A new ball game: Avs players turn to tennis in offseason, ‘hot topic’ rages over who rules on court

DENVER (AP) — Colorado Avalanche players have discovered a new ball game in the offseason, turning to tennis to maintain their competitive edge. Martin Necas, a forward, is one of several Avalanche players with a strong tennis game, joining Brock Nelson, Nicolas Roy, Artturi Lehkonen, Nazem Kadri, Devon Toews, and Cale Makar. The players often practice at a tennis club, local high school, nearby park, or even at defenseman Brent Burns' home.

Necas, who attended Wimbledon this summer, credits Alex Ovechkin and Rafael Nadal as his childhood idols. While they enjoy the sport, there is a "hot topic" debate among teammates about who is the best player on the team.