(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)
On the latest episode of "Baseball Bar-B-Cast," hosts Jordan Shusterman and Jake Mintz delved into the recent struggles of Roki Sasaki, the talented pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
"[Sasaki] was awful. Worse than he looked in Japan," Mintz said. "The fastball command was abysmal. He was missing arm-side with the heater, particularly to lefties. Just couldn't figure it out. And he was clearly frazzled throughout the entire outing."
For Mintz, it boils down to one thing: "He's not ready for this right now."
The podcast discussion revolved around the Dodgers' strategy in developing Sasaki, given the high expectations for him after his move from Japan. Mintz and Shusterman debated the pros and cons of keeping him in the major leagues versus sending him to Triple-A to work on his command in a less pressurized environment.
As Mintz put it, "The Dodgers can afford for Roki to figure this out at the big-league level. That is part of what they pitched to him. They're so talented, so deep that he can go out there and throw up stinkers and work on stuff and effectively use a big-league game as a minor-league development experience. And they can still win.
"But is that what's best for his development right now? I'm not sure."
While the Dodgers' deep and talented roster affords them the flexibility to let Sasaki to develop at the highest level, there's a valid argument to give him an opportunity to refine his skills and build confidence in Oklahoma City, away from the bright lights of L.A., which could, in turn, be more beneficial for his long-term development.
What's more, as Shusterman pointed out, the Dodgers have so many other options that their rotation is not reliant on Sasaki at this point in time.
"They did not need to fast-track Roki in this way," he said. "They didn't. Not only because they can obviously win without him, but literally they have so many other pitchers that are more than good enough to fill in his spot."
While Mintz made the argument that the only way Sasaki is going to learn to pitch in the big leagues is to continue pitching in the big leagues, Shusterman disagreed.
"I don't know if just continuing to roll that out in the big leagues is actively helping," he said. "And I think that there is a version where five starts in Oklahoma City, in front of fewer people, against worse hitters, where he can actually work on things, will put him in a position to come back and be more prepared to succeed. But either way, he does not look like a pitcher that is being put in a position to succeed. That is the simplest way to put it."
After pitching first in the Tokyo Series and then on opening weekend at home, Sasaki could certainly use an easy outing, but his next scheduled start is against the Phillies. Pitching in a notoriously tough environment such as Philly will no doubt add an additional challenge that will further test Sasaki's resilience and adaptability.
"You could say, 'Why are you babying this guy?'" Shusterman pondered. "But he's a baby! He's not making $300 million. He's making the minimum, and he's 23. ... And yes, he is one of the most talented players to ever come from Japan, but if you don't think he's a finished product, if you clearly know that he has stuff to work on, why are we pretending like he's already your No. 2 starter? That's what I don't get that."
Keep an eye on Sasaki, as his journey will continue to be one to watch — not only because of his immense talent but also to see how the Dodgers manage his development moving forward.
Ben Stokes is not expected to play in the early rounds of the County Championship as he battles to be fit to lead England, his Durham coach Ryan Campbell said on Monday.
The flood of NCAA players signing their entry-level NHL contracts has begun.
The Frozen Four begins on April 10, so we should see a couple more players signing after then, but a handful of prospects are jumping from the NCAA to the NHL right now after being eliminated.
Some of the most promising and exciting prospects in hockey have come through the NCAA pipeline in recent years. This year’s crop of signees will be effective on teams that are either securely in the playoffs, pushing for a wild-card spot or sitting near the bottom of the league and looking forward to the future.
Let’s look at some of the most promising entry-level signings from the NCAA in recent days.
Ryan Leonard, LW, Washington Capitals
The bull in a china shop that is Ryan Leonard has been one of the most physically dominant players in the NCAA over the past couple of years.
His speed, strength, and legitimate skill make him a player who can play up and down the lineup at the NHL level. He was the engine of Boston College's top line alongside 2025 top NHL draft prospect James Hagens and Gabe Perreault, who's expected to sign with the New York Rangers.
Leonard should slot into the Capitals' middle six forwards and provide some energy and scoring punch down the lineup for their playoff run. Even if his offensive game takes a minute to get going, his speed and tenacity should make him a valuable part of the lineup.
Gabe Perreault, RW, New York Rangers
The Rangers announced they officially signed Perreault at 5 p.m. ET on Monday.
