The Colorado Avalanche are facing off against the Ottawa Senators for the second time this season, though it wasn't as pretty as their last matchup's 8-2 victory. It was not a good game from the Avalanche one bit. Outshot, out-chanced, and it shows with a 5-2 loss.
Period 1
Just under two minutes into the first period, Sam Malinski tries to clear the puck but sends it over the glass and is called for a delay of game penalty. The Avalanche would easily kill the penalty. Though 10 minutes into the first period, the shots on goal are 6-2 Senators, which is a great sign for how the Senators came out, but a telling sign of a slow and sluggish start for the Avalanche.
It also shows just how poor their puck control has been, too many mistakes leading to turnovers, and how they have helped the Senators set up in the offensive zone. Taylor Makar is called for hooking, but the Avalanche penalty kill stands strong and kills it off, ending the first period tied.
Period 2
Nick Cousins is able to sneak behind the defense and receives a great pass from Artem Zub, and beats MacKenzie Blackwood with a nifty backhand shot. Scary moment when Martin Necas tries to check Zub on the boards but misses, and he leads awkwardly with his elbow and is down on the ice for a bit.
He can get up and skate down the tunnel on his own, but thankfully, he is back just a couple of minutes later. Artturi Lehkonen is called for hooking, but the Senators fail to capitalize on the power play for the third time.
Blackwood robs Brady Tkatchuck with a shot from the slot. It’s really been him, and the Avalanche penalty kill that's kept this game a one-goal game for so long. It's Parker Kelly who finds a loose puck and rips a shot past Reimer to tie it up, 1-1. His 11th goal sets a career high in points (20).
Just 15 seconds later, Ridly Greig beats Keaton Middleton as he receives a great stretch pass from Tyler Kleven and rifles it top shelf, 2-1. Blackwood was in a weird place between playing it and not playing it, and Greig’s shot really beat him to the punch, not making a decision quickly enough.
Just eight shots on goal for the Avalanche after two periods, which is a season low through 40 minutes. The last season low was 16 SOG against the Vancouver Canucks on Nov. 9 and the Nashville Predators on Nov.22
Period 3
Claude Giroux on the 2-on-1 picks his corner, this time top left, and rips it past Blackwood to make it 3-1. Valeri Nichushkin makes it 3-2 with a slick positional play from Jack Drury, allowing him to find Nichushkin all alone in front with a nice backhand shot.
The Avalanche would look much better controlling the puck and getting shots on net, but just can’t get anything else to go. Blackwood would be pulled twice, but Tkatchuk and Tim Stutzle would make it 4-2 and 5-2 to end the game.
The Avalanche are back in action tomorrow (Jan. 29) in a back-to-back game against the Montreal Canadiens, wearing the Quebec Nordiques jersey.
Wednesday evening was just another game for the Minnesota Timberwolves where their opponents, the Dallas Mavericks, were missing the majority of their rotation players. The number one overall pick, Cooper Flagg, was out for just the fourth game of the season. Joining him on the sidelines was Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, Derek Lively, and a handful of others.
This was going to be a high risk, low reward game.
Would it surprise you if I told you that Minnesota came out of the gates fumbling the ball all over the place? How about them giving up a ton of offensive rebounds and second chance opportunities to Dallas? Yeah, I didn’t think so. It was the Mavericks total lack of talent on the floor that allowed the Wolves stay even. Anthony Edwards was particularly quiet on the floor early, matching his recent performance off the court.
Julius Randle was playing in his hometown of Dallas with his mother in attendance. Perhaps her presence gave Randle the motivation to carry Minnesota on the offensive end. He chipped in 10 of his game-high 31 points in the opening quarter.
The game started to lean in the Wolves favor as we got a glimpse into the potential future of the Wolves frontcourt. To deal with their early rebounding woes, Chris Finch subbed in rookie Joan Beringer to pair with Naz Reid. Both immediately injected energy into game. Reid had a quick seven-point burst. Beringer contributed to five more points by rim running and crashing the flash. We even got a Reid to Beringer lob!
A double-digit Minnesota lead was briefly sliced down due to an incessant fouling problem. Luckily, the zombie Mavericks couldn’t even muster up 50 points in the first half, giftwrapping the Wolves a 10-point lead at the half. Sadly, Minnesota came out of the tunnel with about the same energy they had in the first half. Jaden McDaniels quickly picked up his fourth foul while Edwards continued to display poor body language on the defensive end.
What was missing from those two seemed to available in spades from Donte DiVincenzo. Big Ragu was all over the court, even after picking up a season-high tying four steals in the first half alone. He nearly detonated a Slam Ball-esque one-handed jam over Daniel Gafford, and then seconds later almost converted on an all heart full court sprint in transition.
The Wolves mostly sat at a comfortable 13 to 16 point lead in the third quarter, at times allowing the Mavericks to slice it down to nine. However, easy buckets for Edwards (Who later showed he did have a voice, picking up a technical foul for complaining) and more vintage Randle bully ball kept the home team at bay. Beringer continued to provide a glance at the crystal ball, violently swatting away a Caleb Martin layup attempt, then finishing the third quarter off with a buzzer-beating putback.
Minnesota held a 17-point lead heading into the final stanza which never diminished to single-digits again.
As mentioned at the start of this recap, it was going to be a low reward game. Randle raised the floor on the offensive end. The French towers buoyed the defensive end. Reid popped off against second and third stringers. DiVincenzo brought the invaluable intangibles. Bones Hyland continued to show some extra pop off the bench that Finch has been so desperately searching for. Even Mike Conley did some things!
All of that more than balanced out a slow night by McDaniels and (another) relatively muted night from Edwards.
If you don’t have social media, the Wolves have moved up to the sixth seed in the Western Conference and are just about one to two games back from homecourt advantage in the postseason.
Box Score
Up Next
The Wolves hop on a quick flight to visit the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday, January 29 at 8:30 pm CT. The last time these two teams clashed, we got an epic finish. Catch this one on Prime Video.
Another game against a quality team equals another blowout loss for the Lakers. In defeats, the Lakers have continued to have the same problems and they were exposed once again in Cleveland.
