More than 800 men have played in an Ashes Test. England picked most of them in the summer of 1989. But the process of selecting the Guardian’s Ashes Top 100 required something more scientific than that infamous shemozzle.
Let’s start with the small print. We asked 51 judges to select their top 50 men’s Ashes cricketers, from which we calculated a top 100: 50 points for No 1, 49 for No 2 and so on. The voting rules were simple. Players were assessed solely on their performances in Ashes cricket, though judges could interpret that any way they liked. (Yep, someone did vote for Gary Pratt.) The judges had to pick at least 15 players from each country and a minimum of five from each of five different eras: players who made their debut before the first world war; in the interwar years; from the second world war to 1974; from 1975 till 1999; and from 2000 onwards.
Arseny Gritsyuk saw a career high of 20:39 of ice time on Wednesday in the New Jersey Devils' 4-3 overtime win over the Chicago Blackhawks.
A hat trick from 21-year-old defenseman Simon Nemec, combined with shifts in the top two lines, propelled the Devils to their 12th win of the season. The team currently leads the Metropolitan Division with a record of 12-4-1.
Prior to the win, it was announced that head coach Sheldon Keefe would be shuffling the top two lines in search of a spark.
As a result, Keefe went with the following lines:
Arseny Gritsyuk - Jack Hughes - Dawson Mercer
Timo Meier - Nico Hischier - Jesper Bratt
Ondrej Palat - Cody Glass - Stefan Noesen
Paul Cotter - Luke Glendening - Zack MacEwen
Keefe explained the change was necessary to improve offensive chemistry. "It has been too long now. Both those lines haven't really connected offensively," Keefe told NJD.TV. "I think it is time. A little bit of a different look for us."
Gristyuk, playing alongside Jack Hughes and Dawson Mercer, recorded three shots on net during his 25 shifts and left Chicago with one assist, contributing to the team's overtime win.
After the game, Gristyuk reflected on his performance in a Telegram message.
“We beat Chicago on the road today in overtime.🔥 I played today in this line, I can say with the best players of their year: Hughes (America) Mercer (Canada). It seemed to work out well. It so happened that two players from our team got injured in the first period and we played two periods with three attacking lines. I haven't felt such pleasant fatigue in a long time. In short, I had a blast. Tomorrow I'm thinking of visiting a sauna in Chicago. I'll be in touch.👋Have a good start of the day everyone, I'm off to bed.🤙🤝”
In his career-high NHL minutes, Gritsyuk felt exhausted but productive, as all three linemates left the game with at least one point.
Jack Hughes finished with two assists, Dawson Mercer scored one goal, and Arseny Gritsyuk ended the night with one assist and three shots on goal.
The team now prepares for its matchup against the Washington Capitals on Saturday.
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Editor’s Note: In a three-part series, Chris Forsberg is sharing 13 thoughts on the 13 Celtics players who have played in the team’s first 13 games. Part 1 focused on the “core four.” Next up: four of the team’s top role players.
One of the more encouraging developments through the early part of the 2025-26 season has been the contributions of role players for these new-look Boston Celtics.
After the team’s offseason roster overhaul, it was fair to wonder who was ready to step into elevated roles. The Celtics confidently rolled 10 deep in recent seasons, but beyond the returnees who contributed to the 2024 championship run, it was fair to wonder who amongst a motley crew of recent draftees and offseason signings would be able to fill the clear voids of the veterans who departed.
While some of Boston’s younger players are still on a quest for individual consistency, the bench has given the Celtics steady output to start the season. The Celtics rank 11th in the NBA in bench scoring (38.1 points per game) but are getting a league-best 6.8 bench 3-pointers per game, while the reserve group has often provided energy and grit.
For Part 2 of our “13 for 13” series, we’re putting the spotlight on some of the team’s top role players.
Jordan Walsh
One number: +23.6
That is Walsh’s net rating this season. For context, here are the NBA’s net rating leaders (minimum of 15.0 minutes per game and nine games played):
Alex Caruso, Thunder: +29.1
Jordan Walsh, Celtics: +23.6
Chet Holmgren, Thunder: +22.6
Nikola Jokic, Nuggets: +21.0
Essentially, Walsh is lingering among key members of a championship team that’s now on pace to challenge the 2016 Warriors’ 73-win season, as well as a three-time MVP. That’s solid company.
We don’t want to overreact to a five-game sample, but Walsh has clearly put together the best week of his NBA career and given hope that he can be a true contributor as these Celtics shape their next title-chasing team. He’s shooting the 3-pointer with confidence (43.8 percent beyond the arc on 1.8 attempts per game) and his ability to guard all shapes and sizes — from Tyrese Maxey to Paolo Banchero — has won him the confidence of Mazzulla.
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Walsh needs to keep his foot on the accelerator, but it sure feels like he’s the sort of wing who can take a whole bunch of stress off Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, at least on the defensive end. His rebounding has been vital since his minutes spiked.
