Free Press sports writer Chris Solari looks at the people who helped or hurt their stock in Michigan State football's loss at Iowa in Week 13.
DeMar DeRozan reportedly drawing trade interest from Western Conference rival
DeMar DeRozan reportedly drawing trade interest from Western Conference rival originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
From now until February, trade speculation will hover over the Kings after their rough start to the 2025-26 NBA season.
Just one month into the season, one of Sacramento’s star players already is drawing trade interest from a Western Conference rival.
The Los Angeles Clippers reportedly have shown “some interest” in 36-year-old forward DeMar DeRozan, The Athletic’s Sam Amick reported in a column published Monday, citing league sources.
Sacramento acquired DeRozan during the 2024 offseason via a sign-and-trade deal with the San Antonio Spurs and Chicago Bulls. After a “difficult” debut season with the Kings in 2024-25, DeRozan was committed to bouncing back and competing in his second season with the team.
But so far, not so good.
The Kings currently are 4-13, just one spot ahead of the last-place New Orleans Pelicans in the Western Conference standings. DeRozan recently didn’t hold back on the state of the team, stating the Kings are in a “s—-y place” and that “everything right now for us is just s—-y” after the Kings dropped their eighth game in a row.
In his 17th NBA season, DeRozan is averaging 17.9 points on 49.5 percent shooting, with 3.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 32.8 minutes.
The Clippers are seeking another scorer capable of lifting the burden from James Harden, who has been doing his best to keep the franchise afloat in the Western Conference after the season-ending injury to Bradley Beal and Kawhi Leonard’s inconsistent availability. Los Angeles (5-12) has gotten off to an underwhelming start to the season after initially being widely considered a contender in the West.
DeRozan has a partial guarantee on his deal for the 2026-27 season for nearly $10 million of his $25.7 million salary.
A Compton, Calif. native, DeRozan could return close to his hometown this season.
DeMar DeRozan reportedly drawing trade interest from Western Conference rival
DeMar DeRozan reportedly drawing trade interest from Western Conference rival originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
From now until February, trade speculation will hover over the Kings after their rough start to the 2025-26 NBA season.
Just one month into the season, one of Sacramento’s star players already is drawing trade interest from a Western Conference rival.
The Los Angeles Clippers reportedly have shown “some interest” in 36-year-old forward DeMar DeRozan, The Athletic’s Sam Amick reported in a column published Monday, citing league sources.
Sacramento acquired DeRozan during the 2024 offseason via a sign-and-trade deal with the San Antonio Spurs and Chicago Bulls. After a “difficult” debut season with the Kings in 2024-25, DeRozan was committed to bouncing back and competing in his second season with the team.
But so far, not so good.
The Kings currently are 4-13, just one spot ahead of the last-place New Orleans Pelicans in the Western Conference standings. DeRozan recently didn’t hold back on the state of the team, stating the Kings are in a “s—-y place” and that “everything right now for us is just s—-y” after the Kings dropped their eighth game in a row.
In his 17th NBA season, DeRozan is averaging 17.9 points on 49.5 percent shooting, with 3.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 32.8 minutes.
The Clippers are seeking another scorer capable of lifting the burden from James Harden, who has been doing his best to keep the franchise afloat in the Western Conference after the season-ending injury to Bradley Beal and Kawhi Leonard’s inconsistent availability. Los Angeles (5-12) has gotten off to an underwhelming start to the season after initially being widely considered a contender in the West.
DeRozan has a partial guarantee on his deal for the 2026-27 season for nearly $10 million of his $25.7 million salary.
A Compton, Calif. native, DeRozan could return close to his hometown this season.
Blazers coach Chauncey Billups pleads not guilty in rigged poker games case
Blazers coach Chauncey Billups pleads not guilty in rigged poker games case originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Portland Trail Blazers coach and basketball Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges he profited from rigged poker games involving several Mafia figures and at least one other former NBA player.
The five-time All Star, who won a championship with the Detroit Pistons, was arraigned in a federal court in New York City on money laundering conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy charges, both of which carry a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison. Some of Billups’ co-defendants are also charged with running an illegal gambling business and engaging in an extortion conspiracy.
Chris Heywood, his attorney, has said Billups is a “man of integrity” and denies the charges.
