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Why Kyle Tucker signing could lead to a Mets-Yankees showdown

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Cody Bellinger reacts after flying out in the sixth inning against the Athletics, Image 2 shows New York Mets owner Steve Cohen looking on at Spring Training, Image 3 shows New York Yankees co-owner Hal Steinbrenner on the field
Bellinger Mets-Yankees

Another Brian Cashman/Hal Steinbrenner vs. David Stearns/Steve Cohen battle for a top free agent may be on tap.

After Kyle Tucker spurned the Mets by going to the Dodgers on a four-year, $240 million deal, it could potentially lead to the Yankees and Mets battling for Cody Bellinger.

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The Yankees have made it clear that Bellinger is their priority this offseason, while the Mets have shown interest in the talented outfielder/first baseman.

Having lost Pete Alonso to the Orioles and missed out on Tucker, it’s possible the Mets could turn their attention to Bellinger since there are really only two impact bats left in free agency in Bellinger and Bo Bichette.

With rumors linking the Phillies to Bichette and the Mets already having a shortstop and second baseman, it likely leaves Bellinger as their best option.

Bellinger, 30, has yet to sign since he’s in a standoff with the Yankees about contract length.

He and agent Scott Boras are seeking a seven-year pact, while The Post reported that the Yankees have offered $155 million over five years for a $31 million annual average value (AAV).

Cody Bellinger stands to benefit after Kyle Tucker’s decision. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

The Yankees have added two opt-outs to their offer in an attempt to make it more appealing.

That Bellinger hasn’t signed elsewhere is an indication that no other team has swooped in to top the Yankees’ offer and perhaps the Mets could choose to do so now.

The Mets’ four-year, $220 million offer showed they have plenty more to spend this offseason, although they may view Tucker and Bellinger on different levels.

Steve Cohen missed out on Kyle Tucker. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

Bellinger would fit the Mets’ roster well since he can play the outfield and first base, which provides value after Brandon Nimmo and Alonso exited this offseason.

With the Mets, Yankees and Blue Jays all in the market for another bat, the reality is that at least one of those teams will miss out on Bellinger and Bicehtte and be left scrambling.

There are quality hitters available in trades, such as the Cardinals’ Brendan Donovan, but that would cost prospect capital instead of strict dollars.

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Mets' possible pivots after missing on Kyle Tucker — and a word on the juggernaut Dodgers

Kyle Tucker agreeing to sign with the Dodgers over the Mets and Blue Jays late Thursday night should've surprised no one.

The Mets had an outrageously good offer on the table (four years at $200 million, and later went to four years at $220 million). Meanwhile, reports were that the Blue Jays had extended a long-term offer, and that Toronto was willing to go as high as 10 years.

With that as a backdrop, it made no sense that Tucker was taking so long to reach a decision. And that's why at 4:31 p.m. I typed this guess to my colleagues: "Tucker is going to the Dodgers."

It took a while longer for that to happen, and the numbers were eye-popping: four years for $240 million (an insane $60 million AAV), with a $64 million signing bonus and $30 million deferred.

What happened was not a Steve Cohen failure or a David Stearns failure. And it was not a uniquely Mets thing.

There is next to nothing a team can do when a player seemingly wants a certain team and city. If the Mets went to $61 million annually (which they were right to not do), the Dodgers probably would've gone to $62 million. 

Over the last handful of seasons, we've watched the same song and dance play out with Los Angeles and star players.

Shohei Ohtani wouldn't even seriously consider the East Coast before agreeing to his contract with LA that included $680 million in deferrals. 

May 23, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) reacts after tagging up and taking second base on a sacrifice fly by Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts (not pictured) in front of New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) and second baseman Luisangel Acuna (2) during the third inning at Citi Field
May 23, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) reacts after tagging up and taking second base on a sacrifice fly by Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts (not pictured) in front of New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) and second baseman Luisangel Acuna (2) during the third inning at Citi Field / Brad Penner-Imagn Images

We heard how much Yoshinobu Yamamoto loved the Yankees. Didn't matter. He, too, chose the Dodgers, with their more relaxed city and fan base (and incredible climate) coming along with that choice.

The same happened with Roki Sasaki, whose affordability made him a possibility for every team, but who went to the Dodgers anyway.

In a way, lots of these players are acting like Kevin Durant did when he decided to join the juggernaut Warriors. It isn't fun for the other 29 teams. It isn't really competitive. It's certainly not good for the sport. But the Dodgers are playing within the rules. And until those rules change, perhaps as part of a lockout in 2027, they can keep doing this. To that end, would anyone be surprised if they traded for Tarik Skubal next?

As far as where the Mets go from here this offseason?

There seems to be a desire in the wake of Tucker spurning them to relitigate the decisions New York has made regarding the players they have let go this offseason.

In the case of Edwin Diaz, that's fair. It seems apparent that something went haywire at the end of those negotiations, with the Mets losing a player who wanted to be in Queens.

Beyond that, it's pretty clear that the Mets acted with conviction.

Trading Brandon Nimmo in order to get out of the last five years of his deal as he enters his age-33 season was prudent. The same goes for dealing Jeff McNeil, who wouldn't have had a regular role in 2026 had he stayed.

The big one is Pete Alonso, and it can be argued without the benefit of hindsight that perhaps the Mets should've offered him four or five years and asked him to be their DH. But there's no reason to wring your hands over the Mets not making him an offer. If they weren't going to the level it took to keep him, extending an offer for the sake of it would've been pointless.

Pete Alonso wears a Baltimore Orioles uniform for the first time during his introductory press conference on December 12, 2025
Pete Alonso wears a Baltimore Orioles uniform for the first time during his introductory press conference on December 12, 2025 / Screenshot via WBFF Baltimore

New York's main additions before Friday were Devin Williams, Jorge Polanco, Luke Weaver, and Marcus Semien. That is not nearly good enough, and there are likely significant moves coming.

As the Mets ponder what those moves should be, it's instructive to look at the upcoming free agent classes after 2026 and 2027, when there will not be a single difference-making hitter available. The biggest ones next offseason could be Jazz Chisholm Jr. and a 37-year-old George Springer. The year after that, the boldest names are likely to be Jeremy Peña and Steven Kwan.

So, what now?

With the Mets in serious need in the starting rotation and outfield, here are two plausible scenarios:

Option A: Trade for Freddy Peralta and sign a bat or two

Peralta is there for the taking, and the Mets have the kind of players who should interest the Brewers.

And if Peralta is open to an extension, as Jon Heyman of The New York Post reported on Thursday, it could make trading for him even more palatable.

Could a deal centered around Brandon Sproat and A.J. Ewing work? Would the Mets be willing to trade Sproat and Jett Williams if they knew they were turning around and locking Peralta up long-term?

