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Giants icon Bruce Bochy reveals advice he'll give new manager Tony Vitello

Giants icon Bruce Bochy reveals advice he'll give new manager Tony Vitello originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Bruce Bochy knows what it takes to lead the Giants to greatness.

That is why, after returning to the Bay as one of Tony Vitello’s special assistants, as team chairman Greg Johnson told the San Francisco Chronicle in an interview published Tuesday, Bochy has some wisdom for the Orange and Black’s new manager.

Bochy shared what advice he’ll give Vitello — who only has coached at the collegiate level and most recently at Tennessee — once they begin working together in an exclusive interview with The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly published on Wednesday.

“You have to adapt, but that’s true even if you’ve been doing it a while in the major leagues,” Bochy said of Vitello to Baggarly. “Every year is different. You’ve got to adapt to every bullpen. Sure, there’s more games, but believe me, he’s smart enough to figure that out.

“With all the success he had, he could’ve run for mayor in Knoxville. He’s got a lot of confidence. You can see it in him when you talk to him. He’s all in on this challenge.”

Bochy would know. 

The 70-year-old won three World Series rings over 13 years with San Francisco and a fourth in 2023 with the Texas Rangers.

As a seasoned veteran who has been there and done that, Bochy can help the 47-year-old Vitello transition from working with young adults in Rocky Top to seasoned big-leaguers in the Bay.

“The only advice I’d say is be yourself,” Bochy said of Vitello to Baggarly. “He’s so likable and personable. He’s worked with diverse players from all over the country at Tennessee. He’s had to work with a lot of different personalities. All that experience he’ll draw on and that’s going to work in the major leagues as well. So don’t change. Don’t try to be something you’re not.

“I think he’s going to be so good at that. He’s been in that dugout for a lot of games, so that’s not going to speed up on him. And hey, you learn on the job, too. He’ll have good people around him to help.”

Vitello doesn’t have any MLB experience; however, San Francisco’s new skipper will have tons of it in his corner in 2026 — especially from Bochy.

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Easton Cowan Sent Down To Marlies, Why It Happened And What’s Next For The Maple Leafs Prospect

Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan has been sent down to the AHL's Toronto Marlies, but for how long is the question.

The move coincides with Scott Laughton's return to the lineup after missing the first 13 games of the regular season with a lower-body injury. The Maple Leafs had already been at the roster limit, so moving Cowan to the AHL (he was the only forward who was waivers-exempt) allowed them to activate Laughton.

Cowan scored one goal, three assists, and averaged 12:33 of ice time through his first 10 NHL games. While up with the Maple Leafs, the 20-year-old bounced throughout the team's lineup, even getting on the top line and having power play minutes.

He participated in the Maple Leafs' morning skate on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Marlies begin a six-game stretch away from Coca-Cola Coliseum. They also play on Wednesday evening, with their first game of the road trip against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

It's unknown how long Cowan will remain down in the AHL, though.

Barring an injury of any sort when the Maple Leafs face the Utah Mammoth on Wednesday night, Cowan must play in one AHL game before being able to be recalled to the NHL. It's a rule that was implemented this season to limit NHL teams from making paper transactions.

Nevertheless, Cowan could benefit from some time with the Marlies. He'll face lesser competition all while getting top minutes in all situations. While there'll still be expectations for him in the AHL, it won't be as much as it would if he were still in the NHL.

Maple Leafs Practice Notes: Laughton, Lorentz Could Return Vs. Mammoth, Carlo, Stolarz Get Maintenance DayMaple Leafs Practice Notes: Laughton, Lorentz Could Return Vs. Mammoth, Carlo, Stolarz Get Maintenance DayWith a few extra bodies up front, the Maple Leafs have opted for a different-looking bottom six, featuring Laughton and Lorentz.

Laughton draws into the Maple Leafs lineup alongside Steven Lorentz and Max Domi on the team's fourth line. Lorentz missed the last two games with an upper-body injury after going awkwardly into the boards against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Laughton, on the morning ahead of his season debut, was excited to get back into the Maple Leafs' lineup.

"I think you put in a ton of work on yourself when things like that happen. The attention to detail from the staff here, right from day one of the injury, has been pretty incredible. So I owe a lot to those guys for getting me back here and getting me on the right track," he said.

"You train all summer, you come back, and something like that happens. So hopefully I don't have to see the gym for a while."

