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Kansas City Royals news: Seth Lugo is firing bullets

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO - MARCH 06: Seth Lugo #67 of Team Puerto Rico pitches during the first inning against Team Colombia at Hiram Bithorn Stadium on March 06, 2026 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jaylon Thompson reviews Seth Lugo’s outing in the World Baseball Classic.

Lugo looked sharp in the early going. He recorded two strikeouts in the first inning while displaying his extensive pitching arsenal. There was an emphasis to utilize his slurve and four-seam fastball.

Both pitches were effective. Lugo registered six swings and five called strikes with his slurve. Meanwhile, the fastball averaged 92.7 mph, an uptick from earlier in spring training.

At times, Lugo touched 95 mph while navigating the Colombia lineup.

Lugo entered this offseason looking to pitch with more velocity. He was able to command the strike zone with his fastball early in counts on Friday. As a result, he finished his outing with a combined 28% whiff rate on his pitches.

The Royals also made the first wave of reassignments, sending catchers Blake Mitchell and Ramon Ramirez, outfielder Carson Roccaforte, and pitchers Ben Kudrna, Chazz Martinez, and Steven Zobac to minor league camp.

Perla Paredes at MLB.com writes that younger players are amazed by Salvador Perez’s work ethic.

“He’s an amazing leader,” Jensen said of Perez. “[I’ve learned] how to prepare myself every day and the work ethic. To play as long as he’s played and continue to be playing, it takes preparation, it takes taking care of your body.”

While the young catchers are learning Perez’s preparation from the plate, the Royals’ pitchers see his influence from the mound. For left-hander Matt Strahm, Perez is a great target, and his presence immediately threatens the running game.

“It’s been my favorite. I’ve thrown to some great catchers … but the target Salvy gives you is just massive, and none of them can replicate that,” said Strahm, Perez’s locker neighbor.

And that Mitch Spence is showing increased velocity.

For Royals manager Matt Quatraro, the difference was immediately noticeable.

“He’s thrown three to four miles an hour harder. That’s a huge jump,” Quatraro said. “And that gives hitters a lot less time to react.”

Spence said the increase in velocity is the result of offseason work focused on refining his mechanics and strengthening his arm.

“The biggest thing this offseason was just cleaning up some stuff with my mechanics,” Spence said. “I started going to physical therapy and just kind of got my arm stronger from the workout program. I think it just kind of clicked.”

She also writes that shortstop Daniel Vazquez is progressing in his development.

Vazquez said he is focusing less on results and more on the daily process that could shape the next step in his development. That includes physical conditioning, discipline and mental preparation — the same elements that fueled his surge last season.

“I’ve taken a lot from that,” Vazquez said. “Always respect the game, always play hard. And everything is about winning.”

Preston Farr looks at whiff rates in spring training for Royals pitchers.

How 2024 draftees, including Jac Caglianone, could impact this season.

Vinnie Pasquantino is keeping the espressos flowing for Team Italy.

The sons of Jose Contreras and Manny Ramirez impressed scouts in the WBC.

The Nationals sign pitcher Zack Littell to a one-year deal.

The Astros sign catcher Christian Vazquez to a minor league deal.

Kansas City native Joey Wentz injures his leg covering first base.

The Braves could target Ryan Mountcastle to replace Jurickson Profar.

Andrew Abbott will start on Opening Day for the Reds.

Logan Allen wins a national anthem standoff against Logan Allen.

Mets pitcher Freddy Peralta is looking for a seven- or eight-year deal.

Baseball teams are increasingly focusing on the mental side of the game.

The Tigers never made Tarik Skubal a long-term offer this offseason.

Ernest Hemingway was a big baseball fan.

Travis Kelce hits free agency today.

More people are watching the NHL in the weeks after the Olympics.

A report indicates that contractors with Meta are able to see intimate moments of users of AI glasses.

Climate change could lead to more turbulence on airplanes.

The future of horror movies is on YouTube.

Your song of the day is George Michael with Faith.

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Suns proved their rotation depth is starting to matter

PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 8: Haywood Highsmith#19 of the Phoenix Suns shoots a free throw during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on March 8, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Charlotte Hornets entered Sunday night with a 32–32 record, although anyone who has been following the league understands that number does not fully capture how well they have been playing recently. They have been clicking on offense, defending with intensity, and stacking wins against teams across the NBA.

