The Chicago Bears added a playmaker in tight end Colston Loveland with the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft one of the top tight ends in this year's class came at a selection when many believed that Chicago could be targeting a player in the trenches or a running back New head coach Ben Johnson gets a shiny new weapon to utilize in his offense in Loveland a highly-regarded receiving threat who set a school record at tight end for the Michigan Wolverines with 56 receptions last season Loveland will create a dynamic duo alongside veteran Cole Kmet and the two will just be more receiving threats for quarterback Caleb Williams Johnson explained why Loveland was their target at the 10th overall pick "With Colston it starts more with the person than the player," Johnson said He stands for high football character and IQ When we went to Michigan everyone was raving about him The stage was never too bright for LaPorta and I felt that same thing with Colston the first time I met him and where we are going in this organization we need guys who are going to rise up to the occasion and he's going to do that for us." Getting both an outstanding player and a great person off the field shows that this Bears regime is making character an important trait needed for the future Loveland is going to have quite the opportunity to make an impact as a rookie and Johnson will have no problem exploiting matchups for him in this new-look Bears offense Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram Whether it's first-round pick Colston Loveland or second-round picks Luther Burden III the Bears will get meaningful reps from their 2025 draft class in Year 1 Even NFL executives agree that the Bears did well, as The Athletic's Mike Sando pointed out in a recent article featuring execs' unfiltered thoughts on the 2025 NFL Draft “Loveland is going to catch a million balls,” an executive told Sando and he’s bigger — two inches taller and another 10 pounds They will have an 11 personnel package with Burden in the slot and the 12 package when Burden is off the field with Loveland and Kmet on the field Loveland enjoyed a late surge up the first-round order despite trailing Penn State's Tyler Warren in the pre-draft tight end rankings for most of the season it was Loveland who was the most coveted player at his position Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images“I like what they have done and I’ve been skeptical of the Bears in the past,” another executive said “The tight end (Colston Loveland) is a really good player The sleeper in the bunch is that (Ozzy) Trapilo kid in the second round They have upgraded in a lot of ways this offseason.” The excitement around the Chicago Bears felt like it reached an all-time high last year after the selections of Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze we've surpassed that in the 2025 offseason Perhaps it's a result of seeing enough flashes from Williams to know he is a stud And now that he'll be mentored by Ben Johnson and play behind a competent offensive line and has the class of 2025 weapons at his disposal The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit If you or someone you know has a gambling problem crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER playColston Loveland's NFL resume (0:50)Check out some of the numbers that make Michigan's Colston Loveland a tight end coveted by the Chicago Bears LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Two days before he was drafted with the 10th pick by the Chicago Bears, Colston Loveland was back home in Gooding Loveland and his brothers venture down the road to their aunt and uncle's farm nestled in the southern Idaho town of 3,800 for an annual cattle branding It's a job they'd do in groups to make for efficient work to brand loved these days because it meant they got to skip school The experience this time around wasn't nearly as intense is three months removed from having surgery to repair the AC joint in his right shoulder which the Bears believe will not hold him back from training camp There were another 500 people down the street waiting to celebrate the moment Loveland became the fourth and is believed to be the highest draft pick ever from Idaho because not only can you see it when he catches the ball but when he blocks 'Have you ever put up wire fence in Idaho before?'" Bears GM Ryan Poles recalled "He's been doing some labor that kind of makes him who he is The 6-foot-5, 245-pound Loveland had 56 receptions, including five for TDs, last season. Both numbers were the second highest in the Big Ten, behind Penn State's Tyler Warren (104-8), who went No. 14 to the Indianapolis Colts that helps separate him from other tight ends "All of the things we are trying to build here he encompasses that as a person," Bears senior director of player personnel Jeff King said you talk about the cover of the album being your first pick FORMER WOLVERINES COACH Jim Harbaugh visited Gooding in December 2021 after Loveland had committed to Michigan He stayed the night at Loveland's grandparents' home and went through a 7:30 a.m workout with the tight end the next morning in his trademark khaki slacks who was the OL coach and co-offensive coordinator in 2021 described the strategy of recruiting Idaho as "mining for gold," and Loveland starting paying dividends his first season Loveland's first Michigan touchdown came on the road against Ohio State where the Wolverines hadn't won since 2000 and trailed 20-17 early in the third quarter Quarterback J.J. McCarthy faked a handoff to a receiver in motion before launching a 45-yard pass that Loveland caught over his left shoulder the freshman turned to the crowd of 106,787 and put his finger to his lips "The thing that stood out the most: not only did he leave the defender in the dust but shushing the crowd