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Who's in the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery? These 11 teams can win the No. 1 pick

Who's in the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery? These 11 teams can win the No. 1 pick originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Which NHL club will hit the lottery in 2025?

The order for the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery was set on the final night of the 2024-25 regular season Thursday. And the two teams with the best odds to land the No. 1 pick are the same as last year.

The San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks finished 32nd and 31st in the league standings, respectively, for the second straight season. San Jose has a 25.5% chance of winning the lottery, while Chicago boasts 13.5% odds of leapfrogging the Sharks for the top pick.

San Jose last year won the Macklin Celebrini sweepstakes for the franchise’s first-ever No. 1 pick. And the Sharks can now become the first team since the Edmonton Oilers from 2010-12 to pick first overall in consecutive drafts.

Chicago, meanwhile, could be selecting in the top two for a third straight year. The Blackhawks jumped from third to first in the 2023 lottery to secure Connor Bedard and they retained last year’s No. 2 pick before selecting Artyom Levshunov.

So, which other teams are in the running for this year’s top pick? And when will the lottery be held? Here’s what to know:

What is the NHL draft lottery?

The draft lottery is used to award the top two picks in the draft and set the order of the first 16 selections, which includes all of the non-playoff teams. But not all teams in the draft lottery are eligible to win the No. 1 pick.

How does the NHL draft lottery work?

That’s because the most spots a team can move up in the lottery is 10, giving 11 clubs a chance to land the first pick and 12 teams a shot at the second pick.

For the lottery, 1,001 different four-number combinations are distributed among the teams, with the worst team having the most combinations, the second-worst team having the second-most combinations, and so on.

Fourteen ping pong balls numbered 1 to 14 are placed into a lottery machine and four are randomly drawn. The team that owns that four-digit combination gets the top pick, and the process is then repeated to award the second pick. Once the top two picks are awarded, the rest of the top 16 is set in inverse order of the regular-season standings.

If, for instance, the Detroit Red Wings, who enter the lottery sitting in the 12th draft slot, win the first drawing, they would move up 10 spots to No. 2 and the league-worst Sharks would get the No. 1 pick.

A rule introduced starting with the 2022 lottery bars a team from improving its draft position via the lottery more than twice over any five-year span. But, since the 2022 lottery, no team has moved up in the order more than once.

What are the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery odds?

Here are the 11 teams with a chance to win the No. 1 pick, along with their odds:

  1. San Jose Sharks: 25.5%
  2. Chicago Blackhawks: 13.5%
  3. Nashville Predators: 11.5%
  4. Philadelphia Flyers: 9.5%
  5. Boston Bruins: 8.5%
  6. Seattle Kraken: 7.5%
  7. Buffalo Sabres: 6.5%
  8. Anaheim Ducks: 6%
  9. Pittsburgh Penguins: 5%
  10. New York Islanders: 3.5%
  11. New York Rangers: 3%

The teams slotted from 12th to 16th are, in order, the Red Wings, Columbus Blue Jackets, Utah Hockey Club, Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames. Detroit has a 5.1% chance of jumping up to second, Columbus has a 4.2% chance of jumping up to third, Utah has a 3.2% chance of jumping up to fourth, Vancouver has a 1.1% chance of jumping up to fifth and Calgary has a 1.1% chance of jumping up to sixth, according to Tankathon.

Calgary’s pick is currently set to convey to the Montreal Canadiens.

You can check out a full odds breakdown from Tankathon here.

When is the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery?

The NHL hasn’t announced a date for the draft lottery yet. Last year’s event was on May 7.

When and where is the 2025 NHL Draft?

The draft will be held at L.A. Live’s Peacock Theater in Los Angeles from Friday, June 27, to Saturday, June 28.

How many rounds are in the NHL draft?

The NHL draft features seven rounds. The first round is set for June 27 followed by Rounds 2-7 on June 28.

Who will be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft?

OHL defenseman Matthew Schaefer is expected to be the first player taken in this year’s draft. Schaefer, 17, had seven goals and 15 assists with a plus-21 rating over 17 games this season with the Erie Otters before suffering a broken collarbone while playing for Canada at the world junior championship in December.

