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'I Thought It Was A Really Good Start To His Career,' Blues Rookie Otto Stenberg's Compete And Two-Way Game Standout In NHL Debut

Otto Stenberg didn’t light up the scoreboard in his NHL debut, but he impressed the St. Louis Blues coaching staff with other elements of his game. 

Stenberg is listed at just 5-foot-11, 188 pounds, but he shows zero fear in getting into the dirty areas of the ice and doing whatever it takes to win puck battles. Ultimately, the Blues selected him in the first round (25th overall) in the 2023 NHL draft because of his skill, but the intangibles he brings along are a bonus. 

“I thought he was really responsible and had good puck support,” coach Jim Montgomery said. “His intelligence keeps the team connected, and we don’t get too spread apart. He puts the brakes on. He has really good habits, stops, comes right back to the house. He made some really good reads on our penalty-kill and in our D-zone coverage, too. I thought it was a really good start to his career.”

He finished his NHL debut with no points or shots on goal, but he threw a hit and skated in 13:38 of ice time, including a minute on the penalty kill. Stenberg's advanced stats don't look great, as according to Natural Stat Trick, the Blues had just 28.53 of the expected goals and a Corsi For percentage of just 23.08 percent at 5-on-5.

The Blues went on to beat the Winnipeg Jets 1-0. The Jets are a well-structured team with the league's best goaltender. Scoring goals was always going to be a challenge, but the Blues, alongside Stenberg, proved to be up to the challenge. 

“Maybe a little bit of a slow start point-wise, but my game overall, my 200-foot game, has been good lately,” Stenberg said. “I’ve been playing better with the puck and some points, too. Overall, my game’s been good.”

“I can play all over the ice,” he said. “I hope coach can trust me in different situations.”

Otto Stenberg (Jeff Curry-Imagn Images)

Stenberg will be back in the lineup tonight and is expected to skate alongside Jake Neighbours and Brayden Schenn on the second line. 

With the injury pile-up the Blues currently face, there’s runway for Stenberg to snatch a spot on the team and lock down a position. His production will need to follow at some point, but if the 20-year-old can continue to provide two-way versatility on the wing, he could have a role on this Blues team. 

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Steve Kerr in disbelief over refs' ‘disappointing' call to end Warriors game

Steve Kerr in disbelief over refs' ‘disappointing' call to end Warriors game  originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

When Dillon Brooks’ shot bounced off the backboard with the clock winding down at Mortgage Matchup Center on Thursday night, it looked like the Warriors and Phoenix Suns were heading to overtime tied 98-98.

But then Moses Moody was whistled for a foul as he went to grab the rebound, and Suns guard Jordan Goodwin sank a free throw with 0.4 seconds left to give Phoenix the 99-98 win. Warriors coach Steve Kerr couldn’t believe that’s what it came down to for a Golden State team that has struggled to close out games as of late.

“Tonight we executed really well,” Kerr told reporters after the game. “It’s hard to believe that the game was decided on that call, you know, on an air ball that hits the side of the backboard, and guys behind the bench told me that Moses got all ball. Everybody’s tangled up … That, to me, it better be a foul to decide the game on a play like that.

“So, disappointing that we didn’t get to go to overtime because I thought our guys executed and did a great job in the last few minutes of giving ourselves a chance.”

The Warriors dropped to 5-10 in clutch games during the 2025-26 NBA season with the loss, and ranked 24th in the league in that category entering Thursday’s game. After the Warriors blew a 14-point lead against the Suns, star guard Steph Curry pointed to other issues other than the final call of the game — concerns that have plagued Golden State all the way to its current 13-15 record.

“Same story. Turnovers. Offensive rebounds,” Curry told reporters after the game. “And especially on the road, it’s hard to give teams momentum. You give them belief, they start hitting shots.”

The Warriors certainly could use some belief of their own right now. And while Kerr and Co. might have had some down the stretch on Thursday, a questionable call left the coach scratching his head.

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What we learned as Collin Graf scores twice in Sharks' close home loss to Stars

What we learned as Collin Graf scores twice in Sharks' close home loss to Stars originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

BOX SCORE

SAN JOSE – The Sharks’ recent mini-surge up through the Pacific Division standings in the NHL’s Western Conference was put on pause when the crisp and efficient Dallas Stars handed the West Coast hosts a 5-3 loss on Thursday at SAP Center.

