John Calipari calls on commissioners to be '(expletives)' in pro-to-college debate

Arkansas men's basketball coach John Calipari, one of the most respected voices in the sport, expressed his concern with teams filling their rosters due to legal battles in a recent podcast appearance.

Calipari, discussing the matter on "The Sideline" with Andy Katz, said he understands why teams would want to add players like former Missouri center Mark Mitchell, who received an extra year of eligibility to play at Kentucky, or former St. John's guard RJ Luis, who signed G-League deals before returning to college and signing with LSU.

He also wonders how the recruiting method will affect the sport moving forward.

"I don't begrudge any coach trying to do something to help his team win," Calipari said. "I don't begrudge a basketball player trying to get a fifth year because he's going to make a lot of money.

"The issue becomes, 'What is it doing to our recruiting in young kids?'"

The SEC, along with the other three Power Four conferences, recently adopted rules that bar professional athletes from returning to college, even if the player is granted a temporary restraining order in court like many are receiving in recent weeks as the NCAA's new five-for-five eligibility ruling opens the door for lawsuits.

A Dallas judge named the SEC and its commissioner Greg Sankey in a court order on Thursday, Aug. 27, that noted the league can't enforce its rule on a group of 41 players named as plaintiffs in the order, complicating how the league can combat players returning to college sports.

Calipari said it's all the more reason college sports needs legislation, even if the Protect College Sports Act isn't perfect, in his eyes.

"We need these commissioners to step in here and, I'll use the term, be the (expletives)," Calipari said.

The 67-year-old coach also brought up an interesting point about players losing their potential role on a team because of a late roster addition.

"For me, what does that do to the players in my program if I did it?" he said. "What does it to do a player that I have recruited and talked to, maybe one that was waiting his turn? Maybe it's a freshman. How do you have trust when you walk in, in September, and say, 'We just changed. I know what we told you, but that's not going to happen now because this kid's coming in.'"

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: John Calipari calls on commissioners to be '(expletives)' in pro-to-college debate

New Seahawks owner Vinod Khosla was, and still is, a Steelers fan

To this day, plenty of Seahawks fans believe the Super Bowl XL officials who were wearing black and white were secretly wearing black and yellow. One person openly wearing black and yellow during the game was new Seahawks owner Vinod Khosla.

On Wednesday, after the owners voted to approve the sale of the team to a group led by Khosla, the self-made billionaire made it clear that he was — and still is — a fan of the team that kept the Seahawks from winning their first NFL championship in early 2006.

"I also happened to come to this country in '76 when the Steelers were winning Super Bowls," Khosla told reporters on Wednesday. "So, actually, I was originally, and still am, a big Steelers fan also — a little-known fact — but I still watch all the Steelers games, too."

Well, it's no longer a little-known fact. And it's not unprecedented. Vikings owner Zygi Wilf, for example, was a long-time Giants fans before buying the Vikings; he once followed Lawrence Taylor to the men's room to seek an autograph. (Wilf waited for Taylor to finish his business and emerge from the facilities.)

"I'll always be, deep inside, a Giants fan," Wilf said in November 2005, as the Vikings prepared to face the Giants. "I don’t think it ever goes away."

For Khosla, the Seahawks and Steelers will square off in 2027. Unless, of course, they happen to cross paths in Super Bowl LXI.

Andy Green explains reluctance to become Mets manager next season: ‘The family consideration is real’

The Mets have said from the very beginning that the plan is for interim manager Andy Green to return to a front office role upon the completion of this season. 

While there continues to be nothing but rave reviews since Green took over as the new head man, those plans don’t appear set to change. 

People familiar with the Mets’ internal thinking recently shared those sentiments with SNY’s Chelsea Janes, and now Green himself has confirmed it with The Athletic. 

The 49-year-old former MLB infielder explained to Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal that he’s reluctant to take on the full-time managerial gig next season because of his desire to be close to his daughters. 

“The family consideration is real,” Green said. “We’re all trying to do the best we can balancing career and family -- my twins have one year left in high school, I want to be present as much as possible, like any dad would.”

There's no denying New York has played much better under his tutelage, with a 26-27 record since late-June, but Green has made his desires clear to the higher-ups in the organization as well. 

“I’m going to take him at face value,” Steve Cohen said. “He’s telling us that he wants to go back to the front office.”

“I think it’s laudable and consistent with who he’s been during his time here,” David Stearns added. “He’s genuine and real about what fulfillment means for him.”

Whether or not Green will simply return to the player development role he filled over the past few seasons before being bumped up following Carlos Mendoza's firing remains to be seen.

Those who spoke with Janes floated the Mets’ general manager opening as a potential fit, but his interest in taking on that added responsibility remains unclear. 

If Green is willing, he certainly would be an intriguing option.

He has already built relationships throughout the organization in both of his roles, and comes with major league experience, which is something higher-ups have concluded they need more of in their operation.

Either way, Green appears destined to remain a crucial voice in the organization moving forward. 

Deion Sanders must testify in Shilo's bankruptcy trial — after Georgia Tech game (if at all)

Colorado coach Deion Sanders has gotten a ruling on the question of whether he'll be required to testify in Shilo's upcoming bankruptcy trial.

The bad news? Deion did not successfully quash the subpoena.

The good news? He won't have to testify in the days preceding the regular-season opener at Georgia Tech, next Thursday night.

The best news? His testimony likely won't be needed at all.

Via Christopher Kamrani of The Athletic, Sanders has been ordered to testify on Friday, September 4, at 1:30 p.m. MT. He will appear virtually, and not in court.

And he won't appear at all, unless Shilo's lawyer opens the door to testimony from Deion in a prior case. Deion's lawyer, Harvey Steinberg, told Kamrani that he doesn't expect Shilo's lawyers to open that door.

The trial arises from an effort to discharge an $11.89 million civil judgment in a personal-injury case arising from an altercation at Shilo's school in 2015. The key question is whether the injuries were "willful and malicious."

If so, the debt survives. If not, the debt will be avoided.

The Morning After: Keeping four QBs is bad roster building

Aug 27, 2026; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Will Howard (18) looks to pass the ball against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the third quarter at New Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The end of preseason has always been the unofficial beginning of fall in my eyes. As I stare out my window, I can see a hint of color becoming more prevalent in the trees, the sun is setting earlier with each passing day, and the pumpkin coffee I have sitting next to me tastes like I’ll be turning on Halloween 6 later on in the day.

The preseason is now complete for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and they will now have until Sunday night at 6:00 EST to trim their roster down to 53 players. And while the journey will end for many, it appears one player on the bubble has a spot secured. Plus, a pair of rookie receivers show exactly why they were drafted, and several defenders will make it very difficult to let them go.

It’s the morning after game day. Let’s dive in.

