USA Basketball names FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup rosters

Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Allisha Gray returns to the USA Basketball national 3x3 team for the FIBA AmeriCup from Nov. 27-30 in León, Mexico.

Gray is joined by Shakira Austin — a 2022 FIBA World Cup champion in 5x5 — plus Veronica Burton and Naz Hillmon.

The men’s team includes Paris Olympian Dylan Travis, plus Henry Caruso, Cameron Forte and Mitch Hahn.

The FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup, held annually since 2021, features teams from FIBA Americas competing for the 3x3 zone championship and a berth to the FIBA 3x3 Champions Cup next March in Bangkok.

Earlier this year, USA Basketball hired Paris Olympian Jimmer Fredette and Rio Olympic gold medalist Elena Delle Donne as the first managing directors of the 3x3 men’s and women’s national teams, looking ahead to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

The 3x3 event debuted at the Olympics in Tokyo, with the U.S. women taking gold.

In Paris, the U.S. women earned bronze, and the U.S. men were eliminated in group play.

Fantasy Basketball Week 5 Injury Report: Victor Wembanyama, Giannis Antetokounmpo out multiple weeks

Another week, and another loaded injury report. While Lakers forward LeBron James made his first appearance of the season on Tuesday, more stars have been forced to the sidelines due to injury. San Antonio's Victory Wembanyama and Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo will be out for multiple weeks, while Orlando's Paolo Banchero's timeline is less concrete. Let's look at some of the key injuries impacting fantasy basketball during Week 5.

C Kristaps Porziņģis and F Zaccharie Risacher, Atlanta Hawks

Already playing without Trae Young (knee), the Hawks did not have Porziņģis (97 percent rostered, Yahoo!) or Risacher (22 percent) available for Tuesday's loss to the Pistons. In the case of Porziņģis, he's missed the last three games with a sore right knee. His absence has pushed Onyeka Okongwu (85 percent) into the starting lineup.

In those three starts, Okongwu has averaged 26.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.7 steals, 2.3 blocks and 5.0 three-pointers, shooting 60.9 percent from the field and 100 percent from the foul line. The lone negative is that he's totaled just five rebounds in his last two games after grabbing 11 against the Jazz on November 13, but the overall production has been excellent.

With Okongwu not available in many leagues, there isn't a great option behind him worth seeking on the waiver wire. However, it wouldn't be a bad idea to track Mouhamed Gueye (one percent), who recorded an 11/11/1/0/1 line against Detroit.

As for Risacher, he suffered a hip contusion due to a nasty fall during the fourth quarter of Atlanta's November 16 win over the Suns. Vit Krejčí (eight percent) started against the Pistons and played 36 minutes, finishing with nine points, three rebounds, two assists and three three-pointers. The stat line wasn't impressive, but Krejčí's playing time was an eye-opener, especially with Luke Kennard (three percent) playing 17 off the bench. Atlanta plays three games in the final four days of Week 5, so Krejčí is worth a look if Risacher can't play Thursday night in San Antonio.

G Christian Braun, Denver Nuggets

Having sprained his left ankle during the Nuggets' November 12 win over the Clippers, Braun (73 percent) will be re-evaluated in six weeks. Given that timeline and likely ramp-up period once he's cleared for contact, it's possible that he won't be available to play again until January. Add in the decrease in production from last season, and 12-team managers need to consider moving on instead of stashing Braun in an IL+ slot. Peyton Watson (six percent) has started the previous two games, averaging 8.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 1.5 steals, 2.0 blocks and 0.5 three-pointers in 34.0 minutes.

Two games aren't the best sample size, obviously, but Watson's defensive production is what stands out. He's never been called on to do much scoring, and that isn't going to change now, given the weapons in the Nuggets' rotation. But he can provide value in the steals and blocks categories while Braun is out. Also, Braun's absence could catalyze Cameron Johnson (72 percent), who got off to a terribly slow start. He shot the ball well in Monday's loss to the Bulls, scoring 19 points and hitting five three-pointers. One game may not be enough to hop back onto the bandwagon, but keep an eye on Cameron.

