Paceman has struggled with hamstring and achilles issues
‘It’s really flat for him,’ says Australia coach Andrew McDonald
Australian fast-bowler Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the remainder of the Ashes series amid hamstring and achilles tendon injuries.
Injuries have thwarted the reliable right-arm quick in recent years and had forced him to watch from afar as Australia took a 2-0 series lead at the Gabba last week.
Continue reading...The Mets’ stance on Pete Alonso continues to stay the same.
Those around the organization have made it clear over the past few months that they’d love to have the free agent slugger back in orange and blue next year and beyond.
David Stearns and Carlos Mendoza reiterated that feeling, speaking at the Winter Meetings on Monday.
“Of course I want him,” the skipper said. “You’re talking about a guy that, as a manager, his ability to post every day -- when you don’t have to worry about who is going to play first and hitting in the middle of the lineup, you can’t beat that.”
“We’d love to have him back,” Stearns added. “Pete has demonstrated he’s one of the best offensive players in baseball, and he’s performed at a high level for us -- that would be a priority for any team, and it certainly is for us.”
Alonso is looking to cash in on his highly productive campaign into a long-term deal.
Recent reports indicated that he may be seeking a pact of at least seven years, but an AL official told Joel Sherman of the NY Post that the length isn’t out there.
The right-handed slugger is expected to drive from his home in Tampa to the meetings on Tuesday to sit down with interested teams, including the Red Sox and Orioles.
New York likely won’t be among those, though, with the two sides having so much familiarity.
“Pete knows us really well; we know Pete really well,” Stearns said. “I think he’ll take the time here to perhaps meet with organizations he doesn’t know quite as well, and we’ll be in touch.”
Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns spoke with reporters on several topics at the MLB Winter Meetings in Orlando on Monday, including what work is still to be done with improving the bullpen, an active trade market, and Kodai Senga having an “outstanding” start to his offseason.
“In any transaction period, and certainly the Winter Meetings, you want to make your team better, and I think we’re focused on doing that,” Stearns said of what he hopes to accomplish this week. “We also know it’s a really long offseason, we’ll see whether we’re able to get anything done here. At this point, it’s too early for me to know that one way or another.
“But I am confident that we’re making progress to ultimately make some transactions that I think will ultimately help our team and our organization going forward.”
When asked if there was a specific area he felt the team needed to improve, the Mets’ top man said they are “open-minded to getting better anywhere.”
“I don’t think there is a segment to our team right now that we can look at or would look at and say ‘that’s a finished product,’” Stearns said. “So we have to be open-minded to all of the above. We’ve been very open, and I’ve been very open from the moment our season ended, that we have to get better at keeping runs off the board.
"And I think we’ve made some progress in doing that, and I think we’re gonna continue to look at areas where we can add players to our team that help us do that.”
While the defensive improvements – specifically adding second baseman Marcus Semien in a trade with Texas – is at the forefront of keeping runs down, the bullpen is another area that can help achieve that goal. Mets relievers posted a 3.93 ERA with a 1.29 WHIP last year (15th in baseball) and opponents batted .244 off them (tied for 11th worst).
Steans said they were “certainly thrilled” about being able to sign Devin Williams to bolster the back-end of the bullpen, but that doesn’t rule out further moves.
“I wouldn’t say we’re done with our bullpen at this point,” he said. “We recognize that we have slots to fill. Some of those may come through free agency, some of those may come through trades, some of those may come from some internal candidates who we think are poised to take the next step, either in their development or the next step in, perhaps, a role they can occupy at the major league level.
“But, we understand we got some roles to fill in the ‘pen, and I’m confident we’re gonna be able to do so.”
“I think the trade market, in general agnostic of position, is pretty active,” Stearns said. “And I think there’s a lot of chatter and has been throughout this offseason among teams in the trade market, it seems. Teams in general are, maybe, a little more open and willing to be creative, to talk about different kinds of structures, to talk about need-for-need type trades at the major league level that maybe we’ve seen over the past couple years at least.”
Does that mean Stearns thinks he’s in a better position to make trades this offseason than his first two offseasons in charge of the club? “I don’t know,” he said. “I think we've had a very successful player development growth and we’ve had a number of players internally throughout our minor league system get better, and I think that’s been recognized throughout the industry.”