right after," Moore said "I thought that was an epic moment for a freshman to catch that and not even blink." While watching McCarthy, who ended up going to the Minnesota Vikings with the 10th pick in 2024 trying to find ways to get him the ball because we knew how talented he was and how much of a playmaker and a mismatch," Moore said and I think quarterbacks always feel that comfort with really good tight ends that can bail them out especially in third-down situations and big-play situations." Loveland was McCarthy's second-favorite weapon behind Roman Wilson and led the Wolverines in receiving yards (64) in the national championship game in 2023 His stats weren't as eye-popping as Warren's due to Michigan's run-oriented offense (which Poles said is a testament to Loveland's blocking being "way better than people realize") but Loveland was targeted on 41% of his routes in 2024 which was the highest mark by any FBS tight end Loveland's pass catching ability was one of the reasons the Bears chose him at No He had 56 catches and 5 receiving TDs last season both were the second-most among Big Ten tight ends after Penn State's Tyler Warren (104-8). AP Photo/Paul Sancya FileDespite playing with a rotating cast of quarterbacks last year as a junior Loveland's production remained steady (56 catches How did you handle working with a younger quarterback or somebody who you didn't maybe have the greatest chemistry or the same chemistry you had the year before "And how he responded to that was really mature and it showed good awareness It showed him being a team guy more than just him and his stats." NOT LONG BEFORE Loveland turned 21 on April 9 he got a chance to meet face-to-face with his new head coach during Michigan's pro day Johnson asked Loveland about his favorite tight ends "You remind me a lot of him," Johnson told Loveland "Obviously we did a lot of things with LaPorta .. I can see you doing a lot of those things as well." LaPorta developed into Detroit's third-leading receiver with 146 catches for 1,615 yards and 17 TDs "That was pretty cool to hear," Loveland said "And obviously now seeing it all come full circle I know [Johnson is] great and he's going to do great for Chicago." Johnson also was quick to point out that Loveland's makeup is more than just his on-field contributions Loveland was joined by his brothers Cayden (left) and Cash during his introductory news conference. AP Photo/Matt Marton"I do see a lot of comparisons to LaPorta because with LaPorta the stage was never too big or too bright," Johnson said "I felt that same thing with Colston the first time I met him and as we talk about where we're going as an organization and we're going to be playing in these big games with the bright lights we need guys that are going to rise up to the occasion the former Alabama coach turned college football analyst who lost out on Loveland in a recruiting battle called Loveland "the best receiver of all the tight ends in the draft." Having Loveland in the mix will allow Johnson to continue to run a high percentage of plays out of 12 personnel (1 RB which he did at the third-highest rate in the NFL during his final season in Detroit is to have a physical brand of football but also be creative and do some things that are going to put teams in a pickle," Poles said It's why when Johnson got on the phone on draft night he told Loveland: "You're exactly what we're looking for." Bass Pro Shops is angling to open in Northern Colorado The outdoor sporting goods retailer has started construction on a 129,000--square-foot store directly northeast of the Crossroads Boulevard and Interstate 25 interchange, according to the city of Loveland's planning division Its site is located across the interstate from Thunder Mountain Harley-Davidson and near Ruben's Grill + Cantina The company currently has three locations in Colorado It also has two Cabela's stores ― Bass Pro Shops acquired Cabela's in 2017 Bass Pro Shops didn't respond to the Coloradoan's questions about the project and its planned opening timeline as of 4 p.m Want to see more stories like this? Subscribe to The Buzz, the Coloradoan's new weekly dive into local business, development, real estate and restaurant news. Broncos head coach Sean Payton discussed Jeanty in his press conference following the draft as an obvious talent and someone who became unrealistic for Denver to acquire given where he was drafted Looking to “fall in love” with a back other than Jeanty the buzz leading up to draft day was that Denver was aggressively trying to move up and add the dynamic Boise State running back Most reports coming after the draft suggest that as soon as Jeanty went at No However, NFL insider Ian Rapaport suggests that it wasn’t just Jeanty that the Broncos had interest in moving up for on Thursday. On an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show Rapaport connected some dots and implied that the Broncos were also aggressively trying to move up and obtain former Michigan tight end Colston Loveland in the first round before the Chicago Bears selected him I’m starting to hear that a couple of teams are really The teams that I heard were the Texans were and the Broncos were And no one is ever going to tell you who they’re trying to trade up for because they don’t want anyone taking them The only thing I can tell is that when the calls stopped," Rapoport said via McAfee "If you’re trying to trade up for someone and then all of a sudden the calls stop well then obviously you were trying to trade up for that guy ' And I don’t know specifically those teams are trying to trade up for him because there were some others that people liked.” What happens next on the Broncos beat? Don't miss out on any news and analysis! Take a second, sign up for our free newsletter, and get breaking Broncos news delivered to your inbox daily! Rapaport