A strange media dustup has emerged in recent days, after ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has won the 2025-26 NBA MVP award.
The report upstaged Prime Video's official announcement of the winner, prompting Prime Video's Blake Griffin to say on the air, "It's Sunday Shams, go to brunch you nerd."
Beyond Prime Video's understandable frustration at having its thunder stolen by the premature naming of the Thunder guard as the league's MVP, the situation has created a debate over whether Shams should have kept his sherbet-hole shut.
He absolutely should have reported it. Not because it's what reporters do, but because who cares if the NBA MVP winner was leaked before the official announcement?
This isn't like tipping picks for the first round of the NFL draft. The vast majority of the audience wants to find out the picks when the Commissioner announces them. No one is sitting on the edge of their seats waiting for the name of the NBA MVP to be revealed.
Also, from a reporting standpoint, it's far more impressive to learn the name of a league MVP before it's announced. The names of the next two or three NFL first-round picks are known by many people. Every team knows. Multiple people with each team know. The identity of the NBA MVP is presumably far more closely guarded.
Whether the NBA will be happy about the move is a different issue. The NFL has told its broadcast partners to instruct their reporters and on-air analysts to not tip draft picks. (Not everyone complies. We do, but only because that's what we believe the audience wants.)
Reporting on the winners of awards is a different issue entirely. That's fair game. Regardless of whether the NBA or the NFL like it.
Which raises an interesting question for February 2027. Will the usual "insiders" try to find out who the NFL MVP is before the name is announced? Will other reporters who aren't beholden to the broader football apparatus pursue the information?
It may be impossible to get. And it's possible that Charania wasn't even trying to get it. Information like this is routinely given to a hand-picked reporter. It's possible that Charania's scoop originated with someone who had a specific motivation to get the word out before the award was officially announced.
Regardless, it's fair game. Shams was doing his job. And no one was counting down the hours, minutes, and seconds for the drum roll preceding the formal announcement of the NBA's next MVP.
The NHL isn't budging on the sanctions it dealt the Las Vegas Golden Knights for shirking its responsibilities with the media during the Stanley Cup playoffs.
The punishment handed out by the league to the Knights for "flagrant violations" of the NHL's postgame media policy during the postseason will remain as assessed after an appeal by the team, according to multiplereports on May 19.
The league said its sanctions came after previous warnings were issued to the Knights regarding their compliance with the league's media policies. The team's appeal hearing occurred May 19 in New York, according to the reports. Some players did speak from the podium after Game 6, according to ESPN.
The Knights said in a statement after the penalties were announced that the team would have no further comment on the matter. Tortorella also had no comment when asked about the controversy by reporters for the first time since the end of the conference semifinals on May 16.
Tortorella took over as the the coach in Las Vegas after the franchise fired Bruce Cassidy in late March. The Knights open the Western Conference finals against the Colorado Avalanche on May 20.
The Knights were already without their first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft after acquiring defenseman Noah Hanifin in 2024.
‘I’ll make decisions when time comes,’ says head coach
Chessum expected to lead side in at least one July Test
England’s head coach, Steve Borthwick, has confirmed he may rest some senior players including his captain, Maro Itoje, for all or part of his squad’s summer Nations Championship games. A final decision will not be taken until next month but, barring an injury crisis, it seems probable England will be under fresh leadership on the field for at least one of their July Tests.
Rather than a traditional tour to a single country, the new tournament will require Borthwick and his squad to play internationals on three different continents on successive weekends, starting against South Africa in Johannesburg on 4 July and finishing in Santiago del Estero in Argentina on 18 July.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 13: St. John's men's basketball coach Rick Pitino and Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers talk after Pitino threw out the ceremonial first pitch and Mitchell caught it before the game between the New York Mets and the New York Yankees at Citi Field on June 13, 2023 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Most important day of the Knicks season is here, fellas.
As will be the case again on Thursday, Saturday, and all the way every other day through mid-June.
“Back in the day, when I was with (Gregg Popovich), he said, ‘You need three All-Stars to win a championship.’ Well, they’ve got four, James being the fourth one has added a dimension to their team that not many teams have. Not many teams can say, ‘Hey, we got four All-Stars on our roster.’ And that fourth guy in James is a playmaker and a scorer, so he presents a problem when you have that, and Donovan Mitchell and everybody else, and then they have the shooting.
“It’s a different team, and [Harden] makes it different because of the experience that he has, especially in the playoffs and in big moments. And being a Hall of Fame-caliber player.”
On the need for setting the tone early in Game 1:
“You always want to hit first, second, third and obviously last. Trying to do that is gonna be big. We’ve talked about it before with the starts of our games. Our guys have done a better job in the playoffs.”
On managing rest vs. rust heading into the series:
“You worry about all those things. But at the end of the day, we’ve had a chance to rest, too; and they’ve had to play 14 games in 29, 30 days. So it could go either way. You just hope that when we step out there, our competitive spirit is at an extremely high level and you don’t ease into the game at all, because they’re a dangerous offensive team. They’re very potent with their shooters and playmakers. And they have size and toughness and all that. So there’s a lot of things to worry about. But that’s why it’s good that you’ve got to go play the games.”