Stearns added that when that development happens, you “receive a lot of incoming calls about young players, about prospects.”
“Perhaps there are a few more opportunities to make deals,” he said, and they will “continue to explore” those opportunities and imagine they will “push something over the line this offseason.”
“I know we’ve had, what I would characterize as, productive dialogue with other teams throughout the offseason,” Stearns added later. “We’ve lined up on one trade, and so far we haven’t lined up on others. But I think ultimately we will line up on more.”
“Kodai has had an outstanding offseason,” Stearns said when asked about the right-hander, which he called “the most encouraging development we’ve had in terms of our offseason player progression.”
Senga is coming off an up-and-down season that saw him start off the year very well, pitching to a 1.47 ERA in his first 73.2 innings, only to suffer a hamstring injury and then struggle, posting a 5.90 ERA over his final 39.2 innings, before he was demoted to Triple-A.
“He feels great, he feels as good physically as he has since that 2023 season. He’s going through his normal offseason routine. He’s actually gonna come over to the States at the end of the month and throw here, as well, which I think is a great sign.
“We’re very encouraged about how Kodai is progressing through the offseason.”
As the MLB Winter Meetings roll on in Orlando, Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns met with members of the media to discuss where things currently stand with his club.
Of course, starting pitching has been a hot-button topic for the Mets following a 2025 season that went downhill, in part, due to a starting rotation that simply couldn’t deliver enough innings, whether it was due to injuries or ineffectiveness.
Ask if the Mets would like to add a starter, Stearns said that while the club is certainly keeping all options open, they do have a talented group of young pitchers waiting in the wings.
While Nolan McLean firmly established himself as a part of the 2026 rotation and beyond thanks to his 2.06 ERA over the course of eight major league starts, Brandon Sproat and Jonah Tong could be in line for some more minor league seasoning before becoming full-time members of the Mets’ starting staff.
“I think we’d like to be able to add a starter. We are also really comfortable and like our young starters who are emerging,” Stearns said. “We saw that last year with Nolan McLean. But certainly we’re going to be canvassing where we can to bring in a starting pitcher and help stabilize the staff.”
Outside of the trio of McLean, Sproat, and Tong, the Mets also have names like Jonathan Santucci and Jack Wenniger, among others, who could potentially make an impact in 2026. And that doesn’t even include Christian Scott, who Stearns said should come into spring training without limitations following Tommy John surgery in late 2024.
“I think sometimes we often equate youth with unpredictability. I think young starting pitchers have a pretty good history in this league, especially of late, especially when they have certain stuff packages, of coming up to the big leagues and having success,” Stearns said. “Doesn’t mean we’re going to count on a staff exclusively of young starters, but certainly over the course of the year, we are going to expect significant contributions from a group that we think is really talented and about to get to the major league level.”
Throughout the early parts of the offseason, the Mets have been linked to big-name starting pitchers who could be on the move, either through trades or free agency, such as Tarik Skubal, Freddy Peralta, Michael King, and others.
So if the Mets were in a hypothetical playoff series right now, is the team’s Game 1 starter currently on the roster?
“I don’t know. I don’t think we’ll know that until we get much further along in the offseason and until we get to spring training,” Stearns said. “I also think that often times on opening day, the person you thought was the No. 1 starter in a playoff series, you actually get to the playoff series and it’s someone else. We lived that couple of years ago. I think even really good teams that go on and win a World Series like the Dodgers can live that over the course of a season. I’m less preoccupied by thinking about who is going to start Game 1 of a playoff series than I am about making the transactions that put the best possible team on the field that we can do.”
“You always want more ceiling,” Stearns added. “Do I think we need more ceiling? I don’t think I’d go that far, but you always want more ceiling.”
