Vince Iwuchukwu, a former five-star recruit, collapsed and sustained major heart failure ahead of his freshman season at USC.
Yankees add top prospects Spencer Jones, Chase Hampton, Elmer Rodriguez to 40-man roster
The Yankees protected a trio of top prospects from the Rule 5 Draft on Tuesday, officially adding outfielder Spencer Jones and right-handers Chase Hampton and Elmer Rodríguez to the 40-man roster.
All major league clubs had until Tuesday's 6 p.m. ET deadline to set their rosters, and Jones was among five prospects inside MLB Pipeline's Top 100 rankings list who would've been exposed to the draft process and eligible to be poached.
New York's decisions were no-brainers, as Jones (No. 4), Hampton (No. 8), and Rodríguez (No. 3) are consensus Top 10 prospects within the organization. Their big league debuts are projected to arrive between the 2026 and 2027 seasons, according to MLB Pipeline.
As one of the best minor league hitters in 2025, Jones slashed .274/.362/.571 (403 at-bats) with 35 home runs, 23 doubles, 80 RBI, 102 runs, and 29 stolen bases in 116 combined games with Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The 25-year-old also placed second among all qualified minor leaguers in home runs and fifth in slugging.
Hampton, who underwent Tommy John surgery in February and missed the entire 2025 campaign, has produced a 3.45 ERA with 161 strikeouts over 125.1 innings (27 starts) across three different levels, reaching as high as Double-A in 2023 and 2024. The 24-year-old was a sixth-round pick in 2022.
Rodríguez, named the Yankees' top minor league player by Baseball America this season, produced a sharp 2.58 ERA with 176 strikeouts across 27 appearances (26 starts) between Triple-A, Double-A, and High-A Hudson Valley. The 22-year-old's strikeouts mark ranked second among all minor league pitchers.
Knicks Injury Tracker: Jalen Brunson upgraded to questionable for Wednesday vs. Mavericks
Here are the latest news updates and possible return dates for Knicks players...
Nov. 18, 6:50 p.m.
The Knicks upgraded Jalen Brunson (ankle) to questionable for their Wednesday tip against the Mavericks in Dallas.
Brunson had missed the team's last two games since suffering a right ankle sprain back on Nov. 12 against the Orlando Magic at MSG. Already without OG Anunoby (hamstring), the Knicks could use their captain to try and get their first road win of the season.
Oct. 28, 7:18 p.m.
Before the Knicks' tip-off against the Bucks, the Knicks announced that Towns (right quad strain) will play, but Yabusele (left knee sprain) will be out, joining McBride (personal) and Robinson (ankle sprain management) as players who are unavailable for Tuesday's game.
Oct. 28, 3:35 p.m.
Miles McBride has been downgraded from questionable to out for the Knicks' game on Tuesday at the Milwaukee Bucks, the team announced. This is the second-straight game the guard missed due to personal reasons. He was out for Sunday's loss against the Miami Heat.
Oct. 27, 6:45 p.m.
Mitchell Robinson still isn't ready to make his season debut, as the Knicks have officially ruled him out again for Tuesday night's game against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Robinson has been sidelined for the first three games due to left ankle injury management, and it's still unknown when he'll make his return to the court.
New York has also listed Karl-Anthony Towns (right quad strain), Miles McBride (personal reasons), and Guerschon Yabusele (left knee sprain) as questionable for the contest.
Yabusele is the only new addition to the injury report. Towns has been included heading into each of the first three games, but played in all three, and McBride missed Sunday's game against the Heat for personal reasons.
Yabusele left Sunday's game at one point and had his knee checked, but he was able to return and saw regular time off the bench down the stretch.
Oct. 23, 6:10 p.m.
The latest NBA injury report has been released and the Knicks have designated center Mitchell Robinson (left ankle injury management) as out for Friday's home game against the Celtics.
Robinson missed Wednesday's season opener and the Knicks are being cautious with their big man this season as they want to have him at close to full strength for an anticipated long playoff run.
The Knicks have also designated both Josh Hart (lower back) and Karl-Anthony Towns (right quad strain) as questionable.
Hart also missed the season opener but has not seen action since the first preseason game where he tweaked his back. Towns almost missed Wednesday's game but toughed out his quad strain and to help the Knicks' win against the Cavaliers.
OG Anunoby, who played Wednesday despite being questionable with an ankle sprain, is probably for Friday's game.