The last time a defenseman went No. 1 overall was in 2022 when the Sabres took Owen Power.

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Ja Morant does not practice with Grizzlies Thursday, is gametime decision vs. Mavericks Friday

When Ja Morant went down with a rolled ankle against the Warriors Tuesday night, for a moment it felt like that could be the end of the Grizzlies' season. To his credit, Morant showed his resolve and returned to the court for the final nine minutes, although he was clearly slowed and not moving with the same explosiveness. The Grizzlies fell just short in that 7/8 game, sending them to a Friday night showdown with Dallas for the final play-in spot in the West.

Morant did not practice with the team on Thursday and will be a gametime decision on Friday night, Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo told reporters, via Damichael Cole of the Memphis Commercial Appeal.

"My feel with him is he'll do absolutely everything in order to play," Iisalo said. "If he's physically able to do it, he will do it. It's a legitimate gametime decision."

After the game Tuesday night, Morant said, "I'm playing. That's basically the answer I'm giving."

Morant averaged 23.2 points and 7.3 assists a game this season, and the Grizzlies outscored opponents by 6.1 points per 100 possessions when he was on the court. However, Morant played in just 50 games this season due to injuries.

Expect Morant to give it a go on Friday night, but also expect Desmond Bane and Scotty Pippen Jr. to have more playmaking responsibilities against Dallas as well. If Memphis beats Dallas, it will turn around in 48 hours and face the Thunder in Oklahoma City.

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Schedule released for Panthers playoff series against Tampa Bay

Mar 3, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point (21) and Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) face-off during the first period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

The regular season may not be over, but the NHL is wasting no time in shifting focus to the playoffs.

On Thursday, the league sent out a full schedule for the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Well, almost full.

There are still several start times that remain TBD.

For the defending Stanley Cup Champion Panthers, they'll open their repeat bid after every other series has begun.

Game 1 between the Cats and Bolts is set for Tuesday night from Amalie Arena in Tampa, with a start time of 8:30 p.m.

Two nights later, Game 2 will be played with a start time two hours earlier, at 6:30 p.m.

Florida's first home game of the series, scheduled for Saturday at Amerant Bank Arena, has a 1 p.m. puck drop.

The rest of the series does not have set start times yet.

You can see the full schedule below:

Florida Panthers first round playoff schedule (NHL)

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Mets Injury Notes: Rehabbing Francisco Alvarez could return during homestand

The Mets could have their starting catcher back by the end of the current four-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Manager Carlos Mendoza outlined the plan for Francisco Alvarez for the rest of the week, saying the rehabbing catcher will be behind the plate for Double-A Binghamton for back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday following an off day Thursday.

If all goes to plan, it sounds like there’s a chance Alvarez could be active for Sunday’s series final at Citi Field.

“I think we will have a conversation after he gets through those two days and see if he needs more at-bats,” Mendoza said. “If he feels like he’s ready to go, then we have a decision here.”

The 23-year-old Alvarez, who started the season on the IL due to a broken hamate bone in his left hand, has already appeared in five rehab games with St. Lucie and Binghamton, tallying four hits, including a home run, in 17 at-bats.

Jeff McNeil back to the infield for the next two days

Mendoza confirmed that McNeil is playing center field for Low-A St. Lucie on Thursday, but following a planned off day on Friday, the veteran will play back-to-back games at his more familiar position of second base.

Mendoza said it’s unclear if McNeil will play his next two games with Syracuse or Binghamton, as the Syracuse Mets could be dealing with some unpleasant weather over the next few days.

Earlier this week, Mendoza said that McNeil could see playing time in center field when he gets back to the majors, as McNeil and Luisangel Acuña have been working on playing center should the Mets need them there. On Thursday, the Mets placed Jose Siri on the IL and called up outfielder José Azócar.

Paul Blackburn begins rehab assignment

The right-hander is heading to High-A Brooklyn to start his rehab and will have two ups on the road in Aberdeen, Md., on Saturday, Mendoza said.

It is “too early” to start looking at what role Blackburn would have when he returns healthy. The manager said he is still a “few weeks away before we have to make that decision,” but they are going to build him up to 75 pitches, leaving the option for him to join the rotation or bullpen open.