Oct 4, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Freddy Peralta (51) pitches against the Chicago Cubs during the second inning of game one of the NLDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at American Family Field.
Oct 4, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Freddy Peralta (51) pitches against the Chicago Cubs during the second inning of game one of the NLDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at American Family Field. / Michael McLoone - Imagn Images

If the Mets can't snag Peralta, they could try to engage the Twins on Joe Ryan. Or call the Padres about Nick Pivetta. They could also take a moonshot and attempt to entice the Tigers to trade Skubal, with a contentious arbitration hearing approaching.

As far as the free agent bats, there really aren't many that are enticing.

The Mets could always try to snag Cody Bellinger from the Yankees, but that doesn't feel likely. Beyond that, Bellinger's year-to-year inconsistency and 2025 home/road splits should give any team pause.

Eugenio Suarez could make sense if New York wants to try to add serious power. But he profiles best at DH and strikes out a ton.

One sensible move could be turning to Bo Bichette, who is entering his age-28 season. The Mets could conceivably sign Bichette to play third base, slide Brett Baty to first base, and use Jorge Polanco as their primary DH. (Editor's Note: the Mets signed Bichette to a three-year deal on Friday afternoon)

Option B: Sign Framber Valdez and trade for an outfielder

With 30-year old Ranger Suarez signing a five-year deal, it's possible the 32-year-old Valdez inks a three-or four-year contract at a decently higher AAV than Suarez's $26 million. That would be right in the Mets' wheelhouse, and give them a legit top of the rotation starter.

It's fair to wonder, though, if the Mets will want to add $30 million or so to the payroll in the form of Valdez after agreeing to sign Bichette. There's also the fact that Valdez is attached to a qualifying offer, and signing him after inking Bichette would would almost totally destroy New York's 2026 MLB Draft.

Meanwhile, if the Mets don't use any of their best young players to trade for pitching, they could theoretically use them to acquire an outfielder instead.

Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Jarren Duran (16) runs out of the dugout before the start of a game against the Atlanta Braves at Fenway Park.
Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Jarren Duran (16) runs out of the dugout before the start of a game against the Atlanta Braves at Fenway Park. / Eric Canha - Imagn Images

Maybe they call the Red Sox about Jarren Duran.

Perhaps they try to pry Brendan Donovan from the Cardinals.

Another option could be snagging Ramon Laureano from the Padres -- and maybe expanding that deal to include a high-leverage reliever like Jeremiah Estrada.

***

Before the Tucker gut punch, this had already been an offseason of seismic change for the Mets and their fans.

It has been unprecedented. It has been uncomfortable. It has been disappointing. But there is still time.

If the Mets have a similar roster 26 days from now when pitchers and catchers report to Port St. Lucie, it will be more than fair to wonder what happened.

But it seems far likelier the conversation will be revolving around how the Mets landed some big swings at the end of the offseason rather than how it all went wrong.

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Phils and Realmuto reunite with new three-year deal

Phils and Realmuto reunite with new three-year deal originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

J.T. Realmuto is sticking around as the Phils’ backstop.

Philadelphia is re-signing their veteran catcher on a three-year, $45 million contract, according to Matt Gelb of The Athletic and Bob Nightengale of USA Today, keeping the leader of their pitching staff in place. The deal includes $5 million worth of incentives per year.

Realmuto, 34, hit .257 with 12 homers and 52 RBIs in 2025 and again served as the backbone of one of baseball’s most stable rotations.

The numbers tell the story. Over the past three seasons, Phillies starters rank third in MLB in ERA (3.88) and first in wins (181), quality starts (234), fielding-independent pitching (3.78) and chase rate (34.3 O-Swing%).

Realmuto first joined the Phillies in 2019 after the organization acquired him in a trade from Miami, later returning on a five-year, $115.5 million contract — which remains the highest average annual value ($23.1 million) for a catcher ever signed in free agency.

Since signing, he has made two All-Star teams, won a Gold Glove and caught more innings than any other catcher in the Majors. In that span, he’s slashed .262/.327/.437 with a 109 OPS+, and his postseason production has been steady — seven home runs and a .745 OPS over four playoff runs.

Manager Rob Thomson has often pointed to Realmuto’s approach as a separator. “J.T. is the most prepared catcher I’ve ever been around,” Thomson said back in October.

After the Phillies missed out on signing Bo Bichette, it became clear that a reunion was imminent. The club had reportedly extended a three-year deal to the catcher recently.

With Realmuto’s return, the Phillies maintain a core piece of their roster and the familiarity that has played a central role in the club’s rise over the past four seasons.

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Canadiens Farm Team To Be Well Represented At AHL All-Star Game

While there won’t be an All-Star Game in the NHL this season because of the Olympics break, and there wasn’t one last year because of the 4 Nations Face-Off, the traditional game still takes place in the AHL, and the Montreal Canadiens farm team, the Laval Rocket, will be well represented.

Laval will have three players on the ice and a coach behind the bench. Pascal Vincent will be one of the four bench bosses on duty, while Jacob Fowler, Adam Engstrom, and Laurent Dauphin will be playing.

The All-Star Classic will take place on February 10 and 11 in Rockford, Illinois, and if one could have wondered if Fowler would be making it since he’s currently in the NHL, there’s no doubt this year because the NHL will be put on hold from February 5th for the Olympics. Given how little action the 21-year-old has seen with the goalie carousel in Montreal, there is no doubt that he will be back in Laval for the break, which will allow him to see as much action as possible.

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In 15 games with the Rocket this season, the netminder has a 10-5-0 record, three shutouts, with a 2.09 GAA and a .919 save percentage. The masked man’s performance was so good that when goaltending wasn’t up to par in the NHL, the Habs brass did not hesitate to call upon him even though the initial plan, as admitted by GM Kent Hughes, was to keep him in the AHL for the season.

As for defenseman Adam Engstrom, he has 20 points in 23 games with 10 penalty minutes and a plus-10 rating with the Rocket this season. Despite being called up by the Canadiens for 11 games, he’s the 10th-highest-scoring defenseman in the AHL, and he leads all Rocket blueliners. William Trudeau is second amongst the farm team’s blueliners with 13 points in 27 games, followed by Marc Del Gaizo with 12 points in 27 games and prospect David Reinbacher, who also has 12 points, but in 28 games.

As for Laurent Dauphin, he is second in scoring in the league with 40 points in 32 games, second only to the Belleville Senators’ Arthur Kaliyev, who has 42 points but in 37 games. Furthermore, Dauphin has a plus-22 rating, while Kaliyev’s is minus-7. At 30 years old, the centerman has accepted the fact that his NHL dream won’t come true when he came back to the Canadiens’ organization on an AHL contract, after trying his luck with the defunct Arizona Coyotes’ organization and in Switzerland.

Finally, Vincent has the Rocket atop the North Division with a 22-12-1-1 record, good for 46 points in 36 games, four points ahead of the Rochester Americans. This is quite a feat, given how many of his players have been called up by the Habs. He had to make do without Engstrom, Fowler, Owen Beck, Florian Xhekaj, Jared Davidson, and Joshua Roy at times. The bench boss and his coaching staff have been praised by Martin St-Louis a few times for how ready the players he has called up are to perform in the NHL. Vincent has been an excellent hire for the organization. Last season, he got the Rocket to the Conference Final and will no doubt be aiming to top that this time around.

