This, from my MBM colleague Tim de Lisle,is a terrific read on what Michael Carrick’s Manchester United did so well last weekend.
United showed more intensity than usual, as you’d expect in a derby, but they also showed more composure. Carrick had called for it beforehand, and as possibly the calmest player ever seen in a United shirt, he speaks with some authority on the subject. When Amad broke away in the 33rd minute, he coolly rounded Donnarumma and rolled the ball into an empty net. When Fernandes broke away eight minutes later, he went one better, landing a defender on his backside after rounding the keeper. Both goals were disallowed, but they stood as statements of intent.
It’s never the same again! Every game is different but we’ve had a good week and we’re in good shape. We understand this has been a tough place to come for many teams. But we’re going into the game in a good spirit and that’s the most important thing.
It’s Sunday, and you know what that means — it’s time for our weekly social media roundup! For the second straight Sunday, New York City is getting hit by a wintry weather, although this time, it’s a storm expected to be so bad that many schools had already cancelled classes on Monday before the weekend even started. Now, the temperature may be chilly, but fortunately for us, the hot stove was piping hot for the Bombers this week. And since I know the anticipation is killing you, let’s get started!
The Inevitable Occurred
All winter, the Yankees and Cody Bellinger acted like a pair of high school kids that clearly were interested in each other but were afraid to make the first move. As soon as the offseason began, Bellinger changed his Instagram profile picture, ditching a shot of him in a Yankee jersey in favor of a generic animated shot with a blank hat.
Then, early last week, Bellinger and Austin Wells broke the Yankees portion of the Internet. The outfielder posted pictures of himself working out to prepare for the season, and the catcher posted a sad emoji in response. Immediately, fans began to wonder if he knew something we didn’t.
Then, Wednesday afternoon, the news finally broke: the Yankees and Bellinger had agreed to a five-year deal that kept the popular outfielder in the Bronx. While Belli himself did not post on social media about the deal, he immediately changed his profile picture back to a picture of him in a Yankees uniform. Meanwhile, his wife, Chase, and mother, Jennifer, posted the following:
Last night was the 101st New York Baseball Writers’ Gala, where the winner of the BBWAA’s major awards each officially received their honors. That included Aaron Judge, who took home his third career AL MVP and second in a row. Should be four! But it was a nice moment.
This week, the Baseball Hall of Fame announced its two newest members, Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones. While the two players are known more for their time with the Mets and Braves, respectively, they both did suit up for the Yankees: Jones donned the pinstripes in 2011 and 2012, while Beltrán was a part of the 2014, 2015, and 2016 teams before he was traded to the Texas Rangers. In addition to a collection of statements from key members of the organization, the Yankees made individuals posts celebrating both players.
Former Yankees center fielder/current professional guitarist performed at Carnegie Hall earlier this month, and unsurprisingly, Suzyn Waldman made sure that she was in attendance.
CC Sabathia posted some photos from “The Player’s Cup” this week. Honestly, I’m not 100% sure what event he is referring to — a quick Google search reveals an MLB Open, but that was an event that was supposed to occur in November — but it still seems like they all had a fun time.
The last two weeks have seen people posting photos from 2016, as they reminisce about the glory days when the Villanova Wildcats defeated the UNC in the NCAA National Championship (at least, that’s what comes to mind when I think of 2016). And naturally, now that this trend is two weeks old, we’ve got celebrities and corporate accounts joining in. First, we have Anthony Rizzo recalling one of the greatest World Series of all time, as the Cubs finally overcame their curse and proved that nothing is impossible, except maybe a Pope that roots for the Cubs.
Jonathan Loáisiga had been part of the Yankees’ organization since joining them as a minor leaguer in February 2016 following a failed stint with the Giants. Injuries ravaged his career, but he was a bullpen staple in 2021 in particular, posting one of the better relief seasons you’ll see in the modern era, recording a 2.17 ERA, a 2.58 FIP, and a 1.019 WHIP across 70.2 innings. Alas, those aforementioned injuries were a constant issue for him, and he and the Yankees finally went their separate ways, making it official when Loáisiga signed a minor-league deal with the Diamondbacks earlier this month.