Josh Minott
One number: 5.0
That’s Minott’s foul percentage this season, which ranks in the highest fifth of the league, per Cleaning the Glass data. His propensity to pick up early fouls has hindered his ability to lock down the starting role that he elevated to early in the season.
One thought
The Lawn Mower’s ability to impact the game with his energy is undeniable. When the Celtics were getting battered on the glass to start the season, he injected some much-needed height and athleticism into Boston’s starting frontcourt. His offense emerged, too, as he started knocking down above-the-break 3s and finishing loud alley-oops in transition.
But the 22-year-old Minott is still searching for consistency — and the coaching staff seems to be imploring him to play without fouling. Minott has all the physical abilities to be a consistent presence for this team, and being laser-focused will ensure he stays on the floor.
Hugo Gonzalez
One number: 8
That’s the number of All-Stars the Celtics have had Gonzalez defend in his first 171 minutes of floor NBA time. From long stretches against Cade Cunningham, Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Maxey; to shorter stints jousting with Lauri Markkanen, Kevin Durant, Paolo Banchero, Donovan Mitchell and Alperen Sengun; the Celtics have put Gonzalez to the test early and often.
He’s held up well, limiting his opponents to 44.7 percent shooting, or 1.2 percent below expected output. Gonzalez generates steals on 3.6 percent of defensive possessions, which ranks in the 100th percentile among wings, per Cleaning the Glass data.
Gonzalez does not look like a teenager on the floor. He confidently hounds opposing players and even displays a little bit of a swagger, particularly in his exasperation when he gets a rookie whistle.
Yes, Gonzalez gets an earful every time he makes a mistake. Yes, his offense has a long way to go to keep him on the court. But he plays with a poise that few NBA teenagers possess. Having him on a bargain rookie pact for the next four seasons could be vital in giving the team flexibility to build its next title contender.
Luka Garza
One number: 5.5
That’s the number of screen assists per 36 minutes that Garza is generating this season. He’s in the top 20 for total screen assists despite his limited time. Operating at times like an offensive lineman, he’s relentless in trying to pancake opposing defenders to free up a Boston ball-handler.
Thanks to Garza and Neemias Queta, the Celtics rank second in the NBA in both screen assists per game (9.6) and screen assist points generated (23.1 points per game). Only the Jazz have higher numbers this season.
One thought
Everyone knew the defensive limitations with Garza coming into the season, and that has bore itself out — the Celtics’ defense is 7.8 points worse with Garza on the floor this season. But for a team thin on big bodies, Garza is willing to fight hard for rebounds, runs the floor with reckless abandon and is content to set screens as if it’s the top line on basketball resume.
Garza has been solid in short doses, and he certainly has aided the bench offense with a variety of paint finishes and an ability to knock down 3-pointers. The Celtics are 5-0 when they’ve won — or basically tied, as was the case vs. Cleveland — Garza’s minutes.
Steve Borthwick deserves credit for taking what was a real weakness of England’s and making it one of their strengths
Rugby union is a sport of trends and of unintended consequences and what I expect to be the two most decisive factors in England’s clash with the All Blacks on Saturday are inextricably linked. Much has been made of England’s firepower on their bench – New Zealand’s isn’t bad either – and when coaches are able to call upon such quality replacements, often en masse, then the kicking battle becomes all the more important.
Because the international game is not currently as fluid as it has been. That isn’t necessarily a criticism, it’s just the way things are at present; a little bit like the Premier League where set pieces and long throws are dominating. Of course we would all love to see flowing, attacking rugby but it’s really difficult because all elite sides favour having 13 or 14 men in the line, they all seem to adopt a blitz defence and the sheer level of physicality means it can be hard to have possession. It means that having a good set piece and a good kicking game are paramount and the emerging trend for “bomb squads” accentuates that because less fatigue is taking hold across 80 minutes. That isn’t to say there aren’t some magical moments when teams are on transition – Henry Arundell’s try against Fiji is a great example – but it is clear to me that things are a little old school at the moment.
He coaxed greatness from teammates, bent occasions to his will and mastered the most complex of arts, but best of all he connected like few others in sport
Raise the Playboy pants like a pirate flag. Twirl the big brimmer in celebration. It was always going to be Shane, really, wasn’t it.
We did of course have a countdown first, because people love countdowns, because cricket is basically one unceasing countdown, an endless pencil stub ticking off names and numbers. There were 99 members of the supporting cast to be ushered to their spots, the non-Shanes of history, meat in the Ashes room.
The Buffalo Sabres lost their most recent game – a 6-3 loss to the Colorado Avalanche Thursday.’Once again, the Sabres got stomped, and Thursday’s loss to the Avs came one day after their loss to the Utah Mammoth.
