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Cuban SS Ruben Gallego headlines Dbacks 2026 International Signees

The Arizona Diamondbacks entered the International Signing period with $8,034,900 in international bonus pool money, tied for the most in the league with Baltimore, Cleveland, Colorado, Kansas City, Pittsburgh and St. Louis. Market size, revenue, free agents turning down the qualifying offer, and trades all impact the size of a team’s bonus pool. There’s not a ton of information available on some of these prospects, but I’ve done my best to provide a summarized version of what I could find.

Headlining the Diamondbacks 2026 international signees is SS Ruben Gallego, who ranked #17 by Baseball America, #31 by Fangraphs, and #42 according to MLB Pipeline. Gallego signed for $1.75M as reported by Baseball America, although MLB Pipeline has him at $1.8m. Gallego is of no relation to Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego

As a player in the top 50, MLB Pipeline conveniently has a scouting report that isn’t stuck behind a paywall, which I’ve quoted below, but you can also view here.

“Gallego has been known to hammer the ball at a high frequency, particularly from the left side of the dish. A switch-hitter, he understandably gets fewer reps against southpaws, but his lefty swing shows much more feel for loft and the ability to drive the ball for extra-base power. He’ll need to add weight and muscle as he faces advanced pitching in the pros but his bat-to-ball skills rate as above average, while he can also generate a good bit of thump from a well-timed leg kick.

A gifted defender, Gallego has the smooth actions to stay at the premium position for the foreseeable future. His arm slots can vary, hampering its overall strength, but he has the quick first step and lateral movement that often portends to success. His long legs allow him to cover ground quickly on the basepaths, seamlessly taking extra bases. If he can improve his physicality, Gallego has the look of a big league infielder.”

The D’Backs signed a second switch hitting Cuban shortstop, Leonardo Sevilla for ($750,000 per Baseball America) Although Sevilla is older (18) and took less money than Gallego, that’s not a reflection of him as a prospect, but instead largely a result of coming over later in the process, after many teams have already committed nearly all of their bonus pool money. Sevilla is actually a fairly advanced hitter, especially tor his age. He has a compact swing and great bat to ball skills from both sides of the plate, on the athleticism and the tools to stick at shortstop. Based on the scouting reports I’ve read, Sevilla is a great sleeper pick for a breakout Dbacks prospect in 2026.

Dominican shortstop Brayan Figueroa isn’t nearly as polished, but he has two stand out tools in raw power (especially for his age) and a cannon for an arm. A righthanded hitter, Figueroa will need to make adjustments to make more frequent contact if he’s going to succeed as a hitter, right now his approach trades contact for power. He has a plus arm and will likely slide over to third base in the near future.

Landing right outside the Top 50 list is Yohendi Hernandez ($547,500), a lefthanded center fielder from the Dominican Republic. Hernandez has a hit over power profile offensively, but considering he’s only a 16 year old, there’s a lot of physical projection left.

Venezuelan catcher Jhosep Villarroel could end up being one of the better value signings of the class for the D-backs. He has the tools and the baseball IQ to stick at catcher, but he is somewhat undersized for a catcher at just 5ft’9in. He’s got a short simple swing and already shown great contact ability, while hitting the ball with surprising authority.

Cuban outfielder Loidel Amaya ($560,000) is a 6-foot-1 righthanded hitter with a quick stroke, a simple lower half move to the ball and fast bat speed to drive the ball with impact. An average runner, Amaya likely projects to end up as a corner outfielder long term.

Outfielder Joscar Hernandez from Venezuela is a plus runner who defends his position well in center field, but has a lot of development left as a hitter.

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Bulls beat Nets 124-102 to split home-and-home set

CHICAGO (AP) — Coby White scored 24 points, Ayo Dosunmu had 19 and the Chicago Bulls beat the Brooklyn Nets 124-102 on Sunday night to split a home-and-home set.

The Nets won the opener 112-109 on Friday night in Brooklyn.

Nikola Vucevic added 17 points, 11 rebounds and six assists for Chicago. Matas Buzelis also scored 17 points.

Nolan Traore scored 16 points for Brooklyn. Danny Wolf and Jalen Wilson each had 14. The Nets have lost nine of 11.