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‘I was knocked for six’: Zander Fagerson on his Lions injury despair and Glasgow’s European quest

The Glasgow prop turns 30 on Monday and helping to raise four kids under seven he is feeling it, but has Saracens to deal with on Sunday first

It is a proper challenge. The screeching pressure, the hard graft, the energy-sapping demands. And all that before Zander Fagerson, father of four kids under seven including 14-month-old twins, heads out for his intense day job with Glasgow Warriors and Scotland. As the big man wryly puts it: “You definitely need a lot more patience with the kids. It’s different stresses. One’s more physical, one’s more mental. I love them both.”

Welcome to Fagerson’s insanely busy life. For him and his wife, Yasmine, “hectic” does not begin to cover it. But talk to him immediately after another full-on session on the training field – “The backs have coffees and do their hair, the forwards are out grafting” – and the British & Irish Lions prop is clearly full of beans. And why not? Glasgow remain unbeaten in their Champions Cup pool and will sit among the top seeds for the start of the knockout stage should they beat Saracens at Scotstoun on Sunday.

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William Nylander’s Injury Looms After Maple Leafs Surrender Third-Period Lead in Loss to Golden Knights

LAS VEGAS — William Nylander had a goal and an assist in the first 5:03 of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 6-5 overtime loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, but he departed the game two shifts after his last offensive contribution.

In 38 games this season, Nylander leads the Leafs with 48 points (17 goals and 31 assists). Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube, perhaps frustrated by his team’s inability to hold a two-goal lead in the third period, admitted after the game that Nylander sustained an aggravation to a lower-body injury that previously kept the skilled winger out for six games.

“Well, it's hard. He was back playing great and then now he's out again,” Berube said. “We'll see how long”.

It’s unclear exactly how Nylander got hurt, but his leg did appear to buckle a bit while celebrating his lone goal of the game.

“Willy's a very important player for us. So it's not ideal, but, you know, he leaves early and he still impacted the game pretty well,” John Tavares said of Nylander. “Obviously tough to see him leave. But injuries have been part of our group the whole year and the way we've had to kind of come around it and guys step up and the way the lineup unfolds”.

The good news for the Leafs is that they went 4-0-2 in that six-game stretch when Nylander first sustained the injury, so the club has shown an ability to push past injuries to key players this season.

After the game, Nylander was seen walking around, catching up with players on the opposing team and was all smiles. From that standpoint, it could be good news. However, because this could be something that lingers, the Leafs must be mindful since the first six games he missed clearly didn’t eradicate the ailment.

Even though they only had Nylander for 2:17 of ice time on Thursday, the inability to hold onto the third-period lead was the most visible annoyance for Berube.

“It's frustrating to lose this game tonight,” Berube said. “We got off to a great start. I thought we played really well tonight for the most part of the game. You know, we've just got to be smarter in certain situations. That's what it boils down to tonight. I think we played a pretty solid game tonight, but we made some mistakes that we don't need to make in the third period and probably win the game”.

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Bo Bichette agrees to three-year deal with rival Mets

Bo Bichette agrees to three-year deal with rival Mets originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Bo Bichette is heading to the Mets.

The free-agent infielder has agreed to a three-year, $126 million deal with New York, with opt-outs after each of the first two seasons, according to Will Sammon of The Athletic, with contract details reported by Jeff Passan of ESPN.

The signing comes days after Bichette met with the Phillies, who had emerged as a serious suitor following the hiring of Don Mattingly, his former bench coach in Toronto.

Philadelphia was viewed as a legitimate contender throughout the process, but ultimately came up short as Bichette opted for a shorter-term deal that offers significant flexibility.

Bichette, 27, is coming off another strong offensive season. In 2025, he hit .311 with 18 home runs and 94 RBIs, finishing second in the majors with 44 doubles. He has led the American League in hits twice and has remained one of the more consistent right-handed bats in the game since debuting in 2019.

A left knee injury sidelined Bichette for the final 20 games of the regular season, but he returned in the World Series and showed no lingering effects, hitting .348 with a home run and six RBIs.

Defensive questions and positional fit complicated Bichette’s market at times, but his bat remained the primary draw.

John Clark of NBC Sports Philadelphia confirmed that the club had offered more years and guaranteed money. Bob Nightengale of USA Today later reported that the Phillies offered Bichette a seven-year, $200 million deal. It’s known that the Phillies’ ownership does not offer opt-outs in their contract negotiations.

He becomes a major addition for the Mets — and a notable miss for a Phillies club that continues to search for right-handed offense heading into this upcoming season.

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The Anferno: Five stats that highlight Simons' impact with Celtics

The Anferno: Five stats that highlight Simons' impact with Celtics originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Anfernee Simons erupted for a season-high 39 points on Thursday night in Miami, fueling the Celtics as they erased a 19-point deficit and delivered a gritty 119-114 road triumph over the Heat. 

Simons, who has had a penchant for loud quarters and halves this season, put together maybe his most complete game of the season while shooting 13 of 28 from the field and 7 of 16 beyond the 3-point arc. Add in 10 assist points off four assists and Simons, accounted for nearly 41 percent of Boston’s scoring output in 34 minutes off the bench.

The Celtics are now 9-2 when Simons scores 17-plus points this season, and 14-15 when he doesn’t. On a night when the core trio of Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard all struggled with offensive efficiency, Simons reaffirmed his value as a microwave scorer who piled up 18 fourth-quarter points as Boston surged to the finish line for a must-have win after dropping three of its last four. 

All this happened as trade rumors kick into overdrive three weeks before the trade deadline. Simons, operating in the final year of a contract paying him $27.7 million, is one of Boston’s few movable assets, but his recent output certainly has given president of basketball operations Brad Stevens even more to ponder as he charts a path forward.

On one hand, Thursday’s game is a loud reminder of how vital Simons’ offense can be for a Boston team that ranks second in the NBA in offensive rating. On the other, his value might never be higher than at this very moment, and the potential in-season return of Jayson Tatum will soon bite into everyone’s shot totals.

The Celtics could benefit from adding more size and depth at the center position, something Simons might be able to help fetch. His name will continue to float in the rumors, even if the Celtics ultimately decide the most prudent path forward is to simply carry him to the finish line of the season and then ponder future pathways. 

For now, let’s crunch the numbers on Simons’ 2025-26 impact:

Hot from downtown

Simons is now shooting 50 percent from beyond the arc over his last nine games. That’s up 13.2 percent over his first 30 games in green (36.8 percent).

Simons has connected on 37 of 74 3-pointers over those nine games and is a +61 in plus/minus in that span. Maybe most notable is that 88.8 percent of Simons’ 3s this season have come off non-corner attempts, and he’s making 40 percent of those shots (90 of 223).

His ability to generate quality pull-up looks, particularly when he’s in full Anferno mode, is a huge luxury for an offense that is prone to stagnation. 