That is what makes the victory for Phoenix stand out.

It was a quality win because of the opponent, although it also served as another example of the Suns’ system functioning the way it is designed to function. Look at the personnel on the floor. There was no Dillon Brooks. No Jordan Goodwin. No Grayson Allen or Mark Williams. Each of those players has played an important role in getting Phoenix to its current position in the standings. Instead, the Suns leaned on other pieces of the rotation. Haywood Highsmith logged 21 minutes. Rasheer Fleming played 23. Khaman Maluach saw 20 minutes of action.

Different spokes, same wheel.

Phoenix also showed better offensive balance than it did in the win against the Pelicans. Only 52% of their attempts came from beyond the arc, and they converted 39% of those looks. The perimeter remained a major part of the offense, although the overall shot distribution felt more controlled.

The win came from players executing the system rather than relying on one singular performance. Devin Booker delivered 30 points. Jalen Green continues to grow within the offense. Collin Gillespie added 24 points. Those numbers certainly help.

Although the deeper part of the story comes from the supporting cast. Rasheer Fleming scored 16 points, Maluach pulled down 9 rebounds and protected the paint, and Highsmith and Amir Coffey provided steady minutes.

That is the system working. The structure remains the same, the roles shift slightly, and the wheel keeps turning.

Bright Side Baller Season Standings

His 32-point performance against the Pelicans earned Booker his 14th Bright Side Baller of the season.

Bright Side Baller Nominees

Game 64 against the Hornets. Here are your nominees:

Devin Booker
30 points (7-of-18, 1-of-6 3PT), 3 rebounds, 10 assists, 0 blocks, 2 turnovers, +11 +/-

Collin Gillespie
24 points (8-of-15, 5-of-10 3PT), 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 0 blocks, 1 turnover, +5 +/-

Jalen Green
24 points (8-of-19, 4-of-10 3PT), 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 0 blocks, 3 turnovers, +13 +/-

Rasheer Fleming
16 points (6-of-8, 4-of-6 3PT), 2 rebounds, 0 assists, 0 blocks, 0 turnovers, +1 +/-

Khaman Maluach
4 points (2-of-4, 0-of-0 3PT), 9 rebounds, 0 assists, 2 blocks, 0 turnovers, +10 +/-

Royce O’Neale
3 points (1-of-6, 1-of-6 3PT), 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 0 blocks, 0 turnovers, +9 +/-

Your vote counts.

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Weekly Cupcakes: Kadri receives standing ovation

DENVER, COLORADO - MARCH 08: Nazem Kadri #91 of the Colorado Avalanche is introduced prior to the game against the Minnesota Wild at Ball Arena on March 08, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Andrew Wevers/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Colorado Avalanche News

  • Colorado Avalanche will go without their Captain for a bit again, Gabe Landeskog is out week-to-week after taking a puck to the groin. [TSN]
  • Avalanche fans welcome Nazem Kadri back to Colorado with standing ovation. [Sportsnet]
  • Avalanche also acquired center Nicolas Roy. [NHL]

News Around the League

  • The Maple Leafs are going to need some help to keep their first-round pick. And if they do get some help finishing in the bottom five and retaining their 2026 selection, they’ll lose their picks the next two years. Yes, it’s complicated. [Toronto Star]
  • Fans of the Ottawa Senators are waiting with bated breath for Jake Sanderson injury update. [Toronto Sun]
  • Edmonton Oilers face make or break road trip for playoff hopes. [USA Today]
  • 2026 NHL trade deadline report cards: Grading every team’s moves (or lack thereof). [NY Times]
  • Here’s a list of which players were dealt — and which ones weren’t — on NHL Trade Deadline day. [CP 24]
  • Two sentences on every deal made during 2026 NHL trade deadline. [Sportsnet]
  • NHL GMs frustrated by new salary cap rules at trade deadline. [ESPN]

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MLB News Outside The Confines: Everyone has World Baseball Classic fever

Good morning. This is a little shorter edition than I normally do for this because the overwhelming amount of news over the weekend was about the WBC. I think we have that pretty well covered around here elsewhere. We do have some WBC stuff and some other stuff as well.

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Join Tom McCarthy, Ben Davis and Jim Salisbury for Spring Training Live Q&A!

