300.

Pros

Germination rate of 80 percent or moreSpecial review systemGermination guidesHelpful infographicsFree shipping for larger ($300+) ordersGlobal shipping

Cons

No free shippingOne- to two-week shipping time is among the slowestTargeted to beginners, which might turn off more experienced growers

Seeds Offered

Feminized, Regular, Autoflower, Mix and Match, CBD

5.) MSNL Seedbank — Best For Quickest Delivery

MSNL has been in the game for a long time and is definitely among the most reliable seed banks out there. It also offers one of the fastest processing and shipping times, so if you need seeds right away, MSNL should be at the top of your list.

This reputable seed bank also runs frequent promos, enabling you to save some money (especially over the long haul). Although they have a great range of male and female seeds to order from, MSNL does lose some points due to its lack of a germination guarantee.

One thing that does keep it toward the top of our list is its lightning fast and discreet shipping, which has helped make it one of the most popular seed banks online. Another nice feather in MSNL’s cap is the fact that their seeds have won High Times and Cannabis Cups.

Pros

Fast and discreet shippingLot of promos/freebiesSolid strain variety

Cons

Subpar customer supportNo germination guarantees

Seeds Offered

Autoflower, Feminized, Regular, High CBD

6.) Quebec Cannabis Seeds — Best Deals

Quebec Cannabis Seeds is a great seed bank overall, but particularly if you live in the U.S., as its proximity makes for quick deliveries compared to some other seed banks.

Although Quebec Cannabis Seeds lacks the variety of many of the other seed banks on this list, it helps make up for it in a variety of ways—namely, fast delivery, awesome discounts, and high-quality seeds. They’re an especially good choice if you’re on a budget, as their weekly discounts offer big savings—sometimes up to 50 percent, although often in the still-great 10-25 percent range.

A few other things about this French-Canadian seed bank: It carries a germination guarantee but also has a no-return policy, which seem to kind of cancel each other out, and it also allows for payment in USD—so no need to do any conversions, but be mindful of their 3.8 percent credit card fee.

Pros

Germination guaranteesWeekly discountsFast deliveries to the U.S.

Cons

No return policy

Seeds Offered

Autoflower, Feminized, Outdoor, CBD, Mixed Packs

7.) Herbies — Best for Convenience

Herbies also makes our list in large part thanks to its site’s convenient layout. It’s really easy to navigate and figuring out what’s discounted and what’s highly rated is a breeze, thanks to their intuitive, color-coded system.

In addition, Herbies also shares many similarities with the other seed banks listed here in that it has a wide range of top-quality seeds. They also have reliably quick processing and shipping, which can be really important when you’re trying to get a grow operation underway quickly.

Thanks to how easy the Herbies site is to navigate, as well as its solid value in terms of variety, quality, and shipping, it easily makes our list of the best overall online seed banks. Unfortunately, like a fair number of seed banks online, its customer support is sorely lacking.

Pros

Easy-to-navigate websiteReliable and fast shippingTop-quality seeds

Cons

Weak customer support

Seeds Offered

Autoflower, Feminized, Regular, Photoperiod, Fast flowering, High THC, Extra-low THX, High Yield, High CBD, Beginners, Indoor, Outdoor, Indica, Sativa

8.) Ministry of Cannabis — Best for Reliability

Ministry of Cannabis is super reliable, which has helped it gain a lot of happy customers, even though it lacks the number of promos offered by many other seed banks. This seed bank tends to attract serious customers because they have a unique feature: rotating seed stocks.

This attention to the freshness of their seed supply helps make Ministry of Cannabis one of the most reliable seed banks out there. After all, the last thing anyone wants is to get bunk seeds. Another feature that helps them win “best dependability” is their above-average customer support.

Overall, Ministry of Cannabis is a solid choice, even if we’d appreciate seeing more promos offered like many of its competitors. Their fresh supply of seeds is probably why they feel as if they can get away with not having a germination guarantee like many other seed banks.