LA struggled to slow down the Cavaliers’ offense, and in the third quarter, they got outscored by 20, which essentially ended the game. Points in the paint were also a problem as they lost that battle 60-48.
Barring a trade, the 2025-26 Lakers are what they are at this point. And, it appears that’s a team that’s a player or two away from being a player or two away from being an elite squad.
So, let’s dive into the loss. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.
The Cavs gave LeBron a tribute before the game that moved him to tears. That was touching to see, and with so much uncertainty about his future, it’s clear he’s soaking it all in.
LeBron James was stirred to tears during the Cleveland Cavaliers tribute video to him in the 1st half tonight (via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/AJ2ZQqr20V
Once play began, LeBron was subpar. He had far too many turnovers and struggled from the field, going 3-10. James tried to tough it out and played in the fourth despite appearing to have hurt his ankle, but the game was far out of reach.
Hopefully, this loss won’t also include a significant injury to James that forces him to miss time. LeBron can only miss one more game if he wants to remain eligible for NBA awards.
This game was all about what LaRavia didn’t do. He had zero rebounds and failed to hit a 3-point shot. Perhaps when Austin Reaves returns, he can go back to the bench where the variance of his performances will hurt the Lakers less.
On paper, Ayton had a good game. He was perfect from the field, scoring 10 points in 19 minutes. But when you watch the game, you see mediocre defense and a player who couldn’t impose his will on either end of the floor.
Luka avoided disaster in the opening quarter when he slipped due to the Cavs’ floor being raised. He exited the game for a moment but was able to return.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick said the elevated floor was a “safety hazard” and that sounds about right.
Dončić continued to play, but it did appear like his ankle was bothering him the rest of the way.
Vincent played well in this game and was a bright spot in this loss. That’s not saying much, nor does it change his role on the Lakers, but it was nice to see him make some baskets.
This was an awful performance from Hachimura. Hopefully, this is just a bump in the road because he looked like he was finding his groove over the last couple of games.
Considering that Timme barely reached double-digit minutes and most of that came during garbage time, there isn’t much to learn from his play in this game.
Grade: C-
Bronny James, Maxi Kleber, Dalton Knecht
This trio only got garbage time action. The Cavs fans liked watching Bronny score.
Pittsburgh Penguins defensive prospect Emil Pieniniemi has been called up from the ECHL to the AHL.
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins announced on Tuesday that Pieniniemi has been promoted to them from the ECHL's Wheeling Nailers. He had compiled two goals and four points in 10 games with the Nailers prior to being called up.
— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) January 27, 2026
Pieniniemi was suspended by the Penguins' organization after he failed to report to Wheeling at the start of the season. He even returned to Finland during his suspension before agreeing to report to Wheeling in December. Once he reported to Wheeling, his suspension was lifted.
After playing well for the Nailers, he'll now get his shot in the AHL with a team that is second in the Atlantic Division.
Pieniniemi was drafted by the Penguins in the third round of the 2023 NHL Draft. He spent the 2024-25 season with the OHL's Kingston Frontenacs, finishing with 10 goals and 60 points in 60 games.
The Colorado Rockies made a number of roster moves on Wednesday within the span of two hours, and Skyler Timmins did a marvelous job of keeping up with them:
At 2pm, Paul DePodesta hopped on Zoom with the media to answer questions about the moves and what they mean for the future of the organization.
On the decision to trade Angel Chivilli
I wouldn’t say we necessarily wanted to [trade Chivilli], because he obviously has a terrific arm, he’s still very young, he did miss a lot of bats. I think there are a lot of things about Angel that are really attractive. We weren’t anxious to move him, but we did feel like our bullpen is a real area of depth, and there have been clubs asking about a number of our bullpen arms throughout the course of the last couple months. And ultimately, this was a deal that seemed to fit and seemed to come together for us. It wasn’t a situation where we were looking to move him by any stretch, there was just enough interest, and I found a deal that ultimately made sense. But we were dealing from an area of strength where we could then bolster our position player club going forward.
On TJ Rumfield
We think he’s a solid defender at first base to go along with the bat. He’s been a very productive hitter the last two years in Triple-A as a 24 and 25-year-old. I think he’s got really good bat-to-ball skills. He has some emerging power. But he’s a guy that can manipulate the barrel pretty well, and as a consequence, has hit for average along with some of that juice. So we think he’s a nice combination of skills and is very capable at first base.
On the decision to DFA Yanquiel Fernández
It’s hard, to be honest with you. We’re now certainly at a point where we feel like every time we make a move, we’re losing someone we like or potentially losing someone we like. And that was certainly the case with Yanquiel. He’s been a good prospect and got a chance to get his feet we at the major league level last year. He has some power, so it’s hard.
I think at this point we felt like we did have some depth outfield-wise, especially with the left-hand hitting outfielders. We now have a group in the big leagues that we feel pretty good about. We also have a handful of guys on the 40-man who maybe haven’t yet gotten a lot of time in the big leagues, or even any time at all with, like, Sterlin Thompson. So it really came do to that where, if we lose someone, in what part of the roster can we afford that? And right now, I think that left hand-hitting outfielder spot was where we were just a little heavy.
On Edouard Julien
I think we’re certainly intrigued by the bat. I think he had a really, really good track record, even going back to the time when he was in High-A, Double-A, Triple-A into his rookie season. He’s produced at the major league level at different times. The last couple of years, he hasn’t had as consistent of opportunities that he had that rookie year, but we like the versatility. He can play first, he can play second, and we like that left-handed bat against right-handed pitching. So we think there are probably some different ways that we can use it.
On Pierson Ohl
I think he could do a little bit of both (opening and relieving). He’s also started in the minor league, and his mix is a little different, depending on whether or not he was starting or relieving. But he’s a very, very good strike thrower. He does have some good pitches in his arsenal to keep hitters off balance. Principally, he has the changeup but he also has a feel for a handful of other pitches. So I think philosophically, he fits with us really well and could pitch in a multitude of roles for us.