Loáisiga took to Instagram to thank both the Yankees and their fans, in both Spanish and English. Best of luck to him in Arizona!
Panthers vs Blackhawks best bet: Blackhawks moneyline (+110)
The Chicago Blackhawks are finally starting to get healthy with the returns of Frank Nazar, Jason Dickinson, and Andre Burakovsky. This more rounded lineup is beginning to make some noise, especially after a difficult two-game stretch against the Hurricanes and Lightning.
Chicago picked up three points in those two games against two of the best teams in the Eastern Conference, a trend that should continue against a struggling Florida Panthers team.
One of the Blackhawks’ greatest strengths during this stretch has been the play of goaltender Spencer Knight, who is slated to start against his former team. Knight enters this matchup in excellent form, allowing three or fewer goals in each of his past seven starts.
He is 5-2 during that span with a .924 SV% and a 2.25 GAA.
Meanwhile, Florida enters this contest on the second half of a back-to-back that included travel, which does not bode well for a team expected to start its backup goaltender. This season, Daniil Tarasov trails Knight in wins, SV%, and GAA.
Panthers vs Blackhawks same-game parlay
Now is the time to buy low on Chicago’s Connor Bedard, who has struggled to finish over the past few weeks. However, he continues to generate high-danger scoring chances, and the goals should begin to follow.
That also increases the correlation of Andre Burakovsky recording an assist, considering he skates alongside Bedard on the top line and possesses excellent passing ability.
Panthers vs Blackhawks SGP
Blackhawks moneyline
Connor Bedard anytime goal
Andre Burakovsky 1+ assists
Panthers vs Blackhawks odds
Moneyline: Florida -169 | Chicago +116
Puck line: Florida -1.5 (+159) | Chicago +1.5 (-238)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+105) | Under 6.5 (-125)
Panthers vs Blackhawks trend
Chicago has won two of its past three games. Find more NHL betting trends for Panthers vs. Blackhawks.
How to watch Panthers vs Blackhawks
Location
United Center, Chicago, IL
Date
Sunday, January 25, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
Scripps 66, Chicago Sports Network
Panthers vs Blackhawks latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane is on the verge of making history once again.
While many fans have been waiting to witness Kane score his 500th career goal, another milestone may arrive even sooner. Kane is just one point away from tying former Red Wings great Mike Modano for the most points by an American-born player in NHL history.
Kane currently has 1,373 career points and recently met with Modano following Detroit’s overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild last Thursday. If Kane records a point when the Red Wings return home Tuesday to face the Los Angeles Kings, he would break the record in significantly fewer games. Modano reached the mark in 1,499 games, while Kane has played just 1,340 games so far in his career, a difference of 158 games.
The veteran winger started the season in strong form, averaging a point per game, but his production has slowed at times. Kane has eight goals and 22 assists for 30 points in 38 games this season. Even with the dip in pace, few doubt the ability of the player known as “Showtime” to rise to the moment once again.
Modano, a Livonia, Michigan native, is expected to be in attendance Tuesday. However, Kane may have to be patient, as the Kings boast one of the NHL’s strongest defensive units and rank fourth in goals allowed per game this season.
If Kane does not break the record right away, there will be more opportunities. Tuesday’s game marks the start of a three-game homestand, followed by matchups against the Washington Capitals on Thursday and a marquee primetime game against the Colorado Avalanche next Saturday.
Whenever the milestone is reached, the hope is that Detroit fans will be there to witness another historic moment in franchise history.
Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!
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.
After three days of rest, playing against the ST. Louis Blues, who were playing a back-to-back tonight, the Los Angeles Kings refused to let this game slip away.
Across the first period and early second, the Kings jumped out to a 2-0 lead; they looked dominant, fast, and on point defensively against the ST. Louis Blues.