Dosunmu had 3-pointers at the beginning and end of a 10-0 run late in the first quarter to help the Bulls take a 39-22 lead into the second. Chicago led 70-51 at the half and the advantage stayed above 20 points for most of the second half.

The Bulls average more than 20,000 fans at the United Center, but there were plenty of empty seats at tip-off, which came 30 minutes after the Los Angeles Rams and Bears kicked off their NFC division round game a few miles away at Soldier Field. The Bears’ first touchdown occurred just before an early timeout and got a loud roar from the crowd when a replay was shown on the video board.

Up next

Nets: Host Phoenix on Monday night.

Bulls: Host the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

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Sabres Facing Crucial Stretch That Could Define Their Season

Quinn Hughes (left); Owen Power (right) -- (Timothy T. Ludwig, USA TODAY Images)
Quinn Hughes (left); Owen Power (right) -- (Timothy T. Ludwig, USA TODAY Images)

The Buffalo Sabres have been enjoying success of late, but they’re still in a dogfight to hang onto a Stanley Cup playoff berth. And their next 10 games could be the difference in making or missing the post-season.

The Sabres start the week on a five-game road trip, with showdowns against the Carolina Hurricanes, Nashville Predators, Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders and Toronto Maple Leafs. Do any of those teams sound like pushovers to you? Us neither. But that’s only the first half of the Sabres’ next five games.

"The Big Show"

Once they finish up with the Islanders game, the Sabres will play the Los Angeles Kings, Canadiens (again) and Florida Panthers, the Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Again (and with due respect to the Penguins), that’s nine games out of 10 that the Sabres get an opponent who could beat them.

That means, between now and then – ‘then’ being three weeks from today,– the Sabres could find themselves either in a top-three position in the Atlantic Division, or they could be in the basement of the Eastern conference once again. The difference between being a playoff team and a non-playoff team is razor-thin, and that’s why every game counts.

The Sabres will need to produce about 14 standings points out of 20 points available to them in their next 10 games. Anything less than that, and there’s room for competing teams to leapfrog them in the standings. 

Sabres Get Massive Night From Thompson In Win Over Habs – And That's What They Need More OfSabres Get Massive Night From Thompson In Win Over Habs – And That's What They Need More OfBuffalo Sabres star winger Tage Thompson had a season-best performance against the Montreal Canadiens. And the Sabres need consistent brilliance from Thompson to secure their playoff spot.

The Sabres have to show right now that they’re a different group than the Sabres teams that wilted beneath the pressure that has built every year since Buffalo last was a playoff team.

But there's no question the Sabres have a major test in the 10 games ahead. And the way they respond to that challenge will largely dictate whether they can end their playoff drought, or see it increased to 15 years.

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Preview: Utah Jazz size up San Antonio Spurs at season’s midpoint

We’ve finally passed it: the halfway marker. 42 games are officially filed away, and just 40 more contests remain. So set up camp, pitch your tent, fill your water reserves, light a fire, roast a s’more, burn a marshmallow beyond recognition, try again, same result, cut your losses, and ingest the charcoal-esque blackness of a failed marshmallow roast between two graham crackers. Take your rest, because if you thought the first half of the season would be challenging, it would be best to learn to disconnect from your emotions, and simply allow the remaining season to wash over you like the tide.

We’ve witnessed the rebirth of the 2023-24 era Lauri Markkanen. We’ve celebrated the emergence of rising star Keyonte George as he knocks on the door of All-Star consideration. We’ve been brought to tears by the majestic flight of rookie Ace Bailey, and we’ve likewise been brought to tears by the incorporeal return of Taylor Hendricks. Brice Sensabaugh scored 43 points in a game — that was real.

We’ve mourned victories and applauded defeat. We’ve watched with bated breath as Utah dangles its first-round pick inches from the fangs of the rabid dog that is OKC. We’ve made new friends, and we’ve forged new rivalries.

The Dallas Mavericks’ fanbase has signed a declaration of war against the Utah Jazz (for… losing to them? Tanking better than the team with Cooper Flagg? I’m not entirely clear), which is something that Spurs fans should be able to empathise with, being Dallas’ storied in-state rival.

