Eight-time champion withdraws two days before event
O’Sullivan also pulled out 12 months ago
Ronnie O’Sullivan has pulled out of the Masters two days before the tournament starts on medical grounds.
O’Sullivan claimed a record-extending eighth win at the tournament in 2024 but opted against defending his crown 12 months ago, giving the same reason as he has for his latest withdrawal.
Continue reading...The Cougars will take their 15-game road winning streak to Waco, Texas.
Anthony Davis is getting a second opinion but appears to have sustained ligament damage in his left hand that could require surgery and will likely keep him out past the Feb. 5 NBA Trade deadline, a story first reported by Shams Charania and Tim MacMahon of ESPN and since confirmed by other reports.
Those reports suggest Davis will miss "months," which would effectively end the idea he might get traded at the deadline. Concerns about his injury history are part of why there was a limited market for Davis to begin with.
The injury occurred on what appeared to be an innocent play late in Thursday's Utah win over Dallas. Lauri Markkanen drove baseline on Davis, and as Davis bodied him up, he got his hand caught up in Markkanen's jersey, and it bent or twisted on him. AD was clearly in considerable pain and left the game to go back to the locker room.
Anthony Davis walked off the court late in the fourth quarter vs. Utah after suffering an apparent left-hand injury.
— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) January 9, 2026
This comes after only returning to the Mavericks 8 days ago following a groin injury.#NBApic.twitter.com/bQT8dF6hL3
Davis, who came to Dallas as the primary return in the Luka Dončić trade (an unfair burden for him), has played well when healthy this season, averaging 20.4 points on 50.6% shooting, grabbing 11.1 rebounds per game, and playing high-level defense in the paint. When healthy, Davis remains an All-Star, maybe an All-NBA level player. He has been the focus of trade rumors as the Mavericks look to pivot to building around No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg.
One thing to watch is how Davis' injury affects a possible return by Kyrie Irving this season. If Davis is out for a significant period of time, do the Mavericks pull the plug on this season?
The Chicago Blackhawks have announced that they have recalled defenseman Kevin Korchinki and goaltender Drew Commesso from their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs.
Korchinski has spent all of this season down in the AHL with Rockford. In 32 games with the AHL club in 2025-26, he has recorded two goals, 17 assists, 19 points, and a minus-12 rating. This is after he had three goals, 24 assists, 27 points, and a minus-17 rating in 56 games for Rockford this past season.
Korchinski will certainly be looking to impress after landing this call-up to the Blackhawks' roster. The 2022 seventh-overall pick is one of the Blackhawks' top prospects, so it will be fascinating to see how much of an impact he can make.
In 92 career NHL games, Korchinski has posted six goals, 11 assists, and 17 points.
Commesso has appeared in 19 games so far this season with the IceHogs, where he has posted a 6-11-2 record, a .909 save percentage, a 2.72 goals-against average, and one shutout.
Commesso appeared in first two career NHL games this past season with the Blackhawks, where he had a 0-1-0 record, a .846 save percentage, and a 3.36 goals-against average.
The Detroit Red Wings marked a historic milestone Thursday night as veteran winger Patrick Kane scored the 500th goal of his NHL career, sealing a 5–1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks with an empty-netter late in the third period.
The goal not only cemented Kane’s place among the NHL’s elite scorers, but also capped his first multi-goal performance of the season. At 37 years old, Kane once again demonstrated that age has done little to diminish his ability to influence games at the sport’s highest level.
Kane’s milestone comes during a season in which expectations were mixed. Before the year began, the Buffalo native raised eyebrows by stating his desire to contend for a spot on Team USA for the 2026 Winter Olympics. Despite battling injuries that sidelined him at times, Kane has backed up that ambition with production, recording 26 points in 30 games for Detroit.
Patrick Kane continues to produce offensively – the @DetroitRedWings veteran, who scored his 500th career goal last night, ranks high in several key advanced stats categories. #NHLStats
— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) January 9, 2026
Read more: https://t.co/RuSpNdPzOHpic.twitter.com/llqmb9zPwl
When he is in the lineup, Kane continues to be a difference maker. Following his 500th goal, the NHL highlighted several advanced metrics underscoring his continued effectiveness. Kane ranks in the 94th percentile among forwards in long-range shots on goal and the 87th percentile in mid-range shots, illustrating that his shot remains among the league’s most dangerous.
Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features.
He has also remained a key contributor on the power play. Kane sits in the 86th percentile for forwards in power play offensive zone time percentage at 62.1 percent and is one of just five Red Wings players with at least ten power play points this season.
All signs point to a player who still has plenty left in the tank, even as he plays on a one year deal in Detroit. For Red Wings fans, Kane’s resurgence has been both entertaining and meaningful, as his presence has helped push the team closer to contender status.
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The Philadelphia Flyers have placed defenseman Jamie Drysdale on injured reserve (IR), the Philadelphia Inquirer's Jackie Spiegel reports.
Drysdale being placed on IR comes after the right-shot defenseman was injured after receiving a dirty hit from Anaheim Ducks forward Ross Johnston on Jan. 6. Johnston was given a five-minute major and game misconduct for the hit, but did not receive any more discipline from NHL Player Safety.
Drysdale did not play for the Flyers during their most recent contest against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Jan. 8. Now, with this IR placement, the soonest Drysdale will be able to return for the Flyers is Jan. 14 against the Buffalo Sabres.
With Drysdale being one of the Flyers' most important defensemen, it is certainly tough news that he is injured. The 23-year-old blueliner has been having a solid year for the Flyers in 2025-26, as he has recorded three goals, 15 assists, 18 points, and a plus-1 rating in 41 games.
In 135 games with the Flyers since being acquired from the Ducks during the 2023-24 season, Drysdale has posted 12 goals, 31 assists, and 43 points.
Who are Roman Hemby and Kaelon Black? Here's what to know of Indiana's highly experienced running back tandem.
Who is Fernando Mendoza? Here's what to know of Indiana's star Heisman Trophy winning QB ahead of Peach Bowl vs. Oregon in CFP semifinal.
The pipeline of talent from Utah to Michigan football is beginning to flow. The latest? Defensive lineman Jonah Lea’ea is transferring to Ann Arbor.
As Indiana and Oregon meet again in the CFP Peach Bowl, here's a look at how teams have fared in their regular-season rematches in the CFP.
We've had one big trade — Trae Young going to the Wizards — and now another big name is available at the deadline in Ja Morant (for the latest on him, click here). Let's break down the latest rumors.
There are a number of teams interested in Pelicans' wings Herb Jones and Trey Murphy III, but not at a return that decision maker Joe Dumars and the Pelicans consider fair, so they are taking their ball and going home, reports NBA insider Chris Haynes.
Sources: New Orleans Pelicans are disappointing the market in informing teams that Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy, Herb Jones, Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears will remain with the organization past Feb. 5 trade deadline.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) January 9, 2026
Two thoughts. First, this is a classic "we're walking away from the negotiating table" tactic to encourage better offers. Maybe those come, maybe they don't, but the Pelicans are not done talking. Second, there was zero chance that Derik Queen or Jeremiah Fears are now or were ever available via trade.
In the wake of trading away Trae Young, the Atlanta Hawks gave themselves more financial flexibility to go after an Anthony Davis trade, ESPN’s Shams Charania reports. The Hawks didn't want the massive contracts of Young and Davis on the books at the same time, according to the report, but now Young is out the door for an expiring contract in CJ McCollum, giving the Hawks more flexibility.
Atlanta has been the most aggressive suitor for an Anthony Davis trade. Should they be? Should the Hawks go after Davis?
I just do not like the fit. Let's stipulate that, when healthy, Davis is a top-15-20 player in the league who impacts the game on both ends of the court. He just had 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Mavericks last night and — again, when healthy — would boost the Hawks frontcourt.
But he is a 32-year-old with a lengthy injury history — he has played 65+ games once in the previous eight seasons and has missed 18 games already this season — who is owed $58 million next season, has a $62 million player option for the season after that, and is looking for a contract extension.
