It only took one possession for veteran play-by-play man Al Michaels to get into midseason form during Amazon Prime Video's preseason "Thursday Night Football" broadcast.
The broadcast was coming back from a commercial after the Browns opened the game with a touchdown from Dillon Gabriel to Luke Floriea. It showed an aerial shot of Huntington Bank Field, which abuts Lake Erie.
Michaels used that opportunity to crack a joke about U.S. president Donald Trump's order to rename Lake Ontario to "Lake America" amid an ongoing trade dispute with Canada.
"That is Lake Erie. We think it is still called Lake Erie – we're not quite sure at this point," Michaels said. "But we'll be by Lake something like Ontario or whatever it's going to be called by the time we get to Buffalo. Anyway, you know what I'm talking about, some of you do. Read the news."
Al Michaels: "That is Lake Erie. We think it is still called Lake Erie... 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. Anyway, you know what I'm talking about... Read the news." https://t.co/95yBtkta2Upic.twitter.com/zqOHbR7sST
With a full slate of NFL football on deck, beginning at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, Aug. 27, here are my NFL moneyline picks for Week 3 of the preseason.
Let's navigate these murky waters together, break down the quarterback battles, and find our edges in my this week's NFL picks.
Week 3 preseason NFL moneyline picks
Matchup
Pick
Result
PIT vs. BUF
58%
NE vs. CLE
57%
SF vs. LV
60%
LAR vs. LAC
40%
WAS vs. BAL
59%
ATL vs. MIA
65%
HOU vs. CAR
45%
TB vs. JAX
58%
NYG vs. NYJ
60%
CIN vs. PHI
56%
ARI vs. GB
55%
SEA vs. KC
48%
NO vs. DAL
58%
MIN vs. DEN
71%
DET vs. IND
63%
CHI vs. TEN
57%
Lines courtesy of Kalshi as of 8-27.
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Buffalo Bills' Kyle Allen will likely get significant run in the final week of the preseason after he went 10 of 12 for 128 yards and a touchdown in Week 2. Will Howard and Drew Allar will go for the Pittsburgh Steelers; those two totaled 144 yards with two interceptions and four sacks against the New York Jets. I'm placing my money on the vet.
It was all Shane Buechele in this one, as Allen - despite reports saying the contrary - sealed up QB2 duties last week. Regardless, the pick was sound, as he outplayed Howard and Allar. His two-point conversion was the cherry on top.
Neither Deshaun Watson nor Shedeur Sanders will play in this game, leaving me to side with Tommy DeVito, who's thrown for 289 yards and two touchdowns across two weeks of the preseason. Easy money here.
Chalk me up as one of the guys who got killed by Aidan O'Connell's final drive against the Houston Texans a week ago — I won't make that mistake again, especially when the San Francisco 49ers will likely remain cautious with their starters before the season.
Stetson Bennett IV has the inside track on Ty Simpson to win the QB2 battle, but both will get their final chance to make a name for themselves in Week 3. On the other side, don't expect many starters to play for the Los Angeles Chargers, and I'll take the Los Angeles Rams' depth every time.
Kevin Stefanski said Atlanta Falcons starters will be seeing some reps as a dress rehearsal for the regular season. However, Tua Tagovailoa will be behind center in the first quarter. Jeff Hafley confirmed Quinn Ewers will get a ton of work, but the lack of depth for the Miami Dolphins is concerning, so we'll ride with the Falcons.
Kenny Pickett was 15 of 25 last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars and will likely get the most run with Bryce Young and Haynes King sidelined before the regular season. C.J. Stroud will play a series but leave most of the work to Davis Mills, who couldn't move the ball whatsoever a week ago. I'll throw my belief in Pickett to give us a cushion.
We won't be seeing Baker Mayfield in this one; it feels like Jake Browning might be playing for his job against Jalon Daniels, who was getting snaps ahead of Browning in Tuesday's joint practice. That competition should bear fruit this week against the Jacksonville Jaguars' backups.
John Harbaugh didn't say whether or not Jaxson Dart will play, but in Jameis Winston we trust, nonetheless. The three-quarterback rotation for the New York Jets didn't do much of anything behind Geno Smith last week, so I'll give the New York Giants the benefit of the doubt here.
With the Green Bay Packers likely sitting their starters here, I'm relying on Gardner Minshew for the Arizona Cardinals, who's been throwing the ball pretty damn well in the preseason. He's thrown just six incomplete passes on 39 attempts alongside two touchdowns and a pick. We'll ride with him against the Packers' bench.
