Army Black Knights vs. Navy Midshipmen Game Preview
NHL Trade Rumors: Should Canadiens Target Blues Center?
The Montreal Canadiens should be looking to improve at the center position this season.
When looking at trade candidates around the NHL, St. Louis Blues captain Brayden Schenn stands out as an interesting potential option for the Canadiens.
With the Blues struggling this season, Schenn has found himself right back into the rumor mill. It is understandable, as he would have the potential to be a very solid addition to a playoff team's roster. This is because he is a solid two-way center who chips in offensively when playing at his best, kills penalties, and is not afraid to throw the body.
Schenn is also known for being a good leader, which is why he is currently the Blues' captain. With the Canadiens being a young team on the rise, adding a player like Schenn as a mentor would have the potential to benefit them.
After a slow start to the season, Schenn is also starting to heat back up for the Blues. In 30 games so far this season with the Central Division club, he has recorded six goals, seven assists, 13 points, and 67 hits. He also recorded four points in his last three games alone, which included him scoring twice and recording an assist against the Canadiens on Dec. 7.
With all Schenn provides, he would have the potential to be a solid addition to the Canadiens' middle six and penalty kill if acquired.
However, there would also be some clear risk in a potential Schenn trade. For starters, he would not come cheap, as he has a $6.5 million cap hit. He would also be more than a rental for Montreal if acquired, as he is signed until the end of the 2027-28 season. The 34-year-old forward has also struggled at times this season.
Ultimately, Schenn would have the potential to be a nice addition to the Canadiens' roster, but his contract is where things could get complicated. Yet, if the Blues were open to retaining some of Schenn's salary, that could make the veteran center a more realistic target for Montreal.
Flyers get production from fourth line in strong win over Sharks
Flyers get production from fourth line in strong win over Sharks originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Flyers once again bounced back from a regulation loss, this time beating the Sharks, 4-1, Tuesday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Christian Dvorak, Carl Grundstrom, Noah Cates and Travis Konecny scored goals for the Flyers (16-9-3), who improved to 2-2-0 on their season-long six-game homestand.
For Grundstrom, it was his first goal as a Flyer and it came against his old club. The Flyers acquired the 28-year-old winger from San Jose before the season in the Ryan Ellis trade.
“You always want to beat your old team, that’s for sure,” Grundstrom said. “It feels really good.”
Konecny’s goal was an empty-netter. He also finished with an assist to record his 500th career NHL point.
“For me, where I’m at in my career, those are good, but I just want to be in the playoffs,” Konecny said. “It’s more about winning the game and keep building as a team.”
The Flyers rebounded from a 3-2 loss Sunday afternoon to the NHL-leading Avalanche. Rick Tocchet’s club has dropped consecutive games in regulation only once this season (Nov. 1-2).
“We talked about squashing plays and not duplicating mistakes, and I thought for the most part, we were pretty good in that aspect of the game,” Tocchet said. “They do take the information and they’re applying it, so I’ve got to give them credit. That’s why, hopefully, we keep avoiding any kind of long losing streaks.”
The Flyers see the Sharks (14-14-3) again March 21 when they visit SAP Center.
• Dan Vladar was back in net for the first time in a little over a week.
The 28-year-old made 17 saves on 18 shots to pick up his 11th win with the Flyers through 17 starts.
“He was dialed in tonight,” Tocchet said. “He looked really big.”
The Flyers killed off a Matvei Michkov high-sticking penalty in the third period to help nail down the win.
San Jose scored on its first shot of the game after the Flyers had pretty much carried the play for the opening 11-plus minutes. Dvorak responded a little over seven minutes later as the Flyers outshot the Sharks 16-3 in the first period.
The Flyers really controlled the game from there.
“I thought it was a good step tonight,” Dvorak said. “I thought we had a great first period even though we were down for a decent part of it. I thought we tilted the ice and had a bunch of looks.”
Sharks netminder Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 26 of the Flyers’ 29 shots.