G Caris LeVert, Detroit Pistons

LeVert (four percent) did not play against the Hawks on Tuesday due to a sprained left ankle suffered the previous night in a win over the Pacers. When available, he has not been an impactful fantasy option this season, ranking well outside the top-200 in eight- and nine-cat formats. However, LeVert's absence frees up about 20 minutes per game, which may help keep Daniss Jenkins (29 percent) in the rotation for the foreseeable future.

Jenkins, a two-way contract player who flourished while the Pistons were without Cade Cunningham, started alongside the star guard in Atlanta. He finished with 14 points, three rebounds, seven assists, two steals and one three-pointer in 30 minutes. Ausar Thompson (94 percent) played 24 minutes off the bench in his first game back from a sprained ankle. And with eventual returns of Tobias Harris and Jaden Ivey needing to be considered, LeVert's minutes could take a hit once he's cleared to resume playing.

G Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

Curry (100 percent) tweaked his ankle during the first half of Tuesday's loss to the Magic. While he logged 34 minutes in Orlando, it's fair to question whether he'll be available for Wednesday's game against the Heat. Moses Moody (23 percent), Brandin Podziemski (38 percent) and Will Richard (three percent) would all have increased opportunities to contribute offensively if the Warriors don't play Curry.

Al Horford (four percent) has already been ruled out for rest reasons, and Jimmy Butler (99 percent) and Draymond Green (84 percent) could also be in line for a similar distinction. The three players mentioned in the above paragraph are all worth a look if that happens.

F Tari Eason, Houston Rockets

On November 15, Eason (24 percent) was ruled out for at least four weeks with a strained oblique. While his Yahoo! ADP was outside the top-100, the Rockets forward has performed slightly worse than that so far. They don't have similar roles, but Eason's injury may be another reason why 12-team managers should consider adding Reed Sheppard (40 percent). He's providing sixth-round value in nine-cat formats, well above even the highest hopes that some fantasy managers had for Sheppard in the aftermath of Fred VanVleet's knee injury.

Also, Jabari Smith Jr. (43 percent) is questionable for Wednesday's game against the Cavaliers with right knee tendinopathy. Given the matchup, Steven Adams (11 percent) could move into the starting lineup if Smith can't go. The veteran center won't provide many points, but the rebounding makes him worthy of streaming consideration when allowed to start.

G Aaron Nesmith, Indiana Pacers

Nemsith (18 percent) sprained his right MCL during a November 13 loss to the Suns and will miss at least four weeks, leaving the Pacers down a starter. He hasn't been the most impactful fantasy option, and quite frankly, there aren't any Pacers who must be rostered beyond Pascal Siakam, Bennedict Mathurin and Andrew Nembhard. Nembhard's injury resulted in Jarace Walker (five percent) moving into the starting lineup, and he totaled 16 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, four steals and one three-pointer in losses to the Raptors and Pistons. Deep-league managers can bet on his perceived upside, but Walker is not a must-add with Nesmith unavailable.

F Derrick Jones Jr., LA Clippers

Jones suffered a sprained MCL during a November 16 loss to the Celtics and will miss at least six weeks. He was one of three Clippers who started every game this season, along with James Harden and Ivica Zubac. Head coach Tyronn Lue decided to go young to fill the void left by Jones, starting rookie Kobe Sanders (one percent). He played 30 minutes in the Clippers' November 17 loss to the 76ers, tallying 17 points, one rebound, one assist, one steal and three three-pointers. Given the stat line, Sanders is a player to watch at best; he isn't a must-add. Bogdan Bogdanović (13 percent) would be the superior option due to his ability to provide value in more categories.

G Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies

Morant, whose season had not met expectations, suffered a strained calf during the Grizzlies' November 15 loss to the Cavaliers. In his team's first game without their starting point guard, Memphis head coach Tuomas Iisalo inserted Vince Williams Jr. (11 percent) into the starting lineup, and he was productive. In 30 minutes against the Spurs on Tuesday, Williams finished with 14 points, nine rebounds, nine assists and one three-pointer, shooting 5-of-13 from the field. He's worth considering in deeper leagues, as Morant will be out for at least two weeks. For those who may miss out on Williams, watch Cam Spencer (one percent), who hit three three-pointers and scored 14 points against San Antonio.

F Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

Giannis strained his left groin during Monday's loss to the Cavaliers and will be out for at least two weeks. The good news for Milwaukee is that it was a low-grade strain, but the bad news is that they'll have to navigate the next few weeks without their best player. Ryan Rollins (51 percent) has been a fantasy standout thus far, and his usage should only increase with Giannis unavailable. Will Milwaukee look to Myles Turner (97 percent) for more offense? Is he capable of taking on a more prominent role on that end of the floor? We'll see.

NBA: Milwaukee Bucks at Cleveland Cavaliers
Antetokounmpo will be re-evaluated in one to two weeks after straining his groin on Monday.

As for who could move into the starting lineup with Giannis out, Gary Trent Jr. (seven percent) and Bobby Portis (25 percent) are possibilities. Both have underwhelmed this season in terms of fantasy value, but Doc Rivers' choice to start may be worth a roll of the dice. Kyle Kuzma (23 percent) has already been in the starting lineup, and his ceiling may be raised. However, based on his time with the Wizards, increased usage can also lower Kuzma's floor due to the efficiency concerns. He is shooting 49.6 percent from the field this season, with the most significant issue in category leagues being limited assist, steal, and blocked shot production.

F Jaden McDaniels, Minnesota Timberwolves

The Timberwolves won't have their starting small forward for Wednesday's game against the Wizards, as McDaniels is dealing with a sprained left (non-shooting) wrist. This will be the first game he's missed this season, robbing the Timberwolves of their best defender. Jaylen Clark (less than one percent) could be the next man up, especially with Terrence Shannon Jr. out with a bone bruise in his foot. However, he does not provide much offensive value, so there won't be much to gain from streaming Clark.

Another possibility is that Minnesota goes small, with Mike Conley (two percent) entering the starting lineup. His fantasy value hasn't been great thus far, but a return to the starting lineup may raise the veteran point guard's ceiling. Donte DiVincenzo (41 percent), who's already in the starting lineup, will be worth a look in 12-team leagues.

G Jordan Poole, New Orleans Pelicans

The Pelicans are still awaiting Zion Williamson's (99 percent) return from a strained hamstring, but he is questionable for Wednesday's game against the Nuggets. Poole (87 percent) has already been ruled out, and quite frankly, he's been a disappointment this season when healthy. He's ranked outside the top-200 in fantasy value and is probably rostered in too high a percentage of fantasy leagues. Poole should be re-evaluated toward the end of the week, giving fantasy managers a better idea of how much more time he'll miss.

Jeremiah Fears (24 percent) has been a fixture in the starting lineup since the third game of the season, and that doesn't appear to be changing anytime soon. Fears' assist numbers haven't been great, given his role, but he is averaging 1.7 steals per game. Jose Alvarado (two percent) and rookie Micah Peavy (less than one percent) have played more recently, but neither is worth the risk.

F OG Anunoby, New York Knicks

The Knicks, who were already without Jalen Brunson (100 percent), lost Anunoby to a strained left hamstring during the team's November 14 win over the Heat. He'll be out for at least two weeks, and his absence led to Landry Shamet (five percent) entering the starting lineup for the November 17 loss to the Heat. Shamet did not go off like he did in the prior meeting (career-high 36 points), shooting 2-of-11 from the field, but he played 39 minutes in the two-point defeat. We'll see what happens if Brunson plays on Wednesday against the Mavericks, as he's listed as questionable.

Josh Hart (76 percent) may receive a boost to his value with Anunoby sidelined, even with the limited scoring production. Jordan Clarkson (10 percent) and Miles McBride (seven percent) are worth a look in deep leagues for managers needing points and three-pointers. Still, the experience of rostering either can be an emotional roller coaster.

F Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic

Banchero has been out since suffering a strained groin during Orlando's November 12 win over the Knicks, missing the team's last three games. Tristan da Silva (17 percent) has been the replacement, and the second-year forward has hit double figures in all three starts. He has averaged 16.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.7 blocks and 3.3 three-pointers while shooting 51.4 percent from the field and 50.0 percent from the foul line. According to Basketball Monster, that production has been good for top-75 value in nine-cat formats. Deep-league managers should strongly consider adding da Silva, especially with Orlando playing three games over the final four days of Week 5.