Oct. 22, 10:59 p.m.
Karl-Anthony Towns was questionable, then doubtful, then questionable again in the hours leading up to the Knicks' win over the Cavaliers and now we know exactly why.
The Knicks forward told reporters after Wednesday's win that he is playing through a Grade 2 quad strain.
"I’ve been banged up and haven’t really got a chance to practice or play in the last two preseason games," Towns said. "I didn’t want to disappoint the fans, dealing with a Grade 2 quad strain. It’s not something that’s easy to do. We made it happen tonight. Glad the fans respect the effort I put in to play tonight, and my teammates, too. Shoutout to them for supporting me, knowing the situation that I was in."
Towns played through the pain to give the Knicks 19 points and 11 rebounds in 30 minutes.Analyzing Yankees' payroll situation for 2026 MLB season after Trent Grisham accepted qualifying offer
The Yankees finally made it to the World Series in 2024 after a 15-year absence and then they were ousted -- convincingly -- by the Blue Jays in the ALDS a year later.
It was a disappointing end for a team that had high hopes despite the loss of Juan Soto. The additions of Cody Bellinger, Max Fried, Paul Goldschmidt,and others helped the Yanks get out to a hot start before their usual summer swoon cost them the AL East. Even though the Yankees ended the 2025 regular season on a heater, and bounced the rival Red Sox in the Wild Card round, they weren't able to get past the eventual AL champions.
So, how can New York finally get over the hump? That's a question principal owner Hal Steinbrenner and GM Brian Cashman have to answer, and it won't be easy.
Although the starting rotation is set -- once the injured arms return -- the Yankees need to rebuild the back end of the bullpen and the lineup needs some tweaks to surround Aaron Judge with quality bats.
Two moves have already been made, one by Cashman and the other by Trent Grisham. The Yankees' first signing this offseason was bringing back Ryan Yarbrough on a one-year deal, while Grisham accepted his qualifying offer.
As the offseason chugs along, here's a look at the team's payroll situation for the upcoming season and beyond...
SALARY COMMITTED FOR 2026
The last two seasons, the Yankees' payroll eclipsed the top luxury tax (competitive balance tax) and they will be close to doing so again in 2026.
The first luxury tax threshold is set for $244 million this upcoming season, so it's hard to imagine a world where the Yankees will not exceed the top threshold (set for $304 million in 2026) again, despite how ownership may feel.
After Grisham's qualifying offer, the Yankees have approximately $190.25 million committed for 2026, coming from seven contracts: Judge ($40 million), Gerrit Cole ($36 million),Fried ($27.25 million), Carlos Rodón ($27 million), Giancarlo Stanton ($22 million), Grisham ($22 million) and Ryan McMahon ($16 million).
Then there's the dead money.
Aaron Hicks and his $10 million will be off the books this season (after a $1 million buyout) and give the Yanks more flexibility. Unfortunately, it's offset by the contract of DJ LeMahieu. The Yankees released the utility man midseason, but he will still be owed $15 million in 2026. LeMahieu's contract was destined to be bad, but it was compounded by how New York tried to utilize the former batting champion in 2025, when his skills were clearly diminished.
The team eventually made the right decision to release him, but he'll still be owed money this coming season. Luckily, it's just for one season. That pushes the committed payroll to $183.25 million.
Aside from Hicks' contract, here are the Yankees' free agents and what they earned in 2025 after Grisham and Yarbrough's return:
- Cody Bellinger ($27.5 million)
- Paul Goldschmidt ($12.5 million)
- Devin Williams ($8.6 million)
- Luke Weaver ($2.5 million)
- Amed Rosario ($688,200)
- Austin Slater ($573,900)
- Paul Blackburn ($159,400)
With Hicks' $10 million gone, that brings the total to around $61 million off the books. That's a nice chunk of change, but there are serious decisions to be made about which players the Yanks should think about bringing back. Bellinger was arguably the team's second-best hitter this season and brought elite defense.
Cashman said at the GM Meetings this offseason that the possibility of Grisham accepting the qualifying offer wouldn't change their pursuit of Bellinger, but we'll see if that is true, now that it has happened.
The potential losses of Williams and Weaver put the bullpen in a tough spot, but Yarbrough gives the Yankees flexibility to have a longman out of the bullpen while also having a potential starter to fill in spots left open by injured starters Cole and Rodón.