“To believe that Chauncey Billups did what the federal government is accusing him of is to believe that he would risk his Hall of Fame legacy, his reputation and his freedom. He would not jeopardize those things for anything, let alone a card game,” Heywood said after Billups appeared in federal court in Portland, Oregon, when prosecutors first announced the indictment on Oct. 23.
Billups wore a dark gray suit during the brief arraignment and spoke only to answer the judge’s yes or no questions. He has been free on bond since his initial court appearance in Oregon.
Billups was arguably the most prominent name among more than 30 charged in last month’s sprawling federal takedown of illegal gambling operations linked to professional sports. The other defendants were also expected to appear in the Brooklyn court for Monday’s proceedings, in which the judge, prosecutors and defense lawyers will likely discuss next steps in the case.
Prosecutors say the 49-year-old Denver native, who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame last year, was involved in a scheme to rig Mafia-backed illegal poker games in Manhattan, Las Vegas, Miami and the Hamptons.
Former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones was also nabbed in that alleged scheme, which prosecutors say utilized a range of sophisticated technology that allowed the gambling to be rigged, such as altered card-shuffling machines, hidden cameras in poker chip trays, special sunglasses and even X-ray equipment built into the table to read cards.
Jones was also charged along with Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier in a separate scheme at the same time that allowed gamblers to exploit insider information about players to win bets on NBA games.
Prosecutors say the poker scheme Billups was involved in defrauded victims of an estimated $7 million starting in at least 2019.
They say he served as a celebrity “face card” that could draw wealthy, unsuspecting players to the games. Prosecutors said during one game, the scheme’s organizers exchanged messages saying one of the victims “acted like he wanted Chauncey to have his money” because he was “star struck.”
Prosecutors say Billups, who earned about $106 million from his playing days, received a portion of the ill-gotten gains. After one rigged game in October 2020, for example, they say he was directly wired $50,000.
The scheme organizers also had to share a portion of their proceeds with the Gambino, Genovese and Bonanno mob families for operating within the illegal poker games run by the New York criminal enterprises, prosecutors said.
Mafia members, in turn, helped commit violent acts, including assault, extortion and robbery, to ensure repayment of debts and the continued success of the operation, they said.
Billups was selected as the third overall pick in the 1997 draft by the Boston Celtics after starring in college for the Colorado Buffaloes. He played 17 years in the NBA, with stints with the Toronto Raptors, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks and Los Angeles Clippers.
But he is perhaps most beloved in the Motor City, where he earned the nickname “Mr. Big Shot” for his knack of making clutch shots.
Billups was named the NBA Finals MVP during the Pistons’ title run in 2004 and had his No. 1 jersey retired by the team.
After retiring in 2014, Billups embarked on a career as a TV analyst before pivoting to coaching.
He was hired as Portland’s coach in 2021 and signed a multiyear extension with the Trail Blazers earlier this year after the team missed out on the playoffs for the fourth straight season in 2024. Billups previously served as an assistant coach on the Clippers.
After his arrest, he was placed on unpaid leave and the Trail Blazers named assistant coach and former NBA player Tiago Splitter as interim coach.
Macklin Celebrini, Sharks display ‘good moment of growth' in win vs. Bruins
Macklin Celebrini, Sharks display ‘good moment of growth' in win vs. Bruins originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Editor’s note: Sheng Peng is a regular contributor to NBC Sports California’s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.
The San Jose Sharks are learning. Watch out, NHL.
The Sharks kept shooting themselves in the foot in a 3-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators, and worse than that, were outcompeted most of the night.
“Very immature,” head coach Ryan Warsofsky said tersely about that effort. “Very uncompetitive when it came to puck battles, as well.”
Warsofsky was far more pleased by the San Jose Sharks’ effort on Sunday, a 3-1 victory over the Boston Bruins.
“We had a pretty true and honest conversation in the morning [about the Sens game],” Warsofsky said. “The response was one of the best of the year.”
In much the same way, Macklin Celebrini is also learning.
It’s easy to forget that the Sharks’ best player is just 19.
But Celebrini showed both maturity and compete tonight, when tasked with protecting a late one-goal lead against the Bruins.
About three minutes to go in the game, Celebrini (71) has possession of the puck in the defensive zone. This might be a moment for him to go into attack mode.