Pros

Solid varietyFresh seed supplyReliable customer support

Cons

No germination guaranteesFew promos

Seeds Offered

Feminized, Autoflower, CBD

9.) Amsterdam Marijuana Seeds — Best for Prompt Delivery

Amsterdam Marijuana Seeds insists on having top-notch quality. Although it may lack some of the seed variety of its competitors, you’re guaranteed to receive seeds of the highest quality, making it one of the more reliable suppliers for serious growers.

Another aspect that helps it win “best guaranteed delivery” is the fact that customers have claimed that their orders were guaranteed, even in the event that customs confiscated their packages. This helps make up for the fact that Amsterdam Marijuana Seeds has one of the slowest shipping speeds on this list. This stings a little less though if you’re on a tight budget, as shipping is free.

Pros

Free shippingHighest quality seedsGuaranteed orders

Cons

Slow shipping speeds

Seeds Offered

Autoflower, Feminized, Indoor, Outdoor, High CBD, High THC, Indica, Sativa, Hybrids

10.) Weed Seeds Express — Best New Bank

Every industry has its up and comers and, over time, some of them even manage to supplant the oldest, most well-established companies. Weed Seeds Express might just accomplish this tough feat.

Why? Because they are proving themselves to be one of the most reliable seed banks online, with fast, discreet shipping and a huge variety of high-quality seeds. They also ship worldwide and boast a lot of promos.

The only thing holding back Weed Seeds from claiming one of our top spots is the fact that it’s simply really new to the industry. As long as it continues to do what it’s doing, it will no doubt establish a great reputation and continue to grow (yes, pun intended).

Pros

Frequent promosStealthy worldwide shippingTop-quality seeds

Cons

New on the block

Seeds Offered

Autoflower, Feminized, High CBD

Cannabis Seed Bank FAQ

Q: Is it illegal to buy cannabis seeds in the U.S.? A: Yes and no. That just depends on where you are! Since each state has their own specific laws, and cannabis has not yet been fully decriminalized/legalized on a federal level (although it’s looking more likely than ever), it depends on your specific state. That said, seed banks usually use an antiquated law to help surmount legal hurdles and conduct their business. This works, in essence, by framing the seeds as either a souvenir or fish bait/bird food. You can see disclaimers about this on their websites.

Q: Which seed banks have the best genetics? A: The award here goes to the seed banks that have built a great reputation for delivering high-quality seeds: Seedsman, Crop King Seeds, and Amsterdam Marijuana Seeds. These banks, it would seem, test their seeds to ensure that the strains are of the highest quality. Stick to these three if acquiring top-quality seeds is your main preference.

Q: Does it matter how I pay for my seeds? A: Once again, it depends. Many seed banks actually offer discounts for crypto payments because of the discreet, decentralized nature of how cryptocurrency transactions function. While most accept credit cards, which does offer you some protection through your credit card company, many have a strong preference for cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. Two that offer discounts for Bitcoin payments are Seed Supreme and I Love Growing Marijuana. With these two, it can definitely add up to solid savings—assuming that Bitcoin doesn’t eventually skyrocket in price one day (clearly this is another factor in the acceptance of Bitcoin by many seed banks).

Q: What’s “stealth shipping” and why should I care? A: The last thing anyone wants is to have issues with their order in terms of customs/government involvement. As such, it’s nice to order from a seed bank that guarantees discreet shipping. A common method is to include other, inexpensive items with the seeds, such as DVD cases. This helps the package seem less suspicious. Another way to keep a low profile is to resist the urge for expedited delivery or a delivery option that requires your signature.

Q: Which seed banks offer worldwide shipping? A: Weed Seeds Express, Seedsman, and Crop King Seeds. These will need to be your first choices if you live outside of the U.S.

Tips for Using a Cannabis Seed Bank

Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of your seed bank shopping experience:

Browse a number of different sites so that you can take advantage of any special promos that might be going on.Check to make sure that the site has the payment option that you prefer to use (particularly if you are looking to pay via cryptocurrency).Make sure that they ship to your country/state.Check for a “germination guarantee” and, if they don’t have one, investigate their return policies and customer support. You want to make sure that you protect yourself the best you can.

