Former Hawaii teammates and quarterbacks Timmy Chang, Nick Rolovich are set to square off when Hawaii and California play in the Hawaii Bowl.
21 AHL Graduates Made NHL Debuts In November
21 AHL Graduates made their NHL debuts in November 2025, brining the total to 39 for the 2024-25 season.
The 21 players are:
- Taylor Makar (F) - Colorado Avalanche
- Tristen Nielsen (F) - Colorado Avalanche
- Jaroslav Chmelar (F) - New York Rangers
- Nate Danielson (F) - Detroit Red Wings
- Sergei Murashov (G) - Pittsburgh Penguins
- Braedon Bowman (F) - Vegas Golden Knights
- Hunter Skinner (D) - St. Louis Blues
- Shane Lachance (F) - New Jersey Devils
- Jared Davidson (F) - Montreal Canadiens
- Jack Devine (F) - Florida Panthers
- Oscar Fisker-Molgaard (F) - Seattle Kraken
- Stephen Halliday (F) - Ottawa Senators
- Connor Clattenburg (F) - Edmonton Oilers
- Florian Xhekaj (F) - Montreal Canadiens
- Luca Pinelli - Columbus Blue Jackets
- Tristan Broz (F) - Pittsburgh Penguins
- Elias Salomonsson (D) - Winnipeg Jets
- Adam Engstrom (D) - Montreal Canadiens
- Travis Mitchell (D) - New York Islanders
- Thomas Milic (G) - Winnipeg Jets
- Reid Schaefer (F) - Nashville Predators
Halliday, Clattenburg, Xhekaj, Fisker-Molgaard, Bowman, Danielson, and Nielsen all recorded their first career NHL points.
Murashov made four appearances in net while Milic made his first career appearance.
NBA Minutes Report: How injuries to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Steph Curry impact playing time
Welcome to the Fantasy Basketball Minutes Report. Every week, I will review each team's updated minutes per game to see which players are seeing the court more or less than in previous weeks. With this information in hand, I'll try to discuss any relevant fantasy risers or fallers; players who we should be adding off waivers or removing from our teams.
The charts below are also great for exploring on your own. You can track the minutes over the last three, five, and ten games, and for the entire season, to see which trends stand out to you.
All of this data was made accessible by Kyle Bland, who is incredibly talented and also incredibly generous, so make sure to give him a follow to check out all of his baseball data as well.
Atlanta Hawks
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Jalen Johnson | 41.4 | 37.9 | 38 |
| Onyeka Okongwu | 39 | 34 | 33.4 |
| Dyson Daniels | 38.8 | 37 | 35.6 |
| Nickeil Alexander-Walker | 36.8 | 35.5 | 35.7 |
| Zaccharie Risacher | 28.3 | 28.3 | 25.8 |
| Mouhamed Gueye | 22.8 | 21.9 | 18.9 |
| Vít Krejčí | 21.5 | 20 | 24.7 |
| Luke Kennard | 17.5 | 16.7 | 16.9 |
| Kristaps Porziņģis | — | 21.8 | 28 |
Kristaps Porzingis has been battling an illness and has missed four straight games, so we have to hope everything is alright. Trae Young (knee) remains out and will be re-evaluated later this week. In his absence, Nickeil Alexander-Walker has been tremendous, averaging 23.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists over his last eight games. That's a top-50 value in fantasy basketball leagues. Jalen Johnson is dealing with a bit of a calf injury of his own, but he's been one of the best players in the league so far this year.
Boston Celtics
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Jaylen Brown | 39 | 37.7 | 35.1 |
| Derrick White | 37 | 35.4 | 34.1 |
| Payton Pritchard | 30.6 | 32 | 32.5 |
| Sam Hauser | 27.9 | 25.7 | 21.5 |
| Jordan Walsh | 25.6 | 25.9 | 24.5 |
| Neemias Queta | 24.9 | 18.6 | 23.7 |
| Anfernee Simons | 22.8 | 20.5 | 22.1 |
| Josh Minott | 18.6 | 18.9 | 16.3 |
The Celtics' rotation has been pretty consistent for much of the season. The end-of-rotation minutes between Neemias Queta and Josh Minott fluctuate a little bit, and only three players (Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard) have consistent fantasy value.
Brooklyn Nets
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Michael Porter Jr. | 34.8 | 32.4 | 33.8 |
| Nic Claxton | 31.2 | 31.5 | 31.8 |
| Noah Clowney | 28.5 | 31.9 | 31.4 |
| Egor Dëmin | 25.8 | 27.5 | 25.4 |
| Danny Wolf | 24.7 | 21.7 | 17.8 |
| Ziaire Williams | 21.3 | 23.4 | 25.7 |
| Tyrese Martin | 21.3 | 21.6 | 22 |
| Terance Mann | 21.1 | 25.3 | 26.7 |
| Ben Saraf | 20.8 | 20.8 | 20.8 |
Cam Thomas remains out until the middle of December, and Terance Mann has been dealing with a rib injury, which has caused him to miss the last two games. That has allowed Danny Wolf to enter the rotation, where he has fluctuated between good and bad games. Noah Clowney has been playing better of late, averaging 18.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.0 assists over his last seven games. Aside from his recent stretch and the consistent production from Michael Porter Jr. and Nic Claxton, there hasn't been much to be excited about for the Nets.
Charlotte Hornets
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Kon Knueppel | 35.2 | 33.4 | 34 |
| Miles Bridges | 33.4 | 33.9 | 33.9 |
| Sion James | 29.7 | 27 | 26.3 |
| LaMelo Ball | 29.4 | 28.8 | 28 |
| Brandon Miller | 25.3 | 28.2 | 27.6 |
| Moussa Diabaté | 24.2 | 21.3 | 22.4 |
| Ryan Kalkbrenner | 24.1 | 26 | 24.4 |
| Tidjane Salaün | 20.3 | 20.3 | 20.3 |
| Collin Sexton | 20.2 | 20.7 | 24.5 |
Brandon Miller has missed the last two games while managing the same shoulder injury, which has led to an uptick in minutes for Sion James and allowed for Tidjane Salaün to enter the rotation in the last two games. Collin Sexton has also returned but remains set around 20 minutes per game, which caps his fantasy upside. Ryan Kalkbrenner did leave Wednesday's game with an ankle injury, so that's a situation to monitor because Moussa Diabaté had actually been more impactful of late and could be an interesting player if he gets near 30 minutes a game.