• The fourth line produced the Flyers’ go-ahead 2-1 goal early in the second period. It came a day after the fourth line became a hot-button topic, and not to the joy of Tocchet.
The head coach shouldn’t hear any criticism for using his fourth line, at least in this game. Grundstrom, Rodrigo Abols and Garnet Hathaway had an effective night. Grundstrom just joined the group Tuesday and gave it a much-needed lift by redirecting a Nick Seeler shot for his goal.
“I thought playing that fourth line, getting them minutes, it really helps for an 82-game schedule,” Tocchet said.
Cates scored a huge goal with just 12 seconds left in the middle stanza to cushion the Flyers’ lead.
• The Flyers held Macklin Celebrini scoreless. The 2024 first overall pick came in with the NHL’s second-most points at 43 (15 goals, 28 assists), behind only the Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon, who entered Tuesday with 49.
Tocchet might be coaching the 19-year-old Celebrini in February as an assistant for Team Canada at the Milan-Cortina Olympics.
“He’s a hockey nerd, the guy comes in great shape, plays a 200-foot game,” Tocchet said at morning skate. “He’s just a hell of a player. It’s not just an offensive guy.”
• Ty Murchison made his NHL debut on the Flyers’ third defensive pair.
“He played well, he didn’t look out of place at all,” Konecny said. “He did his job tonight.”
The 22-year-old prospect was solid alongside Noah Juulsen, helping protect the Flyers’ lead in the third period.
“It was a surreal experience,” Murchison said. “The guys made it extremely easy, talking to me a ton, giving me a bunch of feedback. It was a great team win and I’m very happy to be here.”
He worked his way to the Flyers as a 2021 fifth-round pick.
“Extremely emotional,” Murchison said Monday after practice. “There have been a lot of periods throughout the last 48 hours where I’ve been getting a bit choked up just thinking about it because I’ve been thinking about this every day of my life.”
• Cam York was out for a second straight game because of an upper-body injury.
But after missing the last three practices, the 24-year-old defenseman took part in the Flyers’ optional morning skate. York has been considered day to day.
“I think they’re giving him a little bit more, see where he’s at, a little more pace in his practice,” Tocchet said at morning skate. “As of now, it’s still day to day, so we’ll see how it goes.”
At practice Monday, Rasmus Ristolainen was no longer in a non-contact jersey, a good sign that he could be inching closer to making his season debut at some point this month.
The 31-year-old defenseman has been recovering from surgery in March on a second triceps tendon rupture.
• The Flyers are back in action Thursday when they host the Golden Knights (7 p.m. ET/ESPN).
We’ll see if Carter Hart will face his old team. The former Flyers goaltender is three games into his new opportunity with Vegas after being found not guilty in the Hockey Canada sexual assault trial.
Steve Kerr reveals how Steph Curry's return will impact Pat Spencer's minutes
Steve Kerr reveals how Steph Curry's return will impact Pat Spencer's minutes originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Does Steph Curry’s impending return from injury signal the end of Pat Spencer Mania? Not quite, according to Warriors coach Steve Kerr.
During an interview on 95.7 The Game’s “Willard & Dibs” on Tuesday, Kerr explained that he actually envisions a rotation that could place Curry and Spencer on the floor together.
“I’m actually kind of looking forward to get getting them on the court together. That can be fun,” Kerr said.
Spencer has long been appreciated by Dub Nation for his contributions to Golden State, but the 29-year-old was thrust into the national spotlight after stepping up in a major way during the Warriors’ recent three-game road trip.
Spencer recorded double-figure scoring performances in all three games, while displaying a competitive fire that caught the eye of basketball fans across the NBA.
In Curry’s absence, Spencer has started the last two games for the Warriors — both impressive road wins over the Cleveland Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls, respectively.
Spencer averaged 15.5 points, 6.5 assists and 4.5 rebounds in those two starts, while shooting an impressive 13 of 22 from the field, including 3 of 4 from beyond the arc.
While Curry rightly regains his place in the starting lineup upon his return, Kerr insisted that Spencer isn’t going to lose all of his minutes and that the rotations will be heavily matchup dependent.