Wrapping Up

We’ve put together this list carefully to ensure that you go about your cannabis seed shopping in a safe way and don’t get ripped off. So, any one of these should do the trick just fine. Ultimately, what it comes down to is your specific preferences—for example, shipping time, location, payment method, reliability, seed variety, etc. Factor these in so that you make the choice that’s best for you.

That said, you can’t really go wrong with one of the most well-established seed banks such as I Love Growing Marijuana or MSNL Seedbank.

No matter what you choose, happy growing!

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High school football: How the Super 25 fared in Week 7

1. Mount Carmel (7-0)

Won 42-0 at St. Laurence

2. Loyola (7-0)

Won 34-22 at Providence

3. Lincoln-Way East (7-0)

Won 52-14 at No. 20 Homewood-Flossmoor

4. York (7-0)

Won 31-7 at Hinsdale Central

5. Simeon (6-0)

Saturday vs. Kenwood at Lane

6. Glenbard West (5-1)

Saturday vs. Downers Grove North

7. Hersey (7-0)

Won 49-0 at Wheeling

8. Lemont (7-0)

Won 68-30 vs. Richards

9. Prospect (6-1)

Won 55-27 vs. Buffalo Grove

10. Bolingbrook (4-3)

Lost 34-33 at Lockport

11. Marist (4-3)

Won 37-7 at Montini

12. St. Rita (5-2)

Won 52-19 vs. Marian Central

13. Warren (6-1)

Won 47-0 vs. Waukegan

14. Maine South (5-2)

Won 45-7 vs. Niles West

15. Crete-Monee (5-2)

Won 30-26 at Rich

16. Joliet Catholic (5-2)

Lost 31-24 (2 OT) vs. Brother Rice

17. Neuqua Valley (6-1)

Won 28-0 vs. Waubonsie Valley

18. Prairie Ridge (6-1)

Won 35-14 vs. Dundee-Crown

19. St. Charles North (6-1)

Won 38-7 vs. St. Charles East

20. Homewood-Flossmoor (4-3)

Lost 52-14 vs. No. 3 Lincoln-Way East

21. Wheaton North (6-1)

Won 8-7 vs. Wheaton-Warrenville South

22. Batavia (5-2)

Won 33-7 vs. Geneva

23. Kankakee (5-1)

Saturday at Bloom

24. Lake Zurich (6-1)

Won 14-6 at Lake Forest

25. Plainfield North (7-0)

Won 22-21 at Minooka

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High school football: Brother Rice beats Joliet Catholic in overtime on Owen Lyons’ diving grab

Brother Rice needed a defensive stand in the second overtime to hold on to a 31-27 in against No. 16 Joliet Catholic on Friday at Memorial Stadium in Joliet.

But the play that will be remembered was being recreated on the sidelines by young Crusaders fans just seconds after it occurred: Owen Lyons made an improbable, diving one-handed grab while sliding into the end zone to score for Brother Rice in the second overtime.

It came on third down after the Crusaders had been beaten back to the 26 after a sack.

“It was a little bit overthrown but I just pumped my arms and reached out and made the grab,” Lyons said. “I kinda blacked out for a second but I opened my eyes and I was in the end zone.”

It was a gutsy throw by junior quarterback Ryan Hartz, who was 9 of 15 passing for 140 yards with one touchdown and an interception. Lyons had five catches for 97 yards.

“It was one of those plays where when in doubt you just go to your best player,” Hartz said. “I have no doubts in calling on him.”

Joliet Catholic (5-2) led 14-3 at halftime after scoring on an 86-yard pass from TJ Schlageter to Justin Bonsu in the final minute of the second quarter.

The Crusaders (4-3) had moved the ball better in the first half, but the big play was the difference in the games.

Brother Rice’s comeback began under another quarterback, junior Jake Dugger. He found Owen Gorman in the end zone on a fourth down play from the 4 to pull the Crusaders within four points.

Brother Rice took the lead three minutes later on a one-yard run from Hartz. Joliet Catholic tied the game at the buzzer with a 27-yard field goal from Patrick Durkin.

The Hilltoppers were able to sustain some long drives with their run game but never broke open a big play.

