Players and coaches from the 2024 championship team received a ring for making the College Football Playoff, one from the CFP for winning it and a championship ring from Ohio State.
Plaschke: JJ Redick for Dan Hurley was the Lakers' trade of the year
It was the humiliating snub that saved a season.
It was the most beautiful embarrassment in Lakers history.
Dan Hurley, thank you.
Thank you for turning down $70 million from the Lakers to stay at UConn. Thank you for walking away from Hollywood to hang out in Storrs. Thank you for doing the unthinkable to a team desperate for the impossible.
Thank you for the rejection, because it was the beginning of a rebirth.
Because Dan Hurley said no, JJ Redick said yes.
Trade of the year.
Can everyone now admit that hiring JJ Redick instead of Hurley last summer has been the most important development in transforming an ordinary team into a potential champion?
Acquiring Luke Doncic was great, but it is Redick who has seamlessly integrated him into the offense.
The emergence of Austin Reaves has been fascinating, but it was Redick who enabled and empowered him.
The renewed inspiration of LeBron James has been impressive, but it’s been based on respect for Redick’s voice and his vision.
With disarming honesty, unrelenting passion and unvarnished empathy, Redick has guided the Lakers through early-season embarrassments, bonded them through midseason roster changes and now has raised their intensity just in time for a deep spring run.
Read more:LeBron James' health briefly a concern as Lakers beat Rockets to clinch No. 3 seed
“As a team, I feel like we can win a championship, to be honest with you,” said Reaves after the Lakers’ third-seed-clinching win over the Houston Rockets on Friday night. “The reason of that is, I know that everybody in the locker room believes that and has also bought into whatever your role is to help us do that.”
That belief comes from coaching, from Redick down through his top assistants, Scott Brooks and Nate McMillan, a powerful veteran braintrust that smartly and constantly connects.
“That’s why I give this coaching staff a lot of credit,” said Reaves. “They come in, they planted their system and they held guys accountable to what they asked them to do and everybody bought into that.”
The head of sales is, of course, Redick, this group curated with his cool mix of brains and humanity that has turned a team into something more closely resembling a family.
He has cried, he has scowled, he has scolded and he has unconditionally supported, and that’s just in the news conferences.
He has, honestly, made more of an impact in one season of coaching than in 15 years in uniform. On Friday I had to ask him, was coaching actually more rewarding than playing?
“Yes” he quickly said.
“Why?” I asked.
“So I’ve been trying to figure that out for the last six months, I'm not sure,” he said. “But I will say, I think anybody that was around me as a player knows how much I enjoyed the job every day and knows how grateful I was to be in the NBA every day and very grateful to have a 15-year career. I like this more.”
So the flashy former scorer has more fun guiding players than shooting over them, and who knew?
Not me. While I’m now praising him as a great hire, I must acknowledge that I was once among the loudest to fight it.
When the offer was made to Hurley to replace the fired Darvin Ham last spring, I loved the idea. I loved Hurley. I pictured the two-time NCAA defending champion lighting a fire, changing the culture, bringing his East Coast toughness to the soft confines of El Segundo.
Redick was the only other serious candidate at the time, and that I didn’t love. He had never coached anywhere beyond youth league, he had never won a championship as a sharpshooter, and he was currently best known as a TV analyst and the co-host of a podcast with LeBron James. He wasn’t qualified beyond being LeBron’s buddy, and hiring him would be a mistake that would set the franchise up for more wasted years.
Read more:Plaschke: I was wrong. Drafting Bronny James was a win for the Lakers
I was ready to welcome Hurley, writing, “No brainer. No question. No more looking. If the Lakers really think they can get him, they need to go get him.”
Then in the early days of June, Hurley stunningly turned them down, convinced by his wife, Andrea, to stay on the East Coast and pushed by his fighter’s instinct to attempt a UConn three-peat.
A couple of weeks later, the Lakers hired Redick, and most of the basketball world shuddered.
“So now it’s painfully clear that JJ doesn’t stand for Just Joking,” I wrote at the time. “So now this is real. Real unusual. Real unsettling. Real unfortunate.”
Rob Pelinka, the Lakers general manager, saw it differently
“It was just really important to us as we made this hire to find a head coach that could sit across the table from some of the smartest and best players in the world,” Pelinka said at the time. “This is the stage for those players to be able to relate to, coach, hold them accountable, lead them, inspire them. And we felt like JJ was very unique in holding all those qualities to do that.”
It turns out, and not for the first time with this unusually special team, Pelinka was right and I was wrong.
First, this season Hurley was a walking distraction at UConn, his angry sideline antics constantly grabbing the headlines and making one wonder how long would he have lasted with the Lakers before completely melting down?
Meanwhile, Redick was immediately establishing himself here with basketball smarts and superstar relatability. Barely a month into the season, he aced his first test after the Lakers endured a two-game stretch of horrible performances, getting blown out in Minnesota and Miami, the latter a 41-point loss.