This season, San Antonio is everything that Utah is not. They boast certifiable stars in Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox. They have nailed their recent draft picks like Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper. Utah hopes to compete in the distant future; San Antonio promises to confront them in the Playoffs if that day ever arrives.

The result of this basketball game shouldn’t really be in question (the Spurs are home favorites by 16.5 points at the time of writing this), but the dichotomy between these two teams compels me toward introspection.

The Utah Jazz (14-28) visit the San Antonio Spurs (29-13) with near-perfectly inverse records. The visitors lose nearly as often as the hosts win, and vice versa. This is true despite the fact that these two are virtually identical in average age of their players, Utah (25.3 years old average), the eighth-youngest roster in the NBA, and San Antonio (26.3 years), just one year older (per NBAage.com, which is a phenomenal URL for exactly this type of data). The fundamental difference between these two teams is the quality of their depth chart, where the Spurs are so age-efficient with their roster that they possess a player whose mere existence threatens the dynamic of basketball at large.

Their most apparent advantage over the likes of Utah? Draft position. The Spurs have selected second, fourth, and first in the past three drafts, while the Jazz were left with scraps, picking fifth, tenth, and ninth in the same years.

And with a larger margin for error, the Spurs have hit the bullseye every. Single. Time. Is Utah cursed with poor lottery luck? Will the Jazz ever be rewarded for their misery with a top pick, or are they doomed to circle their goals in perpetual motion? This question will gradually be answered as the season reaches its twilight, but for the moment, Utah faces yet another challenge.

So here we sit at the midpoint of the 2025-26 journey. Staring into the face of a team miles ahead of the Jazz despite beginning in the same place just a few years ago. Set in the southern end of the Lone Star State, the Utah Jazz square off against the San Antonio Spurs.

How to watch Utah Jazz vs San Antonio Spurs:

Date: Monday, Jan 19, 2026
Time: 4:00 PM MT
Location: Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
Channel: Jazz+, KJZZ
Odds: SAS -16.5

Calvin Barrett is a writer, editor, and prolific Mario Kart racer located in Tokyo, Japan. He has covered the NBA and College Sports since 2024.

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No. 7 Houston extends winning streak to 11 games with 103-73 victory over Arizona State

HOUSTON (AP) — Kingston Flemings had 20 points and eight assists, Chris Cenac Jr. added a career high-tying 18 points and No. 7 Houston extended its winning streak to 11 games with a 103-73 victory over Arizona State on Sunday night.

Cenac, who also had eight rebounds and five assists, had 12 points and led six Houston players with at least eight points in the first half as the Cougars (17-1, 5-0 Big 12) built a 56-29 lead at the break. Houston shot 55% and was 8 of 16 from 3-point distance in the first half.

Emanuel Sharp and Milos Uzan each had 16 points and Joseph Tugler finished with 12 points and seven rebounds for Houston, which shot 56% and was 12 for 25 from long distance. The Cougars, who posted their highest point total of the season, have won 15 straight games at home.

Houston forced 17 turnovers and converted them into 31 points, and held a 44-22 advantage in points in the paint.

Andrija Grbovic scored 14 points, Anthony Johnson added 12 and Bryce Ford and Noah Meeusen scored 10 apiece for Arizona State (10-8, 1-4). The Sun Devils shot 41% and were 9 of 25 on 3-pointers. Arizona State was 20 of 24 from the free throw line, but lost for the sixth time in seven games.

Houston jumped out to a 30-5 lead on a layup by Flemings with about 11½ minutes remaining in the first half. Cenac had 10 points, and Flemings had six points in the game-opening run. The Cougars shot 12 of 15 from the field to start the game.

Houston got off to a fast start for the second straight game. The Cougars opened up their 77-48 win over West Virginia on Wednesday with a 28-5 run.

Up next

Arizona State: Hosts West Virginia on Wednesday.

Houston: At No. 15 Texas Tech on Saturday.

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Wilbur Wood: 1941-2026

American baseball pitcher Wilbur Wood, of the Chicago White Sox, demonstrates his 'knuckle ball' at the club's Comiskey Park stadium in Chicago, Illinois, 30th July 1973.