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No Excuses: Oilers' Connor McDavid Pushes Back On 'Walking Wounded' Narrative

Walter Tychnowicz-Imagn Images

The Edmonton Oilers might be missing Mattias Ekholm for their opening-round series against the Los Angeles Kings, but Connor McDavid insisted that last year's Stanley Cup finalists are not limping into the playoffs.

If anything, the team might be healthier than it appears.

“We have this like aura about us that we’re the walking wounded, but we’re just fine,” McDavid told reporters. “Everybody’s going to be ready to roll. Everybody is doing whatever they can. I don’t like this whole notion that we’re the walking wounded here. We’re ready to roll.”

Those comments come days after Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch gave an extensive injury report that made it sound like Edmonton might indeed be dressing a "B squad" for the playoffs. However, you might want to wait before counting out the Oilers just yet.

McDavid is healthy. And by the sounds of it, he is anticipating another long playoff run.

“I just don’t like the theory that people are counting us out," he said. "We’re a great team here; bumps and bruises along the way. We’re a great team when we’re healthy. And we are healthy."

The Oilers And Kings' Bad Blood Returns: That's Why The NHL Playoff Format Hasn't ChangedThe Oilers And Kings' Bad Blood Returns: That's Why The NHL Playoff Format Hasn't ChangedYou can say what you want about the NHL’s current Stanley Cup playoff format, but it ignited the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings’ rivalry.

Unfortunately for the Oilers, injuries have plagued the team at the worst possible time of the year.

Ekholm isn't expected to be available in the first round. McDavid, who has appeared in 63 games, recently missed eight games with an undisclosed injury. Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman are banged up. Same goes for Jake Walman, Troy Stecher and Trent Frederic.

The bodies have been piling up to the point where the team was forced to play a game against the Kings earlier this week with what Phillip Danault described as a "B-squad."

However, don't expect the Oilers to pack it in when they face the Kings in the first round of the playoffs. Instead, don't be surprised if McDavid uses the injuries as a way to further motivate the Oilers, who many believe are the underdogs despite having defeated the Kings in each of the past three playoffs.

“Maybe it's good. Everyone's going to be rested,” said McDavid of having so many players miss so much time in the past month. "Would it have been nice to get some games with a full lineup? Sure, but like I said, not everything is as it seems.

“I've felt, personally, night and day better from before the injury, just in terms of rest. Not getting a break there with the Four Nations — which I'm not complaining about at all — I feel night and day better since the injury. I'm sure Leon's going to feel the same way.”

Walter Tychnowicz-Imagn Images
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Kings stars hint at uncertain futures entering pivotal offseason

Kings stars hint at uncertain futures entering pivotal offseason originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SACRAMENTO – All good things must come to an end. So must all bad things.

The Kings missed the playoffs for the 18th time in 19 years with an NBA play-in loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night at Golden 1 Center. It marked the end of their unfathomable 2024-25 season but also a sign that major change is on the horizon.

Well, more change.

Sacramento’s lone playoff appearance since 2006 came two seasons ago during its magical 2022-23 “Beam Team” run. The starting five for that historic campaign consisted of: De’Aaron Fox, Kevin Huerter, Harrison Barnes, Keegan Murray and Domantas Sabonis. Three of those players no longer are part of the team, and the future for the other two in Sacramento also is cloudy.

Sabonis will seek clarity on the organization’s future plans, per a report from The Athletic last month, after major changes included parting ways with their head coach and franchise player midseason. 

While discussions will be had this summer, the Kings center made it clear where his mind is at moving forward.

“First of all, I want to say I love it here,” Sabonis said Thursday morning during his end-of-the-season exit interviews. “I want to stay here. I want to win here. I also do want to know what’s going to happen. 

“All these things are happening so quick. I want to get together with the new people, whoever comes in, and really try to get this right and get it back to what it was.”

Sabonis will make $43.6 million next season, $46.7 million in 2026-27 and $49.9 million in the final 2027-28 year of his contract. That’s $140.3 million over the next three years. The three-time NBA All-Star and two-time All-NBA member has proven his worth, but after the Kings missed the playoffs two years in a row and Sacramento needing to shed some salary, a potential divorce could be best for both sides.