On making Cleveland’s stars work defensively:
“We have to put pressure on them in all phases: starting with transition and ending with the ability to offensive rebound. You want to make all of their guys, especially guys who play-make and do a lot for them — you want to make them work as much as you can, but that’s not gonna be our focal point. The focal point is to take the best possible shot that we can get because it’s hard to score in the playoffs. But we do want to make those guys work, starting with transition. So we have to be conscious of trying to play the right way against this group.”
On facing Kenny Atkinson in the conference finals:
“We know each other well from our time in Golden State together. He’s a great person and obviously a really good coach.
“We probably gained more knowledge of how we’re coaching our teams based on the times we played against each other this year more than in the past.
“Kenny’s done a phenomenal job. He’s got those guys playing at a high level. To sit back and watch those guys take both their series to seven games and find the resiliency to win just shows how experienced that team is when it comes to the playoffs. There’s no panic in them, starting with Kenny on down.
Josh Hart is disappointed that the Knicks street signs didn't return this year 😭 pic.twitter.com/jmgrIBf4Ba
“For us, in that locker room, we’re just locked-in on being there every single game, making sure we’re continuing to get better and we’re a finished product at the end. So I don’t know anything about the bar being raised or expectations or anything like that. The expectations that we have for ourselves as a team or individual are always high. But we always want the fans to have some fun, man.”
On lessons from last year’s playoff collapse:
“Obviously in the playoffs you never want to give away games that you should win. You can never relax. Especially the style that the NBA is played now; you see 10-, 15-, 20-point leads dwindle in four, five minutes. So it’s just that mentality of, it’s never over. Play until there are zeros on the clock. You can’t give the games away.”
On the nine-day break before the conference finals:
“Obviously would rather not have a nine-day break. You’re in a good rhythm and then obviously you’ve got to sit there and wait and those kind of things. Ideally, a three- or four-day break, that’d be nice. It’s good points and bad points.”
On Madison Square Garden’s atmosphere:
“They always come out and show love. Definitely the best atmosphere in the league.”
On guarding Donovan Mitchell again after doing so in 2023:
“I don’t think I learned anything about myself. I’m a good player. I’m a good defender. And as a competitor, you want to have tough matchups like that to compete against the best. He’s an extremely talented offensive player. He takes tough shots, but he has the talent and the ability to make those tough shots.”
Both Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart spoke today about what they learned from last year's collapse in Game 1 of the conference finals:
Brunson: “I think experience always is able to teach you a lot of lessons [for] this time around. Obviously we know what we have to do. It's… pic.twitter.com/6pcXafWlCq
On learning from last year’s Eastern Conference Finals loss:
“I mean, I’ve thought about it. But like every journey, every year is different. You’ve got to kind of restart and reset. Yes, you learn from it. You’re very disappointed in the result. But you move forward.
“I think it happened this year as well when we played Atlanta. We let our foot off the gas; even in Game 1, we won, but also in Game 2, we lost. So, it’s something that we need to continue to get better at. And I think we have. But we can’t be satisfied.”
On respecting Donovan Mitchell before the series:
“I have the utmost respect for him. Got to know him really since my first year, we had mutual friends. The dude works really hard, loves the game. I think he approaches it the right way, so I have a lot of respect for him.”
On Cleveland’s challenge in the conference finals:
“That’s a tough team, very well coached, a lot of guys over there with playoff experience. They’re going to be a tough out.”
On James Harden’s impact on Cleveland’s offense:
“He’s able to create a lot of offense for them. It’s like a pressure release for Donovan, as well. Donovan does so much for the team and then you have James in there and you have a whole other person you have to worry about, so they have so many different weapons, so many different options and ways they can beat you. They’re really dynamic.”
On returning to Madison Square Garden for the conference finals:
“I’m a New Yorker. Going back to the Garden, I worked for the Knicks and I know everybody there. I have a ton of family, my whole family is there, basically. It’s special.”
On facing the Knicks in the conference finals:
“They’re rested and they’re a juggernaut right now. It’s hard to blow out teams in the playoffs like they’ve been blowing out teams. Point differential means something in this league.
“They’re playing great basketball, but we’ve got to try to go in there and steal Game 1 somehow.”
On believing the Knicks are the most complete team in the East:
“The Knicks is the most complete team in the East. All the s*** that people was talking about, and I kept telling y’all fans. Chill out. Relax. Stay Melo.”
On predicting a Finals appearance:
“I like the Knicks in the finals. This is the year that I think the Knicks get to the finals.”
Game 1 of the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals between the Cavaliers and Knicks is currently the most expensive Conference Finals ticket ever recorded, per @TickPick
On the rising ticket prices during the Knicks’ playoff run:
“We have seen sports become more and more of a luxury commodity, and that is not what it always used to be. I am still confident and hopeful of a championship this year. I do wish, however, that all of these tickets were far more affordably priced.”
“I think that there are many New Yorkers for whom the game is something that is celebrated across the entire city. When the Knicks do well, you feel it across this whole city. And it’s not just for those who can afford to go to the game.”
Richard Jefferson on the Knicks vs Cavs series:
“If Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby out perform Jarret Allen and Evan Mobley that’s the end of the series… going into this postseason right now you go look at Bridges and OG numbers they have been consistently more impactful on both… pic.twitter.com/CRaZjpw5Uq
“I think this is the best I’ve ever seen them. I’ve been covering them for over 20 years in various ways. I’ve never seen them play an offense like this consistently. What they’ve done in the playoffs in this transformation with how they played, it’s remarkable. Of course, you need to see more proof of it as a series gets deeper. As you go deeper, it gets harder, right? But when in the playoffs do you see teams consistently blowing out their opponents in the first two rounds and not say that’s a championship-level team?”