White Sox legend and chronically-underrated starting pitcher in the 1970s, Wilbur Wood, died on Saturday at age 84.

The 17-year veteran came into his own after arriving on the South Side in 1966, first as a bullpen specialist and later as a throwback innings-eater. In the process, he was named to three All-Star Games and finished among the Top 5 in Cy Young voting in three consecutive years.

The key to Wood’s excellence was the knuckleball, which allowed him to throw an extraordinary 1,070 innings over his three Cy Young-contention seasons. Those seasons yielded a 70-50 record, 2.64 ERA/2.94 FIP, 142 games, 63 complete games, 19 shutouts and even a save — all adding up to a 30.0 WAR. To put that value in perspective, only nine other pitchers in White Sox history have more than 30.0 career WAR.

Wood’s 376 2/3 innings in 1972 rank 274th all-time (all but a handful of bigger workloads were from the 1800s, however) and most since Grover Cleveland Alexander in 1917. Wood started 49 games that year, which works out to more than 30% of the club’s starts, and his innings pitched added up to more than 27% of the team’s total innings load.

Legend has it that Hall-of-Famer Hoyt Wilhelm and fellow pitching star Eddie Fisher welcomed Wood to the White Sox in 1966 with a career-changing gift — teaching the lefty the knuckleball. But while Wood struggled over parts of four seasons in Boston and Pittsburgh (1-8, 4.13 ERA) and suddenly became a bullpen force in Chicago due to the pitch, the two veterans were more mentors who guided Wood than teachers who made him.

“I just decided to junk my curve and everything else and go 100% with the knuckleball,” Wood told our Mark Liptak back in 2005. “I had actually thrown that pitch for a long time; I started using it back in high school and semipro ball.”

After a “modest” 51-game debut (41 in relief) in 1967 that yielded a 2.45 ERA, the “new knuckleballer” led the AL in appearances in each of the next three seasons. In two of those years (1968 and 1970) Wood led the AL in games finished, and compiled 52 saves from 1968-70.

In 1971, new White Sox manager Chuck Tanner and pitching coach Johnny Sain opted to shift Wood to the starting rotation, and the southpaw thrived, with an MLB-best 11.7 WAR and 1.91 ERA.

In Wood’s five starring years as a starter (1971-75), he averaged 336 1/3 innings per season. He led the majors in starts in four seasons and the AL in starts in all five. Amazingly, nearly 30% of his starts during that stretch came on two days’ or less rest. The southpaw shrugged that off, however, with 99 complete games in that stretch.

What stopped Wood’s career was not the wear-and-tear of the heavy workload, but a line drive off the bat of Ron LeFlore in Detroit on May 9, 1976. The smash shattered Wood’s kneecap and ended his season. True to form, though, Wood had completed five of his six starts to that point, with a 2.24 ERA.

Wood returned in 1977 and 1978, starting 45 games total — but his ERA ballooned to 5.11 in the two seasons. He was granted free agency after the 1978 season, and when no teams called on him to eat some innings in 1979, Wood’s career was over, at 37.

After his baseball career, Wood worked in various sales positions. At the turn of the century, he was named to the White Sox’s All-Century Team.

By JAWS calculations measuring peak value, Wood stands as the 106th-best starting pitcher in baseball history. His 51.7 career WAR with the White Sox places him as the fourth-best pitcher and seventh-best player in team history. His 50.0 career WAR overall ranks 320th in baseball history, tied with Roy Oswalt. Yet Wood never received more than 7% support for Hall of Fame election.

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Detroit 4 Ottawa 3 (OT): James Reimer Stops 30 Shots In Senators Debut

For the second time in as many days, the Ottawa Senators blew a two-goal lead and lost in overtime. Alex DeBrincat scored just 36 seconds into the extra frame to give the Detroit Red Wings a 4–3 home victory.

As was the case in Saturday's overtime versus Montreal, the Senators had a prime chance at one end, couldn’t capitalize, then surrendered an odd-man rush the other way. DeBrincat led the charge and ripped a shot high glove-side past newcomer James Reimer, who had a solid debut despite the loss.