“Well, we’ll have to find out [what Spencer’s role is when Curry returns]. I mean, I’m not going to take away all of his minutes,” Kerr explained. “I can tell you that I’m definitely going to play him with Steph some, and we’ll see. Some of it will depend on matchups, how well we can hold up defensively, the three guys we put with [Spencer and Curry]. All of that has to be determined. But the way Pat is playing, the way he’s impacting winning, the way he’s impacting the competitive spirit of the team, I have to keep playing him. I mean, we’re winning, and he’s a huge part of that.”
While Spencer’s run isn’t quite on the level of a “Linsanity” yet, one of Golden State’s coaches compared the 29-year-old to former Warriors guard and New York Knicks star (for a moment in time) Jeremy Lin, who gained international fame for an incredible run in February 2012.
“Well, one of our coaches mentioned Jeremy Lin the other night [as a comp for Spencer],” Kerr said. “I couldn’t really think of any others, but, yeah, it’s not unprecedented, I’m sure, but it’s just a wonderful story. I mean, anytime you get a guy who has put in the work like Pat has and has the story, the journey that Pat has, I mean, you can’t help but pull for the guy.
“But it only really becomes a great story when the guy is legit. There are guys who are flashes in the pan, but Pat’s legit, you can see it out there. You can see the competitive desire, the fight, the intelligence, his ability to run, pick-and-roll. This guy’s a real player, and he’s finally getting his opportunity, and he’s making the most of it.”
With Mets losing Edwin Diaz, pressure's on David Stearns to deliver now more than ever
Even if Edwin Diazsimply chose to chase a ring in Los Angeles rather than stay the course in a quest to bring down the mighty Dodgers — and certainly the evidence points in that direction — the fallout is the fallout for the Mets and especially their president of baseball operations.
That is, the pressure has never been higher on David Stearns to prove he’s more than a value-driven analyst whose moves can give the impression he tries to be too smart for his own good at times.
That’s certainly the way a segment of the fan base views him these days anyway. Social media isn’t always the best way to measure the scope of such sentiment, but it would also be silly to ignore some of the anti-Stearns commentary on public platforms for the last few months.
I’ve mostly defended Stearns during his time in Queens, willing to give him the benefit of the doubt after his prudent decision-making set the stage for the ’24 Mets surprising everyone by reaching the NLCS and taking the Dodgers to six games.
But after his methodology failed him last season — partly because of injuries, to be fair — and he seemingly remains committed to not overspending, especially on starting pitching, I think it’s now fair to question Stearns’ process.
Obviously there is a long way to go in this offseason, and indeed as I wrote last week, his first two big moves, trading Brandon Nimmo and signing Devin Williams, can only be judged on the follow-ups to each of them.
In one case that meant re-signing Diaz to put Williams in a set-up role, which would have eased the burden of expectations as the closer that seemed to affect him mentally last season with the Yankees.
So Stearns is 0-for-1 on that count.
In the other case it means replacing Nimmo with some combination of moves to construct a better, more consistent offense than the one that exasperated Mets’ fans with its feast-or-famine nature in recent years.
Whether that happens remains to be seen, but hearing Stearns at the Winter Meetings say that Jeff McNeil could play a lot of left field next season is not exactly the makings of an offensive juggernaut.
Maybe that was just press conference-speak. Stearns is not going to lay out his plans publicly, and McNeil is still on the roster, at least for now. So maybe he’s just playing the Bubba Crosby card, for anyone who recalls the winter Brian Cashman kept insisting the journeyman outfielder would play center field for the Yankees the following season… until he finally signed free agent Johnny Damon, as everyone expected all along.
Of course, that was a time, two decades ago, when the Yankees outspent everybody in baseball, and by a wide margin.
To that point, though, Steve Cohen was believed to bring that level of win-at-all-costs philosophy to the Mets, and obviously he has spent a ton of money during his time as owner, most notably the $765 million to lure Juan Soto from the Bronx.
