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Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Week 10 Pickups Include Jaylen Wells & Bub Carrington

With the NBA Cup now in the rearview mirror, it's time to get back to a semi-regular schedule. Some rotational changes in the past week have provided a couple of players with an extended opportunity, while others have simply turned things around following a slow start to the season. As always, the waiver wire is the place to be, providing managers with bargain players who could be about to ascend in the fantasy basketball rankings. And remember, never assume a player is rostered. It always pays to double-check, just in case they have been overlooked.

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

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

Yahoo High Score Leagues

Wendell Carter, Orlando Magic (33% rostered)

Carter continues to quietly go about his business, putting together arguably the best season of his career. Although his ceiling is somewhat limited, Carter has been able to add an element of consistency to his game, providing adequate production on both ends of the floor. This has translated into fantasy value, even in high-score leagues. He has scored at least 36 fantasy points in each of his last three games, averaging 38.7 points per game during that span. Although Orlando has an adequate backup in Goga Bitadze, it appears as though Carter has both hands on the starting job. If you are looking for a reliable plug-and-play option, look no further than Carter.

Jaylen Wells, Memphis Grizzlies (25% rostered)

After a slow start to the season, Wells has been able to turn things around over the past month, having scored at least 30 fantasy points in five of his 10 games during that time. In his past four games, Wells is averaging 32.3 fantasy points, a vast improvement on what he was putting up to begin the campaign. The Grizzlies continue to find ways to win and are now in the Play-In picture in the Western Conference. Although Wells' fantasy value is largely tied to points and threes, he has been getting busy on the defensive end, averaging 2.0 steals per game over the past four. Any peripheral production is a bonus, meaning now is the time to take a chance on Wells, at least until he cools off.

Jaylon Tyson, Cleveland Cavaliers (30% rostered)

Earlier in the week, it was announced that Tyson would be part of the starting lineup in Cleveland, at least for the foreseeable future. While this certainly makes sense from a reality standpoint, it also provides fantasy managers with a sense of assuredness moving forward. Tyson has been one of the more surprising names this season, providing relatively consistent production despite his role fluctuating. In seven games during the month, Tyson is averaging 33.7 fantasy points per game. On the whole, it's been a disappointing season for the Cavaliers, meaning Tyson should continue to play heavy minutes, looking to turn the season around for Cleveland.

Standard 9-Category Leagues

Jock Landale, Memphis Grizzlies (13% rostered)

Due to popular demand, Landale makes his second straight appearance on this list, as he continues to play some of the best basketball of his career. With Zach Edey slated to miss multiple weeks due to a foot injury, Landale has solidified himself as a key piece in the Grizzlies' rotation. Despite coming off the bench, his playing time has been more than adequate, logging 30, 28 and 27 minutes in each of the past three games. During that span, he has averaged 12.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.0 three-pointers and 2.0 combined steals and blocks, good enough for top 50 value in standard formats. There is almost certainly going to be some inconsistency moving forward, but on the whole, Landale is doing enough to be rostered in more than 13 percent of leagues.

Bub Carrington, Washington Wizards (15% rostered)

Carrington is another player who has quietly put together an impressive stretch, scoring double digits in four straight games. During that time, he has averaged 17.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.0 steals and 3.3 three-pointers in 37.0 minutes per game. Injuries to other players, most notably to Khris Middleton, have provided Carrington with a nice opportunity to convince the coaching staff that he should be heavily featured on a nightly basis. He had scored double digits only five times in his first 21 games prior to this run, highlighting just how poor he had been. With that said, Washington has nothing to lose, meaning Carrington's current role could last, at least until he cools off.

Dominick Barlow, Philadelphia 76ers (6% rostered)

Despite the fact that Philadelphia is beginning to get healthy players back on the floor, Barlow continues to play a significant role as a member of the starting lineup. He has started in nine straight games, scoring double digits in six of those. While his offensive output has been modest, to say the least, his ability to chip in across multiple categories has made him a top 90 player over the past week. In two games during that time, he has averaged 10.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.0 combined steals and blocks in 30.7 minutes per game. While he won't be a viable option for everyone, those looking for across-the-board upside could do worse than taking a flier on Barlow.