With Patrick Mahomes unlikely to play and the combo of Drew Lock and Jalen Milroe throwing virtually every pass for the Seahawks in the preseason, I'm all over Seattle in this spot. Lock has been solid over two weeks, too, completing 21 of 27 passes for 134 yards. Don't overthink this one.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it - the Cowboys have been a cash cow for us in the preseason with Joe Milton at the helm. With him looking to lock up QB2 duties, I'm sticking with Dallas.
Head coach Robert Saleh has trotted Cam Ward out there each week so far in the preseason, and we'll likely see him one more time against the Chicago Bears. With serviceable quarterbacks Mitch Trubisky and Will Levis waiting in the wings, I'll take that depth one more time.
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The Rams and Chargers wrap up their respective preseasons at SoFi Stadium tonight, with the Chargers sitting as 59% favorites at Kalshi.
Rams coach Sean McVay never plays his starters in preseason, and that won’t change here. The Chargers starters, meanwhile, will see six to nine plays.
My Rams vs. Chargers predictions and NFL picks believe a drive and change with the regulars isn’t going to be enough to tilt things the Chargers' way on August 27, so look the Rams' offense to lead the way to a win and an Over.
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This will be the first time their entire offensive line has played together this preseason. That probably isn’t enough to change what we’ve seen on the field through the first two exhibition games, however.
The Los Angeles Rams have posted the highest point differential through two games, +42, without a single starter seeing the field this preseason. Only the Bills have scored more than their 54 points on offense, and only the Ravens have allowed fewer than their 12.
The Los Angeles Chargers have been outscored through two preseason games, including a 41-17 beatdown at the hands of the 49ers.
TOP PICK Rams vs Chargers Over/Under pick: Over 37.5
Kalshi probability: 52%
Neither team has had trouble scoring.
Rams rookie Ty Simpson will likely get the start and go most of the way. The first-round draft pick appears to have lost the backup job to veteran Stetson Bennett, and McVay has hinted that Bennett may not play at all.
That’s no problem for the Rams offense, as Simpson has had the better passer rating in both games so far. He had two touchdowns and 190 yards on 21 of 25 passing in the first game, and was 8 of 12 for 73 in the second.
The Chargers have gotten 476 passing yards and 44 points from the quarterback tandem of DJ Uiagalelei and Trey Lance.
That, coupled with a defense that's allowed 48 points in two games, should help this game reach the Over.
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The Winnipeg Jets will have a familiar Manitoba face serving as their emergency backup goaltender for the 2026-27 season.
Altona product Cole Kehler has been selected by the Jets to serve as the team's emergency backup goaltender (EBUG) for the 2026-27 season, according to an announcement Thursday from the Altona Maroons.
The 28-year-old has most recently been involved with his hometown Maroons as the club's goaltending coach. The team says his new role will keep him busy for the next 10 months as he trains, practices and travels with the Jets.
Photo by Jonathan Kozub
“We couldn’t be happier for Cole as he takes advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” the Maroons wrote in announcing the news.
The move represents something of a homecoming for Kehler, who has already spent time within the Jets organization.
The 6-foot-4, 205-pound netminder attended Jets training camp ahead of the shortened 2020-21 season before signing a one-year contract with the Manitoba Moose. He appeared in three games for the Moose that season, going 2-1-0 with a 2.52 goals against average.
Amid COVID regulations, Kehler was signed by the Jets for the remainder of the 2020-21 season, providing the organization with additional goaltending depth. He did not appear in an NHL game.
Born and raised in Altona, Kehler played his junior hockey with the Kamloops Blazers and Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League before signing a three-year entry-level contract with the Los Angeles Kings as an undrafted free agent in December 2017.
His professional career included stops with the Manchester Monarchs, Fort Wayne Komets, Rapid City Rush, Cincinnati Cyclones and Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL, along with AHL appearances for the Ontario Reign and Moose.
Kehler eventually returned home to Altona, where he played for the Maroons before moving behind the bench as the team's goaltending coach.
His new position means the Maroons will need to find a replacement goaltending coach for the 2026-27 season, but the club says Kehler intends to return once his time with Winnipeg is complete.
“Cole has committed to returning to the Maroons when his time with the Jets organization is finished,” the team wrote, adding that he will return with additional “knowledge and experience gained from his time working alongside an NHL organization.”
As Winnipeg's EBUG, Kehler will be available in the event that circumstances leave the Jets or their opponent without two healthy goaltenders during a home game. And should that unlikely call ever come, the former Moose netminder would suddenly find himself one step away from making his NHL debut - in his home province.
Rules surrounding EBUGs pertain to jersey numbers (No. 00 strictly) and cannot have suited up in any NHL games while maintaining fewer than 80 professional games under their belts.