“I'm embarrassed; we're all embarrassed,” he said after the Heat defeat. “It's not a game that I thought we had the right fight, the right professionalism. … There has to be some ownership on the court and I'll take all the ownership in the world. This is my team and I lead it and I'm embarrassed. But I can't physically get us organized. I can't physically be into the basketball. … I'm not blaming players … I own this, but we’re going to need some ownership on the court as well.”
In that one locker-room speech dressed as a news-conference answer, he showed his players that this cool persona can be tough and unafraid, and then he took it a step further. It was around this time he had a chat with LeBron, and the team’s most important player bought in and everyone soon followed.
A December that began with the blowouts ended with D’Angelo Russell being blown out to Brooklyn to mark the second evolution of the team. This change, besides featuring the arrival of the underrated steal of the season — Dorian Finney-Smith! — also resulted in a new bond between Redick and Reaves.
With the frustrating Russell gone, Redick became the first Lakers coach to fully entrust Reaves with the role as the team’s third option. Reaves has since played so well, that grouping of LeBron, Luka and Austin has now become one of the NBA’s Big Three.
Friday night, after casually scoring 23, Reaves glowed when I specifically asked about the impact of the new coach.
“Huge,” said Reaves. “When the Lakers hired him … I knew his IQ of the game, but obviously there was all the talks about, you know, he’s never coached at any type of high level or anything like that. Since Day 1, he’s been super professional, super locked into one goal, that’s getting the team to buy into what the coaching staff wants. He’s been huge in what he’s done, I can’t give him enough credit for what he’s done for me and the team, happy to go to war for him any day.”
With the new calendar year came new, unimaginable challenges, and Redick handled every issue as if calmly sinking a game-winning trey.
His rental home burned down in the California wildfires? Redick grew teary when first publicly recounting the trauma, but has since strongly stood aside city officials in leading the charge to rebuild the Pacific Palisades community.
His entire team culture was upended with the trading of Anthony Davis for Doncic? In his biggest win of the season, Redick somehow convinced two superstars and one budding star to each adjust their roles.
In the beginning, many worried that the players would ignore him because he had no coaching credibility. But as the season progressed it became clear, Redick is so basketball bright and communication savvy, the players couldn’t help but listen.
Nearly a year ago, much of the basketball world was pouring cold water over the idea that JJ Redick could be a successful NBA coach.
On Friday night, after their win over the Houston Rockets gave them 50 victories for only the second time in 14 seasons, that cold water was administered over his head in the locker room by his players in celebration.
Approximately eight ice buckets worth.
“I just want to apologize to Kathy (Montoya, Lakers vice president of game operations and entertainment), hopefully in the next nine days the $17,000 in damage to the carpet we can get fixed,” Redick said.
On the contrary, it’s been several years since the ground under the Lakers shoes has looked so lush and felt so solid.
“It’s a credit to our players … they’ve all participated in a winning culture,” said Redick.
A JJ Redick culture. A realistically championship culture.
Trade of the year.
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Yankees place Stroman on 15-day injured list with left knee inflammation
NEW YORK — The New York Yankees placed Marcus Stroman on the 15-day injured list with left knee inflammation Saturday, one day after he gave up five runs and got two outs in a rainy 9-1 loss to the San Francisco Giants.
Stroman went to a hospital for tests on his left knee after throwing 46 pitches in the rain on Friday. Manager Aaron Boone said Stroman said his knee was bothering him and the Yankees announced the move about an hour before Saturday’s scheduled first pitch.
Stroman is 0-1 with an 11.57 ERA in three starts after allowing a three-run homer to Jung Hoo Lee and a two-run double to LaMonte Wade Jr. in his shortest career start that was not interrupted by rain, though Boone said he was not sure if the conditions caused the injury.
“I don’t know, tough to say,” Boone said before Saturday’s game. “We’re haven’t been in ideal conditions most of the start of the season here and that affects everyone a little bit different,” Boone said. “Stro has also been doing this a long time and pitched in these situations a lot before, so I’m sure that all plays a role.”
The Yankees recalled pitcher Allan Winans from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre to replace Stroman on the roster.
Winans had a 5.02 ERA in five spring training appearances and pitched 2 2/3 innings in his lone appearance with Triple-A.
Winans made his major league debut with the Braves in 2023 and was 1-4 with a 7.20 ERA in eight starts over the previous two seasons.
The Yankees claimed him off waivers from the Braves on Jan. 23, designated him for assignment on Feb. 5 and invited him to spring training as a non-roster invitee two days later.
New York has lost four of five following a 6-2 start and its starting rotation has a 5.46 ERA, worst among the 30 teams.
Clarke Schmidt is scheduled to rejoin the Yankees on Tuesday or Wednesday after recovering from right rotator cuff tendinitis that has sidelined him since spring training,
Boone did not address who would be dropped from the rotation, though Stroman’s injury creates an easier decision.
“I’m excited to get him back,” Boone said. “He’s turned into a really good pitcher in the league. So feel like he’s in a really good spot too.”