On the Cleveland matchup compared to Detroit:
“That’s the one thing. It’s hard not to look at their struggles against Detroit and Detroit seems to just have a different kind of level against the Knicks. They really didn’t get over losing to the Knicks in the first round and you could see that in every game they played this year. They just had a different type of intensity, almost to a point where even the Knicks were like, ‘Whoa, whoa, it’s January. What are you guys doing?’ I would never say that Cleveland’s easier. But I think matchup-wise, it’s way more intriguing because it’s two really good offensive teams. So how do you solve them defensively is going to be the biggest story in this series.”
Only three former Vancouver Canucks players remain in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, with Jalen Chatfield of the Carolina Hurricanes and Nic Dowd and Ben Hutton of the Vegas Golden Knights making it past the second round. Four ex-Canucks were eliminated during the second round of the post-season.
Eastern Conference:
Jalen Chatfield, Carolina Hurricanes
Chatfield and the Hurricanes knocked out both a former Canucks player and head coach on their way to the 2026 Eastern Conference Final, eliminating Philadelphia Flyers defenceman Noah Juulsen and head coach Rick Tocchet via series sweep. Chatfield, who played for Vancouver during the 2020–21 season, scored his first goal of this year’s post-season in a 4–1 Game 3 win against the Flyers. Carolina will face the Montréal Canadiens, who knocked out former Canucks and current Buffalo Sabres Tanner Pearson and Luke Schenn, in the Eastern Conference Final.
Eastern Conference Final Schedule:
Game 1: May 21, 5:00 pm PT
Game 2: May 23, 4:00 pm PT
Game 3: May 25, 5:00 pm PT
Game 4: May 27, 5:00 pm PT
*Game 5: May 29, 5:00 pm PT
*Game 6: May 31, TBD
*Game 7: June 2, 5:00 pm PT
Western Conference:
Nic Dowd, Ben Hutton, & John Tortorella, Vegas Golden Knights
Dowd, Hutton, and Vegas head coach Tortorella defeated the Anaheim Ducks in six games to advance to the third-round, making them the only former Canucks to be taking part in this year’s Western Conference Final. While Dowd has been in the lineup for Vegas’ entire playoff run, Hutton made his post-season debut in Game 1 of the Golden Knights’ second-round series. Vegas will take on a Colorado Avalanche team that eliminated former Canucks captain Quinn Hughes and the Minnesota Wild.
Western Conference Final Schedule:
Game 1: May 20, 5:00 pm PT
Game 2: May 22, 5:00 pm PT
Game 3: May 24, 5:00 pm PT
Game 4: May 26, TBD
*Game 5: May 28, 5:00 pm PT
*Game 6: May 30, 5:00 pm PT
*Game 7: June 1, 5:00 pm PT
May 7, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jalen Chatfield (5) skates back to the bench after scoring a goal against the Philadelphia Flyers during the second period in game three of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
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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Vingegaard cuts gap on overall leader Eulálio to 27sec
Ganna wins stage 10 in 45min 53sec
Filippo Ganna sailed to an easy victory in stage 10’s individual time trial at the Giro d’Italia on Tuesday,. The pre-race favourite, Jonas Vingegaard, failed in his bid to take the overall lead as Afonso Eulálio battled hard to keep the pink jersey.
No one could come close to Ganna, a time trial specialist who completed the flat, 42km (26-mile) route along the Tuscan coast from Viareggio to Massa in 45min 53sec. Ganna had little to worry about while waiting for confirmation of his eighth Giro stage win – seven of those have come in time trials.
DENVER — Gabriel Landeskog doesn’t need any extra incentive. Being in the Western Conference Final is more than enough for the Colorado Avalanche captain.
If he did, though, memories of the second-round loss to Vegas in 2021 would be a powerful motivator. The Avalanche led that series 2-0 — and were up in the third period of Game 3 — before losing four straight.
It stung then. But that breakdown fueled the Avalanche, too, as they captured the Stanley Cup title the following season. And then the Golden Knights won the Cup the season after that.
“Obviously, it’s the same teams but a lot of turnover,” Avalanche forward Nazem Kadri said ahead of a series that gets under way in Denver. “Obviously, we’re hoping for a different outcome this time.”
Some familiar names remain from the ’21 series that matched the speedy Avalanche against the physical Golden Knights — an apt description of this upcoming series, too.
For Colorado, the lineup back then included Landeskog, Kadri, Cale Makar, Valeri Nichushkin, Devon Toews and Nathan MacKinnon, with coach Jared Bednar on the bench.
For Vegas, there were such players as captain Mark Stone, William Karlsson, Brayden McNabb, Keegan Kolesar, Shea Theodore and Reilly Smith. Avalanche nemesis Pete DeBoer was coaching then for Vegas, now it’s John Tortorella.
Nicolas Roy has switched sides, with Vegas then and Colorado now. Same, in reverse, for Vegas forward Brandon Saad.
“We feel like we have swagger, believe in each other,” Vegas defenseman Noah Hanifin said. “It should be a fun test.”