The Yankees' bench is also in need of some additions. Rosario was a great right-handed bat that gave manager Aaron Boone some flexibility and should be a player the organization considers bringing back.
The Yankees had two players with options, and they accepted one and declined the other. Jonathan Loaisiga ($5 million) will not return under that contract, while Tim Hill ($3 million) will.
WHAT WILL THE ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE AND 0-TO-3 PLAYERS MAKE?
The Yankees have 14 players who are eligible for arbitration. Those players, along with their expected 2026 salary via Cot's Baseball Contracts, are:
- Jazz Chisholm Jr. ($10.25 million)
- David Bednar ($8.5 million)
- Camilo Doval ($6 million)
- Clarke Schmidt ($5.25 million)
- Anthony Volpe ($3.525 million)
- Mark Leiter Jr. ($2.75 million)
- Jose Caballero ($2.325 million)
- Luis Gil ($1.9 million)
- Fernando Cruz ($1.2 million)
- Ian Hamilton ($1.1 million)
- Jake Bird ($1 million)
- Oswaldo Cabrera ($1 million)
- Jake Cousins ($841,050)
- Scott Effross ($800,000)
The combined salary of the arbitration players is approximately $46.45 million, and that's if the Yanks don't non-tender certain players. And out of this list of 14(!), there are a few candidates who may not get offered arbitration -- they come out of the bullpen.
Leiter has been mercurial since arriving at the deadline in 2024, and this is his final arbitration-eligible season. Hamilton and Bird finished 2025 in the minors due to poor performance, but both have two more years of arbitration, so the Yankees may want to keep them around. The same goes for Cousins -- who underwent Tommy John surgery in mid-2025 and will likely be out for 2026 -- while Effross has one more year of team control after 2026 and wasn't effective when he returned from injury in the middle of the season.
Adding in all the arbitration players, the Yankees' payroll in 2026 would be at $229.7 million.
This list doesn't include players who are not eligible for arbitration and will make the league minimum ($780,000). Those players include Austin Wells, Jasson Dominguez, Ben Rice, Will Warren and Cam Schlittler.
HOW MUCH MONEY IS THERE TO ADD PLAYERS THIS OFFSEASON?
With committed salaries and estimated arbitration salaries and raises, the Yankees currently have approximately $271.4 million on the books for their 40-man roster in 2026, already going over the first tax threshold, and threatening the top threshold.
It's unlikely the Yankees remain below $300 million as ownership would like, but it'll be interesting to see how Cashman approaches the offseason with the recent additions.
The Yankees still need to add to their outfield with Bellinger gone. While the Yanks have made it clear they want to bring back Bellinger, they won't be the only team looking for the former NL MVP's services.
Kyle Tucker is now a free agent and should be a target for the Yankees, who can use a consistent bat to go alongside Judge. Going after Tucker would be a longer-term commitment than one the Yanks would give to Bellinger. It'll likely come down to money and how much Steinbrenner is willing to spend. However, it's very likely that Grisham's QO will limit the money the Yankees could offer Tucker in 2026, so we'll see what happens on that front.
Although the Yankees' starting rotation is pretty much set once Cole and Rodon return, opportunities to add are possible. The Yankees could want to bring in a stop-gap arm to go alongside Fried, Gil, Warren, and Schlittler. There's also the trade market the Yankees could explore. Tarik Skubal is a name the hot stove has thrown out there, and he would fit in a rotation that is already one of the best in the majors.
And then there's the bullpen. It's unlikely that both Weaver and Williams will be back, but re-signing Weaver -- who will likely be cheaper -- and then adding arms to fill out the rest of the bullpen, like with Yarbrough and bringing back Hill, could make sense.
The Yankees also need to add to their bench. Luckily, Cabrera will return to be Boone's Swiss-Army Knife alongside Caballero. However, a right-handed hitting first baseman option to platoon with Rice may be needed this offseason.
And what about Volpe? Will the Yankees stay patient with their former prospect, or try to look outside the organization? Bo Bichette is a free agent, but it's highly unlikely the Yankees will spend the big money to acquire him.
Will the Yankees go over the $304 million top threshold? With what they need, it looks likely.
WHAT ABOUT EXTENSIONS FOR UNDER-CONTROL PLAYERS?
In previous years, you could have listed names like Volpe or Wells, but after subpar 2025 seasons -- and with so many years of arbitration still left -- the Yankees will likely let their play dictate whether an extension is in the cards.