Simons says: Gravity

The number-crunchers over at BBall-Index note that Simons ranks 8th out of 508 players in “overall gravity,” or the defensive attention a player draws even when they don’t have the basketball.

That’s accentuated by Simons’ assist numbers being way up lately, popping to 3.7 per game over the last nine outings (up from 2.3 over his first 30 games).

When teams send extra bodies to take away his shot, Simons has been good at creating for others. And the attention defenses must afford him has also opened up opportunities for the rest of Boston’s bench players.

Effort on both ends

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla has gone out of his way to praise Simons’ defensive engagement since arriving in Boston. Trying hard to improve his reputation, Simons is staying attached to his matchups, and the effort is obvious.

Opponents are shooting 2 percent below expected output when Simons is the primary defender this season. Any negative number is excellent, and consider that All-Defense stalwart Derrick White is holding opponents to 2.2 percent below expected and Jordan Walsh is at 1.3 percent below expected.

To be fair, White and Walsh have far more difficult assignments most nights, and the Celtics have done a good job hiding Simons on lesser offensive players, but the effort is what matters here. And Simons is clearly trying to show he’s invested.

What’s more, Simons remains excellent at avoiding fouls when defending, committing infractions on a mere 2.9 percent of team plays. 

Fourth-quarter punch

When you think of Boston’s fourth-quarter scoring, you probably think of White and Jaylen Brown shouldering that load. But Simons has quietly been a fourth-quarter force.

With Thursday’s 18-point final-frame outburst, Simons is now third in the NBA in fourth-quarter bench points with 162, behind only Jaime Jaquez Jr. (169) and Naz Reid (163). Simons’ 28 fourth-quarter 3-pointers are second to only Cam Spencer (30). 

Sixth Man campaign brewing?

Simons ranks fourth in the NBA while averaging 14.1 points per game off the bench (minimum of 20 games off bench). He’s +169 in 970 bench minutes, which is the fourth-best total in the league (and second-best on the Celtics behind rookie Hugo Gonzalez, who is +190 in 491 minutes).

Simons is the first bench player in the league to reach triple digits in 3-pointers (106 for the season, next closest: Tim Hardaway, 99).

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Fantasy Basketball Week 14 Waiver Wire Pickups: Breakouts & Sleepers

As momentum towards the NBA trade deadline continues to gain steam, injuries have quietly gone about their business, providing others with unexpected opportunities. We are also starting to see certain teams showing their cards when it comes to what the rotations could look like post-All Star break. As always, the waiver wire is the place to be, providing managers with bargain players who could be about to ascend in the fantasy basketball rankings. And remember, never assume a player is rostered. It always pays to double-check, just in case they have been overlooked.

Identifying players who are benefiting from expanded roles–whether it's an offensive threat delivering points and threes or a defensive-minded player boosting your blocks and steals–is vital as you navigate the season.

Let's dive into nine key NBA sleepers whose current stats suggest they are poised for significant value and are currently rostered in fewer than 40% of Yahoo leagues.

It appears as though Toronto is more comfortable with playing Murray-Boyles in a consistent role, having logged at least 31 minutes in five of his past six games. Jakob Poeltl continues to deal with a back injury that has cost him a sizeable chunk of the season, providing Murray-Boyles with a great opportunity. His production remains a little volatile, although we have seen some real positives, especially on the defensive end. In his past six games, the rookie has averaged just over 37 fantasy points per game, more than enough to warrant must-roster status across all leagues, including High Score.

Yet another injury to Anthony Davis has resulted in Marshall being able to hold his spot in the rotation. The fact that Davis is likely to miss at least six weeks, coupled with the fact that the current trajectory in Dallas remains up in the air, means we have a nice situation for someone like Marshall. He has scored double digits in seven straight games, tallying at least 22 points in his past three appearances. During that seven-game span, he has averaged almost 35 fantasy points per game, including a 56-point performance in a win over the Nets. Now that we have some assurance regarding his role, he makes for a relatively safe addition to most fantasy squads.

Coming off two standout games, including the best performance of his career, Sensabaugh has a lot of momentum right now. While his 43-point explosion is obviously not sustainable, he had been trending up, even prior to that. Seen as a potential late-round flier in drafts, Sensabaugh's role was far from ideal to begin the season. In fact, there were games when he wasn't even in the rotation. However, things have shifted for the forward in the past few weeks, having logged at least 30 minutes in eight of the past 12 games, flashing some offensive upside in the process. There are certainly no guarantees when it comes to Utah's nightly rotation, adding an element of risk to anyone playing for the Jazz. With that said, it makes a lot of sense for Sensabaugh to be out there on a nightly basis, making him a viable addition in High Score leagues.

While the absence of Ryan Kalkbrenner allowed Diabate to step back into a starter-level role, he has continued his strong play, even with Kalkbrenner back in the fold. In fact, he has now played at least 30 minutes in four of the past five games, scoring efficiently, albeit on low volume, while also grabbing his usual allotment of boards. He certainly isn't a viable option for everyone, given his limited skill set. However, if you need typical big-man numbers, Diabate seems like a worthwhile risk.

Having been on and off fantasy rosters all season, the time may have come where we need to go and add Tyson once again. Injuries to both Darius Garland and Sam Merrill are likely to open up more playing time, something Tyson was able to make the most of earlier in the season. While his numbers haven't been terrible of late, his overall production has taken a hit. However, assuming he could now step into a 30-minute-per-night role, that production could certainly trend in the right direction. In 37 appearances this season, Tyson has averaged 12.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 1.9 3-pointers in 26.9 minutes per game, making him a borderline top-100 player in standard leagues.

Although we only have a very small sample size when it comes to Cisse, there have been signs over the past week that he could certainly be a name to watch. With Daniel Gafford continuing to deal with what seems like a chronic ankle injury, Cisse could find himself a major part of the rotation. In Thursday's win over the Jazz, despite coming off the bench behind Dwight Powell, Cisse turned in the best performance of his young career, recording 10 points, 13 rebounds and 3 blocks in 24 minutes. He obviously comes with an element of risk given the uncertainty in Dallas, but for those looking for an upside play, he could be worth taking a flier on.

Love has managed to carve out a somewhat consistent role for himself, having scored double digits in 13 straight games. The bulk of his value comes from points and 3s, which is certainly a benefit for those in points formats. However, he has been able to chip in across other categories, appearing to gain more confidence with every appearance. In four games over the past week, he has averaged 17.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.5 steals and 3.3 3-pointers, good enough for more than 30 fantasy points per game. 

Despite the recent acquisition of Trae Young, the narrative out of Washington is that Young is not going to touch the floor until after the All-Star break. This news should alleviate some of the doubt when it comes to Johnson's role, having now started in 10 straight games. His peripheral production does leave a little to be desired, making him a slightly more attractive target in points formats. While there will almost certainly be some ups and downs, he has shown enough to at least be considered rosterable, especially when what we have seen thus far could realistically be considered his floor.