Sacramento acquired Sabonis in the blockbuster trade that sent Tyrese Haliburton to the Indiana Pacers in 2022. Sabonis has averaged 19.2 points, 13.2 rebounds and 7.1 assists in a Kings uniform.

Perhaps the biggest question marks surround DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine’s futures with the team. Both were first-time Kings this season, with LaVine’s tenure limited to just 32 games after Sacramento traded for him midseason.

An emotional DeRozan was very candid while speaking to the media after the Kings’ season-ending loss Wednesday night. Even 12 hours later speaking at the same podium, the 16-year vet didn’t shy away from his truth after missing the playoffs for a third consecutive season.

“Watching other teams still play, that sucks,” DeRozan said Wednesday night. “For me, just the realization of going into my 17th season. That’s the reality of it for me. You don’t have many opportunities left to get yourself a chance to compete in the playoffs. And that’s all you want at this stage of your career, just a chance to get in there and see what happens.

“To know that window is closing, it ain’t like this job is like being a teacher or being a reporter, when y’all can do this as long as you can. So for me, that’s where frustration and the emotional side come from.”

DeRozan, who turns 36 this summer, said he doesn’t want to play another five years. He knows his clock is ticking, and that will be top of mind while making a decision for Year 17.

The six-time NBA All-Star is under contract with the Kings through the 2026-27 season after agreeing to a three-year, $73.9 million contract last July. While DeRozan averaged 22.2 points on 47.7 percent shooting, with 3.9 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 77 games during his first Kings season, his individual success didn’t lead to the team success the organization had hoped for.

Sacramento could explore trading DeRozan to retool its roster. If both sides decide to stay united, organizational stability is a key factor for DeRozan.

“You always want a foundation that’s stable and understanding going forward,” DeRozan said. “I’m pretty sure a lot of decisions got to be made from top to bottom. Just a structure and a foundation of a compete level. I think all year we had such an uncertainty of everything. You can’t really operate in any successful environment if you have so much uncertainty. 

“I think for me, just the certainty of what it’s going to be going forward. I can always work with that. As long as you put something on the table, I can work with that. But the uncertainty for me has always been the frustrating part.”

While the season admittedly was frustrating for the NBA veteran, he doesn’t regret coming to Sacramento, and he acknowledged from his July 9 introductory press conference to nine months later just how special it feels to be wanted.

It was a similar sentiment shared by LaVine, who doesn’t imagine being anywhere but Sacramento for the years to come. When asked about his long-term prospects with the team, LaVine made his stance unequivocally clear.

“I’m very happy with where I’m at right now,” LaVine said Thursday. “The team that just traded for me obviously is the team that values me. So that’s something I’ve always put very high. If this is going to be an organization that’s going to build with me and with us, then we’re going to go in the right direction. Why wouldn’t I want to be in a great place like this? 

“From what I’ve seen in these 35 games, even if we didn’t end the season the way we wanted to, I’d be crazy if I said I wouldn’t want to be in Sacramento.” 

LaVine pieced together his most efficient shooting season this year, and in 32 games with the Kings, he averaged 22.4 points on 51.1 percent shooting from the field and 44.6 percent from 3-point range, with 3.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists.

Despite the career shooting splits, it took LaVine some time to adjust to Sacramento’s offense. He often looked out of place, but to be fair, the Kings lost their offensive identity since trading Fox.

Nonetheless, LaVine is ready to move forward with the Kings. Maybe adjustments around him are what’s needed, but he wants to leave that up to the front office. Whatever team they assemble around him is the team he’ll be prepared to compete with. And more than anything, he’s looking forward to a full season in Sacramento to make things right again for the basketball-loving city.

“This city loves basketball. I’ve known that for a long time, growing up in Seattle and watching basketball,” he said. “Sacramento fans are some of the best. I’ve seen that since being here and how devoted they are. As players, especially with the situation I’m in, you want to give them what they deserve and the product that they deserve. 

“So it’s something I’m looking forward to going into the offseason. We want to go out there and compete and be ready.”

Like LaVine, Malik Monk’s stance is clear. The always-straightforward guard shared where he stands after a calf injury abruptly ended his third season with the Kings.

“I’m all in. I’m all in,” Monk said Thursday. “Yeah, no question. Don’t question that.”