did not specifically state that the Broncos were attempting to move up for Loveland and lost interest after he was off the board (as well as Jeanty) but there was ample smoke prior to last week’s festivities that Denver might have some interest in the first tight end off the board 9NEWS' Mike Klis had been linking Denver to the Wolverine leading up to last Thursday and NFL insider Daniel Jeremiah actually mocked the Broncos trading up to pick 13 in a trade with the Miami Dolphins to take Loveland before the tight-end-starved and heavily linked Indianapolis Colts were on the clock at No Did the Broncos actually attempt to move up for Loveland did Denver’s overtures to move up dry as soon as Jeanty’s name was called Only those in the building and the key decision-makers in Dove Valley can say for sure took one of their top-ranked players (who plays a premium position) who fell to them in Jahdae Barron at 20 and later executed a plan to manipulate the board and walk away with three additional players over Rounds 2 and 3 Thanks to the signing of tight end Evan Engram in free agency the Broncos were not desperate for a tight end and did not feel forced to trade up for one or reach beyond the value the team deemed worthwhile Sean Payton won’t be able to help himself with the Broncos making an aggressive move up and whether it was Jeanty and/or Loveland Denver desired Only time will tell which direction would have been the right decision for the Broncos Earlier this week we asked which Michigan player had the best landing spot in the NFL Draft Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NCAA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Michigan Wolverines fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys Earlier this week we asked fans which Michigan player selected in the 2025 NFL Draft has the best fit with their new team The results are in and there’s a clear cut winner Loveland receiving the most votes should come as no surprise — he will be joining a new look Chicago Bears offense under new head coach Ben Johnson. Johnson had tremendous success as the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator and Loveland will be paired with 2024 No. 1 overall pick, quarterback Caleb Williams. Loveland said his first reaction when being drafted by the Bears was “Oh yeah In our national SB Nation Reacts survey we asked which quarterback will have the best rookie season New York Giants QB Jaxson Dart received 42% of the vote he’ll have to leapfrog Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston on the depth chart Brought to you by FanDuel With the Chicago Bears adding two potentially dynamic pass catchers with their first two picks of the 2025 NFL Draft the “too many mouths to feed” narrative has already rubbed some fans the wrong way We’re just a year from the “race to a thousand yards” battle that never materialized No trophies are handed out for “winning the offseason,” but it sure beats the alternative I’ve cheered for teams that have zero expectations — and I’m sure some of you have too — and I’d rather have some positive offseason vibes than a feeling of dread Drafting Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III was unexpected but they have tremendous upside in Ben Johnson’s offense An offense that most of us were excited about before the draft so I’m even more excited about seeing what Johnson will cook up for Caleb Williams and company now you guys voted for which rookie would get more receiving yards Since I’m curious about everyone’s expectations for these two SB Nation Reacts is a survey of fans across the NFL, and throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Chicago Bears fans and fans across the country. You can sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys He profiles as the kind of mismatch that coach Ben Johnson will use to his advantage in the passing game which could lead to big numbers for the first-year tight end But will he have a big enough impact to challenge for rookie of the year According to ESPN NFL analyst Ben Solak, the answer is no "Despite Colston Loveland (Bears) and Tyler Warren (Colts) being top-14 picks I can't put them anywhere near the top of these rankings Bowers just produced what is truly the best receiving season by a rookie tight end in the history of the game and garnered exactly one first-place vote," Solak wrote "Even if this year's quarterback class is far worse it's almost inconceivable that either Loveland or Warren will have a better season than Bowers just did so the enthusiasm to vote for them over a productive receiver or running back won't be there." Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesBowers' season in 2024 was historic and Solak makes a great point: If that kind of production didn't put up a fight for rookie of the year then there's almost no way Loveland will have a shot at the hardware in 2025 Unlike Bowers' situation with the Raiders last year Loveland will have significant target competition in Chicago The Bears are loaded with playmakers in DJ Moore Bowers' rookie season was highlighted by an incredible 153 targets the sixth-most in the NFL for all pass catchers (including wide receivers) the only -- option in the Raiders' passing game Loveland won't come anywhere close to that target total and it would be a stunning turn of events if he topped Bowers' 1,194 yards and five touchdowns Solak has Loveland ranked 14th in his NFL Rookie of the Year projections one spot ahead of Tyler Warren and one spot behind Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson It's a fair ranking for a player whose impact on the field will be measured by wins and losses The hosts of NFL Draft Kickoff give three bold predictions for Round 1 tonight Just hours before the 2025 NFL Draft kicks off in Green Bay here is my fourth and final Round 1 projection