“For as long as I’m here I will never allow a team to run down our throats,” Crusaders coach Casey Quedenfeld said. “It’s the most demoralizing thing.”

Teshon McGee had eight carries for 45 yards for Brother Rice and senior Martin O’Keeffe had five catches for 46 yards.

The Crusaders have lost to St. Rita, Loyola and Mount Carmel this season so their record doesn’t tell an accurate story. They gave the Caravan their toughest test of the season, losing 28-21.

“We just had the mentality of staying hungry,” Lyons said. “We’re not satisfied with losing to Mount Carmel. We built on that this week and luckily we came out on top today.”

Brother Rice hosts Marian Catholic next week and finishes up the regular season at home against Marist.

Schlageter led Joliet Catholic on a fast and furious drive in the final two minutes of the game but it stalled at the Brother Rice 10 and the Hilltoppers settled for the field goal as time expired. He was 6-for-16 passing for 171 yards and one touchdown.

Aaron Harvey had 12 carries for 40 yards for Joliet Catholic. Bonsu finished with 13 carries for 44 yards and a touchdown and three receptions for 126 yards and a touchdown.

“We’re seven games into the season now so we can’t really use inexperience as an excuse,” Hilltoppers coach Jake Jaworski said. “But we are still making mistakes as if we are inexperienced and that’s not good. Give credit to Brother Rice but we just left too many plays on the field.”

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The Chicago Blackhawks made an interesting late night tradeVincent Pariseon October 8, 2022 at 4:46 am

The Chicago Blackhawks are clearly going to be an active team for a while. Kyle Davidson is a general manager that is strongly committed to building this team in the most painful way which is often the right way. Nothing good in life comes easy.

They are trying to make this team good so it can stay good. In order to do that, sometimes you have to be pretty bad for a while and just worry about draft picks. Well, the trade that they made on Friday night suggests that theory even further.

Chicago traded defenseman Riley Stillman to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for Jason Dickinson and a 2024 second-round pick. Stillman is a very mediocre defenseman that was once a fourth-round pick by the Floria Panthers. The Hawks are better off letting the younger kids play.

Jason Dickinson is a former first-round pick (2013) by the Dallas Stars. He found his way to the Vancouver Canucks as a role player. In 2021-22, he had five goals and six assists for 11 points in 62 games. Expect similar production this year.

The Hawks are counting on it as they clearly want to be one of the worst teams in the league. There are a lot of players at the top of the 2023 NHL Draft that will make a bad season really worth it. Dickinson is perfect to help them with that.

The Chicago Blackhawks acquired a really nice asset in their late-night trade.

As for that second-round pick in 2024, there is a chance that it really helps them out one day. After making this trade, they now had two picks in the first, second, and third-round picks in each of the next two drafts. That is incredibly asset management for a rebuilding team.

It is always interesting when teams make trades at this time of night. With the season coming in just a few days, however, there are a lot of moves to still be made. We can only hope that it all ends with the Blackhawks doing what they need to do in order to advance the franchise.

There are a lot of ways that can make this season a success for them. Of course, the draft lottery is at the top of their list. However, drafting well and developing their young players is another big key. This type f trade can help them reach their goals in more than one way.

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The Chicago Blackhawks made an interesting late night tradeVincent Pariseon October 8, 2022 at 4:46 am Read More »

Gastón Giménez pens new three year deal with Chicago Fire

Chicago Fire FC has opened a 2023 Designated Player roster slot as it signs Paraguay international, Gastón Giménez, to a new and improved contract.

Chicago Fire has announced the signing of midfielder, Gastón Giménez to a new contract, opening up a Designated Player slot on the roster ahead of the 2023 Major League Soccer campaign.

The 30-year-old’s new deal begins in January, extending his time at the club through the 2025 season.

The Paraguay international also received his U.S. Green Card earlier this year and will no longer occupy an international roster slot.

“Gaston is a talented player who is very important to the club,” Chicago sporting director Georg Heitz said in a release. “His decision to restructure his contract to provide the team with more roster flexibility speaks volumes about his character and desire to win titles with the Fire.”

✍️ New contract for Gastón!
🔥 2023 DP slot opens for #cf97!