When the Dolphins released All-Pro WR Tyreek Hill this past February following a catastrophic knee injury, the NFL world assumed a long, quiet rehabilitation.
Instead, Hill has turned his free agency into a public spectacle. From cryptic social media posts at Hard Rock Stadium to highly publicized meet-and-greets in Missouri, the rumors are flying.
“Tyreek Hill's Next Team” prediction markets are reacting to every single hint, creating a wildly volatile trading environment.
This market isn’t simply pricing in medical clearance; it’s pricing in narrative momentum, quarterback fits, and active player recruitment.
Right now, traders at Kalshi are trying to separate legitimate front-office smoke from pure online hype.
Key Takeaways
The Favorite: Retirement/stays with Miami was the favorite at 30 cents two weeks ago, but it has since dipped. to 26 cents. Hill back to the Chiefs is again the favorite.
The Momentum: Hill back to the Chiefs surged from 10 cents to 35 cents over the past two weeks, likely because of encouraging workout videos that Hill posted on social media.
Retirement A Growing Option: 'Staying with Miami or retiring' is a serious option as Hill said in July that he has "no power" in his injured left leg.
Tyreek Hill Next Team Odds: Where The Smart Money Is Moving
Prediction markets aren’t just about picking the eventual winner. The sharpest traders find value where the public has overreacted or underpriced a highly probable outcome.
Kansas City | “Yes” 35¢ | 29% Chance
Value is about catching the pendulum when it swings too far.
The public saw Hill in Missouri and aggressively bought KC up to near 50%. Patrick Mahomes needs a proven deep threat, and Hill clearly wants a reunion.
This was bad value at 43 cents but has since reset down to 35¢: this is a market to watch very closely and consider trading into.
Stays with Miami or Retires | “Yes” 26¢ | 26% Chance
"Stays with Miami or retires" is priced at 26% for 'Yes' right now, but this may grow and grow over time with unfortunate news shared by Adam Schefter on Hill's progress in his return from injury:
Free-agent WR Tyreek Hill said he still has “no power” in the left leg he injured in week 4 last season against the New York Jets.https://t.co/HpHqc56lsP
One thing to bear in mind with this market is the closing date: if Hill doesn't have full mobility yet and must complete his rehab before returning to the field...could he miss the closing date for this market of December 31, 2026?
It's looking more and more unlikely we'll see the Cheetah on the field in 2026.
BUY: Baltimore | “Yes” 2¢ | 1% Chance
If you want a logical scheme-fit sleeper, Baltimore at 1% is a prime value play.
The Ravens are consistently discussed as the perfect spot for a speed-dependent receiver alongside Lamar Jackson and Zay Flowers.
Buying in at 2¢ gives you leverage if real contract talks leak.
Tyreek Hill Next Team Odds: What’s Driving the Volatility?
The Kalshi board for Tyreek Hill's next team is a masterclass in narrative whiplash.
In June: “Stays with Miami or Retires,” was sitting at 29%. While the Dolphins return chatter was basically nonexistent, the retirement angle is starting to gather pace with reports coming out about his rehab from serious injury proving much slower than expected.
Vegas' Rise and Fall
The most compelling story is Las Vegas. The Raiders exploded from the basement to a 25% implied probability in June, jumping 23¢ almost overnight.
What changed?
Defensive superstar Maxx Crosby. He has used his platform to pitch Vegas as a premier landing spot, and prediction markets always respect a star-driven recruitment drive.
It was a fleeting moment on the Kalshi board, though, as all has been quiet on the Vegas front. Vegas is now at just 6 cents.
Expert Context: Why the Markets are Shifting
The defining gravitational force is medical clearance. Tyreek Hill suffered a devastating dislocated knee with torn ligaments, including the ACL, last season. This isn’t a standard free-agency negotiation; it’s a tense waiting game.
General managers are holding out for medical green lights, which creates a vacuum of hard news. In prediction markets, when there’s no hard news, social media fills the void.
That’s why a Snapchat post can spike the Miami price, or why Maxx Crosby’s online commentary can launch the Raiders up 23¢.
Right now, traders are betting on where Hill wants to go, not necessarily where the medicals and contracts align.
Eventually, an aging speedster coming off a catastrophic injury signs where guaranteed money and contender status meet—often leaving fan-driven rumors behind.
Strategic Considerations for Traders
Watch the medical cycle: This market stays speculative until Hill passes a physical. Track concrete rehab timeline reports before taking heavy positions.
The flip strategy: You don’t have to hold until Hill signs. If you buy the Chiefs at 16¢ and a rumor spikes them to 40¢, you can sell “Yes” shares for a quick profit.
Fade PR stunts: Hill is an elite showman who understands leverage. Don’t overreact to every video. Use hype spikes to buy “No” shares on temporarily overvalued teams.