I'm predicting two trades -- and they both involve the New Orleans Saints Programming note: Tune in for live coverage of Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft beginning at 8 p.m The Titans draft their third quarterback over the last four years in an attempt to find The Guy at the most important position on the field There might be teams sniffing around this spot to see if the Browns will move out but it doesn't matter: The reigning Heisman Trophy winner heads to Cleveland There is no way New York passes on a player of Abdul Carter's ability to draft one of the quarterbacks not named Cam Ward I'm sure New England would be more than happy to trade out of this spot, but unless someone's dying to fly up the board for RB Ashton Jeanty The Patriots are in desperate need of a left tackle and Campbell's demeanor meshes well with Mike Vrabel's mentality Getting the most out of Trevor Lawrence (and his massive contract) tops Jacksonville's priority list Jeanty takes an enormous burden off the quarterback's shoulders as a bell-cow back capable of taking over games This is a rough year for offensive tackles so the Raiders strike early in the trenches Despite needing a right tackle, the Jets pass on Armand Membou to grab Warren, who gives them a catch/block talent to pair with Justin Fields and the running game \"GMFB\" debates is Penn State Nittany Lions tight end Tyler Warren the best receiver in the 2025 NFL Draft Carolina races the card up to land a hybrid edge/linebacker talent with tremendous leadership and football character The Colts don't risk missing out on the dynamic tight end out of Michigan moving into the top 10 to secure his services Loveland can become a highly targeted option for whomever ends up starting at quarterback who offers explosiveness and physicality in the backfield The defensive tackle with the non-stop motor steps right into playing time with the 49ers 12 allows the Cowboys to pluck the talented right tackle and plug him in quickly Nolen is the best defensive tackle in the draft Williams is an ascending player who may require some patience as he keeps growing into his frame and game Stewart is an unpolished edge with rare athletic traits and measurables but Atlanta decides to swing for the fences at an eternal area of need Edge rusher Shemar Stewart joins \"Good Morning Football\" to discuss his journey ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft Arizona's hat-on-hat running game appears to covet force over finesse He's a good guard but an even better team leader and culture setter The Bengals will shop for another pass rusher at some point, but it's a deep draft class at that position. The priority is to protect Joe Burrow and Zabel is a natural fit with guard/center flexibility The signings of Cooper Kupp and Marquez Valdes-Scantling will not prevent the Seahawks from adding a talented wideout to help smooth the transition for Sam Darnold Tampa takes the most versatile defensive back in this draft providing unique matchup opportunities for Todd Bowles Denver has found its quarterback to build around in Bo Nix so the front office continues to surround him with weapons including an instant starter in the slot in Egbuka This is feeling more and more likely -- unless someone jumps the Steelers Mike Tomlin seems like the right fit for Sanders but it'd be interesting to see how quickly Pittsburgh would bring along the quarterback In keeping with the tradition I have set in every mock draft I've completed for 2025 Jim Harbaugh's Chargers take a Michigan Wolverine at a position of need It's Jordan Love's lucky day as one of the best receivers in the draft falls right into the Packers' lap at No With so many quality defensive backs still on the board but I'll give them the speedster out of Kentucky to instantly compete for starting reps The Texans already added competition at guard this offseason but Jackson's a starting-caliber player who offers good athletic ability championship pedigree and a boost to Houston's interior pass protection Campbell is still getting his feet under him as a linebacker but he has tremendous range and outstanding cover skills he's a dangerous rusher off the edge or as a blitzer Harmon is close to a perfect fit for what the Ravens like up front both in terms of size and the way he plays the run General manager Brad Holmes usually covets players from big-time programs early in the draft but this Marshall product is an ultra-productive edge rusher with the nasty field demeanor that Dan Campbell typically loves In keeping with the theme of grabbing help for young the Commanders turn to the explosive Buckeye who can give Washington's offense an extra punch on the ground or out of the backfield as a pass catcher With the Giants sitting in front of them in the second round, the Saints swap with the Bills to land a quarterback who can compete for reps right away with the injury to Derek Carr University of Mississippi Rebels Quarterback He has the best size/length/athleticism profile at the left tackle position in this entire draft which could be too much for Andy Reid and Brett Veach to pass on giving Philadelphia a right tackle of the future who can slide inside and compete for a job at guard in the meantime With Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft in the books Eric Edholm projects how Rounds 2 and 3 will play out on Friday night Where do high-profile prospects like Michigan CB Will Johnson and Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders land In his second and final mock of the 2025 NFL Draft Dan Parr predicts an early run on offensive linemen -- with one guard cracking the top 10 the 49ers and Eagles land steals on the defensive side of the ball In his fourth and final mock of the 2025 NFL Draft Daniel Jeremiah predicts two teams will trade up for help on offense including one squad