Giménez originally joined Chicago from Argentine Primera side Vélez Sarsfield in February 2020. He has had a challenging start to his MLS career and managed a record of two goals and six assists across 65 games (59 starts), though is recovering from a right hamstring surgery in late August.

With Giménez no longer taking a Designated Player spot, Chicago will have Swiss international midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri and Mexican winger Jairo Torres occupying those tags for the 2023 season.

Follow us on Twitter at @chicitysports23 for more great content. We appreciate you taking time to read our articles. To interact more with our community and keep up to date on the latest in Chicago sports news, JOIN OUR FREE FACEBOOK GROUP by CLICKING HERE

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Blackhawks trade Riley Stillman to Canucks for Jason Dickinson, 2nd-round pick

The Blackhawks converted some of their salary-cap flexibility into another upper-end draft pick Friday.

Depth defenseman Riley Stillman was traded to the Canucks for depth forward Jason Dickinson and a 2024 second-round selection.

The pick is the clear prize for the Hawks in the swap. They now own 12 picks in the first three rounds of the next two NHL drafts — two picks in each round of both drafts. As general manager Kyle Davidson continues the franchise’s rebuild with full steam ahead, those picks will provide a steady stream of high-upside prospects.

For the Canucks, the primary motivation is salary-cap savings. Stillman, 24, carries a $1.35 million cap hit for the next two seasons; Dickinson, 27, carries a $2.65 million cap hit for the next two seasons. The Hawks can easily absorb that $1.3 million difference, though, considering they still have roughly $7 million in cap space remaining for 2022-23 (per CapFriendly) and far more for 2023-24.

Stillman finishes his Hawks tenure with 13 points in 65 games since being acquired as part of ex-general manager Stan Bowman’s failed trade with the Panthers for Henrik Borgstrom in spring 2021.

He hadn’t particularly stood out during training camp or preseason this year, and his departure opens another roster spot for one of the Hawks’ NHL-ready prospect defensemen. Isaak Phillips was recalled from the AHL earlier Friday, joining Alec Regula, Alex Vlasic and Filip Roos in the battle for opening-day roster spots.

“[I spent] a lot of time on the ice, working with [our] skills coach, to make plays coming out of my own end, tape-to-tape,” Stillman said earlier in camp. “[I’m] just trying to be clean that way and continue to expand my game.”

Dickinson tallied 11 points in 62 games for the Canucks last season. A first-round pick by the Stars in 2013, Dickinson is a consistent if unremarkable third- or fourth-line center with 74 points in 283 career NHL appearances.

He’ll join a Hawks roster loaded with bottom-six forwards that new coach Luke Richardson has shuffled through various line combinations at will during camp.

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Bulls tweak the starting lineup, and it pays off in win over Nuggets

If preseason games are the best time to experiment, Bulls coach Billy Donovan could have worn a white lab coat and goggles Friday night.

Always mum about his lineups, Donovan offered up his first real wrinkle ahead of the regular season, starting Javonte Green over Patrick Williams — the No. 4 overall pick of 2020 — in an eventual 131-113 win over the Nuggets at the United Center.

Although the staying power of Green in that spot remains to be seen with two preseason games left, it paid instant dividends. Green gave the starting group some much-needed energy and fit in with the flow of the offense, finishing with 15 points on 5-for-7 shooting with four rebounds.

“It doesn’t matter where I’m playing or how many minutes I’m playing, I’m just there to make the team better,” Green said.

As for Williams, the demotion didn’t noticeably change the way he played — still passive at times — but it sent a message.

“I thought overall we played better,” Donovan said. “Did I like it? Yeah. Javonte has played with that group in the past. I think it’s trying to find combinations that work together — right now, just trying to look at different combinations of guys. For me, it was, ‘OK, what does Patrick look like with that second unit?’ There were a lot of things we wanted to look at.

“It’s a preseason game. The last thing I would call it is a demotion.”

Semantics? Maybe. Williams was a hot topic at the Advocate Center after the Bulls’ loss to the Pelicans in the preseason opener, with the talk centering on his confidence and whether he’s in his own head too much.