It sure has been a roller-coaster season for Williams, with his role seemingly a variable within a roster full of variables. After assuming the starting point guard tag during the month of November, he was then supplanted by Ryan Nembhard, who flashed some upside for a brief period before regressing to the point where he was no longer rosterable. Although Williams has remained in a bench role, he has clearly moved ahead of Nembhard, scoring at least 14 points in seven of his past eight games, including three 20-point performances. An ankle injury to Cooper Flagg could also work in Williams' favor, making him a sneaky pickup across all formats.

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Real Madrid and Berlin in 'NBA Europe' talks

Desmond Bane of the Orlando Magic handles the ball during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies as part of the 2026 NBA Berlin Game
The game between the Orlando Magic and the Memphis Grizzlies was played in front of a sell-out crowd in Berlin [Getty Images]

The NBA has discussed its "vision" for a proposed European basketball league with Real Madrid and other Spanish clubs, says commissioner Adam Silver.

Initial plans for 'NBA Europe', starting in 2027, are for 10 to 12 set franchises that would stay in the league on an annual basis.

Silver said the idea would be to mix established European teams with new ones, with the league initially being funded by the selected member clubs.

The 63-year-old was speaking before the NBA's first regular season game in Berlin, Germany on Thursday, which the Orlando Magic won 118-111 against the Memphis Grizzlies.

The two sides face each again at The O2 arena in London on Sunday.

A league of potentially 16 teams is also being looked at, combining the regular 10 to 12 franchises with open spots that teams will be able to qualify for.

With the rise in popularity of basketball and the NBA in Europe, the American league is holding six games in four different European cities across the next three seasons, with London, Manchester, Berlin and Paris hosting games between 2026 and 2028.

Silver said talks with Real Madrid, who play in the EuroLeague and are regarded as one of the greatest basketball clubs in Europe, were "more in the category of fact-finding", but he confirmed discussions had taken place with another EuroLeague side, Alba Berlin, whose Uber Arena hosted the NBA game.

"We're trying to find the best combination of the old and the new; the tradition and the innovation," said Silver.

Alba Berlin, he said, was "the model of the type of club that we would like to see in a potential European league".

Reports say the existing EuroLeague has concerns about the new venture, threatening legal action against the NBA should clubs break existing agreements to take part in the new competition.

But Silver said he does not think the two leagues would clash, adding: "There's plenty of room for competition".

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Steph Curry, Warriors stars adamant Jonathan Kuminga saga is ‘not a distraction'

Steph Curry, Warriors stars adamant Jonathan Kuminga saga is ‘not a distraction' originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – Day 200 of the Jonathan Kuminga Chronicles is upon us, and it likely won’t be much different than the previous 199, except for the expansion of his bank account on Day 92 and the fact that Day 199 dragged him onto the trade market. The polarizing chatter will continue for the Warriors, their fans and anyone following this tediously extended epilogue.

The noise, however, will not have any effect on the Warriors. That’s what they say, emphatically so, and their statements are credible.

“It’s not a distraction at all,” Stephen Curry said Thursday night, after scoring 27 points in a win over the New York Knicks while Kuminga sat idle on the bench for the 13th consecutive game. “It’s a very unique situation, but our job is to just keep playing. Keep winning. It’ll resolve itself one way or the other.”

Curry believes that this will not shake the Warriors because of their history. As the longest-tenured player on the roster, he has seen potential distractions come and fade like waves at the ocean shore.

“(If) you’ve been around for the last three, four years, we’ve done it this whole time,” Curry continued. “We’re sort of very, very well trained in this area to just play basketball.”

Curry’s comments echoed those of coach Steve Kerr, said to be Kuminga’s most fervent antagonist. So much so that some outsiders suspect personal motives.

“There won’t be a distraction,” Kerr said two hours before tipoff against the Knicks. “Jonathan’s a great young guy. His teammates like him. He’s handling himself well. There won’t be a distraction.”

Yet Curry’s words carry more weight. He was a Warrior before Kerr arrived. Curry had early-career obstacles, one being the presence of Monta Ellis and the other being the odd and brief belief among the coaching staff that Acie Law should start at point guard.

Steph has been there, done that, and seen it many times. He is several weeks removed from watching his closest teammate, Draymond Green, walk into the locker room amid a furious quarrel with coach Steve Kerr. There was the up-close deterioration of the relationship between Klay Thompson and the franchise. There were the indefinite absences of Andrew Wiggins, the shock of Draymond punching Jordan Poole during a practice and, oh yes, Kevin Durant’s gloomy final season as a Warrior.

Kuminga is neither Klay nor KD, established All-Stars and essential components in the daily operation of the team.

Kuminga is a young man with a good heart who is making $22.5 million to be a spectator. He is stuck on the Warriors, despite the obvious incompatibility; they drafted him and spent four years resisting thoughts of trading him.

Jimmy Butler III brushed aside any thought that Kuminga’s status – visible but isolated from the games – was a source of turbulence.

“Oh, hell no,” he said Thursday night. “Hell no. That has nothing to do with us. We love JK in this locker room, that’s not going to change. If he happens to not to be here, we still rock with JK. I speak for everybody. I don’t care. I speak for everybody. We love the guy. I wish him the best here. I wish him the best forever. Doesn’t change.

“We don’t listen to the noise. I hope he don’t listen to the noise. He keeps coming in here with a smile, doing what he’s supposed to do, and being the ultimate pro.”

There is enough maturity in this locker room – Curry, Butler, Green and Al Horford – to repel any creeping dissension related to Kuminga’s ongoing disuse. The vets are built to keep the focus on the greater collective goal of lifting the Warriors from mediocrity, which through the first half of the season had a very stubborn grip.

There have been games when it appeared Kuminga could have been helpful on the floor. The last time he was slated to play, Jan. 2 against Oklahoma City, he was a late scratch due to very sudden “back soreness.”

Yet Kuminga, by all accounts, remains popular and has not been a frequent source of irritation – at all. There is a primary reason why Kuminga is not, and will not be, a distraction to the Warriors, according to Green.

“Because he’s not a distraction,” Green said, pointing toward Kuminga’s vacant cubicle. “How he handles it is everything. If he handled it a certain way, it becomes a distraction. But it doesn’t have to be. And the way he’s handled himself, the way he’s dealt with things not going his way, says a lot about his character.

“Everyone around here can confidently say it won’t be a distraction, because he’s not a distraction.”

Green and Butler have done their part to mentor Kuminga on the ways of life in the NBA. Nearly every young player entering the league has “a vet,” someone who assumes a big brotherly role. Kuminga has two.

They both wish Kuminga well, wherever he lands, as does everyone in the locker room. He senses that, which is one more reason, trade “demand” notwithstanding, that he won’t crater this squad.

JK is not built to do that. And, moreover, he hasn’t earned the status.

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Kyle Tucker signs with Dodgers for four years, $240 million: Contract details, fantasy fallout

A shock wave reverberated through the baseball world late Thursday night when star free agent Kyle Tucker signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers on an eye-popping four-year, $240 million contract.