The loss, coming after three consecutive victories and four in five games, prevented San Jose (17-15-3) from matching its longest winning streak of the season.

One of the few things that went right for the boys in Teal was Collin Graf recording his first two-goal game since March 13, 2025. Shakir Mukhamadullin also had a goal for San Jose.

Other than that, it was a mostly forgettable night at The Tank.

The Stars, who beat the Sharks 4-1 on Dec. 5, got an early jump in the rematch, scoring their first goal with 7:35 remaining in the first period. Dallas center Roope Hintz knocked in his 10th goal of the season off an assist from behind the net by Esa Lindell.

The Sharks missed a chance to tie it when Zack Ostapchuk appeared to score his first goal of the season before the Stars (23-7-5) challenged and the score was negated after review due to a high-stick penalty.

Wyatt Johnson’s putback shot after a Miro Heiskanen miss from just inside the blue line with 2:22 left put the Stars ahead 2-0.

Mukhamadullin’s second goal of the season, off an assist from Ty Dellandrea early in the second period, trimmed the Stars’ lead in half.

Johnson’s second goal of the night came on a power play, making it 3-1 before Graf scored off an assist from Macklin Celebrini late in the second.

That little bit of momentum was erased about two and a half minutes later when Dallas’ Justin Hryckowian intercepted a pass near the Sharks’ net and scored his fourth goal of the season on a shot that appeared to hit the crossbar then fell in behind San Jose goalie Alex Nedeljkovic.

Graf’s second goal, an unassisted score early in the third period, cut the Stars’ lead to 4-3. Jamie Benn added an empty-netter with 1:18 remaining to seal the win.

Here are the takeaways from the Sharks’ loss on Thursday:

Slow start hurts again

Early on, the Sharks seemed to be playing in a gear or two lower than the Stars, and Dallas was definitely the grittier of the two teams in the first period, with a pair of steady goals to take command.

Unfortunately for San Jose, that has been one of its biggest drawbacks this season, falling behind early. It hasn’t happened a lot – seven times in the first 34 games of the season before Thursday, when it happened again.

The playbook most of the season against the Sharks has been to try to get an early lead, then hold on. That didn’t work out so well for the Pittsburgh Penguins last Saturday when San Jose rallied for a historic comeback in the third period, but it’s a blueprint that has worked well for most of the Sharks’ opponents, who are now 7-1 when holding the lead after the first period against San Jose.

Ned in goal

With red-hot goalie Yaroslav Askarov getting a rare night off to rest, the Sharks turned to Nedeljkovic in the goal and the veteran net-minder was tested heavily.

The Stars peppered him for 10 shots in each of the three periods. Nedeljkovic made 25 saves, including a pair he was credited with when Dallas’s Mavrik Bourque fired a shot that went through the legs of a San Jose defender and hit off the right sidepost, then deflected off the left one.

Nedeljkovic had won two of his three previous starts but Thursday’s loss dropped his record to 5-7-2 this season.

Mack’s silent night

Even the great ones have an off night every now and then.

The Mack has been one of the best stories in the entire NHL this season, a teenager turning the league into his personal playground while showing the world his potential to be one of the league’s all-time greats.

Against the Stars, though, Celebrini wasn’t able to muster much of an offense and narrowly avoided picking up a goose egg on the stat sheet for the 10th time this season.

The 19-year-old superstar, who had at least one point in each of San Jose’s previous three games and four of the past five, was active early but didn’t handle the puck much until he made a sweet pass to Graf in front of the Stars’ net for San Jose’s second goal. It was Celebrini’s team-leading 34th assist and his 52nd point of the season, second most in the Western Conference.

Celebrini added his 35th assist of the season on Graf’s goal of the game early in the third period. Only the Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid has more assists this season after notching his 38th on Thursday night.

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Rory McIlroy named Sports Personality of the Year to end golf’s drought

  • Masters champion is first golfer in 36 years to claim award

  • Kildunne finishes second in vote and Norris third

  • Ryder Cup side win team award and Wiegman coach prize

A full-throated “Rory roar” reverberated around MediaCity in Salford as Rory McIlroy became the first golfer in 36 years to win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award – and tie a bow on a year for the ages.

It was a fitting reward for the 36-year-old, who completed a career grand slam at the Masters in April and then led Europe to a thrilling Ryder Cup victory in New York, in the teeth of unrelenting hostility from American fans. For good measure, he also won the European Order of Merit too.