On the left-handedness of the recent trades
I think there were some struggles last year against right-handed pitching in general. And obviously, you’re going to see more right-handers than left-handers, so I think it certainly was a focus for us as we went through the offseason to make sure we had a few more weapons from the left side, if possible.
On creating roster competition and positional flexibility
I think what we’re really trying to do is create, I think, really healthy competition on our roster [with these moves]. Now, most of the players we have acquired do have a good amount of versatility. I think there are lots of different ways that the pieces can fit, and I think that’s really what we’re looking for.
And I think we’re also going into the idea that the roster is going to be fluid through the course of the year. We all know that we’ll have injuries, we’ll have players that maybe don’t perform the way you expected them to, etc. and I think these players having versatility just makes our roster a little bit more robust. So we may not be done adding — we’ll see — but we did want to make sure that we had healthy competition at a handful of these different spots and then different ways to put the puzzle together.
I don’t think we’re going to be taking positions away from any guys who are capable of playing. In fact, it may actually be the opposite. This spring, you may see some guys playing some positions that maybe they haven’t played as much in the past, just to see if we can’t increase their versatility.”
On a common thread
There are certain things we want to be able to do as a team. I think we know it’s really hard to get all of those attributes in a single player. But as a team collectively, we want to be able to do a lot of different things. We know we need to get on base more; we know we need to chase less; we’d like to hit for some more power; we want to be able to run the bases more effectively and have that be more of a weapon on our team.
So trying to accomplish all these things at once, again, is really hard to do with just one player. But I think each of the players that we’ve acquired have pieces that have elements of those goals, and we’ll bring those to our team as a whole.
On continued player development
Last week, we had our summit in Denver with all of our baseball personnel. And one of the real themes of that was that development never stops, and I think Schaeff and his entire staff at the major-league level are committed to continue to develop guys, even at the major-league level. That’s something that we’re going to be focused on, not just this year, but I think going forward in the organization and really sort of bring that into the development that the players have already had in the minor leagues. But there’s not doubt we think that there are heights yet to be reached for all these players, not just the ones we’ve just acquired, but even for the players we’ve already had on our roster.
On acquiring another starting pitcher
We continue to engage on finding even more pitching, largely starters, because we feel like we’ve got pretty good depth in our bullpen, but we’re looking at all different avenues. So far this offseason, we’ve traded for folks, we’ve claimed players, we’ve signed free agents, and I think we’re still actively looking through all of those avenues for additional starting pitching.
On Charlie Condon and the future
We love Charlie, and I think we’re very excited to have him. With all these moves, I think back to probably 25 years ago or so when I was with Oakland and we were in spring training and we were adding one more player, and there was some concern about how he was going to fit. And I remember Billy [Beane] at one point saying, ‘Do we finally have too many good players? Is that the point we’ve reached? We have too many?’
Obviously, we’re not there yet. We’re going to keep adding talent to this roster, but in no way are we not believing in the young guys we have. We have a lot of really good young players that are in Double-A and Triple-A, and there’s no doubt in my mind that they’re going to earn their opportunities on this team. And once they do, they’ll have long runways with us.
As we keep saying, the Rockies have a vision. They seem to have a clear idea of how they want to construct their roster and the things they’re looking for in players.
It’s also a breath of fresh air to hear from Paul DePodesta as often as he’s been available.
What are your thoughts on the Rockies’ roster moves? Do you think they’ll make more? Let us know in the comments!
He returned to Cleveland — next to the city where he was born, the team he spent his first seven seasons in the NBA with — then returned and won a ring. He is the hometown hero, and they welcomed him back with a tribute video.
All season long, the conventional wisdom in league circles has been that LeBron will play one more season, kind of a farewell tour, but it will not be with the Lakers. A return to Cleveland has always been speculated as one of the most likely final stops in LeBron's unparalleled career.
Cleveland "would gladly welcome James back this summer if he wanted to return," ESPN Dave McMenamin reported on Wednesday, just before this homecoming game. This is a Cavaliers team poised to contend again next season in the East, it would be him leaving on a high note.
Could we see LeBron in the wine and gold one more time? He was not about to walk down that road Wednesday night.
"I don't know what the future holds," LeBron James said. "I'm just trying to live in the moment."
LeBron echoed what he always says, that he and his family will discuss his future after the season ends. He doesn't know if this season, his 23rd in the NBA at age 41, will be his last.
Just don't be surprised if the ultimate outcome is LeBron James back in Cleveland for one more campaign.
Another decision-making moment is coming up for the Nashville Predators.
Losing four of their last five, most recently in overtime to the Boston Bruins, 3-2, on Tuesday, the Predators are slowly slipping out of the Western Conference Wild Card race.
With the Olympic break approaching, league play will pause for two weeks, giving general managers time to thoroughly analyze their rosters ahead of the March 6 NHL Trade Deadline.
Nearly every single Predators player has had a rumor about them getting traded. From Ryan O'Reilly to Nick Blakenburg, there been an argument for why every player should go.
A little over a month from the trade deadline, here is a realistic look at the Predators' situation and what could happen.
What we know
Jun 28, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville Predators incoming general manager Barry Trotz announces the twenty fourth pick in round one of the 2023 NHL Draft at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images
According to PuckPedia, the Predators have around $27.8 million to spend at the NHL trade deadline, more than enough to make some big moves.
Six players have no-movement clauses, which means they cannot be traded or sent to the minors unless the Predators have player approval:
Filip Forsberg ($8.85 million AAV), Steven Stamkos ($8 million AAV), Jonathan Marchessault ($5.5 million AAV), Roman Josi ($9.059 AAV), Brady Skjei ($7 million AAV) and Juuse Saros ($7.740 AAV).
Two players are currently being bought out:
Matt Duchene ($6.55 million this year, then $1.55 million AAV from 2026-27 to 2028-29) and Kyle Turris ($2 million AAV until 2027-28).
The Predators have retained salary on two players:
Colton Sissions ($1.428 million for the 2025-26 season) and Mattias Ekholm ($250,000 for the 2025-26 season).
Other notable details include Erik Haula (six-team no-trade list), Matthew Wood and Fedor Svechkov (both on ELCs and two-way contracts). Tyson Jost, Adam Wilsby and Ozzy Weisblatt are all on two-way contracts.