The deal includes a $64 million signing bonus, opt-outs after both the second and third seasons and $30 million of deferred money.

Tucker now has the highest present-day average annual average value of any player in major league history at $57.1 million, surpassing Juan Soto’s $51 million mark set last offseason.

Don’t forget: Keep a close eye on the Rotoworld Player News page so you don’t miss any of the action.

Besides the Dodgers, the Mets and Blue Jays were both in hot pursuit of Tucker as well.

The Mets offered a similarly massive four-year, $220 million deal with no deferred money and a whopping $75 million signing bonus. That was both a larger signing bonus and (obviously) less deferred money compared to the Dodgers’ winning offer.

The exact parameters of the Blue Jays’ final offer to Tucker isn’t known, but reporting suggests they were more focused on a longer term deal with less money per year. It’s clear Tucker’s camp couldn’t turn down the record AAV he got with an opportunity to re-test the free agent market in two years.

In the meantime, Tucker will join forces with Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Will Smith in what is certainly the best lineup in baseball as the Dodgers chase their third consecutive World Series title.

What an embarrassment of riches. Tucker is now the eighth Dodger with at least a $100 million contract. The Phillies, Padres, and Blue Jays have the next most with six while the Yankees and Giants have five each. Seven teams don’t have a single active player who crosses that threshold.

As funny as it may sound, Tucker will fill a huge hole in the Dodgers’ lineup.

Despite scoring the most runs per game in the National League last season, their outfield was not productive at the plate. Cumulatively, they had a .240 batting average, .299 on-base percentage, and .714 OPS. That was eerily similar to Lourdes Gurriel’s slash-line.

They suffered through offensive woes during the playoffs too, scoring just 4.2 runs per game overall and 3.7 in the World Series. Even with a star-studded lineup their defense, pitching, and eventually Miguel Rojas bailed them out.

This will likely be less of an issue after adding Tucker. His .895 OPS over the last two seasons is sneakily the exact same as Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s and higher than Kyle Schwarber’s, just without the same fanfare.

He’s been one of the most productive players in the league since he became a full-time player in 2021 with both the 10th-most fWAR and 10th-highest wRC+ over the last five years.

Few players make as good of swings decisions as Tucker either. He very rarely chases pitches out of the zone, offers at the right ones in the zone, and has walked more than he’s struck out over the last two years.

By all accounts, he is one of the few best hitters in the game.

Yet, two relatively flukey injuries that caused fractures – a foul ball of his shin in 2024 and jamming his right hand on second base last season – seemed to hurt Tucker's value on the open market and standing among certain groups of fans.

Also, he’s never hit many of the key statistical benchmarks we look for when evaluating a star player.

Tucker has never exceeded 30 home runs, a .300 batting average, or five fWAR in a single season. On top of that, his bat speed is just middle of the pack and his batted ball data is pedestrian for someone making the most money in the sport this coming season.

Still, his production speaks for itself and those types of underlying concerns hold much less weight with him signing a four-year deal compared to the 10 or 12 years many expected him to get when this offseason began.

Is this deal a bad value? Probably on a dollar per WAR basis. The Dodgers clearly don’t care though and Tucker will likely be one of the most productive hitters in the game flanked by their All-Star lineup. He also insulates them against Freeman and Betts aging out of being elite players over the next few seasons. The rich really get richer.

Ranger Suarez to the Red Sox?

Now a bit lost in the shuffle, starting pitcher Ranger Suárez signed a five-year, $130 million contract with the Red Sox on Wednesday afternoon.

This deal came as a surprise for a few reasons.

First, the Red Sox had not been linked to Suárez all offseason. Moreover, it felt like no other teams were either. His market was completely silent to public knowledge until Boston swooped in after missing out on Alex Bregman over the weekend.

Next, the Red Sox weren’t exactly starved for rotation help. They traded for Sonny Gray earlier this offseason to support Garrett Crochet at the top and Johan Oviedo a bit later on to provide depth on the back-end.

They still have Bryan Bello as a steady number-four type, veterans Patrick Sandoval and Kutter Crawford on the mend, and super-charged rookies Payton Tolle and Connelly Early chomping at the bit to get their shots. Plus, former top prospect Kyle Harrison ready in the wings. Again, starting pitching was more of a vanity add than a true need.

Lastly, Suárez was an odd free agent to project. He’s been highly effective for his whole career with a 2.91 ERA overall as a starter and is known as one of the best command artisans in the game. He’s regarded as a playoff riser too with a 1.48 ERA across 42 2/3 postseason innings.

On the other hand, he doesn’t do many of the things teams value most on the open market.

His 21.9% strikeout rate over his last four seasons as a full time starter is a hair under league-average. Also, he’s never thrown more than 160 innings in a regular season. Most worrisome, his average fastball velocity has fallen by more than two full miles per hour over the last two seasons. It has fallen from over 93 mph to barely above 91 mph.

Admittedly, velocity is a bit less important to a pitcher like Suárez compared to others.

He has a deep five-pitch mix that forces hitters into uncomfortable decisions as he works them on the edges with remarkable consistency. Suárez also leans on a sinker much more than a four-seam fastball and the former is much less reliant on velocity to be effective.

Yet, he’s drifting dangerously close to breaking point where he could get into a lot more trouble throwing those fastballs.

Suárez was one of just 24 pitchers whose average fastball velocity was at or below 92 mph last season. The list includes some solid names like himself, Shota Imanaga and Jacob Lopez, but was more filled with guys like Jose Quintana, Clayton Kershaw’s corpse, and Tyler Anderson.

Even finding one more tick could do wonders for Suárez as he moves towards the back half of this deal. Check out much more effective fastballs are (relatively) once a left-handed pitcher can stretch back above 92 mph.

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This likely won’t affect Suárez much in the near term where he still figures to be one of the 40 or so most valuable pitchers in the league. Some fear could set in down the line though if that velocity continues to fall on a deal that makes him the 12th-most expensive pitcher in the league per year at this moment.

▶ More Hot Stove Quick Hits

◆ Logic would tell us that the Blue Jays will turn their attention back to Bo Bichette after missing on Kyle Tucker. The Phillies seem to be winning that race though as Toronto is reportedly content with their current crop of infielders.

◆ Besides Juan Soto, the only outfielders on the Mets’ current 40-man roster are Tyrone Taylor, Jared Young, and Nick Morabito. Yikes. In a perfect world, none of those three will be starting on opening day and the Mets likely wouldn’t want any besides Taylor to break camp with the club.

Cody Bellinger is still on the market and embroiled in a stalemate with the cross-town Yankees. Will a bidding war start? Or could the Mets turn their attention back to the trade market for someone like Lars Nootbaar or Luis Robert whom they’ve both been connected with.

◆ In possibly the least talked about yet moderately interesting MLB transaction in some time, the Angels, Rays, and Reds agreed to a three-team trade that sent Josh Lowe to the Angels and Gavin Lux to Tampa Bay.