Ottawa was outshot 34–22 in the game.

The Senators got things going early in the first period, scoring twice in just 39 seconds.

Just over four minutes in, Drake Batherson had a wide-open net and made no mistake after Red Wings goaltender John Gibson stopped initial shots from Thomas Chabot and Fabian Zetterlund. For number 19, it was goal number 19 on the season.

Ottawa kept pressing and earned a power-play opportunity soon after. Batherson chipped a puck down low to Brady Tkachuk. Tkachuk passed it out front to Dylan Cozens, who finished with a smooth forehand-backhand deke to beat Gibson and give the Senators a 2–0 advantage.

Detroit cut into the lead just over two minutes later. Following an elbowing call on Nick Cousins that didn't look like much, the Red Wings’ power play went to work. Axel Sandin-Pellikka scored his sixth of the season, firing a long wrist shot through traffic that Reimer never picked up through the screen.

Six minutes into the second period, Lucas Raymond tied the game with his 15th goal of the year. In a one-on-one with Jake Sanderson, Raymond ripped the puck past him, and beat Reimer cleanly up high. Senators goaltending continues to struggle with shots from distance, ranking among the league leaders in goals allowed from long range.

Late in the second, with David Perron off for holding, James van Riemsdyk buried a rebound on the power play to give Detroit a 3–2 lead. It was similar to the between the legs shot that Tim Stutzle had scored versus Montreal on Saturday.

But the Senators answered before the end of the period. With Elmer Söderblom in the box for interfering Ridly Greig, Shane Pinto redirected a crisp pass from Claude Giroux into a vacant net. The goal sent both teams to the locker room tied 3–3 after 40 minutes.

Early in the third period, the Senators continued their recent trend of taking offensive-zone penalties. Brady Tkachuk was called for tripping 190 feet from Ottawa’s net. James Reimer made a couple of big saves on the ensuing sequence, forcing him to move laterally and keep the game tied.

Dylan Cozens had a prime opportunity to give the Senators the lead five minutes into the third. Off a hard forecheck by Greig, the puck was jarred loose and slid out to Cozens alone in front with no one around him, but Gibson made a nice glove save.

With nine minutes left to play, Reimer made another fine save to keep the score tied at three. Elmer Soderblom was all alone in front and redirected a shot from the point, but Rhymer got his right pad on it.

The Shane Pinto line had a great look in the final minute of regulation, but never quite got a clean shot off.

That set the scene for DeBrincat's OT heroics against his former team.

Reimer was solid in his first NHL regular-season start in nine months. At 37, Reimer is the third oldest goalie to play this season in the NHL. Jonathan Quick is the oldest followed by former Senator Cam Talbot.

Prior to the game, the Red Wings held a ceremony honoring forward Patrick Kane, celebrating his recent entry into the NHL’s 500-goal club.

The Senators will be in Columbus on Tuesday night.

Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa

This story is from The Hockey News Ottawa. You can visit the site here or click on one of their latest articles below:

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Cavaliers' Darius Garland out at least a week with sprained toe

CLEVELAND (AP) — Cavaliers guard Darius Garland will be sidelined for at least one week due to a sprained right great toe.

Garland suffered the injury on Jan. 14 at Philadelphia and missed Friday's game against the 76ers. The Cavaliers said further evaluation and imaging on Saturday revealed a Grade 1 sprain. The seventh-year guard will be reevaluated in seven to 10 days as he undergoes treatment.

The two-time All-Star has missed 16 games this season due to a nagging injury to his left great toe, which he struggled with during the closing month of last season and the playoffs. Garland had surgery on the toe during the offseason.

Garland is averaging 20.2 points and 7.4 assists over this last 16 games. He was shooting 50.4% from the floor and made 42 of 100 3-pointers.

The Cavaliers have been plagued by injuries all season. After having the best record in the Eastern Conference last season, they are 24-19 and fifth in the East going into Monday afternoon's game against the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba

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Tsyplakov To Return To Islanders Lineup vs. Canucks: 'I Want Him To Play His Game'

VANCOUVER -- The New York Islanders hit the ice against on Sunday afternoon ahead of their Monday showdown against the Vancouver Canucks. 