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Canucks Closing In On 2025-26 Holiday Roster Freeze

If the Vancouver Canucks want to make a move before the holiday break, it needs to happen right away. Starting on December 19, 2025, at 11:59 pm, the NHL will start its holiday roster freeze. The freeze prevents teams from conducting trades as well as putting players on waivers and expires at 12:01 am on December 29, 2025. 

Last season, there were some trades that went down before the roster freeze came into effect. Kappo Kakko was traded to the Seattle Kraken from the New York Rangers, while current Canucks defenceman Pierre-Olivier Joseph was moved from the St. Louis Blues to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Montréal Canadiens and the Nashville Predators also made a trade, with Justin Barron and Alexandre Carrier swapping teams. 

The 2025 roster freeze is significant for Vancouver as there have been countless rumours surrounding the team. The Canucks currently sit in 32nd and could be open for business when it comes to trade. Kiefer Sherwood is a name that keeps popping up as the pending unregistered free agent leads the team with 13 goals in 33 games. 

Nov 11, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks assistant coach Kevin Dean and assistant coach Brett McLean and head coach Adam Foote on the bench with forward Kiefer Sherwood (44) and forward Linus Karlsson (94) and forward Arshdeep Bains (13) and forward Max Sasson (63) against the Winnipeg Jets in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

Vancouver plays three more times before the NHL's holiday break kicks in on December 24, 2025. Their next game is scheduled for Friday at 4:00 pm PT against the New York Islanders. The Canucks next home game will be on December 27, 2025, when Vancouver welcomes the San Jose Sharks to Rogers Arena.  

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.

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NBA Finals and MVP Odds, Predictions: Can Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder run the table?

NBA Christmas Day games are right around the corner, which means the value in the futures market will start correcting itself more and more as we inch closer to the halfway mark of the 2025-26 season. The Oklahoma City Thunder have been the talk of the West with a 24-2 start reminiscent of the 2015-16 Warriors and 1995-96 Bulls, while the Detroit Pistons have surged to the top of the East with a surprising 21-5 record.

The Thunder lead the way in odds for NBA Champion and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the frontrunner to win MVP, but the West is loaded. Can Oklahoma City repeat as champions? Can SGA repeat and win back-to-back MVPs? Let's talk about it.

Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & team props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!

NBA Finals Winner: Thunder (+110) | Nuggets (+650) | Rockets (+1100) | Lakers (+1300) | Knicks (+1300) | Pistons (+2000) | Cavaliers (+2500) | Spurs (+2500)

The Thunder are off to a historic 24-2 start and most experts and the public, including myself believe this team is capable of breaking the Warriors win record, if not coming a few games short. The current state of the NBA is down right now with so many teams tanking short-term with load management and in tough travel spots or long-term with sitting players for stretches to enhance their chances in the draft lottery.

Incidentally enough, Oklahoma City was built on a little bit of that with draft capital acquired during back-to-back finishes of 22-50 and 24-58 in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons. In 2025-26, Denver is the biggest competition to Oklahoma City with the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets following. I question whether Houston has the depth to beat Oklahoma City and if the Lakers have the defense. Denver's success will be dependent on the health of role players or how much Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray can handle.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say no team in the East can withstand a seven-game series with Oklahoma City. I know the Pacers pushed the Thunder to seven games last season and Indiana had a chance to win, but that was also the first NBA Finals experience for both teams. Now, the Thunder have that experience under their belt and know the feeling.

Jokic and the Nuggets won the Finals back in 2022-23 and LeBron James won with the Lakers during the 2019-20 season. Then there's Kevin Durant who went to the Finals with the Thunder and the Warriors, so I 100-percent understand how challenging the path in the Western Conference is. These teams will beat up on each other and whoever earns the No. 1 and 2 seeds shouldn't have issues with the 7 or 8's, unless it's the Spurs or Timberwolves.

The price of the Thunder has dropped slowly from +160 to +110 over the last two months, and in a lot of people's minds, the NBA season starts on Christmas. Odds will drop to -105 or longer sooner than later, so I am jumping on the ship. The Thunder are simply too deep, have the experience now, and the best scoring guard in a guard-driven league.

Pick: Thunder to win the NBA Finals (2 units)

NBA MVP Winner: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+125) | Nikola Jokic (+170) | Luka Doncic (+320) | Cade Cunningham (+5500) | Victor Wembanyama (+8000)

I cover the NBA MVP race weekly here at NBC and for seven of the nine weeks, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has owned my top spot. Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic both had a spot for a short time and I believe it will be a three-man race for most, if not all of the season.