There is one player who could be receiving an extension, and that's Chisholm. The talented infielder is in the final year of arbitration and will be a free agent after the 2026 season. The organization clearly likes Chisholm for his athleticism, versatility, power, and locker room presence. He made his second career All-Star Game this season and became just the third player in Yankees history to record a 30-30 season.
There's a world where the Yanks extend Chisholm (entering his age-28 season), buying out his final year of arbitration and keeping him in pinstripes for the foreseeable future.
THE PAYROLL SITUATION IN 2027 AND BEYOND
Here are the Yankees' projected 40-man roster salary obligations from 2027 to 2030, via Cot's:
2027: $166.33 million
2028: $125.33 million
2029: $71.5 million
2030: $71.5 million
After 2027, it gets interesting.
Stanton has a club option that the Yankees will most likely not exercise after that year, freeing up $15 million. McMahon will also be a free agent, adding another $16 million to the Yankees' coffers. However, by then, Chisholm and Bednar will be free agents, unless they are extended. There will be big holes to fill -- as per usual with this team -- so that money will need to be used to shore up the infield and the closer's role.
Looking past 2028, only Judge and Fried have guaranteed contracts -- Cole and Rodon are free agents after 2028 -- so it'll be interesting to see where Cashman puts the money.
The Yankees do have young arms who are major league ready, like Gil, Warren, and Schlittler, who could eventually replace Cole and Rodon for much cheaper. Meanwhile, prospects like Carlos Lagrange, Elmer Rodríguez and Chase Hampton are close to the majors. The Yankees' pipeline of pitchers is rich and its future is seemingly bright.
The same might not be said about the Yankees' infield situation. Outside of George Lombard Jr., who is close to the majors and could realistically usurp Volpe sooner rather than later, there isn't much developed. The same can kind of be said about the outfield.
This season will be big for Dominguez, as it'll show the Yankees whether he can be an everyday outfielder for them.
There's also Spencer Jones, who skyrocketed up to Triple-A this past season and could be an option in the outfield in 2026. But outside of Judge, there's a lot of unknowns in the outfield, which won't change in the near future, even with Grisham returning next season.
So while the Yanks would love to stay below the top tax threshold, it's not realistic for the next few seasons. And it won't be realistic unless these prospects start to develop and prove they can perform at the big league level.
Until then, expect more big contracts from the Bronx, and that's OK. The Yankees, despite the guaranteed bucks, can work in that realm and remain flexible.
Rangers Vs. Golden Knights Preview, Projected Lineup, Notable Storylines
The New York Rangers are set to play the Vegas Golden Knights tonight at 10 PM EST at T-Mobile Arena.
Here’s all you need to know ahead of this matchup:
Projected Lineup:
Forwards:
Will Cuylle - Mika Zibanejad - J.T. Miller
Artemi Panarin - Vincent Trocheck - Alexis Lafrenière
Jonny Brodzinski - Noah Laba - Conor Sheary
Juuso Parssinen - Sam Carrick - Taylor Raddysh
Defensemen:
Vladislav Gavrikov - Adam Fox
Carson Soucy - Will Borgen
Matthew Robertson - Braden Schneider
Goaltenders:
Igor Shesterkin
Jonathan Quick
Notable Storylines:
- Igor Shesterkin is set to start for the Rangers.
- The Rangers are coming off of a 2-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings.
- Will Borgen is set to return to the lineup after missing two games with an upper-body injury.
- Juuso Parssinen will slot into the lineup in place of Adam Edström.
- Mike Sullivan has rejoined the team after a one-game absence due to personal reasons.
- The Rangers currently hold a 10-8-2 record.
- The Vegas Golden Knights are coming off of a 3-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild
Sabres injury Update: Michael Kesselring Out “Weeks”, Zach Benson Getting Closer
Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff provided an update defenseman Michael Kesselring, who left the Sabres 5-4 overtime victory over Detroit on Saturday early in the third period and was seen walking in a boot on Monday.
"He's gonna be out an extended period of time, on the longer side……weeks,” Ruff said after the club’s practice on Tuesday.
Kesselring was the main piece in the Sabres trade with Utah for winger JJ Peterka in June, but his Sabres career thus far has been hampered by injury. He missed a month after suffering an unspecified injury near the end of training camp, and after returning in late October, he played eight games before being sidelined again.