Mathew Barzal is from Coquitlam, British Columbia, which is about a half hour from Vancouver, so he'll have family and friends in the stands for this one. 

After backing up David Rittich in their 4-2 loss to the Calgary Flames on Saturday, Ilya Sorokin will return to the crease. He stopped all 26 shots that came his way in a 1-0 shutout win against the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday. 

Sorokin, Islanders Snap McDavid's 20-Game Point Streak In 1-0 Shutout Win Over OilersSorokin, Islanders Snap McDavid's 20-Game Point Streak In 1-0 Shutout Win Over OilersSorokin blanks McDavid's Oilers with a masterful shutout. Duclair's timely power-play goal seals a crucial 1-0 victory for the Islanders.

Maxim Tsyplakov, who hasn't played since the Islanders' 4-3 overtime win against the Minnesota Wild, will draw back in for Maxim Shabanov. He'll skate alongside Calum Ritchie and Emil Heineman. 

"There's nothing personal," head coach Patrick Roy said. "I mean, sometimes you've got to try different things. And Tsyppy hasn't played since the Minnesota game, and so we thought this was a good time for it."

Tsyplakov has just one goal in 24 games this season. Roy wants to see the player he saw in the KHL footage before the forward signed with the Islanders ahead of the 2024-25 season. 

"I want him to play his game," Roy said. "When I was watching him two years ago, before he came to the Islanders, I thought that, the way I was watching him, he was a power forward. He's a guy that will bring pucks to the net, a guy that plays really well defensively...to me, that's his DNA, and I want him to play that game. I don't need him to be fancy with the puck -- I know he will, which is fine with me at times. But what I really want to see is his net presence, his ability to do a great job in the defensive zone, and stuff like that. And I know he could do it."

Here's the rest of the lines: 

Puck drop between the Islanders and Canucks comes your way at 10 PM ET. 

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Frank Nazar practices with the Blackhawks, could return this week

CHICAGO (AP) — Blackhawks forward Frank Nazar practiced with the team on Sunday and could return as soon as Thursday at Carolina.

Nazar, who turned 22 on Wednesday, was hit in the face by a puck during a 6-4 loss at Ottawa on Dec. 20.

“It feels great to be back with the guys and skating and had a lot of fun out there today,” Nazar said.

The Blackhawks have lost three in a row going into Monday night's home game against Winnipeg. They visit the Hurricanes on Thursday before hosting Tampa Bay on Friday night.

“As far as I know, he won't play tomorrow. Unless something drastically changed, I don't think he will,” coach Jeff Blashill said of Nazar. “So that would allow him another full practice at least and then see where we go from there.”

Blashill also said Teuvo Teravainen won't play against the Jets because of an upper-body injury. The 31-year-old forward got hurt in the first period of last week's 4-1 loss to Edmonton.

Nazar, a first-round pick in the 2022 draft, has six goals and 15 assists in 33 games this season. He agreed to a $46.2 million, seven-year extension with the Blackhawks in August.

“Just really itching to get back and give what I can to help the team win,” Nazar said.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

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Canucks Make Four Roster Moves Including Calling Up Pettersson From The AHL

The Vancouver Canucks have announced four roster moves ahead of their matchup on Monday against the New York Islanders. Vancouver has recalled defenceman Elias Pettersson while assigning defenceman Victor Mancini and Nikita Tolopilo to the AHL. The Canucks have also called up goaltender Jiri Patera under emergency conditions.

Pettersson was sent down to the Abbotsford Canucks on January 11 and skated in two AHL games. He did not record a point but did have two penalty minutes and two shots on goal. This season, Pettersson has played in 38 NHL games, where he has recorded six points. 

As for Mancini, he skated in four games for the Canucks since his call-up on January 11. In those four games, he recorded two shots and averaged 16:33 of ice time. Mancini has spent the majority of his season in the AHL, posting six points in 20 games. 

Moving to the goaltenders, Tolopilo played two games on his recent call-up. In those two games, he posted a 6.01 goals against average and a save percentage of .842. Tolopilo is 4-4-3 in the AHL this season with a save percentage of .900.