G Kelly Oubre Jr. and C Adem Bona, Philadelphia 76ers

Oubre's (23 percent) absence is far more impactful on the 76ers and fantasy basketball, as he has been a top-100 player this season. He suffered a sprained left knee during Philadelphia's November 14 loss to the Pistons, which impacted his lateral collateral ligament. How much time Oubre will miss has not been determined, but fantasy managers should anticipate him missing more time. His absence from Monday's win over the Clippers coincided with Paul George (92 percent) making his season debut; he can absorb some of the minutes that would have gone to Oubre.

George will be on a minutes restriction when available, and he has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against the Raptors. Managers in 12-team leagues should target Quentin Grimes (42 percent), who played 36 minutes off the bench on Monday. Maybe Justin Edwards (one percent) can pick up a few minutes, but the offensive production isn't there. As for Bona, his absence with a sprained right ankle means even more playing time for Andre Drummond (28 percent), who was already filling in for Joel Embiid (98 percent). Drummond played 38 minutes against the Clippers and should be rostered in 12-team formats.

NBA: Golden State Warriors at San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs will be without Wemby for at least 2-3 weeks after he strained his left calf.

G Grayson Allen, Phoenix Suns

Allen (40 percent) has missed Phoenix's last two games with a right quad contusion, most recently sitting out Tuesday's win over the Trail Blazers. Ryan Dunn (seven percent) moved into the starting lineup, totaling 21 points, seven rebounds, eight assists, seven steals and three three-pointers. While the second-year wing doesn't provide great value as a scorer, the steals category is where he can be most beneficial to deep-league managers.

Collin Gillespie (18 percent) has been a popular target in deep leagues and with good reason, as he's been productive since the Suns lost Jalen Green (88 percent) to his second hamstring strain. For managers needing a little more offense, Gillespie is a better option than Dunn. Of course, Dillon Brooks (42 percent) is still available in some 12-team formats; now would be a good time to change that if he's still on your league's waiver wire.

G Jrue Holiday, Portland Trail Blazers

Holiday (64 percent) has missed Portland's last two games with a sore right calf, giving the Trail Blazers another injury to deal with at the point guard position. Scoot Henderson (12 percent) is not close to returning from his torn hamstring, while Blake Wesley (less than one percent) is also out for an extended period with a fractured right foot. Jerami Grant (40 percent) started a game before an illness kept him out of Tuesday's loss to Phoenix, resulting in Kris Murray (one percent) receiving the starting nod. While Grant will be worth streaming if Holiday can't play against Chicago on Wednesday, there's no need to consider Murray under any circumstances.

The lack of healthy playmakers also places more responsibility on the plates of Deni Avdija (99 percent) and Shaedon Sharpe (94 percent). They're both rostered in over 90 percent of Yahoo! leagues, so good luck finding either on a waiver wire. However, could this be a "sell high" opportunity for Avdija managers, especially if Holiday is ruled out for an extended period?

C Victor Wembanyama and G Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs

Wembanyama (100 percent) has been diagnosed with a strained left calf and will miss a few weeks, while Castle (69 percent) will be re-evaluated in one to two weeks due to his left hip flexor strain. Wemby's absence led to Luke Kornet (24 percent) being promoted into the starting lineup, and he's worth streaming in some 12-team formats. Kelly Olynyk (four percent) has been the backup, with a little Jeremy Sochan (10 percent) sprinkled in depending on the matchup, but neither offers much fantasy value.

As for Castle's replacement, Julian Champagnie (four percent) started Tuesday's win over the Grizzlies. Harrison Barnes (17 percent) and Keldon Johnson (11 percent) are superior streaming targets, and both were instrumental in the Spurs' 11-0 run to close Tuesday's victory. As for players who won't be available in most leagues, De'Aaron Fox (100 percent) and Devin Vassell (88 percent) have higher ceilings with Wembanyama and Castle on the sideline.