As for free agents, the following players will be UFA's after this season: Michael Bunting, Erik Haula, Cole Smith, Michael McCarron, Tyson Jost, Andreas Englund, and Nick Blakenburg.
Fedor Svechkov and Justin Barron will be restricted free agents.
General Manager Barry Trotz had been candid, saying on 102.5 The Game on Tuesday that "everything has to be on the table."
Trading Ryan O'Reilly or Steven Stamkos
Nov 26, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Nashville Predators center Ryan O'Reilly (90) celebrates his goal with center Steven Stamkos (91) during the third period against the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-Imagn Images
O'Reilly: 3rd year of a 4-year, $18 million ($4.50 AAV)
Stamkos: 2nd year of 4-year, $32 million ($8 million AAV) with a No-Trade Clause
One of the biggest trade talks around the league has been about O'Reilly and Stamkos, specifically at the beginning of the year, and it's now flaring up again.
O'Reilly carried the Predators through the first quarter of the season and has been their most consistent player all year, recording 51 points (18 goals, 33 assists) in 52 games.
Stamkos had a slow start to the season, sparking up conversation that the future Hall of Famer may want to leave Nashville for a contender in his final few years in the league. Since then, his game has picked up, recording 38 points (25 goals, 13 assists) in 52 games.
O'Reilly has been asked about a trade before, earlier in the year, and he said he has not been open to those conversations, adding that he "wants to be part of the solution" in Nashville.
Trotz also said the Predators would need to get a high-caliber player in return if they were to trade O'Reilly. Seemingly, Nashville doesn't want just draft picks for O'Reilly.
As for Stamkos, it's about whether he wants to go. If he's set on staying in Nashville, any sort of trade talk is done.
Into the next step of who could be potential suitors to take on an AAV of $8 million or $4.50 million?
When talking about the most appealing places for O'Reilly or Stamkos to go, it looks like Detroit or San Jose.
The Sharks have a $8.960 million in deadline cap space, ahead of the Wild Card curve Nashville is chasing and at least 3 steps ahead in the rebuild process, with an extremely bright future.
O'Reilly would be a good fit in adding another veteran leader to a beaming, young Sharks team. However, they are currently projected to be about a million above the cap by the end of the season.
The Red Wings have $59.449 million of deadline cap space and are expected to have $13 million by the end of the season. Detroit is battling Tampa Bay for the top spot in the Atlantic Division and is seemingly rounding a corner, ready to be a consistent player contender again.
Who could the Predators get for O'Reilly?
Jan 10, 2026; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville Predators center Ryan O'Reilly (90) skates with the puck against the Chicago Blackhawks during the third period at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
So what could the Predators get in return if they were to trade, hypothetically, with the Red Wings or Sharks?
Jeff Skinner's No-Trade Clause expires at the end of January and is currently in a 1-year, $3 million contract.
He has 13 points in 32 games, so he does not have the high impact as O'Reilly, but he is a veteran piece that could fill the role. Skinner also has a eight team no trade list through the end of the season.
Tyler Toffoli would be another option, in the second year of a 4-year, $24 million contract, with 35 points in 51 games, but he has a no-trade clause and seemingly has no interest in leaving San Jose.
The Sharks could package deal it, but Trotz said that they want a 1-for-1 return if O'Reilly is traded.
On the Detroit side of things, the trade the Predators would likely want is O'Reilly for Lucas Raymond. He's a young winger with 58 points in 52 games and has no contract protection until the 2028-29 season, which comes as a 10-team no-trade list.
He has a much pricier contract than O'Reilly's, at 8 years and $64.6 million, with an $8.08 annual hit. Nashville would truly need to bundle to get this done, and it'd be a hard sell to Detroit.
It's unlikely to happen, but these are the kinds of trades Nashville wants for shipping O'Reilly, and likely more if Stamkos leaves.
The Edmonton Oilers are another team that's been rumored to land O'Reilly. They have only $425,000 in deadline space, but as we know, teams aren't afraid to go over that cap.
This isn't as appealing to Nashville as the Oilers have seven forwards tied down by no-movement clauses.
The only trade that would be likely for what the Predators want for O'Reilly is if they package him in order to land Evan Bouchard, who has 56 points in 54 games as a defenseman.
That'd also be a massive cap hit at a 4-year, $42 million contract with a $10.5 million annual hit.
This trade situation may seem a bit "out there," but the Predators are asking a lot for O'Reilly. If he's gone, they don't want a production fall off or having to wait to draft a player of his potential caliber.
Likely trade deadline situations
Dec 15, 2025; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Blues goaltender Joel Hofer (30) defends the net against Nashville Predators left wing Michael Bunting (58) and left wing Erik Haula (56) during the first period at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
Michael Bunting, F: Final year of 3-year, $13.5 million deal with $4.5 million AAV
Erik Haula, C: Final year of 3-year, $9.45 million deal with $3.15 million AAV, 6 team no-trade list
Nick Blakenburg, D: Final year of a 2-year of $1.55 million deal with $775,000 AAV
Michael McCarron, C: Final year of 2-year, $1.8 million deal with $900,000 AAV
Cole Smith, F: Final year of 2 year, $2 million contract with a $1 million AAV
Nick Perbix, D: First year of 2-year, $5.5 million contract with $2.75 million AAV
The Predators have a handful of guys who are playing well, nearing the end of their contracts, and don't cost a ton that they can use in the market.
The biggest being Michael Bunting, who has had a massive uptick in production this season, recording 29 points (12 goals, 17 assists) in 52 games. He has been a significant boost in Nashville's bottom six and could slide into the same role on any team.
Erik Haula, who had a slow start to the year, is another bottom-six player who could give any team some good depth. He has 25 points (eight goals, 17 assists) in 52 games, nine of which have come on the power play.
Haula's veteran presence and Olympic experience are huge assets for any team's bottom six and would be a massive addition to a second power-play unit. His only limitation is a six-team no-trade list.