Read the full article at San Jose Hockey Now
Canucks Losing Streak Hits Three Games As Vancouver Falls 5-2 To The Flames
The Vancouver Canucks pushed their losing streak to three games as they fell 5-2 to the Calgary Flames. Filip Hronek and Quinn Hughes scored for Vancouver while Kevin Lankinen stopped 16 of the 21 shots he faced. With the loss, the Canucks drop to 9-12-2 on the season and 3-7-1 at Rogers Arena.
Sunday's game was yet another in a long list of frustrating performances by Vancouver. After playing a decent first period, Calgary was able to take over in the second before holding down the fort during the final 20 minutes. The Canucks energy level during the final 40 minutes was disappointing to say the least, as they were playing a Flames team that went to a shootout on Saturday night.
A good way to gauge how this game went is to focus on the Rogers Arena crowd. At times, the crowd was silent, with only the players on the ice making noise. As many pointed out on social media, it feels as though apathy is starting to set in, as fans could not even be bothered to cheer or boo at the final whistle.
"I know they were up to one after the first, but I thought our first period was pretty good, said Tyler Myers post-game. "Had a lot of Grade A's and we lost it. Kind of got away from getting pucks behind them, getting on our forecheck. Then we came out in the third and we're chasing the game. So it's tough to do that, being down three. Just got to regroup, find ways to be more consistent, to be harder on the puck and, you know, come out ready."
As for Head Coach Adam Foote, he also gave his thoughts on why Vancouver fell on Sunday. He said, "Well, we did have a good start. You guys saw it. We could have capitalized on a couple more chances. They capitalize on theirs at are net. They got some pucks to the net, and they beat us to some rebounds You know, that's their game. They're gonna throw pucks when they get down and try to beat you that area the blue paint. And they got a couple on us."
The question moving forward is how many more performances like this are fans going to tolerate? Fans are constantly voicing their frustrations on social media, and for good reason, as the Canucks now find themselves 30th in the NHL in point percentage. If something doesn't change soon, Rogers Arena may turn into a ghost town later on this season.
Stats and Facts:
- Kevin Lankinen becomes the 179th goaltender in NHL history to record at least six regular-season assists.
- With his 95th point, Filip Hronek surpasses Christian Ehrhoff for the 28th most points by a defenceman in franchise history.
- Quinn Hughes led all skaters with six shots on goal
- Aatu Räty finished the night nine for 11 in the faceoff dot
Scoring Summary:
1st Period:
1:05- VAN: Filip Hronek (2) from Jake DeBrusk
7:33- CGY: Morgan Frost (5) Rasmus Andersson from Matt Coronato
8:08- CGY: Connor Zary (2) from Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman
2nd Period:
10:37- CGY: Kevin Bahl (3) from Nazem Kadri and Rasmus Andersson
16:31- CGY: Yegor Sharangovich (3) from Rasmus Andersson and Nazem Kadri
3rd Period:
7:59- CGY: Blake Coleman (8) from Mikael Backlund (SHG)
8:16- VAN: Quinn Hughes (2) from Kevin Lankinen (PPG)
Up Next:
The Canucks head to California, starting with a matchup against the Anaheim Ducks. Last season, Vancouver won the season series in impressive fashion, taking three of the four games. Puck drop is scheduled for Wednesday at 7:00 pm PT.
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site:
Vancouver Canucks Podcast Rundown: Hockey, Actually, Episode 15
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Sunk-Cost Football: UMass’ Faltering Quest to Belong in the FBS
What’s there to lose? That was Nelson Lacey’s thinking in 2011, when the University of Massachusetts Amherst—a consistent force in the second tier of NCAA Division I—decided to make the leap to the premier Football Bowl Subdivision. A professor of finance, Lacey twice co-chaired the school’s faculty athletic council and also helped lead an ad …
Silas Demary’s triple-double powers No. 3 UConn Huskies past Bryant 72-49
UConn got off to a sluggish start offensively, missing six of its first eight layups, but the Huskies played solid defense.
It's Time For Penguins To Pull Trigger On Youth Talent
With a 2-1 overtime loss to the Seattle Kraken on Saturday, the Pittsburgh Penguins officially fell out of a playoff position for the first time in the 2025-26 season.