How to Trade Tyreek Hill on Kalshi
Trading NFL futures on prediction markets like Kalshi is a different analytical experience than traditional sportsbooks.
Account setup: Fund your Kalshi account via bank transfer or wire so you have capital ready for breaking news.
Navigate: Go to Sports → Pro Football and locate the “Tyreek Hill's Next Team” market.
Execute: Buy “Yes” shares on a team or buy “No” shares to fade the public narrative.
Monitor: Markets are fluid. You can sell your position at any time before Hill signs.
It’s that time of year when New Jersey Devils players begin returning to the Garden State and settling back into their season routines. While some are already skating at RWJBarnabas Health Hockey House, others will be arriving soon, including 25-year-old Arseny Gritsyuk, who is preparing for his second NHL season after a promising rookie campaign.
In his first year, the Russian winger appeared in 66 games, recording 31 points (13 goals, 18 assists). He opened the season alongside Paul Cotter but moved throughout the lineup as the year progressed. Eventually, Gritsyuk found consistency alongside Cody Glass at center, with either Lenni Hämeenaho or Connor Brown on the opposite wing.
In early July, he signed a three-year, $9.75 million contract to remain a Devil with an average annual value of $3.25 million.
“I am enjoy rink, enjoy fans,” he said during his media availability. “I seriously love New Jersey Devils.”
His first season in New Jersey came to an early end after he underwent a shoulder procedure in April. He spent the early part of the offseason rehabbing before returning to the ice in July.
With training camp only a few weeks away, one question surrounding the Devils’ forward group is where Gritsyuk will fit into the lineup for the 2026-27 season. With the additions of Anthony Mantha, Evan Rodrigues, and Jesper Boqvist, head coach Sheldon Keefe has plenty of options at his disposal and will likely experiment with several different combinations throughout camp.
One of Gritsyuk’s teammates believes the 6′ 0″ winger has it in him to claim a coveted top six role.
“100%,” Glass exclusively told The Hockey News. “I think he's got the shot. He's got the speed.
“People don’t realize how hard it is moving from Russia to come play in North America,” Glass continued. “Not being able to speak English very well, I think that can be very hard on a person. For how [Gritsyuk] handled it, I think he did a really good job because it is very intimidating.”
During his media availability in July, Gritsyuk admitted that he was “A little bit scared because this for me, new team, new guys, and I play for everybody on PlayStation, and now I sit (at) one table with them.”
Having spent so much time alongside Gritsyuk, Glass got to know the young winger both on and off the ice. So, when he heard the news of Gritsyuk’s new contract, Glass was understandably thrilled.
“I love him,” Glass explained. “He has such a good personality on and off the ice. It was very cool being able to get to know him. His English has gotten a lot better, so it has obviously helped the chemistry on the ice.”
One of the storylines to watch during training camp will be how Gritsyuk’s familiarity and comfort with the team and his surroundings translate to his play on the ice. Can he take the next step and solidify one of the few remaining spots in the Devils’ top six? Or will the coaching staff reunite Gritsyuk with Glass in the middle six?
Regardless of where Gritsyuk ultimately lands in the lineup—and he will likely move around early in the season as Keefe searches for chemistry and the best possible combinations—Glass is confident that the young winger will make an impact.
“Now that he will be more comfortable coming into this second year, he is only going to be better,” Glass continued. “I think everybody saw how good he was, and you never know; next year he could be getting a bigger role. The sky is the limit for him.”
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Kirk Cousins and the Raiders' first-team offense were surprise starters in the team's final preseason game on Thursday night.
Cousins played two series against the 49ers' backups and led the Raiders to Matt Gay field goals of 37 and 53 yards on drives of 12 plays and 46 yards and 10 plays and 45 yards.
The quarterback went 8-of-11 for 51 yards. Tre Tucker caught three passes for 25 yards.
With Ashton Jeanty nursing an ankle injury, Mike Washington was the starting running back. He took advantage of his opportunity with eight carries for 49 yards.
Cousins left with 56 seconds remaining in the first quarter, but the team's other starters stayed on the field with Fernando Mendoza.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Portland Trail Blazers guard Shaedon Sharpe will be sidelined for at least six months after surgery to repair a lateral meniscus tear in his right knee, the team announced Thursday.
Sharpe was injured last week during a workout and had surgery Monday in Los Angeles.
The 6-foot-5 shooting guard averaged 20.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 50 games last season with Portland, but missed time because of a stress reaction in his left fibula.
Sharpe, 23, was the seventh overall pick in the 2022 draft by the Blazers. Over his four years with Portland, he has averaged 15.7 points, with four rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.