Atlanta is now what every team in the league is striving to be — long, athletic, young and versatile. And, they are going to end up with a very high draft pick next June in a very deep draft, courtesy of the New Orleans Pelicans. The rest of the Hawks' core is young. Jalen Johnson should be an All-Star this season and is 24, Dyson Daniels is 22, Zaccharie Risacher is 20, and the "old man" of the group is Nickeil Alexander-Walker at 27.
Adding Davis, who will be 33 next season when the Hawks want to make a push and become a threat in the East, changes that dynamic — and how many wins does he really bring with him? Atlanta would need Davis to play the five, but he famously does not want to do that full-time and prefers to play at the four.
If Atlanta wants to make this trade, it cannot aggregate CJ McCollum or Corey Kispert into it under the terms of the CBA. That means the trade would have to center on returning Kristaps Porziņģis to Dallas, plus adding the 2024 No. 1 overall pick, Risacher, and Luke Kennard. Atlanta has reportedly been adamant that it does not want to include Risacher in a trade for Davis.
Atlanta should get out of the Davis market, look for a point guard such as Coby White who might be available (or other players on the margins), and, this off-season, look for a star player on the timeline of their other talent. Trading away Young to bring in Davis feels like a lateral move.
Dallas may get to see what Davis, Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving look like playing together after all, with any major roster changes on hold until the summer.
Going back to last offseason, the Sacramento Kings have been the team most often linked to a Kuminga trade. It makes some sense, the Kings are simply in need of more young talent and taking a flier on Kuminga — hoping a new setting will help him thrive — is not a bad roll of the dice.
The challenge? Golden State doesn't like what Sacramento has to offer, reports Sam Amick at The Athletic.
Yet because the Warriors have shown no interest in the Kings' many available veterans, a third team likely will be required to get something done. There's this key development, too: While the Kings offered a protected 2030 first-round pick and Monk when they tried to land Kuminga via sign-and-trade in the summer, league sources say the first-round pick is no longer in play.
The Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards also have "all have different levels of interest" in Kuminga, reports Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area.
Kuminga can be traded as of Jan. 15, but don't expect an immediate deal once the restrictions are off. Nothing seems particularly close to happening at this point.
While we are talking about the Kings' trades, Domantas Sabonis continues to be linked to the Toronto Raptors, a team known to be looking for a center, reports Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints. Just a reminder that the current Kings general manager, Scott Perry, drafted both RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley when he was with the Knicks.
While the Knicks may have lost 4-of-5, don't expect that to push them toward a major trade or shaking up this roster. What owner James Dolan said in a rare interview reportedly is the thinking internally at Madison Square Garden — they like their team as it is and their chances of making the NBA Finals. Here is what James L. Edwards III wrote at The Athletic.
"Per league sources, before this skid, any move the Knicks made — if they made one at all — would be around the margins."
Don't expect that to change unless this slump — and the team's struggling defense — continues. Then all bets are off.
From dominating college football, to failing by the hand of its own greed, the postseason fall of the SEC.
Veteran sports analyst Steve Viuker of Brooklyn believes that James Dolan is getting a bit of a bum rap from his critics. Viuker makes points that command attention. To wit:
1. KNICKERBOCKERS: Dolan's baby, his Knicks, are a very exciting NBA contender.
2. RANGERS: Although they aren't exactly hotshots, Steve says "They Blueshirts are usually competitive."
3. OTHER OWNERS ARE WORSE: Viuker mentions the likes of sports bosses Don Sterling, Clippers, Woody Johnson of the Jets and – perhaps he has forgotten – the Maras of football Giants infamy.
"For better or worse," read Viuker concludes, "Jim Dolan is a hands-on owner. While he may be far from the best owner, there are many who are much worse!"
Over the past several days, there has been a lot of talk about Pittsburgh Penguins' future Hall-of-Fame center Evgeni Malkin playing in a pretty unfamiliar spot positionally upon his return from injury.
Malkin, 39 - the longstanding second-line center for the Penguins behind only Sidney Crosby on the depth chart - played a little bit on the wing early on in his career, and he has seen some limited minutes there alongside Crosby over the past year. He missed a month of game action and returned to the lineup on Jan. 8 against the New Jersey Devils, and in that return, he found himself on the wing again.