Jacob Bryson took Kesselring’s spot in the lineup against Edmonton, playing the left side while Owen Power shifted to his off-side on Monday.
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Ruff also provided some optimistic news on winger Zach Benson, who was also seen walking in the press box wearing a protective boot on Monday.
“I talked to him this morning,” Ruff said. “I think he’ll join the morning skate (on Tuesday), so he’ll be that close.”
The 20-year-old had a quick start this season after recovering from an infection of a facial cut that required an overnight hospital stay. Benson had eight assists in eight games before suffering a lower-body injury.
Center Josh Norris and winger Jason Zucker participated in practice wearing grey non-contact jerseys on Tuesday, and Ruff indicated on Monday that the veteran winger could be available as soon as this weekend, when the Sabres play Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday and the Carolina Hurricanes in a rare Sunday afternoon matinee.
Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo
Blackhawks Top Prospect Having Big Breakout Year
With the second-overall pick of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, the Chicago Blackhawks selected defenseman Artyom Levshunov. The 6-foot-2 blueliner is viewed as a massive part of the Blackhawks' future, as he has very high upside.
Levshunov appeared in his first 18 career NHL games this past season with the Blackhawks, where he posted six assists and a minus-13 rating. Overall, the young blueliner naturally had some growing pains during his first NHL action. However, he is now already showing clear signs of breaking out for the Blackhawks early on this season.
In 17 games so far this season with the Blackhawks, Levshunov has already recorded 10 assists, with five of them coming on the power play. He has also posted 15 blocks, 20 hits, and a plus-2 rating so far this season for the Central Division club.
Yet, what's more encouraging about Levshunov's play is that he is only heating up as the campaign rolls on. Over his last five games, he has recorded five assists. He has also posted eight assists in his last nine games, so there is no question that he is feeling it right now.
If Levshunov can continue to set up his teammates offensively and improve his all-around game, he could be in for a very big year with the Blackhawks. It will be interesting to see how he builds on his hot streak, but there is no question that he is impressing.
Early singing period: Troy Huhn headlines top undecided recruits in the 2026 class
While most of the top 2026 recruits have already made their college decision, a few top talents remain undecided ahead of the early signing period.
This Buffalo Sabres Move Is Looking Great
Ahead of the 2025-26 season, the Buffalo Sabres claimed goaltender Colten Ellis off of waivers from the St. Louis Blues. This was after the 25-year-old netminder posted a 22-14-3 record, a .922 save percentage, a 2.63 goals-against average, and three shutouts with the Blues' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds, this past season.
The decision to claim Ellis off of waivers is already looking like a great move by the Sabres, as the 2019 third-round pick is making an impact early on for Buffalo.
In four appearances so far this season with the Sabres, Ellis has recorded a 3-1-0 record, a .914 save percentage, and a 2.76 goals-against average. This included him stopping 32 out of 33 shots he faced against the Edmonton Oilers in his most recent appearance on Nov. 17, which equates to a .970 save percentage.
If Ellis can continue to play this well for the Sabres as the season rolls on, the Sabres' decision to bring him in will only keep looking better. It will be fascinating to see how he builds on his strong start to his Sabres tenure, but right now, he is certainly impressing as a waiver wire pickup.
Giannis Antetokounmpo reportedly to miss 1-2 weeks with 'low grade' groin strain
Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to miss one to two weeks due to a "low-grade" groin strain, reports Shams Charania of ESPN.
The Bucks are not required to make anything official until Tuesday, and the team did not practice or meet on Monday. However, coach Doc Rivers did appear on the Bucks' official podcast Courtside and said this (hat tip Eric Nehm of The Athletic):
"I don't know what grade it is, but I know it's not a bad one, so that's good news for us...Probably two weeks he'll be out — hopefully less."
Antetokounmpo had to leave Monday night's game against Phoenix late in the second quarter after injuring his groin on a drive to the rim, though it might have started earlier, coach Doc Rivers said after the game.
"He grabbed his groin, I think in the first quarter, and I asked him right away. He said it was fine," Rivers said, via the Associated Press. "Then I think he grabbed it again and said it was fine. And then on the third time, you know, that's when it happened. But I think it happened before, in my opinion."
Antetokounmpo is playing at an MVP level early in the season, averaging 31.2 points, 10.8 rebounds and 6.8 assists a game, carrying the Bucks early in the season. The concern for the next two weeks is that the Bucks have a -13 net rating when he is off the floor. The Bucks' offense is 21.8 points per 100 possessions better when he is on the court.