But the struggle started quickly, as it has happened time and time again, especially when the Kings have gotten off to fast starts. Los Angeles gave up three goals alone in the second period, finishing the first 40 minutes of regulation tied 3-3.
LA was outplayed in the second, losing the period 3-1, and we're not entirely sure how they still ended up winning tonight, given the Kings are one of the worst clutch teams in the league.
So, let's dive into how the Kings won. We will grade the top players' performances on the Kings tonight, helping them escape the St. Louis Blues.
After leaving Tuesday's game against the New York Rangers in the first period due to a lower-body injury, Darcy Kuemper returned tonight and did what he always does. Finishing with 25 saves on 29 shots and made multiple clutch stops late in regulation and Overtime.
This game doesn't go the Kings' way without Kuemper; he bailed the Kings out multiple times in OT and slammed the door when it mattered most.
Grade: A
Trevor Moore
19:43 TOI, 1 goal, 5 shots, +1, and shootout winner.
Trevor Moore, who hadn't played since Dec. 29, looked like he hadn't missed a step tonight. Moore scored the go-ahead goal in the third to give the Kings a 4-3 lead after it looked like the momentum had shifted to the Blues, and then finished the game in the shootout.
Moore was aggressive all night and clutch when the Kings needed him most, and also notched his 100th career NHL goal.
Since the NHL introduced the shootout back in the 2005-06 season, 301 players have at least 20 attempts.
Only 11 of those players have converted at least 50 percent of their attempts. Trevor Moore is one of those players. Consistently money in the shootout.
Alex Laferriere was one of the Kings' dangerous forwards tonight, along with Moore. Scoring the game-tying goal in the second after the Kings gave up three goals, Laferriere kept the game in reach.
Brian Dumoulin was one of the key contributors to help the Kings get off to a fast start in the first period, giving Los Angeles a 2-0 lead and scoring his first goal of the season.
Grade: B
Taylor Ward
9:48 TOI, 1 goal, 1 shot, +1
Once again in his limited minutes, Taylor Ward contributed for the Kings, starting them off to a fast start in regulation. It's now the second consecutive game that Ward has scored a goal, and the Kings have picked up wins in both matches. Again, playing limited minutes, but all the Kings ask of him right now is high energy and consistent play.
Jim Hiller almost blew another game where his team had an early lead. But the Kings were able to squeak out a win on the road, especially with Hiller using his depth again, with Ward and Samuel Helennius giving them solid minutes, so credit to Hiller for believing in his guys.
But it wasn't a pretty second period for him, and the game could've gotten out of reach if not for his players stepping up in the clutch.
Grade: C
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.
The Anaheim Ducks will head north of the 49th parallel to take on the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Sunday, January 25. This marks the first meeting between these two Pacific Division teams this season.
My Ducks vs. Flames predictions and NHL picks suggest that while Calgary may continue its offensive struggles, some key players may be primed to rise to the occasion in this exciting divisional bout.
Ducks vs Flames prediction
Ducks vs Flames best bet: Yegor Sharangovich Over 2.5 shots on goal (+136)
On a team that has scored the second-fewest goals in the league, Calgary Flames forward Yegor Sharangovich has been somewhat of a bright spot.
The one-time 30-goal scorer is mired in a subpar offensive season (as is most of his team), but has been firing on all cylinders recently.
He has 14 shots in his last four games, hitting the Over in each. For good measure, he has the same number of shots as Nathan MacKinnon and David Pastrnak during that span.
He faces an Anaheim Ducks team that ranks 21st in shots allowed. Look for the Belarusian to fire a few pucks towards Lukas Dostal tonight.
Ducks vs Flames same-game parlay
Recent trade acquisition Zach Whitecloud has stepped right in to fill the void left by Rasmus Andersson. The former Vegas Golden Knight has seen a significant uptick in ice time in his three games as a Flame thus far, culminating in 25:16 of ice time on Friday night.