Last October he agreed to a four-year, $90 million contract extension.
The Blazers said Sharpe would be reevaluated in six months.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 11: Head coach JJ Redick of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Typically, August is considered the real dog days of summer in the NBA with news and rumors at a premium while everyone resets for a new season.
That led to plenty of questions in our latest mailbag as well. So, let’s dive into it!
Is a trade still in the pipeline? Bronny? Hardy? Knecht? If so, what type of player should they look for and which ones are realistic to get.
Or is this it, and who is going to be cut? — Walter Burns
I don’t expect a signing, but I still think there’s going to be a trade. At the very least, the Lakers are going to look hard for one.
The problem is, when you look around the league, it’s tough to find a deal. The list of teams with an open roster spot is small and there are multiple teams in the same position as the Lakers in needing to trim their roster.
If it comes down to cutting someone, I imagine Dalton Knecht or Jaden Hardy are at the front of the line, and more likely the former considering he isn’t under contract for next season.
If it’s a trade, it’s going to be hard to find a starting-caliber forward with the relatively limited assets available to LA. Saddiq Bey, for example, is a popular name, but is he a nailed-on starter for the Lakers? If anything, I think we could see a trade for a backup center and the team making due for that fifth starter.
I’d expect Knecht and Hardy to be the package shipped around. That gets you into a salary range that you can find a useful player and, if any team is willing, gives them a lottery ticket with Knecht.
Although the signings of Mamu, Grimes, and Walker (and the extension for Austin) raised valid concerns about contract length, did Pelinka also give JJ some needed continuity and buy-in the team has lacked for a while? — Plain Fiction
I think this was an important and deliberate move this offseason. Remember last year that Redick made a point to talk about how many players were in contract years and the struggles of getting them to buy in when they’re thinking about their next deal.
Now, the team’s core is under contract for multiple years and can grow together alongside Redick. It doesn’t change some of the concerns about that core, but it should be a lot easier to get buy-in when everyone knows they’ll be around for multiple seasons.
What do you think will be JJ’s biggest challenge this season? — OldSchoolBaller
That’s a great question because I think there will be plenty of legitimate answers. For me, it’ll be building a defense that makes this team a contender.
Offensively, the team will always have a high floor so long as Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves are on the floor, and presumably one of them always will be. Defensively, it’s going to take more scheming and work to get this roster to even an average level.
It took quite a bit of time last year, but they eventually got to something decent defensively. With a rim protector like Walker Kessler, it should be more straightforward and, perhaps, easier. But it’ll also unquestionably be a necessity.
What’s the status of JJ’s coaching staff? Are they all returning? Do any of them have new and/or different responsibilities? Any new additions? — Coops Knee Highs
There were no notable changes. Perhaps the benefit of having two veterans as the lead assistants in Scott Brooks and Nate McMillan is that few teams are going to be looking to poach them to be a head coach.
I would say to keep an eye on Lindsey Harding, though, specifically for a WNBA job in their offseason this winter. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Sparks parted ways with Lynne Roberts once their season ends and Harding would make lots of sense.
Is there any reporting on progress on beefing up the scouting and analytics departments? Why would new owners impact that with a different vision or is it just a minor bump? — scooter
Pelinka made it known during his exit interview that they had beefed up these areas, but they weren’t announcing every hire. At the same time, it was also reported that there would be a hiring freeze as they transition from the Mark Walter era to the Bob Iger and Josh Kushner era.
My assumption would be that any other buffing up they had planned is on hold.
What is the impact on the fan experience, if any, from the ownership changes? — Crap
That is one of the complete uncertainties that comes with owners who have never been majority sports owners before. It’s just a guessing game.
But I hope that they lower ticket prices and turn the lights back on during games.
When an owner can make $2 billion on buying and selling a franchise in only 12 months–plus the profits from the year, too, why are we suffering under this wretched hard second apron? — Johnny Tuttle
A bit further down the line but this current CBA runs through the 29-30 season. With the onerous provisions that punished talent retention and team building (2nd Apron), would there/could there/should there be a shift back ? Teams like Denver, Lakers, Boston, Golden State and (soon be teams like OKC, San Antonio) have lost talent due to how punitive it is. — LooseLikeSleeveOfWizard
Won’t someone think of the billionaire owners? They might have to face a big luxury tax bill at the end of the season! Do you even care!?
Those aprons are getting nuked in the next CBA, though. Owners in small markets may like them because they limit owners willing to spend big, but they’re having pretty drastic consequences. Players and agents, meanwhile, really dislike them.
If the union has good leadership heading into the next negotiations, then they’ll take a firm stance against the aprons, at least as presently constructed.