Blakenburg has proven to be a valuable asset on the Predators' second and third pairings this season, tallying 21 points in 42 games. Standing at just 5-foot-9-inches, Blakenburg has proven to be a critical depth piece.
Then there's guys the Predators likely want to offload. Michael McCarron and Cole Smith have played a specific role on the fourth line, but haven't added much depth to the lineup.
McCarron has nine points in 51 games and 67 penalty minutes and Smith has eight points in 33 games and 25 penalty minutes. While their role as aggressors is important, Nashville needs scoring depth.
Nick Perbix is another player who has been underperforming and could be on the move. He has eight points in 49 games and a plus/minus of -12. His contract is a little big, but he could find another team.
The Predators are likely not looking to trade too many picks, but this is what they have in stock.
As for who the Predators can bring in or what they'll bring in, it'll likely be a supplimental bottom six player and a few draft picks.
Nashville has needed support down the middle and needs more depth on the blue line. Getting guys who can log solid minutes and create plays will help the Predators make the jump into the playoffs.
Going the other way, bringing in a bunch of draft picks could help Nashville strike big with their 2026 and 2027 classes. Nashville already has 11 picks in this year's and next year's draft classes. The talent pool could easily be much deeper.
LeBron James’ latest return to Cleveland proved to be an emotional one.
James was honored with a tribute video during the Cavaliers’ 129-99 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night, and it appeared to bring him to tears.
The four-time MVP was clearly emotional while on the bench as Cleveland showed the video on the screens at Rocket Arena. Among the highlights shown during the video was his playoff game against the Detroit Pistons in 2007, when he scored 25 straight points.
“... Obviously, with the moment they put up there with the Detroit game and looking up in the rafters and seeing our championship banner, it was a lot of reflecting for sure,” James said during his postgame media availability.
James also said that "being present" led to the outpouring of emotion.
James finished the game with 11 points, five assists and three rebounds in 27 minutes of play. He shot 3-for-10 from the field and was 0-for-3 from the 3-point line. He also had six turnovers.
While he largely struggled, the game still had plenty of highlights for James. One of them was having his mother, Gloria, in attendance for the game.
“My mom got to watch her son and her grandson play in the NBA at the same time,” James said.
James' son, Bronny James, also plays for the Lakers and he finished the game with eight points in eight minutes of play and had a highlight dunk late in the game. He went 3-for-3 from the field and 2-for-2 from the 3-point line.
NEW YORK (AP) — Ondrej Palat scored the opening goal and added an assist in his debut with the New York Islanders, who defeated their cross-town rival New York Rangers 5-2 on Wednesday night.
Simon Holmstrom had a goal and two assists, David Rittich made 14 saves, and the Islanders won their second straight game. Mathew Barzal, Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Emil Heineman also scored.
Mika Zibanejad and Taylor Raddysh scored for the Rangers. Spencer Martin stopped 31 shots, but the Rangers lost for the fourth time in their last five games and are 2-8-1 since they won the Winter Classic in Florida on Jan. 2. Star forward Artemi Panarin was held out of the lineup for roster management purposes and will not play again for the Rangers before the Olympic break.
Holmstrom made a slick pass from the half wall to set up Palat in the slot for a power-play goal with 5:01 remaining in the first period.
Tony DeAngelo found Holmstrom for a tap-in goal 1:11 later, giving the Islanders a 2-0 lead.
Zibanejad buried a cross-ice feed from J.T. Miller late in the first period to pull the Rangers within one.
Barzal and Pageau scored 47 seconds apart midway through the second period to extend the Islanders’ lead to 4-1.
The Islanders acquired Palat from the New Jersey Devils, along with a third-round pick in 2026 and a sixth-round pick in 2027, in exchange for forward Maxim Tsyplakov.
BLUE JACKETS 5, FLYERS 3
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Charlie Coyle had a goal and an assist and Columbus beat Philadelphia for its third straight win.
Kirill Marchenko, Eric Gudbranson, Sean Monahan and Mathieu Olivier also scored for the Blue Jackets to offset a hat trick by Philadelphia’s Travis Konecny.
Elvis Merzlikins stopped 24 shots for Columbus and Zach Werenski had two assists, giving him 35 points in his last 21 home games.
The Blue Jackets have won seven of their last eight games and are tied at 57 points with the Flyers and Capitals for fourth place in the Metropolitan Division.
Konecny’s hat trick was the third of his career and Dan Vladar made 26 saves in his first start after missing six games with a lower-body injury. Rasmus Ristolainen left with a lower-body injury in the first period and did not return in the Flyers’ second straight loss.
SENATORS 5, AVALANCHE 2
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Tim Stutzle had a goal and an assist, Artem Zub added two assists and Ottawa defeated league-leading Colorado.
Nick Cousins, Ridly Greig, Claude Giroux and Brady Tkachuk also scored for Ottawa and James Reimer made 16 saves.
Parker Kelly and Valeri Nichushkin scored for the Avalanche, who have now lost three of their last four. Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 18 shots.
Trailing for most of the game, Colorado pushed back hard in the third period but the Senators were able to hold on.
The Senators made it 3-1 early in the third with Giroux scoring his 10th of the season beating Blackwood high blocker.
Less than two minutes later, a Giroux giveaway proved costly. Jack Drury found Nichushkin out front and the latter went to his backhand and beat Reimer high glove.
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Tim Stutzle had a goal and an assist, Artem Zub added two assists and the Ottawa Senators defeated the league-leading Colorado Avalanche 5-2 on Wednesday night.
Nick Cousins, Ridly Greig, Claude Giroux and Brady Tkachuk also scored for Ottawa and James Reimer made 16 saves.
Parker Kelly and Valeri Nichushkin scored for the Avalanche, who have now lost three of their last four. Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 18 shots.
Trailing for most of the game, Colorado pushed back hard in the third period but the Senators were able to hold on.
The Senators made it 3-1 early in the third with Giroux scoring his 10th of the season beating Blackwood high blocker.
Less than two minutes later, a Giroux giveaway proved costly. Jack Drury found Nichushkin out front and the latter went to his backhand and beat Reimer high glove.
Tkachuk and Stutzle each added empty-net goals.