And after a spectacular month of October - when they went 8-2-2 - November has not treated them kindly.
Pittsburgh is now 2-4-3 in November, and they have blown leads in five of those games. Maybe it's a bit extreme to say that the Penguins are in free fall, but it's safe to say that if they don't stop the bleeding soon, things could get ugly really quickly - especially with a gauntlet coming up in December.
And a large reason they're bleeding in the first place is because of their injury situation. The Penguins are without the likes of three top-nine players in Rickard Rakell, Justin Brazeau, and Ville Koivunen as well as a reliable fourth-line piece in Noel Acciari, which has dried up their scoring depth and their depth in general.
Players like Connor Dewar and Kevin Hayes - ideally, bottom-six players - have been placed in top-six roles but haven't yet been able to account for the production lost from Rakell and Brazeau. Scoring is a legitimate problem for the Penguins right now, and they desperately need a jolt.
And that's exactly why it's time for the Penguins to pull the trigger and give some of their top young forward prospects a look.
As a disclaimer, it's - of course - not guaranteed that these young players would come up and provide any more production than the players currently on the roster. It's hardly fair to expect young players - especially ones with little to no NHL experience - to make an immediate impact.
Takeaways: Penguins Lose Heartbreaker To Seattle Kraken, Fall Out Of Playoff PositionAfter a <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/takeaways-penguins-no-show-in-5-0-loss-to-minnesota-wild">disappointing effort in a 5-0 loss to the Minnesota Wild</a> on Friday, <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>' young goaltender Sergei Murashov declared that the team would come out much better on Saturday.
However, in this case, it's not just about the production. It's also about the youthful legs and the energy that some of these guys can bring. The Penguins have been outskated during large stretches of these last nine games, and they look a touch slower. Having younger guys in the mix can only help to provide a spark.
And the three most likely candidates - in this case - are center Tristan Broz, right wing Avery Hayes, and right/left wing Rutger McGroarty.
It's possible that the Penguins could have two roster spots open up as early as this week. Forward Philip Tomasino was waived Wednesday and cleared, so he is eligible to be re-assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS). In addition, there is possibly a looming AHL conditioning stint ahead for 19-year-old rookie defenseman Harrison Brunicke, which would open up an NHL roster spot for up to 14 days.
Using those two roster spots on two of the above players may just be what the Penguins need right now.
Penguins' Rookie Defenseman Eligible For AHL StintIt has been exactly two weeks since <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>' rookie defenseman Harrison Brunicke dressed for a game day.
Broz, 23, is off to a good start with WBS, as he has eight goals and 13 points in 18 games. He has played most of the season as WBS's first-line center, and his versatility could really help the NHL club right now. He is defensively responsible, can play on both special teams units, and - most importantly - can put the puck in the back of the net.
Avery Hayes - who shares a birthday with Broz - has three goals and six points in 12 AHL games this season, and he just returned from injury. He impressed in training camp and saw time alongside Sidney Crosby, and his north-south style, forechecking ability, and habit of crashing the net could provide the right kind of spark for the Penguins.
And then, there's McGroarty. This one is a little tougher, as he missed all of training camp and the first month and a half of the season with an upper-body injury. However - in his two games back in WBS - he hasn't looked a step behind, as he has two impressive goals in two games and even looks a step faster than he was in a five-game sample at the end of last season.
Rutger McGroarty with a beauty of a shorty #ProBluepic.twitter.com/PfpeOA8Sa0
— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) November 23, 2025
Penguins Prospect Rutger McGroarty Scores Game-Winning Goal For WBS On SaturdayRutger McGroarty scored his second goal of the 2025-26 AHL season on Saturday.GM/POHO Kyle Dubas has said that the Penguins are going to take their time with McGroarty and easing him back into the fold, as he is an important piece for their future. But, if McGroarty shows he is ready for NHL action now, would it be something for the Penguins to consider? He would likely be an immediate upgrade in the top-six, and - like Broz - his ability to play on both special teams units effectively is a big plus.
At the end of the day, this team as is simply isn't getting it done right now. And the Penguins may not be able to tread water much longer without some of the top players in their lineup.
So they need to consider making some changes in short order to get back on track. They need some new life, and bringing some young blood into the fold could provide them the exact kind of spark they need to hold them over until they start to get healthy again.