He's blocked six shots in three games since being traded to Calgary and just shattered his season-high ice time mark a game ago — a fantastic scenario to block a few shots from a confident Ducks team on a six-game winning streak.
Despite Anaheim's recent hot stretch, I like the Under here, as Calgary has scored just five goals in its last four games while being held to just one in three straight.
Ducks vs Flames SGP
Yegor Sharangovich Over 2.5 shots on goal
Zach Whitecloud Over 1.5 blocked shots
Under 6.5
Ducks vs Flames odds
Moneyline: Ducks -105 | Flames -115
Puck Line: Ducks +1.5 (-250) | Flames -1.5 (+205)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+100) | Under 6.5 (-120)
Ducks vs Flames trend
Calgary has won four of the last five meetings and seven of the last 10. The Under has hit in three of the last four Find more NHL betting trends for Ducks vs. Flames.
How to watch Ducks vs Flames
Location
Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, AB
Date
Sunday, January 25, 2026
Puck drop
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
Victory+, Sportsnet
Ducks vs Flames latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
At the 2025 deadline, the Islanders sent Nelson to the Avalanche in a deal involving top prospect Calum Ritchie, a 2027 first-round pick, and a conditional 2027 third-round pick, along with defenseman Oliver Kylington, who was quickly flipped to the Anaheim Ducks for future considerations.
Panarin, 34, is a pending free agent and has been told by Rangers management that he will not be brought back this pending offseason as the two sides work towards a trade.
Potential trade suitors include the Avalanche, Washington Capitals, Minnesota Wild, Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings, and Florida Panthers.
Panarin, a winger, sits at 19 goals and 37 assists for 56 points in 51 games this season for the Rangers.
He is in the final season of a seven-year, $81,499,999 contract ($11,642,857 AAV) with the Rangers.
Villa win at Newcastle, Chelsea take the points at struggling Palace, and Forest record a crucial victory at Brentford
Oh, but here’s Rosenior, explaining that Cole Palmer isn’t fit to play today, but has a chance of making Wednesday’s trip to Naples.
He notes that the league is close and physical, but he has good players and is excited to see where the project goes – the club “demands winning in this moment”. There aren’t many days on the training pitch, but he hopes the work they’re doing with the team and with individuals are working.
If this was a taste of what life on the road under Liam Rosenior might be like for Chelsea fans, then anyone who doubted his appointment may have to think again.
A brilliant performance from Estêvão, who scored the first after a mistake from his fellow teenager Jaydee Canvot before setting up João Pedro for the second, inspired Chelsea to end a run of five Premier League games without an away win at their new head coach’s first attempt, as they piled on the misery for Crystal Palace, who also had Adam Wharton sent off.
In Saturday night’s defeat against the Boston Bruins, the Montreal Canadiens gave up three power-play goals, which ultimately led to their demise. Of course, that could have been avoided had the Habs played a more disciplined game. Still, hockey being a physical sport, it’s almost impossible to avoid penalties altogether, which is why it’s crucial to have a reasonable penalty kill.
Last season, the Canadiens ranked ninth in the league with an 80.9% penalty kill success rate, but this year they are 26th with a 76.5% efficiency rate. In 52 games, they’ve already given up 40 power-play goals and are on pace to surrender 63 man-advantage lamplighters. Last season, they had only given up 49 in 82 games.
What has changed? Well, the Habs lost three of the eight players who were mainstays on their penalty kill. David Savard retired, Joel Armia walked as a free agent and signed with the Los Angeles Kings, while Christian Dvorak did the same with the Philadelphia Flyers. Armia currently plays on the Kings’ first penalty kill, but they are 25th overall in the league in that department, just ahead of the Canadiens at 77.3%. As for Dvorak, he’s not used on the penalty kill by the Flyers.
