In today's edition: The magical Week 6 AP poll, Chargers top Eagles in OT, ranking every bowl game, World Cup adds water breaks, meet the boxer with 100 losses, photo finish, and more.
NHL Rumors: 3 Potential Trade Fits For Blackhawks' Ilya Mikheyev
The Chicago Blackhawks have many pending unrestricted free agents (UFAs) this season. Because of this, the Blackhawks could be active as sellers if they find themselves out of a playoff spot as we get closer to the 2025 NHL trade deadline.
Among their most notable pending UFAs is forward Ilya Mikheyev. If the Blackhawks make him available this season, he would likely generate interest, as he is a solid forward who can score and kill penalties. He also just had a 20-goal and 34-point season in 2024-25.
Due to this, let's look at three teams that could target Mikheyev if the Blackhawks shop him this season.
Washington Capitals
The Capitals could be an interesting landing spot for Mikheyev if the Blackhawks shop him. He would offer them another solid option for their third line and could give them a bit more secondary offensive production if brought in.
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Lightning will likely be on the hunt for forward depth this season, as their bottom six could use a boost. As a result of this, Mikheyev could fit in nicely in their bottom six if acquired. He would also give them another option to work with on their penalty kill, which would not be a bad thing for the Bolts.
Detroit Red Wings
The Red Wings could also be a team to watch when it comes to Mikheyev. When looking at their roster, it is clear that they could use some help on the wing, and Mikheyev could provide them with just that if acquired.
Columbus Blue Jackets (32 pts) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (36 pts) Game Preview
The Columbus Blue Jackets are on the road to take on the Carolina Hurricanes at Lenovo Center.
Carolina Hurricanes - 17-9-2 - 36 Points - 5-4-1 in last 10 - 2nd in the Metro
Columbus Blue Jackets - 13-10-6 - 32 Points - 3-3-4 in the last 10 - 8th in the Metro
Blue Jackets Stats
- Power Play - 18.3% - 20th in the NHL
- Penalty Kill -72.2% - 29th in the NHL
- Goals For - 86 - 16th in the NHL
- Goals Against - 98 - 28th in the NHL
Hurricanes Stats
- Power Play - 15.3% - 27th in the NHL
- Penalty Kill - 79.0% - 23rd in the NHL
- Goals For - 93 - 8th in the NHL
- Goals Against - 81 - 12th in the NHL
Series History vs. TheHurricanes
- Columbus is 29-30-0-5 all-time, and 13-16-0-3 on the road vs. Carolina.
- The Jackets are 0-6-0 in their last six games in Lenovo Center.
- The CBJ went 2-2 vs. the Canes last season.
Who To Watch For The Hurricanes
- Seth Jarvis leads the Canes with 16 goals.
- Sebastian Aho leads Carolina with 26 points.
- Goalie Brandon Bussi is 8-1-0 with a SV% of .903. His last start was on December 6th.
- Pyotr Kochetkov is 4-1-0 with a SV% of .915. His last start was on December 7th.
CBJ Player Notes vs. Hurricanes
- Zach Werenski has 16 points in 31 career games against Carolina.
- Kirill Marchenko has 11 points in 10 games, which includes 9 goals.
- Sean Monahan has 16 points in 19 games vs. the Canes.
Injuries
- Erik Gudbranson - Upper Body - Missed 21 Games - IR - No timeline for a return
- Boone Jenner - Upper Body - Missed 13 Games - IR - Could return this week
- Mathieu Olivier - Upper Body - Missed 6 Games - IR- No timeline for a return
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 56
How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be on ESPN+ & HULU. Bob Wischusen will be on the play-by-play. The radio broadcast will be on 93.3 THE BUS, with Bob McElligott behind the mic doing the play-by-play.
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Islanders Netminder Ilya Sorokin Named NHL's First Start Of The Week
The NHL has named New York Islanders No. 1 netminder Ilya Sorokin their first star of the week ending Dec. 7.
In three starts, Sorokin went 3-0-0, with a 1.33 GAA and a .960 SV%, which includes a 32-save shutout against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday, a 2-0 win:
#Isles Ilya Sorokin has been named #NHL’s first star of the week:
— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) December 8, 2025
3-0-0, 1.33 GAA, .960 SV%, 1 SO pic.twitter.com/1RY3HaCkwV
This is the second time Sorokin has won the award, last doing so the week of Feb. 1, 2025.
Ironically, he posted a 3-0-0 record with a 1.33 GAA. The difference was a .953 SV%.