Jericho Sims started the second half on Monday with Antetokounmpo out, and both he and Bobby Portis likely see increased run until the Greek Freak returns.
Georgetown’s Vince Iwuchukwu to have a medical procedure
Georgetown center Vince Iwuchukwu needs to have a medical procedure and will be evaluated after six to eight weeks, the school said Tuesday, without giving any specifics about his condition. Iwuchukwu is a 7-foot-1 senior who began his college career as a five-star recruit at Southern California. In July 2022, he collapsed during an informal workout and went into cardiac arrest.
Deion Sanders amid Colorado’s second losing season in 3 years: ‘You got the right man, I promise you, you do’
Colorado won nine games in 2024 but is 3-7 with two games remaining in the 2025 season.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Groin Strain: Bucks' outlook and fantasy impact
The Milwaukee Bucks suffered a critical loss on Monday, as star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo exited the team's defeat in Cleveland with a right groin injury. Ahead of the team's practice on Tuesday, Bucks head coach Doc Rivers said that Giannis would likely be out for two weeks.
BREAKING: Giannis Antetokounmpo injury update via Milwaukee #Bucks HC Doc Rivers.
— ESPN Milwaukee (@ESPNMilwaukee) November 18, 2025
"I don't know what grade it is, but I know it's not a bad one, so that's good news for us...Probably two weeks he'll be out — hopefully less."
(@BucksPlusAudio / https://t.co/ItRlUCq2XN) pic.twitter.com/KFMFmMjLkN
ESPN's Shams Charania reports that the forward has been diagnosed with a low-grade strain. Let's look at how Antetokounmpo's absence will impact the Bucks' rotation and fantasy basketball.
Who will move into the Bucks’ starting lineup?
With Kyle Kuzma (24 percent rostered, Yahoo!) already in the starting lineup, filling that role the last four games, the Bucks will need to turn elsewhere to fill the void. One possibility is that Gary Trent Jr. (seven percent) returns to the lineup after coming off the bench the last three games. As a starter, he's averaging 10.0 points, 1.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.2 steals and 2.3 three-pointers in 28.1 minutes, shooting 37.7 percent from the field and 70.6 percent from the foul line. Trent has primarily been a points and three-pointers option, offering limited value in the other categories.
Another option, if Milwaukee were to go big, would be veteran forward/center Bobby Portis (25 percent). However, like Trent, his fantasy production has been underwhelming this season. Averaging 9.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.3 three-pointers in 20.9 minutes, this is the least productive that Portis has been since his second season in the NBA (2016-17). However, according to Cleaning the Glass, Portis and starting center Myles Turner have only shared the court for 120 possessions this season. Given that number, Portis' chances of starting may be slim.
Even if he comes off the bench, there will be opportunities for Portis to provide greater value, but fantasy managers can't assume that he'll come through.
The Spurs will be without Wemby for at least 2-3 weeks after he strained his left calf.
Raphielle JohnsonHow does Giannis’ absence impact the entire rotation?
The gravity that Antetokounmpo has offensively opens things up for the entire team, even with his lack of a reliable perimeter shot. Ryan Rollins (51 percent) has emerged as a fantasy standout this season, sitting just outside the top-50 in nine-cat, per-game value. Turner (97 percent), one of the league's better pick-and-pop big men, will also be impacted by Antetokounmpo's absence. AJ Green (seven percent), who has provided solid three-point value, could be in a challenging spot in terms of delivering consistent value while the Bucks await Giannis' return.
Turner and Rollins are the safest bets to benefit from Giannis' absence, with the latter being the only appealing option who's still available in 12-team leagues. Outside of those two, fantasy managers may be best served taking a patient approach to see how Rivers handles the rotation, or simply looking to other teams to help account for Antetokounmpo's absence.
NHL Norris Trophy Rankings: Avs' Makar, Canucks' Hughes Lead The Way Again
As the NHL reaches the quarter-mark of the season, it's time to look at the league's Norris Trophy race.
After last week’s Hart Trophy ranking, we move on to the current top five candidates to take home the Norris, awarded "to the defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position."
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar won his second Norris Trophy last season, and it won’t be a surprise to see his name at the top again this time around.
Here are my top five NHL Norris Trophy candidates, as of Nov. 18.