Latest stories:

'Hopefully I Don't Have To See The Gym For A While': After Long Injury Layoff, Scott Laughton Eager To Boost Maple Leafs In Season Debut

Maple Leafs' Joseph Woll 'Getting Close' To Game Action After Returning From Leave Of Absence

'Future Hall Of Famer' John Tavares To Be Honored By Maple Leafs Ahead Of Game Vs. Mammoth After Scoring 500 Goals

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Manchester City 4-1 Dortmund, Newcastle 2-0 Athletic, and more: Champions League – as it happened

Manchester City and Newcastle United eased their opponents aside, while Brugge and Barcelona shared six goals in a wild affair in Belgium

Teams are emerging from tunnels all across Europe. Zadok the Priest (Version) blaring out hither and yon. We’ll be off in a couple of minutes!

Going into the 8pm kick-offs, here’s how the league phase currently looks. When it’s all completed after eight games, the top eight will go through to the round of 16, positions nine to 16 will be seeded in the knockout stage and be drawn against positions 17 to 24, and everyone below will go home. So that’s a pretty big defeat for Villarreal in Cyprus tonight … and Chelsea now have a job on if they want to grab one of those top-eight spots, because they host Barcelona next, and still have to travel to Atalanta and Napoli.

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Phil Foden’s double downs Borussia Dortmund as Manchester City sparkle

If Phil Foden performs so, too, do Manchester City. This was reiterated by his two-goal show that helped to sweep Pep Guardiola’s improving team to 10 points from four games at the league stage’s halfway juncture.

Factor in Erling Haaland, who decorated his captaincy for the night with a 27th goal (for club and country), and Waldemar Anton’s 72nd-minute jab home was solely an irritation.

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What we learned as Russell Westbrook's triple-double fuels Kings' thrilling win

What we learned as Russell Westbrook's triple-double fuels Kings' thrilling win originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SACRAMENTO – The Kings kicked off their five-game homestand on the right foot, as a late rally allowed them to defeat the Golden State Warriors by a final score of 121-116 on Wednesday night at Golden 1 Center.

A vintage Russell Westbrook masterclass helped the short-handed Kings stay alive against their NorCal neighbors, as the new Kings point guard finished with a 23-16-10 triple-double.

Malik Monk’s return was a welcome sight after missing the last two games. He added 21 points in 25 minutes off the bench. Rookie Nique Clifford had a career-high 12 points.

Without Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler, Golden State’s role players stepped up behind a demanding performance from rookie guard Will Richard, who finished with a team-high 30 points, six rebounds and three assists in 34 minutes.

Jonathan Kuminga, who was tied to trade rumors with the Kings this offseason, somehow proved his value to both Sacramento and Golden State in the same game. The high-flying wing contributed 24 points.

Even without some of the game’s biggest and most entertaining stars, both teams still put on a thrilling show in front of a crowd divided by fans of both teams inside Sacramento’s home arena.

The Warriors regained the lead midway through the fourth after a 12-2 run, but only for a few seconds before the Kings responded with their own run to close out the game and ultimately pull out the victory.

Here are the takeaways from the Kings’ win.

The Triple-Double King

The Kings signed Westbrook for his energy, rebounding ability and veteran leadership.

All things that were on full display for Sacramento on Wednesday night.

Westbrook, like most Kings, got off to a slow start but quickly found his rhythm. And that’s all it takes for the future Hall of Famer.

The 18-year pro had just five points in the first quarter, then was on triple-double watch by the third. He finished with his first triple-double as a King, with 23 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists in 35 minutes. His last triple-double was recorded on March 18, 2025, when he was with the Denver Nuggets, against the Golden State Warriors.

Sacramento doesn’t need Westbrook, who turns 37 next week, to drop 20-plus every night. But when short-handed like the Kings were Thursday, missing three of their typical starters, Westbrook rose to the occasion and vintage Russ took over.

Through seven games (three starts) with the Kings thus far, Westbrook is averaging 13.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 5.0 assists.

Shining without the stars

Fans who purchased tickets to this game months ago might have been upset when they realized several stars on both sides were ruled out.

But they got their money’s worth during the thrilling NorCal showdown.

Golden State was without its triple-threat trio of Curry (illness), Butler (back) and Green (rib). Meanwhile, Zach LaVine (back) and Domantas Sabonis (ribs) were ruled out for Sacramento, and Keegan Murray (thumb) still is rehabbing from his UCL surgery.

But with absences come opportunities for others, and some take advantage of it more than others. Richard, the rookie who’s played just six NBA games, did exactly that for the Warriors. The second-round draft pick finished with a team-high 28 points, six rebounds and three assists in 34 minutes.