Chicago Bulls
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Ayo Dosunmu | 36.1 | 32.8 | 30 |
| Josh Giddey | 35.1 | 34.7 | 34.3 |
| Matas Buzelis | 34.1 | 30.7 | 28.2 |
| Nikola Vučević | 32.7 | 32.1 | 31.1 |
| Tre Jones | 29.4 | 28.3 | 26.2 |
| Julian Phillips | 24.4 | 16.4 | 13.7 |
| Patrick Williams | 19.5 | 19.7 | 17.9 |
| Kevin Huerter | 18.7 | 20.8 | 21.3 |
| Coby White | — | 32.2 | 30.7 |
| Jalen Smith | — | 21.9 | 19.1 |
| Isaac Okoro | — | — | 25.7 |
Kevin Huerter went from battling through a pelvic issue to being out with a hamstring injury. Isaac Okoro has also missed the last six games with a back injury, Jalen Smith has missed three games with a hamstring injury, Tre Jones missed a game with an ankle injury, and Coby White has missed the last three games with a calf injury. That has allowed Julian Phillips to enter the rotation and allowed Matas Buzelis to be counted on for a larger role. He's averaging 12.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.5 blocks over his last four games. All of Smith, White, Jones, and Okoro could be back this weekend, so this is a situation in flux.
Cleveland Cavaliers
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Donovan Mitchell | 35.9 | 35.3 | 34.6 |
| Evan Mobley | 33.9 | 33.3 | 34.3 |
| Jaylon Tyson | 32.6 | 30.6 | 29 |
| Darius Garland | 30.3 | 31.2 | 29.9 |
| De'Andre Hunter | 28.2 | 29.2 | 29.2 |
| Lonzo Ball | 24 | 24.9 | 24.3 |
| Nae'Qwan Tomlin | 21.7 | 21.6 | 19.1 |
| Dean Wade | 20.5 | 20.1 | 22.4 |
| Jarrett Allen | — | 28 | 26.8 |
| Larry Nance Jr. | — | 14 | 12.9 |
| Sam Merrill | — | — | 27.5 |
This Cavs team has been disjointed for much of the year. We know Max Strus has yet to play at all this season, and Darius Garland has been in and out of the lineup. Now, Jarrett Allen has been sidelined with a finger injury, Larry Nance Jr. will be out until the end of the month with a right calf strain, and Sam Merrill has missed eight games with a hand injury. Jaylon Tyson continues to remain a key part of the rotation, but also Garland, Donovan Mitchell, and Evan Mobley can be counted on for fantasy value.
Dallas Mavericks
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Naji Marshall | 35 | 30.3 | 28.9 |
| Cooper Flagg | 34.2 | 34.4 | 33.5 |
| Anthony Davis | 30.3 | 29.6 | 29.6 |
| Ryan Nembhard | 29.9 | 25.9 | 25.9 |
| Max Christie | 27.2 | 27.8 | 27.7 |
| Klay Thompson | 25.2 | 23.1 | 22.9 |
| Dwight Powell | 18.3 | 13.3 | 12.3 |
| Brandon Williams | 17.6 | 19.6 | 23.3 |
| D'Angelo Russell | 16.7 | 14.4 | 18.7 |
| P.J. Washington | — | 34.8 | 33.7 |
| Dereck Lively II | — | — | 15.8 |
It seems that the Mavericks have found their point guard, with Ryan Nembhard averaging 17.0 points, 7.5 assists, and 2.8 rebounds over his last four games. That has also coincided with D'Angelo Russell continuing to see less playing time. Mebhard has been a top 60 player over that stretch and needs to be added in all fantasy leagues. We've also seen the Mavericks stop experimenting with Cooper Flagg as a point forward and start using him as a stretch forward next to Anthony Davis, which has been great for both of them in recent weeks. All of P.J. Washington, Dereck Lively II, and Daniel Gafford could return from their various injuries this weekend, which would mean less playing time for Naji Marshall and Dwight Powell.
Denver Nuggets
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Cameron Johnson | 35 | 35.9 | 35.3 |
| Nikola Jokić | 34.6 | 34.7 | 36 |
| Jamal Murray | 33 | 34.5 | 36.2 |
| Peyton Watson | 32.8 | 33 | 33.6 |
| Tim Hardaway Jr. | 28.4 | 28.2 | 26.7 |
| Spencer Jones | 27.8 | 24.3 | 20 |
| Bruce Brown | 24.3 | 24.1 | 24.8 |
| Jonas Valančiūnas | 12.4 | 12.7 | 12.3 |
| Aaron Gordon | — | — | 23.8 |
The Nuggets are dealing with injuries to Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun, which has shaken up the rotation a bit. Cameron Johnson and Peyton Watson are the big winners here, and I covered that in this video I recorded last week. Spencer Jones has left Wednesday's game with a knee injury, so that's a situation to monitor in the weeks ahead.
Detroit Pistons
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Cade Cunningham | 37.2 | 37.6 | 36.3 |
| Duncan Robinson | 31.9 | 32.2 | 31.9 |
| Jalen Duren | 29.1 | 29.9 | 29.4 |
| Tobias Harris | 28.6 | 28.5 | 27.4 |
| Ausar Thompson | 28.6 | 26.9 | 27.1 |
| Caris LeVert | 23.9 | 23.8 | 21.4 |
| Isaiah Stewart | 23.8 | 21.2 | 21.9 |
| Daniss Jenkins | 21.8 | 16.3 | 20.1 |
| Ronald Holland II | 19.3 | 16.2 | 18.2 |
| Jaden Ivey | 15.9 | 14.5 | 14.2 |
The Pistons are at full strength now, which has led to an extended rotation that doesn't seem sustainable.I covered that in a video this week, but I'm concerned about what this has done to Ausar Thompson's fantasy value. He's barely been a top-160 player over the last two weeks.
Golden State Warriors
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Stephen Curry | 32.8 | 31.8 | 32.5 |
| Draymond Green | 31.5 | 32.1 | 30.6 |
| Brandin Podziemski | 29.6 | 27.3 | 28.2 |
| Jimmy Butler III | 28.3 | 29.5 | 31.7 |
| Will Richard | 24.3 | 20.8 | 19.7 |
| Moses Moody | 23.9 | 25.9 | 28.4 |
| Buddy Hield | 20.1 | 19.7 | 19.4 |
| Quinten Post | 18.9 | 20.2 | 16.2 |
| Gary Payton II | 18.8 | 18.8 | 16.6 |
| Al Horford | — | 18.1 | 22.3 |
Steph Curry will be out at least another week with a quad injury, which I discussed in a video this week. Brandin Podziemski will see the biggest uptick in minutes and usage, which has led to him being a top 100 player in the small sample size since Curry has been out. Jonathan Kuminga also returned, but he has been limited to about 16 minutes in his first two games, and we should see his minutes tick up as the days go on. Gary Payton Jr. has been good in his two games with Curry out, posting 16 points, eight rebounds, and four assists, and could be worth an add in fantasy formats.