Victor Wembanyama can only miss five more games to be eligible for MVP or Defensive Player of the Year, so his price at +8000 to win MVP and +450 to win DPOY is really reliant on his health. Cade Cunningham and Detroit own the top spot in the East amid a career year, but he's not doing anything that Doncic or Gilgeous-Alexander are doing as a guard.

The biggest threat to Gilgeous-Alexander not repeating is Jokic. The Nuggets star is averaging a 29.8-point triple-double and leads the league in rebounds and assists. Without Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun, Jokic has been asked to do more and delivered. Denver has the third-best record in the league, and all that he does could be negated if the Thunder win 70-plus games. In both years, Michael Jordan won the MVP in 1995-96 for the 72-10 Bulls and Steph Curry won in 2015-16 for the 73-9 Warriors.

In three months of action, SGA has been top 10 in usage rate with percentages of 38.5, 31.4, and 31%. The knock on SGA has been the lack of fourth quarters played, but he’s only missed one game so far. He's shooting an incredible 56% from the floor, 43.7% from three, and 88.4% from the free-throw line to go along with 32.4 points and 6.4 assists per game in 33.2 minutes. He's playing like an MVP and if the Thunder can win 70-plus games, then SGA will win back-to-back MVPs.

Pick:Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to win MVP (2 units)

Season Record: 31-26 +5.05 units | 7.98 ROI%

Follow my plays for the season on X @VmoneySports, Instagram @VmoneySports_ and Action App @vaughndalzell.

Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & team props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!

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.

How to sign up for Peacock:

Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You’ll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.

NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule

Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.

What devices does Peacock support?

You can enjoy Peacock on a variety of devices. View the full list of supported devices here.

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NHL Rumors: Flyers Urged To Address This Trade Need

The Philadelphia Flyers have taken a big step in the right direction this season. They currently have a 17-9-6 record and are third in the Metropolitan Division standings. When noting that the Flyers had a lot of doubters heading into the season, there is no question that they have been one of the NHL's biggest surprises so far. 

If the Flyers continue to play so well as the season rolls on, it would not be surprising in the slightest if they look to be buyers this season. In a recent article for Bleacher Report, Lyle Richardson urged the Flyers to target younger players who have the potential to improve Philadelphia's offensive production rather than rentals. 

"The Flyers have plenty of trade deadline cap space and trade assets. If general manager Daniel Briere becomes a buyer, he won't get crazy and overspend for rental players. He'll want younger talent with scoring upside or cost-effective players with playoff experience," Richardson wrote.

With the Flyers still building for the future, it would make sense for them to add players who can help them both now and in the long term. This is especially so if the Flyers continue to keep winning as the season rolls on. 

A few intriguing young trade candidates in the NHL right now include Matias Maccelli (Toronto Maple Leafs), Nick Robertson (Maple Leafs), Yegor Chinakhov (Columbus Blue Jackets), Brad Lambert (Winnipeg Jets), and Brennan Othmann (New York Rangers).

Jordan Kyrou (St. Louis Blues) and Conor Garland (Vancouver Canucks) are also two proven forwards who are under 30 who would have the potential to be impactful long-term additions for the Flyers if acquired. 

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What we learned as Warriors waste Jimmy Butler's 31 in last-second loss to Suns

What we learned as Warriors waste Jimmy Butler's 31 in last-second loss to Suns originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

BOX SCORE

Another clutch game for the Warriors, their eighth in the last nine and 15th this season, and another disappointing finish.

With their offense going kaput in the second half and the turnover bug resurfacing, the Warriors walked out of Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix with a 99-98 loss – their third in a row.

With the Suns committed to keeping Stephen Curry from his cape, Jimmy Butler III and Brandin Podziemski tried to come to the rescue Thursday night and failed in their quest.

This was a very loud record scratch during the Warriors’ extended dance with mediocrity, with their record dropping to 13-15, the first time this season the Warriors have fallen two games below .500.

Butler scored a team-high 31 points, with Podziemski adding 18. Curry managed 15 points on 3-of-14 shooting from the field, including 2-of-9 from distance.

Jonathan Kuminga made his first appearance since Dec. 6, playing 10 minutes off the bench and finishing with two points and four rebounds.