The Steelers should not keep four quarterbacks

After the Steelers’ 28-27 loss to the Bills to close out the preseason, head coach Mike McCarthy was asked if all four quarterbacks did enough to secure a roster spot.

“Very accurate evaluation on your part,” McCarthy said via Brooke Pryor. “We’ve got two vets to win with, and two guys we’re excited about their future.”

Of course, nothing is official at the time of writing, but it certainly appears as if the Steelers will keep all four quarterbacks on their roster, which makes next to no sense. It would be one thing if Will Howard blew them away in exhibition play – he didn’t. He finished the preseason 26-of-40 with two touchdowns to three interceptions. For what it’s worth, both touchdowns he threw were a screen pass that Germie Bernard took 13 yards after making the first tackler miss, and practically a handoff to Lake McRee who dove over several players to get into the end zone.

That’s not to see there weren’t good throws. The pass to Robert Tonyan on the goal line in Week 1 against the Packers was his best throw of the preseason, and he made a 16-yard completion to Ben Skowronek over the middle in Week 2. However, if he really popped, the Steelers wouldn’t feel the need to keep Mason Rudolph.

Howard was comfortably the fourth-best quarterback for the Steelers throughout the summer. The logical decision would be to cut him and then sign him to the practice squad when no one claims him. Everyone in the Will Howard camp is so certain he would get claimed by another team, but that’s highly unlikely to happen. About 25-35 players total get claimed during roster cutdown. Last year, there were 29 players claimed. The year before that – 27, per Saad Yousuf of The Athletic. The high since 2015 is 44 players. The low is 17, which came back in 2020. Howard didn’t do anything in exhibition play to warrant a team putting in a claim for him. He would quickly have a home back on the Steelers’ practice squad should that be the route they would go.

Instead, they will likely keep Howard, assuming he doesn’t go on IR with an injury he suffered against the Bills. Even if he does go on IR, though, eventually they’d have to take him off, which would lead to the team eventually carrying four quarterbacks. Who’s the player that will lose their helmet because of it? Robert Spears-Jennings? Doneiko Slaughter? Both of whom have had tremendous summers. If Howard gets a spot over someone who can contribute elsewhere, it’s roster building malpractice.

Germie Bernard is WR3

I’ve seen enough from Bernard – he absolutely should be the starting slot receiver. The Alabama product has shown more this preseason than Roman Wilson has going on three seasons. It’s great that Wilson looked good in camp. It means nothing, though, when he does nothing come game time.

Bernard showcased exactly why the Steelers traded up to get him, making Max Hairston miss on a screen pass and taking it the rest of the way to the end zone. He finished his preseason with five catches for 64 yards and a touchdown. And as impressive as his first (unofficial) touchdown was, it may not have been his best play of the preseason. In Week 1 against the Packers, he caught a ball on the right sideline made several defenders miss, and picked up 25 yards.

The best thing the Steelers could do at receiver right now is give Bernard the No. 3 spot on the depth chart, see if they can get a late-round pick swap in exchange for Roman Wilson, and sign a veteran to be the No. 4 wide receiver Brandin Cooks would be the name I’d prefer. He’s still a quality deep threat, and he had a nice pair of seasons under McCarthy from 2023-24, catching 80 passes and 11 touchdowns in that two-year span.

Kaden Wetjen puts exclamation point on preseason

The rookie out of Iowa began the preseason with a 74-yard catch and a touchdown, and he ended it by showing exactly why the Steelers took him in the fourth round.

The two-time Jet Award winner struggled to get anything going in the return game in the first half. In the third quarter, though, he sprung away from the Bills’ punt coverage and returned a kick 45 yards for a touchdown. Should he be able to house at least one kick during the regular season, many will forget about the Steelers reaching in the fourth for a return specialist. While he rode the highs and lows of his first NFL training camp, the highs are very high for one of the best return men in college football history.

Several defenders make their case for roster spots

There will be at least one defender worthy of a roster spot who doesn’t get one – which, again, makes the likelihood of Will Howard having a spot even more irrational.

Devan Boykin had a strong preseason and led the team with nine tackles on Thursday. D’Shawn Jamison has been a practice squad mainstay for Pittsburgh over the last two years and appeared in three games in 2025. He’ll likely be placed on the practice squad again despite a nice preseason. Slaughter and Spears-Jennings are another pair of guys who are on that roster bubble, and one or both could be placed on the practice squad.

Having a lot of quality players is a good problem to have, and Pittsburgh may have one of the deeper set of reserves in the NFL once Week 1 rolls around.

Let us know what you think in the commentsBe sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!

2026-27 Big East Men’s Basketball Summer Vibe Check: Providence Friars

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 12: Ryan Mela #11 of the Providence Friars dribbles the ball during the second half of a Big East Men's Tournament Quarterfinal game against the St. John's Red Storm at Madison Square Garden on March 12, 2026 in New York City.
This was the loneliest looking photo of Ryan Mela that I saw in the hopper. | Photo by Porter Binks/Getty Images

Team: Providence Friars

2025-26 Record: 15-18, 7-13 Big East

2025-26 Big East Finish: Tied for seventh with Marquette and Butler, ended up as the #9 seed by way of head to head record against those two teams; one game behind DePaul, one game ahead of a tie for last between Xavier and Georgetown.

Final 2025-26 Computer Rankings

NET: #78
KenPom.com: #67
BartTorvik.com: #70

Postseason: The Friars checked out for the year after beating Butler in the first round of the Big East tournament and then losing by 13 to St. John’s in the quarterfinals.

Only Returning Player: Yes, normally we start the player discussion with who is departing to set the table to discuss exactly what the team is losing from last year and/or what do the returning guys and newcomers have to replace. However, it’s going to save us a whole bunch of time and energy to just tell you that Ryan Mela is the only returning player on the entire roster. He was in and out of the starting lineup as a sophomore this past year, ultimately averaging 9.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game while shooting a not-quite-helpful 32% on three-pointers. You might remember him from that time he got hit with a technical foul with less than a minute to play while down 29 points because he shoved Marquette walk-on Casey O’Malley to the ground.

Notable Departures: The most notable one is head coach Kim English, who was sent on his way with a record of 48-52 in three seasons at Providence. It was pretty much all downhill for English after he threw a nonsensical fit about missing the NCAA tournament in Year 1 and then followed that up by by losing to Davidson and St. Bonaventure before Christmas on his way to 12-20 in Year 2.

After that, there’s a 14-way tie for the second most notable departure. As I mentioned, everyone not named Ryan Mela is gone. Six of those 14 guys were seniors this past season, so they were always gone, no matter who the head coach was going to be. In terms of “was it right to pull the plug on Kim English,” his top two scorers — Jaylin Sellers and Jason Edwards — were both on their final year of eligibility this past season, so English was going to have to revamp things anyway if he stuck around. If you don’t like the direction that it was trending under his direction AND whoever the coach is would have to reset the roster kind of notably anyway? Yeah, probably a solid idea to make the change.