Expect Sorokin to be in between the pipes against the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday night at UBS Arena.
Michael van Gerwen: ‘Of course I love darts, but I love my kids much more’
The former world No 1 shares how a traumatic year has shaped him as a darts player and a father and insists he can recapture his glory days at the world championship
“I can be a miserable bastard sometimes,” Michael van Gerwen says with a grin and a shrug as he tries to explain his new burst of optimism after a horribly testing year. “But I can also be quite positive. If you asked me this question a month ago, and we did this interview then, you would find me a bit different to today. But I feel good now even if, 100%, this has been a very tough year for me both on and off the oche.”
Rather than being miserable, the 36-year-old is amiable company – which seems remarkable as in 2025 he has been through a divorce after 17 years with his wife, Daphne, witnessed the devastating effect of cancer on his father, endured intense scrutiny in the Dutch media, and struggled to regain his once imperious form with the arrows.
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Sporticast 508: College Football Playoff Selections Stoke Ire
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Macklin Celebrini micro-stats detail Sharks star's 2025-26 NHL Hart Trophy case
Macklin Celebrini micro-stats detail Sharks star's 2025-26 NHL Hart Trophy case originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
PHILADELPHIA — Macklin Celebrini might not want to hear it, but he’s having a season for the ages.
The 19-year-old is on pace for 41 goals and 118 points. The last teenager to score that many points in a year was 19-year-old Sidney Crosby with 120 points in 2006-07.
Celebrini literally means everything to the Sharks. He has 43 points, meaning he’s been directly involved in 50.6 percent of the team’s 85 goals. Just in comparison, Nathan MacKinnon, who leads the NHL with 49 points, is credited for 42.6 percent of the league-leading Colorado Avalanche’s offense.
If Celebrini keeps this kind of involvement up, it will be literal history.
But Celebrini is doing so much more than producing offense.
He’s second in the NHL with those 43 points, and according to Stathletes, he also is among the league leaders in a variety of two-way statistics.
“You see all the offensive production, how good he is there,” Alex Wennberg said. “You kind of forget how good of a job he does defensively as well.”
That’s why, in the opinion of this awards voter, if Celebrini can sustain his elite two-way play and drag the surprising Sharks into the playoffs, he would be a deserving Hart Trophy winner. As of Dec. 8, San Jose is tied for the last wild-card berth in the Western Conference.
Simply put, is there any player more valuable to his team than Celebrini?
Most stats are from Stathletes and rankings are among NHL forwards in All Situations.
Turnovers Created
Celebrini has forced 67 turnovers this season, sixth among NHL forwards. Turnovers Created are the sum of steals and pass interceptions.
Puck Deflections
Related, Celebrini has 75 Puck Deflections this season, fourth in the league. These are deflected opposition passes, suggesting that Celebrini’s stick is very active, defensively, in all three zones.
Puck Battles
Celebrini has 58 Puck Battle Wins this season, best among NHL forwards.
This might be Celebrini’s most impressive micro-stat. He’s 19, taking the puck from his often much-older peers, as if he were the veteran.
“He’s not afraid. Doesn’t matter who it is. Ultra-competitiveness is probably the best word for that. He wants to win the puck like it’s life or death,” head coach Ryan Warsofsky said, also noting that Celebrini added some size over the summer. “I know that’s a very drastic and dramatic comment, but the great players in every sport [do it]. Tom Brady wanted the ball in his hand. Steph Curry wants the ball in his hand [and is going] to do whatever he can to get it back. I think [that’s] what make great players great.”
“His competitiveness and his full compete is just different from the rest of us,” Wennberg admitted.
There’s a reason why, no less, than Brad Marchand called Celebrini “a dog” because of his compete.
Recoveries
Celebrini has 495 puck recoveries this season, fifth among NHL forwards. Recoveries are loose puck and shot recoveries.
That’s a testament to Celebrini’s quickness and ability to read where the puck is going.
Closer Carries
Celebrini has 511 Closer Carries, ninth in the league. Closer Carries are carries that bring the puck closer to the net.
Successful Zone Entries
Celebrini has 186 Successful Zone Entries, tied with Kirill Kaprizov for sixth in the NHL.
These puck-carrying stats mirror those of the most puck-dominant superstars in the league, your MacKinnon and Connor McDavids.
Penalties Drawn
Celebrini leads all forwards, per Evolving Hockey, with 19 Penalties Drawn and is tied for the lead with a +9 Penalty Differential.
Slot Passes
Celebrini has 71 Slot Passes and 21 Inner Slot Passes, both seventh in the league.