Perreault is one of the premier play connectors who came through the NHL draft in recent years. He’ll be playing with new linemates for the first time in three years – he won’t have either Leonard or Will Smith alongside him as he did going back to his days in the USA Hockey National Team Development Program.
Perreault isn’t the fastest, most skilled or strongest player, but his value comes from his intellect and cerebral playmaking ability.
Perreault is highly effective as an off-puck attacker who can make a quick pass or get himself into a scoring area with ease. Whether he makes a one-touch pass or waits the extra half-second to allow a lane to develop on a zone entry, Perreault is such a smart player who allows his teammates to play to their strengths.
He’s consistently played a steady middle-six game whenever he’s been asked, but he’s skilled enough offensively to drive results when asked to play up the lineup. Moore is a fantastic fit for this Blackhawks team, which is looking for some added team speed.
The rest of the Hawks’ season means little in the standings, but Moore could make a strong case for a roster spot next year with a good run of play.
His versatility could see him stick on the wing for now, but Moore’s two-way game and pace make him more of a fit at center. Either way, Moore should be a fixture in the middle six for Chicago for years.
Matthew Wood, C/W, Nashville Predators
Although Wood didn’t become a dominant player during his two-year college run, he joins the Predators as they play out the stretch of a lost season.
Wood is a big-bodied forward who is an excellent off-puck finisher. He’s grown as a playmaker in the NCAA. His last month of the season with the University of Minnesota was as good as he’s been in college, and it should give him confidence heading into the NHL.
While he shouldn’t be expected to hit the ground running, especially on a Preds team where nothing has gone right this year, Wood should be a nice addition that provides a glimpse into the future. The 6-foot-4 Albertan could play down the lineup as a center or a left winger.
Wood has the skill and shooting talent to score some goals. He just needs someone to help him get the puck in good positions.
Jimmy Snuggerud, RW, St. Louis Blues
After setting career highs in goals and points in the NCAA, Snuggerud joins the Blues in the thick of a playoff race.
He doesn’t necessarily drive play, but he is an excellent Robin to someone’s Batman. He plays with speed and energy, finds open space in the offensive zone and helps make life easier on his linemates by doing a little bit of everything.
Snuggerud is slated to line up on the third line for the Blues, which could give them the depth scoring they need to pull away in the playoff race.
Snuggerud has always found a way to elevate his game as the stakes get higher, whether it's the World Junior Championship or the NCAA tournament.
Sam Rinzel, D, Chicago Blackhawks
Like Moore, Rinzel got into his first NHL game already, and he looked quite solid. He has size, skating ability and some skill, which immediately makes him one of the Hawks' more intriguing blueliners.
Rinzel has the kind of reach and mobility that it takes to play a solid defensive game and the passing and skill to play well enough in the offensive end.
Rinzel will make some mistakes, but the experience he gains in this season's final days could spur him on to being a regular in the lineup in the fall. His raw tools have always been incredibly intriguing, and his development in college has been encouraging. Getting a glimpse of pro hockey will be integral as he heads into a summer training to be a full-time pro.
While the news itself could have been worse, it feels like this drops the curtain on the Phoenix Suns' season.
Kevin Durant is going to miss at least a week due to the sprained ankle he suffered in a blowout loss to the Houston Rockets on Sunday, reports Shams Charania of ESPN. That implies this is a Grade 1 sprain, which usually sidelines a player for 1-2 weeks. Durant is not with the team and will be out for a critical three-game road trip for Phoenix against Milwaukee, Boston and New York.
Here’s a closer look at the ankle injury Kevin Durant just suffered:
There is a chance Durant could return for the final games of the regular season and the play-in, but will they need him to?
This injury feels like the final nail in the coffin of the Suns' season. It may well mean we've seen Durant's last game in a Suns uniform.
After a four-game win streak that sparked hope this Suns roster was invested and turning things around, Phoenix has dropped three in a row, two of those games by 30+ (the other, to Denver, by "just" 15). This looks like a team that has let go of the rope. Phoenix is 1.5 games back of Sacramento for the No. 10 seed and final play-in spot in the West with seven games to go, and the next three of those games are a brutal road trip the Suns will take without Durant. The only thing keeping the Suns close is that the Kings are falling apart as well, but neither looks like a team ready to make a push and advance out of the play-in and into the eight-team playoffs.