Key Additions: Because we’ve got a coaching change, we have to detour real quick…..

Coach: Bryan Hodgson, going into his first season at Providence and fourth as a Division 1 head coach. He went 45-28 in two years at Arkansas State and is coming off a 25-9 season at South Florida that put the Bulls into the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2012.

And now, back to our regularly scheduled programming…….

Key Additions: Everyone on the roster other than Ryan Mela is new. That includes three freshmen and a redshirt freshman that has “did not see any action” in his team bio but isn’t on the 2025-26 roster. Sure.

One of the freshmen is from Italy, one of the freshmen is from Overtime Elite but isn’t rated or ranked by 247 Sports (which I think defies the logic of the use of the word “elite”), and one is Dink Pate. You tell me if this person is a college freshman under the definition of the new five years/five seasons/clock starts running when you graduate high school rules the NCAA put in this summer: High school class of 2023, one year with G League Ignite, one year with Mexico City in the G League, one year with Westchester in the G League. I would argue that sounds an awful lot like someone who is going into their fourth of five possible years of eligibility….. and someone who is actually not eligible at all because they were in the G League. Now, I will point out that he was born in March of 2006, so he has only just now turned 20…. but again: Three years in the G League drawing a paycheck, and he was entered in the 2025 NBA Draft, too. Let’s put it another way: Dink Pate played in a game on the same team as Tyler Kolek this past season.

Alrighty, that means there are eight transfers on the roster here. I don’t have time or interest in running through all of them, not when the entire roster is still wearing name tags at practice. One of them is following Bryan Hodgson north from Tampa, and that’s Gavin Hightower (6’1”, 165 lb sophomore guard, Los Angeles, California). It’s nice that he wants to keep playing for the same coach, but said coach had him averaging less than 10 minutes a night in the American for conference play last season. Okay, that’s unfair, his minutes picked way up towards the end of the year, which includes double digits in both of their American tournament games and in the 83-79 loss to Louisville in the NCAA tourney.

There are just two high major transfers on the list here. One is Arrinten Page (6’11”, 245 lb senior forward, Atlanta, Georgia), who has bounced from USC to Cincinnati to Northwestern and now to Providence. He averaged 10.2 points and 4.5 rebounds as a part-time starter for the Wildcats last season, which was his most productive year in college hoops. The other high major guy is Malik Mack (6’2”, 175 lb. senior guard, Oxon Hill, Maryland), whom you might remember from his two years at Georgetown. (ASIDE: I don’t want to come across as judgy, but when you go from Harvard to Georgetown to Providence, you’re going in the wrong direction.) Mack put up 13.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 4.2 assists a night in two seasons for the Hoyas, and he’s obviously familiar with the level of play in this conference as well.

Outlook: Any actual predicting regarding Providence men’s basketball for 2026-27 is guessing. It’s an entirely brand new roster coached by a guy in his fourth year as a head coach and who happens to be on his third team in three seasons. I don’t know how this is going to go, you don’t know how this is going to go, Bryan Hodgson hopes it goes well. That’s the most optimistic thing we can say about the Friars right now, even with BartTorvik.com going waaaaay out over their computerized skis and projecting PC at just outside the top 50.

With that said.

Bryan Hodgson is a Nate Oats guy. He was on staff with Oats back when he was at Buffalo, and then he followed his boss to Alabama. Their last year at Buffalo was the Bulls’ best ever season in the KenPom.com era. Hodgson’s last year on the bench at Alabama was the best KP season for that program. Hodgson took over an Arkansas State program that went 13-20 with a 4-14 record in the Sun Belt the year before and got them to 20-17 overall and 11-7 in the league in his first season. Year Two ended up as Arkansas State’s best year in the KenPom era. Hodgson’s only year at South Florida is the Bulls’ best KenPom season, too.

It would seem undeniable that Hodgson knows how to have a positive impact on a basketball roster. For the last 11 years, he’s been touring the country either helping or leading programs to their best seasons since 1997. It would be wrong on multiple levels to expect him to immediately pull off that kind of performance with Providence, as that would mean a KenPom top 25 finish because Tim Welsh had them at #24 at the end of the season in 2004. (Ed Cooley’s best finish was #27! In 2015!) That’s definitely a bridge too far to expect.

But can Hodgson coach a competitive team in this league right away? Sure. If his high tempo system carries over, then the focus on turnovers on both ends and getting after it on the offensive glass plus forcing bad shots can do a lot of damage right away. There might be some bumps in the road what with the lack of familiarity between the players, but I wouldn’t be surprised to be able to put a Most Improved From Start To End label on Providence by the time we get to next April.


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Best Lions content of the week: Goff, St. Brown discuss their telepathy

The connection between a quarterback and wide receiver is one of the more storied partnerships in all of sports, and for good reason. So many details go into the artistry that occurs between the two positions on gameday. And if you are looking for proof, just ask one of the best duos in NFL—Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.

“When you watch Goff and St. Brown on the field, you can see they’re finishing each other’s sentences — if every sentence was punctuated with a first down,” wrote Henry McKenna of Fox Sports in his recent feature on the pair. “It’s not normal. They can make changes mid-play without even having to look at each other. It goes beyond coaching.”

If you have been watching the Lions for the last several years, then chances are you know exactly what McKenna is talking about.

“I think we’ve been playing for so long together that he understands my body language when I’m running routes,” St. Brown told McKenna. “That he can anticipate throws before I’m even out of the break. He kind of knows, ‘Oh, that’s how it looks when he’s about to break down.’ So he already knows. He can anticipate the throw.”

The article dives into what makes the relationship between the two pros so special, including frequent visits to St. Brown’s favorite sushi restaurant near their Los Angeles area offseason homes. You can read the entire article from McKenna right here.

And now onto the rest of the best Lions content from this week.

  • If you didn’t already see, Chris Long and The Greenlight Podcast were in Allen Park recently, and they got some excellent interviews in with St. Brown, Goff, and defensive end Aidan Hutchinson.

  • After a long, strange journey, the NFL’s Pro Bowl is finally gone.

  • In case you missed it, Tina Nguyen of WXYZ Detroit interviewed Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard.

  • If you are someone like me who is always thinking of what shoes to rock on Lions’ gamedays, you may be interested to know that two Lions’ themed shoes are dropping ahead of the 2026 NFL season.

Last but not least, we have two posts from The Feed. The first is from Critical Perspective where the author dives into some possible roster gymnastics we may see from the Lions after their final preseason game against the Colts on Saturday. And the second is by tomi02118 that examines the Lions’ decisions around the backup quarterback position behind starter Jared Goff.

Some Encouraging Injury News on Matt Savoie

Edmonton Oilers GM Stan Bowman provided Sportsnet’s Mark Spector with an update on the injuries to Matt Savoie and Frederik Andersen.