Join Tom McCarthy, Ben Davis and Jim Salisbury for Spring Training Live Q&A! originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The countdown to Opening Day is on and NBC Sports Philadelphia is gearing up for the regular season with a Phillies Spring Training Live Q&A!

Join Tom McCarthy, Ben Davis and Jim Salisbury following Sunday’s Phillies-Braves game at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Florida. Get your questions ready and head over to Frenchy’s Tiki Bar as soon as the game ends.

Can’t make it down to the event? Don’t worry.

You can also tune in and ask your questions virtually.

So, circle that calendar, set your alarm and we’ll see you Mar. 15 in person (and online) to get ready for the season.

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Can the surging Celtics make a play for No. 1 spot in the East?

Can the surging Celtics make a play for No. 1 spot in the East? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics, winners of 14 of their last 17 games, have shimmied within 2.5 games of Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons with more than a month remaining in the regular season.

The lingering question: Can the Celtics make a play at the top spot in the East? And, maybe more importantly, should they want to?

Boston stands at 43-21 with 18 games remaining, while Detroit is at 45-18 after losing its fourth straight in Miami on Sunday. The Celtics would have to finish ahead of Detroit in the final standings after the Pistons won three of the four regular-season matchups to earn the head-to-head tiebreaker.

Stil, getting ahead of the Pistons won’t be an easy task.

Basketball Reference runs 10,000 daily simulations to produce their Playoff Probabilities Report. Monday’s simulations give the Celtics just a 5.6 percent chance of leapfrogging Detroit.

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The big thing here is strength of schedule. Despite their stumbles, the Pistons are about to enter a soft part of their schedule. In fact, Detroit has the seventh-easiest schedule in the NBA the rest of the way with a combined opponent winning percentage of .476. Four of Detroit’s next six games are against lottery-bound teams (Brooklyn, Memphis and a double dip with Washington).

The Celtics, meanwhile, have the third-toughest remaining strength of schedule (opponents’ winning percentage at .539). That includes two road games this week against the two teams with the NBA’s best records in Oklahoma City and San Antonio. What’s more, a second game with the defending champion Thunder looms later this month, and the Celtics still have one more game each against the Knicks and Timberwolves, too.

Which is to suggest that, if Detroit can simply steady itself a bit moving forward, the Celtics are going to be hard-pressed to make a true push. The bigger concern might simply be trying to hold onto the No. 2 seed, which would ensure home court if Boston made it to Round 2 of the postseason.

“Boston is obviously a good team, but we’re not concerned about Boston,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff told reporters on Sunday. “Our biggest concern is making sure that we’re doing what we need to do to go out and be as good as we possibly can. We’ve got plenty of time to figure it out and we will.”

The one other wild card for the East’s top seeds is the play-in tournament. The Charlotte Hornets have been one of the league’s hottest teams, at least before a little stumble of their own after a big win in Boston last week.

There’s still a lot of volatility in the East play-in standings, but if the Hornets are not able to shimmy up to the No. 7 or No. 8 spot, they’d be out of play to earn the seventh seed in the play-in tournament (and play the No. 2 seed). The No. 1 seed would still be vulnerable to a Charlotte matchup if the Hornets were to land the No. 8 spot by emerging from the 9-10 bracket.

Boston’s bigger concern over its final 18 games should be the reintegration of Jayson Tatum and helping the All-NBA forward get comfortable again after missing nine-plus months while rehabbing from Achilles surgery. Early returns have been encouraging, but there’s still chemistry to rebuild on the court.

Surging to the No. 1 seed might help the cases for some of Boston’s award-eligible players and staff. Jaylen Brown’s MVP candidacy and Joe Mazzulla’s case for Coach of the Year would be strengthened by getting ahead of the Pistons. Alas, Mazzulla would be the first to balk at the mere mention of awards — at least his own — and will keep the focus on the games.

It will be interesting to take inventory on the East standings as the calendar flips to April. The Celtics play seven games in 13 days to wrap up the regular season and the standings could dictate just how hard they push to the finish line.

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Columbus Blue Jackets (73 pts) vs. Los Angeles Kings (64 pts) Game Preview

The Columbus Blue Jackets are back home to take on the Los Angeles Kings at 4 PM.  