You don’t become a penalty killing specialist overnight. This season, the Canadiens have been relying on rookies Oliver Kapanen and Joe Veleno to play significant roles when down a man. Kapanen has done it overseas, but he understandably needs some time to adapt to the NHL's power play. As for Veleno, he’s spending 27.4% of his time on ice on the penalty kill, which is almost double the amount of shorthanded time he had on the ice last season with the Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Blackhawks.
At the start of the season, Martin St-Louis also made it clear that he wanted Alex Newhook to become a PK specialist. In his 17 games this season, Newhook spent 33.4% of his time on ice down a man. His injury has no doubt been a big blow to the penalty killing unit.
With Alexandre Texier coming back in the lineup for the game against the Bruins, the coach decided to scratch Veleno, who has not only been a regular on his penalty kill but also one of the centermen who can take the shorthanded draws. This season, he has won 51.2% of his draws, which is more than Nick Suzuki and Kapanen.
As things stand, Stephane Robidas is the assistant coach who’s responsible for the penalty kill. Is it time to perhaps explore another avenue? Earlier this week, the Ottawa Senators, who are currently 31st in the league when down a man, gave Mike Yeo the helm of the penalty kill unit instead of Nolan Baumgartner; the latter wasn’t fired, but the team felt the PK needed a new voice.
Perhaps it would also help to let Nick Suzuki back on the PK. Of course, you don’t want to overuse the captain, but with the second line making more of an offensive impact and having more ice time, it could be an idea.
Better goaltending would also help. While you generally won’t blame the goaltender for power-play goals, the best player on a successful penalty-killing unit is often the masked man. This season, that’s not happening for the Canadiens. Whichever way you look at it, good goaltending is a must in all aspects of the game.
There’s no magical solution, but clearly something has to be done if the Canadiens don't want to be fighting for a playoff spot until the very end, as last season. Special teams are a must for a successful team, and in an ideal world, nobody wants to wait for the last game of the season to know if they’ll be part of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Departure was ‘difficult decision’, says Foxes’ owner
Andy King will take interim charge for Charlton match
Leicester City have sacked Martí Cifuentes after dropping to 14th in the Championship. Leicester held crunch boardroom talks on Sunday before deciding to relieve the manager from his position.
Patience was preached at the start of the season while the power play worked through its growing pains. Nearly four months later, January has arrived, and the unit still looks stuck in the same place.
Although the Avalanche remain atop the NHL at 34-6-9 through 49 games, they are just 4-4-2 over their past 10—a stretch that hints at a slight dip in form. Injuries have played a significant role. Captain Gabriel Landeskog has been sidelined since Jan. 4 after suffering broken ribs against the Florida Panthers, while Devon Toews has missed much of the month with an upper-body injury.
Given the circumstances, some patience is warranted when evaluating recent results. The power play, however, falls into a different category. It has been a persistent issue for much of the season. While Colorado continues to control play at five-on-five, its man advantage has consistently lagged behind.
CREDIT: GUERILLA SPORTS. Bednar's comments following the game against the Washington Capitals.
Has The Power Play Improved at All Since Meeting?
Colorado is currently tied for 21st in the NHL, converting on just 16.1 percent of its power play opportunities. Prior to the Jan. 8 home game against the Ottawa Senators, head coach Jared Bednar confirmed the team held a significant meeting focused on the man advantage, aimed at aligning strategies and ensuring a unified approach to addressing what has been a season-long issue. Bednar also encouraged open dialogue during the meeting, emphasizing the importance of player input and collective problem-solving.
Have those efforts translated into tangible progress? Not exactly. Entering Colorado’s 8–2 win over Ottawa, the power play conversion rate remained unchanged at 16.1 percent. On the surface, the numbers suggest stagnation—but a deeper look, game by game, provides additional context worth examining.
Brock Nelson and Martin Nečas each scored power play goals against the Senators, reaching the 20-goal mark on the season. Colorado finished the night 2-for-6 with the man advantage, a rare bright spot in an otherwise inconsistent stretch for the unit.
Colorado goal!
Scored by Valeri Nichushkin with 13:52 remaining in the 1st period.