While Monk acknowledged some of the challenges of the up-and-down season, noting he felt like he had to be “four different players” with the constant role changes, he is confident he has found a long-term home in Sacramento.

“I signed here because I feel at home,” Monk said. “They treat me like home. Everybody’s welcoming. Fans are crazy, I love that. Why not be all in?”

Monk showcased a career year in his eighth NBA season, averaging 17.2 points, 5.6 assists and 3.8 rebounds. Last offseason, he signed a four-year contract worth a reported $78 million to remain in Sacramento.

Another foundational piece of Sacramento’s past success and potential future fortune will surround Keegan Murray, whom the Kings drafted No. 4 overall in 2022. He enters the final year of his rookie contract next season and will become a restricted free agent in 2026-27.

Murray said he wants to be in Sacramento and will talk to his agent and the Kings about a potential extension this summer.

Keon Ellis, after a full season of proving he belongs in the NBA, wants to leave his complicated contract talks to his agent.

“Honestly, I don’t know. I’ll leave all that up to my agent and let him do his job on that one,” Ellis said of his future with the Kings. “But I definitely would love to be back. One, I hate moving. The fans here are great. The hype, the love the fans have given me since I’ve been here and where I started out at, everything’s been great.

“So it would definitely be good to remain here.”

The Kings hired Scott Perry as their new general manager after mutually agreeing to part ways with Monte McNair. Perry is a longtime, respected NBA executive, but the task at hand waiting for him in Sacramento is a tall one, even for him.

A roster rebuild could be in store. Who stays and who goes will be top of the to-do list for Perry, and make all the difference in bringing winning basketball back to Sacramento.

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Kings stars hint at uncertain futures entering pivotal offseason

Kings stars hint at uncertain futures entering pivotal offseason originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SACRAMENTO – All good things must come to an end. So must all bad things.

The Kings missed the playoffs for the 18th time in 19 years with an NBA play-in loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night at Golden 1 Center. It marked the end of their unfathomable 2024-25 season but also a sign that major change is on the horizon.

Well, more change.

Sacramento’s lone playoff appearance since 2006 came two seasons ago during its magical 2022-23 “Beam Team” run. The starting five for that historic campaign consisted of: De’Aaron Fox, Kevin Huerter, Harrison Barnes, Keegan Murray and Domantas Sabonis. Three of those players no longer are part of the team, and the future for the other two in Sacramento also is cloudy.

Sabonis will seek clarity on the organization’s future plans, per a report from The Athletic last month, after major changes included parting ways with their head coach and franchise player midseason. 

While discussions will be had this summer, the Kings center made it clear where his mind is moving forward.

“First of all, I want to say I love it here,” Sabonis said Thursday morning during his end-of-the-season exit interviews. “I want to stay here. I want to win here. I also do want to know what’s going to happen. 

“All these things are happening so quick. I want to get together with the new people, whoever comes in, and really try to get this right and get it back to what it was.”

Sabonis will make $43.6 million next season, $46.7 million in 2026-27 and $49.9 million in the final 2027-28 year of his contract. That’s $140.3 million over the next three years. The three-time NBA All-Star and two-time All-NBA member has proven his worth, but after the Kings missed the playoffs two years in a row and Sacramento needing to shed some salary, a potential divorce could be best for both sides.

Sacramento acquired Sabonis in the blockbuster trade that sent Tyrese Haliburton to the Indiana Pacers in 2022. Sabonis has averaged 19.2 points, 13.2 rebounds and 7.1 assists in a Kings uniform.

Perhaps the biggest question marks surround DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine’s futures with the team. Both were first-time Kings this season, with LaVine’s tenure limited to just 32 games after Sacramento traded for him midseason.

An emotional DeRozan was very candid while speaking to the media after the Kings’ season-ending loss Wednesday night. Even 12 hours later, speaking at the same podium, the 16-year vet didn’t shy away from his truth after missing the playoffs for a third consecutive season.

“Watching other teams still play, that sucks,” DeRozan said Wednesday night. “For me, just the realization of going into my 17th season. That’s the reality of it for me. You don’t have many opportunities left to get yourself a chance to compete in the playoffs. And that’s all you want at this stage of your career, just a chance to get in there and see what happens.