Furthermore, who knows, maybe Stearns and Cohen will pull off a similar heist of Cody Bellinger in the coming weeks. Certainly that would go a long way toward making the team better in all facets of the game.
But for the moment, the loss of Diaz makes the Mets worse, no way around it. And Cohen isn’t supposed to lose the best closer in baseball over a matter of a few million dollars here and there.
Again, it could be that Diaz simply wanted to take the Kevin Durant path, if you will, choosing a championship team for three years and $69 million when the Mets were offering three for $66 million while conveying a willingness to go higher.
Going much higher than that for a closer in his 30s would not have been a good business decision, but again, the priority under Cohen is supposed to be doing whatever it takes. After all, from Day One he declared he wanted to be like the Dodgers, not lose one of his best players to them.
Still, this is mostly on Stearns now to prove he’ll make the right moves: at the very least, add another dependable late-inning arm to the bullpen, acquire a front-of-the-rotation starter, and, last but not least, re-sign Pete Alonso.
To that end, the Kyle Schwarber pipe dream ended on Tuesday as well, as the Philadelphia Phillies locked up their slugging DH for five years and $150 million.
Meanwhile, there is no indication the Mets are pushing to get a deal done with Alonso. And, hey, the strategy worked for them a year ago, as Stearns wound up waiting out his first baseman to get him at the short-term price he wanted.
Patience isn’t necessarily a bad thing in negotiations, but it just seems the Mets are in a position where they can’t take the same gamble as last year, when Alonso was coming off a down season of sorts and the fan base was ecstatic over the Soto signing.
How can the Mets possibly be better offensively in 2026 without Alonso? Even if they sign Bellinger, he doesn’t come close to supplying the same power production.
Meanwhile, Stearns apparently is committed to avoiding long-term contracts for free-agent starting pitchers this winter, and if that is partly with an eye on going all-out for Tarik Skubal a year from now, it’s hard to argue.
But the Mets aren’t winning a title in 2026 without upgrading their starting pitching. So will he take a chance on Michael King’s high ceiling, which won’t take such a long-term deal because of his history of injuries?
Will he pull off a trade for Freddy Peralta? Hey, if Stearns comes away with Peralta and Trevor Megill, as has been rumored, and does so without giving away his best prospects, Mets fans will love him.
We’ll see about all of that. More than ever, it’s about trusting that Stearns has a plan he can execute to make the Mets a team that can beat the Dodgers in 2026.
Diaz and all.
Steve Kerr shares Draymond Green update as Warriors star nurses foot injury
Steve Kerr shares Draymond Green update as Warriors star nurses foot injury originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The Warriors expect to have star point guard Steph Curry back for their game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday, but it remains unclear if his teammate Draymond Green will be back on the floor at Chase Center.
Green has missed Golden State’s last two games with a right foot injury, which sidelined him in the second quarter of the team’s 99-98 loss to the 76ers in Philadelphia last Thursday. The veteran power forward is making strides toward a return, however, as Warriors coach Steve Kerr told 95.7 The Game on Tuesday.
“He’s scheduled to practice [Wednesday], and with the scrimmage [Thursday], we’ll have a much better feel afterwards for how close he is,” Kerr told the “Willard & Dibs” show. “But I don’t have an answer yet as to whether he’ll play on Friday, but I’m excited to get him back and pair him with De’Anthony [Melton].”
Green sustained the injury with just under five minutes remaining in the first half Thursday when 76ers forward Dominick Barlow rolled onto the Warriors forward’s leg. He limped to the Warriors’ locker room and when the second half began, center Trayce Jackson-Davis replaced him in the lineup.
Green has yet to play much with Melton, who made his 2025-26 NBA season debut in the Warriors’ loss to the 76ers after undergoing ACL surgery in December 2024. The defensive-minded duo sharing the court together again excites Kerr, as does Curry’s return from a five-game absence due to a quad contusion.
“You can see the defensive capabilities,” Kerr said of Melton and Green. “And by the way I think we’re up to fourth or fifth in the league in defensive rating. So [Melton has] contributed to that the last few games, and we are doing better as a team just containing the ball and helping. So that part’s really exciting. And as we get our full complement of players, you get Steph back, it gives us a chance to put our best foot forward.”