5. Matthew Schaefer, New York Islanders
Matthew Schaefer has been quite impressive in the first quarter of this campaign for the New York Islanders.
In 19 games, the rookie has 15 points, tied for eighth in scoring among D-men. More impressively, he leads all blueliners in goals with seven and eight assists to go along with it. Schaefer has the third-most goals on his team and is tied with Mat Barzal for second in points, only behind Bo Horvat’s 23.
In addition to his scoring, he’s been putting the Islanders in great spots to win hockey games. At the moment, they hold the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
A contributor to that has been Schaefer’s ability to draw penalties and be on the right side of the puck. He's tied with Connor McDavid for the second-most penalties drawn in the NHL, with 12.
More telling, Schaefer leads the NHL in net penalties (penalties drawn minus penalties taken), at nine.
BetMGMNorris Trophy odds: 51.00/+5000
Islanders’ Matthew Schaefer Takes On Miro Heiskanen After Battling Cale MakarAfter a strong showing against the league's best defender, Schaefer battles another elite blueliner. 4. Josh Morrissey, Winnipeg Jets
Winnipeg Jets’ Josh Morrissey is playing his way on Team Canada’s Olympic team after a great 4 Nations Face-Off campaign.
This season, he has three goals and 16 assists for 19 points in 18 games. With that, he’s on a five-game point streak and has points in 10 of his last 11 games. Morrissey is one of four D-men in the NHL full-time who average more than a point per game.
At 1.06 points per game, he’ll be challenging the 70-point mark for the second time in his career and the 80-point mark for the first time.
Morrissey is third in defensemen scoring and tied in second for the most primary assists from his position with nine.
Along with his scoring prowess from the back end, he leads the Jets in plus-minus with a plus-seven rating, sharing that top spot with defenseman Logan Stanley.
BetMGMNorris Trophy odds: 61.00/+6000
3. Miro Heiskanen, Dallas Stars
It feels that one of these seasons, Miro Heiskanen will win something. It could be a Norris Trophy or a Stanley Cup with the Dallas Stars, which have been sniffing around the final for years.
Nonetheless, Heiskanen has been a key contributor to the team’s success and ability to get far into the post-season.
The closest the Stars defenseman has been to a Norris Trophy was in 2022-23, when he finished seventh in voting. He scored 73 points in 79 games that season. Last year, he didn’t receive a vote as he was forced to play just 50 games because of a knee injury and scored 25 points.
Heiskanen, 26, has already recorded three goals and 14 assists for 17 points this campaign, nearing last season’s point totals in much fewer games.
The Finnish D-man is not far removed from a six-game point streak, where he put up a goal and 11 assists.
Additionally, Heiskanen is fifth in the NHL among all skaters in average ice time at 25:18.
BetMGM Norris Trophy odds: 26.00/+2500
2. Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks
Despite the Vancouver Canucks sitting sixth in the Pacific Division, Quinn Hughes has been a breath of fresh air for them.
With one goal and 19 assists, he’s second in scoring among D-men, totalling 20 points. He’s also tied with Makar for the most assists by a blueliner this season.
Among defensemen who have played a minimum of 50 minutes this season, Hughes has a 58-percent on-ice expected goals percentage, according to moneypuck.com. When he’s off the ice, the Canucks’ expected goals percentage decreases to 34.6 percent, the lowest among all D-men.
In English, the Canucks captain is vital to the team’s success offensively, even from the back end.
Furthermore, Hughes averages the most time on ice among all NHL blueliners, at 26:58 per game.
BetMGM Norris Trophy odds: 4.00/+300
NHL Hart Trophy Rankings: Bedard And Celebrini Crack A Surprising Top FiveAre the kids taking over? Bedard and Celebrini are among our top five NHL Hart Trophy front-runners so far, but there's no doubt two Avalanche superstars are crucial to their team's success.1. Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche
It should surprise no one to see Cale Makar leading the way in these Norris Trophy rankings. He leads in enough categories that make his case to be named defenseman of the year in back-to-back seasons stronger than anyone else.
For starters, he leads all D-men in points with 25 in 19 appearances. The 27-year-old has six goals and 19 assists, leading the league with 12 primary helpers.
Makar also leads defensemen in plus-minus at plus-17, even-strength goals (six) and points (18). Incredibly enough, even with how much he does offensively, he only has 19 giveaways, according to moneypuck.com. For reference, Zach Werenski and Morgan Rielly lead in that category with 38 giveaways each.