that makes a move for a quarterback Charles Davis projects only one quarterback coming off the board in Round 1 the Super Bowl champion Eagles select a tight end Bucky Brooks has the Pittsburgh Steelers drafting their quarterback of the future the Cowboys and Broncos add backfield help In his third and final mock of the 2025 NFL Draft Eric Edholm projects FOUR quarterbacks will hear their names called on Thursday night running back Ashton Jeanty goes in the top five In his first and only seven-round mock of the 2025 NFL Draft Chad Reuter forecasts some big surprises in the top 10 and five first-round trades Chad Reuter predicts two quarterbacks will come off the board in Round 2 Chad Reuter projects the Giants will spend both of their picks on offense in Round 3 Chad Reuter predicts a wide receiver run to start Round 4 with the Steelers finding a new quarterback later in the round with a few Northern Colorado markets popping back up in early May locally made crafts and more at the following markets Markets are listed in order of their start dates Danil Gushchin scored 27 seconds into overtime to give San Jose a 2-1 win over Colorado in Game 2 of their best-of-five Pacific Division semifinal at Tech CU Arena on Sunday evening the series now heads to Colorado to determine a winner Eagles defenseman Calle Rosén scored a power-play goal with 6:47 to play in the second period to break a scoreless deadlock, and Pavol Regenda picked up the Barracuda’s second shorthanded goal of the series less than five minutes later to tie the game back up Yaroslav Askarov (2-1) made 27 saves in the win for San Jose Miner (1-1) finished with 34 stops for Colorado BEST-OF-FIVE DIVISIONAL SEMIFINAL (COL LEADS 1-0) 2025 | 6:00 PM | TECH CU ARENA |  SAN JOSE Sunday Service: After dropping Game One of their best-of-five Divisional Semifinal series 6–3 to the Colorado Eagles on Friday the series continues on Sunday with Game Two Since the Pacific Division's inception in 2015–16 a number one seed has never lost its opening-round series While the Barracuda have never faced the Eagles in the Calder Cup Playoffs they did eliminate Colorado 5–1 in a Pacific Division play-in game on May 19 Colorado Cooking: Since joining the AHL in 2018-19 the Colorado Eagles have qualified for the postseason in all six seasons it has been held The Avs affiliate earned a first-round bye this year after posting a franchise-best 94 points (43-21-5-3 The Avs affiliate led the AHL during the regular season in goals per game (3.47) and ranked fourth in goals against (2.57) Colorado also finished with the league’s best home record (26-6-2-2 .778%) and held the top goal differential at +60 at home The Eagles have three players on their roster with Calder Cup rings (T.J Familiar Face: Eagles defenseman and former Sharks/Barracuda blueliner Jacob MacDonald had a record-breaking 2024-25 campaign scoring 31 goals—the most by a defenseman in the AHL’s 89-year history MacDonald was named the league's Eddie Shore winner as top defenseman MacDonald collected a pair of assists on Friday after recording eight points (5+3=8) in seven games during the regular season Asky Basky: Goaltender Yaroslav Askarov was stellar in the opening round going 2-0 with a 0.50 goals-against average he became the first Barracuda goalie to record a Calder Cup Playoff shutout since Troy Grosenick on May 13 the 22-year-old is 10-9 with a 2.61 GAA and a .904 save percentage Askarov went 0-4 versus the Eagles during the regular season but is 2-5 lifetime Playoff Punch: The Barracuda are back in the playoffs for the first time since the 2020–21 season and return to the Calder Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2018–19 SJB’s sweep of the Reign was the first sweep in franchise history Do the Cagn Cagn: Twenty-year-old defenseman Luca Cagnoni finished just three points shy of the AHL’s defenseman scoring title The rookie rearguard led all skaters in power-play points (24) and tied for fourth in power-play goals (11) he ranked third in both points and goals (16) native set new franchise records this season in goals and power-play goals by a defenseman In addition to his time with the Barracuda Cagnoni skated in six games with the Sharks During his three WHL seasons with the Portland Winterhawks he notched 23 points (5+18–23) in 33 playoff games Barracuda forward Andrew Poturalski was named the AHL’s Les Cunningham Award Winner as AHL MVP after leading the league in scoring during the regular season Poturalski is just the third player in league history to pace the league in scoring three different times joining AHL Hall of Famers Bill Sweeney (1960–63) and Peter White (1994–98) who also led the league in scoring in 2020–21 and 2021–22 finished the season with a league-best 73 points—including a career-high 30 goals—in just 59 games He also recorded one assist in three NHL games with the Sharks Poturalski is a two-time Calder Cup winner (Charlotte 2019 Chicago 2022) and reached the Finals in both 2023 and 2024 with Coachella Valley His 30 goals and 72 points are both Barracuda single-season records Poturalski has been out since late March with a lower-body injury Dan the Man: The 2024–25 season was a breakout year for third-year pro Danil Gushchin and shooting percentage (12.8%).  