The Golden Knights have caught fire since Tortorella took over when Bruce Cassidy was let go. The team went 7-0-1 down the stretch — including a 3-2 overtime win over Colorado on April 11 — and beat playoff upstarts Utah and Anaheim to advance.
Much like they did with Vegas after the 2021 series, the Avalanche are hoping to parlay the sting of a playoff loss to Mikko Rantanen and the Dallas Stars last season into a positive.
“The buy-in from our guys in both 2022 and this year, it’s at a different level,” said Bednar, whose Presidents’ Trophy-winning Avalanche are 8-1 so far in the postseason. “Because they know what the stakes are.”
The Avalanche have been instilled as a plus-135 to capture the Cup, while the Golden Knights are plus-575.
“It doesn’t matter in this room,” McNabb said of being an underdog. “They’re a good team. We know that. We respect them.”
Familiar territory
The Golden Knights are making their fifth trip to the conference final since their first season in 2017-18. No team in that span has been to more.
“Your approach should always be the same, so I don’t really think a whole lot changes,” center Jack Eichel said. “You want to continue to elevate your game both individually and as a team the further you go.”
Trading places
Roy was dealt by Vegas last summer to Toronto for Mitch Marner. Roy wound up with Colorado in another trade and will be facing the team he helped to the 2023 Stanley Cup title.
“They have a really good lineup. They have depth,” Roy said. “We do as well. So looking forward to it.”
Four months ago, Kadri and Vegas defenseman Rasmus Andersson were teammates in Calgary. Andersson was traded in January and Kadri in March.
“Pretty crazy,” Kadri said. “It worked out for both of us.”
MacKinnon & Co.
MacKinnon leads the Avalanche this postseason with 13 points (seven goals, six assists). He’s got plenty of help, though, as 17 different players have notched a goal.
“That doesn’t just happen,” Landeskog said. “That’s everybody pulling their weight and everybody doing the best they can to help the team out.”
Dorofeyev heats up late
Both playoff series followed the same kind of pattern for Golden Knights forward Pavel Dorofeyev. He went scoreless in the first three games of the opening-round series against Utah before coming through with a goal in Game 4 and a hat trick in Game 5.
Then Dorofeyev had just two assists in the first three games of the second-round series against Anaheim before totaling five goals over the final three games.
“It seems like he’s beginning to be a high-stakes player, scoring big goals at big times,” Tortorella said.
The goaltenders
Colorado has used a combination of Scott Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood in net. Wedgewood is 7-1 with a 2.21 goals-against average in this playoff run, while Blackwood is 1-0 with a 3.20 GAA.
For the Golden Knights, Carter Hart is 8-4 with a 2.37 GAA and a .915 save percentage.
The Montreal Canadiens are off to the Eastern Conference Final after defeating the Buffalo Sabres in Game 7 of the second round.
Alex Newhook was the hero for the Canadiens in this one, as he scored the series-clinching goal in overtime with a nice wrist shot on the rush.
With this overtime winner, Newhook also made some NHL history.
According to NHL Public Relations, Newhook is now just the second player in the history of the NHL to score multiple Game 7 series-clinching goals in the same post-season. The only other player to achieve this was Nathan Horton, who did so with the Boston Bruins back in 2011 during their Stanley Cup championship run.
This achievement shows just how clutch of a player Newhook has become this post-season. The 25-year-old forward is continuing to show the Canadiens that they made the right call acquiring him from the Colorado Avalanche during the 2023 NHL off-season.
With his Game 7 overtime winner against the Sabres, Newhook now has seven goals and nine points in 14 games this post-season for the Canadiens. This included him scoring six goals and recording seven points in the Canadiens' series against Buffalo alone.
With the NHL conference finals set to begin on Wednesday, oddsmakers believe that the Colorado Avalanche are in line to become the next Stanley Cup champions.
The Avalanche lead BetMGM’s Stanley Cup odds board at +135, yet their hoisting the trophy would be a positive outcome for the sportsbook.
Key Takeaways
Only one remaining team, the Canadiens, began the year with odds longer than +1200.
The Canadiens beat the Hurricanes in all three regular-season matchups.
Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon is the odds leader and most popular pick to win the Conn Smythe Trophy.
Stanley Cup Odds
BetMGM
DraftKings
bet365
Colorado Avalanche
+135
+130
+130
Carolina Hurricanes
+175
+170
+165
Vegas Golden Knights
+575
+600
+600
Montreal Canadiens
+600
+700
+650
The Avalanche most recently won the Stanley Cup in the 2021-22 season. They’re down to +135 at BetMGM after opening the season at +800, the third-shortest of all teams and only behind the Edmonton Oilers (+650) and the Florida Panthers (+750).
Colorado continues to appeal to bettors; 17.7% of tickets and 23.7% percent of the money wagered in the Stanley Cup futures market were on the Avalanche, both the leading amounts in their respective categories.
While the Avalanche have been the most popular pick to win the league championship, the Carolina Hurricanes aren’t far behind in odds. Sitting at +175 after opening at +900, they have 8.3% of bets (second) and 10.5% of the pot (third) backing them.
While the Avalanche have been the most popular pick to win the league championship, the Carolina Hurricanes aren’t far behind in odds. Sitting at +175 after opening at +900, they have 8.3% of bets (second) and 10.5% of the pot (third) backing them.