On Jan. 10, Trent Miner recorded the first shutout and first win of his NHL career in a 4–0 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. While the result was a positive, the power play failed to contribute, finishing 0-for-2.
Two days later, Colorado’s 17-game home winning streak came to an end in a 4–3 overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Avalanche went 1-for-3 on the power play, with Nelson once again providing the lone goal on the man advantage—his 22nd of the season.
After three days of rest, Colorado struggled in a 7–3 loss to the Nashville Predators, where the power play again came up empty, finishing 0-for-2. The Avalanche responded with a 5–2 win days later against Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals. While the power play remained far from sharp, it did produce a goal, going 1-for-6, with Nathan MacKinnon scoring his 37th of the season.
Colorado now enters its latest stretch coming off back-to-back losses—a 2–1 shootout defeat to the Anaheim Ducks followed by a 7–3 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. Across those two games, the power play went a combined 0-for-6.
Math Shows...
Since the power play meeting, the Avalanche have had 25 opportunities with the man advantage and scored just four goals, a conversion rate of 16 percent—slightly below their season average. On paper, the unit has technically declined, though in reality it has largely remained the same.
That stagnation is beginning to wear on the fan base, with some suggesting that if the issue isn’t resolved before the postseason, the consequences could be significant when the margin for error shrinks. In a conversation with The Hockey News, Bednar addressed the power play, outlining where he believes the unit is struggling most and identifying the areas that need improvement.
"We want to be as dangerous as possible," Bednar said on January 19. "We've had some power plays in that stretch that haven't looked great, and we've had some that have looked fantastic, but it's definitely getting more consistent and guys are continuing to work on it and share ideas and get on the same page and then just work on the execution part of it. I still think it's going to (improve) yet again."
Next Game
The Avalanche are on the road to take on the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday morning. Coverage begins at 11:30 local time.
Some wins are a little bit lucky and others downright fluky or simply ground out, but this Aston Villa victory belonged to a different category.
It was the sort of triumph that can be filed under “thoroughly deserved”. Indeed, much of Villa’s attacking play was so fluid, fluent and gloriously improvisational that, by comparison, Newcastle looked as if they were engaged in a footballing equivalent of painting by numbers.
Brock Boeser is heating up. His shot volume has increased noticeably over the past 10 games, and he has hit the scoresheet in back-to-back outings.
My Penguins vs. Canucks predictions expect Boeser to have another quality offensive showing with Filip Chytil back by his side.
Let’s dive into my NHL picks for Sunday, January 25.
Penguins vs Canucks prediction
Penguins vs Canucks best bet: Brock Boeser Over 0.5 points (-120)
Filip Chytil returned from injury last time out and regained a slot in the Top-6 centering Brock Boeser. That proved to be very beneficial for Boeser.
He put forth a productive offensive performance, scoring a goal while finishing tied for the team lead with six shot attempts. That matched his highest attempt output on home soil all season long.
That Boeser had such a strong showing with Chytil was no coincidence. He has now played three games with Chytil as his center this season, and Boeser scored in two of them while averaging five shot attempts.
The Vancouver Canucks have out-played their opponents with that duo on the ice, winning the shot attempt battle 46-39 and controlling nearly 61% of the expected goals at 5-on-5.
They are the line best equipped to make noise in that game state, which is important as the Pittsburgh Penguins are one of the least penalized teams in the league.
Penguins vs Canucks same-game parlay
Zeev Buium is another Canucks weapon coming off a whale of a game. Buium had a goal, three shots, six attempts, and logged nearly 24 minutes of ice time while also playing on the top power play.
He is a dynamic blueliner getting a lot of opportunities to put his skillset to use.
Marcus Pettersson has blocked multiple shots in seven of the past nine games. He’s one of the team’s more reliable defenders and is not shy about putting his body on the line.