From March 7 to March 28 he recorded points in nine straight games—the second-longest streak in team history he also scored in five straight (March 16–26) tying John McCarthy’s franchise record Gushchin is the Barracuda’s all-time leader in points (150) His 14 power-play goals this season not only set a franchise record but also led the league helping San Jose finish the regular season with the AHL’s top power play (24.0%) Gushchin missed both round one games with an illness but made his Calder Cup playoff debut on Friday Powering Up: The Barracuda finished the regular season with a league-best 24.0% success rate on the power play Danil Gushchin led the AHL in power-play goals (14) while Andrew Poturalski finished tied for second (13) Luca Cagnoni led the league in power-play points (34) The Barracuda also led the league in power plays drawn (287) and total power-play goals (69)—a new single-season franchise record During the regular season against Colorado Bursting Pipes: The Barracuda used eight players during the 2024–25 season who were drafted by the organization including four picks in the last two years (Luca Cagnoni Seventeen players split time between the Sharks and Barracuda including U23 skaters Yaroslav Askarov (G) Nearly two weeks after wrapping up their regular season the Colorado Eagles won their Calder Cup Playoffs opener on Friday night a 6-3 victory over San Jose at Tech CU Arena The best-of-five Pacific Division semifinal series continues Sunday in San Jose Jayson Megna (2g, 1a) and Tye Felhaber (1g, 2a) tallied three points each for the Eagles, and Trent Miner made 25 saves in his first career AHL postseason start, including a point-blank stop on Filip Bystedt’s attempt to tie the game with less than two minutes to play Bystedt did tally a shorthanded goal earlier in the game, and Collin Graf and Colin White cut a 4-1 deficit down to 4-3 with goals late in regulation Yaroslav Askarov (2-1) stopped 18 of 22 shots for the Barracuda who were playing in front of a capacity crowd for their first playoff game ever at Tech CU Arena Their most recent postseason home game was in 2019 at their previous home The San Jose Barracuda played game one of round two of the team’s playoff series against the Colorado Eagles but it wasn’t the start they had hoped for a relentless Colorado power play and two empty-net goals sealed the deal for the visitors as the Eagles skated away with a 6–3 win at Tech CU Arena LETS ROLLLLLL📸📺 @FloHockey – https://t.co/IXGE1JzS0H🎙️ @SharksAudioNet – https://t.co/BQkJuKGQRL pic.twitter.com/OJtx6f1YmR outshooting Colorado 12–6 in the first period and generating consistent pressure in the offensive zone The Eagles eventually capitalized when Calle Rosén opened the scoring at 16:16 on a setup from Jayson Megna and Matthew Phillips It was a soft goal on a night when those were costly This is where things got away from San Jose Just one minute into a Colorado power play Chris Wagner doubled the Eagles’ lead at 3:02 with a blast from the slot Poetry on ice#EaglesCountry #TimeToFly25 pic.twitter.com/IEdgPgH2oH With the rebound and a flick of the wrist, Megna makes it 3!#EaglesCountry #TimeToFly25 pic.twitter.com/VliNTlhBMs The ‘Cuda finally got on the board with a shorthanded effort by Filip Bystedt FILIP BYSTEDT BREAKAWAY GOAL🗣️ pic.twitter.com/oxlplT6U7H With just over two minutes left in the frame John Ludvig walked into space and beat Yaroslav Askarov with Colorado converting on their power play chances Ludvig gets his own rebound and scores through traffic!#EaglesCountry #TimeToFly25 pic.twitter.com/RUIxRGGz3X San Jose showed some fight down the stretch Collin Graf scored his second of the playoffs midway through the third to make it 4–2 pic.twitter.com/gV5QwUVTvA pic.twitter.com/av0tpoElr2 Megna and Tye Felhaber iced it with a pair of empty-netters in the final 90 seconds Eagles' empty net goal scored by #21 Megna at 18:29 into the third!COL 5 // 3 SJ ANOTHER EMPTY NETTER! pic.twitter.com/MYU5tml2uP Bystedt was one of the bright spots for the Barracuda in this game scoring a slick shorthanded goal that gave the team life in the second period he talked about the team’s approach and the energy on the ice “We’re trying to score more goals than any other team,” Bystedt said While the Barracuda struggled to convert early opportunities the game plan remains focused on aggressive puck movement and creating chances in tight.  “It’s hard for any team to defend that we’re gonna get more chances too,” he added Bystedt’s goal came during a critical penalty kill where he jumped on a loose puck along the boards and beat the goaltender “They just put it down a little bit soft on the wall Playing in front of a packed house at Tech CU Arena Bystedt acknowledged how special the playoff stage felt “That’s the moment you want to be out there for and get the crowd going cheering and score goals he emphasized the importance of team defense.  pointing to the details that can make or break tight playoff games Bystedt’s confidence and poise were evident both on the ice and in his postgame reflections and he’ll be a key player to watch as the Barracuda look to bounce back in game two Filip Bystedt addresses the media following tonight's game pic.twitter.com/Hazu9lBVFx Barracuda Head Coach John McCarthy didn’t sugarcoat his thoughts after Friday’s 6–3 game one loss to the Eagles We can’t be having these breakdowns now,” McCarthy said Despite a strong start in terms of puck possession the Barracuda struggled with execution and gave the Eagles too many high-quality chances McCarthy made it clear that the team didn’t come into the game just hoping to compete “We’re coming here expecting to win the game We know what we can do in that locker room and we gotta come out and show it on Sunday,” he stated.  