For the Kings, the vets acted like vets as DeRozan, Westbrook and Schroder, who share a combined 45 years of NBA experience, stepped up for Sacramento.

The show went on Wednesday night, and it didn’t disappoint.

A needed boost 

Monk has been Sacramento’s Energizer Bunny for the past four seasons.

When he’s on the floor, you feel his presence. The fans embrace it. The team thrives off it.

And when he’s not, you feel that, too.

Monk missed the last two games for Sacramento due to personal reasons. In those respective contests, which the Kings split 1-1, Sacramento often lacked the energy that Monk provides.

The 27-year-old returned to the court on Wednesday and didn’t miss a beat with what he does best. In an arena taken over by Warriors fans who didn’t have to travel far to watch their favorite team, Monk gave Kings fans a reason to outshout them throughout the course of the NorCal showdown. 

15.6 points on 54.7 percent shooting from the field and 52 percent from 3-point range, with 1.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 25.2 minutes through five games this season.

Monk led all bench players on Wednesday, finishing with 21 points on 6-of-12 shooting, with four rebounds and two assists in 25 minutes.

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What we learned as short-handed Warriors squad stumbles in second half vs. Kings

What we learned as short-handed Warriors squad stumbles in second half vs. Kings originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The number of players missing the first matchup of the 2025-26 NBA season between the Warriors and Sacramento Kings made the vibe feel closer to a Santa Cruz vs. Stockton G League game than two Northern California rivals battling each other Wednesday night at Golden 1 Center. 

As the game progressed, though, so did the intensity. And inexperience eventually caught up to the Warriors in a 121-116 loss playing a Kings team that still featured two future Hall of Famers in their starting five. 

The Kings were in the bonus with nearly nine minutes left in the third quarter, and went 14 of 18 from the free-throw line for the quarter after taking nine free throws in the first half. The Warriors in the third quarter were outscored 35-23, due in large part to having eight turnovers and being whistled for 11 fouls. While they scratched and clawed their way back in the fourth quarter, it was too little and too late for the undermanned Warriors.

Rookie Will Richard scored a game-high 30 points for a new career high that fell just four points of his previous career total of 34 points. Moses Moody, one night after scoring a season-high 24 points, scored a new season-high 28 points with six 3-pointers. Jonathan Kuminga fell one rebound shy of a double-double with 24 points and nine rebounds.

An ugly number of 19 Warriors turnovers became 30 points for the Kings. 

Steph Curry (illness), Jimmy Butler (lower back) and Draymond Green (ribs) all were out for the Warriors. The Kings were down Domantas Sabonis (ribs), Zach LaVine (back) and Keegan Murray (left thumb surgery).

Here are three takeaways from the Warriors’ loss to the Kings.

Second Timeline Starting Lineup

Without their top three players, the Warriors’ starters featured a rookie, a second-year player, a third-year player and two 23-year-olds. Hello there, second timeline. The future, for at least one night, is now.

You’d have to go all the way back to the finale of the 2011-12 regular season to find the last time all five starters had four or fewer years of service time.

The starting lineup hadn’t played a single second together this season as a five-man unit, yet they looked completely comfortable to begin the game. The Warriors led 16-11 through the first five minutes of the game before Al Horford replaced Quinten Post ahead of Will Richard’s second free throw. The ball was moving, and the youth was bringing the kind of spark coach Steve Kerr was searching for to survive and advance a shorthanded second night of a back-to-back.

In the first half, the young starting five scored 48 of the Warriors’ 62 points. The only starter held scoreless was Post, who took only one shot in eight minutes.

Post continued to struggle in the second half, too. The stretch-5 missed all five of his shot attempts and was scoreless in 15 minutes. The starting five played 10 and a half minutes together as a unit and was a plus-5, outscoring the Kings 30-25.

The Rook Shines

Here’s how Richard’s last three days have gone: Sent to Santa Cruz for his first G League practice Monday, recalled Tuesday but was a DNP-CD (Did Not Play, Coach’s Decision) and then received his first start in the NBA on Wednesday. He was a DNP-CD on Sunday against the Indiana Pacers, too. No rust or nerves were seen from the Warriors rookie. 

Richard in the first quarter alone scored 12 points, five more than his previous career high for a game. The former Florida Gator knocked down two threes from the left corner, made all four of his free throws and threw down a fastbreak dunk. He scored another four points in the second quarter, giving him 16 at the half.

The impressiveness of Richard’s performance popped in every which way. Richard scored another 14 points in the second half, and the Warriors wouldn’t even have had a chance if it weren’t for his two-way impact.