Scoot Henderson says he 'made a lot of progress' but is not near return, is still 'week to week'

Portland has been one of the fun on-the-court stories of the early season. This is a promising team that plays hard and is entertaining to watch, behind Deni Avdija and Shaedon Sharpe, with good young players such as Toumani Camara and Donovan Clingan (not to mention the potential of Yang Hansen), and veterans Jrue Holiday and Jerami Grant. Portland has been a pleasant
surprise this season.

They have done all this without Scoot Henderson.

The former No. 3 pick and potential franchise anchor has been out since late September with a torn left hamstring. When the injury occurred prior to the start of training camp, the Trail Blazers put a 4-8 week timeline on his return, but we now just hit the eight-week mark, and Henderson is not close to returning. Here is what he told Jason Quick of The Athletic.

Entering his eighth week since tearing his left hamstring, the third-year point guard told The Athletic he has "made a lot of progress," but he said his return to basketball activity remains "week to week."...

"I can walk around to spots, but no jumping, no exploding," Henderson told The Athletic... "I shoot free throws, some ballhandling, but without moving much."

Henderson doesn't sound particularly close to returning, but Portland is wise to be patient with hamstring injuries, which can be slow to heal and prone to reaggravation.

Entering his third season, this was going to be a big evaluation season for Portland and Henderson. He had taken steps forward in his first two seasons, but would he live up to his hype and potential? Was he going to be a franchise cornerstone at the point? A quality starter? A rotation player? The Trail Blazers needed to evaluate him alongside Avdija and Sharpe, then decide on a direction for this team going forward. It's an evaluation season for everyone in Portland — including coach Tiago Splitter, who was forced into the head coaching job after the arrest of Chauncey Billups as part of a federal gambling investigation.

That evaluation of Henderson is paused while he recovers. And it looks like it'll be paused for at least a few more weeks.

Sabres Feeling Good About Win Streak — But Challenge Ahead Of Them Is Still Massive

Zach Hyman (left); Josh Doan (right) -- (Timothy T. Ludwig, USA TODAY Images)

The Buffalo Sabres are riding the high of beating the Edmonton Oilers, giving Buffalo a two-game win streak. But those good feelings may not last.

The Sabres’ next game comes Wednesday against the sad-sack Calgary Flames. Two nights later, they square off against the Chicago Blackhawks. Sounds like winnable games, right? That’s because they are.

However, after that, Buffalo takes on the Carolina Hurricanes, Pittsburgh Penguins, and New Jersey Devils. Then, after a ‘gimme game’ against the Minnesota Wild, the Sabres will have tilts against the Winnipeg Jets twice, as well as games against Philadelphia Flyers, Flames and Oilers.

As you can see, the Sabres could get to the second week of December with a slew of losses. And although games against the Flames, Blackhawks and Wild are games that Buffalo should win, those teams also are desperate to string together a number of wins. So even the ‘gimme’ games aren’t guaranteed two standings points for them.

When you look at the standings, you can see why Sabres fans are pessimistic about this Buffalo team. If you’d told Sabres fans at the start of the season that Buffalo would be a last-place team in the third week of November, they would’ve been busting out pitchforks and torches. No matter what the excuse for that was going to be – injuries; slow starts from veterans; first-year Sabres players acclimating to a new organization – the reality is that there’s no excuse for how this team came out of the gate.

Sabres' Modest Win Streak Shouldn't Fool You – The Pressure Is Still On Buffalo To Be A Playoff TeamSabres' Modest Win Streak Shouldn't Fool You – The Pressure Is Still On Buffalo To Be A Playoff TeamThe Buffalo Sabres' modest win streak has taken off some heat on them, but make no mistake -- there's going to be high-stakes pressure all season long.

Realistically, Buffalo has to start winning games at a .600-point pace if they’re going to overcome this brutal beginning to the year. And that feels like a task that is too big of an ask for a core of talent that’s never been able to win at that pace.

It’s all adding up to another bleak competitive situation for the Sabres. No opponent is going to be charitable to them. Buffalo has to immediately turn things around, and they have to sustain a winning pace week-in and week-out. 