Los Angeles Kings - 25-23-14 - 64 Points - 3-6-1 in the last 10 - Lost 1 - 6th in the Pacific

Columbus Blue Jackets - 32-21-9 - 73 Points - 7-1-2 in the last 10 - OTL 1 - 4th in the Metro  

Team Notes Per CBJ PR

  • Columbus stretched its points streak to five consecutive games (3-0-2) after earning a point in a 5-4 OT loss to Utah on Saturday. The club has earned points in 16 of its last 18 contests since Jan. 11 (14-2-2).
  • CBJ (6-0-2) have tied a season-high with their second eight-game home points streak (5-0-3 from Oct. 29-Dec. 4). The team has earned points in 12-of-13 games played at Nationwide Arena in 2026 (9-1-3).
  • Since Dec. 22, the Blue Jackets have gone 18-6-3 (39 pts, .722 points pct.) and rank third in the NHL in points (tied) and points percentage, fourth in save pct. (tied, .904) and penalty kill pct. (82.7), sixth in goals-against/game (2.74) as well as 12th in goals for/game (3.48).
  • The Jackets play their 13th of 16 back-to-back sets of the season vs. Los Angeles (Monday) and at Tampa Bay (Tuesday). The club leads the league in wins and point pct. in back-to-back sets in 2025-26 (16-5-3, .729).

Player Notes Per CBJ PR

  • Charlie Coyle, who notched his 11th multi-point effort of the season on Saturday (0-2-2), has points in five-straight games (1-6-7) and has posted 6-13-19 and six multi-point efforts in the last 12 contests since Jan. 24.
  • Adam Fantilli tallied his 10th multi-point outing of 2025-26 vs. Utah (1-1-2) and has 6-8-14 in the past 12 contests.
  • Kirill Marchenko has collected assists in four consecutive games (2-5-7) after notching his 10th multi-point contest of the campaign with two assists on Saturday. He has posted points in nine of his past 10 contests since Jan. 24 (4-9-13).
  • Mason Marchment notched 1-1-2 against the Mammoth and has 11-8-19 in 20 contests with the Blue Jackets.
  • Mathieu Olivier notched his second consecutive multi-point outing (3-1-4) with 1-1-2 against Utah. He has totaled 8-3-11 and 32 hits in the last 11 contests.
  • Damon Severson collected 1-1-2 on Saturday and has picked up assists in three of the past four games (1-4-5).
  • Zach Werenski returned to action on Saturday after missing three games due to illness. He has collected points in 22 of his past 25 games played since Dec. 11 (11-24-35, 11 multi-point efforts).

Blue Jackets Stats

  • Power Play - 19.6% - 18th in the NHL
  • Penalty Kill - 77.2% - 25th in the NHL
  • Goals For - 195 - 17th in the NHL
  • Goals Against - 197 - 21st in the NHL 

Kings Stats

  • Power Play - 16.8% - 27th in the NHL
  • Penalty Kill - 75.3% - 28th in the NHL
  • Goals For - 159 - 31st in the NHL
  • Goals Against - 180 - 8th in the NHL

Series History vs. The Kings

  • Columbus is 29-33-1-7 all-time, and 18-11-0-5 at home vs. LA.
  • The Blue Jackets are 4-0-2 in the last 6 at home and have earned points in 8 of 9 home games against the Kings.
  • The last 5 home games against the Kings have gone to OT, and the CBJ are 3-2 in those games.
  • Columbus has killed off 25 of 28 Kings' man advantages.

Who To Watch For The Kings

  • Adrian Kempe leads the Kings with 23 goals, 30 assists and 53 points.
  • Newly acquired Artemi Panarin has 6 points in 6 games since joining the Kings.
  • Darcy Kuemper is 15-13-9 with a SV% of .896 His last start was on March 7th.
  • Former Blue Jackets Goalie Anton Forsberg is 10-9-5 with a SV% of .904. His last start was on March 2nd.

CBJ Player Notes vs. Kings

  • Zach Werenski has 7 points in 13 career games vs. the Kings.
  • Boone Jenner has 7 points in his last 18 games against LA.
  • Charlie Coyle has 16 points in 32 games.

Injured Reserve

  • Brendan Smith - Lower Body - Missed 24 Games IR - Out for the rest of the regular season.

TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 167

How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be on FANDUEL SPORTS NETWORK. The radio broadcast will be on 93.3 The Bus, with Bob McElligott behind the mic doing the play-by-play.  

Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!

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Former Islanders Jonathan Drouin Snaps 38-Game Goal Drought In First Game With Blues

The New York Islanders traded forward Jonathan Drouin in a package to the St. Louis Blues for team captain Brayden Schenn ahead of this past Friday's NHL Trade Deadline.

BREAKING: Islanders Acquire Brayden Schenn From Blues; Send Drouin To St. LouisBREAKING: Islanders Acquire Brayden Schenn From Blues; Send Drouin To St. LouisThe New York Islanders have acquired St. Louis Blues captain Brayden Schenn. The reported return includes forward Jonathan Drouin, goaltending prospect Marcus Gidlof, Colorado's 2026 first-round pick, and a third-round pick.

Drouin, who was in the first season of a two-year deal worth $4 million annually, had been struggling mightily to produce. He found himself in St. Louis with no goals over his last 38 games. 

His last goal came on Nov. 14 against the Utah Mammoth, a play where the puck bounced off his skate before banking in off a Mammoth defenseman. 

The last time he scored a goal using his stick was back on No. 8 against the New York Rangers. 

There's no question that the 30-year-old can produce in this league. It just wasn't working out on Long Island.

So, it shouldn't be a shock to anyone that in Drouin's first game with the Blues, rocking No. 92, he found the back of the net to end a 38-game goal drought:

That was Drouin's fourth goal and first power-play point of the season, which is a bit ironic given that the Islanders currently sit with the worst power play in the league at 15.5%. 

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23 red cards and police intervention as mass brawl mars end of title match in Brazil

BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil (AP) — Twenty-three players were shown a red card as a lengthy brawl requiring the intervention of military police marred the final seconds of a Brazilian soccer match between Cruzeiro and Atletico Mineiro.

Former Brazil forward Hulk was among the players sent off following the violence that lasted more than a minute and spread from one end of the field toward the other as substitutes, members of coaching staff and security also weighed in.

“We need to acknowledge our mistakes and learn from them,” Hulk wrote on Instagram on Monday. “What happened yesterday does not represent the values ​​that soccer should embody. Rivalry is part of the sport, but respect must always prevail over any emotion.”

It was sparked by a challenge by Cruzeiro midfielder Christian on Atletico goalkeeper Everson, who responded by rugby-tackling his opponent to the ground and dropping both knees into his head.

That led to a mass fight as players from both teams piled in, punching and kicking each other. In footage shared across social media, Hulk, who plays for Atletico, was seen punching an opponent on the back of the head then getting kicked in the chest.

“I apologize to everyone who was in the stadium, to those who watched it on television, and especially to the children who look up to football. What we saw on the pitch is not the example we want to set,” Hulk added.

According to statistics provided by the teams, Cruzeiro had 12 players sent off and Atletico had 11.

Cruzeiro wound up winning 1-0 in the Campeonato Mineiro final to become state champion in Minas Gerais.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

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Hutson On Course To Make Canadiens’ History

While the spotlights haven’t been all on Lane Hutson with the arrival of Ivan Demidov and Juraj Slafkovsky’s awakening, the sophomore defenseman is having quite the season. Despite a slow start, more than likely due to his contractual situation, the youngster now has 11 goals and 53 assists for 64 points. That’s an 85-point pace over 82 games, which, on top of making him more than a point-per-game player, would also see him tie a record that was set nearly 50 years ago by Larry Robinson.

No Montreal Canadiens’ blueliner has ever recorded more than 85 since Robinson did it in 1976-77 with 19 goals and 66 assists in 77 games. In that Stanley Cup-winning season, Big Bird was just 25 years old. Hutson is just 22 years old, and last year, in his rookie campaign, he set a new record for most points and assists by a rookie defenseman, surpassing Chris Chelios’ mark of 64 points and 55 assists set in the 1984-85 season. He even tied the NHL record set by Larry Murphy back in 1980-81 for most assists by a rookie defenseman with his 60 helpers.