Houston Rockets
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Amen Thompson | 34.9 | 36 | 37 |
| Kevin Durant | 34 | 34 | 35.7 |
| Jabari Smith Jr. | 33.1 | 33.6 | 33.5 |
| Alperen Sengun | 32.1 | 33.1 | 34.9 |
| Reed Sheppard | 27.4 | 29.3 | 28.5 |
| Aaron Holiday | 23.2 | 25.3 | 19.1 |
| Josh Okogie | 18.4 | 21.7 | 19.6 |
| Steven Adams | 17.4 | 17.1 | 20.5 |
| Tari Eason | — | — | 15.7 |
With Tari Eason out until the middle of December and Steven Adams playing fewer minutes, it's been Reed Sheppard who has moved into a bigger role. He's also been really good over the last two weeks, posting 14.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.0 steals over his last six games, which has been good for top-75 value. He should be added in more leagues.
Indiana Pacers
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Pascal Siakam | 33.8 | 31.7 | 33.6 |
| Andrew Nembhard | 30.8 | 31.9 | 32.7 |
| Bennedict Mathurin | 29.3 | 31.2 | 31.2 |
| Jarace Walker | 23.7 | 24.2 | 24.9 |
| Jay Huff | 22.9 | 23.8 | 21.4 |
| Ben Sheppard | 19.3 | 22.8 | 24.3 |
| Isaiah Jackson | 18.3 | 18.6 | 19.6 |
| T.J. McConnell | 15.8 | 18.2 | 17.6 |
T.J. McConnell is doing a lot in limited minutes so far. Over the last two weeks, he's averaging 11.7 points, 5.1 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game in seven games. That's been good for top-100 value. Jay Huff has also snuck into fringe fantasy consideration as the primary big man in Indiana and is averaging 3.1 blocks per game over his last seven games.
Los Angeles Clippers
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Ivica Zubac | 33.8 | 35.5 | 33.9 |
| Kawhi Leonard | 31.5 | 30.2 | 29.5 |
| James Harden | 31.2 | 34.1 | 34.3 |
| John Collins | 31.2 | 32 | 29.8 |
| Kris Dunn | 26.4 | 27.9 | 26.7 |
| Nicolas Batum | 22.8 | 22.7 | 20.8 |
| Kobe Sanders | 20.7 | 18.5 | 23 |
| Cam Christie | 15.9 | 11.2 | 11.7 |
| Bogdan Bogdanović | — | — | 27.5 |
| Brook Lopez | — | — | 12 |
The Clippers have been a disaster, and things got even weirder when they sent Chris Paul home in the middle of the night on Wednesday. Right now, only James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, and Ivica Zubac are fantasy-relevant, and this whole team needs a reset in a bad way.
Los Angeles Lakers
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Austin Reaves | 38.1 | 37.9 | 35.8 |
| Luka Dončić | 35.6 | 37.1 | 36.9 |
| LeBron James | 32.6 | 33 | 32.3 |
| Rui Hachimura | 31 | 30.6 | 31.4 |
| Deandre Ayton | 30.4 | 26.2 | 28.6 |
| Gabe Vincent | 22.8 | 21.3 | 20.4 |
| Jake LaRavia | 18.3 | 17.1 | 21.6 |
| Marcus Smart | — | 18.8 | 25.6 |
Luka Dončić missed one game due to the birth of his child (congrats), and Marcus Smart has missed three games with a back injury, but things have remained remarkably consistent otherwise for the Lakers.
Memphis Grizzlies
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Jaren Jackson Jr. | 30.5 | 31.2 | 30.6 |
| Zach Edey | 30.4 | 26.3 | 25.8 |
| Cedric Coward | 29.4 | 29.8 | 27.5 |
| Jaylen Wells | 28.7 | 30.4 | 27.7 |
| Vince Williams Jr. | 25.6 | 27.1 | 26.5 |
| Santi Aldama | 22.9 | 25.2 | 26.3 |
| Cam Spencer | 22.5 | 23.1 | 23.6 |
| Kentavious Caldwell-Pope | 18 | 18.6 | 19.7 |
| Ja Morant | — | — | 6 |
Zach Edey has returned and been tremendous over his last seven games, posting 15.3 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks. He's a borderline top-50 player and is underappreciated, but not as underappreciated as his teammate, Vince Williams Jr., who has been filling in at point guard with Ja Morant out and has been a top-50 player over the last two weeks as well. The increased usage of those two and led to a smaller role for Cedric Coward, who remains talented but is no longer as involved in the offense.
Miami Heat
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Andrew Wiggins | 34.1 | 33.4 | 33.8 |
| Norman Powell | 32.5 | 31.3 | 30.1 |
| Tyler Herro | 31.6 | 31.3 | 31.3 |
| Davion Mitchell | 31.2 | 30.9 | 29.9 |
| Bam Adebayo | 31.1 | 30.2 | 30.2 |
| Jaime Jaquez Jr. | 21.3 | 23 | 27.8 |
| Kel'el Ware | 21.1 | 24.6 | 26.2 |
| Simone Fontecchio | 20.8 | 17.4 | 18.6 |
| Pelle Larsson | 18.4 | 20.9 | 24.1 |
Norman Powell missed the last game with an ankle injury, but everything else has been status quo since Tyler Herro returned. As we expected, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kel'el Ware have seen their roles reduced. Even with Herro back, Andrew Wiggins has been arguably Miami's best player, averaging 18.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game, which has made him a top-50 player in fantasy basketball.
Milwaukee Bucks
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Ryan Rollins | 33.1 | 36.3 | 34.2 |
| AJ Green | 31.3 | 33.9 | 32.4 |
| Kevin Porter Jr. | 30.2 | 30.2 | 30.2 |
| Gary Trent Jr. | 25.9 | 27.5 | 28.2 |
| Jericho Sims | 23.9 | 22.1 | 17.6 |
| Bobby Portis | 22.9 | 21.4 | 23.1 |
| Myles Turner | 22.6 | 25.9 | 28.8 |
| Kyle Kuzma | 21.2 | 24.2 | 24.6 |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | 17.9 | 20.4 | 21 |
We just found out on Thursday that Giannis Antetokounmpo will miss two to four weeks with a calf injury. It's a brutal blow for the Bucks, but we've seen what will happen when he's out. We know Kyle Kuzma and Kevin Porter Jr. are going to see an uptick in usage, while Bobby Portis will be a key member of the rotation, and Jericho Sims will likely play more minutes as a backup big man.
Minnesota Timberwolves
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Anthony Edwards | 40.2 | 40.2 | 38.1 |
| Donte DiVincenzo | 33.8 | 34 | 32.8 |
| Julius Randle | 33.6 | 34.5 | 33.7 |
| Rudy Gobert | 30.7 | 33 | 32.3 |
| Jaden McDaniels | 30.6 | 31.9 | 31.9 |
| Naz Reid | 29.9 | 27.5 | 27 |
| Mike Conley | 16 | 17.1 | 18.6 |
| Terrence Shannon Jr. | 12.4 | 12.3 | 12.3 |
I say this every week, but Minnesota has probably had the most consistent lineup and rotation of any team in basketball this season. Not much is changing here, except that Terrence Shannon Jr. is entering the fringe of the rotation.