When the Warriors are at full strength, especially after De’Anthony Melton’s return, Richard might not have a spot in the rotation. However, he always makes it hard for Kerr not to play him.

Kuminga’s Showcase Game 

Schedule makers haven’t been kind to the Warriors through the first two weeks of the season. They also brought some unintentional drama to their third back-to-back. 

The Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings were the two teams that pursued Kuminga the hardest during his restricted free agency over the summer. Though he eventually signed a two-year, $48.5 million contract with a team option on the second year to remain with the Warriors, the Suns offered Kuminga a four-year deal around $90 million and the Kings put a three-year deal on the table worth $63 million with the chance for it to be slightly more. 

Both contracts had Kuminga’s preferred player option on the back end. 

Kuminga on Tuesday night against the Suns scored nine points on a season-low seven shot attempts. But a much bigger opportunity was presented to him in Sacramento. With eight minutes remaining in the third quarter, Kuminga already had his third 20-point game of the season. His 24 points were a mixed bag of good and bad.

After a strong start, Kuminga went 2 of 10 in the second half and clanked an open chance from 10 feet away to tie the game with 24 seconds left. Kuminga was called for four fouls in the second half and he again racked up far too many turnovers, finishing with five for a combined nine in the Warriors’ back-to-back.

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Blackhawks Vs Canucks: Projected Lineup, How To Watch, & More Ahead Of Game 14

The Chicago Blackhawks will face the Vancouver Canucks in game four of their six-game road trip on Wednesday night. The first three haven't gone according to plan, as they are 0-2-1 on the trip. 

The Blackhawks, ahead of this trip, were off to a good start to the 2025-26 season. These last three games have been a bump in the road, but this match against Vancouver is their next chance to get back on track. 

This is Connor Bedard's next opportunity for a good performance against the team he grew up cheering for. The first few games of his career didn't go as well as he would have liked, but he is a completely different player with a totally different outlook this time. 

Scouting Vancouver

Vancouver missed the playoffs last season in what turned out to be a disaster of a year for the organization. They were forced to trade J.T. Miller because he wasn't getting along with other players on the team, other players had career-worst numbers, and the year was capped off by the GM admitting that Quinn Hughes may want to leave to play with his brothers.

Despite all of that noise, they are fighting to stay afloat in the Pacific Division and Western Conference. They enter this game on the outside portion of the bubble with a record of 7-7-0. 

Kevin Lankinen is the projected starter for the Vancouver Canucks. The old Chicago Blackhawks goalie has played very well since moving to Vancouver, and he will look to keep that going against the Blackhawks in this one. 

Kane - Pettersson - Garland

DeBrusk Reichel - Boeser

O’Connor - Räty - Sherwood

Bains - Sasson - Karlsson

Hughes - Myers

Pettersson - Hronek

Pettersson - Willander

Following an injury, Quinn Hughes returned to the Vancouver Canucks lineup in their last game against the Nashville Predators. In this game, they'll be getting another boost with the addition of Conor Garland back in the lineup. 

Vancouver is coming off their own road trip, where it went 2-1-0. These additions to their lineup make them even more dangerous. 

Yes, there are three players with the last name of Pettersson in their lineup. Elias is their star center who wears number 40 on the top line. 

He isn't the only Elias Pettersson, either, though. The other is a depth defenseman who will play on the third pair and wear number 25. The third, Marcus, will play on the second pair and wear number 29. 

Kevin Lankinen isn't the only ex-Blackhawk going in this game. Lukas Reichel, who was just traded to Vancouver a couple of weeks ago, is projected to be their second-line center. That is far better for him than being a healthy scratch regularly in Chicago. 

Reichel is out to prove that Vancouver made the right decision trading for him. Although he went out with some of his teammates on Tuesday night, he is ready for business when the puck drops. 

Vancouver didn't take part in line rushes during Wednesday's morning skate, so these are projected, but the addition of Garland back to the lineup will add to their depth either way. 

Projected Blackhawks Lines, Defense Pairs, and Starting Goalie

Greene-Bedard-Burakovsky

Teräväinen-Nazar-Bertuzzi 

Moore-Donato-Mikheyev

Foligno-Dach

Vlasic-Rinzel

Kaiser-Levshunov

Grzelcyk-Murphy

Crevier

Knight

Spencer Knight is the projected starter for the Chicago Blackhawks. He has been their number one all season, and is looking to lead the way to victory on Wednesday night. 