This trade was announced literally two minutes after Tucker’s contract and got completely lost in the hoopla, but is a fun swap of major league players nonetheless.

Back in 2023, Lowe hit 20 homers, stole 35 bases and put up an .835 OPS across 135 games. Since then, he’s played 214 games across two seasons with just a .670 OPS over that span.

Regular soft tissue injuries have dramatically slowed him down and the Angels are betting that some better health luck could unlock what was once sky-high potential. I’d feel a lot better about that risk if a team other than the Angels were taking it on.

Lux has settled in as a totally unspectacular producer who will run a high on-base percentage (.339 over the last three seasons) but without any semblance of game power (five home runs in 140 games last season). He might find his way into the lead-off spot down in Tampa Bay though ahead of Junior Caminero, Jonathan Aranda, and Yandy Díaz.

◆ Cubs’ president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer mentioned that Matt Shaw could find some playing time in the outfield this season after the addition of Alex Bregman. That reaffirms the fact that Shaw will be seen as a super-utility man in Chicago and it’s mildly interesting that they’ll likely try to get him at-bats any way possible.

⚾️ Coming soon: MLB returns toNBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.

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Australia legend Lockyer hopes new Broncos can buck London’s rugby league resistance

Former playing great starts new season as an owner in sport’s second tier aiming to rebuild club who would give British game a major lift if they return to Super League

Darren Lockyer has faced some monumental challenges for club and country but this year his trickiest task may be finding the opponents of his new club on a map as he takes on rugby league’s mission impossible.

Throughout his illustrious career, Lockyer faced Melbourne Storm, Sydney Roosters and some of the world’s best international teams. This year, Lockyer’s interests will be centred on places like Goole, Swinton and Batley after taking ownership of London Broncos late last year and attempting to make them a rugby league powerhouse.

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Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire: Jordan Kyrou, J.J. Moser among top adds going into the weekend

Injuries can affect you in fantasy hockey at any time. Your roster may be completely healthy one week before immediately getting hit with a wave of casualties the next week. And then there are those constantly trying to fill multiple absences.

I've been fortunate in the RotoWire Staff Hockey League, having only lost Connor Bedard for a few weeks while recent acquisition Brayden Point is projected to not miss as much time as originally feared. Thanks to that, a couple overachievers, some excellent goaltending and way more luck than anyone should have, I sit in first by two games at 13-1 having won the last 13 matchups.

No matter whether you're a frontrunner or lagging behind the pack, there's plenty of ways to enhance your lineups. Here are a few widely available players who might help you do that.

(Rostered rates as of Jan. 16)

Jordan Kyrou, STL (Yahoo: 44%): Kyrou has only produced 19 points through 37 games after four straight seasons with at least 67. Part of this dropoff can be attributed to him playing on a team ranked last in average goals at 2.49 or the 8.9 shooting percentage that's well below his usual double-digit mark. Kyrou returned from injury three weeks ago and has since posted three assists over nine outings — including two PPAs from each of his last two — with none of the 21 pucks directed on net going in. With that kind of volume while in the top-six and part of a talented top power play, he's bound to start scoring again. 

Matty Beniers, SEA (Yahoo: 32%): It's often been a tough fantasy sell for Beniers, as his contributions have been fairly one-dimensional and not exceptional (unless you count faceoff wins). But when someone goes off for 11 points across 13 appearances — four of those while up a man — more people will notice. Beniers should be able to continue this run as Seattle's lead center in all attacking situations. And if the numbers dip again, you can always cut him.

Beckett Sennecke, ANA (Yahoo: 32%): Kudos to Sennecke for being this season's first repeat forward entry. Since first being featured on Nov. 28 when he already had notched seven goals and 10 assists in 23 contests, he's accumulated another eight and 10 alongside 52 shots on a 17:04 ice time average. Sennecke has worked well with any linemate and in various situations. The sky's the limit for the soon-to-be 20-year-old, so you should pick him up right away.

Connor McMichael, WSH (Yahoo: 23%): I don't know how I had thought I previously discussed McMichael during 2025-26. Anyways, now's a good time to talk about him. Like the nine points over the last nine matchups – highlighted by a four-assist performance versus Anaheim – to go with 22 shots, nine hits and eight blocks, while he's logged 19-plus minutes a night. And that's totally sustainable for McMichael, as he managed 26 goals, 31 assists and 177 shots last year.

Jack McBain, UTA (Yahoo: 12%): McBain is generally overlooked due to a large percentage of his stats coming in the physical department, but every once in a while he'll go on a short scoring streak. That's happened the last week or so, as he's tallied two goals and three assists over five games in addition to 14 shots, 11 PIM and 19 hits, including three points, seven shots, three hits and a plus-4 on Tuesday with Dylan Guenther on his wing. McBain is valuable enough for laying out opponents, so the offense is a nice bonus.

Charlie Coyle, CBJ (Yahoo: 8%): Betcha can't name any forward who's at least 33 with no fewer than 30 points and is available in more than 90% of Yahoo! leagues. I'm guessing by now you've figured out we're talking about Coyle. There's been a few gaps on his scoring log, yet he's still registered seven goals on 41 shots with eight assists and 163 faceoff wins since the start of December while being a regular on the Blue Jackets' lead man-advantage that boasts the likes of Zach Werenski, Kirill Marchenko and Adam Fantilli. Do your part by adding Coyle.

Ridly Greig, OTT (Yahoo: 4%): Greig was on the right line at the right time Wednesday as he posted three assists while joining forces during five-on-five with Brady Tkachuk and Dylan Cozens. And even with other teammates, he's supplied 10 points from 14 outings while throwing in 29 shots, 26 PIM and 15 hits. Even if Greig slips back down the depth chart, he'll net you enough fantasy output.

James van Riemsdyk, DET (Yahoo: 4%): It's always nice when a low-risk, low-salary offseason move turns out much better than expected, especially when it's a veteran who came into the season with 327 career goals. The veteran forward initially struggled with Detroit before finding the back of the net in six of seven appearances – three of those PPGs. Despite not many minutes, he's recently benefited with an even-strength spot next to Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond in addition to their existing man-advantage arrangement. JVR may not be an MVP, yet can still provide you a decent ROI.

Brandt Clarke, LA (Yahoo: 50%): Clarke gets a second mention after originally appearing during the opening week. He's taken over for Drew Doughty as L.A.'s top power-play quarterback and has produced five PPAs since Dec. 17 to go with another three helpers, a goal, 32 shots and 36 blocks. This is the type of offense that's been expected of Clarke since he was drafted eighth overall in 2021. He's also on pace to significantly surpass a career-high in points (currently at 23, peaked last season at 33) as he should keep receiving advanced attacking placement.