Lastly, Patera is projected to serve as the backup on Monday against the Islanders as Thatcher Demko remains out with an injury. He has played one NHL game this year, where he allowed seven goals on 40 shots against the Florida Panthers. This season, Patera is 7-6-4 in the AHL and has a save percentage of .915. 

Dec 27, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Elias Pettersson (25) handles the puck against the San Jose Sharks in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Dec 27, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Elias Pettersson (25) handles the puck against the San Jose Sharks in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

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Braves’ Ha-seong Kim to miss at least four months after falling on ice in offseason injury crusher

Atlanta Braves shortstop Ha-Seong Kim reacts during a baseball game.
Ha-Seong Kim.

The Braves will be without a key infielder for a significant portion of the 2026 season.

Ha-seong Kim, who was expected to be Atlanta’s starting shortstop, will miss four to five months after undergoing surgery to repair a torn tendon in his right middle finger, the team announced Sunday.

Kim sustained the injury in his native Korea after slipping and falling on ice, per MLB.com’s Mark Bowman.

Ha-Seong Kim re-signed with the Braves in December for one-year, $20 million. AP

The 30-year-old joined the Braves last September as a waiver pickup from the Rays following another injury-plagued season.

After recovering from shoulder surgery to open 2025, Kim appeared in just 24 games with Tampa Bay before landing on the injured list again with a back issue.

Atlanta claimed him in early September with plans for him to man shortstop down the stretch.

“I think if I had stayed healthy, I would’ve played more games every day,” Kim said through an interpreter after joining Atlanta, per MLB.com. “Obviously, the season didn’t really pan out to how I had planned it.

“I’m obviously excited to play alongside a talented group of players, and I’m obviously very excited to finish the season on a high note, in a healthy way.”

After hitting .253/.316/.368 with three home runs and 12 RBIs in September, Kim opted out of the second year of the two-year, $29 million deal he signed the previous offseason.

Kim re-signed with the Braves on a one-year, $20 million contract to serve as the team’s full-time shortstop in 2026.

“I can tell you it helped on our end, just from a comfort standpoint,” Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos said of having Kim for the last month of 2025. “I feel like even though he wasn’t here that long, a month was pretty significant. He fit in quickly.”

Ha-Seong Kim reacts after scoring on a RBI double by Michael Harris II #23 in the second inning against the Washington Nationals at Truist Park on September 22, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. Getty Images

A former Gold Glove winner as a utility player, Kim has flashed a dynamic blend of speed, power and defense across five MLB seasons, though injuries have followed him.

He underwent shoulder surgery in October 2024 for a “small tear” in the labrum in his right shoulder, an injury he suffered in late August of that season.

Both the Rays and Braves have hoped to recapture Kim’s 2023 form, when he slashed .260/.351/.398 with 17 homers, 60 RBIs and 38 stolen bases for the Padres.

A three-time Gold Glove winner in the Korea Baseball Organization, Kim joined the majors after signing a four-year, $28 million deal with the Padres for the 2021 campaign.

Fellow Gold Glove winner Mauricio Dubón, acquired by Atlanta this offseason, figures to see significant time at shortstop to open 2026.

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Are LeBron James, Luka Doncic playing tonight? Latest on Lakers injuries

A decimated Los Angeles Lakers squad was blown out by the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday, Jan. 17. It was an uphill battle from the beginning as L.A. was without Luka Dončić, Deandre Ayton, Jaxson Hayes, Austin Reaves and Adou Thiero. The Lakers also took some hits to Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia in-game, throwing their statuses for the second half of a back-to-back against the Toronto Raptors on Sunday, Jan. 18 in doubt – at least initially.

Adding to the laundry list of question marks, LeBron James is expected to be a game-time decision, as is to be the case with every back-to-back going forward.

The Lakers are getting some much-needed relief on Sunday, with both Ayton and Hayes expected to back on the court. It also appears as though they've dodged a bullet as neither Smart or LaRavia were listed on the injury report.

That leaves the two biggest questions that likely won't be definitively answered until we get closer to tip-off: Will Dončić and James take the court vs. the Raptors?