Like the Canucks, the Blackhawks didn't reveal lines during their morning skate. That is starting to become a pattern for Jeff Blashill over the last few morning skates. 

There are two reasons to believe that they will go with 11/7 again, however. The first is that they have gone with that strategy in all but two games. The second reason is that Sam Lafferty, who has been a healthy scratch in all but three games this season, was the last off the ice. 

Bedard's homecoming will see him on a line with Ryan Greene and Andre Burakovsky. Bedard is looking to extend his point streak, while Burakovsky would like to get his goal-scoring streak to four. 

On defense, this group of seven has worked very well for the Blackhawks. They had some tough moments against the Winnipeg Jets earlier in the tip, but they have been solid otherwise. 

How To Watch

The Blackhawks and Canucks can be found locally on CHSN. Nationally, it can be found on ESPN+ in the United States and on Sportsnet in Canada. In Chicago, it can be heard on WGN AM 720. The puck will drop a little bit after 9 PM CT. 

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Observations after Sixers start very slowly, fall to Cavs to finish back-to-back

Observations after Sixers start very slowly, fall to Cavs to finish back-to-back  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers couldn’t overcome a very slow start and concluded a winless back-to-back Wednesday night in Cleveland.

They fell to a 132-121 loss to the Cavs. Both the Sixers and Cleveland now sit at 5-3 on the season.

Tyrese Maxey had 27 points, nine assists and seven rebounds.

Quentin Grimes scored 27 points. Andre Drummond posted a 13-point, 13-rebound double-double. Trendon Watford put up 16 points and six assists off the bench.

Donovan Mitchell starred for the Cavs with an incredible 46 points on 15-for-21 shooting and eight assists. Jarrett Allen had 24 points and Evan Mobley added 23.

Four Sixers were out on the second night of their back-to-back:

  • Joel Embiid (left knee injury recovery)
  • Paul George (left knee surgery recovery)
  • Dominick Barlow (right elbow laceration)
  • Jared McCain (left knee injury recovery) 

The Sixers have another back-to-back coming up this weekend. They’ll host the Raptors on Saturday and the Pistons on Sunday. 

Here are observations on their loss to the Cavs:

Nothing resembling an immediate bounce-back 

Cleveland scored the night’s first 13 points off turnovers. The Sixers were disjointed across the board and generally at around the same level as they’d been in the late stages of Tuesday night’s collapse against the Bulls.

Maxey had three early giveaways. The Sixers also missed a few open jumpers short, which of course is not a rare sight in the second game of a back-to-back. 

After Adem Bona picked up a loose ball, he had his outlet pass intercepted by Allen. Mitchell then sunk a three-pointer that gave the Cavs a quick 17-4 lead.

Sixers head coach Nick Nurse was clearly not thrilled with what he saw and called timeout. He brought in Grimes and Drummond to replace starters Jabari Walker and Bona. 

Watford thrives at point guard 

The Cavs led by as many as 17 points in the first quarter. In contrast to the Sixers, the Cavs ran clean offense and didn’t seem bothered by much.

Watford served as the Sixers’ lead ball handler to open the second quarter. He got an extended stretch there as Maxey rested.

The 6-foot-8 Watford did a strong job in that role, which is certainly in his comfort zone. Watford’s capable of regularly driving into the paint thanks to his size, physicality and feel for the game. He has good passing instincts once he draws help defense, too. 

The 24-year-old was also efficient as a scorer in Cleveland, shooting 5 for 9 from the floor and 4 for 4 at the foul line. Watford knocked down a wing three to bring the Sixers to within single digits. A Drummond put-back layup cut their deficit to 51-45. Drummond went 6 for 7 from the field and made his second three-pointer of the season. 

Even when Maxey checked back in, Watford started plenty of possessions with the ball in his hands. He had sharp two-man actions with Maxey, including a Maxey triple off of a dribble handoff. The Sixers trailed by just three points at halftime and Maxey had 18. 

Tough back-to-back for Edgecombe

Though a Kelly Oubre Jr. corner three knotted the game at 72-all early in the third quarter, the Cavs responded with a 13-0 run spearheaded by Mitchell and Mobley. 

Oubre found his shot in the second half and wound up with 19 points on 7-for-16 shooting. Edgecombe was off all game and ended the evening 3 for 14 from the field. He totaled 19 points on 7-for-26 shooting in the back-to-back.

The rookie has acknowledged that he’s figuring out exactly how to take care of his body and best approach back-to-backs in the NBA. While he had a fantastic first few games as a professional, he’ll inevitably need to learn through some trial and error.