There’s no sugar-coating it – the challenge in front of the Sabres is considerable, and the pressure on them to produce is immense. Buffalo has once again dug themselves a massive crater, and climbing out of it may take a minor miracle.

.

Islanders' Matthew Schaefer, Avalanche's Cale Makar Already Near-Locks in NHL Award Races

The 2025-26 NHL season is barely a month old, but two players are already emerging as near-locks for the league’s top individual honors. On the Calder Trophy front, New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer has taken the hockey world by storm, while Colorado Avalanche star Cale Makar looks poised to make a third run at the James Norris Trophy. 

Schaefer at just 18 years old has taken the league by storm. Through 20 games, he has recorded seven goals and eight assists for 15 points, leading all rookies in scoring ahead of Montreal’s Ivan Demidov. His breakout season has not only put him in the conversation for rookie of the year but also raised discussions about his potential inclusion on Team Canada for the 2026 Olympics. Schaefer has broken multiple records in his young career, including becoming the youngest player in league history to score an overtime goal at 18 years and 70 days, surpassing Sidney Crosby’s previous mark set in 2005.

Are The Detroit Red Wings For Real?Are The Detroit Red Wings For Real?Detroit's surprising start defies middling stats. Can a youth-fueled surge finally end the playoff drought?

The Islanders defenseman also made history with his strong start to the season. In the first nine games, he recorded seven points, including two goals and five assists, during a six-game point streak, becoming the youngest defenseman ever to accomplish such a feat. He ranks fifth on the Islanders in blocked shots, second in takeaways, and has logged the most ice time on the team, nearing 450 minutes, far ahead of the second-place total. 

Schaefer plays significant minutes on both the penalty kill and power play, and his 307 shot attempts lead all Islanders defensemen. If his current pace continues, he is on track for 20 goals this season, a milestone that has only been reached three times in NHL history by defensemen, and 60 points, which would make him just the 11th rookie defenseman ever to reach that total. 

Meanwhile, Cale Makar has continued his dominance from the back end. In 19 games this season, he has six goals and 19 assists for 25 points, leading all NHL defensemen in scoring by four points over Winnipeg’s Josh Morrissey. Makar also leads all defensemen with a +17 rating and has exceeded 90 points in each of the past two seasons and is on pace for 108 points this season.

Over the last four seasons, he has recorded at least 86 points in three of them, and in the one season he fell short, he missed 20 games but was on pace to surpass 86 points. He leads Colorado in ice time, totaling 485 minutes, and also leads the team in blocked shots and takeaways. 

Both players have been instrumental to their teams’ early-season success and are being reflected as such in the betting markets. Schaefer is listed with -238 odds for the Calder Trophy while Makar sits at -233 odds for the Norris, signaling strong confidence that these young stars are on track to claim the NHL’s top individual honors this season.

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Some Good Things You Should Know About Gabe Perreault

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Gabe Perreault's yo-yo cup of coffee routine with the Blueshirts has fans wondering when this gem of a prospect will stick with the big club.

Well, it's not really as bad for Gabe as it might seem and The Maven got this after talking to a friend who is an NHL amateur scout. Listen up for your sake and Gabe's as well.

This is what the bird dog, who has studied Perreault for years, reports:

"Gabe might be as smart as any player I've scouted or watched at the amateur level. The comment as 'being a first-round pick means that someone thinks at some point you can be a very special player.' 

"That being said, he very well might be, but it won't be tomorrow. Staying at BC and riding shotgun with James Hagens might have been a better idea than turning pro. He needs the schedule that allows him to work on his physical strength and how it applies to today's NHL game for a player like him.

"He'll be an NHL player and, despite being a winger, he can drive a line. He's that skilled. 

Was Jonathan Too Quick To Start An Unnecessary Post-Game Scrum?Was Jonathan Too Quick To Start An Unnecessary Post-Game Scrum?The <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers">Rangers</a> certainly know how to make a mountain out of a molehill. (Make that one Ranger.)

The Rangers staff at the AHL level is excellent for player development but the NCAA 34-game schedule might have been better to build his body for pro hockey."

Excellent insights. Now we have to see how the Blueshirt brass handles the top prospect

for the rest of the season.

NHL Rumors: Sabres Star Included On New Trade Board

Alex Tuch (© Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images)

The Buffalo Sabres are currently at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings with a 7-8-4 record and 18 points. This is certainly not the kind of start the Sabres wanted to have, especially when noting that they are aiming to snap their 14-year playoff drought.

Now, with the Sabres off to a shaky start to the season, one of their top players is continuing to create chatter in the rumor mill as a trade candidate: forward Alex Tuch.

Tuch, who is a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA), was given the No. 3 spot on Chris Johnston's latest NHL trade board for The Athletic.

"He’s the kind of player it makes sense to keep around long-term, but he’s also too valuable to potentially lose for nothing, especially if the Sabres aren’t firmly in the playoff race come the trade deadline," Johnston wrote about Tuch. 

This is not the first time that Tuch has been discussed as a trade candidate, and it likely won't be the last. With the star forward being a pending UFA, he should get a lot of interest around the NHL if he does not have a contract extension signed with the Sabres once we get closer to the deadline. 

Tuch is once again having a strong season with the Sabres, too, as he has posted seven goals, nine assists, 16 points, and a plus-2 rating in 19 games. This is after he had 36 goals, 31 assists, and 67 points in 82 games this past season with the Sabres. With numbers like these, he would be a big-time addition for a playoff team looking to improve their top six. 

Why Numbers Don’t Tell the Whole Story for Ilya Nabokov

For much of the past two seasons, Colorado Avalanche fans have been eagerly following 22-year-old goaltending prospect Ilya Nabokov. This year, the highly touted netminder has posted numbers that fall short of expectations, though the decline is not as severe as it might appear.

Before Colorado selected him in the second round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, one of the main concerns about his game was his size. At 6-foot-1, he is considered relatively small for a modern NHL goaltender, and his unusually low stance only adds to that concern. In the KHL, that style has worked in his favor, as his athleticism allows him to move quickly across the crease and make difficult, highlight-worthy saves from sharp angles. Yet many within the hockey world remain fixated on numbers rather than acknowledging the fundamental differences between North American play and the KHL, or they may simply be unaware of those differences altogether.

KHL (@khl_eng) on XKHL (@khl_eng) on XIlya Nabokov says NO

Styles Make Goalies

Nabokov currently has a record of 9-3 with a 2.63 goals-against average and a .899 save percentage. On paper, it appears he is having the worst season of his career, especially compared with his last two years with Metallurg Magnitogorsk, where he posted an average save percentage of .928 and a goals-against average of roughly 2.18. But people are missing the point.

At the KHL level, Nabokov’s low stance is generally not a liability, as the league does not feature the same concentration of elite snipers found in the NHL who would torch him like a volcano top shelf if he utilized that same style. He is not suddenly a fragile goaltender; rather, he is developing and adjusting to a more North American style of play. This transition has inevitably affected his KHL statistics, but it should not be a cause for widespread concern.

Avalanche Loaded With Goaltending Depth

The Avalanche are in a good position right now, with a strong group of goaltenders—a luxury they haven’t had much of since winning the Stanley Cup in 2022. Scott Wedgewood is leading the way in this goaltending resurgence. Since joining Colorado, he’s played at the highest level of his career, a performance that earned him a well-deserved contract extension last week. The 33-year-old signed a one-year, $2.5 million deal, keeping him with the Avalanche through the 2026–27 season.

It’s clear the team still believes Nabokov is their goalie of the future. If that weren’t the case, Wedgewood likely would have received a longer deal. Based on that, it’s reasonable to expect Nabokov will spend next season with the Colorado Eagles in the AHL, while also getting a chance to start for the Avalanche. If Wedgewood continues to perform well and Nabokov struggles adapting to the North American game, the team could reconsider a bigger deal for Wedgewood. There’s also the Mackenzie Blackwood situation to factor in—he’s still working to get back into form. For now, Wedgewood seems to be the guy, Blackwood is still finding his rhythm, and Nabokov remains a developing talent in Russia, quietly sharpening his skills.

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