Canadiens: Bolduc Bounced Back Nicely
Canadiens: Xhekaj Could Make Big Impact If He Was Allowed To
Canadiens Steal Two Points After Being Dominated By Los Angeles

After having such a great rookie season, it’s remarkable that he’s on pace for such a jump in point-production and an improvement in goal scoring as well. Last season, the shifty blueliner managed to find the back of the net only six times, but he already has 11 goals this season. It’s worth saying that the improvement didn’t happen overnight. Hutson is always the first to hit the ice ahead of the Canadiens’ practice, and along with Ivan Demidov, he quite often works on his shot, whether director of hockey development Adam Nicholas is on the ice or not.

Some believed that the sophomore jinx would hit Hutson quite hard, that the rest of the league, having seen him play for a year and having had plenty of opportunity to study his play on video, would have come up with a more efficient way to defend him, but that hasn’t been the case. The undersized defenseman is always ahead of the game and manages to elude hits more often than not. After all, you cannot hit what you cannot catch.

What’s even more impressive, though, is the fact that nothing seems to indicate that he’s anywhere near his ceiling, which does make you wonder what that ceiling will be. With the Canadiens set to welcome more highly talented offensive players in the years to come, like Michael Hage and Alexander Zharovski, it’s easy to imagine that his production will keep on improving.

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.  

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DitD & Open Post – 3/9/26: Hat Trick Hero Edition

Mar 7, 2026; Newark, New Jersey, USA; New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes (86) celebrates his goal against the New York Rangers during the third period at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Salus-Imagn Images | Thomas Salus-Imagn Images

Here are your links for today:

Devils Links

Jack Hughes tallied a hat trick, the power play went three for three, and a strong third period pushed the Devils to a 6-3 win over the Rangers on Saturday. [Devils NHL]

The four-game winning streak came to an end with a 3-0 loss to the Red Wings on Sunday. [Devils NHL]

A cool reunion, and a photo that will live forever:

“We’ve gotten so used to images having such a short shelf life. To see this one have a little bit more staying power has been really cool.” [The Athletic ($)]

Less than ideal:

Hockey Links

“Which teams surged after the NHL’s trade deadline on Friday? Here are our choices for the NHL’s top five Stanley Cup contenders after the deadline.” [The Hockey News]

“Trade activity this season, leading up to the NHL’s 2026 deadline, featured everything from major moves that saw the rich get richer to reunions to big names in new uniforms. Which teams accomplished their goals, and which left their fan bases fuming?” [The Athletic ($)]

“Overall, NHL teams made 20 trades involving 33 players on Friday. Some teams and players did quite well for themselves. Others did not. Here are some winners and losers of a peculiar NHL trade deadline, from ESPN reporters Ryan C. Clark, Kristen Shilton and Greg Wyshynski.” [ESPN]

“That was…interesting. Trade Deadline Day 2026 played quite the game of chicken. It yielded 19 total deals, fewer than we saw last year, and the number was looking even smaller before a bunch of GMs slipped their trade calls in under the wire. What happened? The trading was likely hindered by a concoction of (a) the looming playoff salary cap, (b) the block on double salary retention within a 75-day period and (c) the fact so many of the best available players had term left on their contracts and thus weren’t must-trade players Friday if their GMs’ asking prices weren’t met.” [Daily Faceoff]

Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.

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The story behind Luke Kornet’s blog

Last week Luke Kornet made headlines by speaking out against the Atlanta Hawk’s “Magic City Night” theme. The ATL gentleman’s club has received shout outs in numerous rap and hip-hop songs. The hot spot is also known for lemon-pepper wings.

Jared Weiss of the The Athletic ran into Kornet as he was writing a post on his blog shortly after the Spurs loss in New York last month.

The former Celtics center started his blog during the 2022-2023 season. Kornet, a lifelong Catholic, decided to write about the churches he visited while on the road playing basketball.

On January 23, 2023, he introduced himself with the post “Don’t Pass the Rock: The Catholic Churches of the 2022-23 NBA Season” showcasing his wit, humor, and penchant for the pun.

Kornet posts three more “Don’t Pass the Rock” pieces in 2023 before going dark…until now.

On January 26, 2026, three years and three days after launching his initial post, he submitted “Don’t Pass the Rock: Back in the Saddle,” stating “I’m back trying to find my voice.”

And found it, he has.

Kornet’s self-effacing humor was apparent from the get-go in San Antonio. When signing with the Spurs he chose #7, stating his goal to become one-third the player Tim Duncan was. His fascination with places of worship came through an authentic tone, but his personal writing peels back layer after layer of his “self” and how that has played out in the basketball world.