One positive note on Edgecombe: The offensive rebounding ability he showed at Baylor has carried over to the NBA. With effort, athleticism and a nose for the ball, the 20-year-old guard has recorded at least one offensive board in every game so far and averaged 2.1 per contest.

The Sixers’ defense was not close to stingy enough in the second half. The Cavs’ lead swelled to 20 points with a Mitchell scoring spree late in the third quarter and the Sixers appeared to be running on fumes early in the fourth. They somewhat hung around, trimming Cleveland’s advantage to 128-119 on a Grimes dunk with 1:21 left, but the outcome was never in true doubt.

The Sixers will head home, rest up and aim for a better back-to-back performance this weekend.

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‘It is very hard for us’: Maccabi Tel Aviv aim to give absent fans reason to smile

  • Fans banned from attending match at Aston Villa

  • Police granted section 60 stop-and-search powers

The Maccabi Tel Aviv midfielder Issouf Sissokho urged his teammates to make their supporters smile against Aston Villa, after away fans were banned from the politically charged Europa League match on Thursday.

The Israeli club’s fans were prohibited from attending on public safety grounds but, despite the ban, West Midlands police have been granted section 60 stop-and-search powers and plan to deploy more than 700 officers around Villa Park to cope with protests and potential unrest.

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Mike Sullivan Not Worried About Artemi Panarin's Slow Start With Contract Situation Still Looming

Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

One of the main concerns to kick off the New York Rangers’ 2025-26 campaign lies with the play of Artemi Panarin. 

Panarin entered the season without a contract in place, which only put more pressure on the veteran forward to perform at a high level. 

During training camp, he admitted that it’s a roller coaster ride playing without a contract extension in place.

“It’s obviously good for everyone to feel that security,” Panarin said. “I’m used to it, being in that situation. It is what it is right now. Just not (going to) complain about it, I’m ready to work hard…

“Obviously, after bad games, you are thinking too much, but after good games, you enjoy it more than usual.”

Panarin may be making it harder on himself to land the long-term commitment that he is coveting. 

Through 14 games, the 34-year-old forward has recorded two goals, seven assists, and nine points while averaging 21:08 minutes per game. 

Since arriving in New York in 2019, Panarin has been the catalyst of the Rangers’ offense and one of the leading point producers in the NHL. 

Panarin’s slow offensive start to kick off the season has been a wide point of conversation among the Rangers’ community, especially given his current contract situation. 

Mike Sullivan is not worried about Panarin’s production though, as he knows players of his caliber usually find ways to turn things around. 

“I think it's probably a little bit of both,” Sullivan said on if Panarin’s struggles are due to goaltenders playing well or if something is not clicking for Panarin. “He's definitely getting some looks. I think when he gets underneath people, and he gets inside the dots, he's really dangerous. 

“My experience in coaching players of his caliber is sometimes as coaches, we just have to be careful we don’t get in the way there. So we're trying to give him a lot of latitude with his offensive game. We share our observations with him, but obviously, those types of players, what makes them unique is they tend to think the game differently than others, and that's part of what makes them who they are. I've always been a strong believer that, I try not to get in the way of that process. So he's at his best place and in that instinctive mindset, and he's trusted his instincts, and we're trying to encourage that.”

How does Panarin’s slow start directly impact his contract negotiations with the Rangers?

According to NHL insider Pierre LeBrun, the Rangers are in no rush to strike a deal, with the team taking a patient approach. 

“But for the moment, my sense of the situation is that it’s very early in the season under new head coach Mike Sullivan, the Rangers want to see how things go and therefore are not in a hurry to get going more seriously on talks to extend the pending UFA winger,” Lebrun wrote.

The longer these negotiations drag out, the more pressure it puts on Panarin if his offensive skid continues. 

K'Andre Miller Opens Up About The Highs And Lows Of Playing For The Rangers K'Andre Miller Opens Up About The Highs And Lows Of Playing For The Rangers K’Andre Miller returned to Madison Square Garden for the first time since being traded from the New York <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers">Rangers</a> to the Carolina Hurricanes over the summer.&nbsp;

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that the Rangers wanted Panarin to take a team-friendly deal during the summer, but the two sides were unable to agree. 

“I understand, at some point in the off-season, the Rangers had that kind of conceptual conversation with Panarin: ‘Is there a way you could do for the Rangers what Kopitar did for the Kings?’” Friedman said. “Obviously, at this point and time, it hasn’t happened. I don’t know where that’s going to go, I don’t know if that’s going to be a possibility, but I do know the two sides had the conversation and, obviously, at this point, Panarin is unsigned.”