It's time for the Suns' front office and coaching staff to consider shutting things down rather than risk further injuries to stars, as much as that is against the ethos of owner Mat Ishbia. Bradley Beal has missed the last seven games and has yet to be cleared to play 5-on-5, there is no timetable for his return. Durant is now out. Devin Booker likely plays in every game on this road trip, and he's not going to want to be sat for games, but it's time for the Suns to discuss sitting him and giving a larger role to Collin Gillespie and rookie Ryan Dunn (as well as rookie Oso Ighodaro) and see what they can do with it.
What are the Suns playing for at this point? This season has been a massive disappointment, it's better to get to the offseason and retool the roster (likely with a Durant trade).
The Bronx Bombers now have torpedoes in their arsenal.
The New York Yankees officially launched the “torpedo bat” era over the weekend — with multiple players using a modified baseball bat during the team’s historic offensive onslaught in its opening series of the 2025 season.
The wood of the bat is shifted from the barrel towards the batter’s hands to create a custom sweet spot where contact is most frequently made. The reconfiguration gives the bat the shape of a torpedo — or a bowling pin, which doesn’t sound nearly as menacing or apropos.
Because the Yankees hit bombs with them.
Nine of their MLB record-tying 15 home runs hit in their first three games were used by five players using torpedo bats, including six of a franchise-record nine homers in Saturday’s 20-9 rout over the Milwaukee Brewers.
“I think the advantage is that you’re more likely to make a reasonable contact,” Dave Savage, a physics teacher in Oregon, told NBC Local. “So…you’ve increased your chances. And then the closer you can get to dead center of that sweet spot where the bat is the largest, most massive, that is going to be your largest exchange of momentum.”
It wasn’t the first time torpedo bats were used in the major leagues, but the Yankees’ offensive outburst helped put the torpedoes on baseball’s radar.
Some social media users and baseball purists — and at least one opposing player – then returned fire, saying the bats should be outlawed.
The bats, however, are legal under MLB’s rules. And more teams are now looking to add torpedo bats to their own arsenal.
What is a torpedo bat?
Mike Stobe/Getty Images
The torpedo bat belonging to Jazz Chisholm Jr. of the New York Yankees. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
The torpedo bat is a custom-shaped baseball bat with a modified barrel that’s tailored to maximize the contact tendencies of the batter.
Wood is shifted from the end of the barrel to a location closer to the hands, making the bat widest at the spot where the batter most often makes contact with the ball.
That reshaping and relocation of the sweet spot gives the bat the appearance of a torpedo.
Much of the recent credit for the implementation of the torpedo bat has gone to Aaron Leanhardt, a former Yankees front-office staffer who is now the Miami Marlins’ field coordinator.
Leanhardt, a former physicist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said the idea developed in 2022 while he was working with the Yankees’ minor-league hitting department.
Yes, the Yankees have a literal genius MIT Physicist, Lenny (who is the man), on payroll. He invented the “Torpedo” barrel. It brings more wood – and mass – to where you most often make contact as a hitter. The idea is to increase the number of “barrels” and decrease misses. pic.twitter.com/CsC1wkAM9G
The 48-year-old Leanhardt, who holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. in physics from MIT, previously coached baseball in the Atlantic League and at a Montana community college, per The Athletic. He became the Yankees’ major league analyst in 2024, and players within the organization soon began using torpedo bats in regular-season games.
“Really, it’s just about making the bat as heavy and as fat as possible in the area where you’re trying to do damage on the baseball,” he told The Athletic.
YES Network play-by-play announcer Michael Kay said during Saturday’s broadcast that the Yankees’ analytics department had performed a study on shortstop Anthony Volpe showing he frequently hit the ball on the label of his bat, rather than on the barrel.
So, using Leanhardt’s design, the sweet spot of Volpe’s bat was moved from the barrel to the label.
Michael Kay explains that the Yankees made new bats "where they moved a lot of the wood into the label so the harder part of the bat is going to strike the ball."
The Yankees requested sample models of the torpedo style from some of MLB’s 41 approved bat manufacturers, according to ESPN. The model numbers for the spec bats started with “BP” for bowling pin, a more accurate comp for the bat’s new shape.
“Torpedo sounds kind of cooler,” Leanhardt told ESPN.
Louisville Slugger said four teams have requested torpedo style bats from the company over the past 18 months.