Last month, Kornet released “Luke’s Declassified Spurs Survival Guide” after losing to the Chrlotte Hornets:

“The problems persist and our voyage seems increasingly destined for failure. Morale hangs by a thread and rations are low. Most notably the water pipe is frozen meaning no coffee and therefore no caffeine, the elixir of hope. Withdrawal headaches have led to infighting and I’m concerned factions are beginning to form. So fragile the human condition. At the first sight of death, fear manifests and people’s true colors are shown. We fear if conditions worsen and hunger grows certain….sacrifices may need to be made. I vote a rookie. Their offering will be remembered and a small donation to a food bank will be made in their memory.”

The trials and tribulations surrounding the Spurs snow-laden Charlotte game followed by the arduous journey home for the second night of a back-to-back told through a most humorous tone.

He followed up a few days later with a heartfelt proclamation of what the NBA trade deadline meant to many players as well as what it has meant to him in the past.

Next came some musings regarding the Super Bowl and Mike Vrabel.

On February 23, he posted his tribute to the Bus 1 Boys, the guys at the far end of the bench hoping to get their name called during the game so they can shine on the court.

And then, of course, his most recent — and least humorous share — “Concerning the Atlanta Hawks.”

Without Weiss crossing his path in the locker room and asking him what he was up to, Kornet’s disquiet for the event may have been limited to his 993 followers. Instead, he spoke on camera and was picked up by multiple news sources, including The New Yorker. He took criticism from players, pundits, and fans for his take. But it is of no matter.

If Luke Kornet has something on his mind he will say it, and say it well.

Welcome to the Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here.

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Kentucky set to hold Zoom meeting with NBA G League guard Dink Pate

Feb 16, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Team Braxton guard Jahmir Young (right) of the Grand Rapids Gold dribbles against Team Swish Cultures guard Dink Pate (left) of the Mexico City Capitanes during the G-League-Next Up Game championship at Moscone Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images | Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Kentucky Basketball’s coaching staff continues to explore new recruiting avenues, and one potential addition to the roster in the future is G League guard Dink Pate.

According to Jacob Polacheck of KSR, Pate is expected to have a Zoom meeting with the Kentucky staff within the next week. The meeting comes after head coach Mark Pope recently traveled to Philadelphia to see Pate in person while he plays with the Westchester Knicks.

The 6-foot-7 point guard has expressed interest in transitioning to college basketball for the 2026 season.

“I’m going to college, but I’m not set in stone on any school,” Pate told Polacheck of KSR+ in January. “If UK likes me, that’s where I want to go.”

Pate has a connection with Kentucky through assistant coach Jason Hart, who coached him during the 2023–24 season with the NBA G League Ignite. Pate joined Ignite in 2023 and became the youngest professional basketball player in U.S. history.

This season with the Westchester Knicks, Pate has appeared in 27 games, averaging 16.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.6 assists, while shooting 37.7 percent from 3-point range.

One to watch for.

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Rockets blown out by Spurs 145-120

Mar 8, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) looks up in the second half against the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images

The Houston Rockets had a gut check game against the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday and failed miserably, being dominated by the Spurs, who shot 58 percent from the field, to the tune of a 145-120 San Antonio victory.

The Rockets had no defense, as the Spurs got pretty much whatever they wanted, with Victor Wembenyama leading the way with 29 points, and they also got 23 from Stephon Castle and 20 each from Keldon Johnson and De’Aaron Fox, who also had 10 assists.

As for the Rockets, they got 23 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks from Kevin Durant on 7-for-12 shooting from the field, as well as 23 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists from Amen Thompson, who was 8-for-15 from the floor.

Reed Sheppard and Jabari Smith Jr. had 17 points each, with Reed going 3-for-10 from deep to go along with 3 rebounds and 3 assists, while Smith had 5 rebounds and 3 assists to round out Houston’s double-digit scorers.

The Rockets showed that they were not quite on par with some of the west’s best, as they lost the season series to San Antonio 3-1. They also fall to the fourth seed in the west with a 39-24 record, on pace for a slightly worse record than last season. If they playoffs ended today, the Rockeys would take on the Los Angeles Lakers, which is an admittedly good matchup for them, but do you have any real faith in the Rockets going anywhere this postseason? I know that I do not.