K'Andre Miller, CAR (Yahoo: 24%): Miller makes it consecutive repeat defenders in this waiver wire piece as he's been on fire the last 10 games, recording eight points, 14 shots, 10 hits and six blocks on 22:28 of ice time per game. He may no longer hold a man-advantage role like earlier in the year, but is heavily involved while shorthanded while retaining a steady five-on-five partnership alongside Sean Walker. Miller's scoring may not be as plentiful the rest of the way, though he'll deliver consistent cross-category production.

J.J. Moser, TB (Yahoo: 13%): Long-term injuries to Victor Hedman and Ryan McDonagh have allowed others to take on more responsibility. Moser was already getting enough opportunities while Hedman was available, as the two sometimes skated together, yet his minutes have seen a major boost the last month at nearly a 23:00 average consisting of four goals, four assists, 27 shots, 16 hits and 20 blocks. As an added bonus for those in formats that count plus-minus, Moser ranks third in the NHL with a plus-37.

Uvis Balinskis, FLA (Yahoo: 0%): Seth Jones recently suffered an upper-body injury that's set to sideline him for a couple more weeks. Aaron Ekblad was first offered the chance to fill the vacancy on PP1 before Balinskis started appearing there Saturday. And while nothing came from that contest, he earned a PPA on Tuesday when his shot was tipped in by Sam Reinhart. A lot of poolies would be hesitant to add Balinskis due to his overall lack of output and ice time. There's definite value as long as he sticks on the lead man-advantage, so be sure to check the latest line alignments heading into Florida's next matchup Friday at Carolina.

Sam Montembeault, MTL (Yahoo: 41%): The Habs continue to carry three netminders on their roster where Montembeault has made as many starts as Jacob Fowler since Dec. 30 with four compared to two for Jakub Dobes. He significantly struggled before being demoted by posting a 3.65 GAA and .857 save percentage in 15 outings. Fowler should be Montreal's lead as he's already done decently (2.62/.902 across 10 appearances) and needs the volume to prove he can be the No. 1, though Montembeault will earn enough work based on recent results (three wins from four) and to showcase him for a potential trade.

Leevi Merilainen, OTT (Yahoo: 8%): Since Linus Ullmark went on personal leave, Merilainen has started all nine games for the Sens that included two back-to-back sets. The numbers during this stretch haven't been the greatest (3.29 GAA/.859 SV%), but the experience will help and he fared well last season in an abbreviated run (8-3-1, 1.99, .925). James Reimer was signed and will eventually make his Ottawa debut, yet it's been nine months since his last NHL involvement. Even behind a weak defense, Merilainen deserves a chance on a club boasting a solid offense.

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Eichel Scores In OT, Golden Knights Come From Behind To Beat Toronto

LAS VEGAS -- Jack Eichel's goal midway through overtime gave the Golden Knights a 6-5 come-from-behind win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

It was the second time in as many nights Vegas won in overtime, after the Knights earned a 3-2 road win over the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday.

Tomas Hertl's 19th goal of the season came with seven seconds left to force the game into Vegas' 19th game past regulation.

After losing eight of their first nine games that extended past regulation, the Golden Knights have now won six of their last 10.

The nationally televised audience and a sold-out crowd of 17,975 were treated with what might have been the most exciting game of the season, in what was undoubtedly the most anticipated.

It marked Mitch Marner's first career game against the team that drafted him in the same draft Eichel was chosen second overall by the Buffalo Sabres.

"Obviously, they knew this one meant a little more to me," said Marner, who finished with two assists. "So, grateful to get the win. A lot of guys putting in the effort, and, you know, it's a team game out there.

"Once the puck dropped, it just felt like another hockey game out there. Obviously, I know a lot of those guys very well and trying to read off some of the plays and do some of the things I think they might do. But it's a competitive game, you want to always try to beat your buddies. That was a competitive game, both sides."

To say the least, as the Maple Leafs opened the game by taking a 2-0 lead just five minutes in on goals from Morgan Rielly and William Nylander.

Vegas would cut the lead in half when Pavel Dorofeyev scored his 18th of the season on a power play.

But in a sign of things to come, the back-and-forth affair saw Auston Matthews push Toronto's lead back to two goals to send the Leafs into the first intermission with a 3-1 lead.

The teams exchanged goals in the second - Keegan Kolesar for Vegas and John Tavares for Toronto - as the Leafs brought a 4-2 lead to the ice for the third period.

Dorofeyev scored his second of the game with another power-play goal just two minutes into the third period, but again, Toronto would answer to give Toronto another two-goal lead when Scott Laughton made it 5-3 with a little more than 11 minutes left.

Then things became interesting, as the Knights entered familiar territory, looking to wage another third-period comeback.

Wednesday night's overtime hero Mark Stone cut Toronto's lead to one with 9:46 left, when he was on the doorstep to punch home his 17th goal of the season.

Dorofeyev appeared to tie the game with a little more than four minutes left in the game, but all the hats that flew on the ice became meaningless when it was ruled he was offsides and the goal was called off.

Hertl's game-tying goal and Eichel's game-winner sent the building into a frenzy as the Knights continued their best run of the season.

KEY MOMENT

Pick one. It could have very well been Stone's third-period goal, or Dorofeyev's goal that was called off, as both fueled the Golden Knights differently. But undoubtedly, Hertl's gem with seven seconds left was the key, as it seemingly deflated the Maple Leafs, who were previously trounced by the Utah Mammoth, 6-1, on Tuesday.

"We got a lot of vets on the team, and obviously, guys played in the Stanley Cup, guys played in some big moments. And then we just so strong mentally and we just never quit. ... Every time we've been down, we knew we have chance to come back."

KEY STAT

8 - Thursday's win marked Vegas' eighth comeback win in the third period, most in the NHL.

"I use the word resilient because they have been," Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said, when asked to identify his team 46 games into the season. "As the stakes go up, they get more competitive. ... They don't like losing. And you're going to lose some games and tonight it looked like it was going that direction for us, but we kept pushing back. It would have been easy to probably say we're down a few people, it's not our night, especially after the offside goal comes back. ... But they kept pushing because they want to win. The group wants to win."

WHAT A KNIGHT

Eichel finished with four points to extend his point streak to seven games. Eichel registered three assists for the second straight night after having a hand in every goal in Los Angeles. During his seven-game run, Eichel has 14 points (5 goals, 9 assists). Eichel is tied for 11th in the league with 55 points, while his 38 assists rank tied for ninth along with Marner.

It also marked the second straight night the Eichel and Stone connected on the overtime winner, after the roles were reversed against the Kings.

"Just finding a way, I guess," Eichel said. "You know, competing when we don't have the puck in overtime, I think that's a big thing. And then capitalizing our chances. I mean, Stoney hits the post there right before we score, and thought we had a few chances. But yeah, credit to the whole group. It was a come-from-behind, win, find a way to get a goal late there. The resiliency in our group has been great all year, and it was there again tonight."

UP NEXT: The Golden Knights continue their three-game homestand against the Nashville Predators on Saturday.

PHOTO CAPTION: Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (9) scores a goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an overtime period to give the Golden Knights a 6-5 victory at T-Mobile Arena.

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