But, this time, it wasn't Crosby centering him. Instead, it was 18-year-old rookie Ben Kindel, who manages to just keep climbing the ladder on this Penguins' team.
It has been a whirlwind season for Kindel, who earned his way onto the NHL squad out of training camp and has been a mainstay on the roster ever since. He himself had the opportunity to play on Crosby's wing earlier this season, but - for the most part - he's been positioned as the team's third-line center this season.
Now, he has an opportunity not only to slot in as the team's second-line center, but also to center an all-time great that he looked up to as a kid - and who has manned that position for so long.
"Obviously, he's such a special player," Kindel said. "So, I'm lucky to be able to play with him and have him on my wing. He's a great player, so just going to try to do what I can to help that line be successful and help the team win."
Of course, Kindel has picked up a thing or two during his tenure in Pittsburgh this season, especially in a room full of veterans that hosts the likes of Crosby, Malkin, Kris Letang, and Erik Karlsson. But it's a bit of a different experience getting to play alongside those players in game action, and - in particular - be the anchor on a line with one of those players, especially when those players are so accustomed to being in that spot.
The Penguins Have Found Something With Novak Centering Brazeau And ManthaTommy Novak found instant chemistry with Anthony Mantha and Justin Brazeau once he started centering them.Even through just one game and a few practices - and some time on the power play together earlier this season - Kindel has learned a lot about Malkin as a player and how to tandem with him on a line.
"I think just his overall hockey sense and competitiveness drives his game," Kindel said. "And, obviously, he's very skilled. But I think his hockey sense really complements our line well, and I think we have three players - [Egor Chinakhov] as well - that think the game and are all skilled players. So, we'll see how it goes."
Kindel had high praise for his other linemate in Chinakhov, too. The 24-year-old scoring winger was acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets on Dec. 29, and he has a goal and two points in his four games since joining the Penguins.
"Very, very skilled. High-skilled, great shot, great skating," Kindel said. "Good hockey sense, all that stuff. And, obviously, he's a good person as well, so it's nice to have him on the line. And I think we've been connecting well so far."
Chinakhov Trade Shows Penguins Are Starting To Shift GearsKyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins traded for Yegor Chinakhov from the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday, and it could be a sign of things to come over the next several months.Although Kindel is simply elevating his role as a center in the lineup, it's obviously a bit of an adjustment for Malkin to re-enter the lineup after a month and play in a relatively unfamiliar position. But, despite the adjustment, Malkin was happy with how he, Kindel, and Chinakhov were able to play in a 4-1 win against the Devils, which was the team's sixth-straight victory.
"First period, I play left wing, but third period, I play right wing," Malkin said after Thursday's win. "I don't know why. But, yeah, any little bit of time, it's not easy changing positions, but long time ago, I play wing. But, after first, I think I take a couple pucks, use my stickhandling. You know, it feels a little better, for sure. Huge [second-period] goal for me, and I hope [our line] plays same next game, too.
"I like playing wing. Like, I don't care."
And that line of reassurance from Malkin is probably a sigh of relief to Kindel, whose rookie season has provided him with a wide range of experiences, from playing with all-time great players to spending a week in Stockholm for the NHL's Global Series in November. He was initially set to be on a team-sanctioned development plan with rest days sprinkled in, but the Penguins' injury situation has thrown a bit of a wrench in those plans. Kindel has also - simply put - been too important for the Penguins to put him in the press box, as his eight goals and 18 points, the beyond-his-years two-way play, and his value to both special teams units has helped the team win games.
As a result, Kindel is taking things day by day, taking care of his body, and trying to learn as much as he can from the grind of a full NHL season. So far, he is happy with his progression, with his bump up in the lineup simply being the latest example of that.
"Obviously, there's going to be ups and downs throughout the year," Kindel said. "Just trying to get more comfortable and gain more confidence every day. And, obviously, I'm still young and still developing. So, gotta find the balance of trying to help your team win and still also finding ways to develop your game. I think it's just a fine line."
Takeaways: In Malkin's Return, Penguins Oust Devils To Earn Sixth Straight WinThe Pittsburgh Penguins took advantage of a struggling New Jersey Devils team to earn their sixth consecutive win and catapult them to the first wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!