That 5-2 loss to Utah was particularly stinging for Buffalo’s fan base, as Utah got a goal and an assist coming from former Sabre J.J. Peterka. The goal was Peterka’s fifth of the season and the 12th point of the year, and you’d better believe it felt good to stick it to his former team.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, the Sabres got hammered in Colorado. And that latest loss has Buffalo once again at the bottom of the standings. The loss to the Avs was Buffalo’s fifth in a row – with their last four losses all coming in regulation time – and the Sabres have now lost eight of their past nine games.
Needless to say, this is just beyond the pale for this Buffalo team. You are what your record says you are, and unfortunately for Buffalo fans, this is a 5-8-4 Sabres team.
There’s no sugar-coating it – the Sabres are demonstrably terrible. There is no quality depth on this Buffalo team. There is no quality defense on this team. And there are no goalies on this team who can consistently steal games for Buffalo.
So, who pays the price for the Sabres’ latest swoon? You’d have to think both GM Kevyn Adams and coach Lindy Ruff pay the price by losing their jobs. That’s just a given at this stage. But when it comes to the roster, we’d say only forward Tage Thompson and defenseman Rasmus Dahlin aren’t going to be traded. Otherwise, just about every Sabres players could be moved.
This latest losing skid is exactly what Buffalo was hoping to avoid. The fact Sabres players couldn’t do so is an indictment of the organization, the coaching staff, and the players themselves. And now that it looks like there will be no playoff hockey in Buffalo for the 15th straight season, somebody needs to be accountable for it.
That means the end of the line for Adams and Ruff, two longtime Buffalo residents who, for one reason or another, could never get the job done. They had good intentions, of course. But this isn’t the National Good Intentions League. This is the National Hockey League, and the Sabres just aren’t very good at hockey.
The status quo is a non-starter for this Buffalo team. Change has to come for the Sabres, and change has to come now. This Sabres squad simply doesn’t have what it takes to consistently win games, and until such time as a page is turned on this terrible era for the franchise, the losing and suffering is going to continue.
Harmonious Kiwi teamwork across various sports should fill us with frustrated envy – if only to annoy some Aussies
Do we talk about England and Australia’s sporting rivalry too much? In the past couple of weeks, we haven’t had much choice. The rugby league Kangaroos have been hopping about between London, Liverpool and Leeds, while the Wallabies grazed on the Twickenham turf. In F1, Bristol-born Lando Norris has been getting booed on track during his relentless comeback against his Melburnian McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri. And that personal battle has reached its climax just in time for the much-hyped men’s Ashes – with England kicking off their tour in Perth to already hysterical headlines.
This weekend brings a pause in hostilities. One Ashes series has ended, another is yet to begin. A gap in the calendar before back-to-back grands prix leaves Lando quietly teetering at the top of the drivers’ table. And into that small air pocket – if the Pom-bashing and Aussie-baiting has left a breath of oxygen – come the Kiwis. On Saturday afternoon, just after three o’clock, New Zealand’s rugby union team will run out against England in west London. And by the time we know the result, the Silver Ferns will be taking to the netball court on the other side of the city, in the first of a three-match series against the Roses.
The Los Angeles Kings picked up where they began in this six-game road trip, continuing their impressive run away from home, rallying from a 2-0 hole to defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3 in Overtime on Thursday afternoon.
In what might go down as one of their grittiest wins of the season so far, the Kings once again are showing why they're slowly becoming one of the toughest road teams to beat in 2025.
The Kings went down early, trailing 2-0, after a couple of costly turnovers and other bad moments that wound up in their net. The Kings would eventually settle in and tie the score 2-2 in the second period after a pair of goals from Warren Foegele and Kevin Fiala.
Kings Respond
But the Maple Leafs weren’t done. John Tavares would strike again, scoring his second goal of the game, giving Toronto back the lead 3-2 heading into the third. Even with the Maple Leafs leading, the Kings kept battling and weren’t phased at all by playing in Toronto.
Statement Road Win
The fight would pay off in the third period with Alex Laffarie deflecting a point shot from Brandt Clarke into the net of the final period, tying the game 3-3 and forcing overtime. In the extra period, Drew Doughty fed a perfect pass to Quinton Byfield, who buried the goal to seal the 4-3 victory 35 seconds in overtime for Los Angeles.
The win was special because the Kings never bowed to the Maple Leafs in a challenging environment. It was also great to see Los Angeles record their road point streak for the ninth straight game, being the fifth time in the last 20 seasons that the Kings have achieved this feat.
12 games (11-0-1) in 2023-24
10 games (8-0-2) in 2021-22
10 games (8-0-2) in 2013-14
9 games (6-0-3) in 2010-11
The victory improves the Kings to (9-5-4) and gives them an impressive road record at (8-1-2). Coach Jim Hiller said after the game that he’s "really proud" of how the team played tonight.
"I think we've found a little bit of our rhythm and now we're in a good place.”
The message is clear for the Kings: they’ve found their confidence, and it keeps growing more by the day, especially away from home, where they continue to score points at an elite rate.
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.