Stroman turns 34 on May 1 and is in the second season of a two-year contract guaranteeing $37 million. The right-hander’s deal includes a $16 million conditional player option for 2026 that could be exercised if he pitches in at least 140 innings this year.
He skipped the Yankees’ first two spring training workouts at a time when he didn’t have a projected rotation role behind Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, Carlos Rodón, Luis Gil and Schmidt. He arrived on Valentine’s Day, eight days ahead of the mandatory reporting date and injuries to Cole, Gil and Schmidt created an need for him.
A two-time All-Star, Stroman hasn’t pitched through the fifth inning this season and has a 2.04 WHIP.
Last season, Stroman was 10-9 with a 4.31 ERA in 30 games (29 starts) when he threw 154 2/3 innings, his most since 2021 with the Mets. Stroman struggled in the second half and did not appear in the postseason when the Yankees made their first World Series appearance since 2009.
Nationals place shortstop CJ Abrams on 10-day injured list
MIAMI — The Washington Nationals placed shortstop CJ Abrams on the 10-day injured list on Saturday because of a right hip flexor strain.
Abrams first experienced discomfort during the Nationals’ home series against Arizona last week and it then flared up again on Friday, when Washington opened a road series in Miami. He was removed after the third inning and underwent an imaging test Saturday that confirmed the strain.
“I told him today to get this thing to calm down and get it right so it doesn’t become a bigger issue,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said before Saturday’s game. “In a week and a half hopefully he’ll be ready to go.”
The 24-year-old Abrams has four homers through his first 11 games this season.
“CJ wants to play every day,” Martinez said. “He wasn’t happy about it. But this was the second stint that it was bothering him. We’re going to try to get him all healed up so it’s something that he won’t have to worry about for the rest of the year.”
The Nationals recalled infielder Nasim Nuñez from Triple-A Rochester in the corresponding move.
How Islanders Elimination Impacts NHL Draft Lottery Odds
The New York Islanders will not reach the 2025 Playoffs following their 4-3 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.
This is just the second time the Islanders have missed the playoffs in the past seven seasons.
Islanders Eliminated From Playoff Contention After 4-3 Shootout Loss To FlyersThe New York Islanders staved off elimination on Saturday afternoon after a 4-3 shootout win over the Philadelphia Flyers.
Now, attention shifts towards the offseason, with the first major event being the lottery for the 2025 NHL Draft, which will be held on either May 5 or May 6.
The Islanders currently sit at 80 points through 79 games, leaving them as a borderline bottom-10 team in the NHL.
While they have three games remaining on the season, we have a decent idea of what their lottery odds will be following Game 82.
Currently, the Islanders could finish with the sixth-best odds to land the first pick, but that is an unlikely scenario.
If the Islanders win their three remaining games, they could enter with the 14th-worst record in the NHL, but this is also quite unlikely.
The most likely scenario for the Islanders is ro finish with around the 10th-best odds to land the first overall pick.
With this, they would have just over a 7% chance of landing a top-two pick: 3.5% for No. 1 and 3.7% for No. 2.
The format of the draft was changed in 2022, allowing teams to move up no more than 10 picks in the draft.
So, the Islanders must finish in the bottom 11 in the standings to have a chance at first overall.
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Islanders force overtime but fall to Flyers in shootout, 4-3, eliminated from playoff contention
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Bobby Brink scored the only goal of the shootout, beating Marcus Hogberg to the glove side on the fifth try to lead the Philadelphia Flyers to a 4-3 victory over the Islanders on Saturday.
The loss eliminated New York from the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Tyson Foerster scored two goals in the victory — including a go-ahead goal at the 10:39 mark of the third that gave Philadelphia a 3-2 lead. Foerster now has 24 goals on the season, including five in his last two games. Jakob Pelletier added the Flyers other goal while Samuel Ersson recorded 37 saves in picking up his 22nd win of the year.
The Islanders would tie the game with just 1:01 left to play when Bo Horvat’s wrist shot snuck through a maze of bodies and beat Ersson between the pads.
Anders Lee had New York’s first goal. Hogberg recorded 19 saves in the loss.
Takeaways
Islanders: New York owned puck control for the first two periods, but seemed to fade for most of the third. They are 2-5-3 in their last 10 games — a big reason why they faded out of the playoff picture in the East.
Flyers: With Foerster, Travis Konecny and Matvei Michkov now developing as wingers, general manager Daniel Briere can now look at acquiring a top-line center to help steady the Philadelphia offensive attack.
Key moment
The Flyers tied the game early in the third on a nifty passing set from Ryan Poehling to Owen Tippett to Pelletier, who squeezed it past Hogberg to flip the momentum of the game.
Key stat
Philadelphia is now 5-1 since John Tortorella was fired as coach on March 27.
Injuries
Islanders: New York forward Pierre Engvall had to be helped off the ice late in the third period with an apparent knee injury suffered in the Philadelphia defensive zone.
Up next
The Islanders visit New Jersey and the Flyers head to Ottawa for Sunday afternoon matinees.