Penguins' Prospect Continues Scoring Dominance In NCAAUp to this point, the 2025-26 season has been a good one for <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>' prospects.
Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!
Eastern New Mexico reportedly set to hire Art Briles, the ex-Baylor coach fired amid sexual assault scandal
Art Briles was fired from Baylor in 2016 amid a massive sexual assault scandal within the program.
Emergency Podcast: Mets trade Brandon Nimmo for Marcus Semien | The Mets Pod
On an emergency episode of The Mets Pod presented by Tri-State Cadillac, Connor Rogers and Joe DeMayo react to a shocking trade by the Mets, as David Stearnsstrikes a deal with the Texas Rangers, swapping Brandon Nimmo for Marcus Semien.
The guys break down the what and the why of the trade, examine what the Mets are getting in Semien both offensively and defensively, and look ahead to the possible moves that might come next if this deal truly is a “first domino” of the offseason.
Connor and Joe also discuss what this trade means for prospect Jett Williams, and look back at the legacy of Nimmo in New York, including a story from Joe about his time in Brooklyn.
Be sure to subscribe to The Mets Pod at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
David Stearns positioning Mets for big offseason of change with Brandon Nimmo trade
David Stearns could have tried to convince himself – and Mets’ fans – that upgrading the pitching staff this offseason would have guaranteed a return to contention in 2026, presuming he re-signed Pete Alonso. But it’s clear now that he knows better.
By trading Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers for Marcus Semien on Sunday, Stearns essentially acknowledged that he needed to do something dramatic to shake up the core of a ballclub that has underachieved, or simply failed at critical moments in three of the last four seasons for reasons that weren’t always obvious.
It’s not as if he traded Nimmo for a difference-maker. Semien is a good defensive second baseman whose offense has slipped significantly the last two years at age 33 and 34. No, this was about the opportunity to create change by trading a foundational piece and a major clubhouse presence, with the expectation of bigger moves to come.
So kudos to Stearns for not taking the easy way out. That is, as long as he can execute whatever plan he has in mind as a follow-up to the Nimmo trade.
The obvious need now is to add a big bat to the outfield. The only two free agents who fill that need are Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger, and if the Mets don’t get one of them, then trading Nimmo may not be such a great idea after all.
Unless Stearns has another trade up his sleeve. It’s hard to imagine he’d take on Fernando Tatis’ contract, which has another nine years remaining, but Tatis is still only 26, turning 27 in January, and Stearns has made his preference for youth pretty well known.
In any case, Alonso has to be part of this equation as well. Nimmo still had value as an offensive player, and without him, Alonso’s middle-of-the-lineup production is now more vital than ever.
It seems Alonso is open to being a part-time DH, judging by Scott Boras’ comments at the GM meetings recently, and in that case, there really is no reason for the Mets not going the extra mile to bring him back.
As an aside, because it has become such a talking point, I don’t think Alonso is terrible overall defensively. I just think his throwing has become such an issue, whether to other bases or to pitchers covering first, that it could and likely will prove costly at any moment in big games.
That said, for as much as Stearns has talked about run prevention, the lack of offensive consistency has been a major problem for them for years, other than their late-season run in 2024.
Last year, in particular, the numbers from the likes of Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, Alonso, and to some extent Nimmo were all very good individually, yet if you watched, you know that as a team the Mets only excelled as a team in August, when the pitching was at rock bottom.
So, barring a trade that maybe only Stearns is envisioning, it’s hard to see how the Mets can be better offensively in 2026 without re-signing Alonso and adding either Bellinger or Tucker.
And with the need to spend on pitching, either via trade or free agency, even Steve Cohen may find Tucker too pricey if it’s going to take somewhere around $400 million to sign him.
Bellinger won’t cost that much, but he’s also not in Tucker’s class as a hitter. Bellinger has made himself into a good two-strike hitter, and he can hit lefties too, yet much of his appeal is his all-around game, including his above-average defense, his positional versatility, and his baserunning.
In short, he seems to be a glue guy of sorts, which may be exactly the intangible the Mets lacked last season, as exemplified by their inability to win a game all season in which they trailed after eight innings.