Currently, the Detroit Red Wings are without a general manager following the stunning announcement of a leadership transition in mid-July that saw beloved former captain and GM Steve Yzerman vacate the role he had held since April 2019.
But prior to that announcement, Yzerman acquired multiple new players via the NHL Draft, free agency, and trade.
On the opening day of the NHL's free agency period, Yzerman inked former Boston Bruins forward Viktor Arvidsson to a two-year, $10 million contract. He also acquired forward Keegan Kolesar from the Vegas Golden Knights in return for a third-round pick in the 2029 NHL Entry Draft and a seventh-round pick in the 2027 NHL Entry Draft.
Both players will wear jersey numbers previously worn by Red Wings Stanley Cup winners. Arvidsson will wear No. 33, most notably associated with four-time Stanley Cup winner Kris Draper. He's traditionally worn No. 33 during his NHL career, having done so while with the Nashville Predators and Los Angeles Kings.
He did wear No. 71 last season with the Bruins, but as of right now, Dylan Larkin remains on the Red Wings roster, meaning that option wasn't available.
Meanwhile, Kolesar will become the first Red Wings player since Niklas Kronwall to wear No. 55.
Notably, No. 33 was most recently worn by prospect goaltender Sebastian Cossa during his only NHL appearance with the Red Wings in December of 2024; he was traded on the opening night of the Draft to the Utah Mammoth in return for the 23rd overall selection.
Prior to Kronwall, No. 55 was famously used by Hall of Fame defenseman Larry Murphy, whom the Red Wings acquired at the 1997 Trade Deadline from the Toronto Maple Leafs; he helped Detroit win consecutive Stanley Cup titles.
Speaking of newcomers to the Red Wings, goaltender Daniil Tarasov will become just the second player in club history to wear No. 80. This was previously worn by goaltender Michael Hutchinson, who played a single regular season game for Detroit in December 2023.
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LIBEREC, Czech Republic (AP) — Two days after Celtic's embarrassing elimination in Champions League qualifying, Scottish rival Rangers followed suit by falling to unheralded Czech team Jablonec in the Conference League playoffs.
Rangers took a 1-0 lead from the first leg but lost the return match by the same score and eventually was eliminated 4-3 in the penalty shootout, leaving the Glasgow club out of Europe beyond August for the first time since 2017.
“So embarrassed with it. We should be winning this tie, there’s no two ways about it,” Rangers manager Derek McInnes said. “I'm embarrassed at the fact that we should be performing a lot better. It's not easy for me to say that, because I'm here to help my players. I want my players to be so much better than they were tonight.”
McInnes, in his first season with Rangers, took responsibility for the team's debacle, which came after it was eliminated by Poland's Jagiellonia Bialystok in Europa League qualifying.
“The best players can miss penalty kicks but we had enough time to get through the tie,” he said. “The responsibility is shared tonight, but I'm responsible for bringing a better performance than what we showed tonight. And for that I'm embarrassed. I so disappointed that we've been emptied out of Europe.”
A couple of nights earlier, Celtic led LASK 4-0 on aggregate after a half hour of the second leg in Austria, but five unanswered goals — the fifth and decisive one coming in extra time — meant that for two straight years the Scottish title holder wasted clear chances to play on the lucrative biggest stage of European club soccer.
Last year, Celtic could not score in either leg against Kairat Almaty and, after a pair of scoreless draws, went out in a penalty shootout in Kazakhstan.
Rangers didn’t get past the league phase of the Europa League last season. In 2017, the last time it didn't advance past the qualifying rounds in Europe, it lost 2-1 on aggregate to Luxembourg’s Progres Niederkorn in the first round of qualifying for the Europa League.
“It's all about trying to work towards better performances and trying to win games of football,” McInnes said. “But we were way off, we have to be totally honest with that.”
This offseason, the New York Rangers hired Jay Leach as the head coach for the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League.
There’s some history involved with this hire, as Leach was a head-coaching candidate back in 2023 before they hired Peter Laviolette.
Mike Sullivan also has a relationship with Leach. In fact, it was actually Sullivan who gave Leach his first coaching opportunity ahead of the 2015-16 season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League.
“He’s a really good person, first and foremost,” Sullivan said via The New York Post in 2023. “He’s a great communicator. He just has a knack with relationships. I think he’s a likeable person. Players gravitate towards him. He’s a good leader. He’s been in leadership roles when he was playing in the American League, and so he brought all of that to the coaching aspect of what he’s doing now.
“When I got a chance to work right next to him in Wilkes-Barre, I was really impressed, but not surprised, with his work ethic. He rolls his sleeves up, he works hard at being a good coach, he brings a certain humility to the job every day that I think is so important for all of us.”