NHL Selke Trophy Candidates: From The Sure Things To The Long Shots
By Ryan Clark, The Hockey News intern
With the end of the NHL regular season within sight, two things are on people’s minds: who will make the playoffs, and who will take the season’s coveted awards?
The Selke Trophy is a bit of an odd award, as the criteria aren’t as defined as other awards. The other skater awards usually come down to a combination of points, goals and team records, while goalie awards often hinge on wins, save percentage and a few of the publicly available advanced stats.
The Selke Trophy, on the other hand, is a bit of an outlier, as we have seen offensive superstars get votes as well as gritty fourth-liners. There are lots of players who are in the running for the Selke, and with defense being difficult to quantify sometimes, it’s hard to keep up. Here are the main contenders for the award, ranked in tiers.
Tier 1: The New Bergeron?
Aleksander Barkov, C, Florida Panthers
It’s not a question of whether the Panthers captain will win another Selke, it’s how many more he’ll win. Even with a couple of weeks of missed time, Barkov is the front-runner for this award.
Tier 2: The Probable Top Five
Sam Reinhart, C, Florida Panthers
We’ll let you in on a little secret: Reinhart has been the NHL’s best defensive forward this year. He’s been even better than Barkov at suppressing quality chances and is also second in the league in shorthanded goals.
Nico Hischier, C, New Jersey Devils
The Devils are beat down and limping into the playoffs, with injuries everywhere on the roster. It’s a good thing Hischier has been as good as he has, keeping the team afloat with his excellent two-way play.
Anthony Cirelli, C, Tampa Bay Lightning
Cirelli has finished in the top five in Selke voting in the past, but his lack of offensive production led to him being glossed over in the race. Now that he’s put up career highs, could he earn a nomination?
Mitch Marner, RW, Toronto Maple Leafs
Let’s talk about steals. Marner sits fourth in the league in takeaways, an impressive feat. Even more impressive is the fact that the rest of the top 10 in the stat is made up of defensemen.
Tier 3: You Might be Familiar With Their Other Work
Auston Matthews, C, Toronto Maple Leafs
He hasn’t been quite as solid in his own end this season as some others on this list, but he’s still really tough to play against.
Matthew Tkachuk, LW, Florida Panthers
He has the second-best Corsi and Fenwick percentages of any forward with 500 minutes played, per moneypuck.com. In other words, the Panthers almost always have possession when he’s on the ice.
Leon Draisaitl, C, Edmonton Oilers
It’s impressive to see how far Draisaitl has come in his own end. From being a perceived liability to now showing up on a list of Selke contenders. And his coach, Kris Knoblauch, seems to agree.
Tier 4: Fun Long-Shot Candidates
Brandon Hagel, LW, Tampa Bay Lightning
He’s been one half of one of the league’s deadliest penalty-killing duos (with Cirelli) and has been a 5-on-5 fiend. If he were a center, perhaps he’d be viewed as a top contender.
Joel Eriksson Ek, C, Minnesota Wild
He’s finished in the top 10 in Selke voting in each of the past three seasons, and with how he’s played this year for a contending Wild team that’s been plagued by injuries, he deserves to keep the streak alive.
Seth Jarvis, C, Carolina Hurricanes
He’s seemingly become everyone’s new favorite player, and for good reason. Despite his smaller size, Jarvis’ motor and hockey IQ make him one of the more underrated players in the defensive zone. He’ll get his Selke recognition one day.
Tier 5: Legendary Long Shots
Jordan Staal, C, Carolina Hurricanes
He’s earned many Selke votes throughout his career, finally getting the nomination last year. While he took a step back this season, he’ll likely still find himself on a few ballots.
Anze Kopitar, C, Los Angeles Kings
You can’t have a Selke story without talking about Kopitar. If it wasn’t for playing at the same time as Pavel Datsyuk and Patrice Bergeron, perhaps he’d be viewed as the best defensive forward of the modern era. Kopitar probably won’t get much attention for the award this year, but his legacy, combined with the Kings’ success, could earn him a few votes.
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Jonathan Marchessault Anticipates Having 'Tears Just Dripping Down His Face' During Video Tribute From Golden Knights
Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith talk often.
They happened to be talking when Smith found out he was returning to Vegas in a trade with the New York Rangers.
"I was so happy for him, because I know how it is to leave there, and he left in a worse way," Marchessault said. "We just won, and 10 days later, he's in a different organization. So that was, honestly, awful. He's had a rocky year and a half, and now he's back where he had the most fun. So I was so happy for him and Karly (William Karlsson) to get back together."
They were also talking Friday, when the two discussed the highly anticipated tribute video in Vegas' regular-season finale, when the Nashville Predators visit Vegas for the Golden Knights' home finale Saturday night.
"He said he's probably gonna have tears just dripping down his face," Smith said after Saturday's morning skate."