“To know that window is closing, it ain’t like this job is like being a teacher or being a reporter, when y’all can do this as long as you can. So for me, that’s where frustration and the emotional side come from.”

DeRozan, who turns 36 this summer, said he doesn’t want to play another five years. He knows his clock is ticking, and that will be top of mind while deciding for Year 17.

The six-time NBA All-Star is under contract with the Kings through the 2026-27 season after agreeing to a three-year, $73.9 million contract last July. While DeRozan averaged 22.2 points on 47.7 percent shooting, with 3.9 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 77 games during his first Kings season, his individual success didn’t lead to the team success the organization had hoped for.

Sacramento could explore trading DeRozan to retool its roster. If both sides decide to stay united, organizational stability is a key factor for DeRozan.

“You always want a foundation that’s stable and understanding going forward,” DeRozan said. “I’m pretty sure a lot of decisions got to be made from top to bottom. Just a structure and a foundation of a compete level. I think all year we had such an uncertainty of everything. You can’t really operate in any successful environment if you have so much uncertainty. 

“I think for me, just the certainty of what it’s going to be going forward. I can always work with that. As long as you put something on the table, I can work with that. But the uncertainty for me has always been the frustrating part.”

While the season admittedly was frustrating for the NBA veteran, he doesn’t regret coming to Sacramento, and he acknowledged from his July 9 introductory press conference to nine months later just how special it feels to be wanted.

It was a similar sentiment shared by LaVine, who doesn’t imagine being anywhere but Sacramento for the years to come. When asked about his long-term prospects with the team, LaVine made his stance unequivocally clear.

“I’m very happy with where I’m at right now,” LaVine said Thursday. “The team that just traded for me obviously is the team that values me. So that’s something I’ve always put very high. If this is going to be an organization that’s going to build with me and with us, then we’re going to go in the right direction. Why wouldn’t I want to be in a great place like this? 

“From what I’ve seen in these 35 games, even if we didn’t end the season the way we wanted to, I’d be crazy if I said I wouldn’t want to be in Sacramento.” 

LaVine pieced together his most efficient shooting season this year, and in 32 games with the Kings, he averaged 22.4 points on 51.1 percent shooting from the field and 44.6 percent from 3-point range, with 3.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists.

Despite the career shooting splits, it took LaVine some time to adjust to Sacramento’s offense. He often looked out of place, but to be fair, the Kings lost their offensive identity when they traded Fox.

Nonetheless, LaVine is ready to move forward with the Kings. Maybe adjustments around him are what’s needed, but he wants to leave that up to the front office. Whatever team they assemble around him is the team he’ll be prepared to compete with. And more than anything, he’s looking forward to a full season in Sacramento to make things right again for the basketball-loving city.

“This city loves basketball. I’ve known that for a long time, growing up in Seattle and watching basketball,” he said. “Sacramento fans are some of the best. I’ve seen that since being here and how devoted they are. As players, especially with the situation I’m in, you want to give them what they deserve and the product that they deserve. 

“So it’s something I’m looking forward to going into the offseason. We want to go out there and compete and be ready.”

Like LaVine, Malik Monk’s stance is clear. The always-straightforward guard shared his perspective after a calf injury abruptly ended his third season with the Kings.

“I’m all in. I’m all in,” Monk said Thursday. “Yeah, no question. Don’t question that.”

While Monk acknowledged some of the challenges of the up-and-down season, noting he felt like he had to be “four different players” with the constant role changes, he is confident he has found a long-term home in Sacramento.

“I signed here because I feel at home,” Monk said. “They treat me like home. Everybody’s welcoming. Fans are crazy, I love that. Why not be all in?”

Monk showcased a career year in his eighth NBA season, averaging 17.2 points, 5.6 assists and 3.8 rebounds. Last offseason, he signed a four-year contract worth a reported $78 million to remain in Sacramento.

Another foundational piece of Sacramento’s past success and potential future fortune will surround Keegan Murray, whom the Kings drafted No. 4 overall in 2022. He enters the final year of his rookie contract next season and will become a restricted free agent in 2026-27.

Murray said he wants to be in Sacramento and will talk to his agent and the Kings about a potential extension this summer.