Leach previously served as an assistant coach for the Seattle Kraken from 2021 to 2024 and, most recently, for the Boston Bruins from 2024 to 2026.
The Rangers hired Leach shortly after coach Grant Potulny and assistants Jamie Tardif and Paul Mara were relieved of their duties with the Wolf Pack.
Bob Woods and John Stevens were also brought on to serve as assistant coaches under Leach in Hartford.
UConn football made waves on Wednesday by revealing a new red alternate jersey. It’ll be the first time any team at the school has ever worn a uniform with red as the primary color.
Reviews have been mixed online. Some people love them — the players certainly reacted positively in a video posted by the team — but those who don’t have been vocal in their displeasure. That same split occurred among The UConn Blog’s hierarchy with Dan Madigan supporting the new look and Daniel Connolly among the opposition.
Let’s embrace debate.
Initial thoughts
Connolly: I’d rather have a team go bold and fail when designing a jersey or uniform than do something that’s safe but boring. UConn absolutely went bold with red jerseys, which I can respect. I’m just not sure I like them. As someone who’s been clamoring for an alternate jersey for years, I was thrilled when the team teased such on social media earlier in the week. But when I saw the reveal, I was immediately disappointed. It just doesn’t look like a UConn jersey. I’m willing to reserve judgement until I see them on the field in game action, but I’m giving them a thumbs-down for now.
Madigan: When UConn teased this reveal earlier in the week, I told our blog chat with Dan and Aman Kidwai that I would love to see a red jersey, but I was convinced that this would be the light/powder blue uniform they teased last April Fool’s Day. I was pretty surprised to actually see the red jersey on socials on Wednesday, but I like the look. This uniform template of the past few years is quite literally as boring as it gets — there’s no piping, striping or accents anywhere — so it’s a lot of red and it’s certainly bold. It’s definitely not a subtle way to introduce the color, but I think it will look much better in real life on the Rentschler Field grass. I still wish there was more going on with these UConn uniforms overall, but I am all for this red look, and I think it will look great if they ever pair it with navy helmets and navy pants.
Connolly: My favorite color is red — anyone who knows me even a little is well-aware of that. Having said that, I don’t think UConn should use it as a primary look. I think it’s great as a secondary or tertiary color — the women’s soccer team’s jerseys from the Rachel Hill era remains a favorite of mine — on a uniform that’s mostly national flag blue or white. Again, maybe this football jersey will grow on me when I see it in action and I’ll want more teams to adopt red uniforms. But I just don’t think UConn when I see that much red.
Madigan: Jim Penders may disagree, as the UConn baseball coach famously loves his Huskies in national flag blue and white, but I think red should be involved. I wouldn’t mind seeing more red jerseys in other sports, especially basketball and hockey. It’s part of the color palette, so it’s fair game in my opinion. UConn football has worn gray before (famously in its big win over Houston in 2015) and the men’s basketball team has (rather infamously under Dan Hurley) worn gray and black. The women’s team used to rock pretty sweet gray uniforms at the XL Center and crisp whites at Gampel. The precedence is there to mix it up, and I think more red would be a great modern look for all of the teams.
Side note: There is not a more perfect UConn uniform than the women’s soccer one Dan mentioned. It’s a very clean look, and the red really ties it all together.
UConn football needs a uniform overhaul
Connolly: This is something we can certainly agree on. UConn football needs a new look. In fact, that’s been the case for a long, long time.
The Huskies’ current set isn’t bad, it’s just boring. It’s not very fun to play with UConn on EA Sports’ College Football video game franchise because the uniform options are so limited. There’s only so many times you can mix-and-match the color of the helmet and pants. These are at least a slight upgrade, though. The previous uniforms were both bad and boring. They looked like the first option that comes up in create-a-team.
But isn’t college football supposed to be fun? That’s what defines it from the NFL — the history, the pageantry, the tradition, the different styles of play. The sport’s popularity is centered on being more entertaining outside the lines than its professional counterpart. UConn’s uniforms should reflect that.
Madigan: UConn football was a punchline for the past few years before Jim Mora came in and got things relatively back on track. While there is a lot more success in the team’s 20-plus years at the FBS level than the national media is willing to give them credit for, the Huskies are not a college football institution like the likes of Michigan, Alabama and Penn State — three schools with history but also very plain uniforms. There’s no reason for UConn to have such a plain base uniform template. I think the school got so put off by the reaction to the Bob Diaco-era helmets that they played things ultra boring and safe. It’s time to mix it up a little! Even a freshened-up return to the jerseys from the first few seasons in FBS would be a massive step up.