“Teams are analyzing every single at bat by every player, then charting the part of the bat where each player is making contact with the ball,” the company said Monday in a statement. “Based on the location of the majority of a player’s contact on the barrel, teams are asking us to shift the weight of the barrel and sweet spot to accommodate each hitter.”
What is MLB’s bat rule?
The torpedo bats do not violate MLB’s rules, which state under 3.02: “The bat shall be a smooth, round stick not more than 2.61 inches in diameter at the thickest part and not more than 42 inches in length. The bat shall be one piece of solid wood.”
It goes on to state there may be a cupped indentation up to 1 1/4 inches in depth, 2 inches wide and with at least a 1-inch diameter, and experimental models must be approved by MLB.
When was a torpedo bat first used?
Giancarlo Stanton might be remembered as the player who officially launched MLB’s first torpedo.
Multiple players, including Volpe, experimented with the torpedo bat last season. But it was Stanton who used one to hit seven home runs in 14 postseason games during the Yankees’ run to the 2024 World Series, per ESPN.
Following that success, torpedo bat models were made available to members of the Yankees during spring training.
Five members of the Yankees’ lineup adopted torpedo bats during their 2025 opening series, crushing a combined nine home runs: Jazz Chisholm Jr. (three), Volpe (two), Austin Wells (two), Paul Goldschmidt and Cody Bellinger (one), who said he experimented with a torpedo bat during batting practice last season.
Their Yankee teammate and reigning American League MVP Aaron Judge hit four home runs over the first three games of the season, but he did so with a traditional bat.
Which teams use torpedo bats?
The Yankees aren’t the only team using torpedo bats.
Ryan Jeffers of the Minnesota Twins and the Rays’ Junior Caminero and Yandy Díaz used them in Spring Training and during the opening weekend of the regular season, per ESPN. Davis Schneider of the Toronto Blue Jays uses one. MLB.com reported that members of the Baltimore Orioles have experimented with them. As did the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs in spring training, according to the New York Times.
And more torpedos are now on a collision course with the league.
Tons of requests are coming in for the Torpedo Bat, says MC Huntsberry of Marucci Sports, big Torpedo bat supplier. No surprise there!
Some pitchers, however, might view the use of torpedo bats in the same way batters once viewed the pitching mound being elevated.
“I think it’s terrible,” Brewers closer Trevor Megill told the New York Post after watching his team surrender 15 home runs to the Yankees. “We’ll see what the data says. I’ve never seen anything like it before. I feel like it’s something used in slow-pitch softball.
“It’s genius: Put the mass all in one spot. It might be bush (league). It might not be. But it’s the Yankees, so they’ll let it slide.”
HOUSTON — Giants starter Jordan Hicks had to wait seven seasons, 242 appearances and 29 starts to finally appear in his hometown. He pitched in 29 other ballparks before taking the mound at what is now called Daikin Park. It was worth the wait.
In front of nearly 100 family members and friends, the Houston native had the most dominant start of his MLB career, allowing just one hit over six innings and showing eye-popping velocity as the Giants cruised to a 7-2 win over the Houston Astros on Monday. San Francisco is 3-1 and will try to clinch a winning trip on Tuesday behind ace Logan Webb.
The only hit Hicks allowed was a single by Christian Walker in the first inning, but he followed that by retiring 14 straight. Hicks was sharp for about two months last season before running out of gas. He put on 15 pounds in the offseason, and the Giants believe a big season is ahead. The early returns couldn’t have been more encouraging.
Here are three things to know from the Giants’ third win of the 2025 MLB season:
Lighting It Up
It would be easy to attribute Hicks’ velocity bump to the adrenaline that might have come with pitching in his hometown, but this was what the Giants would have expected Monday in any ballpark. Manager Bob Melvin said before the game that the plan for Hicks this year is to “go after it” instead of pacing himself in starts. The Giants don’t mind if he runs into a wall a bit earlier if the results are there, but on Monday they got the best of both worlds.
Hicks was so economical that he needed just 58 pitches to get through five, and despite walking a batter in the sixth, he strolled off at 72 pitches, 73 percent of which were fastballs. He had some dominant starts last April, but this was easily his best velocity as a Giant.
Hicks averaged 98 mph with his sinker, nearly a full tick up from last season’s best of 97.1 mph, which also came in his first start of the year. He topped out at 100 mph and hit 99 mph on 13 pitches after doing it just 10 total times all of 2024.