New Orleans Pelicans
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Trey Murphy III | 40.9 | 38.5 | 35.3 |
| Saddiq Bey | 35.2 | 35.8 | 30.3 |
| Jeremiah Fears | 32.3 | 29.5 | 28.6 |
| Zion Williamson | 30.7 | 30.9 | 30.3 |
| Bryce McGowens | 28.5 | 23.3 | 20.2 |
| Jose Alvarado | 28.1 | 28.6 | 24.6 |
| Derik Queen | 27.6 | 24.5 | 26.9 |
| Micah Peavy | 27.1 | 24.5 | 20.9 |
| Jordan Hawkins | 22.2 | 18.7 | 18.1 |
| Herbert Jones | — | — | 29 |
Stop me if you've heard this before, but Zion Williamson is hurt and will be out at least three weeks with an adductor injury. I covered the repercussions of that in a video this week, but the injury is a big boost for Derik Queen and Saddiq Bey.
New York Knicks
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Jalen Brunson | 36.5 | 36.5 | 35.9 |
| Josh Hart | 35.9 | 36.3 | 34.6 |
| Miles McBride | 35.1 | 35.5 | 33.1 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | 34.5 | 34.3 | 34.7 |
| Mikal Bridges | 34.3 | 34.7 | 36.2 |
| Jordan Clarkson | 21.6 | 20.1 | 23.4 |
| Mitchell Robinson | 16.4 | 17.2 | 17.5 |
| Tyler Kolek | 14.1 | 13.6 | 14.5 |
The Knicks have moved Josh Hart back into the starting lineup, where he has thrived. With OG Anunoby nearing a return to action, the Knicks will have an interesting decision to make regarding their starting five. However, their rotation has remained consistent, and we know that everything runs through Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikail Bridges, and both Hart and Anunoby when they're healthy.
Oklahoma City Thunder
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | 35.7 | 34.8 | 32.7 |
| Jalen Williams | 32.1 | 32.1 | 32.1 |
| Chet Holmgren | 30.6 | 29.3 | 28.9 |
| Luguentz Dort | 29.1 | 27.6 | 26.8 |
| Cason Wallace | 27.2 | 28 | 27.6 |
| Alex Caruso | 24.1 | 20.1 | 16.8 |
| Ajay Mitchell | 21.8 | 22.5 | 24.9 |
| Aaron Wiggins | 21 | 21 | 21 |
| Jaylin Williams | 18.8 | 16.6 | 17.2 |
| Isaiah Joe | 18.8 | 18.5 | 22 |
| Isaiah Hartenstein | — | 25.1 | 25.4 |
The Thunder got Jalen Williams back this week, but lost Isaiah Hartenstein to an injury.I covered the Thunder rotation in a video this week, but I think we might not see how this rotation truly shakes out until next week when Hartenstein returns.
Orlando Magic
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Desmond Bane | 37.1 | 33.7 | 35.5 |
| Franz Wagner | 34.7 | 31.7 | 33.8 |
| Anthony Black | 31 | 29.7 | 29.2 |
| Jalen Suggs | 30.4 | 26.8 | 28.2 |
| Wendell Carter Jr. | 30.4 | 28.2 | 30.1 |
| Tristan da Silva | 22.4 | 21.6 | 26.8 |
| Goga Bitadze | 17.1 | 17.7 | 16.9 |
Paolo Banchero could return this weekend, which would lead to fewer minutes for Anthony Black and less usage for Franz Wagner. However, the Magic have been playing really well of late, so we need to see how things shake out when Banchero is back in the fold.
Philadelphia 76ers
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Quentin Grimes | 44.7 | 37.8 | 35.3 |
| Tyrese Maxey | 41 | 38.2 | 39 |
| Dominick Barlow | 30.1 | 28.2 | 26.4 |
| Joel Embiid | 30 | 30 | 30 |
| Jared McCain | 27.5 | 26.6 | 19.1 |
| VJ Edgecombe | 22.6 | 22.6 | 32.8 |
| Paul George | 22.4 | 21.8 | 22.2 |
| Adem Bona | 22.2 | 22.2 | 18.1 |
| Trendon Watford | — | 18.4 | 18.2 |
| Kelly Oubre Jr. | — | — | 22.9 |
The 76ers seem to be oscillating between missed games for Joel Embiid and Paul George as they look to keep the knees of both aging veterans healthy. VJ Edgecombe also missed three games with a calf injury and has had limited minutes in his return. Perhaps those minutes will tick up in the coming weeks, and it will be curious if those minutes come at the expense of Jared McCain.
Phoenix Suns
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Dillon Brooks | 33.2 | 32.9 | 32.6 |
| Collin Gillespie | 31.9 | 31.8 | 30.7 |
| Royce O'Neale | 30.4 | 31.2 | 30 |
| Devin Booker | 27.9 | 32.1 | 32.9 |
| Grayson Allen | 25.8 | 25.8 | 19 |
| Oso Ighodaro | 24.8 | 22.1 | 18.8 |
| Mark Williams | 23.6 | 25.3 | 25.7 |
| Jordan Goodwin | 21.8 | 23.2 | 24.4 |
| Ryan Dunn | 20.6 | 20.6 | 22.8 |
Devin Booker injured his groin this week and will be out up to a week.I recorded a video this week covering what the fallout of that would be, but it's good news for Collin Gillespie, who has already been a top-60 player over his last seven games and should continue to produce solid, across-the-board usage with Booker out.
Portland Trail Blazers
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Deni Avdija | 36.8 | 36.3 | 35.1 |
| Toumani Camara | 36.3 | 34.1 | 34.1 |
| Jerami Grant | 33.5 | 32.7 | 32.8 |
| Kris Murray | 30.6 | 29.3 | 28.1 |
| Shaedon Sharpe | 28.1 | 26.4 | 29 |
| Donovan Clingan | 23.3 | 25 | 25.7 |
| Sidy Cissoko | 22.7 | 22.9 | 22.7 |
| Caleb Love | 19.7 | 19.5 | 22.6 |
| Robert Williams III | 17.9 | 17.9 | 16.7 |
Jrue Holiday remains out, and Scoot Henderson will be out til the end of December, so that has led to more minutes for guys like Caleb Love. Shaedon Sharpe also returned after missing four games and has averaged 15.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.3 steals in his four games back, good for top-115 value in fantasy leagues. Donovan Clingan has also spiked some usable games but has been splitting time with Robert Williams III, who is now battling a knee injury.