With a core of older players, there certainly will be lulls where the Warriors aren’t at full strength. But the possibilities when they’re firing on all cylinders are endless, and Green’s looming return — plus recent contributions from younger, under-the-radar players such as Pat Spencer — certainly will help.
Inter 0-1 Liverpool: Champions League – as it happened
Dominik Szoboszlai’s late penalty gave Liverpool a deserved victory after a strong performance in Milan
It’s a great fixture to look forward to. Like I said yesterday when people asked, not that many did, I told them how well Inter have started the season, that they made two of the last three finals.
[On his team selection] At this moment in time I have 13 outfield players with Champions League experience available. If you don’t have wingers available, apart from Rio [Ngumoha] who is very young, playing with two No9s is the most logical thing to do. The more [Isak and Ekitike] play together, the more they will find a connection.
Internazionale’s last home defeat in Europe was against Bayern Munich on 7 September 2022. Since then they’ve won 15 and drawn three, including victories over Barcelona (twice), Arsenal and Milan.
Continue reading...NHL players will skip Winter Olympics if ice unsafe
NHL players will not take part in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy if the quality of the ice is not good enough, says deputy commissioner Bill Daly.
But he remains "cautiously optimistic" issues will be resolved in time.
Stars from North America's National Hockey League, the biggest in the world, are set to compete at the Milan-Cortina Olympics next year - their first appearance at a Winter Games since 2014.
But there are doubts around the size and quality of the ice at the Santagiulia Arena in Milan, where construction is still not finished, despite the Games starting on 6 February. Matches will also be held at Milano Rho Arena.
"If the ice is unplayable, the ice is unplayable," Daly said.
"I don't want to be flip about it. We probably will know that in advance of the official start of the Games. What you do at that point becomes a different issue.
"Obviously, if the players feel that the ice is unsafe, we're not going to play.
"It's as simple as that."
The rink in Milan, approved by the International Ice Hockey Federation, is shorter than the minimum requirement in the NHL, leading to suggestions there could be an increase in high-speed collisions.
The NHL players' association said on Saturday the concerns were more around the quality of the ice than the size.
Daly, though, said he did not think the issues were insurmountable.
"We have offered and they're utilising our ice experts and technicians and outside providers," he added.
"We're basically moving everybody there to try to help get this done in a way that's acceptable for NHL athletes. And I'm cautiously optimistic it will be fruitful."
NHL Announces Time Change For Upcoming Nashville Predators Home Game
The Nashville Predators will once again have the opportunity to showcase their players in front of a European audience this season. This time, they won’t have to leave home to do it.
The National Hockey League announced on Tuesday that the start time for the Predators’ home game against the Detroit Red Wings at Bridgestone Arena on Monday, March 2, presented by Regions Bank, has been changed to 1 Pm CT.
Originally scheduled as a 7 Pm CT start, the new start time will allow the NHL’s top stars to be showcased in primetime – 8 p.m. CET – to passionate hockey fans across Europe, continuing the excitement from the 2025 NHL Global Series Sweden and NHL player participation in the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
“We are thrilled that our March 2 game against Detroit is shifting to this unique weekday matinee setting,” Nashville Predators and Bridgestone Arena CEO Sean Henry said in a statement. “The Preds will take this opportunity to celebrate hockey over multiple days, recognizing local hockey groups, rewarding students and thanking our military members for their service to our country, all while the NHL and its broadcast partners showcase our team and our city internationally. We are confident that the fans of SMASHVILLE will shine one more time on this international stage!”
As part of their commitment to the armed forces community, the Predators will donate 1,000 game tickets to military members and their families from the U.S. Army Fort Campbell base, located near Clarksville, Tenn.
This will also be the fourth Smashville Sports Series game of the season – themed games that blend Predators hockey with other sports – with March 2 centered on baseball. The originally announced giveaway of 5,000 Nashville Predators baseball jerseys presented by Regions has been increased; now, the first 10,000 fans in the building will receive a jersey.