But it could also get worse. The Rockets are only two games ahead of the Phoenix Suns for a Play-In spot. Falling down to the Play-In is not out of the question.

The Rockets need to find an answer for the shooting discrepency. They were just 8-for-28 from deep, while the Spurs were 21-for-40. That’s almost a 40-point swing on three-point shooting alone. You’re not going to win much basketball that way.

Anyway, the Rockets will return to action on Tuesday with a home game against the Toronto Raptors. That’s a 7pm CST start.

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The week ahead: This is going to be challenge for Penguins

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 30: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates against the Carolina Hurricanes at PPG PAINTS Arena on December 30, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

As Jimmy Dugan once said in A League Of Their Own: “It is supposed to be hard. If it was not hard, everybody would do it. The hard is what makes it great.“ The Pittsburgh Penguins are about to get a lesson in that over the next few games.

After an incredible come-from-behind win against the Boston Bruins on Sunday, the Penguins managed to take three out of a possible four points this weekend even though they played without captain Sidney Crosby (injury) and Evgeni Malkin (suspension). While you would have liked to have seen them get the win on Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers, you would have absolutely signed up for three out of four points going into this weekend given the circumstances.

They got them.

It does not matter how. They do not ask you how when the playoffs begin. They just ask if you got them.

That win gives the Penguins a five-point cushion over the Columbus Blue Jackets, who are the first team on the outside of the Eastern Conference playoff picture, and a one-point cushion over the New York Islanders for the second in the Metropolitan Division while still having a game in hand on them.

Now they have to get into the truly difficult part of this March schedule, beginning a five-game road trip this week against five likely playoff teams and several Stanley Cup contenders. It is going to be a challenge.

If there is a positive to take from this: The Penguins have been able to rise to the challenge repeatedly this season. There is also a very good chance that Crosby returns to the lineup, and perhaps even as soon as Tuesday night. He is skating. He is practicing. He is close.

Overall, it is hard to ask for more than what the Penguins have been able to do without him since returning from the Olympic break. With this weekend’s games in the book, the Penguins are 3-2-2 without Crosby, earning eight out of a possible 14 points in the standings. That is .571 hockey. Considering that they played two games (and realistically, two and two-third games) without Malkin as well, that is more than acceptable. They were always going to lose some of these games. They just needed to find a way to get some points to keep their pace going and maintain their lead in the playoff race. They have done that. Now they have to find a way to keep scratching out a few points when they can.

The week and the road trip begins on Tuesday night with a Metropolitan Division game against the Carolina Hurricanes. Carolina is a legitimate Stanley Cup contender, and always seems to give the Penguins problems, especially in recent years. But the Penguins have not only played exceptionally well within the division this season, they also won the first meeting with Carolina by a 5-1 margin at the end of December. It was one of the Penguins best and most complete games of the season, and also one of the games that really started their post-holiday break surge.

Carolina is also going to be playing the vaunted “first home game back after a long road trip,” which always seems to give teams fits for some reason.

After playing in Carolina, the Penguins travel out west to play the Vegas Golden Knights to complete their season series with them. Vegas should be a Stanley Cup contender on paper, but it has not quite played like it so far this season, and especially not recently. Goaltending is their big issue right now, and they are still playing without veteran winger Mark Stone who was injured in the first game with the Penguins a week ago. That is a big absence for their lineup.

The road trip then continues on Saturday in Salt Lake City where the Penguins will play the Utah Mammoth. Utah won the first meeting of the season, 5-4 in overtime, as part of that stretch in early December where the Penguins could not hold on to a third period lead at all. Utah is a really tough defensive team, but does not have great goaltending or an elite offense.

Overall these next three opponents rank third (Carolina), 15th (Vegas) and 16th (Utah) in the NHL in points percentage for the season, and fifth (Utah), sixth (Carolina) and 19th (Vegas) in the NHL in expected goals share during 5-on-5 play.

These are good teams. There are also some winnable games in there. Specifically the Utah and Vegas games.

Crosby’s potential availability will determine a lot for what the expectations should be, but if he returns at some point this week I would really like to see them find a way to get four points out of this. That will be challenging, but it is doable. The Penguins have repeatedly proven this season that they can compete in these games and win them. They showed this weekend they have depth. They are going to have a chance to really prove it.