LAS VEGAS (AP) — Brandon Saad spent less than an hour as a free agent, joining the Vegas Golden Knights fresh off the St. Louis Blues terminating his previous contract.
Saad signed a contract Friday for the remainder of the season that's worth a prorated $1.5 million. It came together just after he cleared unconditional waivers.
The 32-year-old forward agreed to the mutual termination after the Blues put him on waivers with the intent of sending him to the American Hockey League's Springfield Thunderbirds. By foregoing the roughly $5.4 million left over this season and next, he instead got the chance to remain in the NHL.
Saad has struggled to produce this season, putting up just 16 points in 43 games. He has been held without a goal in 40 of those games.
With Vegas, the two-time Stanley Cup champion moves up the standings to a legitimate contender, leaving St. Louis to fight for a playoff spot without him.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Dallas Stars' goaltender Casey DeSmith (1) blocks a shot from St. Louis Blues' Brandon Saad (20) during the second period of an NHL hockey game on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)
Manchester United crashed out of the FA Cup on Sunday after a penalty shootout defeat to Fulham.
Victor Lindelof and Joshua Zirkzee had spot kicks saved after the fifth-round game ended 1-1 after extra time.
Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno was the hero as Fulham won 4-3 in the shootout and advanced to the quarterfinals.
Cup holder United had to come back from 1-0 down at halftime after Calvin Bassey headed Fulham in front just before the break. Bruno Fernandes leveled the game to send it to extra time.
Danny Welbeck fired Brighton into the last eight with an extra-time winner against Newcastle.
Welbeck — a two-time winner of the famous trophy with Arsenal — came off the bench to seal a 2-1 win at St. James' Park.
With the game locked at 1-1 and seemingly heading to a penalty shootout, Welbeck produced a brilliant finish in the 114th to lift the ball over Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka from a narrow angle. The 34-year-old former England forward had timed his run perfectly to beat Newcastle's offside trap and meet Solly March's throughball. And despite running away from goal, he managed to turn and clip his shot into the back of the net.
Newcastle led 1-0 through Alexander Isak's penalty in the 22nd, but Yankuba Minteh leveled in the 44th.
Both teams had players sent off in the second half — Anthony Gordon for Newcastle in the 83rd and Tariq Lamptey in added time.
Fabian Schar thought he'd scored a late extra-time winner for the hosts but it was ruled out for offside by VAR.
Welbeck's goal secured a fifth-straight win for Brighton in all competitions.
Newcastle is hoping to end a 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy and can still achieve that this season when it plays Liverpool in the English League Cup final later this month.
James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Fulham's Andreas Pereira, right, challenges for the ball with Manchester United's Matthijs de Ligt during the English FA Cup soccer match between Manchester United and Fulham at the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, March 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Fulham's Calvin Bassey, centre, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the English FA Cup soccer match between Manchester United and Fulham at the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, March 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho in action during the English FA Cup soccer match between Manchester United and Fulham at the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, March 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the English FA Cup soccer match between Manchester United and Fulham at the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, March 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Fulham's Rodrigo Muniz, left, challenges for the ball with Manchester United's Matthijs de Ligt during the English FA Cup soccer match between Manchester United and Fulham at the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, March 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Newcastle United's Alexander Isak scores their side's first goal of the game from a penalty during the FA Cup fifth round match between Newcastle United and Brighton and Hove Albion at St James' Park, Newcastle, England, Sunday, March 2, 2025. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
Brighton and Hove Albion's Danny Welbeck, right, scores their side's second goal during the FA Cup fifth round match between Newcastle United and Brighton and Hove Albion at St James' Park, Newcastle, England, Sunday, March 2, 2025. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
Brighton and Hove Albion's Danny Welbeck, centre, celebrates with teammates after scoring their side's second goal during the FA Cup fifth round match between Newcastle United and Brighton and Hove Albion at St James' Park, Newcastle, England, Sunday, March 2, 2025. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