The two remaining teams — the Vegas Golden Knights and the Montreal Canadiens — are much further down the board.
One of those teams, the Knights, has still remained quite popular with bettors. The 2022-23 champions are +575 in odds to win the Stanley Cup after opening the season at +1200. They have 7.3% of wagers (third) and 11% of the money (second) supporting them.
Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy also has a $100,000 ticket placed at +650 odds at DraftKings Sportsbook riding on the Golden Knights. A win would pay a $750,000 total prize.
The final remaining team is the Canadiens, who are +600 after opening the year at a whopping +8000. Only 10 of the league’s 30 teams had longer odds when players took the ice for the first time last October.
The Canadiens aren’t just fighting the oddsmakers, they’re also fighting the public consensus. Their 4.5% of tickets and 3.6% of the handle are both the lowest of the remaining teams and rank ninth among all teams in both categories.
▪️ Avalanche +135 ▪️ Hurricanes +175 ▪️ Golden Knights +575 ▪️ Canadiens +600@GoldenKnights are the only remaining liability on the future market@Canes are the best outcome
The Golden Knights and the Canadiens are both +200 series underdogs, while the Avalanche and the Hurricanes are both -250 series favorites in the conference finals, per BetMGM sportsbook.
No team has been better in the playoffs than the Hurricanes, who swept the Ottawa Senators and the Philadelphia Flyers in consecutive series. On the flip side, the Canadiens went seven games with the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Buffalo Sabres, and needed overtime to grab a win against the Sabres in Game 7 on Monday.
Despite the series odds heavily tilting one way, the Hurricanes lost all three of their regular-season matchups with the Canadiens by an aggregate score of 15-8.
Out west, the Avalanche have only dropped one game in the playoffs, a Game 3 second-round defeat at the hands of the Minnesota Wild. The Knights went six games with both the Utah Mammoth and the Anaheim Ducks, although they won seven of their last nine games on the ice.
The Knights did not have the same luck against their favored opponent as the Canadiens, losing two of three regular-season matchups with the Avalanche. The lone win was the most recent matchup on April 11, which ended in overtime, 3-2.
Conn Smythe odds
With the Avalanche in pole position to win the Stanley Cup, center Nathan MacKinnon is the Conn Smythe Trophy odds leader (+170) and most popular pick for BetMGM users, with 22% of tickets and 27.5% of the handle. Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen is second in odds (+400) but far behind in support from bettors, receiving 5.7% of wagers (second) and 8.1% of the pot (third).
The most popular underdog pick is Golden Knights right wing Mitch Marner, who is third in odds at +900. He only has 5% of bets, but he also generated 17.6% of the money wagered in this market (second).
If the Edmonton Oilers are holding out hope that the Vegas Golden Knights will eventually decide to let former head coach Bruce Cassidy interview, or that the NHL might step in should Vegas not do so, there is some potentially bad news.
Vegas has not allowed teams like Edmonton or the Los Angeles Kings to interview Cassidy. It's also not known if Toronto has asked. The Golden Knights have withheld and exercised their right to say no while Cassidy remains under contract.
On Frankly Hockey on Monday, NHL insider Frank Seravalli reported the following:
“The league is not going to overrule the Golden Knights here. Contract law and contract language are just that. They, I believe, have a clear stance in the League office that if Vegas wants to go to the mat here and not grant permission for Bruce Cassidy to speak to a division rival, then that is their right to do so, so long as they continue to pay the four and a half million dollars that are owed to Bruce Cassidy for next year.”
He adds, “If that’s the cheque they want to write to not have Bruce Cassidy, they believe, make the Oilers better next year, the league, there’s not much they can do, even if it defies custom and norms.”
Whether related or unrelated, the Oilers have also begun making requests to interview other candidates. Among them is Craig Berube, the former Maple Leafs head coach. It is being reported he would have interest, but there is a lot of pushback in Edmonton amongst the fan base and local media.
All the while, Seravalli is also reporting that the Golden Knights have appealed sanctions for violation of media access policy. Their appeal was heard on Tuesday morning in-person in New York. Servalli notes, "The penalties currently stand as originally assessed. We'll see if Commissioner Bettman decides to reduce upon consideration."
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson was no different than any Montreal hockey fan, increasingly impatient over talk of the team’s promising potential.
Turns out, the future has arrived perhaps a little ahead of schedule, and propelled by forward Alex Newhook’s knack for scoring Game 7 playoff series-clinching goals.
“It means a lot,” Matheson said after Montreal advanced to the Eastern Conference finals courtesy of Newhook’s goal 11:22 into overtime of a 3-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres.
“For a long time it’s been talking about the rebuild and rebuild. I think as a group we’re a little tired of that whole kind of viewpoint, as if we have to keep being patient and wait, and our time will come,” he said. “So I feel it’s exciting for us and motivating for us to see that we’re at this stage already.”
The win was Montreal’s second in a Game 7 this postseason, with both coming on the road and both decided by Newhook. The second-line forward also scored the tie-breaking goal 11:07 into the third period in Game 7 of Montreal’s 2-1 first-round series-clinching win over Tampa Bay.
Next up are the well-rested Hurricanes in a series that opens at Carolina. The Hurricanes have swept each of their first two rounds, and been off since a 3-2 overtime win against Philadelphia on May 9.