Of course, that may be a big reason Brian Cashmanhas said openly that he wants Bellinger back, while the player himself was vocal about how much he enjoyed his season in the Bronx. So the Mets likely would have to overpay significantly to convince him to follow the Soto path over to Queens, and for a president of baseball operations like Stearns, that could go against his value-seeking instincts.
But there isn’t another free-agent outfielder that could be viewed as impactful, which is what makes the Nimmo trade fascinating in itself. Stearns wouldn’t have done it if he weren’t relatively sure that he could upgrade that left field spot, right?
The only other benefit of the trade is that it saves the Mets some money – Semien is owed $72 million over three years, compared to Nimmo’s five years for $102.5 million.
But that can’t be a primary factor for a franchise trying to win a championship right now.
Semien’s defense at second base does play into Stearns’ run-prevention theme. And the Mets could be significantly better overall defensively if they add Bellinger to play left field and perhaps some first base as well, while Brett Baty becomes the everyday third baseman and Tyrone Taylor gets most of the time in center field until Carson Benge is ready.
That and the upgrades Stearns finds for the starting rotation could make the Mets a more well-rounded team.
Meanwhile, you’d have to think Jeff McNeill will be traded as well, if indeed the need for change is at the root of Stearns’ thinking. And who knows what it means for top prospect, Jett Williams, who loomed as the next everyday second baseman.
Whatever the ramifications, at least for the moment, it’s hard not to like Stearns’ willingness to admit that something wasn’t quite right with his ballclub. But that’s only if he was thinking two or three moves ahead as he agreed to deal Nimmo.
And he has the wherewithal to execute them.
"If we repeat that performance, we win lots of games": Blackhawks Feel They Played Better Vs Avalanche
CHICAGO - The Chicago Blackhawks took on the Colorado Avalanche at the United Center on Sunday night. Following a 9-3 defeat to the Buffalo Sabres, they were looking for a big bounce back against the top team in the league.
Going from Buffalo to Colorado is never going to be easy based on their places in the standings, but the Blackhawks played much better.
Although they were shut out 1-0, they played a much better hockey game. Despite having the better of the chances, including multiple grade-A's and outshooting them 11-2, the first intermission came tied scoreless.
In the second period, the Avalanche had a push back. Colorado outshot Chicago 19-1 in the middle frame, which included a goal scored by Cale Makar. Spencer Knight was incredible in this game, but even he was unable to pick up the Makar rebound tally.
The Blackhawks put together a ferocious effort to tie the game in the third, but Scott Wedgewood stood tall. He made 22 saves on 22 shots for the shutout as the Avalanche won 1-0. Knight made 25 saves on 26 shots, but the lack of finish by his teammates kept him from winning.
The feeling around the team is that, despite not scoring a goal, they felt much better following the debacle that took place in Buffalo a couple of nights ago.
"Even with the second, I think if we repeat that performance, we win lots of games," said head coach Jeff Blashill. "The other team is going to push back. That's just the reality of life. I thought we did an excellent job in our structure [and] an excellent job with some of the things we talked about that we didn't do in Buffalo."
This is the first time that Chicago has lost three in a row in regulation this season. Based on where they were a year ago, it is an impressive stat, more than a deflating one. Every team has ebbs and flows throughout a season. This is a low point for the Blackhawks. Now, they will work towards coming out of the funk, and this game against the now 16-1-5 Avalanche was a step in the right direction.
"We're going to have a couple of days of practice," Blashill continued. "Coming in and having greater urgency on Wednesday is going to be critical."
Up Next For Chicago
Next up for the Chicago Blackhawks is a home game against the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday night. The evening before Thanksgiving is sure to have a rowdy crowd at the United Center with the red-hot Wild in town.
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.
Senators Prospect Watch: Seven Future Sens Who Are Getting Noticed
The Ottawa Senators haven’t drawn many rave reviews for their prospect pipeline of late.
With centre Stephen Halliday (4th round pick in 2022) registering his first NHL game and first NHL point last week, let’s see what kernels may be about to pop among Sens prospects 22 and under.
1) CARTER YAKEMCHUK (20 yrs) – RD BELLEVILLE SENATORS
There are already six players picked after Yakemchuk in the 2024 NHL draft who are playing regularly in the NHL, and three of them are defensemen. So, some fans may have already pushed their panic buttons, thinking that the Senators may have missed out.