A recurring theme in McCarthy’s message was the importance of building momentum one shift at a time you’re not going to score three goals in one shift,” he explained With the team taking untimely penalties and giving up two power-play goals underlining the small details that can swing tight games McCarthy’s tone reflected the stakes of playoff hockey The Barracuda (1-for-6) and Eagles (1-for-5) earned 11 total power-play opportunities in the game between the two teams "That game was kind of the series," said Collin Graf " We didn't want to go to Colorado down 0-2.” Bystedt successfully fed the puck across to Schuldt but Miner stood tall to keep the game scoreless and then flattening Polin again as he regained control of the puck The Barracuda outshot Colorado 14-6 in the period "[Regenda] had one shift where he had those two big hits," said Barracuda Head Coach John McCarthy going in first for loose pucks type of physicality that he's shown He's willing to go to the net-front and get inside obviously he's the power-play net front guy Has done a lot of good things from a physical standpoint." who picked the top corner past Askarov to break the stalemate But with less than two minutes left in the middle period and the Eagles enjoying their third power play, Pavol Regenda forced former Shark Jacob MacDonald into a turnover That led to a two-on-none give and go with Colin White who deftly fed the puck back to Regenda and he buried it top shelf past Miner both teams traded chances with the shot count in favor of the Barracuda 13-8 Colorado nearly had the go-ahead goal from a shot by MacDonald the puck was deemed not to have crossed the line and the Barracuda earned their sixth power-play of the evening Askarov made one save on the man-advantage to keep the game even at one and helped force overtime The overtime game was the first time San Jose needed the extra frames to settle the score 2019 at San Diego in the Division Semifinals San Jose started on the power-play with 1:12 left from the penalty by Stephens and just 27 seconds in the extra frame Gushchin sealed the game with the team’s lone power-play strike to even the series passed across the slot to Graf who gave it right back to him and with a backhanded shot at the top of the crease the puck squeezed by Miner after glancing off of Wagner's skate who registered his fifth point in the playoffs love that we got the two points," said McCarthy "Power-play stepped up big there at the end." Musty appeared in his first career AHL Calder Cup Playoff game BOX SCORE The page you've requested either does not exist or is currently unavailable Back to the homepage – San Jose forward Collin Graf scored a power-play goal just 27 seconds into overtime to give the Barracuda a 2-1 victory over the Colorado Eagles on Sunday San Jose registered a power-play goal and a shorthanded tally in the winning effort while goalie Yaroslav Askarov claimed the victory in net Defenseman Calle Rosén scored Colorado’s lone goal The first period would see each team go 0-for-1 on the power play as San Jose outshot the Eagles 14-6 in the opening frame and the two teams left for the first intermission with the contest still scoreless After opening the second period by successfully killing off a four-minute double minor to Tye Felhaber and a subsequent two-minute minor to John Ludvig the Eagles would finally earn their first crack on the power play in the middle frame Rosen would take advantage of the opportunity when he lit the lamp with a shot from the right-wing circle giving Colorado a 1-0 edge at the 13:13 mark The Eagles would go back on the power play just minutes later but this time the Barracuda would turn the tables on Colorado A turnover at the blue line would send San Jose on a 2-on-0 shorthanded rush which forward Pavol Regenda would finish from the low slot evening the score at 1-1 with 1:48 remaining in the second stanza Still deadlocked at 1-1 as the puck dropped on the third period the Eagles thought they buried the go-ahead goal on a wrap-around effort from forward Jason Polin it was eventually waved off and the game remained tied With 60 minutes not enough to decide a winner the game would shift to overtime for the first time in the series Miner would shut down a shot from the low slot from Danil Gushchin Colorado finished the night going 1-for-5 on the power play and 5-for-6 on the penalty kill The Eagles will be back in action when they take on the San Jose Barracuda in Game Three of the Pacific Division Semifinals on Tuesday Playoff tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at ColoradoEagles.com or by calling or texting the Eagles ticket office at (970) 686-SHOT Tight end Colston Loveland, the Bears' first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, talks with ChicagoBears.com about growing up on a farm in Idaho how many messages he received on draft night and why his family inspires him the most First thing you think of when you hear Chicago Where did your football fandom lie growing up Three or four people at my party were lifelong Bears fans "run the dang ball." I kind of like that vibe Just being so secluded and away from everything What was your main chore on the farm growing up Literally just picking rocks out of the fields What's the most underrated thing about Idaho But I think only in Idaho and Utah they do it What does it take to be successful at that I was only riding calves and steers growing up I used to work on a pheasant farm when I was 11 years old and I had to go and put blinders on them and feed 'em You've gotta put blinders so they don't peck at each other How many messages did you get on draft night They've sacrificed so much and done so much for me that they just inspire me — how hard they work and everything they do What are you looking forward to doing or seeing in Chicago Any food you're looking to try in the city Edwards signed a two-year contract extension with the team last Thursday Learn more about the seven-year pro and core member of the defense as he sits down with ChicagoBears.com to discuss his favorite memory as a Bears fan and player his "dynamic" ability as a high school quarterback and more New Bears offensive lineman Jonah Jackson talks with ChicagoBears.com about his skateboarding prowess New Bears defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo talks with ChicagoBears.com about his first NFL sack New Bears center Drew Dalman talks with ChicagoBears.com about what it's like to block Grady Jarrett his hobbies outside of