“I think for Patrick, his focus and concentration needs to be totally from the shoulders up,” Donovan said Wednesday. “Sometimes Patrick can overthink . . . and then he gets to that point where he looks passive.”

Williams himself said he needed to continue working on “self-talking” his way out of those moments. He didn’t start off well in his new role Friday, scoring just two points as a reserve in the first half. But he showed a lot more life in the second half, scoring nine points, including a three-pointer.

“There’s not an issue at all there,” Donovan said.

Green-for-Williams wasn’t Donovan’s only experiment against the Nuggets. While hometown kid Ayo Dosunmu was still the starting point guard, Donovan wanted him to approach the job with more freedom than he did against the Pelicans. In that game, Donovan felt Dosunmu was looking over to the bench too much to determine what calls to make.

“One of the things we’ve been trying to work on is where he’s not feeling so compelled to [ask], ‘What should I call?’ or ‘What should I do?’ ” Donovan said. “We’ve got to allow him to where he can be aggressive, to attack, and to let him initiate things.”

There were moments, especially in the third quarter, when Dosunmu pushed the ball up the floor more aggressively while also looking for his own shot when it was warranted.

Donovan has yet to explictly say Dosunmu is the replacement for Lonzo Ball (recovering from surgery on his left knee), but there aren’t many other logical options right now.

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Max deal hasn’t changed Zach LaVine, according to Bulls’ Billy Donovan

Zach LaVine promised that the max contract he received in the offseason wouldn’t change him, and the Bulls guard wasn’t lying.

At least in the eyes of coach Billy Donovan he wasn’t.

“Just being around Zach for two years, he to me is a really grounded guy,” Donovan said on Friday, when asked about LaVine being in a new tax bracket and how he’s been dealing with it. “His family is very important. I have not seen a change in him as it relates to as a person. He always takes great responsibility to want to perform at a high level. He’s worked very hard to get to this point.”

And the reward was a large one, as the Bulls gave LaVine a five-year, $215 million deal that includes a player option at $48.9 million in the final season.

He was asked about the pressures of that deal when he first signed it, and then again at the start of this training camp, and has been very consistent with his response.

“I put the highest expectations on myself more than anybody, and I keep developing my game like I have the last nine years of my career,” LaVine said recently. “I think I’ve gotten better each and every year. I’m going to continue to do that. I don’t think a contract is going to give me any extra motivation for that because I already have enough myself.”

That doesn’t mean the expectations haven’t changed.

Donovan said he has been very hands-off as far as mentioning the deal to LaVine. Instead, he’s taken the approach of, “you don’t pass too much judgement of just like jumping in and saying,’ Hey Zach, you got this contract … ‘ Let’s just see how he handles himself. He’s been really good in practice and his dialogue, his communication. I have not seen anything from him as far as any personality change or anything like that.”

But the coach admitted that there was still “a lot of room for [LaVine] to improve.”

According to Donovan, LaVine was really bothered last season when his left knee issue hampered him, especially on the defensive end, and was still wearing that coming into this season.

“There’s another level he needs to get to,” Donovan added.

Numbers game

Rookie Dalen Terry continued living by the motto of “I’ll do whatever the coaches need me to do.”

Where it will get interesting is will that attitude earn him a regular rotation spot when the Bulls open the regular season in Miami on Oct. 19?

Donovan said there will be in-depth conversations about that by the coaching staff and the front office when the preseason wraps up.

“I like him a lot from the standpoint of the make-up of him as a competitor, and his motor, and his energy, those types of things,” Donovan said of Terry. “That’s what is going to be the interesting part is the decisions that are made going into that first game in Miami. Because like I’ve said before, we’re not going to be able to play everybody. Someone is going to be out of the rotation.”

Terry’s versatility might help, as he’s shown that he can not only be a wing defender and play off the ball, but can also run the point if need be. What Donovan did insist was the 18th overall pick better be ready, either way.

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Wembanyama to join France for WC qualifierson October 8, 2022 at 1:30 am

PARIS — Top NBA draft prospect Victor Wembanyama will join France’s national team next month for a pair of World Cup qualifying games.