However, Yakemchuk is playing top-pair minutes with the B-Sens alongside veteran Scott Harrington. He's playing all situations and is logging an average of 22:30 per game this season, and his ice time has been increasing. His 13 points in 18 games lead all defencemen on the team, though his -12 rating (a team low) isn’t aesthetically pleasing. However, it was -8 and improving until the 7-2 loss to the first-place Rocket in Laval.
Clearly, Yakemchuk is being groomed slowly to ensure he plays a meaningful role when he ascends to the NHL. The Senators didn’t miss on anything. Don’t be surprised if he plays his first game at some point this season.
2) JORIAN DONOVAN (21 yrs) – LD BELLEVILLE SENATORS
Even before Thomas Chabot went down with an injury for the first time in recent memory, people had started to wonder about the left shot depth at defence within the Senators organization. Obviously, a trade was made to bring back Dennis Gilbert from the Flyers organization.
This would indicate that Donovan, the Senators' 2022 fifth-round selection, isn’t ready to take on a job in the NHL just yet. However, his stat line would indicate that he is trending in the right direction. He isn’t a top-pair defenseman. However, he has almost eclipsed his point total from the 2024-25 season (12 in 64 games) with nine in the first 18.
His 6’2” 200 lb frame is an asset, and his penalty minutes would suggest he isn’t afraid to use it.
He comes with some pedigree, being the son of former Senator Shean Donovan, representing Canada at the WJHC and winning a Memorial Cup with the Saginaw Spirit in 2024.
Point being, don’t sleep on this guy.
3) OWEN BECKNER (20 yrs) – C COLORADO COLLEGE TIGERS
The Senators didn’t pick until the fourth round of the 2023 draft, and Beckner wasn’t chosen until the seventh round.
Beckner has progressed steadily at Colorado College with a respectable freshman campaign of 27 points in 37 games last season. He picked up where he left off and is now leading the Tigers with 15 points in just 14 games.
His performance has earned him a spot on the U.S. Collegiate Selects team that will be playing in the Spengler Cup over the holiday season.
Don’t look for him in an Ottawa uniform in the next couple of years, but don’t rule out seeing him signed early out of college either.
4) LUKE ELLINAS (19 yrs) – LW KITCHENER RANGERS
While a shoulder injury has limited Ellinas to only six games played thus far, his performance since being chosen by the Senators in fourth round in 2024 has been enough to earn himself an entry level contract.
Ellinas appears to do his best work in the post-season, where his points per game increased dramatically in both his draft year and last season. He was instrumental in the Rangers' 3-0 series comeback to defeat the Windsor Spitfires last season.
Again, don’t look for Ellinas in Ottawa next year, but don’t forget about him either.
5) BLAKE MONTGOMERY (20 yrs) – LW UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN BADGERS
Montgomery was passed over in his inaugural NHL Draft year in 2023 and still ended up being a later pick in 2024. The Senators took him in the fourth round of the 2024 Draft, and his ascension has been quick. He was enticed to leave Lincoln in the USHL and join the eventual Memorial Cup champion London Knights.
Even with the move to the OHL, Montgomery made it clear he was going to head to Wisconsin and take advantage of the rule change allowing CHL players to play Division I NCAA hockey. After a slow start, he seems to have found the range with nine pts in his last nine games.
This one could be worth waiting for.
6) JACKSON PARSONS (20 yrs) – G ALLEN AMERICANS/BELLEVILLE SENATORS
Normally, when a player is assigned to the ECHL, the team that holds his NHL rights isn't waiting for him with great anticipation. This is not always the case for goaltenders.
Parsons was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Senators, and this means that despite winning the Goaltender of the Year in the CHL in 2024-25 as a member of the Kitchener Rangers, he will have to go through all the rungs on the ladder to get to the NHL.
That said, in his limited time thus far, Parsons has let it be known that last season wasn’t a fluke but rather a sign of things to come. He is 3-1 in his brief AHL tenure in place of the injured Mads Sogaard and even recorded a shutout.
With Sogaard back, Parsons may return to the ECHL at some point. But if he continues to develop at this rate, we'll hear from him again before long.
7) LOGAN HENSLER (19 yrs) – RD UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN BADGERS
The 23rd overall pick in the 2025 draft isn’t hard to find on highlight reels on X. With seven points, Hensler should easily eclipse his 12 points in 32 games in his freshman season in 2024-25.