Free ideas
Madigan: I would love to see UConn lean into its past and use the aforementioned early-FBS era jerseys, but updated with red instead of silver/gray. As much as I love the block C, I would love to see the wishbone “C” or bubble script UConn make an appearance on a helmet at some point too. If you’re going to have such a boring uniform, you might as well have some cool helmets, and there is a pretty good historical backlog to pick from.
I wouldn’t mind some more off the wall uniform ideas either. Lean into the Rentschler/East Hartford/Pratt & Whitney connection and throw some jets on some helmets and jerseys. Or loop in the Avery Point campus too and put some nearby submarines on there. Could be a nice tribute for Veteran’s Day, if it is done right. UConn could lean into its agriculture roots and do a cow theme. Ever since Utah State did a cow out at their basketball game, I feel like it could work on a uniform. I imagine it could be a tough sell for the linemen though.
As boring as UConn’s current uniforms are, I do love that the team can theoretically mix and match them in any combination and it all can look pretty good. Now they just need to release the light blue jerseys for real!
Connolly: In an idea world, UConn would have four uniforms: Standard national flag blue home and white aways (where the helmets and pants can be mixed and matched), an alternate jersey (if we’re doing something other than blue and white, I would’ve preferred light blue over red) and a throwback. There’s so much room for creativity there.
UConn has also used a lot of alternative helmet decals over the last few years. It should continue to lean into that and feature a different logo every game. Roll out the standard Husky logo or Block C, but why not throw Hook C on a helmet — if hockey can put it on a jersey, football can use it on a helmet — or the script UConn word mark, or the interlocking UC logo used by the men’s basketball team for years. Why not think outside the box, too? Use the academic logo with the oak leaves. Make a helmet that resembles Gampel’s roof. Do something involving the Dairy Bar. Have a local artist create a design involving an iconic buildings on campus like Wilbur Cross, the water towers or the Jonathan statue (similar to when Navy had hand-painted ships on their helmets for the Army-Navy Game).
It’s not the easiest time to be a college sports fan. Why not use the uniforms as a way to connect with the fanbase and community?
So yes, this is a long way of saying UConn should absolutely slap the derpy Jonathan logo on a uniform.
WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Three-time Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender Connor Hellebuyck went public on Thursday in confirming he’s asked the Winnipeg Jets to trade him.
In a statement released by his agent, Ray Petkau, Hellebuyck said he made the request several months ago and “tried to handle the situation quietly and respectfully while giving the organization time to explore its options.”
Hellebuyck said he felt it was important to go public because training camp is fast approaching. Camps are set to open in roughly three weeks.
“My position has not changed, and I believe moving on is the best path forward for me and my family,” Hellebuyck said. “(I) hope a resolution can be reached soon.”
Hellebuyck, 33, has played his entire NHL career with the Jets and was voted MVP in the 2024-25 season. He backstopped the U.S. to the gold medal at the Olympics in February.
General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff acknowledged he’s been working to trade the player, but otherwise had no update.
“Connor has been open with us about his desire for a change. He has been an important part of the Winnipeg Jets organization for many years, and we have tremendous respect for what he has accomplished here,” Cheveldayoff said in a statement released by the team. “While we continue to work through the situation in a thoughtful manner, there is no update at this time.”
Trade rumors swirled about Hellebuyck in late June around the draft, but nothing came to fruition. The Michigan native missed time because of injury and had a career-worst .895 save percentage last season as Winnipeg underachieved expectations and missed the playoffs.
But his track record and body of work are among the best at the position over the past decade. His 345 wins, 2.58 goals-against average and .916 save percentage since entering the league in 2015 are second only to Tampa Bay two-time Stanley Cup champion Andrei Vasilevskiy.
Hellebuyck has not enjoyed the same postseason success as Vasilevskiy and the Lightning. He’s 24-34, with the Jets only making it past the second round and into the Western Conference final once, back in 2018.
He signed an eight-year, $59.5 million extension with Winnipeg in October 2023. He’s under contract through 2031 at a salary cap hit of $8.5 million.
“Winnipeg has been my home for my entire NHL career, and I will always be grateful for my time there,” Hellebuyck said. “I appreciate everything Winnipeg Jets fans have meant to me throughout my career.”
PIT
BUF
NE
CLE
SF
LV
LAR
LAC
WAS
BAL
ATL
MIA
HOU
CAR
TB
JAX
NYG
NYJ
CIN
PHI
ARI
GB
SEA
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NO
DAL
MIN
DEN
DET
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TEN
Kansas City | “Yes” 35¢ | 29% Chance
Stays with Miami or Retires | “Yes” 26¢ | 26% Chance
BUY: Baltimore | “Yes” 2¢ | 1% Chance