It was revealed on Thursday that four players would miss training camp. Savoie and Andersen were among them, with Mattias Janmark and Alec Regula the others. For Savoie and Andersen, it was expected that October might be a return month, although no exact timeline was provided. 

Bowman indicated that Savoie is expected to return much sooner than Andersen, with the Oilers taking a cautious approach with their 36-year-old goaltender and refusing to rush him back before he’s ready.

There is no exact timeline for Savoie yet, but Bowman offered some encouraging news, making it clear the injury is not expected to keep the young forward out for an extended period.

How Will the Cale Makar Deal Impact The Oilers And Evan Bouchard?How Will the Cale Makar Deal Impact The Oilers And Evan Bouchard?As Cale Makar prepares to reset the market with a historic extension, Edmonton’s front office must brace for Evan Bouchard’s inevitable—and expensive—demands for a massive payday.

“It’s not like he’s going to miss half a season or anything like that. It’s going to be much less than that.”

Bowman acknowledged that Savoie will miss some time but said the Oilers aren't overly concerned.

Overall, it sounds like there is considerably more optimism surrounding Savoie’s injury than initially feared, which should come as encouraging news for the Oilers.

Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest newsgame-day coverage, and moreAdd us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.

Slaying the boogeyman: History behind Illinois and UConn

It’s no secret that the UConn Huskies have been the boogeyman, or monster hiding under the bed, for the Illinois men’s basketball program in recent memory.

It all started back in 2024, when the Illini were amidst a magical March Madness run and ended up being tasked with facing a juggernaut Huskies team in the Elite Eight.

Things started off competitively in the game, with the score tied at 23 with two minutes to go in the first half, and both teams in the fight.

And that’s when things took a turn for the worse for the Orange and Blue, as the Huskies went for the kill shot, ripping off a now-infamous 30-0 run.

Illinois ended up losing 77-52 after trailing by as many as 30 points at one point in the second half,

Since then, the two teams have rematched twice, both in the 2025-26 season.

The Huskies won in the regular season at Madison Square Garden in November of 2025, and once again ended a deep Illini postseason run in the Final Four back in April, cementing the overwhelming truth that UConn has had Illinois’s number as of late.

Even if you peel things back a layer, the Huskies have dominated the all-time series between the two historic programs.

In fact, the last time Illinois beat UConn was in the two teams’ first-ever meeting all the way back in 1938.

To put that in perspective, the last time the Illini took down the Huskies, World War II hadn’t even started yet, and the NCAA basketball Tournament didn’t even exist.

So if you’re only looking at games that happened after the early 20th century, Illinois holds a 0-5 record against UConn.

That means that this season, Illinois head coach Brad Underwood and his “Everyday Guys” have an opportunity to do something that hasn’t been done in almost 90 years.

On Friday, Dec. 4, at the United Center in Chicago, the Illini will have their chance to fight off the demons that have been plaguing them and beat the Huskies.

UConn’s Dan Hurley, one of the best head coaches in all of college basketball, is returning a few familiar faces from last season’s showdowns.

Sophomore guard and projected lottery pick Braylon Mullins will be back with the team. While he wasn’t much of a factor early in the season, he came on strong in the postseason and burned the Illini from deep in the Final Four, hitting four 3-pointers and scoring 15 points.

Illinois fans may also remember senior guards Solo Ball and Silas Demaray Jr., both of whom bring a slew of experience to the fold. Demaray played extremely well in the Final Four win and flirted with a triple-double, while Ball remained an impact scorer.

Underwood is returning a lot of talent as well in guys like Andrej Stojakovic, David Mirkovic and both Tomislav and Zvonimir Ivisic, while also bringing in a talented transfer in Stefan Vaaks and several talented freshmen.

The Illini men’s basketball team recently released its full nonconference schedule for 2026-27, and while there are several games against top-tier opponents, it’ll be hard for any of them to have as much juice as the December showdown with the UConn Huskies.

Al Michaels made a "Lake America" joke during Patriots-Browns game

Legendary play-by-play specialist Al Michaels returned to the booth on Thursday night for the Prime Video preseason game, between the Patriots and the Browns. And Michaels, who has been known to make a non-football topical reference or two, commented on one specific current event during the game.

"That is Lake Erie," Michaels said while the screen displayed an overhead shot of the Browns' stadium. "We think it is still called Lake Erie on the right. We're not quite sure at this point. But we'll be by Lake something like Ontario or whatever it's going to be called by the time we get to Buffalo [for Week 2].

"Anyway, you know what I'm talking about, some of you do. Read the news."

It was a reference to the recent decision by the Commander-in-Chief to unilaterally rebrand Lake Ontario as Lake America, given the latest iteration of the periodic squabbles with Canada.

Making the remark somewhat surprising is that Michaels, who doesn't wear his politics on his sleeve, is widely believed to be far more aligned philosophically with the man who made the change that provided the basis for the joke. Which could make it a tangible example of the reality that even the most ardent supporters of 45/47 have become exasperated and exhausted by his objectively tired and predictable shtick.

It's also a reflection of the fact that Michaels has been doing it long enough to say whatever he wants to say, whenever he wants to say it. With his former habit of making subtle (or otherwise) references to the betting line and over-unders in the days the NFL despised gambling now far less noteworthy given the normalization of all things betting, Michaels needs to find other ways to display some periodic cheekiness.

Hacking the Default Rankings: Where to find value in your fantasy football draft

With one weekend of preseason football left and roster cutdown day fast approaching, it's safe to say that the fantasy football season is in full swing. Friends, family, and bitter rivals will gather across the country to renew leagues and put bragging rights on the line for a shot at fantasy glory.

We have recently released our Top-200 PPR rankings, which are available free of charge to all readers and will be updated regularly until the start of the season. The Rotoworld rankings listed below are based on their last update of 8/26, but be sure to check in regularly for any changes. Now, in hopes of giving you a little bit more of an edge, we wanted to see how our rankings stack up to those on other sites, whose default ranks often drive the outcomes of fantasy drafts.

In this article, we'll look to find some of the biggest discrepancies in the Rotoworld top 200 rankings compared to the default rankings of ESPN, Yahoo, and Sleeper, in hopes of giving fantasy managers an edge and finding what we believe to be some of the biggest values on the board as they prepare for their drafts over the next few weeks.

NOTE: Stats and information courtesy of PFF.comRotoViz.comProFootballReference.comNextGenStats.NFL.com4For4.comFantasyPoints.com and RBSDM.com. All scoring is based on full-PPR leagues.

GET YOUR FREE ROTOWORLD FANTASY FOOTBALL DRAFT KIT HERE!