His combination of size at 6’2” and mobility makes him an intriguing prospect to follow as Wisconsin becomes what North Dakota was in the Jake Sanderson, Shane Pinto, Tyler Kleven and Jacob Bernard-Docker era.
Like all of those players, Hensler already has a WJHC appearance under his belt, winning gold in 2025. Like Kleven, he will be playing in his second tourney in his home state of Minnesota this holiday season, where he will be expected to play a more prominent role with the likes of Zeev Buium having graduated to the NHL.
Like Yakemchuk, Hensler represents the future of the right side of the defence in Ottawa. Yakemchuk is the closest thing to a blue-chip prospect in this list, and Hensler has that potential as well.
Does the Cup runneth over in the Senators' prospect pipeline? No. Their former blue-chip prospects – players like Tkachuk, Stutzle, Sanderson, Batherson, and Pinto – graduated to the NHL a long time ago, as have support players like Greig, Kleven, and Merilainen.
There probably aren’t too many more blue-chip seats at the Senators' table. They need players who can support the young core; foot soldiers, if you will. And that's not a bad scenario, because while they're a little shy on future superstars, there are plenty of players in the Senators' system who can fit the foot soldier mould.
Pat Maguire
The Hockey News Ottawa
This article was originally published at The Hockey News Ottawa. Read more:
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Without His Wingman, Sens Top Gun Tim Stützle Continues Relentless Drive To Improve
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Avalanche Edge Blackhawks 1–0 Behind Wedgewood’s Shutout
Scott Wedgewood turned aside all 22 shots he faced, backstopping the Colorado Avalanche to a 1–0 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center on Sunday and stretching Colorado’s winning streak to nine games.
The shutout marked Wedgewood’s first of the season and the ninth of his NHL career.
Cale Makar makes no mistake on the rebound! 🥬 pic.twitter.com/LeR2SoovfN
— NHL (@NHL) November 24, 2025
Cale Makar supplied the lone goal for the Avalanche (16-1-5), who have now collected points in 13 straight contests (11-0-2) and completed a polished back-to-back after blanking the Nashville Predators 3–0 the previous night.
Spencer Knight made 25 saves for Chicago (10-8-4), but the Blackhawks dropped their third consecutive game.
First Period
Much like Saturday’s game against Nashville, the Avalanche were largely not in control of the puck. The only thing different was that there was not a goal within 15 seconds of the game. With under five minutes to go in the first, the Blackhawks held the Avalanche to just one shot on net.
After killing an earlier penalty, Colorado received their second infraction of the period when Brock Nelson roughed up Frank Nazar, spinning him around and knocking his helmet off in the defensive zone. It would have been a clever move if Nelson didn’t get caught, but unfortunately, the officials were not fooled by the move and the Avs were shorthanded once again.
Colorado killed the penalty, but the Hawks weren’t out of the fight just yet as Ryan Donato got his hands on a loose puck in front of the net and spun around and fired, but Wedgewood made the kick save.
Avs Score and Win Again
Burns drove the puck down the right wing in the early stages of the period, but he was turned away by Knight.
Makar delivered the breakthrough at 18:21 of the second period. After Spencer Knight turned aside Tristen Nielsen’s initial attempt, the rebound caromed directly into Makar’s path, and he snapped it home from the left face-off circle.
The entire sequence unfolded off a miscue by Knight, whose attempted outlet pass found Nielsen in the slot. Nielsen’s quick shot not only generated the rebound that led to the goal but also earned him his first NHL point.
Wedgewood preserved the slender 1–0 advantage in the dying moments, stoning Frank Nazar from point-blank range with 43 seconds left.
And after absorbing an 11–2 shot deficit in a sluggish first period, Colorado wrested back control of the game, outshooting Chicago 24–11 over the final 40 minutes to maintain their dominant ways.
On Saturday, Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 35 saves en route to a 3-0 Avs win and now Wedgewood has followed up with another shutout. We've run all out of superlatives.
Avs… wow
— Ryan O'Hara (@OHaraSports) November 24, 2025
Next Game
The Avalanche are back at Ball Arena on Wednesday to face the San Jose Sharks. Coverage starts at 7 p.m. local time.
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