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FBI probing threats against Islanders player

Defenseman Nick Leddy has been the subject of social-media threats.

THE FBI is investigating social-media threats made against New York Islanders defenseman

Nick Leddy.

FBI spokesman J. Peter Donald confirmed the investigation in an email yesterday to the Associated Press.

Islanders spokesman Kimber Auerbach said Leddy and his family are safe and the NHL has been alerted to the situation.

Newsday reported that a now-suspended Twitter account posted pictures of Leddy's Minnesota driver's license and a credit card. It also made violent threats against him.

The Twitter account had been posting harassing photos of Leddy, a teammate and others in recent months.

The 24-year-old signed a 7-year, $38.5 million contract extension Feb. 24.

In other NHL news:

* The NHL's motion to dismiss a class-action lawsuit brought by former players over concussion-related injuries has been largely rejected by a federal judge in Minnesota, allowing the claims to move forward. The plaintiffs in the case have been seeking unspecified financial damages and medical monitoring for neurological disorders. Their stance is the league had the knowledge and resources to better prevent head trauma, failed to properly warn players of such risks and promoted violent play that led to their injuries.

* Former NHL star Lanny McDonald was selected as chairman of the board of the Hockey Hall of Fame, succeeding the late Pat Quinn. McDonald entered the Hall as a player in 1992. McDonald had 500 goals and 506 assists in 1,111 games with Toronto, the Colorado Rockies and Calgary.

Sport Stops

* Iowa coach

Kirk Ferentz

said quarterback

Jake Rudock,

a 2-year starter for the Hawkeyes, likely will use his final year of eligibility at another school. Ferentz said he signed a release for Rudock to transfer to another school with "no strings attached."

Nicklas Bendtner completed his first international hat trick with an injury-time winner as host Denmark beat the United States, 3-2, in a friendly.

* Former NBA All-Star Metta World Peace, 35, signed for Italian team Pallacanestro Cantu for the remainder of the season.

Usain Bolt will run in New York for the first time since he set the world record in the 100 meters in 2008. Organizers said the six-time Olympic champion will run at the Diamond League meet at Icahn Stadium on June 13.

Alice McKennis capped off a comeback season with her first national title, winning the super-G at the U.S. Alpine Championships in Maine. The 25-year-old McKennis returned to the World Cup circuit this season after a crash in March 2013 shattered the top of her shinbone near her knee into 30 pieces.

* Longtime NCAA executive David Berst, perhaps best known for announcing SMU football would receive the "death penalty" in 1987 and then fainting, will retire this summer. After a 43-year NCAA career, Berst will be replaced by Kevin Lennon as vice president for Division I governance.