Manchester United thrashed rock-bottom Wolves to move up to six
Matt Burtz emails: “There are some who don’t believe in xG, and that’s fine. For those who do, Wolves’ xG per 90 minutes is -0.44. Not great, but it’s only the fourth worst in the Premier League. (Interestingly enough, it’s ahead of Sunderland’s -0.52.) But the main stat for Wolves is an xG against of 18.9, which is seventh in the PL (and better than that of third place Aston Villa). This means they’ve been incredibly unlucky in keeping goals out. Clearly they need to score more goals as one every two games isn’t going to cut it at any level, but if their luck balances out defensively there is a theoretical chance of them putting some results together.”
It’s a nice theory.
Continue reading...The Chicago Blackhawks have announced that they have assigned defenseman Sam Rinzel and forward Landon Slaggert to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs.
Rinzel being sent down to the AHL is notable, as he is one of the Blackhawks' top prospects. The 2022 first-round pick has appeared in 28 games so far this season with the Blackhawks, where he has posted one goal, seven assists, eight points, and an even plus/minus rating.
Rinzel is now set to get into the first AHL action of his career after being assigned to Rockford. The young blueliner will be aiming to impress, as it could help his chances of getting another call-up to the Blackhawks' roster soon.
Slaggert, on the other hand, has recorded one goal, four blocks, and 16 hits in 10 games for the Blackhawks this season. He has also played in three games for the IceHogs in 2025-26, where he has posted one goal and a minus-2 rating.
In 59 career NHL games over three seasons with the Blackhawks, Slaggert has posted four goals, seven assists, 11 points, and 39 penalty minutes.
The IIHF approved a sheet of ice measuring 60 meters by 26 meters (196.85 feet by 85.3 feet) in Milan, as The Athletic reported last week, which is more than three feet shorter and only a few inches wider than the 200-foot-by-85-foot (60.96-meter-by-25.91-meter) dimensions required under NHL rules.
News of that difference came as a surprise to officials with the NHL and NHL Players’ Association. They had signed off on an Olympic agreement last summer that called for NHL-sized ice to be used for the Feb. 11 to 22 tournament. Both the NHL and NHLPA indicated they would have to look into the issue last week.
In the IIHF statement released Monday, the sport’s governing body said everyone was on board with the specs that will be used at the Santagiulia Arena and Milan Rho Fiera exhibition center.
“All involved, the IIHF, the Organizing Committee, NHL, NHLPA, IOC and the relevant venue authorities agree that the differences in rink specifications are insignificant, and should not impact either the safety or quality of game play,” read the statement. “We look forward to welcoming the world’s best players for a best-on-best competition at the Games.”
The IIHF added that the same dimensions were used for the 2022 Beijing Olympics, which did not feature NHL players. It also noted that the recent Global Series games played between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators at Avicii Arena in Stockholm featured the same size ice surface.
With concerns around the readiness of the Milan venues growing, the NHL recently dispatched staff to help oversee the project, according to league sources. Among the tasks they’re involved with is making sure the differences in the smaller surface are mitigated by accounting for them in the neutral zone.
Hockey Canada was aware of the smaller ice surface approved for use in Milan and advised players during its Olympic orientation camp in August about the issue.
However, multiple potential Olympians from other countries told The Athletic they only found out about it last week.
Canadian star Nathan MacKinnon said he thinks the smaller surface will be noticeable when players get out there in a game setting.
“If you have a foot less space, it can be a big difference,” MacKinnon said. “If you get a foot closer in the slot, I think that could be a big difference. But it’s the same for everybody.”
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
NHL, Olympics, Women's Hockey
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Considering how it looked when the injury happened, this is good news.
An MRI revealed Orlando's Franz Wagner has suffered a high ankle sprain, the team announced Monday.
An MRI conducted Monday showed that forward Franz Wagner suffered a left high ankle sprain. He sustained the injury during the first quarter of Sunday afternoon’s game at New York.
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) December 8, 2025
His return will depend on how he responds to treatment. pic.twitter.com/3hiiVLDrQ4
While the Magic would not put a timetable on his return, ESPN's Shams Charania announced 2-4 weeks, which is in line with what Jeff Stotts of In Street Clothes has found in his database of injuries, players usually miss about 10 games with a high ankle sprain, but that time can vary.
The injury occurred near the end of the first quarter on Sunday, when the Magic were in Madison Square Garden facing the Knicks. During a fast break, New York big man Ariel Hukporti flew in to block a pass to Wagner, and the German went to the ground and instantly grabbed his left knee. He had to be helped off the court.
Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner landed awkwardly and held his left knee in pain for a while. Wagner was helped to the locker room by his brother, Moe Wagner, and another Magic player. pic.twitter.com/x66iqwcPOU
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) December 7, 2025
Wagner has played at an All-Star level this season, averaging 23.4 points and 6.2 rebounds a game while shooting 35.4% from 3-point range. He exits the lineup just as Paolo Banchero returns from his groin strain.
Wagner will be out Tuesday when the Magic host the Miami Heat in an NBA Cup quarterfinal game, with a trip to Las Vegas on the line.
The Florida Panthers have loaned winger Jack Devine to the Charlotte Checkers.
The 22-year-old skated in six games during his first NHL call-up, failing to record a point. Although he was kept off the scoresheet, Devine showed many positive flashes. He utilized his speed to help the Panthers' transition offense and win the puck back on the forecheck.
He averaged just 8:26 in his call-up but was able to fire six shots on goal. According to Natural Stat Trick, at 5-on-5, the Panthers owned 51.14 percent of the expected goals and held a Corsi For percentage of 51.61 percent. The Panthers were outscored 3-0 with Devine on the ice, but he was playing in an unfamiliar role on the Panthers' fourth line.
Devine will return to the Checkers with NHL experience and will look to improve on his stellar rookie season numbers. In 13 games, Devine has scored six goals and 12 points, three goals and two points back of the team lead.
Although Devine is listed at 5-foot-11, 173 pounds, he plays at a high speed and with a high motor. He's not afraid to get to the dirty areas of the ice and is always looking to get the puck to the front of the net.
He's been a top-end point producer at every level and appears to be continuing the trend at the AHL level.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
The past 21 national champions were all ranked in the top 12 in their respective season's Week 6 AP poll.
The past 21 national champions were all ranked in the top 12 in their respective season's Week 6 AP poll.
Florida guard Boogie Fland bought a hundred tickets for friends and family to watch him play at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night. Fland grew up in the Bronx and will play at the iconic venue for the second time in as many seasons when the defending national champion and 18th-ranked Gators (5-3) continue their daunting nonconference slate against No. 5 UConn (8-1).
Florida guard Boogie Fland bought a hundred tickets for friends and family to watch him play at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night. Fland grew up in the Bronx and will play at the iconic venue for the second time in as many seasons when the defending national champion and 18th-ranked Gators (5-3) continue their daunting nonconference slate against No. 5 UConn (8-1).
Here's your weekly farm report, courtesy of the Belleville Senators.
The B-Sens were able to end the week on a positive note, beating the Laval Rocket at home on Saturday night. The victory came after a Friday night loss to Laval and a mid-week failed comeback against the Toronto Marlies.
The Sunday win, coupled with some other mixed results around the American Hockey League’s North Division, sees Belleville hop back into fourth place and keeps them two points ahead of Toronto, with a three-point gap to third-place Syracuse, four points to second-place Rochester, and eight points to Laval at the top.
Here’s a recap of last week’s action, as the Sens get set for three more matchups at home this week.
Wednesday, December 3, 2025: Belleville Senators – 3 vs Toronto Marlies – 4
The Belleville Senators showed some fight in a Wednesday night comeback attempt against the Toronto Marlies, but couldn’t make up the deficit in the third period, losing 4-3. Olle Lycksell, Garrett Pilon and Arthur Kaliyev scored for the Senators, while Mads Sogaard took the loss in net, making 27 saves on 31 shots.
Friday, December 5, 2025 : Belleville Senators – 2 vs Laval Rocket – 5
The slow start to December continued for the Belleville Sens on Friday, as the offence couldn’t quite get going in a 5-2 loss to the Laval Rocket, to begin a weekend back-to-back with their divisional rivals. Phil Daoust continued his strong season, scoring for Belleville, while Arthur Kaliyev also tallied for the 15th time this season. Mads Sogaard made another 31 saves on 34 shots in the defeat.