The Canadiens reached the NHL’s semifinal round for the first time since the 2021 COVID-altered playoffs, in which a veteran-laden Montreal team — including captain Shea Weber and goalie Carey Price — beat Vegas before losing to Tampa Bay in the Stanley Cup Final in five games.
Though there are a few holdovers, such as captain Nick Suzuki and linemate Cole Caufield, both now in their mid-20s, this group essentially has been rebuilt from scratch in three-plus seasons under general manager Kent Hughes and coach Martin St. Louis.
Among the newcomers are draft picks such as defenseman Lane Hutson, forwards Juraj Slafkovsky and Ivan Demidov, and goalie Jakub Dobes. Then there’s the key pieces Hughes acquired through trades, including Newhook, Matheson, Noah Dobson, Alexandre Carrier and Phillip Danault, who is back for a second stint.
“We built it since I’ve been here, and we built it all season long,” said Newhook, who won the Stanley Cup in 2022 with Colorado, and now is in his second season in Montreal. “We’re a confident group. We knew what we were capable of all year. I think we believe that we can keep going and bring this thing all the way.”
Montreal is in the playoffs for just the fourth time in nine years. And the team’s upward trajectory is apparent a year after being knocked out in the first round by Washington, and following a season in which Montreal’s 48 wins and 106 points were the most since 2014-15.
The Canadiens haven’t lost consecutive games since mid-March, and improved their playoff record to 6-0 following a loss.
Dobes, a rookie, has carried the load in goal by starting every playoff game and after going 29-10-4 this season. In two Game 7s, he’s allowed a combined three goals on 68 shots, including a 37-save outing against Buffalo.
And he and the Canadiens bounced back from an 8-3 loss in Game 6.
“We’re used to it,” Dobes said of performing in the clutch. “The Tampa series made us a way better team than before the playoffs. We know how to bounce back. We know what’s the feeling like. So, yeah, it’s just keep getting experience.”
Montreal entered the playoffs with 10 players having previously appeared in a Game 7. The Canadiens now count 20.
“It’s easy to just use the age as a crutch,” said St. Louis, who improved to 2-0 in Game 7s as a coach to go along with 6-2 during his playing days.
“Two years ago, we know that we lacked experience. That doesn’t mean you can’t advance and mature,” he said. “Last year’s experience in the playoffs, what we’re going through right now, you can’t buy that. It’s amazing. I’m so happy for the players to live that.”
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Jon Metler's expert pick: Jalen Brunson Over 6.5 assists
Price: +120 at bet365
Nobody is happier that the Cavaliers won Game 7 and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals than Jalen Brunson, because now he gets to face much weaker point-of-attack defense instead of the menace that is Ausar Thompson.
Brunson won’t even need many screens to initiate offense and create shots for his teammates; he can break down this defense off the bounce on his own while also putting significant pressure on the drop coverage of Jarrett Allen, which should create even more potential assist opportunities.
One angle I really love for Game 1 is the scheduling spot: The New York Knicks have had several days off, while the Cavaliers are coming off a grueling seven-game series with only one day of rest. That should also lead to plenty of transition opportunities for Brunson to attack a fatigued Cleveland defense and generate easy assists. This prop is trading at +120, but I price it closer to -145.
Jason Logan's expert pick: Cavaliers 1Q +2
Price: -115 at bet365
The Knicks have been chilling for some time now, having last played on May 10. While that rest edge works in New York’s advantage over the course of the series, it could leave the Knicks flat in the first 12 minutes of Game 1.
The Cleveland Cavaliers, on the other hand, are coming off a do-or-die Game 7 win on Sunday and bring that mentality and momentum into MSG. Cleveland is playing its best basketball, having won four of its last five, while (more importantly) proving it can win on the road in the playoffs.
I’m not sure what the full 48 minutes bring for Cleveland, but I like the Cavs to come out swinging in Game 1 and cover the first-quarter spread.
Joe Osborne's expert pick: Knicks -7
Price: -115 at bet365
The Knicks are in a very similar spot to their Game 1 matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers, when they caught a visiting team coming off an emotional (and unlikely) Game 7 road win — and rolled to a 39-point victory.
Statistically, New York has been the best team in the playoffs so far, leading the postseason in net rating. Since Game 4 of their first-round series, the Knicks are 7-0 with an absurd average margin of victory of 26.4 points. The long layoff is worth noting, but if any team welcomes it... it's New York, after breaking down physically the past few seasons. This team is fresh and ready to come out aggressively tonight.
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According to multiple reports, the former St. John's guard and 2025 Big East Player of the Year has reportedly agreed to sign with Will Wade and LSU in Baton Rouge for the 2026-27 men's college basketball season.
Luis, who has been out of college basketball for over a year, is currently ineligible to play for the Tigers after he signed a two-way NBA contract with the Utah Jazz and an Exhibit 10 deal with the Boston Celtics after going undrafted in the 2025 NBA Draft.
The 6-foot-7 guard played for Rick Pitino at St. John's for two seasons and was one of the top guards in the Big East. In his junior season with the Red Storm, Luis led the team to a No. 2 seed in the Men's NCAA Basketball Tournament and a Big East Tournament title. He earned a second-team All-American nod after averaging 18.2 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.