The French federation made the announcement Friday. The 7-foot-3 Wembanyama is among 12 players selected for a road game at Lithuania on Nov. 11 and a home contest against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Nov. 14.

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If he plays, it would mark Wembanyama’s debut with the French senior national team. He couldn’t play in EuroBasket this summer because of injury recovery; France wound up falling to Spain in the gold-medal game of that event.

France is trying to wrap up a berth in the 2023 World Cup, to be played in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia. France is currently 6-2 in World Cup qualifying, well on its way to becoming one of the 12 teams from Europe that will clinch a spot in the 32-team tournament.

The French national team’s coach is Vincent Collet, who also coaches Wembanyama with the pro club Metropolitans 92.

Metropolitans split a pair of games near Las Vegas this week against the G League Ignite, with Wembanyama — the consensus frontrunner to be the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft — averaging 36.5 points in those matchups.

The 18-year-old Wembanyama has played for France’s national programs before, including the 2019 FIBA U16 European Championship and the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup — falling to the U.S. 83-81 in the gold-medal game of that event.

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Bears top CB Jaylon Johnson (quad) takes ‘big step,’ but unlikely to play vs. Vikings

Top cornerback Jaylon Johnson is recovering well from the quad injury that kept him out of the last two games, but the Bears probably won’t have him against the Vikings on Sunday.

That’d be highly problematic for the defense, which is full of question marks at that position behind him.

And it’d be highly disappointing for Johnson, who has been eager for another shot at covering star wide receiver Justin Jefferson.

“That’s what I wake up and want to play this game for — those big-time matchups and just really being able to prove who I am to the world, to myself, to my team,” Johnson said.

He practiced Friday for the first time since hurting his quad in practice Sept. 22. Johnson said he did individual drills and a little bit of team reps, and Bears coach Matt Eberflus listed him as doubtful for the Vikings game. NFL coaches tend to be very liberal with the “questionable” game status, so any player designated doubtful is a long shot to play.

Still, it’s a plus for the Bears that he was back on the field. If he misses the game Sunday, there would still be optimism that he’d be ready by Thursday to face the Commanders.

Without him, the Bears would have to count on Kindle Vildor and rookie Kyler Gordon to handle Jefferson, Adam Thielen and K.J. Osborn.

Johnson is the Bears’ best corner by far and one of the top players on the team overall. In the first two games, he did not have a single pass thrown his way.

Working back from the quad injury has been “really a slow process” that necessitated a lot of rest. Johnson said he is itching to play, but didn’t answer when pressed on whether he felt he was ready to do so Sunday.

That said, his work Friday was promising.

“I can move pretty well,” he said. “I’m doing really good at improving my speed and my strength and stuff like that.

“It’s big just being able to move with the team and against other people. Just being able to see where I’m at, moving laterally, reacting and different things like that was a big step in the right direction.”

The Texans’ Davis Mills and the Giants’ Daniel Jones didn’t challenge the Bears’ secondary much in Johnson’s absence, in part because it has been much more advantageous to run against the Bears.

Over the last two games, Gordon allowed an 89.5 passer rating and Vildor allowed a 103.6. The Bears also gave undrafted rookie Jaylon Jones extensive playing time with 57 snaps. He didn’t play at all when Johnson was healthy.

“We have bigger issues than the young guys in the secondary,” Johnson said of the defense. “We’ve gotta stop the run initially. We’ve all gotta do a better job of that at all three levels and really [force] a team to put the ball in the air for the DBs to make plays.

“All those [young cornerbacks] are doing their jobs. They’ve just gotta keep improving, keep working on the little things.”

It helped that neither the Texans nor Giants had the strength to expose them. The Vikings, meanwhile, have much more firepower in the passing game.

Jefferson has 25 catches for 393 yards and two touchdowns in four career games against the Bears. He caught 10 passes for 147 yards last week against the Saints while being covered primarily by four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore.

While the possibility of Johnson sitting and Jefferson putting up a huge game is scary, it’s not as terrifying for the Bears as Johnson being out long term. If he isn’t back to full speed, it’s better to give him more time than to rush him and risk a more significant injury.

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