Keon Ellis, after a full season of proving he belongs in the NBA, wants to leave his complicated contract talks to his agent.

“Honestly, I don’t know. I’ll leave all that up to my agent and let him do his job on that one,” Ellis said of his future with the Kings. “But I definitely would love to be back. One, I hate moving. The fans here are great. The hype, the love the fans have given me since I’ve been here and where I started out at, everything’s been great.

“So it would definitely be good to remain here.”

The Kings reportedly are hiring Scott Perry as their new general manager after mutually agreeing to part ways with Monte McNair. Perry is a longtime, respected NBA executive, but the task at hand waiting for him in Sacramento is a tall one, even for him.

A roster rebuild could be in store. Who stays and who goes will be top of the to-do list for Perry, and make all the difference in bringing winning basketball back to Sacramento.

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Dillon Brooks not-so-subtly leaving Warriors-Rockets ejections to somebody else

Dillon Brooks not-so-subtly leaving Warriors-Rockets ejections to somebody else originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors’ upcoming first-round NBA playoff series against the Houston Rockets will be spicy.

That’s the safest bet on the planet.

The second safest bet? There will be ejections.

Golden State and Houston don’t like each other, and each team has combustible players, so there surely will be fireworks as the best-of-seven series progresses.

Rockets forward Dillon Brooks, who earned 16 technical fouls during the 2024-25 regular season, was asked by reporters Thursday if there will be ejections during the series, which starts Sunday at Toyota Center.

“I don’t know,” Brooks said. “I’m not going to get ejected. I’ll leave that to somebody else.”

That “somebody else” Brooks is referring to likely is Warriors forward Draymond Green, who has his own history of arguing with referees and fiery antics with opponents.

Green picked up 13 technical fouls during the recently completed season, three fewer than Brooks.

Ironically, Green and Brooks were each ejected just once this season. But Houston guard Fred VanVleet was ejected three times this season, while second-year guard Amen Thompson was disqualified early twice.

So while Brooks might be insinuating that he’ll leave the ejections to Green, the eight-year NBA veteran is more likely to see one of his teammates get an early shower.

The fact that ejections are a topic of conversation leading into the series speaks to everyone’s expectations for the Warriors and Rockets.

So, get your popcorn ready.

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The Wraparound: What Role Will The Canadiens Give Ivan Demidov Against Washington?

Ivan Demidov (David Kirouac-Imagn Images)

Welcome to the latest episode of The Hockey News Wraparound, featuring rapid-fire analysis of the NHL and hockey.

What Role Will The Canadiens Give Ivan Demidov Against Washington? by The WraparoundWhat Role Will The Canadiens Give Ivan Demidov Against Washington? by The Wraparoundundefined

Here's what Emma Lingan and Michael Augello discussed in this episode:

0:00: How strong of a chance do the Montreal Canadiens have of upsetting the Washington Capitals?

4:12: What to make of the Dallas Stars’ injuries heading into their first round series against the Colorado Avalanche

9:04: With Dougie Hamilton returning for the New Jersey Devils, could they have a tight series with the Carolina Hurricanes?

12:09: Have the Winnipeg Jets avoided some internal distractions heading into the playoffs by extending Neal Pionk and Alex Iafallo?

15:01: Did Corey Perry and Phillip Danault's exchange in the media set the Oilers and Kings up to be the most entertaining first-round series?

18:50: Will Logan Couture go down as one of the best San Jose Sharks of all-time?

21:36: Will Ivan Demidov play in a depth role or top-six role for the Montreal Canadiens in the playoffs?

24:26: Could Jet Greaves earn a full-time position with the Columbus Blue Jackets next season?

26:37: Breaking down the NHLPA player poll results

29:19: Should the Detroit Red Wings be concerned that their current core has peaked?

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'You Won't See Much Blue': Senators Plan To Limit Maple Leafs Fans In Their Rink With Ticket Rollout

Chris Tanev and Drake Batherson (Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images)

The Ottawa Senators came up with a plan to limit a flood of Toronto Maple Leafs fans from attending the Canadian Tire Centre for Games 3, 4 and potentially 6 of their first-round series. 

When the Maple Leafs visit the Senators, the crowd often features a lot of blue and white competing with Ottawa’s red and black.