Here's what to know on Luis' eligibility status and situation at LSU:
Is RJ Luis eligible to play at LSU?
As things stand right now, no, Luis is not eligible to play for LSU in the 2026-27 season, as he has signed an NBA contract.
Luis also isn’t the first player to navigate this kind of eligibility challenge after giving up his college status and signing an NBA contract, though. The final decision in Charles Bediako’s eligibility case at Alabama offers a meaningful indicator of how Luis’ situation could unfold.
He played in five games for the Crimson Tide before his restraining order was reversed. Due to the wording of Bediako's initial TRO, the NCAA was unable to make Alabama forfeit the games in which Bediako played. The Crimson Tide made the NCAA tournament as a 4-seed, losing to eventual national champion Michigan in the Sweet 16.
According to Sports Illustrated, the NCAA sent out a memo last week to reaffirm its position that it will not reinstate eligibility to those that have "entered an agreement with, competed on or received compensation from" NBA teams.
NCAA eligibility rules for NBA signees
Here is what NCAA president Charlie Baker said in a statement amid Bediako's eligibility case in December:
"The NCAA has not and will not grant eligibility to any prospective or returning student-athletes who have signed an NBA contract (including a two-way contract). As schools are increasingly recruiting individuals with international league experience, the NCAA is exercising discretion in applying the actual and necessary expenses bylaw to ensure that prospective student-athletes with experience in American basketball leagues are not at a disadvantage compared to their international counterparts. Rules have long permitted schools to enroll and play individuals with no prior collegiate experience midyear."
Wade has slowly built his roster at LSU after being hired away from North Carolina State on March 26, with all nine of the Tigers' remaining players from their 2025-26 roster entering the transfer portal. The Tigers have since landed Kentucky forward Mouhamed Dioubate, Michigan State guard Divine Ugochukwi, Kansas State guard Abdi Bashir Jr. and UTSA guard Austin Nunez in the transfer portal.
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 25: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers defends Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks during the game on December 25, 2025 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers are four games away from the NBA Finals. Here’s how they can get ‘em.
1. Clean the Glass
Everyone remembers 2023. If you don’t, I’ll quickly remind you.
The Cavs were thumped 4-1 by the New York Knicks in this core’s first playoff run together. Primarily, the Cavs found themselves being thrashed on the offensive glass.
A lot has changed since then.
For starters, the Knicks have traded out some bruising rebounders like Julius Randle, Isaiah Hartenstein, and RJ Barrett for more finesse-oriented players such as Mikal Bridges, Karl-Anthony Towns, and OG Anunoby. That hasn’t made them a bad rebounding team by any means (they’re still an elite defensive rebounding team), but it’s changed them from being a grit-and-grind squad to a team that relies on skill. They don’t live and die on offensive boards as much as they did in the past.
Cleveland, meanwhile, has made plenty of changes of their own. Both Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley have come a long way since taking those lumps and have turned in the best two rounds of their postseason careers. And, players like James Harden and Max Strus give the Cavs a better chance at gang-rebounding than either Darius Garland or Cedi Osman provided back in 2023.
Yeah, like I said, a lot has changed. But some things stay the same. Winning the possession battle will be a key here.
The Knicks rank 5th in offensive rebounding percentage out of 16 teams to reach the playoffs this season. This is still one of their strengths. As for the Cavs, they’re just 14th in defensive rebounding percentage — meaning they’ve been getting beat on the glass for most of the postseason.
That could spell trouble. Though it’s worth noting that Detroit ranked 2nd in offensive rebounding for the season, while Toronto was 13th. The Knicks had a much more favorable route from this perspective, facing the 76ers (10th in offensive rebounding rate) and the Hawks (20th).
The final dose of context here is that Cleveland actually ranks first in offensive rebounding among 16 playoff teams. For all they might give up defensively, they’ve made up for it by pounding the other side of the glass.
The Cavs have grown since their last meeting with the Knicks, and they have since beaten two opponents who are more similar to the ‘23 Knicks than the current New York team is from a stylistic standpoint. Still, all of this will be put to the ultimate test in the ECF.
2. Feed the Bigs
If you think the Cavs are at their best when they feed the bigs, then you and Dan Gilbert are on the same page. Gilbert had dinner with Kenny Atkinson before Game 7 against the Pistons and reminded him of how important Jarrett Allen is to the team’s success.
In other words, Dan is a Fro truther.
I can’t blame him. It’s always felt like ‘Cavalier basketball’ was synonymous with the two bigs dominating on the inside. Allen’s dominant showings in both Game 7s this postseason are a great example of this. The pressure he puts on the rim can break the back of any opponent if the Cavs guards keep them involved.
Obviously, it’s more complicated than this. Opponents can shrink the floor and effectively remove the pick-and-roll from Cleveland if they have the personnel. We saw both Detroit and Toronto succeed at blitzing these actions and keeping the Cavs from consistently tapping into their full potential.
I’m not sure if New York has the bodies to replicate this.
Josh Hart and OG Anunoby are worth worrying about. Mikal Bridges, depending on his screen navigation, can cause problems too. But Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns are walking bullseyes. The Cavs have not had two targets more ripe for picking in screening actions.
Towns isn’t mobile enough to switch onto the perimeter. He’s also not the best drop defender in the world, either. Add that Brunson is prone to dying on screens, and the Knicks will be working hard to keep those two from ever being in the same defensive sequence together. The Cavs, of course, will try to make that happen as often as possible.