▶ Quarterbacks

Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs

Ours: 86
Yahoo!: 117
ESPN: 95
Sleeper: 106

Imagine fading one of the best quarterbacks in the game all because of a little ACL tear he suffered in Week 15 of last season. We here at Rotoworld could never do such a thing. Currently ranked as our QB9, Mahomes has been a full-go since the start of training camp and appears to be on track to play in the Chiefs' season opener against the Broncos on Monday Night Football, even if Andy Reid would prefer not to commit to such a thing.

Despite some of the struggles Mahomes and the Chiefs had last season, he still managed to finish last year as the fantasy QB4 in fantasy points per game (23), which was his highest finish since 2022. While some of this was buoyed by career highs in rushing yards (422) and rushing touchdowns (5), Mahomes was still in the top-10 for total expected fantasy points, and was on a 17-game pace to throw for 4,356-27-13 — all numbers would have been on par with what we saw in 2023 and 2024.

While ESPN's rankings have this one similar to ours, our rankings suggest there could be tremendous value at QB on Yahoo and Sleeper if Mahomes falls to you in the ninth or 10th round of drafts.

Jordan Love, Packers

Ours: 106
Yahoo!: 130
ESPN: 193
Sleeper: 148

One of the biggest discrepancies we see at the quarterback position between our rankings and the other sites' is with Jordan Love. On average, we have Love ranked 38.3 picks higher compared to the other three sites, meaning there's just over three full rounds of value to be had here.

Love has finished as a top-10 QB in fantasy points per game just once in the last three seasons, but on a per-game basis, the Packers signal-caller has finished as a top-12 fantasy QB in 43 percent of his games played over that span and has been a top-12 QB in 37 percent of his games since 2024. At the time of this writing, Love is currently ranked as our QB12 ahead of guys like Brock Purdy (QB13), Matthew Stafford (QB14), and Jared Goff (QB16), all of whom rank higher than Love on every site.

The loss of Romeo Doubs this offseason shouldn't be enough to negatively impact Love, who is hoping a second-year leap from receiver Matthew Golden and a healthy season from Christian Watson will be more than enough to sustain the Packers offense this season. That, in addition to the return of Tucker Kraft and the fact that Jayden Reed is still on the roster, gives Love plenty of weapons to work with this season, and he is still playing under a top offensive mind in head coach Matt LaFleur.

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Your one-stop-shop for all of Rotoworld’s preseason content leading into fantasy football drafts.

▶ Running Backs

R.J. Harvey, Broncos

Ours: 79
Yahoo!: 109
ESPN: 120
Sleeper: 79

We're clearly in lockstep with the folks over at Sleeper, but there is nearly a full three-round difference between how we view R.J. Harvey and how Yahoo and ESPN do. The second-year running back is coming off a season in which he totaled 146-547-7 on the ground and added another 47-356-5 through the air. Harvey saw an uptick in opportunities after J.K. Dobbins went down in Week 10, averaging 17.9 opportunities per game from Weeks 11 to 18 compared to the 7.9 opps/gm he averaged when Dobbins was healthy.

Yes, Dobbins is back and healthy, and has said he will be fully healthy for all 17 games this season. We'll see how that goes. Still, even if Dobbins is healthy, Harvey should still have a decent role as a pass-catcher for the Broncos next season, which gives him plenty of upside in a full-PPR format. Among 15 running backs who saw 50 or more targets last season, Harvey's 2.40 fantasy points per reception ranked second-highest in the league behind only Travis Etienne (2.81), and the 7.7 YAC/REC he averaged on a per-reception basis was nearly identical to the 7.9 YAC/REC Jahmyr Gibbs averaged. Rookie fourth-rounder Jonah Coleman could mix into the backfield rotation as well, but he's expected to be viewed as more of an early down/short-yardage back than another option in the passing game.

Chris Rodriguez, Jaguars

Ours: 101
Yahoo!: 115
ESPN: 138
Sleeper: 142

Among the Jaguars running backs, second-year speedster Bhayshul Tuten has gotten most of the hype from the fantasy community. Tuten boasts 4.37 speed and an elite 9.24 RAS, and rushed for 83-307-5 in limited playing time last season, but is expected to see a bigger role with Travis Etienne now in New Orleans. While Tuten is undoubtedly the most explosive back in Jacksonville's backfield, free agent signee Chris Rodriguez could prove to be a thorn in the side of Tuten's fantasy managers this season.

Rodriguez spent the first three years of his career buried on one depth chart after another with the Washington Commanders. In those three seasons, the former Kentucky bruiser rushed 198 times for 920 yards and 10 touchdowns while averaging a solid 4.6 YPC. Among 74 running backs with at least 150 rush attempts since 2023, Rodriguez's 24.7 percent missed tackles forced rate ranks eighth-highest, while his 3.59 yards after contact per attempt (YCO/ATT) is good for third-highest.

As previously mentioned, Rodriguez played at the University of Kentucky, where he crossed paths with current Jaguars head coach Liam Coen, who helped Rodriguez produce his best season of college. It's a small footnote, but one that's worth remembering, especially with Coen saying he expects the backfield to “be a bit more by committee” this season. While Rodriguez is unlikely to factor much into the passing game, his hard running coupled with a 224-pound frame could be enough to make him the preferred goal-line back to Tuten, which could put a hard cap on Tuten's upside this season.

Chicago Bears v San Francisco 49ers - NFL 2025
The top players for 2026 at running back, wide receiver, quarterback, and tight end with explanations for every rank.

▶ Wide Receivers

Jordan Addison, Vikings

Ours: 77
Yahoo!: 94
ESPN: 89
Sleeper: 104

The arrival of Kyler Murray has driven Justin Jefferson up the ranks quite a bit. It's the only logical explanation for why we here at Rotoworld, along with ESPN and Sleeper, still have Jefferson as a first-round fantasy pick this season. Yahoo is close behind, ranking Jefferson at 15th overall. During last year's quarterback apocalypse in Minnesota, Jefferson finished as a top-12 PPR receiver just three times while catching passes from J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer.

If we're going to bump up Jefferson, it would only make sense that Jordan Addison also receives a sizable bump with Murray now under center. It should come as no surprise to learn that Addison's WR49 finish in fantasy points per game last season was a career-low. Addison finished as a top-36 PPR receiver in each of his first two seasons in the league, while averaging 67-893-10 over that span. He caught just 42 passes for 610 yards and three touchdowns last season on a career-low 77 targets. When he was at his best, Addison was still a volatile fantasy asset, finishing as a top-24 PPR receiver in just 38 percent of his games from 2023 to 2024, but that's far better than the 21 percent rate we saw last season.

Ted Hurst, Buccaneers

Ours: 165
Yahoo!: Outside top-200
ESPN: Outside top-200
Sleeper: Outside top-200

As evidenced by the fact that Ted Hurst is ranked outside of the top-200 on each of the above sites, it's fair to assume that this is a bit of a deep play. The rookie third-rounder has received praise from reporters throughout training camp and also received endorsements from head coach Todd Bowles and quarterback Baker Mayfield after the team's joint practice with the Jaguars.