Assisted Chances
Related, Celebrini has 55 Assisted Chances, ninth among NHL forwards. Assisted Chances are passes that lead directly to scoring chances.
Total Chances
Celebrini has 113 Total Scoring Chances, eighth in the league. That’s a combination of shooting and assisted chances.
So shoot, pass, carry, battle, and defend, what can’t Celebrini do?
In baseball, the five-tool player is the ideal, someone who can hit for contact and power, and has speed, a strong arm, and a good glove.
A hockey comp might be a six-tool player who can skate, shoot, pass, stickhandle, is physical, and has hockey IQ at an elite level.
That already appears to be Celebrini, at just 19, in the best league in the world.
Granted, we’re just 30 games into the season, but MVP isn’t a stretch.
“He does everything in all three zones. He’s in on half our points. He plays hard in the D-zone. He plays big minutes. He plays against top lines. He’s a key part of the power play. He’s becoming a leader in the room,” Ryan Reaves said. “He’s doing everything that you want. He’s getting better every day. So I think he’s got a strong case.”
“He’s done a really good job of not letting all the outside noise affect his game, for the most part,” Warsofsky said. “He deserves to be in that conversation, but we got a long way to go.”
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F1 2025 awards: Lando Norris justifies favourite tag after gruelling three-way tussle
McLaren were the obvious choice for team of the year but Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari were a big disappointment while Williams exceeded expectations
Lando Norris had gone into the season as favourite and he emerged on top after a gruelling contest. Securing his maiden world drivers’ title was no easy feat given how hard he had been pushed by his McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri, and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. Closing it out was testament to a driver who maintained his nerve and confidence even as at times it seemed the title had slipped from his reach.
Continue reading...Why Jimmy Butler believes aiding Warriors teammate Jonathan Kuminga is his ‘job'
Why Jimmy Butler believes aiding Warriors teammate Jonathan Kuminga is his ‘job' originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Six-time NBA All-Star Jimmy Butler wants nothing but to see his up-and-coming Warriors teammate Jonathan Kuminga succeed.
Butler shared why helping Kuminga is so important to him in the latest edition of NBC Sports Bay Area’s “Dub Talk” with Monte Poole and Raj Mathai, adding that the 23-year-old swingman is better than he was at that age.
“Oh my God … No. He [is] way better than I was at the age he is,” Butler told Poole and Mathai. “The upside, the ceiling, it’s all of that. Now, what I will say is that I’ve been in his position — as in like starting [and] not starting, just got a deal … But he wants to be great. So, he’s asking all the right questions. He’s saying what he sees. ‘Yo, I need to learn how to do this?’ That’s all you can ask from anybody. Nobody has all the answers; I don’t. Steph [Curry] might, actually …
“So, besides Steph, nobody has all the answers, and [Kuminga’s] asking all these questions because, once again, he wants to do right — whatever you ask him to do. You want him to play the five? You think JK wants to play the damn five? No. But … he’s going to ask, ‘How could I play the five, be effective, win my minutes and help us win?’ And that’s who JK is. And it’s my job to help as often as I can.”
There aren’t many, if any, better situations for a young player like Kuminga to develop in than the Warriors; at minimum, he gets to watch and learn from Curry, Butler and Draymond Green.
However, Butler’s journey to NBA stardom was anything but linear, making him the ideal mentor for Kuminga.
Butler understands the bumps in the road that Kuminga might — or already has — come across, and, as he explained to Poole and Mathai, will have the youngster’s back regardless.
Arizona Wildcats rise to No. 1 in AP Top 25, face another tough test against No. 18 Alabama
Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd talked about his team's ascent to No. 1 in the AP Top 25 men's college basketball poll this week, pointing out that playing on big stages with a big target on your back is why his guys wanted to play for the Wildcats. Already with four ranked wins amid their 8-0 start, the Wildcats are headed next to Birmingham, Alabama, for what amounts to a road game against No. 12 Alabama on a court that will be neutral in name only for the C.M. Newton Classic. “There's a lot of really, really good teams,” Lloyd said after routing Auburn last weekend, ticking off No. 2 Michigan, third-ranked Duke, a UConn team his Wildcats have beaten already, and No. 25 UCLA, which also fell to Arizona earlier this season.
Canucks Can't Solve Gibson, Fall 4-0 To The Red Wings
The Vancouver Canucks suffered their second shutout of the season as they fell 4-0 to the Detroit Red Wings. Kevin Lankinen stopped 10 of the 13 shots he faced through two periods, before being pulled to start the third. As for Nikita Tolopilo, he looked solid in the final frame, stopping all six shots he faced.