Ottawa opened the scoring early in the second period when Zub made a stretch pass to Cousins, who beat Blackwood high short side.
Colorado tied the game when Keaton Middleton’s outlet pass was tipped by Brock Nelson and went right through Nick Jensen’s legs to Kelly, who beat Reimer high.
Ottawa wasted no time regaining the lead scoring 17 seconds later. Tyler Kleven threw a puck down the ice that banked off the back boards and Greig won a foot race against Middleton and beat Blackwood high blocker.
MIAMI (AP) — Paolo Banchero had 31 points and 12 rebounds, Anthony Black scored 26 points and the Orlando Magic beat the Miami Heat 133-124 on Wednesday night to snap a four-game skid.
Desmond Bane finished with 23 points on 10-of-16 shooting and Jalen Suggs scored 16 for the Magic, who are 3-0 against the Heat this season.
Simone Fontecchio scored 23 points in 19 minutes for the Heat. Norman Powell added 22 points and Bam Adebayo had 21.
Franz Wagner (left ankle sprain) missed his fourth straight game for the Magic while Miami was without Tyler Herro (ribs) and Davion Mitchell (shoulder).
The start of the game was delayed by seven minutes because one of the rims was uneven.
The Magic went on a 14-0 run in the fourth quarter and led 121-104 with 5:47 remaining before the Heat rallied and got within 128-122 on Powell’s three-point play with 1:25 left. Banchero and Suggs made two free throws each in the final minute to secure the win.
Orlando finished with 36 assists and shot 16 of 38 from 3-point range.
Down nine at halftime, the Magic outscored the Heat 40-20 in the third period behind 13 points from Banchero and 10 from Black. Orlando forced seven turnovers and had a 7-1 advantage in offensive rebounds in the quarter.
Miami erased a 14-point deficit late in the first quarter and outscored Orlando by 16 in the second to lead 68-59 at the break. Fontecchio scored 14 points, including three 3-pointers, in the second.
Up next
Magic: Host Toronto on Friday.
Heat: At Chicago on Thursday in a game rescheduled from Jan. 8, when unplayable court conditions at United Center forced a postponement. It's the first of three games against the Bulls in a four-day span.
Neither head coach in tonight’s Raptors vs Knicks match-up pays much attention to the NBA standings. Darko Rajakovic made a pact with himself to avoid them until the All-Star break. Mike Brown, coach of the Knicks, also commented that he doesn’t pay much attention to his team’s place in the rankings. It’s more about focusing on each game, one at a time.
Tonight’s game, though, had many standings implications. The Raptors and Knicks are pretty close to eachother in the top-four spots in the Eastern Conference. A win from either team would have been a great advantage in that battle.
On the Raptors’ side, they came into this game on a four-game streak, having won their last four West Coast road trip games. Though they haven’t beaten the Knicks in several years, New York came into this game on the second night of a back-to-back, missing a few players.
Should be a recipe for success?? It was, until the third quarter — when everything fell apart.
disappointing to see a game that started out with so much promise (raps’ d in the 1st half was some of the best they’ve played all year) go all the way off the rails. offensive process fell apart & they had no answer for ny’s wings. og took their lunch & stuffed them in a locker
Toronto had a 10-point lead going into the second quarter and a 4-point lead at halftime. By the end of the third, the Raptors were down 12 points, and it was a 20-point game in the fourth.
The Raptors stopped taking care of the ball, leading to reckless turnovers. They were pretty cold when it came to shooting all night, but while the Knicks recovered from a cold start, the Raptors got colder. Toronto only shot 38% from the field on the night, and 27% from three-point range. It was, for lack of a better word, a gross display of basketball.
Maybe they should trade for Giannis. I mean, if this is the effort you’re going to give, why not blow it up?
What is it about the Knicks that the Raptors just can’t figure out? It’s been years of this, and it feels like this New York team just has the Raptors number every single time.
That’s the kind of game you need to just forget and move on from, and the Raptors will do that as they head back out of cold Toronto and into the Orlando heat this Friday for a quick road trip.
It’s Wednesday night here at BCB After Dark: the most happening hangout for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. We’re so glad you decided to stop by. Come in out of the cold. We can check your coat for you. We’ve got a fire going and the show will start soon. There’s no cover charge tonight. Bring your own beverage.
BCB After Dark is the place for you to talk baseball, music, movies, or anything else you need to get off your chest, as long as it is within the rules of the site. The late-nighters are encouraged to get the party started, but everyone else is invited to join in as you wake up the next morning and into the afternoon.
Last night, I asked you where the Cubs were most vulnerable heading into the season. Thirty-five percent of you thought the biggest issue was the bullpen, and that makes a lot of sense. Another 31 percent of you said “outfield depth,” and that makes a lot of sense too. I wonder about the two percent of you who said “infield depth.” I guess if you don’t believe in Matt Shaw that could be a problem, but is that the biggest potential problem on the team?
Here’s the part where we listen to music and talk movies. The BCB Winter Science Fiction Classic starts the third round tonight. But you’re free to skip all that. You won’t hurt my feelings.
My adage when I can’t think of anything to play is to just play the hits. So tonight, we have a classic from Count Basie and his Orchestra on the BBC in 1965. This is “April in Paris,” which you’ve probably heard many times, even if only in Blazing Saddles.
You voted in the BCB Winter Science Fiction Classic and you decided to send Back to the Future to the final eight over The Matrix. A lot of you noted that I probably would have voted for The Matrix (I don’t vote except to break ties) but were it up to me, this round would have been Gattaca against 12 Monkeys, so I’m not going to get too worked up.
With that, we close out the second round and move on to the third. We also move back to the “Classic” period where we have a battle of two heavyweights: The Day the Earth Stood Still and Godzilla (Gojira). I put the Japanese title in the matchup to make clear that were voting on the Japanese original. The English-language version is called Godzilla: King of the Monsters. I’ve mentioned that version with Raymond Burr is a lot of fun but it is definitely the inferior version.
The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951). Directed by Robert Wise. Starring Michael Rennie, Patricia Neal and Hugh Marlowe.