Penguins vs Canucks SGP
Brock Boeser Over 0.5 points
Zeev Buium Over 0.5 points
Marcus Pettersson Over 1.5 blocked shots
Penguins vs Canucks odds
Moneyline: Pittsburgh -145 | Vancouver +125
Puck line: Pittsburgh -1.5 (+160) | Vancouver +1.5 (-190)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+110) | Under 6.5 (-130)
Penguins vs Canucks trend
Brock Boeser has six points over his last five games against Vancouver. Find more NHL betting trends for Penguins vs. Canucks.
How to watch Penguins vs Canucks
Location
Rogers Arena, Vancouver, BC
Date
Sunday, January 25, 2026
Puck drop
6:00 p.m. ET
TV
SportsNet Pittsburgh, Sportsnet
Penguins vs Canucks latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Padres fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
The Friar Faithful have been waiting for news of a signing to breathe some life to this offseason that has been crawling to an end, but what they got Saturday was a report from Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune that pitcher Yu Darvish was ready to retire and walk away from the three years and $43 million remaining on his contract. Since that report, Darvish himself has denied on X that anything is finalized and that he is not announcing his retirement.
You may have seen an article, and although I am leaning towards voiding the contract, there’s still a lot that has to be talked over with the Padres so the finer details are yet to be decided. Also I will not be announcing my retirement yet. Right now I am fully focused on my…
If the Acee report did come to pass at some point this offseason, it might create some of the financial flexibility the San Diego Padres and president of baseball operations and general manager A.J. Preller have been looking for. The money saved from a Darvish retirement even with a potential buyout could allow Preller to chase bigger free agents.
As it stands, the Padres are a team that have reportedly been in a financial crunch over the past two offseasons and that appears to be the case based on the limited number of major league contracts signed and the bevy of minor league contracts that have been doled out this offseason. Many of those contracts come with invites to Spring Training and based on the success of Gavin Sheets from a season ago, it appears Preller is looking for another player to have a strong spring to make the MLB roster.
The money the Padres do have to spend would be best spent addressing their rotation needs and that sentiment is shared throughout much of the MLB and fan communities. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported earlier this week that the financial constraints of the Padres have them looking at more mid- to lower-tiered arms. He listed Lucas Giolito, Nick Martinez and Justin Verlander as potential free agent targets for San Diego. Gaslamp Ball asked readers to decide which of the three pitchers they would want in the Padres’ rotation in 2026.
It was not a shock to see the overwhelming majority of those who took part in the poll wanted the Padres to bring in Giolito. He is the youngest of the group at 31 years old and spent last year with the Boston Red Sox, after missing the 2024 season recovering and rehabbing from elbow surgery, which probably has some fans thinking Giolito could be a Nick Pivetta 2.0. Pivetta pitched in Boston prior to coming to San Diego and he was the best pitcher in the starting rotation for the Padres in 2026. Could Giolito have similar success under the tutelage of San Diego pitching coach Ruben Niebla? The Friar Faithful seem to be willing to give it a chance.
Martinez has been in San Diego, he is well-known to Padres fans, and he seemed to be well-liked in the clubhouse. Preller does not often bring players back to San Diego who have left and gone on to play in another city, but that does not mean he is out on Martinez. It just seems that his return is highly unlikely, and the fans seem to want that to be the case as well.
Verlander is going to be in the National Baseball Hall of Fame when he is eligible for induction, and you would be hard-pressed to find anyone who would dispute that. San Diego fans seem to think his best years are behind him and that the Padres could or should do better if they are going to spend on a free agent pitcher. Verlander had a good season, statistically speaking, in San Francisco last year with the Giants, but his win/loss record left a lot to be desired, and he is a 42-year-old with a lot of wear-and-tear on his arm.
There are some fans who did not like any of the options suggested by Rosenthal and used in this poll and that is to be expected. You always want your team to find and sign the best players because it gives your team the best opportunity to compete and win. No one wants to shop in the proverbial bargain bin, but sometimes we have to get the best of what is available and for the Padres and their fans, that appears to be Giolito.