Here are three observations from the first of a home-and-home set between the Warriors and the Suns:

Christmas in Phoenix

The Warriors arrived in Phoenix on Wednesday afternoon and seem to have been fitted for Santa Claus suits shortly thereafter.

Without a sleigh, they walked into the downtown Phoenix arena on Thursday and immediately started handing out wonderful gifts to the Suns.

Five turnovers, for six Phoenix points in the first quarter. Four turnovers for four Phoenix points in the second quarter. Seven giveaways for 10 Phoenix points in the third quarter, during which the Suns sliced a seven-point deficit to one.

Golden State’s 20 turnovers accounted for 30 of Phoenix’s 99 points. Eleven giveaways in the second half gave the Suns 20 points and allowed them to spread good cheer in triumph.

Draymond Green, who committed a ghastly eight turnovers in Portland on Sunday, committed a team-high five against the Suns. Butler, Curry, Podziemski, Buddy Hield and De’Anthony Melton each committed two giveaways.

It’s a familiar song for the Warriors, and it’s no Christmas carol.

Jimmy goes “Himmy”

Much of the chatter around the Warriors in recent days has been about Butler. About his relatively minimal impact or not being utilized properly or his mounting frustration amid the team’s consistent mediocrity.

He responded by putting more emphasis on scoring and delivering the kind of assertive offensive performance that ably supports Curry and makes Golden State appreciably more difficult to defend. Butler seemed on a mission to challenge the Suns.

While Curry played 18 first-half minutes, scoring five points, Butler played 18 minutes and went into intermission with a team-high 16 points, 11 of which came in seven first-quarter minutes.

Butler’s 31 points came on 11-of-17 shooting from the field, including a clutch 3-ball with 35.5 seconds remaining, and 8-of-9 from the line.

This was an emphatic response to the pleas for more scoring from the 36-year-old veteran.

Kerr gets a little crazy

Coach Steve Kerr was emphatic this week, saying he has 14 or 15 players he’s comfortable sending onto the floor but ideally want a rotation of 10, maybe 11.

Twelve different Warriors played in the first half, everyone on the active roster except rookie Will Richard and Seth Curry, who is managing a left glute injury. Golden State went through 10 substitutions in the first quarter, 18 in the half.

Some of the substitutions were rapid fire, as if Kerr were auditioning candidates in an open-gym tryout. If he was keeping players fresh to fortify the team’s energy, the results were mixed.

Two reserves made token appearances, with Trayce Jackson-Davis logging seven minutes and Gary Payton II only three.

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Dillon Brooks hits Steph Curry in chest, earns Flagrant 1 foul vs. Warriors

Dillon Brooks hits Steph Curry in chest, earns Flagrant 1 foul vs. Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Dillon Brooks is no stranger to taking shots at the Warriors no matter what team he’s on, and the Phoenix Suns forward added Golden State star Steph Curry to his list of victims on Thursday night at Mortgage Matchup Center.

Officials hit Brooks with a Flagrant 1 foul in the final minute of the Warriors’ 99-98 loss to the Suns, when he struck Curry in the midsection/chest area with 38 seconds left.

As a member of the Memphis Grizzlies in 2022, Brooks famously “broke the code” against the Warriors in the Western Conference semifinals after knocking Gary Payton II to the floor under the rim and fracturing his elbow.

The 29-year-old has had plenty of run-ins with Golden State since then, most recently swiping at Curry’s injured thumb during the NBA playoffs last year with the Houston Rockets.

It’s always guaranteed to be a fiery matchup with Brooks on the floor against the Warriors, but he certainly took it too far Thursday as evidenced by the Flagrant call.

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Clay Holmes happy to have ‘special pitcher’ Luke Weaver join the Mets

The Mets brought in another former Yankee on Wednesday, completing a two-year deal with reliever Luke Weaver. 

Weaver is the latest Bombers closer to be jumping to the other side of town.  

While other additions can be made, he’ll help bridge the gap to Devin Williams for the second consecutive season. 

Weaver will also now have the opportunity to reunite with Clay Holmes, who he set things up for in the later innings with the Yankees two seasons ago. 

The two grew close during their time together in the Bronx, and Weaver actually reached out to Holmes a few times this winter before he ultimately decided to come to Queens. 

“We exchanged some texts,” Holmes said at the Mets Holiday Party. “They had one of those zoom meetings scheduled, and then he texted me saying that he verbally agreed -- things moved fast, but I think there was a lot that he really liked.

“I’m happy to have a friend here and happy how things worked out for him.”