Hurst is a 6-foot-3, 195-pound receiver who blazed a 4.42 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. He totaled 900-plus receiving yards in each of his two seasons at Georgia State and could turn into an early replacement for Mike Evans this season. No, Hurst won't provide the level of production the Buccaneers and Mayfield enjoyed for years, but his ability as a downfield threat could give Mayfield another weapon on the outside, and depending on how he develops over the course of the year, he may prove to be a reliable contributor when we get closer to the fantasy playoffs.

▶ Tight Ends

Juwan Johnson, Saints

Ours: 144
Yahoo!: 133
ESPN: 157
Sleeper: 187

Finding tight end values between our rankings and those of the other sites proved a difficult task, as in many cases we were lower on other tight ends compared to these sites. However, one tight end who continued to catch my attention was Juwan Johnson, who ranks a full round outside of our rankings on two of the three sites. Johnson enjoyed a career year in his first season under head coach Kellen Moore, catching 77 passes for 889 yards and three touchdowns. His targets (102), receptions, and receiving yards all marked career-highs for the seventh-year tight end, and the 525 routes he ran were good for fourth-most in the league behind only Trey McBride (694), Travis Kelce (573), and Kyle Pitts (539).

Johnson posted a top-12 fantasy week in 53 percent of his games last season, and the injury to Jordyn Tyson (hamstring) should ward off any concerns over the rookie eating into his target share during the early part of this season. Among 29 tight ends with 50-plus targets last season, Johnson ranked sixth in air yards per target (7.6) and was tied for 14th in YAC/REC (4.7). For a player currently ranked in the 14th and 16th rounds of 12-team fantasy drafts on ESPN and Sleeper, Johnson might have the most upside of any late-round tight end based on this virtually free price tag.

Other Notable Comparisons

ESPN

RB Keaton Mitchell, Chargers: 151; Ours: 114

RB Blake Corum, Rams: 119; Ours: 67

WR KC Concepcion, Browns: 124; Ours: 108

RB J.K. Dobbins, Broncos: 106; Ours: 78

WR Josh Downs, Colts: 113; Ours: 90

Yahoo!

RB Kyle Monangai, Bears: 108; Ours: 87

WR Wan'Dale Robinson, Titans: 121; Ours: 100

WR Tank Dell, Texans: 252; Ours: 195

TE Jake Ferguson, Cowboys: 145; Ours: 115

RB Aaron Jones, Vikings: 125; Ours: 97

Sleeper

WR Adonai Mitchell, Jets: 256; Ours: 163

WR Romeo Doubs, Patriots: 132; Ours: 103

RB Braelon Allen, Jets: 208; Ours: 152

QB Tyler Shough, Saints: 182; Ours: 142

QB Kyler Murray, Vikings: 159; Ours: 124

Five Commanders to watch in preseason finale vs. Ravens

ricky barber commanders

Most Commanders you’ll see featured during the 2026 campaign won’t play Friday night’s preseason finale against Baltimore.  

Head coach Dan Quinn made the crystal clear this week, saying frontline players would get heavy reps in Wednesday’s joint practice against the Ravens to cap their training camp.  

That means the cast you see Friday at M&T Bank Stadium will feature those battling for spots near the bottom of the 53-man depth chart and the practice squad.  

That doesn’t mean this upcoming game is without merit, though you must look a little harder to find it. Most of the hay’s in the barn evaluation-wise, but finishing with a flourish may help some roster hopefuls secure a spot.  

Notice how you don’t see quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis or defensive back Tyler Owens listed. I think those guys are already in.  

There are a few players worth highlighting here that could improve their stock and standing by punctuating the preseason with a strong performance.  

DL Ricky Barber 

A first-year pro after spending most of last season on the practice squad, Ricky Barber has shown well during training camp. That’s also true of his preseason performances. While the Commanders vastly upgraded their defensive front, Johnny Newton’s torn pectoral muscle has created an opening for a young player like Barber.  

He leads the team with 10 tackles and a sack over the first two preseason games, and was solid when elevated from the practice squad in 2025, especially on this play.  

Barber surely has a practice-squad spot locked up, unless someone snags him off waivers, where he could provide insurance at the position. Barber could earn a spot should the Commanders keep six defensive linemen, though Byron Cowart’s angling for the same gig. A strong finish could help Barber in this instance, to highlight a strong body of preseason work.  

DB Darius Rush 

Credit where credit’s due: This one’s inspired by John Portis’ excellent roster case for Darius Rush, a supreme athlete and special teams maven who clearly cares about the kicking game. A team needs players like that, to champion the often thankless work done on the coverage and return units.  

Showing a little something on defensive coverage in the preseason, even if it’s the tools to develop into a solid player in that area, will strengthen his case to be kept around in Washington. He might not make the 53-man roster, but he could well help this season as a practice squad elevation and continue to earn reps with hard work.  

LB Ale Kaho 

Ale Kaho has had a strong preseason, showing off the athleticism and special-teams prowess worthy of a reserve linebacker spot. 

 It seems like the Commanders like Kaho and have him under strong consideration should they keep a fifth linebacker as I think they will.  

Fellow UCLA product Kain Medrano’s direct competition for that spot and he’s an Adam Peters draft pick with somewhat similar traits. It’s tough to say who has the upper hand at this point – probably Medrano – and this is the type of competition that could go to the bitter end even with most decisions already made. A final evaluation could further prove his worth, though it’s nearly impossible he won’t earn a practice squad spot at minimum.  

WR Jaden Bradley 

The undrafted rookie out of UNLV has been talked about a ton over the course of this Commanders preseason, with mostly positive sentiments from players, coaches and observers alike.  

I mean, what’s not to love about a hard worker who makes plays like this? 

His play would put him in line for a roster spot on this team, but that’s hard to imagine in an impacted position group. There are times, however, when teams take a flier on a young player with upside who plays special teams over a veteran with a defined ceiling.  

Could more wow plays against the Ravens sway general manager Adam Peters to keep Bradley on the 53-man roster. Could Washington get him through waivers and onto the practice squad? Probably, but it’s a risk. Maybe he’s on the initial 53-man and gets moved a week or so later.  

There’s so much worthy competition for the sixth receiver spot, but Bradley has a case he can keep on making Friday night.  

OT D.J. Humphries 

This player doesn’t fit the theme we’ve created for this post. Humphries is an established veteran, albeit towards the end of a standout career. He made it clear to on-site reporters following Wednesday’s joint practice that he’s not a savior at the left tackle spot. He’s here to provide depth behind Brandon Coleman.  

This game will offer a sneak peek of what Humphries can do at this stage, with but a small amount of scheme knowledge under his belt. Keep an eye on his game reps – there might not be many – for an indication of where he’s at after spending most of camp away from an NFL team.  