Standard Points Leagues

Bobby Portis, Milwaukee Bucks (21% rostered)

Portis has been able to ramp up his production over the past two weeks, thanks in large part to the continued absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo. In five games during that time, Portis has averaged 18.0 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals, good enough for 32.5 fantasy points per game. It should be noted that Kyle Kuzma missed the Bucks' most recent game due to illness, providing Portis with some additional playing time. However, he has been able to do just enough, even with Kuzma on the court, to be considered in standard points leagues. 

Dylan Harper, San Antonio Spurs (24% rostered)

Harper continues to impress, scoring a career-high 24 points in Thursday's win over the Wizards. While the production has been intriguing, the playing time continues to be a concern, given the guard depth in San Antonio. He is basically competing for minutes with De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, Julian Champagnie and Keldon Johnson. This situation is not built for fantasy, making Harper a somewhat risky addition. However, the talent is obvious, and he has played at least 22 minutes in five of the past six games. He has scored at least 30 fantasy points in three of those, providing us with a glimpse of what could be possible. Despite the risk, he is worth a look, at least as a short-term addition.

Saddiq Bey, New Orleans Pelicans (32% rostered)

Despite the return of Jordan Poole and Zion Williamson, Bey has remained in the starting lineup, logging at least 33 minutes in three of the past five games. During that time, he has averaged 17.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists, good enough for 31.3 fantasy points per game. His long-term role remains somewhat clouded, especially once Williamson ramps up his playing time. Bey could eventually move back to the bench, but for now, it appears as though he has earned the trust of the coaching staff. 

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Graf Scores Twice, But Sharks Come Up Short Against Stars

Wyatt Johnston recorded a pair of goals as the Dallas Stars earned a 5–3 road win over the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night at SAP Center.

Roope Hintz finished the game with one goal and one assist, while Justin Hryckowian and Jamie Benn also found the back of the net for Dallas, which improved to 23-7-5 on the season and has gone 3-2-0 over its last five contests. Esa Lindell and Mikko Rantanen each chipped in two assists, and Jake Oettinger anchored the victory with 34 saves.

San Jose was led by Collin Graf, who scored twice, and Shakir Mukhamadullin, who added a goal of his own. Macklin Celebrini contributed two assists for the Sharks, now 17-15-3, as their three-game winning streak came to an end. Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 25 shots in defeat.

First Period

Dallas set the tone early and carried a 2–0 lead out of the opening period Hintz opened the scoring at 12:25 when he finished a feed from Rantanen, who threaded a pass from below the goal line to the front of the net. Hintz slipped his shot past Nedeljkovic’s right skate to give Dallas a 1–0 advantage.

San Jose thought it had an equalizer midway through the period when Zack Ostapchuk redirected a point shot past Oettinger. However, after a video review, the goal was overturned because Ostapchuk made contact with the puck above the crossbar.

Dallas capitalized shortly afterward. At 17:38, Johnston took a cross-ice pass from Miro Heiskanen and snapped a wrist shot from the slot over Nedeljkovic’s glove, doubling the Stars’ lead before the first intermission.

Second Period

The Sharks responded early in the second period to cut into the deficit. Just 1:43 in, Mukhamadullin fired a wrist shot from above the left circle that deflected off the skate of Dallas defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin and slid through Oettinger’s pads, making it 2–1.

Dallas answered on the power play midway through the period. At 8:40, Johnston struck again, finishing a quick-touch sequence involving Hintz and Rantanen. Positioned in the low slot, Johnston snapped the puck over Nedeljkovic’s right shoulder to restore a two-goal cushion.

San Jose pulled back within one late in the period. At 16:44, Celebrini Graf in front of the net from the left corner. Graf’s initial attempt was stopped, but he stayed with the play and buried the rebound past Oettinger’s left pad.

The Stars regained momentum in the final minute of the period. With 43 seconds remaining, Nedeljkovic mishandled the puck behind his net, sending it directly to Justin Hryckowian in the right circle. Hryckowian immediately fired into the open net, giving Dallas a 4–2 lead heading into the third.

Third Period

San Jose made another push early in the third period. At 4:32, Graf scored his second goal of the night after taking a pass from Igor Chernyshov near the goal line. Crashing the net, Graf finished the play by slipping the puck five-hole on Oettinger to pull the Sharks within 4–3.

Despite the pressure, Dallas held firm defensively and relied on Oettinger, who finished the night with 34 saves. The Stars sealed the victory late when Jamie Benn scored into an empty net at 18:42, securing a 5–3 road win.