Based on the start he’s had to this season, Makar is a candidate not just for the Norris Trophy but the Hart Trophy as well.
BetMGM Norris Trophy odds: 1.30/-333
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“We’re In That Transitional Phase": Barry Trotz Addresses Nashville Predators' Issues In YouTube Interview
Jun 28, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville Predators draft pick Tanner Molendyk shakes hands with incoming general manager Barry Trotz after being selected with the twenty fourth pick in round one of the 2023 NHL Draft at Bridgestone Arena. Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images
With the Nashville Predators having a six-day gap between games following their trip to Stockholm, Sweden, plenty of speculation is swirling about whether the club will make a coaching change or other moves this week.
In a Conversations and Coffee interview produced by the NHL and posted on YouTube over the weekend, Trotz and Pittsburgh Penguins GM Kyle Dubas sat down for a casual back-and-forth over coffee during the 2025 NHL Global Series in Stockholm this past weekend.
The two executives spent over 10 minutes quizzing each other about the state of their teams. Trotz didn’t reveal any earth-shattering news about what might come next for the Predators. He did, however, offer some insight as to where he views the team currently and moving forward.
On the subject of the team’s efforts to get younger, Trotz has often been reluctant to use the term “rebuild”. He took a similar stance in his conversation with Dubas.
“We’re in that transitional phase where we’re not in… I don’t want to say a rebuild,” Trotz said. “We sorta are, but I just call it a build. We’re starting to build. We’ve got some older players who hopefully can keep us relevant for a bit, and we’ve got some young players that we gotta wait for.”
That waiting process has become more difficult with the Preds’ disappointing start to the 2025-26 season. After earning a split with the Penguins in the two-game Global Series, the Preds stand at 6-10-4, giving them 16 points and placing them seventh in the Central Division.
Trotz acknowledged his team was short of playmakers, even joking to Dubas during their conversation, “I don’t have enough playmakers. Could you give me Sid (Sidney Crosby) or (Evgeni) Malkin for a little bit? I think they could be a little more productive.”
That alone is an indication Trotz is aware of the team's desperate need for offense, which is ranked 30th in the NHL with 48 goals.
The Penguins are in a similar situation: trying to get younger while maintaining a core of veterans in Crosby, Malkin and Kris Letang. Through 19 games this season, the Penguins are faring better than the Preds at 10-5-4 for 24 poins, good for third in the Metropolitan Division.
Malkin leads the Pens with 23 points, while Crosby is right behind with 21. Filip Forsberg, who skated in his 800th career NHL game in Sunday’s loss, leads the Preds with 15 points, followed by Ryan O’Reilly with 13.
Waiting for prospects to develop, then meshing them in with the core of veterans isn’t always easy.
“That’s the hard part in this business because we were in the playoffs for 14, 15 years, very similar to Pittsburgh,” Trotz told Dubas. “The cupboards were bare and we’re trying to fill the cupboards and now waiting is the hard part.”
Trotz also admitted during the interview there are certain aspects of coaching he still misses now that he’s in a GM role.
“One thing I miss, and I call it game day, is being in the dressing room and being a part of those quick decisions,” Trotz said. “I miss the real closeness I can have as a coach… You feel like you can affect things a little quicker.”
Which brings to mind the rumors swirling around the Predators about moving veterans in trades and a coaching change involving Andrew Brunette. Not surprisingly, Trotz had high praise for Brunette in his public chat with Dubas, calling him a “really good person for our organization.”
During media availability at the end of last season, Trotz declared both he and the organization were “standing behind him”, in reference to Brunette.
That was before the poor start to this season. If Trotz does decide to make a coaching change, would he go back behind the bench the rest of this season along with maintaining his GM duties?
One might read that sentiment into his comments about missing being in the locker room, but trying to fix a team from behind the bench and in the front office would be a lot to take on. The more likely scenario would be to bring in an interim coach, whether it’s Milwaukee Admirals head coach Karl Taylor or an assistant on Brunette’s staff.
There are no easy answers, either in the short- or long-term. One thing is clear, however: the Preds need fixing, and fast. Moves are sure to be made with trading veterans, making a change behind the bench, or both.
No matter how much Trotz publicly sugarcoats his team’s current situation, even he realizes the status quo cannot continue.