These Bills helped their cause vs. Steelers in final preseason game

CLEVELAND, OH - AUGUST 22: Buffalo Bills defensive end Mike Danna (51) leaves the field following the National Football League preseason game between the Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns on August 22, 2026, at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Buffalo Bills ended their 2026 preseason 3-0 with a dazzling comeback win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night, and now have 53-man roster decisions to make ahead of Sunday evening.

Which roster-bubble players made a final push to make the team with their performance in the preseason finale, you ask?

My answers below.

EDGE Mike Danna

I’m a staunch advocate of Bruce Nolan’s WAWW philosophy in the preseason, and Danna played a whopping 43 snaps, most of which came in the second half and well into the fourth quarter, so the writing may be on the wall regarding his future on the Bills.

But it would’ve been nearly impossible for Danna to do more with his time on task late in this trio of Bills preseason games. Danna added three tackles, two more pressures, and another tackle for loss to his stellar preseason against the Steelers.

I have no idea if the Bills will have room for Danna on the 53-man roster, and he feels like a potential poaching target on the practice squad. If I was the GM, I’d very much like to have a wily, versatile, thick defensive linemen with gobs of deep playoff experience in my back pocket, and that’s precisely what the 29 year old Danna is.

LB Keonta Jenkins

Am I the only one who visualizes Tremaine Edmunds when watching Jenkins in the Bills No. 49?

In actuality, Edmunds was a first-round pick and stood at 6’5” and 250 pounds. Jenkins was undrafted out of Virginia Tech and is only 6’2” and probably in the 220-230 pound range now. But the long hair out of the back of his helmet and the way he effortlessly glides to the football is very Edmunds-esque.

Jenkins had six tackles against the Steelers, one of a which was a thudding tackle for loss and tacked on a sack in his 24 snaps. Joe Andreessen did not play defense against Pittsburgh, which hints that he’s a lock to make the 53-man roster as the primary inside linebacker contingency plan. But Jenkins put quite the emphatic stamp on a summer in which he demonstrated that his arrow is pointed decidedly upward.

RB Frank Gore Jr.

Gore Jr., now three years into his professional career — it seems less than that, doesn’t it? — feels like a real pro’s pro at this stage, even though we’ve almost strictly seen him in training camp and the preseason.

Making cornerbacks whiff in space on catches in the flat or screens, knifing his way through small crevices between the tackles, and morphing into a small cement wall in pass protection against an A-gap blitz, for the third-straight preseason, Gore demonstrated that he does everything well that teams ask of modern-day running backs albeit not against first-teamers.

And he put multiple exclamation points on film against the Steelers to prove his well-roundedness. The two long gainers on short throws from Shane Buechele, a stick on a pass-pro rep that allowed Buechele to deliver a strike on a deep over, and gritty, just-take-what’s-there runs between the tackles. It was all there from Gore Jr. in this game.

On 15 touches he totaled 72 yards from scrimmage and scored a touchdown.

If Buffalo wants to take the precautionary route with Ty Johnson to begin the season — see: short-term IR — I believe Gore Jr. has done enough to earn an opportunity when the games count.

OG Ar’Maj Reed-Adams

Reed-Adams isn’t going to make the 53-man roster. But I can’t quit him. And that’s partly due to my affinity for him as a prospect. But he was an old-school workhorse MLB pitcher this preseason — the rookie guard logged another 67 snaps in the preseason finale against the Steelers.

And once again, Reed-Adams did not allow a single pressure.

It capped a debut preseason for Reed-Adams without surrendering a single quarterback pressure — he did have a holding call that negated one but otherwise was not flagged.

The nearly 6’6” and 315-plus pounder has absolutely done enough to secure a spot on the practice squad, and I’m incredibly into his upside as, first, a deep-depth option, and eventually, a starter at either guard position on this team.

Three NHL PTO Candidates For The Maple Leafs Ahead Of Training Camp

A few NHL teams have already organized professional try-out (PTO) opportunities ahead of training camp. The Vancouver Canucks were the latest team to dish out a PTO to goaltender Chris Driedger on Thursday. On Tuesday, the Washington Capitals signed goalie Cal Peterson to a PTO, and the Calgary Flames brought in Alex Nylander on a try-out, ending his time in the Toronto Maple Leafs' organization.

Last year, Toronto signed goaltender James Reimer to a PTO, who previously served in the crease for the Maple Leafs from 2010-11 to 2015-16 and was drafted by them in 2006. Reimer's reunion with the team for the 2025 pre-season was for insurance purposes since Joseph Woll wasn't ready to start the 2025-26 campaign.

For this coming season, there has been a lot of change to the Leafs' roster. That's mostly related to GM John Chayka's free agency haul that introduced many new faces to the bottom six, specifically. 

Add Darren Raddysh, Emil Andrae and Gavin McKenna to the additions from July 1, and there aren't many available spots on the team. However, depth goes a long way in the NHL, especially for teams that go on to have successful seasons.

So, here are three PTO candidates for the Maple Leafs going into 2026-27 training camp.

Nick Blankenburg, D

Nick Blankenburg is a viable option to add to Toronto's back end. One thing that's apparent about the Leafs' D-corps is that it is aging and not particularly quick.

With the possible addition of Blankenburg, the Maple Leafs' blueline would get slightly younger, as the right-handed D-man is 28 years old. He's a smaller defenseman, documented at 5-foot-9, but that would make him faster than the average D-man on the Leafs.

He's shown that he can be a regular contributor on an NHL defense. In 2024-25, he played 60 regular-season games for the Nashville Predators, recording four goals and 16 points. The undrafted defenseman averaged 19:33 of ice time that year, finishing fourth on the team.

Blankenburg was solid again this past year, scoring 24 points in 61 games, both career-high numbers for him. He averaged 17:58 of ice time with the Preds and 12:02 in his 12 games with the Colorado Avalanche - he was traded there for a 2027 fifth-round pick in early March.

Could The Maple Leafs Pursue Penguins' Erik Karlsson During The 2026-27 NHL Season?Could The Maple Leafs Pursue Penguins' Erik Karlsson During The 2026-27 NHL Season?Could the Toronto Maple Leafs consider pursuing Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman and three-time Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson in the 2026-27 NHL season?

Curtis Lazar, C

Curtis Lazar has featured in over 600 regular-season games across 12 NHL seasons and seven different teams. His entire career has been based on being able to adapt to new settings and any role he's given.

If the Maple Leafs brought him in on a PTO, he could serve as bottom-six insurance. It's worth noting that Teddy Blueger, signed on July 1 to a two-year, $5-million contract, was out for a large chunk of this past season with a lower-body injury and suffered setbacks in his recovery. So if he has similar health issues to last year with the Canucks, Lazar wouldn't be a terrible candidate to fill that void, even with Steven Lorentz also on deck.