It'll be an emotional night for not only Marchessault, but Smith and William Karlsson, the "Original Misfit" trio, who will skate on the same ice for the first time since they all shared one of the most joyous occasions in the history of sports in Las Vegas, the 2023 Stanley Cup championship.
"A little reunion," Karlsson said. "Unfortunately, he's not in our colors."
🎥 Karlsson on the fans: It's been a fun eight years, and every time you get to play at home, it's always a lot of energy. You get spoiled... I feel very fortunate. pic.twitter.com/fn3RMwAvNH
— x-Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) April 12, 2025
The three had been linemates the first six years of the organization's existence, but were broken up when Smith was dealt to Pittsburgh less than two weeks after hoisting the Cup. Following last season, Marchessault signed with Nashville as a free agent.
"He was part of this team for seven years, and he had great success," Karlsson said. "He was a very loved member of the team. And the town's gotten to love him, so there's gonna be a lot of emotion coming into tonight, and it'll be fun to see the tribute."
Eliminated from the postseason, the emotions are sure to spill into the stands as the tribute video plays overhead in front of what's sure to be an exuberant, sold-out crowd on Fan Appreciation Night. The Knights have been known to produce their fair share of heart-clutching "welcome back" videos, but this one might top them all.
"I'm looking forward to seeing the tribute, he's earned it," Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said. "He's probably one of the most popular guys that ever played here. So good for him, give him his due."
Over his seven years with the organization, Marchessault has been witness to many of the heartfelt video tributes, including the likes of Marc-Andre Fleury, Ryan Reaves, Gerard Gallant and even Smith, when he came back with the Penguins.
Now it's Marchessault's turn, and after speaking with former Knight Will Carrier, who is now with the Carolina Hurricanes, it's a moment he said he's ready to embrace.
"He told me it just builds you up inside," said Marchessault, the 2023 Conn Smythe winner. "I'm definitely really excited to go back, to just to see the Fortress, the arena, the roads that you take to go to the rink, and all that kind of stuff. It was home for me. It's still a part of me, is part of home a little bit. It'll be definitely weird, but I'm definitely excited to just go back and see the fans, the arena, the city, the lights. Just a great atmosphere and the great juju that's over there. Definitely just super excited to go back."
'LIKE I NEVER LEFT'
The first two times the Knights visited Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, "it was like I never left, the guys are awesome," Marchessault said.
Moments after Vegas' 3-1 on March 29, a quick 10-minute reunion full of laughter took place in an enclosed area that separated the locker rooms, as many of the Knights made sure to say hello before catching their flight.
"You get to see those guys seven years in a row, you feel so much like brotherhood," Marchessault said. "So it was really good to spend time with them and see them. Just love seeing the guys ... all the trainers, going to see the coaches and stuff. It was just great to see everybody."
And as the Predators get ready for the offseason, and the Knights prepare for another quest through the postseason, Marchessault said he's being patient with himself in his new surroundings and looking forward to spending time with his wife and kids, but also preparing for the 2025-26 campaign after "the toughest mental health year" he's ever endured.
"I mean, all the change; you got to readjust to new teammates, new team, new organization," he said. "You got to readjust (to a new) system, you got to readjust a lot. Yeah, it's been more challenging mentally this year. But I've had slumps in the past with Vegas, too, and I'm just a guy that's hard on myself, so at the end of the day, I'm never satisfied, and I want to get over my slump as fast as possible.
"That's what I built my career off, is taking it one game at a time and helping my team win a hockey game and staying humble and all that. Right now, I'm definitely getting a humbling process. Maybe it's just a sit-back year to get healthy mentally and physically, get ready to go again, and there's no doubt in my mind I'll be back on top of my game again."
(4-12-25) Blues-Kraken Gameday Lineup
The St. Louis Blues enter their penultimate game of the 2024-25 season still unclear yet whether their season will extend beyond Tuesday or not.
Things became quite clear on Saturday after the Calgary Flames once again decided they aren't going any where in this Western Conference wild card race after a 4-2 win against the Minnesota Wild on Friday.
So the scenario is that the Blues (43-30-7), who face the Seattle Kraken (34-40-6) in their final road game of the season, the place where they opened the season Oct. 8 and won 3-2, are tied with the Wild with identical records and identical points (93). Each has played 80 games and each plays on Saturday.
The Wild currently hold the tiebreaker edge on the Blues with regulation wins (33-31) and if the season were to end on Saturday, would hold the first wild card while the Blues hold the second.
Meanwhile, the Flames (38-27-14) have three games remaining, a game in hand on each the Blues and Wild, could play spoiler in this if they continue to win their games.
While the Blues are playing the Kraken, the Wild will be facing the Vancouver Canucks at the same time; the Flames host the San Jose Sharks on Sunday and finish their season Thursday, two days after the Blues and Wild conclude theirs.
If the Blues win out, and the Wild slip up anywhere, they could get the first wild card and face the Vegas Golden Knights. Whoever finishes in the second wild card will get the Winnipeg Jets, who ended the Blues' franchise-record 12-game winning streak on Monday.