Next Game

The Sharks (17-15-3) take on the Seattle Kraken Friday night as they finish off a back-to-back at SAP Center. Coverage begins at 9 p.m. local time. 

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Observations From Blues' 2-1 Overtime Loss Vs. Rangers

ST. LOUIS – The St. Louis Blues were looking for several aspects in their game on the heels of a win on Wednesday night.

It was going to be tough on the second half of a back to back, but they managed to get a point. But one thing that remained consistent: they can’t get overtime right.

The Blues fell to 0-6 in the 3-on-3 competition when J.T. Miller scored at 2:21 of OT, and the New York Rangers rallied for a 2-1 win at Enterprise Center on Thursday.

Jonatan Berggren scored his first goal for the Blues (13-15-8), and Jordan Binnington had himself a really strong game, stopping 28 of 30 shots but picks up the OT loss.

Thursday’s loss comes on the heels of a 1-0 win against the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday.

Let’s dive into the game observations:

* The Blues just can’t solve OT – Not only are they now 0-6 in 3-on-3, but combine it with two shootout losses, it’s 0-for-8.

And this one started off as head-shaking as the others when the Blues won the face-off by Robert Thomas, who ultimately in his shift skates into the offensive zone along the right side, but for whatever reason, Pavel Buchnevich and Philip Broberg stayed behind leaving Thomas to go 1-on-3.

Why? Who knows. But that didn’t cost the Blues the game.

What did, again, though? Their inability to create and drive offense, and then ultimately, blown coverage at the other end.

“We’re not creating enough chances in 3-on-3 offensively,” St. Louis coach Jim Montgomery said, “and we have a lot of possession time, but when we turn it over, we are blowing covers. It’s man-on-man, it should be fairly simply to stay with your man when there’s 3-on-3 versus 5-on-5, but we’re getting beat to our net, we’re losing assignments, we’re getting slipped to the middle of the ice.”

On Miller’s goal, this one’s on Dalibor Dvorsky, who got puck-watching as Vincent Trocheck skated into the Blues’ zone between him and Colton Parayko, who had Trocheck sealed off.

Dvorsky’s man (Miller) was near the blue line, but as he slipped inside, Dvorsky turns around and loses his man off the wall, and Miller is able to get into the high slot and take Trocheck’s pass, beating Binnington to the stick side.

Binnington is screened by Rangers defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov and teammate Pius Suter:

“The game-winning goal, the guy walks down the middle of the ice,” Montgomery said. “Someone lost his man on the boards. That’s what happened. It’s happened in at least four of the losses, and some of them have just been the other team making some high-end plays. We haven’t made those same plays.”

* Binnington gave the Blues a chance – This was Binnington’s first game action in a week, when he was pulled in a 7-2 loss to the Nashville Predators after the second period, more of a mercy pull than a poor play pull.

Joel Hofer started the past three games, including Wednesday, but this was a rock-solid performance in goal.

“I felt good,” Binnington said. ‘I was focused on my own process today and just doing my best to give the team the best chance to win. I felt good to get some work in these last couple of days and be back out there.”

Binnington had to keep his team in it right from the get-go when he kicked out the right pad on Conor Sheary just 16 seconds in. The Blues were not sharp the first two periods until picking it up in the third, but Binnington, who was only beat by a fortuitous bounce off the toe of Gabe Perreault at 6:02 of the second period that tied the game 1-1, gave his team a fighting chance.

“Yeah, it’s still hard. Still frustrating,” Binnington said. “I’ve got to stay with it.

“This one’s definitely frustrating, but we responded in the third period there. We’ve just got to keep building our game and playing the right way.”

The Blues are a league-worst 49 goals allowed in the second period, and if not for Binnington, it could have been worse.

“Binnington was excellent. He gave us an opportunity,” Montgomery said. “That second period, the only reason it’s 1-1 is because of ‘Binner.’”

* Blues simply don’t have finishers – It’s been an ongoing theme for the Blues: create chances, and a lot of them Grade A chances, but can’t finish.

It was a common theme once again Thursday.

We can talk all we want about Igor Shesterkin being in goal and you’re trying to be too fine, too precise in beating an elite style goalie, but this stuff has happened to average, mediocre tendy’s too.