Lazar is a versatile forward who could essentially play in all three positions in a pinch. He's more than capable as a winger, but has been handy as a center, too.

With the Edmonton Oilers in 2025-26, Lazar took a total of 291 faceoffs, the fifth most on the team, and won 61.2 percent of his draws. 

His best season in the NHL came in 2023-24 with the New Jersey Devils when he notched seven goals and 25 points in 71 appearances on 12:23 of average ice time.

Good Or Bad? Maple Leafs Only NHL Team Without An Expiring Contract Within Next Two Seasons On Projected RosterGood Or Bad? Maple Leafs Only NHL Team Without An Expiring Contract Within Next Two Seasons On Projected RosterThe Toronto Maple Leafs are the only team in the NHL not to have an expiring contract on their projected roster for 2026-27. Is that good or bad?

Adam Boqvist, D

Adam Boqvist would be a very low-risk acquisition for any team. But for the Maple Leafs, if this situation played out perfectly, they could get a player that they could really use.

Boqvist was an eighth overall pick in the 2018 draft by the Chicago Blackhawks. Though he's had a couple of middling seasons, the Swedish defenseman certainly hasn't reached the ceiling he was destined for.

Nonetheless, in the right situation, he could be valuable to Toronto's back end. He's a blueliner who's known for how he plays the puck, labelled as an offensive D-man and puck-mover.

The Leafs' defense has been stale in the department of creativity and offense, and injecting a player like Boqvist could help the team, even in small doses.

Where Does The Maple Leafs' Defense Rank In The Atlantic Division?Where Does The Maple Leafs' Defense Rank In The Atlantic Division?With some tweaks to the blueline this off-season, where does the Toronto Maple Leafs' defense rank in the Atlantic Division on paper going into next season?

Recently, he hasn't seen much NHL action, featuring in 98 contests from a possible 246 of the past three seasons. His best campaign was with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2022-23 when he provided five goals and 24 points in 46 outings, averaging a point about every other game.

A PTO for Boqvist may not pan out, just like any PTO signed across the league, but if it does, that would give Toronto a new look on defense.

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Where could Connor Hellebuyck land after doubling-down on trade demand?

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 13: Connor Hellebuyck #37 of the Winnipeg Jets skates during warmups against the Vegas Golden Knights before their game at T-Mobile Arena on April 13, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Jets 6-2. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The behind-the-scenes battle between the Winnipeg Jets and goalie Connor Hellebuyck went public on Thursday when the Vezina-winning goaltender released a statement reiterating that he is demanding a trade.

Rumors swirled around Hellebuyck’s future at the NHL Draft, but the situation cooled as the draft weekend rolled on, with reports that the Jets weren’t receiving trade offers they hoped for. When the dust settled there was no trade, as it seemed Winnipeg was going to roll forward with Hellebuyck on their roster in 2026-27 — at least until the trade deadline. Now he’s trying to force his way out quickly, posting the following:

“Winnipeg has been my home for my entire NHL career, and I will always be grateful for my time there. I have never forgotten June 23, 2012. That’s the day Winnipeg took a chance on a goalie playing in Odessa, TX. I gave everything I had from that moment to prove that the Jets made the right decision. Several months ago, I privately requested a trade. I have tried to handle the situation quietly and respectfully while giving the organization time to explore its options. With training camp approaching, I felt it was important to publicly confirm my request. My position has not changed, and I believe moving on is the best path forward for me and my family. I appreciate everything Winnipeg Jets fans have meant to me throughout my career and hope a resolution can be reached soon.”

Initially it was believed that the Florida Panthers would be players for Hellebuyck, but they went in a different direction in June when they acquired Jakob Markstrom from the New Jersey Devils. Now the options on the table are very limited for a goalie with a long-term $8.5M AAV contract coming off a down year. Only a handful of teams can afford Hellebuyck, fewer still need goaltending help, and less still who are confident enough to give up assets the Jets covet to get the deal done.

There remain two realistic scenarios at this point: The Jets accept they’re going to have to take a mediocre package for Hellebuyck to ship him off, or try to mend fences at least until the NHL trade deadline in the hopes a contender is in dire need of goaltending help for a playoff push. Neither option is idea, but here are the teams right now that could reasonably make a play for Hellebuyck.

No. 1: Carolina Hurricanes

The Stanley Cup champs were the most-likely landing spot for Hellebuyck outside of the Florida Panthers, and there were reports the two sides engaged in trade discussions at the draft, but nothing materialized. The assumption is that Carolina played hardball with its offer, which caused things to fall apart.

At this point the Hurricanes hold all the cards to get a deal done. They’re not in urgent need of goaltending help after the emergence of Brandon Bussi last season, paired with Pyotr Kochetkov returning from injury — but if Hellebuyck is able to find his form again it could be the kind of move that establishes Carolina as a perennial cup threat.

The Hurricanes have the cap space to absorb Hellebuyck’s contract, as well as a nice asset in promising defenseman Alexander Nikishin, who is current an RFA. Nikishin wants more money than the Canes are offering, and could end up heading to arbitration — but if he’s willing to accept Winnipeg as a home he could be the centerpiece of a deal in a sign-and-trade scenario.

No. 2: Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks are a team on the rise and looking to make bold moves to improve their team. It’s here where Hellebuyck becomes a fascinating potential option for them. The team re-signed Lukas Dostal a year ago to a $6.5M AAV deal, but he was middling at best in the 2025-26 playoff run which ended in a loss to the Golden Knights in the second round.

The Ducks don’t have enough room to make a deal, but it’s a very narrow margin. They could make a deal here where they send Dostal and some draft capital for Hellebuyck, which would easily make the money work — it’s just a question of whether or not they believe he’s the final piece to get them further in the playoffs.

No. 3: Buffalo Sabres

The Sabres breakout performance in 2025-26 was a beautiful thing to watch, and now the team has pivoted from being a playoff hopeful, to a squad looking to make this a regular occurence. There’s a lot to like about the Sabres as a landing spot, and it’s likely that Hellebuyck would be thrilled with a trad to Buffalo where he can play with his Team USA partner Tage Thompson.

This is another team with a cap sticking point, but like Anaheim, it could open the door for a goalie trade. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is coming off his best season, however he’s still a mid-tier goalie. There’s definitely a scenario here where Hellebuyck is seen as a long-term upgrade.

No. 4: Vegas Golden Knights

If there’s one team desperate enough to do anything to make a deal, it’s the Golden Knights. The team was close to winning a Stanley Cup, with Carter Hart ultimately being the biggest liability they had on the ice.

The primary issue is that the Knights are in cap hell. There would need to be major player movement to make this happen, and at some point the team needs to weigh whether or not Hellebuyck is enough of an upgrade to warrant losing key depth players at two or three positions to make it happen.