The key clip from The Day the Earth Stood Still is Patricia Neal saying “Klaatu Barada Nikto” to Gort, but I used that one last time. But it’s just a magnificent piece of filmmaking from director Wise. You can see how he would go on to win two Oscars for directing.
This clip of Klaatu (Rennie) emerging from the saucer is also good.
Godzilla (1954). Directed by Ishirō Honda. Starring Akira Takarada, Momoko Kōchi, Akihiko Hirata and Takashi Shimura.
Both of these films are dealing with the anxieties of the nuclear age from different sides of the Pacific. For Americans, the destruction of nuclear weapons was only theoretical and in The Day the Earth Stood Still, Klaatu comes as a Christ-like savior to lead us to the path of peace. No one gets hurt other than Klaatu. Even he (sort of, thanks the Production Code) comes back to life.
Of course for the Japanese, the terror of nuclear weapons was all too real and Godzilla wrecks major havoc to the country. Tens or hundreds of thousands are likely dead in Godzilla’s wake. The message isn’t so much “live in peace with nuclear weapons” as it is “get rid of them because someone is going to use one again eventually.”
Both films are fantastic. Tough choice tonight. But now is your time to make it.
You have until Monday to make your vote. Next up is the finals in our “New Hollywood” bracket between 2001: A Space Odyssey and Planet of the Apes (1968).
Welcome back to everyone who skips the music and movies.
Earlier this decade, the Cubs were lining up all of their big contracts to run out at the end of this year. That’s gone a bit by the wayside with the signings of Dansby Swanson, Alex Bregman and Phil Maton, but for the most part, the Cubs are going to have a few free agents at the end of 2026 if they don’t sign them to extensions before that.
Both Cubs starting corner outfielders, Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki, are going to be free agents at the end of the season unless they agree to extensions or accept a qualifying offer. Both of them are very good players, but neither one is a superstar. It’s hard to tell what Suzuki is thinking with the language barrier and all, but I’ve got no reason to think he isn’t happy in Chicago. There was a little grumbling from his camp last year when he was moved to DH after the trade for Kyle Tucker, but Tucker is gone now and Suzuki is penciled back in right field for 2026.
Happ has made it clear that he loves Chicago and the Cubs and would like to be a Cub for life.
So should the Cubs make a move now to sign either outfielder to an extension? Or both?
Al wrote an article earlier this winter arguing for Happ to be signed to a three-year extension. I actually think that his contract proposal was a little low on money. I think Happ can get significantly more than three years, $48 million on the open market. Jorge Polanco is a year older than Happ, is a bad defender who is moving to first base and is a similar hitter. He got two years and $40 million from the Mets on the open market.
So I’m going to propose a three-year extension for Happ for $60 million. That’s basically what he signed in his last extension. Yes, Happ is older now than he was then, but salaries have gone up since then too.
Suzuki is a better hitter than Happ but a much worse fielder. The two were born six days apart from each other, so age isn’t a factor. I think Suzuki’s defense is going to be a bigger problem as he ages, so he may be destined to be a full-time DH with only an occasional game as a corner outfielder. So I’m going to put Suzuki’s extension at a slight discount from Happ at three years and $54 million.
So would you sign either of these outfielders to an extension before Opening Day? Or both of them? The Cubs are definitely going to need two corner outfielders in 2027. Even if you think that Kevin Alcántara is ready to take over one of those spots, there really isn’t another reasonable candidate in the minor leagues to fill the other one. The free agent market for outfielders next winter isn’t great. There’s George Springer, who is going to be 37 years old and then there are guys who I’d argue aren’t as good as Happ and Suzuki—Randy Arozarena, Adolis García and Trent Grisham. That may make signing either one to an extension harder because they know that teams looking for outfielders next winter aren’t going to have a ton of options.
There is one wildcard in the Cubs minor league system that would argue against signing both is last year’s first-round pick Ethan Conrad. Conrad hasn’t made his professional debut yet because of injuries and it seems highly unlikely that he’d be ready to start the 2027 season in the majors. However, if he’s as good as the Cubs think he is, Conrad will definitely be ready by 2028, if not sooner. But can you really count on a player who hasn’t taken a professional at-bat yet?
You can make your own estimates on what the extension would go for, but make it realistic. Neither one is signing for two years and $20 million. You don’t have to give either one no-trade options, although Happ wouldn’t need one because he would become a 10-5 player some time in the 2027 season.
So what would you do? Would you lock up one of these outfielders by Opening Day? Both? Neither?
Thank you for stopping in tonight. We know you have a lot of fake online baseball and jazz-themed nightclubs to choose from, so we’re happy you chose us. Please get home safely. Stay warm out there. Don’t forget anything. Recycle any cans and bottles. Tip your waitstaff. And join us again next week for more BCB After Dark.
The New York Knicks (29*-18) played at MSG last night and fought deep into the night before finally knifing the Kings. Just 24 hours later, they took the floor in Toronto to face the Raptors (29-20). The Raps had rested since Sunday and won four straight. A fatigued Knicks team versus one of the hottest in the league? With Immanuel Quickley having a career year? Some of us had concerns. So a 119-92 win? Quoth YIK: “Didn’t see that coming.”
The game had an unpromising start. The visitors opened with a turnover-soaked first quarter and scrambled after an ill Jalen Brunson exited early, managing just 18 points. They steadied in the second behind Towns’ absurd rebounding and improved team defense, clawing their way to a four-point deficit at halftime. After another uneven stretch to start the third, New York went on a 64-26 run to the finish line, riding Mikal Bridges’ unstoppable shooting, Anunoby’s full-court impact, and another solid game by Josh Hart (playing on a sore ankle, no less).
New York outshot the Raps (50% to 38% FG, 37% to 27% 3PT), applied relentless interior pressure (winning the paint, 60–38), and superior ball movement (32 assists)—most of the good stuff happening after intermission. Bridges led the way with 30 points on 12-of-15 shooting, while Anunoby delivered a ferocious two-way performance with 26 points, six steals, and five assists. The hobbled Hart was everywhere, piling up 22 points, six boards, and six dimes, and Jalen Brunson, clearly not at full strength, still steadied the offense with 13 points in 30 minutes. Karl-Anthony Towns struggled to score (8 points on 3-of-11 FG) but grabbed a staggering 22 rebounds and fouled nobody (nobody!) in 35 minutes.