Sacramento Kings
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Keegan Murray | 39.5 | 40.2 | 38.6 |
| DeMar DeRozan | 31 | 32.3 | 31.6 |
| Zach LaVine | 31 | 31.3 | 30.9 |
| Malik Monk | 28 | 26.6 | 24.4 |
| Russell Westbrook | 27 | 28.1 | 28.6 |
| Maxime Raynaud | 25.5 | 19.9 | 18.4 |
| Precious Achiuwa | 20.5 | 24.1 | 21.8 |
| Nique Clifford | 13.7 | 12.4 | 11.6 |
| Keon Ellis | 15.9 | 18.5 | 17.5 |
Domantas Sabonis will be out for around a month with a knee injury, and I covered all the repercussions of that in a video here. Maxime Raynaud has seen the biggest minutes increase and just scored 25 points on 10-of-15 from the field on Wednesday, so he could be a name to watch. Keegan Murray has also been a top-60 fantasy player since he returned from injury and could be the most reliable option on this team while Sabonis is out.
San Antonio Spurs
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Harrison Barnes | 32.3 | 32.8 | 32.3 |
| De'Aaron Fox | 30.8 | 31.9 | 32.5 |
| Devin Vassell | 30.4 | 31.5 | 32.4 |
| Julian Champagnie | 29.4 | 31.4 | 29.2 |
| Luke Kornet | 26.7 | 27.2 | 25.6 |
| Keldon Johnson | 26.3 | 24.8 | 25.3 |
| Dylan Harper | 20.8 | 18.8 | 18.8 |
| Jeremy Sochan | 16.8 | 14.7 | 17.4 |
| Victor Wembanyama | — | — | 38.2 |
| Stephon Castle | — | — | 26 |
Dylan Harper returned to a bench role, and Stephon Castle could return this weekend, so it will be interesting to see how the Spurs divide their minutes with all three guards healthy. Victor Wembanyama is still likely out for another two weeks, which means continued playing time for Luke Kornet. We've also seen Keldon Johnson provide solid value over the last two weeks, but you have to wonder if that would take a hit when Castle returns.
Toronto Raptors
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Scottie Barnes | 36.5 | 36.8 | 34.9 |
| Brandon Ingram | 35.6 | 36.4 | 34.6 |
| Immanuel Quickley | 35.5 | 34.8 | 33.4 |
| Jakob Poeltl | 29.5 | 29.3 | 28.3 |
| Ja'Kobe Walter | 22.1 | 24.6 | 19.8 |
| Sandro Mamukelashvili | 21.7 | 20.5 | 20.2 |
| Jamal Shead | 20.9 | 20.7 | 20.1 |
| Gradey Dick | 17.6 | 14.1 | 16.2 |
| RJ Barrett | — | — | 28.8 |
RJ Barrett is still dealing with a knee injury, and Jakob Poeltl has been missing games here and there to help manage his back injury, but the rest of the rotation remains pretty consistent in terms of minutes and usage.
Utah Jazz
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Lauri Markkanen | 35.5 | 35 | 35.9 |
| Keyonte George | 30.6 | 33.7 | 34.2 |
| Kyle Filipowski | 26.8 | 23.2 | 22.4 |
| Ace Bailey | 25.5 | 27.5 | 25 |
| Svi Mykhailiuk | 24.7 | 24.5 | 25 |
| Kyle Anderson | 24.6 | 24.1 | 22.7 |
| Jusuf Nurkić | 23.7 | 25.1 | 27.4 |
| Brice Sensabaugh | 20.7 | 19.1 | 18.6 |
| Isaiah Collier | 17.5 | 19.3 | 22 |
Jusuf Nurkić is dealing with a rib injury, which has led to a few more minutes for Kyle Filipowski. We also saw Kyle Anderson return, but he seems to be playing every other game at this point, which makes his role inconsistent at best.
Washington Wizards
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Alex Sarr | 32.7 | 32.8 | 31.8 |
| Kyshawn George | 30.3 | 31.7 | 32.2 |
| CJ McCollum | 29.7 | 30.6 | 31.4 |
| Bilal Coulibaly | 29.4 | 29.5 | 28.8 |
| Khris Middleton | 28.6 | 29.5 | 27.1 |
| Marvin Bagley III | 27.8 | 27.8 | 21.8 |
| Bub Carrington | 24.4 | 23.8 | 22.6 |
| Justin Champagnie | 18.1 | 19 | 14 |
| Corey Kispert | — | 30.7 | 21.1 |
| Tre Johnson | — | — | 20.9 |
Tre Johnson and Corey Kispert are still battling injuries they suffered last week, and now Bilal Coulibaly is going to miss "multiple weeks" with yet another injury. Ca, Whitmore, Bub Carrington, and Justin Champagnie should see more minutes with all three of Coulibaly, Johnson, and Kispert sidelined, but none of them have produced consistent value at this point in the season.
(12-4-25) Blues-Bruins Gameday Lineup
The St. Louis Blues are running through the gamut of injuries at the moment and will have at least one new face in the lineup when they begin a three-game road trip against the Boston Bruins on Thursday (6 p.m.; FDSNMW, ESPN 101.1-FM).
But there will be some reinforcements also as Pius Suter, who has missed the past two games with a lower-body injury, will be back in the lineup and centering a line with Dylan Holloway and Jordan Kyrou, a line that got plenty of looks during training camp and preseason.
“Suter looks really good,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said after Wednesday’s practice. “He’ll be a player for us tomorrow.”
Also Robert Thomas, who did not skate during an optional practice or Wednesday’s full practice, will be in the lineup.
“Just maintenance,” Montgomery said after Wednesday’s practice. “He’ll be a player tomorrow.”
The Blues are down three forwards (Jimmy Snuggerud, left wrist; Alexey Toropchenko, leg burns; and Nathan Walker, upper-body injury), and they’ve had to recall Aleksanteri Kaskimaki, who will make his NHL debut Thursday, and Matt Luff
- - -
Montgomery will be facing the Bruins for the first time since he was fired there on Nov. 19, 2024.
The Blues faced the Bruins twice last season but they both were among the final games Montgomery coached Boston, on Nov. 12 in St. Louis (a 3-2 Bruins win, Montgomery’s last win there) and Nov. 16 in Boston, a 3-2 Blues win in overtime.
Montgomery, who was coach of the Bruins for two-plus seasons, was part of the greatest regular-season team in NHL history when the Bruins were 65-12-5 in his first season of 2022-23 but bounced in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs by the Florida Panthers in seven games. He was fired after going 8-9-3 to begin the 2024-25 season; the Blues hired him five days later on Nov. 24.
Montgomery was 130-41-23 in his time as Bruins coach.
“Personally and professionally, it was a great time for my family,” Montgomery said. “We really enjoyed Winchester (a suburb north of Boston) where we lived. Still have tremendous friends that live in the area. Professionally, it’s a bag of mixed emotions. Some great times and some very, very disappointing times.”