The Blues have followed up that 12-game winning streak with two straight losses, including Wednesday's 4-3 defeat to the Edmonton Oilers when Edmonton scored with 20.7 seconds remaining in regulation to steal what could be at least one precious point for St. Louis, which has to regroup and forge on trying to secure that first playoff spot since 2021-22.
- - -
One bit of good news on the injury front for the Blues is defenseman Colton Parayko, who has been out since March 5 after injuring his left knee and needing a scope.
Hearing that Tuesday's season finale, at home against Utah Hockey Club, if all goes well and there aren't any sudden setbacks, is when Parayko will get back into the lineup.
However, the Blues announced that defenseman Philip Broberg returned to St. Louis due to a personal matter and will be unavailable for this game, and Matthew Kessel will jump into the lineup.
Aan updated lineup will be available in pregame warmups.
- - -
Blues Projected Lineup:
Pavel Buchnevich-Robert Thomas-Jordan Kyrou
Jake Neighbours-Brayden Schenn-Jimmy Snuggerud
Mathieu Joseph-Oskar Sundqvist-Zack Bolduc
Alexey Toropchenko-Radek Faksa-Nathan Walker
Cam Fowler-Nick Leddy
Ryan Suter-Justin Faulk
Tyler Tucker-Matthew Kessel
Jordan Binnington will start in goal; Joel Hofer will be the backup.
Healthy scratches include Philip Broberg (personal) and Dalibor Dvorsky. Colton Parayko (knee), Dylan Holloway (lower body) and Alexandre Texier (upper body) are out. Torey Krug (ankle) is out for the season.
- - -
Kraken Projected Lineup:
Jaden Schwartz-Chandler Stephenson-Jordan Eberle
Jared McCann-Shane Wright-Andre Burakovsky
Eeli Tolvanen-Matty Beniers-Kaapo Kakko
Michael Eyssimont-John Hayden-Ryan Winterton
Vince Dunn-Adam Larsson
Ryker Evans-Brandon Montour
Josh Mahura-Jamie Oleksiak
Philipp Grubauer will start in goal; Joey Daccord will be the backup.
Healthy scratches include Cale Fleury and Tye Kartye. The Kraken report no injuries.
Oscar Piastri powers to Bahrain F1 GP pole but Norris and Verstappen flounder
- Lando Norris to start sixth as McLaren teammate takes P1
- George Russell takes second; Max Verstappen is seventh
The expectations that McLaren would be strong for the Bahrain Grand Prix were proved in qualifying as Oscar Piastri claimed a powerful pole but their dominance was far from as complete as had been anticipated, with his teammate, the championship leader Lando Norris, managing only sixth.
Piastri was pushed hard by the Mercedes of George Russell who took a superb second place, with his teammate Kimi Antonelli equally impressive in fourth and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in third.
Why Hicks sees learning opportunity in Giants' loss to Yankees
Why Hicks sees learning opportunity in Giants' loss to Yankees originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
It was smooth sailing only until it wasn’t.
After throwing four strong innings in the Bronx on Saturday, Giants starting pitcher Jordan Hicks ran into trouble in a fifth inning that ultimately doomed San Francisco in its 8-4 loss to the New York Yankees.
The top of the Yankees order came to the plate and every single one of them delivered, as New York strung together five consecutive baserunners in the fifth before the Giants were able to record an out. At that point San Francisco already was trailing 4-2 when reliver Randy Rodriguez was handed the ball with the bases loaded and no outs, a fire even he wasn’t able to extinguish.
It was another rainy, cold affair at Yankee Stadium, but Hicks didn’t blame the weather for an outing that saw him finish with seven earned runs across four innings of work. Rather it was Hicks’ reliance on his fastball that the flamethrowing right-hander believed led to an outing he and the Giants would like to put in the rearview mirror as soon as possible.
“I’ve definitely been a part of some rainy ones, some cold ones. That was probably top-three, top-five coldest,” “Hicks told reporters after the game. “I feel like I had some good stuff today, probably threw a few too many fastballs. I had the off-speed working, so I should’ve just thrown more of that and mixed it better. Live and learn, and move on to the next one.”
While Hicks has made a living in the big leagues behind his blazing heater, the ability to mix in off-speed pitches will play a major role in his continued development as a starting pitcher after being a back-end bullpen option for the majority of his MLB career.
The Giants are in the midst of a brutal part of their schedule, with 17 consecutive games without a day off on the docket, with more than half of them coming on the road against quality opponents.
San Francisco manager Bob Melvin alluded to that gauntlet when explaining why he wasn’t as quick to yank Hicks off the mound when his starter ran into trouble in the fifth inning.
“Look, I mean I had to give him [Hicks] a little rope there, we got 17 games in a row,” Melvin said. “Second, third and fourth he looked really good as we’ve seen earlier this year, and then in the fifth just couldn’t get an out. Put together some good at-bats and strung them together on him. Had to bring Randy [Rodriguez] in a tough situation, and that obviously was kind of the inning that decided the game at the time, it certainly gave them some breathing room.”