Off the bench, Tyler Kolek made the most of his chance. He orchestrated the offense with 10 assists in 19 minutes and a team-high +23, while Landry Shamet chipped in timely shooting (9 points, three threes).
Brandon Ingram carried Toronto with 27 points on 10-of-16 shooting, but faded late, while Scottie Barnes filled the box score (17 points, 10 boards, 5 dimes) and committed five turnovers. OAKAAKUYOAKs RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley both labored ineffectively: the former chipped in 14 points and eight boards but shot 3-of-13; the latter managed just seven points.
That finish gives our heroes a four-game win streak, a 3-0 season series lead, and ownership of third place. Rejoice, fans!
[Editor’s Note: Boston lost to Atlanta, tying them with New York for second place.]
First Half
Woof, what a start. In the first three minutes, New York committed four turnovers, missed all three shot attempts, and watched Toronto score seven unanswered points. Coach Mike Brown called a timeout, out of which Towns committed a backcourt violation.
New York’s shooting was atrocious. Their defense is worse. When Collin Murray-Boyles fired a pass to a cutting Barrett for an uncontested layup, Bridges jogged helplessly behind. Making matters worse, Jalen Brunson was fighting an illness and subbed out after five minutes. While the leaderless Knicks fumbled and bumbled, the Canadians went up by nine.
With multiple players absent or ailing, Mike Brown drew deeply from his bench. Recent DNPs Tyler Kolek, Mohamed Diawara, and Ariel Hukporti reported for duty midway through the frame, as did Guerschon Yabusele, who’s likely sipping the last of his New York coffee. Even Jordan Clarkson checked in around the two-minute mark. With the reserves in, the Raptors were unconcerned. Spoiler: In the entire half, allll those bench guys contributed a total of five points.
Making matters worse, Landry Shamet tried to reverse direction and hurt his leg or groin—and his leg was already sleeved in a brace. Shamet limped off the court to watch the quarter play out from the bench. Whether your vantage was from up close or upstate New York, it was unpleasant, and when the buzzer buzzed, the score on this dud was 28-18.
Yet again, an assortment of Brunson, Towns, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Josh Hart couldn’t break 18 points. Hard to believe that somewhere in his lair, James Dolan isn’t dusting off his Melo-scented nuclear button.
We’ve seen KAT disappear. Now behold the vanishing OG!
In the second quarter, the game improved somewhat. Towns couldn’t make a shot, missing 5-0f-6 so far, but was hauling in rebounds at a record rate. By the five-minute mark, his total was 15 and climbing. On the other hand, he’d been blocked four times by Murray-Boyles in the second quarter alone. Note: CMB stands 6’7”.
Good news—Shamet returned, hit a triple, and moved well. And the Knicks’ defense improved enough to hold the Raptors to just 6-of-26 shooting in the second quarter. Although the Raptors shot terribly from the field in the first half (31% FG, 35% 3PT), they made plenty of hay at the free-throw line. By intermission, they had attempted 18 freebies in New York’s six. Both teams had missed one at the stripe.
Down 34–22 around the nine-minute mark, New York outscored Toronto by eight from there. That cut the score to 51–47 at halftime. Kind of surprisingly, every Knicks mini-run coincided with Towns being on the floor. Because, the rebounding! KAT finished the frame with 16 rebounds, the most by any NBA player in a half this season. And yet: four points on 2-of-9 shooting. And yet: no fouls. It’s always a mixed bag, innit?
Meanwhile, but Bridges was starting to cook. . . .
The Knicks scored 28 points in the paint to Toronto’s 14, but had been outrebounded 29-26 and missed 15-of-19 three-point attempts. After committing a season-high 21 turnovers last night, they kept the party going with 11 more in the first half tonight. Anunoby was the only New Yorker in double-digits with 14 points; for Toronto, Ingram and Barnes had 13 apiece. Quickley, who delivered a 40-burger earlier this month, had scored three points.
Second Half
The Knicks spent much of the quarter knocking on the door. More turnovers and offensive fouls hindered their progress, however. Toronto continued to benefit from free throws and defensive lapses. Last night, New York had no answer for DeMar DeRozan; tonight, the role was picked up by Ingram. There’s always someone.
Josh Hart was playing on a sore ankle. He’d finish the game with over 35 minutes and made plays like this:
New York finally cobbled together a decent run (with buckets by Shamet, Bridges, and Hart) and overtook the Raps with an Anunoby pick-six late at the four-minute mark. That gave them some momentum, and the train kept going—a 27-4 run helped them close the quarter ahead 82-70. Players on the floor during the scoring party? Kolek, Shamet, Bridges, Anunoby, and Towns. Mikal was especially incendiary, having made 10 of his first 11 shots, including 3-of-4 from deep, and Anunoby—who recorded seven giveaways yesterday—was stealing and blocking and scoring (10-of-16 thus far).
New York won the quarter 35-19, and a stunned hush fell over the city of Toronto. Check out this sequence, culminating in a krazy KAT dime:
Early in the fourth quarter, Kolek turned his ankle and had to leave the court. It was a disappointing break for the rookie who’s been in and out of the rotation this season and hungry for opportunities. A DNP for the previous two contests, the sophomore had dished 10 dimes in 19 minutes at the time of the injury (and only three turnovers).
Meanwhile, New York was rolling. The Knicks rattled off multiple threes (Hart twice, Shamet, Bridges) and paired them with rim pressure and dunks from OG and Bridges. The lead ballooned to 22 halfway through the period. For the villains, Barnes, Quickley, and Barrett missed jumpers in succession, and Toronto’s scoring dwindled to occasional dunks and free throws. By pairing defensive rebounding with blistering shooting, New York was a chainsaw, and Toronto folded like a maple leaf.
Sam Malinski’s Rise: Why the Avalanche Rewarded Him With a Four-Year ExtensionSam Malinski earned every cent of this contract extension 