- - -
Per the team, Jordan Binnington will get the start in goal on Thursday, three days after being pulled from a 4-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks in which the goalie allowed two goals on five shots and had a verbal spat with Montgomery upon being pulled from the game.
Binnington addressed the situation on Tuesday and considers the situation done and will get a shot at redemption.
- - -
Blues Projected Lineup:
Brayden Schenn-Robert Thomas-Jake Neighbours
Dylan Holloway-Pius Suter-Jordan Kyrou
Aleksanteri Kaskimaki-Dalibor Dvorsky-Pavel Buchnevich
Mathieu Joseph-Oskar Sundqvist-Nick Bjugstad
Philip Broberg-Colton Parayko
Tyler Tucker-Justin Faulk
Cam Fowler-Logan Mailloux
Jordan Binnington will start in goal; Joel Hofer will be the backup.
Healthy scratches include Matthew Kessel and Matt Luff. Jimmy Snuggerud (wrist), Alexey Toropchenko (leg burns) and Nathan Walker (upper body) are all out long-term.
- - -
Bruins Projected Lineup:
Alex Steeves-Elias Lindholm-Morgan Geekie
Casey Mittelstadt-Pavel Zacha-Viktor Arvidsson
Tanner Jeannot-Fraser Minten-Mark Kastelic
Marat Khusnutdinov-Sean Kuraly-Michael Eyssimont
Hampus Lindholm-Andrew Peeke
Nikita Zadorov-Jonathan Aspirot
Mason Lohrei-Victor Soderstrom
Joonas Korpisalo will start in goal; Jeremy Swayman will be the backup.
The healthy scratch includes Jeffrey Viel. David Pastrnak (undisclosed), Charlie McAvoy (upper body), Jordan Harris (ankle), Matej Blumel (lower body), Henri Jokiharju (undisclosed) and Michael Callahan (lower body) are all out.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
Indiana’s secret sauce? It’s much more than Curt Cignetti
Joe Root is finally a wizard in Aus after Harry Brook’s Bazball scarecrow act | Barney Ronay
A tale of two Yorkshiremen, one keeping England in the series, the other batting without a brain
In the end even the celebration was perfect, out there under that strange deep-blue southern sky, in the frenzy of the game-state – manic Baz energy, England’s lower order scything away death cult-style at the other end, the way even the grass seems lacquered and glazed by the lights.
So yeah. All that stuff. In the middle of this Joe Root guided the ball away through fine leg to complete his first Test hundred in Australia, then marked it with a gentle smile and a wave of the bat, no fist-punching, no monkeys off backs, no angsty and pointed messaging.
Continue reading...Game Day: Everything you need to know ahead of Nashville Predators game at Florida Panthers
Can the Nashville Predators rattle off back-to-back wins for just the third time this season?
That is the task at hand as they travel to Sunrise to face the Florida Panthers on Thursday at 6 p.m. CST.
The Predators have seemingly begun to turn things around, winning three of their last four, including a 5-1 victory over the Calgary Flames at home on Tuesday. However, Nashville has not defeated Florida since the 2023-24 season.
Here is everything you need to know ahead of tonight's game.
Game info
Who: Nashville Predators (9-13-4, 8th Central) at Florida Panthers (12-12-1, 8th Atlantic)
When: 6 p.m. CST
Where: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, Florida
TV: FanDuel Sports Network South
Radio: 102.5 The Game
Line (via BetMGM): Predators (+1.5) Panthers (-1.5). Over/under 6 (-115/-105)
Future on display
A pair of Predators rookies has milestone performances in the win over the Flames. In just his third NHL game, Reid Schaefer scored his first career goal and recorded his first career fight.
Not long after that, after 23 games played, Ozzy Weisblatt scored his first career goal and recorded the second fight of his career. After scoring the goal, Weisblatt paid homage to his late brother, Orca, by pointing to the sky in his celebration.
Weisblatt and Schaefer aren't the only rookies to have scored the first goals of their careers this season. Matthew Wood netted his first NHL goal against the Flyers on Oct. 30. He has 11 points (seven goals, four assists) on the season.
Stammer beginning to heat up
After a slow start to the season, Steven Stamkos is slowly beginning to find his mojo.
He has five points in the last four games, which included multi-point performances in wins over the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks. Stamkos has not had back-to-back multi-point performances since March 8.
Stamkos' goal against the Flames was also the 1200th point of his career, which averages out to about a point per game over the 1190 games he's played in his 18 seasons in the league.
Seeing Stamkos beginning to find a rhythm is huge, as it could be the shove the Predators need to finally get their offense going. He had seven points through 13 games played in November, but four of those points have come in the last nine days.
Cat scratched
The Predators have not beaten the Panthers in 623 days, a 3-0 victory that extended Nashville's point streak to 16 games. It was a very different time.
Their last meeting, an 8-3 loss on Nov. 24 in Nashville, was the Predators' worst loss of the season and the biggest blowout since losing to the New Jersey Devils, 5-0, on Feb. 23, 2025.
It was a game with a lot of offense, seeing six combined goals in the first period, that the Predators lost control of. The Panthers took a 5-2 lead into the third period before Nick Blankenburg scored in the first two and a half minutes to make it a two-goal game.
The wheels fell off for Nashville as Florida scored three unanswered goals to push the game way out of reach. Six Panthers players had two goals or more.
Things have not been ideal for the defending Stanley Cup champions either, as they have lost three straight and are in last place in the Atlantic Division. However, nine points separate first from last place in the Atlantic and Florida is only six points out of a Wild Card spot.
Meanwhile, Nashville is 22 points behind Central Division leader, Colorado, and is seven points outside of a Wild Card spot.
Inactive players
Nashville: Cole Smith (upper body, injured reserve), Zach L'Heureux (lower body, injured reserve), Nick Perbix (upper body, day-to-day), Justin Barron (lower body, day-to-day), Michael McCarron (lower body, day-to-day)
Florida: Matthew Tkachuk (groin, injured reserve), Aleksander Barkov (knee, injured reserve), Dmitry Kulikov (upper body, injured reserve), Jonah Gadjovich (upper body, injured reserve), Eetu Luostarinen (lower body, week to week), Tomas Nosek (knee, injured reserve), Cole Schwindt (arm, injured reserve)
Lightning sign Ryan McDonagh to a 3-year, $12.3M contract extension
Nov 6, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh (27) warms up before a game against the Vegas Golden Knighs at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Stephen R. Sylvanie/Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Lightning signed veteran defenseman Ryan McDonagh to a three-year extension worth $12.3 million.
General manager Julien BriseBois announced the deal. McDonagh will be 37 when the new contract kicks in that counts $4.1 million against the salary cap through the 2028-29 NHL season.
McDonagh helped the Lightning win the Stanley Cup back to back in 2020 and ’21 and reach the final in ’22 before losing in six games to Colorado.
They traded him to Nashville that summer to clear cap space at a time
Record cap increases will have McDonagh account for less than 4% of the cap each of the next three years.
McDonagh currently is injured, one of several players Tampa Bay has been missing, along with No. 1 defenseman Victor Hedman. The team has still won 16 of 26 games and leads the Atlantic Division.
Draymond Green ruled out of Warriors vs. 76ers after sustained right foot injury
Draymond Green ruled out of Warriors vs. 76ers after sustained right foot injury originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The Warriors’ big three all now are dealing with leg injuries.
Draymond Green injured his right foot late in the first half of the Warriors’ game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday and was ruled out for the remainder of the game.
Green sustained the injury with just under five minutes remaining in the first half when 76ers forward Dominick Barlow rolled onto the Warriors forward’s leg.
Green limped to the Warriors’ locker room and when the second half began, center Trayce Jackson-Davis replaced him in the lineup.
The 35-year-old finished with three points, three rebounds and was a minus-10 in nine first-half minutes.
The Warriors already are without Steph Curry (quad contusion) and Jimmy Butler (knee soreness), and now they might not have Green for a game or two.
Curry already has been ruled out for the entire three-game road trip, while Butler’s injury isn’t expected to be too serious.
But now Green might not be available when the Warriors take on the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday.
Giannis Antetokounmpo sidelined by calf strain: How much time he'll miss and the fantasy impact
Mere hours after it was reported that he and his agent were meeting with the Bucks to discuss his future with the franchise, which head coach Doc Rivers denied, Milwaukee Bucks star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo suffered a non-contact lower-body injury during the first quarter of Wednesday's win over the Pistons. He would exit immediately, and given injuries to the likes of Boston's Jayson Tatum and Indiana's Tyrese Haliburton, one would not be blamed for fearing the worst.
The Bucks' official announcement on Wednesday was that Giannis suffered a strained right calf, and Rivers said after the game that an Achilles tendon injury had been ruled out after a preliminary MRI. On Thursday, ESPN's Shams Charania reported that the calf strain was expected to sideline the star forward for approximately two to four weeks. While the trade rumor mill will continue to churn, fantasy managers need to figure out how they're going to compensate for Antetokounmpo's absence.
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to be sidelined for approximately 2 to 4 weeks with a right calf strain, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/k5TyjEo6Eh
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 4, 2025
Who will replace Antetokounmpo in the starting lineup?
This is an interesting question. Based on production, one would assume that Kyle Kuzma (21 percent) is first in line to fill the void, with Bobby Portis (27 percent) being another possibility. However, it was Jericho Sims (one percent) who started the second half of Wednesday's game, and he had his best game of the season.
In 30 minutes, Sims did not miss a shot, scoring 15 points (7-of-7 FGs, 1-of-1 FTs) to go along with 14 rebounds and one assist. The double-double was his first since the 2022-23 season as a member of the New York Knicks, so the question will be whether he can sustain that production if allowed to start. Kuzma and Portis are safer streaming options with Giannis unavailable, but deep-league managers should not overlook Sims.
Who else is impacted by Antetokounmpo’s absence?
He's the unquestioned focal point of the Bucks' offense, and Giannis' athleticism is impactful defensively as well. His absence will impact everyone in the rotation. Kevin Porter Jr. (47 percent) and Ryan Rollins (57 percent) will have added fantasy value out of necessity due to their ability to create offense for themselves and their teammates. While these two are off the board in deeper leagues, managers in 12-team formats will want to make sure Porter and Rollins aren't sitting on their league's waiver wire.
Another player to watch is Myles Turner (97 percent), especially if Rivers decides to move Sims into the starting lineup rather than a forward. While he hasn't been an elite rebounder, Turner would likely lose out on boards if Sims starts; he grabbed three in 20 minutes against the Pistons on Wednesday (foul trouble was also a factor). According to the NBA's data, the Turner/Sims partnership has produced a net rating of minus-17.0 in 42 minutes played over nine games.
While the defensive rebounding was good, with the Bucks grabbing 82.2 percent of opponents' missed shots, the offensive rating (97.8) was poor. While we may see them paired up for longer stretches with Giannis out, it may not be the default lineup used.
Further down the list, AJ Green (16 percent) and Gary Trent Jr. (five percent) will have opportunities to contribute more, with the former already in the starting lineup. How will Antetokounmpo's absence impact the quality of Green's shots? And can he do enough to create a few more looks on his own? He has provided solid late-round value this season, but a boost to Green's offensive production is obviously not guaranteed.
South Africa’s Eben Etzebeth handed 12-match ban for eye-gouging against Wales
Lock sent off in Cardiff during Springboks’ 73-0 win
Suspension covers matches until end of March
South Africa’s Eben Etzebeth has been suspended for 12 matches for eye-gouging against Wales last weekend.
The suspension covers matches for the Durban-based Sharks starting from this weekend to the end of March. The Sharks deregistered Etzebeth this week in anticipation of a lengthy ban.
Continue reading...Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo reportedly out for two to four weeks with calf strain
Milwaukee Bucks star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to miss around two to four weeks with a right calf strain, according to an ESPN report.
Related: The Clippers’ chaotic unravelling leaves Chris Paul as its most painful casualty
The injury occurred less than three minutes into Wednesday night’s win over the Detroit Pistons. Antetokounmpo collapsed without contact as he tried to get back on defense and immediately reached for his lower right leg.
Teammates helped him to his feet, and he walked gingerly to the bench before heading to the locker room.
Bucks coach Doc Rivers said after the game that preliminary imaging ruled out an achilles injury, easing initial concerns.
Antetokounmpo, who turns 31 on Saturday, recently missed four games with a left groin strain but had played Milwaukee’s previous three contests.
The setback came hours after ESPN reported that Antetokounmpo is weighing his future with the Bucks. Charania reported that he and his agent, Alex Saratsis, have been in dialogue with the team about whether Milwaukee remains the ideal long-term fit for the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player.
Rivers, speaking before tipoff, dismissed that characterization, saying there had been “no conversations” of that nature and insisting that Antetokounmpo “loves Milwaukee and he loves the Bucks”.
Blues Are Happy With Philip Broberg; Haven't Started Contract Negations
Philip Broberg is set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the 2025-26 season, and he's once again having a solid campaign. Despite that, the St. Louis Blues have not begun contract negotiations.
Teammates and coaches rave about the play of their 24-year-old defenseman, but a recent report from The Athletic suggests that the Blues are willing to take their time in extension talks.
Through 27 games this season, Broberg has notched two goals and 10 points, but the value he brings at both ends of the ice is where he shines. Despite standing 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, Broberg is an excellent skater who utilizes his feet to help him defend and jump into the play. His foot speed allows him to start transition offense and make efficient first passes. He can then jump into the rush and create offense.
Defensively, his skating allows him to defend top-end players off the rush, and his size allows him to win puck battles and protect the front of his net. Broberg has developed into a workhorse, all-around defenseman and the Blues are taking notice.
“He’s been incredible for us this year,” coach Jim Montgomery said. “If our record was better, I think people would be talking about him a lot more in the league. If we were playing really good hockey, he would be talked about in the league a lot more. He has been a tremendous hockey player from the start of the year.”
Broberg has been the Blues' best defenseman this season, both by the eye test and analytically. According to Natural Stat Trick, Broberg has been on the ice for 21 Blues goals at 5-on-5 and 19 goals by their opponents. He has the second-highest goals for percentage on the team, trailing just Robert Thomas.
Montgomery is of the belief that those numbers could and should be higher for Broberg.
“But with a little more finishing touch, or a little bit better puck luck, he might have eight goals already,” Montgomery said. “Then you’re really talking about him as an offensive defenseman.”
With all that being said, GM Doug Armstrong has previously illustrated that there is no rush with his contract negotiations, and the team is still demonstrating patience in December.
“There’s no rush with that,” Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said in October, referring to contract talks with both Broberg and Holloway. “We’re going to try and get them signed as quick as we can. If not, they’re restricted free agents. We’ll make sure that we leave enough space available to get those guys signed. The cap’s going up. It’s nice to know, with (other) guys signed, what we can do moving forward. And we can always create space.”
Although patience can pay off, with a young, blossoming defenseman, patience may mean they have to pay him more. He's averaging nearly three minutes more of ice time this season and leads the Blues in average ice time with 23:15.
Thomas Harley signed an eight-year, $10.587-million contract earlier this season with the Dallas Stars, and other defenseman Broberg has been compared with have all eclipsed $8 million. The Blues will likely have to hand out a hefty contract to Broberg, but so far, he's showing he's deserving of it.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
Zack Minasian responds to report of Giants not matching Tatsuya Imai's price
Zack Minasian responds to report of Giants not matching Tatsuya Imai's price originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Giants general manager Zack Minasian, on Thursday, was given a chance to respond to reporting from The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly that San Francisco isn’t expected to match the bidding for Japanese star pitcher Tatsuya Imai.
Although MLB tampering rules don’t allow Minasian to comment about specific free agents, the San Francisco GM appeared on KNBR’s “Murph and Markus” and provided some insight into the front office’s free agency approach.
“I think it’s obviously very well-known — our activity on other players who have come over from those countries, and we’re going to continue to be active with players who have a chance to make the team better,” Minasian explained. “Now, I think it’s on us as a front office to make good decisions, and we’re going to continue to push ourselves to do that.”
The Giants are willing and able to sign international stars. In 2024, San Francisco signed KBO star Jung Hoo Lee to a six-year, $113 million contract.
“We have an ownership group that’s always been extremely supportive,” Minasian noted. “I think a lot of those things as far as contract-wise, payroll-wise; it’s always been player specific. And that’s, as a baseball operations group, we have to take that responsibility of any particular player we’re signing – is this a good decision or not?
“So, continuing to go through that and feel those things out, but continuing to look at really all avenues of continuing to bring in talent.”
While Minasian’s comments do not indicate that the Giants are closed off to signing an international star like Imai, it appears that they will be very thorough in weighing his talent against other available options this offseason.
Blackhawks Vs Kings: Projected Lineup, How To Watch, & More Ahead Of Game 27
The Chicago Blackhawks are taking on the Los Angeles Kings for the second time this season. The first was a 3-1 victory for LA at the United Center on October 26th. Both teams have come a long way since then.
The Blackhawks dropped their most recent game in a shootout to the Vegas Golden Knights, but this game against the Kings is their chance to make it a three-game point streak.
The Blackhawks are one point (28) below the playoff line with a record of 11-9-6. Los Angeles is in third place in the Pacific Division with a 12-7-7 record for 31 points. It is tight on the bubble in both Western Conference divisions.
Scouting Los Angeles
The Los Angeles Kings have been one of the best teams in the Western Conference over the last handful of years, but they haven’t won a playoff series since winning the Stanley Cup in 2014. Like the Blackhawks, they want to end this type of drought soon.
LA has lost to the Edmonton Oilers in the first round in each of the last four seasons. This year is all about finding a way to get it done, no matter who is in their way. That includes the Blackhawks on Thursday night.
Moore - Kopitar - Kempe
Fiala - Byfield - Armia
Kuzmenko - Danault - Laferriere
Malott - Turcotte - Perry
Anderson - Edmundson
Dumoulin - Clarke
Moverare - Ceci
Kuemper
Forsberg
Everything to do with the Los Angeles Kings is centered around their captain, Anze Kopitar. He has been their franchise player for his entire career, which is coming to an end with the conclusion of this season.
Adrian Kempe, Quinton Byfield, and Kevin Fiala all have the ceiling of stars in the NHL and can make a difference in any game. Their depth is great, led by former Blackhawks center Philipp Danault, who is one of the best checking centers you’ll find.
Future Hall of Famer Drew Doughty is injured, which leaves a hole in Los Angeles’ defense, but this group has mostly gotten the job done this year.
In goal, Darcy Kuemper is their main guy, and he’s been excellent during his entire tenure there. He has a Stanley Cup ring as a starter, so there is plenty of pedigree in his game. Former Hawk Anton Forsberg serves as a decent enough backup.
Projected Lines, Defense Pairs, & Goalie For Chicago
The Chicago Blackhawks have been running with an 11/7 lineup almost all season long. Their 11 forwards have undergone some changes in lines, with certain players coming in and out of the lineup, but their defense has remained mostly the same, consisting of the same 7.
Greene-Bedard-Burakovsky
Moore-Nazar-Bertuzzi
Teravainen-Dickinson-Mikheyev
Dach-Donato
Vlasic-Crevier
Kaiser-Levshunov
Grzelcyk-Murphy
Rinzel
Knight
To say Connor Bedard has been elite this season would be an understatement. He is amongst the league’s leading scorers, and he makes an impact every single day. Having a superstar at the top of the lineup will keep any team in most games, and that has been the case for Chicago with Bedard.
Multiple forwards will make up for the empty spot on the fourth line, including Bedard. This allows the defenders to be much fresher, as most of them are early in their careers.
Expect Spencer Knight to be the starter in this one. With the Kings being a playoff-caliber team and no back-to-back situations, it makes more sense to go with the number one goalie.
How To Watch
The game can be heard locally on AM 720 WGN in the Chicagoland area. To view this game, it can be streamed on ESPN+ and Hulu. The puck will drop shortly after 9 PM.
Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.