Things certainly worked out nicely for Weaver, as he took advantage of his opportunity after being claimed off waivers by the Yanks and turned it into a $22-million deal with the Mets. 

While he hit a rough patch after returning from a hamstring injury last season, the 32-year-old has been one of the more reliable late-inning relievers in baseball the past two years. 

He’ll look to get back to that dominant form now in Queens. 

“He’s a special pitcher,” Holmes said. “He’s got some spunk, got some character, and just really good energy to him -- Luke has had a lot of success, so I’m happy to see him rewarded for it, and happy to play with him again.”

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NHL Rumors: Canadiens Urged To Address Big Trade Need

The Montreal Canadiens have had a solid start to the 2025-26 season. At the time of this writing, they sport a 17-12-4 record and are fifth in the Atlantic Division standings. However, they are also only three points behind the first-place Detroit Red Wings, so they certainly have the potential to move up the standings.

With the Canadiens being right in the playoff hunt, there is a real expectation that they will be buyers this season. Due to this, in a recent article for Bleacher Report, Lyle Richardson urged the Canadiens to bring in a legitimate second-line center this season. 

"The Canadiens' goaltending has been a recent concern, but their need for a reliable second-line center has been an ongoing issue. Since Kirby Dach was sidelined with a fractured foot, they employed rookie Oliver Kapanen in that role. However, they need someone with more experience in that position," Richardson wrote.

It is no secret that the Canadiens could use another top-six center, so it is hard to disagree with Richardson's argument. If the Canadiens brought in a proven 2C, it would be huge for a club that is looking to cement themselves as legitimate contenders. 

It will be interesting to see if the Canadiens add another center this season, but there is no question that they have the trading assets to swing a deal for one. 

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Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium 'among strong options' as league considers moving NBA Cup finals

Before the NBA Cup finals tipped off Tuesday, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver was honest about the future of the event in Las Vegas during an appearance on the NBA on Prime pregame show.

"We're talking with Amazon Prime about whether it makes sense to maybe go to some unique locations for the final game. They have suggested, for example, some like storied college arenas. We're just looking at other ways we could do this."

Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium is "among strong options" under consideration to host next year's event, ESPN’s Shams Charania reports.

The league's contract with T-Mobile Arena to host the Cup Finals is year-to-year, so there is no hurdle to moving the game.

However, one key challenge in moving the event to Durham and the Cameron Indoor — or to Allen Fieldhouse in Kansas, or Michigan State's Breslin Center in Lansing, or any other college setting — is that the NBA Cup title game lands just as the students that make those venues special are headed home for the holidays (or, the game falls during finals week for the students). Also, some of these arenas are much smaller than the average NBA arena; for example, Cameron Indoor Stadium has a capacity of just 9,314.

The topic of the lack of buzz in Las Vegas around the NBA Cup and the lack of energy in the building has been ongoing for a couple of years, and Amazon Prime has a big stake in making the Cup work — a large part of its massive NBA broadcast package was based around the rights to Cup games. The NBA had already announced that next year the semifinals would move to home-market arenas (for example, this year the Thunder would have hosted the Spurs and the Magic would have hosted the Knicks). While there was good energy at T-Mobile Arena for this year's Cup Finals — Knicks fans will travel, and there are Victor Wembanyama fans everywhere — Prime and the NBA are looking for something more.

In addition to college settings, there had also been speculation about moving the NBA Cup Finals to other non-NBA markets, such as Seattle, Louisville, or Columbus. But just dropping one NBA game in those cities will not necessarily bring the energy the NBA and Prime are seeking.

The NBA Cup has been a success on many fronts. The hard-core NBA fan base has embraced it. It has given more meaning to some early-season games and gotten some more casual fans talking about the NBA before Christmas. The games have motivated players (the $530,000 per player on the winning team will do that). It's worked, but Amazon and the NBA think it can be much more.

Will playing games on a college campus further that goal?

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Jermain Defoe on Spurs Glory, EPL’s Toughest Defenders & That Surprise Call From Drake

Jermain Defoe joins Christian Polanco and Alexis Guerreros for an in-depth sit-down interview covering his legendary five-goal match for Tottenham, his bond with Spurs supporters, and the hardest defenders he faced during his Premier League career. Defoe also opens up about the unexpected Drake phone call that helped lead him to Toronto FC and shares his thoughts on which MLS stars had the quality to thrive in Europe.