football and much more New Bears defensive tackle and 11-year veteran Grady Jarrett talks with ChicagoBears.com about the most memorable sacks of his career New Bears offensive lineman and four-time Super Bowl champion Joe Thuney talks with ChicagoBears.com about seeing LeBron James play in high school 28 that special teams coordinator Richard Hightower would be staying with the team under new head coach Ben Johnson Get a deeper look at who Hightower is on and off the field as he talks with ChicagoBears.com about his favorite athletes growing up where his passion for special teams stemmed from The Bears welcomed new defensive coordinator and longtime NFL coach Dennis Allen to Chicago last week Learn more about the best moment in his coaching career who is the most famous person in his contacts and more The Bears welcomed new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle to Chicago last week Learn more about the Iowa native and former Broncos tight ends coach as he talks with ChicagoBears.com about his ideal day in Chicago The Bears welcomed new head coach Ben Johnson and his family to Chicago this week Learn more about the North Carolina native former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator and University of North Carolina football alum as he talks with ChicagoBears.com about his "welcome to the NFL" coaching moment Get to know Bears 2024 Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee Andrew Billings as he talks with ChicagoBears.com about his foundation He's a high-character person and an exceptional talent the offense can use all over the field Pairing Loveland with head coach and innovative play-caller like Ben Johnson is the best thing to get the most out of his game at the next level And working in the room with a seasoned veteran and team leader like Cole Kmet is even better While serving as the Detroit Lions' offensive coordinator Johnson deployed multiple 2-TE sets each week throughout the season and already as the plan in place for how he will use both Loveland and Kmet in 2025 In an exclusive interview on ChicagoBears.com new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle shared more about how that will look for Loveland and the true impact he can have for this offense right out of the gate Loveland is a major mismatch in the passing game and his ability as a blocker can allow him to play on all three downs That doesn't mean Kmet won't be used but Loveland is going to play a high number of snaps as a rookie One of the things that made general manager Ryan Poles gravitate toward selecting Loveland 10th overall was his "infectious energy" and that's something Doyle offered more explicit detail about Making those kind of plays will fire up an entire sideline much less the effect it can have on the offense Loveland is going to be a major contributor for this team and the energy level he can spark will be unmatched 2Y4KG54 Michigan tight end Colston Loveland (18) maneuvers against Arkansas State safety Justin Parks during an NCAA football game on Saturday PFF’s Fantasy Football Player Profile series delivers the most in-depth fantasy football analysis available for the 2025 season competition for touches and how teammates and coaching staffs will impact each player's fantasy football outlook Michigan‘s run-heavy offense limited Loveland’s routes The Wolverines often had a significant lead by the fourth quarter which limited Loveland’s playing time in those games he was nearly perfect in every way except crossing routes He also didn’t perform well in contested catch situations At least part of the reason he’s lower is volume as his 2.22 yards per route run is fourth-best and better than fellow potential first-round tight end Warren Loveland’s separation rate was in the 96th percentile among tight ends over the last two seasons He has the talent to be a top-12 fantasy tight end as a rookie Loveland is expected to be the featured tight end in the Chicago Bears‘ offense. Chicago has long-time starter Cole Kmet but Kmet was part of a previous regime and had a down season last year The Bears' regime last season also didn’t think Kmet should be a Week 1 starter A team doesn’t pick a player with a top-10 pick without expecting them to be in a feature role We can still expect to see plenty of Kmet in two tight end sets but that won’t be enough to make Kmet fantasy-relevant while other teams use them extensively because they don’t want their top tight end off the field Even when Loveland is on the field, there will be significant competition for targets. D.J. Moore, Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III round out the wide receiver room Loveland was selected by Chicago ahead of Burden and the other two players arrived in Chicago with a previous regime If there is one player in this offense who is safe to get targets Johnson also typically runs a lot of plays and has a high points-per-game total. All optimism on the offense hinges on Caleb Williams’ development Williams had three games this season with an offensive grade above 80.0 but ended the season with a passing grade below 60.0 in five of his final six games The former first overall pick has an entirely re-worked offensive line and multiple new receivers to throw to so he’s being given every opportunity to succeed Williams' willingness to throw deep targets more than most quarterbacks could lead to some big plays by Loveland LaPorta led all tight ends in deep receiving yards last season so Johnson knows how to draw up deep shots to the tight end position Loveland has all of the makings of the next elite fantasy tight end. Ben Johnson’s offense needs to work out, and Caleb Williams needs to take a step forward for Loveland to get there it’s reasonable to be optimistic about Loveland’s production as a rookie This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page.