Small Ball
The Giants stole three bases without being caught, repeatedly taking advantage of the fact that Astros starter Ronel Blanco wasn’t holding runners at first. They had just five three-steal games all of last season, but through four games they’re definitely showing that they might finally be willing to force the issue a bit. They’re a perfect 5-for-5 so far on the bases.
It wasn’t just the steals that stood out. In the fifth, Mike Yastrzemski singled, stole second, went to third on Tyler Fitzgerald’s perfect bunt down the third base line, and scored on a sacrifice fly by LaMonte Wade Jr. It was an aggressive send by Matt Williams, but Yastrzemski got in safely with an athletic slide.
All The Way Back
Wilmer Flores had four homers all of last season, which was cut short by knee discomfort that hampered him all year. He’s healthy once again, and he looks exactly like the player who led the lineup in 2023.
Flores jumped on an elevated slider from Luis Contreras in the sixth and broke the game open with a soaring three-run shot into the Crawford Boxes in left. He’s tied for the league lead with eight RBI and is tied for second in the NL with three homers.
The San Francisco-era franchise record for homers over the first four games is five (by Barry Bonds, of course), and Willie Mays twice had four in his first four games. Flores joined Evan Longoria, Brandon Belt and Kevin Mitchell, all of whom had a season with three homers in their first four games.
A sparkling debut performance by medium pacer Ashwani Kumar helped IPL powerhouses Mumbai Indians register their first win of the season on Monday, downing Kolkata Knight Riders by eight wickets.
The Yankees announced on Monday afternoon that they have re-signed the first baseman/outfielder to a minor league contract.
Smith, originally a first-round pick by the Mets, played with the Yankees this spring, putting up strong numbers in Grapefruit League action. In 13 games, Smith slashed .297/.289/.568 with three home runs and 12 RBI.
While it seemed like Smith may have a chance to make the team, he ended up exercising the opt out in his contract, hoping another club would sign him to a major league contract.
But Smith is now back with the Yankees organization, and he could be an option to be called up if the Yankees need another left-handed hitting option on the 26-man roster.
In 693 career big league games, Smith has 64 home runs and 259 RBI, posting an OPS of .716.
(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)
These bats boast a distinct design with a bulbous, wider barrel reminiscent of a bowling pin, spurring many fans into debate about their legality and potential benefits. As Mintz explained, “These bats appear larger but within regulation. They redistribute weight and adjust the sweet spot, possibly aiding in better contact.”
The narrative quickly went viral, with some attributing the Yankees’ explosive performance to these torpedo bats. However, Shusterman was quick to point out the context: "Are these bats really magic, or were the Brewers’ pitchers just really bad?”
Aaron Judge, it should be noted, didn't use a torpedo bat, while teammates including Anthony Volpe, Austin Wells, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt did. "I think my track record speaks for itself," Judge said after his own incredible, four-homer weekend at the plate.
Also, it wasn't just Yankees using these bats over the weekend. As the hosts pointed out, Francisco Lindor of the Mets, Ryan Jeffers of the Twins and Junior Caminero of the Rays all used the bats this weekend.
As Mintz said, "Even though the Yankees were getting all the hype, it does appear that this is more than just a Bronx situation."
Shusterman further speculated on whether these bats might represent a small shift away from pitching dominance in MLB. Pitchers have enjoyed a technological and tactical edge over hitters in recent years, leading to increased strikeouts and fewer balls in play. Could these uniquely designed bats help restore balance? Maybe, but both hosts advised caution.
“If a bat just helps players hit the ball more often and effectively, that’s a good thing for baseball,” Shusterman said. Yet, he added, “These aren’t turning every ball into a home run. It’s not the bat. It’s bigger than that.”
The Yankees might have ignited this latest trend, but Mintz suggested that other teams will likely experiment with such designs, if they aren't doing so already.
"It does sound like around the league this is something that other teams have already been experimenting with. But it seems like the Yankees were the first team to break through and give it a try, in terms of the players that are at the major-league level and willing to give it a shot," he said. “If the Yankees can get players to buy in to these changes, other teams won’t be far behind."
As the league moves forward, fans and analysts will be keenly watching whether these torpedo bats become a standard tool for MLB hitters or remain a quirky sidebar from the Yankees’ early season success.
In 70 games, the skilled Czech forward has scored 31 goals and 59 points, tying him for the team lead in goals with linemate Pavel Dorofeyev.