It’s still early on in the season, so there’s no need to push the panic button on Panarin just yet, but his play on top of his contract dilemma is both worth keeping an eye out for.

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Golden Knights Partner With Buffalo Wild Wings

The Golden Knights have announced a proud partnership with Buffalo Wild Wings. 

As part of the collaboration, Buffalo Wild Wings will be prominently featured with an on-ice logo at T-Mobile Arena. 

The restaurant chain also steps into a key community role as the Presenting Sponsor of the VGK High School Hockey League, reinforcing its commitment to supporting youth sports in Southern Nevada.

Golden Knights Ignite High School Hockey In The DesertGolden Knights Ignite High School Hockey In The DesertThe <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vegas-golden-knights">Golden Knights</a> are responsible for the widespread attention to hockey in the Las Vegas desert, a place where the sport was once considered unlikely to thrive.

“Partnering with Buffalo Wild Wings is a natural fit for the Vegas Golden Knights,” said John Penhollow, President of Business Operations of the Golden Knights. 

“Their passion for bringing fans together over great food and live sports aligns perfectly with our mission to build community through hockey. Whether it’s celebrating a big win or supporting local youth hockey through the VGK High School Hockey League, this partnership gives our fans more ways to connect with the team they love.”

Fans can enjoy six free wings (boneless or traditional) with a $10 purchase at one of ten participating Buffalo Wild Wings locations in the Las Vegas area, valid two days after any Golden Knights win, home or away.

“This collaboration provides the perfect opportunity to bring fans closer to the team they love and offer an exciting way to celebrate every Knights win,” said Phil Albanese, Senior Vice President of Company Operations at Buffalo Wild Wings. “We're excited for the season ahead and look forward to cheering on the Knights over great food and wings."

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Expect Hughes To Dominate, Reichel Gets Revenge Against Former Team in Clash With Blackhawks

Five exciting NHL matchups are on the slate, promising fast-paced action, thrilling finishes, and plenty of highlight-reel moments on Wednesday. One of the night’s most compelling games features the young Chicago Blackhawks taking on the Vancouver Canucks, with former Blackhawks 2020 first-round pick Lukas Reichel facing his old team.

This matchup offers plenty of intrigue for fans and bettors alike, with the potential for high-scoring plays and standout individual performances. We’re aiming to build on our early-season momentum after a perfect 3-0 night Tuesday, when all three of our Stars-Oilers picks were correct, while continuing the success of last year’s player prop selections, which included winners like Mitch Marner, Mark Scheifele, Wyatt Johnston, Rasmus Dahlin, Teuvo Teravainen and Connor Hellebuyck.

All betting lines are from BetMGM Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly. 

Sign up with BetMGM, make a deposit, and place your first wager on any game using your First Bet Offer token. If that bet with the token applied loses, you’ll get your original stake paid back in Bonus Bets, up to $1,500! Get in the game today with BetMGM.

Mammoth Set To Push Maple Leafs in Wild Scoring FrenzyMammoth Set To Push Maple Leafs in Wild Scoring FrenzyThe Red-hot Utah Mammoth challenge Toronto's high-powered offense in a potential goal-scoring explosion.

Vancouver Canucks vs Chicago Blackhawks Best Bets

Canucks ML (-169)

Lukas Reichel Over 0.5 Points (+155)

Quinn Hughes Over 0.5 Assists (-154)

Canucks Over 3.5 Goals (-105)

Vancouver has dominated Chicago in recent history, winning 11 straight matchups against the Blackhawks. Chicago’s last victory in this series came in November 2021, when they narrowly edged the Canucks in a 1-0 win. Overall, Vancouver commands a 20-2-1 record in their last 23 games against Chicago.

Wednesday’s game carries added intrigue as a “revenge” story for Lukas Reichel. Once regarded as a potential star in Chicago, Reichel has long been linked to trade rumors due to frustration with the organization. 

Struggling to secure a consistent spot in the Blackhawks’ lineup, he was traded to Vancouver, where he now gets a second chance. In Vancouver, he’s playing second-line minutes alongside experienced wingers like Jake DeBrusk and Brock Boeser. Despite a hot start to the season in Chicago, recording four points in his first six games, Reichel has yet to tally a point in six outings with the Canucks. He may finally find his footing against his former team, especially with Chicago’s defense showing signs of vulnerability.