All wasn’t bad in the loss. The air was cold, but Wilmer Flores’ bat stayed hot, as the veteran designated hitter launched a game-tying home run into the stands in the second inning, ultimately driving in all four of the Giants’ runs on the day.
Barry Bonds walked so Wilmer Flores could run 🙌 pic.twitter.com/kgNwPRhU07
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) April 12, 2025
Who else but Wilmer 💪 pic.twitter.com/oZOiX7wdIK
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) April 12, 2025
Despite Hicks’ tough outing, the Giants still are in position to grab a series win in Sunday and start their 10-game road trip off on the right foot before heading to Philadelphia for a four-game set with the Phillies.
Yankees place Marcus Stroman on IL with knee inflammation
When Marcus Stroman left the field after getting just two outs in Friday's 9-1 loss to the San Francisco Giants, the veteran right-hander told the team his knee was bothering him, and it has led to an IL stint.
The Yankees announced that they put the 33-year-old on the IL with left knee inflammation, hours before their game on Saturday. In a corresponding move, the Yankees have called up RHP Allan Winans.
Once Stroman left the dugout, he had an X-ray done at Yankee Stadium before heading to a hospital for further tests. Manager Aaron Boone said before Saturday's game that he hadn't spoken to his starter yet, but once he arrived to the stadium, the team doctors would update them on Stroman's condition.
"The hope is it's not something too serious and that we can attack this and hopefully be a little bit of a source of maybe some of the things not having him as sharp as he needs to be," Boone said after Saturday's 8-4 win over the San Francisco Giants. "Hopefully we can attack this and it be something that we can benefit from and can get him physically where needs to be and then translate that onto the mound."
Friday night's game was not easy to play in. The rain and high winds affected fly balls and clearly affected the pitchers. Stroman couldn't get out of the first and some of the Yankees relievers -- like Yoendrys Gomez -- had trouble gripping the ball.
It led to Boone discussing the weather with the umpires and grounds crew between innings before the game was delayed in the sixth and ultimately called.
The question of whether the weather affected Stroman's ability to pitch on Friday was brought up, and the Yankees skipper couldn't give a definitive answer.
“We haven't been in ideal conditions most of the start of the season here. And that affects everyone a little bit different," Boone said before Saturday's game. "But Stro’s also been doing this a long time and pitched in these situations a lot before. I'm sure that all plays a role, even we saw on the other side. Even though we only got one run last night, it was a grind for [Giants starter] Robbie Ray.
“It's just one of those rare games where, you know, it's a challenge and we saw that on the pitching front last night.”
In three starts this season, Stroman has struggled. He's 0-1 with a 11.57 ERA and a 2.04 WHIP, and allowed nine runs in his last two outings while only pitching 4.2 innings.
Now that Stroman is on the IL, a returning Clarke Schmidt will take his spot in the rotation for the time being. That gives Will Warren and veteran Carlos Carrasco more chances to prove they belong in the rotation when Stroman eventually returns.
‘We Don't Care About Another Canadian Team In The Playoffs’: Steven Lorentz, Maple Leafs, Not Fixated On Potential Canadian Playoff Picture
With the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs just around the corner and five Canadian teams currently holding postseason positions, the Leafs could be in line to match up against another team north of the border.
But for Steven Lorentz and the Toronto Maple Leafs, the bigger picture doesn’t matter. Their focus remains strictly in-house on winning the Atlantic Division and setting themselves up for success.
"I know people want to see another Canadian team in the playoffs, but we don't care about another Canadian team in the playoffs,” Lorentz said following Saturday’s optional skate at Scotiabank Arena. “We care about our team, and that's it... It's our job to not let that happen."
Steven Lorentz, beauty: "I know people want to see another Canadian team in the playoffs, but we don't care about another Canadian team in the playoffs. We care about our team, and that's it.... It's our job to not let that happen."
— luke fox (@lukefoxjukebox) April 12, 2025
The Leafs are set to host the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, with both teams looking to earn points in a tight race in the Eastern Conference. As it stands, the Ottawa Senators, who defeated the Canadiens on Friday night, 5-2, are slotted into the first wild-card spot as the Canadiens trail by five points sitting in WC2. The Canadiens, however, can clinch a playoff spot with a regulation win on Saturday in Toronto.
As Lorentz, a native of Waterloo, Ont., native mentioned, it’s the Leafs’ job to not let that happen. Ahead of the game, Lorentz, who grew up a Maple Leafs fan, said there is an added “flair” to these types of games.
“Well, I mean, I've lived it my whole life, but now that I've been able to partake in it a little bit, it's special,” he said. “I think it's a privilege every time we get to play against these guys. There's always that extra flair. There's a little bit more to those games. You can obviously tell. There's just a little bit more intensity and a little bit more of that – you take things a little bit more personally against guys or teams like this. Ottawa, the same thing when it's nice and close to home like this. There's always a little bit more at stake.”
As of Saturday morning, five Canadian teams – the Leafs, Canadiens, Senators, Jets, and Oilers – sit in playoff spots with a maximum of four games left in the regular season. It’s a Canadian storyline at the moment, particularly given that no team from the country has hoisted the Stanley Cup since the Canadiens did it in 1993. But for a Leafs team chasing the Atlantic Division title and in search of a deep postseason run of their own, they are paying attention – yet keeping everything internal – as Lorentz attested to Wednesday.
“Yeah, we're paying attention,” Lorentz admitted. “I didn't really watch a whole lot of it. I saw the start that Ottawa got off to. I think I watched a bit in the first period. But after that, I don't even know what happened or how it really finished,” he added, referring to Ottawa vs. Montreal on Friday.
“Again, I've said it once, I've said it before, we're focused on what's going on in this locker room. It's definitely huge being able to clinch a top spot. But wherever we finish, we need to be able to be at the top of our game for a round of playoffs.”
‘I Want To Keep Everything Internal’: Why Maple Leafs' Steven Lorentz Didn’t Visit His Former Panthers Teammates In Return To FloridaToronto Maple Leafs forward Steven Lorentz is drawing the line in the sand ahead of the club’s clash with the Florida Panthers on Tuesday.
Toronto, already locked into the postseason for a ninth consecutive year, is aiming to finish strong and secure the best possible matchup.
The only team they're concerned about is their own.
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Blackhawks Forward Patrick Maroon Will Play Final NHL Game On Saturday
The Chicago Blackhawks have their final home game of the season on Saturday night. They will take on the Central Division-leading Winnipeg Jets to close things out for the year. The Jets, who have the inside track on the NHL's Presidents' Trophy, are always a tough challenge.
This is more than just the last home game for the Blackhawks. It will be the final game in the wonderful career of Patrick Maroon.
Maroon will skate in his 848th career game and 68th with the Blackhawks. He also spent time with the Anaheim Ducks, Tampa Bay Lightning, Edmonton Oilers, St. Louis Blues, Minnesota Wild, New Jersey Devils, and Boston Bruins.
The man known as "The Big Rig" made an impact on all of those teams in different ways. For Chicago, it was about being a great leader for a group of young kids.
During the 2024-25 season, Maroon was wonderful for everyone. There are countless ways he helped the less experienced players, but one memory will always stick out.
That is when he took Lukas Reichel with him to St. Louis to be with his family for the holidays, when Reichel had nowhere else to go. Gestures like that are what made Maroon as special a person off the ice as he was on the ice.
Maroon was named as the Blackhawks' nominee for the Masterton Trophy for his work this year. This award is presented annually to the player who most demonstrates perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.
Throughout his NHL career, Maroon was a scrappy fighter who made the bottom-six forward group of his team better. He also scored over 100 goals and had over 300 points. This included a 27-goal season when he was a member of the Oilers in 2016-17.
When Maroon was with his hometown St. Louis Blues, he scored an overtime winning goal in game seven of the second round against the Dallas Stars. Eventually, they won the Stanley Cup.
Maroon followed that up by winning the Stanley Cup in each of the next two years to make it three in a row. These came as a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning as they went back-to-back.
Maroon won't travel with the Blackhawks as they close out the year in Montreal and Ottawa. He is going to end his career right where he made his NHL debut, the United Center. Where it started as a member of the Anaheim Ducks, it will end as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks.
Chicago is sure to send Maroon out feeling good about himself. He's been a good warrior at every stop, which made him a fan favorite in just about every city he's played.
From being drafted in the 2007 NHL Draft to not being a full-time NHL player until the 2013-14 season, tons of AHL time in between, and eventually becoming a three-time Stanley Cup champion, there is no doubting Maroon's love for the game. He is proof that a little bit of dedication and hard work can get you to where you want to go.
This won't be the last we see of Maroon in the coming years. Whether it is in media or as a part of an organization in hockey ops, he will be around. For now, he will be celebrated in his final game of a memorable career.
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Rangers Vs. Hurricanes Preview, Projected Lineup
The New York Rangers are all set for their matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes today at 3:00 PM EST.
Here’s everything you need to know from a Rangers perspective.
Projected Lineup:
Forwards:
Artemi Panarin-Vincent Trocheck-Jonny Brodzinski
Will Cuylle-J.T. Miller-Mika Zibanejad
Chris Kreider-Juuso Parssinen-Alexis Lafrenière
Brett Berard-Sam Carrick-Matt Rempe
Defensemen:
K’Andre Miller-Will Borgen
Carson Soucy-Adam Fox
Urho Vaakanainen-Braden Schneider
Goaltenders:
Igor Shesterkin
Jonathan Quick
Notable Storylines:
- The Rangers are coming off of an 8-5 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.
- Igor Shesterkin is set to start for the Rangers.
- Gabe Perreault and Brennan Othmann will be scratched out of the lineup.
- The Rangers currently hold a 37-35-7 record.
- The Hurricanes are coming off of a 5-4 loss to the Washington Capitals.