In addition to 50 percent off Michelob ULTRA that fans get at every Smashville Sports Series game, attendees can also enjoy $1 hot dogs throughout the game.
The weekday afternoon game gives fans, corporations and downtown businesses a unique opportunity to bring their companies to Bridgestone Arena for a workplace outing, long lunch break and fun afternoon in Smashville.
The Predators competed in last month’s NHL Global Series Sweden presented by Fastenal, where they played in two regular-season games versus the Pittsburgh Penguins in front of sold-out crowds at Avicii Arena in Stockholm.
The Preds feature some of the game’s biggest international talents, including Swedish star and franchise goals leader Filip Forsberg and fellow countryman Adam Wilsby, as well as captain Roman Josi (Switzerland), Juuse Saros and Erik Haula (Finland) and Steven Stamkos (Canada).
In addition to last month’s NHL Global Series, the Predators have played abroad on two other occasions: the 2022 NHL Global Series Czechia and GAME ONe Japan 2000.
The Red Wings counter with a global roster of their own that includes defenseman Moritz Seider (Germany), captain Dylan Larkin, Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane (United States), forward Marco Kasper (Austria), and six Swedish-born players: forwards Lucas Raymond, Jonatan Berggren, and Elmer Soderblom, and defensemen Simon Edvinsson, Albert Johansson and Axel Sandin-Pellikka.
Detroit has played in regular-season games abroad two times, both in Stockholm: the 2023 NHL Global Series Sweden presented by Fastenal and NHL Premiere 2009.
In their last meeting with the Red Wings the day before Thanksgiving in Detroit, the Preds exploded for five goals in the third period for a come-from-behind 6-3 victory at Little Caesars Arena. Nick Blankenburg, Roman Josi, Ryan O’Reilly, Erik Haula and Steven Stamkos tallied goals for Nashville in the final frame.
NHL Approve Avalanche Request to Wear Nordiques Jersey Against Canadiens
Sportsnet’s Eric Engels has reported that the Colorado Avalanche have requested they wear the Quebec Nordiques jersey against the Montreal Canadiens on Jan 29, and that request has been accepted. With the Nordiques jerseys on, the Canadiens will wear their red jerseys in the matchup.
Sounds like the NHL might permit the Avs to wear the blue Quebec Nordiques jersey Jan 29 vs. Canadiens red. Geoff Molson said he hasn’t been asked yet by the NHL, but that he’d happily approve if they asked.
— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) December 9, 2025
For the franchise's 30th anniversary, the Avalanche have returned to the organization's roots and are wearing the Quebec Nordiques jerseys in seven games this season. However, they can now include one more game this season against their “rival,” the Montreal Canadiens. They still face the Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins, Vancouver Canucks, and Vegas Golden Knights in their retro jerseys.
Colorado Avalanche Officially Unveil 30th-Anniversary Quebec Nordiques JerseysThe Colorado Avalanche on X have officially announced/revealed that they will be honoring the Quebec Nordiques this season with a special third jersey for their 30th Anniversary.So far this season, the Avalanche, or the Nordiques in this case, are 1-1 while wearing the jerseys. They lost their debut in the jerseys, 5-4 in a shootout against the Carolina Hurricanes, but bounced back with a 7-2 win against the Canadiens.
Engels also reported that the Canadiens' CEO, Geoff Molson, responded to the initial report that the Avalanche wanted to make this matchup happen, saying he would happily approve.
One of the biggest moments these two teams faced off was dubbed the “Good Friday Massacre,” in which, on Good Friday, April 20, in the second round of the 1984 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Quebec Nordiques lost game three to the Montreal Canadiens 5-3 and the series. Most notably, the game ended with an all-out brawl, one of, if not the biggest, fights in NHL/AHA history.
There were multiple fights during the game, but the biggest moment took place at the end of the second period, including another one before the third period started. By the end of everything, there was a total of 11 ejections and 252 penalty minutes handed out.