The Blackhawks began the season solidly, posting a 4-2-2 record in their first eight games. However, they’ve struggled recently, going 1-3-1 while allowing 18 goals over their last five contests. Their offense has stalled, producing just 14 goals in that stretch, seven of which came in a single 7-3 win over the Ottawa Senators last Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Canucks have dealt with significant injury issues, with key players Nils Höglander, Filip Chytil, Connor Garland, and Teddy Blueger all sidelined. This has contributed to inconsistency, as seen in their 5-4 overtime win over the Nashville Predators on Monday. Vancouver gave up two late goals to tie the game on the road but quickly regained momentum with a game-winning goal from Brock Boeser in overtime. The Canucks have alternated wins and losses in each of their last six games, and a win on Wednesday would not only break that cycle but also give a boost to their playoff push.

Canucks captain Quinn Hughes returned from a four-game absence on Monday but did not record a point. Hughes has historically excelled against Chicago, tallying points in six straight games versus the Blackhawks, totaling ten points over his last 11 games against them. He could be primed for a bounce-back performance in this matchup and help Reichel get on the board in the process. 

Are The Pittsburgh Penguins For Real?Are The Pittsburgh Penguins For Real?Crosby and Malkin are revitalized, leading league-leading Penguins. Can this aging core sustain a Stanley Cup push with solid goaltending and surprisingly deep support?Image

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Lakers guard Austin Reaves to miss game tonight vs. Spurs

Los Angeles, CA - November 02: Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) dribbles against Miami Heat guard Davion Mitchell (45) during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Crypto.com Arena on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
Lakers guard Austin Reaves, bringing the ball upcourt against Heat guard Davion Mitchell on Sunday, will miss a second consecutive game Wednesday night. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)

Guard Austin Reaves will miss a second consecutive game because of right groin soreness, the Lakers announced Wednesday, since he will be sidelined for the game against the San Antonio Spurs.

Reaves started to feel discomfort in the first quarter of the team’s win over Miami on Sunday, coach JJ Redick said Monday, and sat out of the second game of back-to-back nights in Portland. He was a full participant in the team’s shootaround Wednesday morning, even joining star guard Luka Doncic, forward Maxi Kleber and staff members in a half-court shooting competition.

Reaves is averaging 31.1 points per game with a team-leading 9.3 assists. Doncic, who missed the Portland game while managing a left leg contusion, will be available Wednesday as the team hosts the Spurs and star center Victor Wembanyama.

The French superstar is averaging 26.7 points, 13.7 rebounds and 4.7 blocks per game in his third year in the NBA. The still-growing 7-foot-4, 21-year-old has turned heads with his unique combination of perimeter skill, shooting and defense that Lakers center Deandre Ayton compared to the Space Jam villians “The Monstars” on Wednesday morning.

“He’s unbelievable,” Ayton said. “He’s truly a once in a generational player. And he can do everything. A dude his size so nimble and so fast and quick with or without the ball. It takes a whole team to guard him.”

The Lakers will have center Jaxson Hayes to help. Hayes was listed as probable on the initial injury report with a right ankle sprain, but was upgraded to available after the shootaround.

LeBron James (right sciatica), Adou Thiero (left knee surgery recovery), Gabe Vincent (left ankle sprain) and Kleber (abdominal muscle strain) remain out.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Hoskins, Quintana to become free agents after Brewers decline 2026 options

MILWAUKEE (AP) — First baseman Rhys Hoskins and left-hander José Quintana are heading to free agency after the Milwaukee Brewers declined their 2026 mutual options on Tuesday.

Milwaukee declined an $18 million option on Hoskins, who receives a $4 million buyout that completes a $34 million, two-year contract. Quintana had a $15 million mutual option and receives a $2 million buyout.

Milwaukee also declined a $12 million club option on two-time All-Star catcher William Contreras, who gets a $100,000 buyout. Contreras would be eligible for arbitration if he is tendered a 2026 contract by the Nov. 21 deadline. He is on track to be eligible for free agency after the 2027 season.

Hoskins, 32, batted .237 with a .332 on-base percentage, 12 homers and 43 RBIs in 90 games this season after exercising his $18 million player option for 2025.. He missed two months with a sprained left thumb, got moved to a bench role upon his return and was left off the Brewers’ postseason roster.

Quintana, 36, went 11-7 with a 3.96 ERA in 24 starts this season. He gave up three runs over five innings in two postseason appearances.

Contreras, 27, hit .260 with a .355 on-base percentage, 17 homers and 76 RBIs in 150 games while dealing with a fractured left middle finger for much of the season.