The Golden Knights are on the cusp of clinching a playoff spot and are inching closer to locking up first place in the Pacific Division, which is allowing them to be patient with Hertl's recovery, but nerves are beginning to settle in about his chances of being ready for the start of the playoffs.
Alex Pietrangelo was a participant in practice today, taking line rushes alongside healthy scratch Ben Hutton, indicating that he isn't quite ready to hop back into the lineup. While things can change, and he hasn't been officially ruled out of tomorrow's fixture, all signs lead to Kaedan Korczak remaining in the lineup for Pietrangelo.
Stay updated with the most interesting Golden Knights stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.
Kraigg Brathwaite has quit as West Indies Test captain after four years in charge while ODI skipper Shai Hope was handed leadership of the T20 team, officials said.
It’s been 70
years since Stan Fischler got his first paying job covering the NHL – and he’s
still at it on his 93rd birthday.
‘The Maven,’
who turns 93 on March 31, got started writing about the New
York Rangers in 1954-55. He began writing for The
Hockey News not long after when co-founder Ken McKenzie reached out to him.
Since then,
his career has earned him a place in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame
and the New
York State Hockey Hall of Fame, as well as the NHL’s Lester
Patrick Trophy in 2007 for outstanding service to hockey in the United
States. He also won seven Emmy Awards during his television broadcasting career
of more than 40 years, covering the Hartford Whalers, New York Islanders, New
York Rangers and New Jersey Devils.
The
Islanders, in particular, named its
press level at new UBS Arena after Fischler in October 2022, featuring a
collection of his articles, equipment and photographs. Fischler has also gifted
the Islanders his hockey library, featuring more than 90 books.
Fischler
continues to cover the Rangers for The Hockey News, often writing multiple
articles daily.
“This man
is a phenomenon, plain and simple,” longtime New York Mets radio play-by-play
commentator Howie
Rose wrote on X. “However controversial and acerbic he might have
been during his career (might have?) his love for hockey always shone through.
Proud to call him a longtime friend who is worthy of the Hockey Hall of Fame’s
Elmer Ferguson award.”
Fischler thanked everyone for their birthday wishes as well.
“A million thanks to all for the happy birthday wishes,” he
posted to X. “It’s on to 94, but gotta enjoy 93 for a dozen months.”
The Pittsburgh Penguins have made a move, seemingly, to clear up a spot on their active NHL roster.
On Monday, forward Emil Bemstrom was placed on waivers. In 13 NHL games with the Penguins this season, Bemstrom registered one point.
The 25-year-old Swedish forward was traded to Pittsburgh on Feb. 22, 2024, from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for forward Alex Nylander and a conditional draft pick. He was re-signed on a one-year deal this summer by the Penguins, and he is set to become a restricted free agent (RFA) this summer.
In 37 total games with the Penguins since last year's deadline, he had three goals and six points.
Since Bemstrom was on the roster for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins - Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate - on deadline day, he is able to rejoin WBS for the team's Calder Cup run if he clears waivers on Tuesday. Waivers was required because he appeared in more than 10 NHL games.
In 43 AHL games this season, Bemstrom racked up 21 goals and 46 points in 43 games and was named an AHL All-Star.
Once Bemstrom either clears waivers or is claimed by another NHL club, the Penguins will have a roster spot opened up. With the NCAA season - aside from the Frozen Four - wrapped up, it remains to be seen whether or not the Penguins target a collegiate free agent.
When could the title and relegation be decided? How are European spots shaping up? We set out the top-flight latest
Liverpool’s 12-point lead means they need a maximum of 16 points from their nine games to put themselves out of Arsenal’s reach and secure the title. If Arsenal go on a winning run this could take Liverpool into May even without dropping any points, but if Mikel Arteta’s side lose their next three it could all be over as soon as 13 April, when Liverpool play West Ham at home. In the immediate future a couple of teams in particular could go a long way towards deciding things: Arsenal host Fulham and visit Everton in their fixtures this week, while Liverpool host Everton and visit Fulham. Even beyond those games the sides have comparable fixtures this month – neither will play a current top-half team – but Arsenal also have two Champions League fixtures against Real Madrid to deal with and must close the gap before the start of May.
Has Oilers' Leon Draisaitl Ended The NHL's Hart Trophy Race? by The Wraparoundundefined
Mike Stobe/Getty Images