While I doubt we'll see this happen again, it's encouraging to see the NHL approve the Avalanche’s request to wear the retro jerseys again, and I hope they continue to accommodate similar requests if other teams bring back their own retro jerseys.
Scott Wedgewood Could Start for Avalanche vs. Predators on TuesdayScott Wedgewood’s minor back injury appears to be just that—minor. The Wraparound: Can The Buffalo Sabres Redeem Their Season?
The Wraparound has a new batch of rapid-fire NHL and hockey topics.
Here's what Emma Lingan, Michael Augello and Frank Zawrazky discussed in this episode:
0:00: What's been the most concerning part of the New Jersey Devils' recent slump?
4:13: Could Nashville Predators forwards Ryan O'Reilly or Steven Stamkos be a smart fit for the New Jersey Devils?
7:15: What teams would make sense as potential suitors for Phillip Danault?
10:55: Would Tristan Jarry help fix the Edmonton Oilers' goaltending woes?
15:12: Which Canadian with NHL experience will have the biggest impact at the world juniors this year?
18:25: Breaking down potential standouts from the NCAA at the upcoming world juniors
21:40: Which direction will the Seattle Kraken go in throughout the rest of the season?
25:04: Is this a redeemable season for the Buffalo Sabres?
Can The Buffalo Sabres Redeem Their Season? by The WraparoundSee below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.
Agent Rich Paul says LeBron James will finish season with Lakers
Since returning from the sciatica that cost him the start of the season, LeBron James has blended in perfectly with the 17-6 Lakers, a guy with an all-around game willing to do whatever the team needs on any given night. Most recently, in Philadelphia, that was drop 29 points on the 76ers when Luka Doncic was out.
While the fit works, this is the first time in his career LeBron is on a team not constructed around him, where he is asked to fill a role more than be the star everyone else orbits around. Combine that with LeBron being a free agent after this season, and there has been some online speculation about a trade — despite the fact LeBron has a no-trade clause and has said nothing about waiving it.
Rich Paul, LeBron's agent, shot down any trade rumors fast on the “Game Over with Max Kellerman and Rich Paul” podcast (produced by The Ringer).
Kellerman: "Is LeBron, realistically, a guy who could not be on the Lakers at the end of this year?"
Paul: "No."
Kellerman: "He will be on the Lakers at the end of this year?"
Paul: "Yeah. Where's he going to go?"
Constructing a LeBron James trade creates many of the same obstacles as trading Giannis Antetokounmpo (and explains why he is more likely to be traded during the offseason). LeBron makes $52.6 million this season. In a world of tax aprons, how many teams can take on that large a contract for what would be the No. 2 or 3 player on a championship-caliber team? Beyond that, the teams LeBron might want to join — Cleveland, New York, Golden State — are all up against the tax aprons, with restrictions on what they can do (none can take back more money than they send out) and little room to maneuver.
LeBron was never going to be traded during the season, and he knew that when he picked up his player option.
Paul also said during the interview that he did not believe the Lakers, as currently constructed, are contenders in the West and wouldn't even make the Western Conference Finals.
This summer, when LeBron is a free agent, things will be different. The conventional wisdom around the league is that LeBron wants to play one more season — a grand farewell tour — and it's not likely to be with the Lakers. How much of a salary discount he is willing to take to get where he wants to go, or how the Lakers could work with him on a sign-and-trade, remains to be seen, but that is when the action will be. Not at the trade deadline.
Jets Loan Top Defense Prospect Back To AHL Moose
The Winnipeg Jets have announced that defenseman Elias Salomonsson has been loaned back to the Manitoba Moose of the AHL. The move comes as depth defenseman Haydn Fleury returned to practice Tuesday and has been skating with the team, signaling a return to the minors for one of the Jets’ top defensive prospects.
Salomonsson appeared in four games for the Jets this season, finishing without a point and registering a -4 plus-minus rating. His early struggles came against tough competition, including matchups against the Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes, each of which scored five goals against him. He recovered over his final two games with a +1 rating, averaging just under 15 minutes of ice time per contest and recording three shots on goal.