The Senators organization took a step-by-step approach to selling tickets for the Battle of Ontario and limiting Leafs fans. Their strategy to maximize Sens fans is through season ticket holders and newsletter followers.

Season ticket holders were able to purchase up to four tickets – two for them and two extra for other Sens fans. The Senators have an additional 902 season ticket holders from five weeks ago, team president Cyril Leeder told the Ottawa Citizen. The team also opened single-game ticket sales to subscribers to its newsletter on Thursday at 10 a.m. ET for two hours.

That didn’t leave many single-game tickets available for the general public when sales opened at noon.

“You won’t see much blue,” team owner Michael Andlauer told reporters at a Senators flag-raising ceremony at city hall on Wednesday.

This isn’t the first time that other teams have tried to limit Leafs fans from their rink. When Toronto faced the Florida Panthers in the second round of the 2023 playoffs, the Panthers restricted ticket access to purchasers with a U.S.-based credit card billing address.

The Senators and Maple Leafs faced off in the playoffs four times between 2000 and 2004. In 2004, the Leafs defeated the Sens in seven games. 

The Senators organization will not only hope to push out the blue-and-white noise but also win the latest edition of the Battle of Ontario. Game 1 takes place Sunday at 7 p.m. ET in Toronto.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

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Manchester United 5-4 Lyon: Europa League quarter-final, second leg – as it happened

United looked like exiting the Europa League meekly before pulling off one of the great comebacks

2 min: A little smoke from the pre-match pyro party still floating about. A couple of early touches for Onana. Casemiro has the opportunity to send Dorgu into space down the left but overcooks the pass and clanks it out for a throw.

A blast of John Denver, then Lyon get the ball rolling, with the aggregate score 2-2 after the first leg. The hosts are kicking towards the Stretford End in this first half.

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Kerr shares blunt reasoning for Kuminga's reduced Warriors role

Kerr shares blunt reasoning for Kuminga's reduced Warriors role originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

While there are plenty of buzzworthy stories surrounding the Warriors as they enter the 2025 NBA playoffs, Jonathan Kuminga’s reduced role in Golden State’s two biggest games of the season continues to remain a sticking point among fans.

The fourth-year veteran registered a DNP in consecutive contests after not seeing the floor in the Warriors’ pivotal matchups with the Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies.

Golden State coach Steve Kerr offered very blunt reasoning for why the 22-year-old seemingly has fallen out of the Warriors’ rotation at the most critical juncture of their season during an interview with 95.7 The Game’s Mark Willard and Dan Dibley.

“Mostly, I feel for JK, because I like him. He’s been here for four years, he’s a talented guy. Sometimes things go in a different direction. I think what happened here is pretty obvious; I’ve talked about it. Jimmy Butler came in,” Kerr told Willard and Dibley. “When JK was out, we traded for Jimmy and they play the same position. Our whole team changed. We became an ISO team with Jimmy. Movement with Steph [Curry] and iso with Jimmy. Jimmy is one of the best players in the league, so it’s not as simple as just saying, ‘Oh, OK we’ll just play them together.’ Basketball doesn’t work that way.

“The puzzle has to fit. We found a really good formula when JK was injured and we got Jimmy, I think we went 18-2 or something right away. So we found lineup combinations that have clicked, and we’re winning and we have to stick with that. It’s brutal for JK, it really is. He’s a young player, he wants to play and he’s absolutely talented enough to play. He still may be a part of the equation in this series and maybe the next series after that. So we just have to keep plugging away and keep moving forward and he’s doing a good job of that, and I definitely feel for him.”

Kuminga averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game in 47 appearances during the 2024-25 NBA season, playing a critical role in the Warriors’ rotation before being sidelined for over two months with an ankle injury.

The No. 7 overall selection in the 2021 NBA Draft, Kuminga already has first-hand experience with what the NBA playoffs entail after helping the Warriors secure their 2022 championship as a rookie.

While his role this season appears to be much different, Kuminga still could end up playing a crucial role for Golden State during the Warriors’ upcoming postseason run.

But for now, the 22-year-old wing appears to be entrenched near the bottom of the pecking order as Kerr and Co. pursue another piece of hardware for the franchise’s trophy case.

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