Saturday, December 6, 2025: Belleville Senators – 4 vs Laval Rocket – 3
A late power play goal, deflected in by captain Garrett Pilon, helped the Belleville Senators to knock off the Laval Rocket 4-3 on Saturday night, snapping the Sens’ five-game losing skid. Defenders Scott Harrington and Jorian Donovan started off the Belleville scoring, while Phil Daoust also tallied again, before Pilon won the game in the final three minutes of the third period. Jackson Parsons also ended his personal three-game slide, stopping 26 of 29 shots to earn his fourth win of the season.
Recent Transactions
Statistical Leaders
Points: 24 (T-3rd in AHL) #43 Arthur Kaliyev (F) – 15 G + 9 A
Goals: 15 (2nd in AHL) #43 Arthur Kaliyev (F)
Assists: 18 (T-3rd in AHL) #34 Stephen Halliday (C)
Power Play Goals: 9 (1st in AHL) #43 Arthur Kaliyev (F)
Plus/Minus: +3 #44 Djibril Toure
Goals Against Average: 3.10 #30 Hunter Shepard (G)
Save Percentage: .911 #30 Hunter Shepard (G)
This Week
The Sens continue their home-heavy month of December with three more matchups at CAA Arena this week.
On Wednesday, the Rochester Americans visit for a Winning Wednesday. Then, the Cleveland Monsters stop in town for the first time this season on Saturday for the annual Holiday Celebration Game and Teddy Bear Toss.
The week ends with Belly’s Kids Holiday Party on Sunday at 3:00 p.m., against the Bridgeport Islanders. You can follow all the action by listening on the Belleville Sens Entertainment Network, or watching along on AHL TV on FloHockey.
This article was originally published at The Hockey News Ottawa. Read more:
Senators Provide Injury Update On Shane Pinto, Recall Forward From Belleville
Travis Green on Senators Defenseman Nick Jensen: 'I Think He's Finding His Game'
Former Senator Now Tearing It Up In Switzerland
Travis Green Steers Senators Into Top 5 In Several Defensive Metrics
Parity Puts American Thanksgiving Rule (And The Senators) To The Test
The Hockey News Big Show is here to discuss more big topics in the NHL and beyond.
Here's what ex-NHL goalie Devan Dubnyk, Michael Traikos and Andrew McInnis, discussed:
2:00: Connor McDavid scored a hat trick last week and has recorded a combined 12 shots in his past two games. Do you like his game when he shoots more? Is he more valuable as a playmaker or a scorer?
4:30: From Dubnyk's perspective, is McDavid underrated as a shooter?
6:55: Have the Oilers finally found their game?
8:05: Are too many of the losses from the Oilers blamed on the goaltending?
11:30: The Jets have now lost seven of their last nine games. Can the Jets do enough to put themselves in a playoff spot until Hellebuyck can return? Who must step up?
18:00: The Utah Mammoth sit fourth in the Central Division and in a second wild-card spot. Does this team have enough to stay in the mix with Logan Cooley out indefinitely? And who will finish higher in the standings: the Chicago Blackhawks or Utah Mammoth?
22:37: The Washington Capitals will be without their rookie winger, Ryan Leonard, after taking a massive blow from Jacob Trouba. Thoughts about the hit?
28:03: Are players noticing that Trouba didn't fight with Tom Wilson? Is it a respect issue?
30:20: Quinn Hughes said he's aware that "things like" having his name in trade talks between the Canucks and Devils could happen. But he added that if there was a call, he wasn't involved in it. How likely is it that Hughes will be on the Canucks by next fall?
32:34: Do the Devils start working on a trade package to get Quinn Hughes?
35:06: Which center would you pick to build your franchise around: Macklin Celebrini, Connor Bedard or Leo Carlsson?
37:03: Another week, another chance to name a player who had a hot or cold week.
39:22: The Winnipeg Jets host the 2026 Heritage Classic against the Canadiens. The Jets took to X and asked fans for jersey help. What jersey should the Jets wear?
40:36: What is Dubnyk's favorite moment from the outdoor game he played in?
42:54: Favorite Heritage Classic matchup?
Dissecting The Oilers' Mini Hot Streak by The Big ShowWatch the full episode on YouTube
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