SALO TIME ✈️
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) November 26, 2025
Elias Salomonsson will make his @NHL debut tonight in Washington!@Wawanesa | #GoJetsGopic.twitter.com/1KND89gfNh
The 21-year-old defenseman was called up following an injury to Neal Pionk, rotating in alongside Winnipeg’s other depth defenders. Drafted by the Jets in the second round, 55th overall, in 2022, Salomonsson has continued to impress in the AHL this season with six assists in 17 games for the Moose, though he has yet to record a goal. Across 70 career AHL games, the Skellefteå, Sweden native has totaled 33 points.
Salomonsson’s return comes at a key time for the Moose, who were red-hot with six consecutive wins but have stumbled recently with three losses in their last seven games. His offensive and defensive skills could help Manitoba regain momentum and get back on track.
His AHL resume includes representing the Moose at the 2025 AHL All-Star Classic, becoming only the second rookie defenseman in franchise history to earn the honor. He was also named both Best Defenseman and Rookie of the Year for the 2024–25 season, highlighting his rapid development as one of Winnipeg’s top young blueliners.
With Fleury back in the lineup, Salomonsson will return to Manitoba to continue honing his game while providing a boost to a Moose team looking to rebound.
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Blaming The Refs Is A Weak Rangers Ploy
The Rangers lost a point they could have won and all The Maven has heard since is the lame line, "The Ref made a bad call."
Everybody makes mistakes, refs included, but for Mike Sullivan yapping about a double-minor late in the third period in the Vegas' game is an example of the coach auditioning for the lead role in "Alibi Ike."
So, Rangers defenseman Will Borgen and Vegas' left wing went off for roughing. So, what's the problem, it's even-Steven my fine, feathered Mr. Sullivan.
Using the alleged "bad call" as an excuse to blow a late third period lead and then blow the game because you put the wrong players out there late in the overtime, is theater of the absurd.
For crying out loud the face-off was deep in the Vegas' zone, what more could the Rangers ask for with 14 seconds left in overtime?
No, Pal Mike, your guys blew it. Harvey (Hutch) Cohen, who has been a hockey coach for decades, fingered the Rangers' culprits.
"Any good coach and high school defenseman would have been prepared for the long pass that successfully went to Jack Eichel," Hutch explains. "The three Rangers on the ice were terribly ill-prepared. That was the only play that could beat the Rangers, and it did.
"All the Rangers defenseman had to do was stay behind the closest Vegas' player, Eichel. But the D-man got a late start because he wasn't watching Eichel, who was the biggest threat."
Listen up Sir Sullivan; one more point from Hutch: "I told my players there's an 'In' box and an 'Out' box when playing hockey. The 'In" box contains things you can control such as behavior, wrist shot, slap shot, plus.
Blueshirts Forecast: The Team Appears On The Rise: But is it Really?After the Rangers had lost in overtime to Vegas, the MSG Networks post-game interlocutor Steve Valiquette suggested that the club's solid play against some of the NHL's elite teams is cause for optimism.
"The 'Out' box has those things you can not control -- and that includes officiating, bad bounces and broken sticks. I told my players, 'Don't worry about 'Out' box things."
As for the overtime blunder that cost the Rangers a vital point, Jess Rubenstein adds: "What about the other two Rangers who were on the ice with Matthew Robertson?"
Blaming the refs is for Beer League games – and Hutch Cohen's "Out" Box!
Champions League: Koundé double boosts Barcelona, Greenwood lifts Marseille
Bayern beat Sporting to move level with Arsenal at top
Atlético come from behind to burst PSV’s bubble
Jules Koundé’s two quickfire headers helped Barcelona to fight back and edge past Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 in the Champions League at Camp Nou on Tuesday, marking a much-needed win for the Catalan side.
After a draw against Club Brugge and a defeat by Chelsea, Barcelona found their stride to climb to 14th in the standings, level on 10 points with several teams, as they aim for a top-eight finish to secure direct qualification for the last 16. Frankfurt are 30th with four points from six matches.
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