John Gibson was the story of the night as he stopped all 39 shots he faced. The Red Wings' goaltender was impressive throughout, but really stepped up in the third as he stopped all 17 shots he faced. Gibson has dominated the Canucks throughout his career, and now improves to 14-5-2 with four shutouts in 22 games.
Monday was yet another in a long list of frustrating games for Vancouver. They won the puck possession battle, yet could not find a way to make their scoring chances count. Post-game, Quinn Hughes spoke about some of the plays that led directly to goals.
"I feel like they have breakdowns too," said Hughes. Ours were definitely significant tonight. I mean, our goalies have been really good, kept us in a lot of games, but just something we have to continue working on."
As mentioned, the Canucks elected to pull Lankinen at the end of the second. This was the first time Lankinen has been pulled this season in what was his 17th game of the year. Post-game, Head Coach Adam Foote spoke on the decision while also touching on Lankinen's overall play as of late.
"I thought he was a little off, even though we did have mistakes, said Foote. "The one where we double up. He had the tip guy alone. Thought it also would give the guys a little bit of a spark, as they go on in the third. Lanks has been a good pro, and sometimes it's just not your night. And it wasn't all on him. He was left alone a couple of times, but just see if we get the guys going.
Foote also gave a few injury updates post-game. When asked about center Elias Pettersson, he said, "I know he felt better today, which is a good sign. I'll know more in the next couple of days. As far as the time frame, I don't want to touch on that yet."
As for Thatcher Demko, his return could be sooner rather than later. While Foote would not give a guarantee, he did indicate that the plan is to play Demko on Thursday. Demko has been out since November 11 with a lower-body injury.
Lastly, Vancouver's home record dropped to 4-9-1 with today's loss. Just like the players, fans are tired of the losses, and it showed on Monday as there were many open seats after puck drop. When asked about the home record, DeBrusk spoke about how the troubles at Rogers Arena are something the team has discussed.
"Our record isn't great in general, said DeBrusk. "We obviously want to be there at home. I think we talked about it a lot, and we need to make this a harder place to play in general, and give some of the fans something to cheer about. They pay a lot of money, and it's never good putting up a goose egg.
Monday's game was a good representation of the Canucks season to this point. Vancouver generated scoring chances, but defensive mistakes ended up costing them a win. As mentioned, it was another frustrating result that resulted in fans leaving Rogers Arena before the final whistle.
Stats and Facts:
- Canucks are shutout by the Red Wings for the ninth time in franchise history
- Kiefer Sherwood recorded his first 10 hit game of the season
- Drew O'Connor went seven for nine in the faceoff dot
- Vancouver's 39 shots are their second-highest total this year
Scoring Summary:
1st Period:
14:14- DET: James van Riemsdyk (7) from J.T. Compher and Michael Rasmussen
2nd Period:
15:15- DET: Andrew Copp (3) from Axel Sandin-Pellikka and Alex DeBrincat
15:52- DET: Nate Danielson (2) from Axel Sandin-Pellikka and Marco Kasper
3rd Period:
15:29- DET: Dylan Larkin (16) from Lucas Raymond (ENG)
Up Next:
The Canucks wrap up their four-game home stand on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres. Vancouver and Buffalo are in similar positions this year as they both sit near the bottom of the standings. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 pm PT.
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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Mets interested in Freddy Peralta, who Brewers are open for business on: report
The Mets have shown interest in Brewers starter Freddy Peralta as they look to revamp their rotation this offseason.
Milwaukee is said to be open for business on the right-hander if a team is willing to meet their steep asking price, according to Joel Sherman of the NY Post.
Unsurprisingly, interest has been wide, as he is owed just $8 million for this season.
Peralta has been one of the best pitchers in baseball since making the move from more of a relief option to the Brewers' starting rotation during the 2021 season.
He is coming off a spectacular campaign in which he topped numerous career marks.
The right-hander finished fifth in NL Cy Young voting after posting a league-high 17 wins, a 2.70 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and 204 strikeouts over 176.2 innings of work.
That marked the third straight season in which he topped 30 starts and the 165-inning mark.
It's unclear exactly what the Brewers may want in exchange for Peralta, but it's fair to believe they would look to add one of New York's highly thought of young starters -- Brandon Sproat or Jonah Tong -- as part of a deal.
According to Sherman, the Mets have also checked in with Milwaukee about late-inning reliever Trevor Megill.