Here's everything you need to know about the status of the two Lakers stars:

CLIPPERS: Kawhi Leonard out at least two more games with knee issue

Is Luka Doncic playing tonight vs. Raptors?

Dončić is questionable to play with left groin soreness, according to the latest NBA injury report released at 5:30 p.m. ET. He originally told reporters on Jan. 12 he "felt something" in his groin/inner thigh area during pregame warmups, but he ended up playing through both games of the Lakers' back-to-back early last week.

Dončić also played in Thursday's loss to the Charlotte Hornets, scoring 39 points before sitting out on Saturday.

Is LeBron James playing tonight?

James is also listed as questionable for Sunday night's games, which is to be expected after the 41-year-old said as much to reporters a week ago.

James did play in the Lakers' most recent back-to-back on January 12 and 13, logging 33 minutes in each and coming up just one rebound shy of a 31-point triple-double in a 141-116 blowout win over the Hawks.

In Saturday night's loss to the Trail Blazers, James scored 20 points and led the team in assists and rebounds with nine and eight, respectively.

Lakers injuries

Ayton and Hayes both did not play on Saturday, leaving the door open for Drew Timme to see extended minutes at center. Smart limped off the court following a collision midway through the fourth quarter, but he was not listed on Sunday's injury report. Both Ayton and Hayes are also expected to return against Toronto.

The only other names on the Lakers injury report ahead of the game are Reaves (left calf strain) and Thiero (right MCL sprain), who have both missed extended time and are expected to be re-evaluated towards the end of the month.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: LeBron James, Luka Doncic injury update for Lakers vs Raptors tonight

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LIVE Discussion: Brooklyn Nets at Chicago Bulls, 7:00 PM ET

It’s the second half of a home-and-home. The Nets (12-27) are looking for a rare road win to sweep the mini-series, but the tanking crowd is eyeing those lottery balls. Chicago (19-22) is desperate to get back to .500 and stop a four-game slide.

🏀 Game Info

  • Tip: 7:00 PM ET
  • TV: YES Network | Gotham Sports App
  • Radio: 101.9 FM / 660 AM WFAN

⚠️ Injury Report

Nets:

  • Michael Porter Jr. (OUT – Rest)
  • Drake Powell (OUT – Left Knee Injury Management)
  • Ziaire Williams (OUT – Return to Competition Reconditioning)
  • Haywood Highsmith (OUT – Right Knee Surgery Recovery)
  • Ben Saraf (OUT – G League Assignment)
  • Tyson Etienne / Chaney Johnson / E.J. Liddell (OUT – Two-Way)

Bulls:

  • Josh Giddey (Doubtful)
  • Patrick Williams (Questionable),
  • Zach Collins (Out)

💬 Discussion

Share thoughts and react, but please be respectful. NetsDaily prides itself on being a safe space for Nets and basketball fans alike to have healthy conversation. Reach out to Anthony Puccio or Net Income with any issues.

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Phil Goyette, former NHL forward and Islanders' first coach, dies at 92

MONTREAL (AP) — Phil Goyette, the former NHL forward who helped the Montreal Canadiens win Stanley Cup titles in his first four seasons and was the New York Islanders' first coach, has died. He was 92.

The Canadiens said in a statement Sunday that Goyette died Saturday, saying Goyette's “family would like to thank the public for their wishes of sympathy.” The team didn't provide a cause of death.

Goyette, from Lachine, Quebec, made his debut with the Canadiens in 1956-57. He also played for the New York Rangers, Buffalo Sabres and St. Louis Blues, winning the Lady Byng Trophy for sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct in 1969-70 with St. Louis.

In 940 regular-season games, Goyette had 207 goals and 467 assists. The center added 17 goals and 29 assists in 94 playoff games. He wrapped up his playing career in 1971-72, falling short of a fifth Stanley Cup title when the Rangers fell to Boston in six games in the final.

“We join the hockey world in sending our condolences to Phil’s loved ones, friends, and former teammates,” the Rangers said in a statement.

Goyette coached the expansion Islanders in 1972-73, going 6-40-4 before he was replaced by Earl Ingarfield.

“The Islanders are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Phil Goyette, the organization’s original head coach,” the team said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.”

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl