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Penguins' Top Forward Prospect Recalled From AHL

The Pittsburgh Penguins made a flurry of roster moves to start the week on Monday. 

They recalled forward prospect Tristan Broz from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton while sending Philip Tomasino to WBS. They also assigned Harrison Brunicke and Jack St. Ivany to WBS for conditioning purposes. 

This is a well-deserved recall for Broz, considering how great he's been to start the year. He's been a big part of the team's 13-4-1 start, scoring eight goals and recording 13 points in 18 games. Since the start of last season, no player on WBS has scored more than Broz (27 goals). 

Broz was really close to making the NHL roster out of training camp before he was sent down right before the season started. It was clear that he wasn't far off from making his NHL debut, and now he'll be given his shot with a team that could use more depth scoring. 

There's a good chance he makes his NHL debut this Wednesday when the Penguins host the Buffalo Sabres in their annual Thanksgiving Eve game.

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Penguins Loan Top Defensive Prospect Harrison Brunicke To AHL

After weeks of speculation, the Pittsburgh Penguins finally exercised a beneficial loophole for one of their top prospects. 

On Monday, the Penguins announced that 19-year-old defenseman Harrison Brunicke - who made the NHL club out of training camp but has not played an NHL game in three weeks - was loaned to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins of the AHL for conditioning. Defenseman Jack St. Ivany - who has been on injured reserve since training camp with a lower-body injury - was also sent to WBS on a conditioning loan. 

The 6-foot-3, 203-pound Brunicke has played in nine NHL games this season, which means his entry-level contract - unlike rookie forward Ben Kindel's - has not yet been activated. After scoring his first NHL goal against the New York Islanders during the second game of the season, the teenage right defenseman, at times, struggled to adapt to reads at NHL speed. 

Although 18- and 19-year-old CHL-eligible forwards cannot play in the AHL per the current CHL-NHL agreement, the proper conditions were met for this loophole to be exercised. Since Brunicke was a healthy scratch in five or more consecutive NHL games, he became eligible for an AHL conditioning stint that can extend up to either five games or 14 days - whichever happens first. 

The WBS next play Wednesday when they face the Hershey Bears, and they will have a back-to-back slate this weekend against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms - the team that eliminated them in the first round of the playoffs last season - and again against Hershey. They have the same exact slate next weekend, which would mark the five-game (potentially) and 12-day mark for Brunicke. 

'We Always Want Him To Know What The Plan Is': Dubas Provides Update On Brunicke Situation'We Always Want Him To Know What The Plan Is': Dubas Provides Update On Brunicke SituationPittsburgh Penguins' general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas elaborates on the plan for 19-year-old defenseman Harrison Brunicke, who is now eligible for an AHL conditioning loan.

Brunicke must be returned from his conditioning stint by Dec. 8, and that falls four days before Team Canada begins its World Junior Camp - which Brunicke is eligible to be loaned to. 

St. Ivany, 26, has been up and down between the AHL and NHL over the last couple of seasons. He spent 19 games with Pittsburgh last season and registered one point to go along with a minus-3, while he put up a goal and 16 points in 37 games with WBS as well as a plus-9.

It's Time For Penguins To Pull Trigger On Youth TalentIt's Time For Penguins To Pull Trigger On Youth TalentWith a <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/takeaways-penguins-lose-heartbreaker-to-seattle-kraken-fall-out-of-playoff-position">2-1 overtime loss to the Seattle Kraken</a> on Saturday, the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> officially fell out of a playoff position for the first time in the 2025-26 season.&nbsp;

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NHL Rumor Roundup: Latest Trade Buzz On Canes' Svechnikov, Canucks' Reichel And Jets' Lambert

The early weeks of this season saw Andrei Svechnikov get off to an unusually slow start.

The 25-year-old Carolina Hurricanes left winger was held scoreless while playing reduced minutes through his first eight games.

On Saturday, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported hearing that Svechnikov was unhappy with the situation. It's believed he was open to a trade if the Hurricanes were approached about moving him.

Friedman indicated that this information spread throughout the league, resulting in several teams making inquiries about Svechnikov. However, the Hurricanes still consider him a cornerstone player and aren't keen to move him. Any interested club would have to make what Friedman called a “monster offer” to tempt the Hurricanes.

PuckPedia indicates that Svechnikov is in the fifth season of his eight-year contract. He's earning an average annual value of $7.75 million and carries a 10-team list of approved trade destinations.

Friedman claims the situation has since cooled down. Svechnikov has returned to the Hurricanes' top line and has 12 points in his last 14 games. Still, Friedman believes that this could be worth monitoring if things regress to where they were earlier in the season.

The Hurricanes aren't likely to shop Svechnikov this season. They're in “go-for-it” mode and want him to be part of their Stanley Cup push. However, if they fall short again, they could consider a roster shakeup next summer, which could involve entertaining serious offers for Svechnikov.

Lukas Reichel (Bob Frid-Imagn Images)

Meanwhile, in Vancouver, left winger Lukas Reichel could be on the move again.

Reichel, 23, was acquired by the Canucks from the Chicago Blackhawks last month. Patrick Johnston of The Province indicated that CHEK-TV's Rick Dhaliwal was claiming the young forward could be a trade option if another team is interested in him.

Chosen 17th overall by the Blackhawks in the 2020 NHL draft, Reichel was projected to become a scoring forward. However, he's struggled to meet those expectations. The youngster has one assist in 13 games with the Canucks and was a healthy scratch from their last two games.

Sidelined Canucks forwards Teddy Blueger and Nils Hoglander are expected to return to action soon. Reichel could end up on the trade block or the waiver wire soon.

NHL Insider Weighs In On Jets' Brad Lambert Situation, Potential Trade ReturnNHL Insider Weighs In On Jets' Brad Lambert Situation, Potential Trade ReturnNHL insider reveals the Jets' strategy for trading prized prospect Brad Lambert, drawing parallels to a past high-profile deal.

Speaking of struggling first-round draft picks, Brad Lambert of the Winnipeg Jets was reportedly permitted to talk with other teams about a trade. NHL insider Frank Seravalli broke that news last Thursday.

Lambert, 21, was selected 30th overall by the Jets in the 2022 NHL draft. The youngster was once a highly touted center prospect, but his stock tumbled during his draft year. He has one goal in four games with the Jets this season while averaging over nine minutes of playing time.

With injuries starting to bite several NHL clubs, and teams searching for help at center, Lambert might land with another team in the near future.

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Thomas Frank desperately needs a performance from his stalled Spurs team

Tottenham manager can afford a midweek defeat in Paris, but the same does not apply to Fulham’s visit on Saturday

Welcome, then, to another of those Spurs weeks, where the executives are deeply concerned and it is impossible to ignore the sense of foreboding. The 4-1 derby humiliation at Arsenal on Sunday ensured the club are playing a game of crisis-baton hot potato with Liverpool and surely the last thing that the manager, Thomas Frank, needs is a Champions League trip to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday night.

This is not the real fear because it is just about possible to paint the game against the European champions as a free hit. Even in the best of times, nobody would have expected much from Tottenham there and, with two wins and two draws from four matches in the competition, they can afford to lose this one.

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EA SPORTS NHL 26 Black Friday Sale Available Now

EA SPORTS NHL 26 is officially on sale for Black Friday. 

The game is available for up to 40% off depending on retailer and whether or not you purchase a digital copy. 

On Xbox both the Standard and Deluxe Editions of the game are on sale from Nov. 20 to Dec. 3.

Only the Standard Edition of NHL 26 is on sale for PS5, running from Nov. 21 through Dec. 1.

NHL 26 is currently available for $53.99 CAD on the PlayStation and Xbox stores, while a physical copy is available for $44.99 CAD at many retailers. 

Per data from Circana, NHL 26 was among the top 20 selling video games in Sept. 2025, but fell out of the list in Oct.

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Analyzing potential Mets aftershocks following franchise-altering Brandon Nimmo trade

It was jarring on Sunday night to see the news that the Mets were trading Brandon Nimmo to the Rangers for Marcus Semien.

However, if you recalled what David Stearns said during his end-of-season news conference -- when he signaled a willingness to break up New York's offensive core -- that Nimmo has been dealt could not have possibly come as a surprise.

Back to that jarring part for a bit...

What makes this feel a bit like a bucket of cold water has been dumped on your head is the fact that Nimmo and the Mets had been synonymous ever since he made his MLB debut in 2016.

Nimmo wasn't just a damn good player. He was a tireless worker, a true leader, and a Met who truly loved being a Met. For those reasons and more, this one stings.

At the same time, it can easily be argued that with Nimmo's defense having regressed significantly (he was a negative in the outfield in 2025), his offense dipping from the height he was at between 2021 and 2023, and with five years remaining on his contract, that it was wise to move on now.

While it might be hard to do this with the trade of a beloved franchise player so fresh, it's important to understand that this isn't really about Nimmo for Semien -- even though Semien provides Gold Glove defense at second base. 

Rather, this is about clearing an outfield spot and lineup spot, which opens up a world of possibilities for the Mets that didn't really exist before Sunday night.

Cody Bellinger
Cody Bellinger / Imagn Images/Envato Elements/SNY Treated Image

Prior to the Nimmo trade, Kyle Tucker -- the crown jewel of free agency -- wasn't really a Mets fit. Now, he is. The same can be said for Cody Bellinger. But the Nimmo deal won't be a failure if the Mets don't land one of the aforementioned players. Not when there's so many other options out there.  

And there's lots more intriguing players beyond the two mentioned above.

So, what's next?

Perusing X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday night, there were plenty of Mets fans who were up in arms over the deal and predicting that the team would just go defense-heavy at every open position instead of doing anything big. That's not how this is going to go.

Yes, Stearns values defense. But he also knows the team needs serious offensive reinforcements. And guess what? There are players out there who are strong all-around players, too.

The most obvious thing would be for the Mets to swoop in and land a big outfielder. Tucker, who will be entering his age-29 season in 2026, looms as a pretty perfect fit. In a relatively down year for the Cubs in 2025, he still had an .841 OPS. This is a complete hitter who -- like Juan Soto -- does a tremendous job controlling the strike zone.

Tucker's defense has slipped a bit, though, and his contract in terms of both years and dollars is expected to be massive.

If not Tucker, Bellinger would be a sensible option.

Beyond free agency, it all of a sudden makes a ton of sense for New York to explore what it would take to pry Jarren Duran from the Red Sox.

The 29-year-old Duran's name was out there ahead of last season's trade deadline. And with the Sox potentially in need at third base and/or second base -- and the Mets flush with infielders -- perhaps there's a fit.

Boston Red Sox left fielder Jarren Duran (16) rounds the bases en route to a triple during the second inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field
Boston Red Sox left fielder Jarren Duran (16) rounds the bases en route to a triple during the second inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field / Ken Blaze - Imagn Images

Twins star Byron Buxton could also potentially be snagged via trade. It's also possible Fernando Tatis Jr. is available with the Padres for sale and possibly needing to trim payroll.

Meanwhile, the Mets could view top prospect Carson Benge as a left field option now and instead focus on adding a center fielder. They could also go internal in the outfield and train their efforts on the infield, where Pete Alonso's defense would be less of an issue now that they have Semien's range to help cover for it. There's also free agents Alex Bregman and Bo Bichette, who could be third base fits.

With Nimmo gone, Kyle Schwarber all of a sudden makes a lot more sense as a serious target -- especially in a world where Alonso signs elsewhere.

Looking internal, the addition of Semien would seem to make the already possible trade of Jeff McNeil something that's probable.

McNeil, who is entering the final year of his contract, could provide serious value as a super utility player capable of playing every infield spot but shortstop and all three outfield spots. But if the Mets don't view that as his role, it's unclear what his role would be.

McNeil does not have the defensive profile to be an everyday center fielder, and does not have the offensive profile to be an everyday left fielder, third baseman, or first baseman.

The Nimmo trade could also have ramifications in the farm system.

With the exception of Nolan McLean, it seems possible that New York could trade basically any of their young players, perhaps as part of a package for a top-of-the-rotation starter -- Tarik Skubal or otherwise.

And with second base now taken for the foreseeable future, it's fair to wonder if Jett Williams -- whose best fit is at second and not center field -- could be on the move.

So again, this was not simply about Nimmo for Semien. It's about what's next.

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Draymond ruled out with foot injury; Jonathan Kuminga reportedly has clean MRI

Draymond ruled out with foot injury; Jonathan Kuminga reportedly has clean MRI originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors, once again, will be without several key players when they host the Utah Jazz on Monday night at Chase Center.

With Al Horford (sciatica) and Jonathan Kuminga (knees) already ruled out of the contest, veteran forward Draymond Green (foot) is the latest Warrior to be ruled out against Utah.

Per ESPN’s Anthony Slater, Green has a right foot sprain he sustained when Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan fell on him during Golden State’s 127-123 loss to Portland on Friday.

Just one month into the 2025-26 NBA season, Golden State’s frontcourt can’t seem to catch a break.

Kuminga is set to miss his sixth consecutive game as he continues to deal with bilateral knee tendonitis. Horford is sidelined for at least a week.

But there’s no need to sound the alarms just yet, Dub Nation.

The MRI on Kuminga’s knees came back clean and there’s no structural damage, Slater reported, citing sources.

This certainly is welcome news for the Warriors just one day after coach Steve Kerr stated he had “no idea” how Kuminga was progressing.

“He’s got to tell you where he is,” Kerr told reporters when asked about Kuminga’s activity on Sunday (h/t ClutchPoints’ Kenzo Fukuda). “He didn’t do anything. We didn’t do scrimmages, but we did live drill work, and he barely did any of that. So, [he’s] not moving well, so training staff [is] working with him. I have no idea what he’s doing.”

For Utah (5-11), Walker Kessler (shoulder), Kevin Love (rest) and Georges Niang (foot) will be out against Golden State.

The Warriors (9-9), who opened a pivotal five-game homestand against the Trail Blazers on Friday, will look to bounce back with a win on Monday night.

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England asked for CCTV footage of Tom Curry’s alleged tunnel scuffle

  • Argentina lodge complaint and demand investigation

  • Post-match incident follows anger over Curry tackle

England have been told to provide CCTV footage of the alleged tunnel bust-up between Tom Curry and Felipe Contepomi after Argentina lodged a formal complaint and demanded an investigation into the incident.

It is understood that Six Nations Rugby – which organises the autumn Tests – has asked for England to provide footage as well as a formal statement before deciding whether to begin disciplinary proceedings. The Rugby Football Union is also expected to provide any other relevant video captured of the incident.

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Canadiens: Why This Call Up May Be Different

Since Montreal Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle has been injured, the Habs have kept only six defensemen on their roster when they are in town. There’s no need to recall anyone with the Laval Rocket being so geographically close. Still, when on the road, they’ve been taking Marc DelGaizo along for the ride as an insurance policy, recalling him at the last minute, but not this time.

While the Tricolore had a day off yesterday, they made two announcements: the Alexandre Texier signing, on which there had been rumblings for the past few days, and Adam Engstrom's call-up.

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By calling him up on Sunday, the Canadiens ensured he would practice with the team this morning before they take off for their western road trip. When the Habs called up Del Gaizo, it didn’t feel like anything but an insurance policy; there was no sign that the 26-year-old, who has 46 games of NHL experience, might get a game. It’s different for the Swedish prospect.

The third-round pick at the 2022 draft has been on fire with the Laval Rocket of late, and his incredible five-assist performance on Saturday forced the Habs’ brass to take notice. With Jared Davidson, Joshua Roy and Florian Xhekaj all getting an opportunity to play with the big club because of numerous injuries, it makes sense to reward the best-performing defenseman with the AHL farm team.

Martin St-Louis said on Saturday night after the win against the Toronto Maple Leafs that he was impressed by the coaching staff’s work in Laval. He praised them because he felt the players who were called up showed up ready to play and had an easy transition. He also mentioned that the guys knocking on the door in the lower league are working hard because they want to make it to the higher level, and they need to believe that it could happen to keep performing as well.

Engstrom has played well enough to send a message to the organization. With Guhle out for the foreseeable future, there is no reason why the Canadiens’ defence corps should remain the same, no-questions-asked. Of course, Mike Matheson, Noah Dobson, Lane Hutson and Alexandre Carrier are safe in their role. But Arber Xhekaj and Jayden Struble have been in and out of the lineup over the last couple of seasons, and Engstrom has earned the right to be considered a viable alternative if either of them has an underwhelming game.

Given the fact that the Canadiens won Saturday’s game against the Maple Leafs, I don’t expect to see St-Louis make a change on the blueline, but if the Habs falter on the road in their three-game road trip (Utah Mammoth, Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche) I wouldn’t be shocked to see Engstrom get his first taste of NHL action. It would remain Xhekaj and Struble that even in Guhle’s absence, nothing is guaranteed. Internal competition is a good way to keep players on their toes and performing at their very best.

With 14 points in 18 games, it’s undeniable that Engstrom has an interesting offensive upside, but he also plays a sound defensive game. Would all of that translate at the NHL level? The only way to find out is to try him out…

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

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Middlesbrough appoint 37-year-old manager Kim Hellberg to boost promotion push

  • Boro pay £250,000 to bring him from Hammarby

  • Swansea appoint Matos after missing out on Hellberg

Kim Hellberg has completed his managerial move to Middlesbrough from Hammarby. The 37-year-old Swede, who appeared poised to take charge at Swansea until Boro’s hijacking of that mooted deal, will aim to reinforce a reputation as one of Europe’s brightest emerging coaches.

After securing two consecutive second-place finishes in Sweden’s top tier at Hammarby, Hellberg has become something of a hot property and is tasked with leading second-placed Boro back into the Premier League.

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NBA Cup 2025: Standings update, key remaining games, format for NBA's in-season tournament

"I think $500,000 will motivate just about anyone."

If you're wondering how motivated players are for NBA Cup games, Jake LaRavia of the Lakers spells it out. He and his team are motivated and have a chance to clinch their spot in the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup (the final-eight knockout round portion) by beating their cross-town rivals, the Clippers, on NBA Coast 2 Coast this Tuesday night on NBC and Peacock.

Three game days remain in the group stage of the NBA Cup, with games on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday this week. Let's break down where each group stands heading into the final week, with standings and analysis, but first, a quick reminder about how the NBA Cup works.

What’s the format for the NBA Cup 2025?

All 30 teams were drawn into one of six groups: Three East groups and three West groups, with five teams per group. Each team plays the other teams in its group once — four games total — and those games count double as both regular-season and NBA Cup games.

The six group winners plus a wild card from each conference — determined by Cup games record and point differential in those games — move into the quarterfinals, an eight-team knockout round bracket (East vs. East, West vs. West, similar to the NBA playoffs where the conferences are separate until the Finals). The knockout round games are single-elimination.

The final four teams left standing head to Las Vegas for the NBA Cup semifinals on Dec. 13 and the Cup Final on Dec. 16.

NBA CUP STANDINGS, ANALYSIS

Western Conference

West Group A

Oklahoma City Thunder 2-0
Phoenix Suns 2-0
Minnesota Timberwolves 2-1
Sacramento Kings 0-2
Utah Jazz 0-3

Analysis: Oklahoma City made it to the NBA Cup Finals a season ago and controls its own destiny again. It has what is shaping up to be a huge game Wednesday night, hosting Minnesota: If the Thunder win they will be on the verge of making the knockout round, but Minnesota still would a chance to advance as the wild card, because they are currently +53 through three Cup games (3-1 can get them in as a wild card, 2-2 will not).

The other game to watch in this group is Friday: Phoenix at Oklahoma City. The upstart Suns have beaten the Timberwolves in Cup play, and the Thunder and Suns could both be 3-0 and playing for a guaranteed spot in the quarterfinals when they meet Friday (Phoenix would have to beat Sacramento on Wednesday).

West Group B

Los Angeles Lakers 2-0
LA Clippers 2-0
Memphis Grizzlies 1-1
Dallas Mavericks 1-2
New Orleans Pelicans 0-3

Analysis: It's this simple for the Lakers: beat the Clippers Tuesday, and they are guaranteed group winners and advance to the quarterfinals (the Lakers already beat the Grizzlies). For the Clippers, a win puts them in the driver's seat, and they would qualify for the quarterfinals if Memphis loses at New Orleans on Wednesday or the Clippers beat Memphis on Friday.

You can watch the Clippers at the Lakers in the second game of Coast 2 Coast on Tuesday on NBC and Peacock.

West Group C

Portland Trail Blazers 2-1
Denver Nuggets 2-1
San Antonio Spurs 1-1
Houston Rockets 1-2
Golden State Warriors 1-2

Analysis: The "group of death" — with five of the top nine teams in the conference — could be decided Wednesday night if Portland can beat San Antonio. The Trail Blazers control their own destiny (despite the -18 point differential in cup games) because they beat the Nuggets. Denver plays San Antonio on Friday, and with a big win to pad their +26 point differential, could advance as the Wild Card in the West (if the Spurs beat the Trail Blazers, then the Nuggets would advance with a win Friday). If the Spurs can win out — without Victor Wembanyama — they would advance out of the group, but that is a big ask.

Eastern Conference

East Group A

Toronto Raptors 3-0
Cleveland Cavaliers 2-1
Atlanta Hawks 1-1
Indiana Pacers 0-2
Washington Wizards 0-2

Analysis: Toronto has already clinched the group win and will advance to the quarterfinals. If Cleveland can handle Atlanta and pad its +26 point differential, it stands a chance of advancing to the next round as a wild card. Atlanta, if it can win out over Washington and Cleveland, stands a chance to advance as the wild card as well.

East Group B

Detroit Pistons 2-0
Orlando Magic 2-0
Brooklyn Nets 1-2
Boston Celtics 1-2
Philadelphia 76ers 0-2

Analysis: This group could come down to a Friday night showdown between Detroit and Orlando, but only if the Magic knock out the 76ers on Tuesday and the Pistons beat the Celtics. For both Detroit and Orlando, it is simple: win out and they advance to the quarterfinals.

East Group C

Milwaukee Bucks 2-0
Miami Heat 2-1
New York Knicks 1-1
Chicago Bulls 1-2
Charlotte Hornets 0-2

Analysis: The Bucks have the Darvin Ham advantage: He was a coach for the first two NBA Cup winners. He was the Lakers' head coach in 2023 and an assistant with Milwaukee in 2024. He is still on the Bucks staff and is a perfect 16-0 in the NBA Cup games as a coach. Milwaukee controls its own destiny but will have to beat Miami and New York on the road — without the injured Giannis Antetokounmpo — to advance.

If Miami beats Milwaukee on Wednesday, then they will move to the top of the group. However, if New York could win out over Charlotte and Milwaukee, it would win the group (the Knicks beat the Heat in Cup play). Toronto, with a win over Milwaukee, would also be in a great position to pick up the wild card in the East, even if the Knicks win out.

When are the NBA Cup quarterfinals, Finals

Here is the schedule for the quarterfinals and beyond:

Quarterfinals: Dec. 9 and 10
Semifinals: Dec. 13 (Las Vegas)
Championship: Dec. 16 (Las Vegas)

How much money does the champion get?

There is more to the NBA Cup than just money. There is a trophy to win and something for a fan base to celebrate. Plus, giving competitive NBA players something to play for mid-season helps raise the level of play.

However, for the players, it's about the money.

"I think half a million dollars is still a good amount of money to be able to motivate you to want to win games," the Lakers' LaRavia said. "So I mean, they are games at the end of the day, and we want to just win them because we want to win the game. But, obviously, we know we're also playing for something, and it is cool to just be able to play for something in the middle of the season and be able to get a nice little bonus."

Players on teams that advance out of the group stage receive bonuses from a league-sponsored prize pool, with teams that advance further receiving more. It breaks down this way:

• Each player on the team that wins the championship: $530,933
• Each player on the team that loses in the championship: $212,373
• Each player on a team that loses in the semifinals: $106,187
• Each player on a team that loses in the quarterfinals: $53,093

How to Watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock

Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones. Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.

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Matthew Schaefer Takes Over: Islanders’ 18-Year-Old Phenom Handling Massive Minutes With Ease

New York Islanders No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer is a spectacle.

Everyone watching, whether at UBS Arena or from their couch, could watch the 18-year-old skate around the rink all day. 

Unfortunately, everyone is going to get that wish, with defenseman Alexanders Romanov likely out for the rest of the season due to a right shoulder injury that requires surgery. He'll be out five-to-six months. 

BREAKING: Islanders' Alexander Romanov To Have Shoulder Surgery, Out 5-6 Months BREAKING: Islanders' Alexander Romanov To Have Shoulder Surgery, Out 5-6 Months Devastating blow for the Islanders: Romanov's season ends abruptly due to shoulder surgery after a controversial hit. Recovery targets next season.

The positive news is that Schaefer has proven he can not only handle the big minutes but also maintain his elite play regardless of how much he's out there. 

After playing 27:29 in Saturday's 2-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues, Schaefer played 27:23 on Sunday in their 1-0 shootout win against the Seattle Kraken, in what was arguably his best game of the season. 

He only played 16 seconds of that on the penalty kill. 

"Probably one of the better games for Schaefer since he's been here," Islanders head coach Patrick Roy said. "I mean, he was in on the rush all the time. He was making plays. He was defending well."

Just how good was Schaefer in the game?

Schaefer recorded four shots on nine attempts and was getting up the ice effortlessly, trying to create offense for his team while also getting back on defense quickly. 

When he was on the ice, the Islanders out-attempted the Blues 25-9 at even strength and 28-9 overall, and outshot them 19-6 at 5-on-5. 

This was the third game that Schaefer has surpassed the 27-minute mark, and he is the youngest player to play at least 27 minutes on consecutive days. The only other teenager to do so (since ice-time was official) was Jay Bouwmeester for Florida on February 26-27, 2003. Bouwmeester was nearly 19 ½ at the time of the games, which were played 4 ½ years before Schaefer was born.

Schaefer has not recorded a point over his last five games, but he's been doing everything he can to help the Islanders win hockey games. Over that span,  he's gotten shots through with 10, adding six blocks. 

There's always concern about overrelying on rookies, but if the Islanders didn't think Schaefer could handle the increased minutes, they wouldn't be playing him as much.

Will he surpass 27 minutes on Wednesday night against the Boston Bruins?