Above all of this — New York’s rim protection is questionable, at best. Opponents have shot above 70% at the rim in the playoffs versus the Knicks, which is the fourth-highest percentage out of 16 teams. The Cavs, led by Allen and Mobley, are the third-best rim-finishing team in the postseason. This could be a massive advantage for Cleveland in this series.
On the other end, New York is sixth in rim accuracy and first in rim frequency. Meaning, the Cavs will have their hands full, too. Though I think the Allen/Mobley frontcourt is more equipped to handle this than anyone in Atlanta or Philly (with all due respect).
Winning on the glass is one thing. But being the more forceful and impactful frontcourt is another. The Cavs bigs have a chance to own both paints. The more they seize control of the interior, the better chance Cleveland has at reaching the NBA Finals.
3. Donovan Mitchell’s Balance
Our final key could be the biggest one. What version of Donovan Mitchell appears in the ECF?
Mitchell can score in bunches; that much has been proven. He’s had some of the most prolific scoring games in playoff history. But those haven’t always translated to winning. And, that approach hasn’t been sustainable for long playoff runs. Mitchell is more likely to burn bright and quick than he is to go the distance with that score-first mentality.
That’s why the Cavs need him to strike the proper balance between passing and scoring. It all comes down to decision-making.
Mitchell has to make reads on the fly. Is the help overcommitting? Make the right pass, even if it’s not going to lead directly to an assist. Hitting those ‘singles’ and letting the offense flow from there is crucial. Otherwise, things can get jammed up in a hurry.
The Cavs beat Detroit in Game 7 largely behind Mitchell’s processing speed as a passer. This isn’t his greatest strength, but it’s a muscle he’s been able to occasionally flex. He has strong playmaking chops when he makes an effort to act like a point guard. Taking on that role, for long stretches at a time, will ensure the Cavs offense can keep up with anything New York does.
Mitchell’s time to score will come. Every game will have a moment that calls for him to become assertive. In Game 7 versus the Pistons, it was the third quarter when the rim pressure from Cleveland’s bigs, combined with Sam Merrill’s hot shooting, opened the floor for Mitchell to score 15 of his 26 points in the closeout game.
Being process-oriented means making the right play at every turn. That requires patience and a trust that the correct process will eventually break the dam on any given night. Mitchell will have to take this approach if he wants this team to advance to another round.
Neither Dusty May nor the Michigan fanbase have completely ruled out another season of Morez Johnson Jr., whose name remains in the NBA Draft. However, after testing incredibly well at the NBA Combine, and based on various outlets’ draft projections, it feels likely the Wolverines will need to look elsewhere for that final roster spot for the 2026-27 season.
Let’s take a quick look and see where Johnson is at on big boards and mock drafts:
Jonathan Wasserman had this to say on Johnson, whom he compared to the Detroit Pistons’ Isaiah Stewart:
“MorezJohnson could have only helped himself at the NBA combine. After measuring 6’9″ barefoot, 250 pounds with a 7’3.5″ wingspan, he surprised with 17-of-25 makes in the three-point star drill, got up for a 39.5″ max vertical and one of the top lane agility times.
NBA teams understand his offensive limitations, but they also value what he does well and believe that physicality, finishing, defensive versatility and motor are sure to translate.
He could wind up earning lottery consideration if he continues to shoot well during workouts.“
Kurt Helin, who has Johnson paired up with the Toronto Raptors at 19, said, “Morez helped his cause at the NBA Draft Combine, showcasing a combination of size (6’9″ with an 8’11” reach) and athleticism (a 39-inch vertical leap). He also shot well from 3 at the combine, something he didn’t get to show at Michigan. Johnson is a high-energy player who was one of the locker room leaders of a national champion; he’ll fit in with whatever is being built in Toronto.“
Mark Giannotto has the San Antonio Spurs selecting Johnson at 20. Along with the Oklahoma City Thunder, this feels like an ideal landing spot for Johnson (and anyone really) to develop his skills before transitioning into a more relied-upon player.
Additionally, 247Sports’ Zach Shaw had this to add regarding Johnson’s showing at the NBA Combine:
“A case could be made that Johnson elevated his draft stock more than any other player at the NBA Draft Combine. Scouts likely were impressed by Johnson’s toughness, physicality and aggression on both sides of the court before the combine thanks to his strong season at Michigan, but there aren’t too many players with wingspans greater than 7-foot-3, weighing more than 250 pounds and posting testing results like a 10.59-second lane agility time, a 39-inch vertical leap and 17 of 25 3-pointers. Most of the players who do check those boxes aren’t on rookie contracts, but max ones.”
You could argue that without having a lottery guarantee, Johnson could benefit from another year with May and turn into a surefire lottery selection next summer. But even if he expanded his offensive repertoire and continued to wreak havoc on the glass and the defensive end, he will probably never fit the mold of a No. 1 scorer or upper-echelon draft prospect.
Additionally, consistently landing in the Top 20 of these mocks should make this a relatively easy decision for Johnson and his camp. The overwhelming odds are this point are that Johnson will stay in the draft and leave college basketball on top of the mountain as a national champion.
Brunson o6.5 assists
CLE 1Q +2