And it was again an issue on Thursday.

And it’s top-end players – once again – that can’t hit the ocean from prime scoring areas.

Pavel Buchnevich had one early in the first period in Shesterkin’s grill, and missed the net. Brayden Schenn had one from the slot with acreage of space in the second period off a beautiful setup by Berggren and missed high. Philip Broberg walking down the slot with a puck and in the third period and firing it wide on the short side. Justin Faulk had another glorious chance in the second period and missing the net. Robert Thomas, who tied a career high with six shots on goal, was set up by Berggren in front in the third, but he actually put his shot on and it was stopped.

That’s the point. At the very least, force the goalie into a save. This group is notorious for not finishing, and there’s a reason why they’re dead-last in the league scoring 2.44 goals per game scoring 88 goals, which ranks 30th in the league.

The Blues have scored two or fewer goals in an astounding 20 of 36 games this season, and in eight of those, one or fewer.

“We had some point blank chances, the guys we want to have the point blank chances,” Montgomery said, sounding like a broken record this season. “Sometimes you try to be too perfect. ‘Buchy’ knows (Shesterkin) and he played with him. ‘Buchy’ had a lot of those opportunities and I think he tried to be too perfect, missed the net a couple times. That happens to you.”

The power play was a reason also, going 0-for-3 with four shots and it could have been more.

There's a reason why the leading goal scorers on this team have just eight, and let's put it into perspective here. The Blues' leading point producer is Thomas with 24 in 32 games. Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers had two more points on Thursday to give him 22 the past eight games. EIGHT.

Enough said.

Nobody said you have to be Connor McDavid, but come on, the numbers are pretty staggering here.

* Blues might have something with Berggren, Stenberg – For the second straight night, two newbies were noticeable in a positive light.

Berggren and 2023 first-round pick (No. 25 overall) Otto Stenberg each had a nice, solid game.

Berggren played 16:55, including a shift in OT, and his goal was of elite form.

It gave the Blues a 1-0 lead at 18:58 of the first period after he took a loose puck forced when Dvorsky turned Gavrikov over, then skating in from a sharp angle and beating Shesterkin with a small window off the bar on the short side:

“Lucky it went in and nice to get the first one pretty early,” Berggren said.

Montgomery liked Berggren’s game so much that he moved him to the top line with Thomas and Buchnevich, and the trio was creating.

“It looked really good in the third, and we’ll probably give it a look next game,” Montgomery said. ‘There’s a big difference when you start a game with people. There just is. Sometimes in games, you catch fire. To be able to sustain it, we’re going to see if we can sustain it, but it did look good.

“He’s been really good. Him and Stenberg both have been excellent. Just players that have really good brains, high skill level. Really fit in well with the way we want to play. They’ve really added a lot of speed and pace to playing fast, especially when we go north.”

Berggren played 12:45 on Wednesday in his Blues debut, and Stenberg followed his 13:38 of ice time with 15:12 on Thursday, also getting OT time.

This makes two games in a row when two new guys in the lineup are making a positive difference, and influence.

* Third period much better after not finding legs in first 40 – The Blues’ push came in the final period when they outshot the Rangers 11-4 and pressured in the offensive zone but not finding a way to beat Shesterkin.

It came after too many one-and-dones earlier in the game when pucks would get dumped in and little to no forecheck to follow.

“I think the first two periods was pretty average, kind of bad, but the third one was really good and we should have had two or three goals there,” Berggren said. “But back to back is always tough. Shows that we had some energy in the third.”

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Lakers eventually respond to JJ Redick's call for change, rally to beat Jazz

The Lakers' LeBron James shoots over the Jazz's Kevin Love during the second half at the Delta Center on Thursday night.
The Lakers' LeBron James shoots over the Jazz's Kevin Love during the second half at the Delta Center on Thursday night. (Alex Goodlett / Getty Images)

When Brice Sensabaugh drilled a wide-open three pointer in the third quarter, Lakers coach JJ Redick quickly called a timeout and began to gesture with both hands toward his players, clearly showing his displeasure with their defense.

The Lakers responded.

They especially picked up their defensive intensity for an important spurt in the fourth quarter, slowing down the Utah Jazz and in the process the Lakers’ offense took off, the two converging at the right time to push them to a 143-135 win Thursday night at the Delta Center.

The Lakers gave up 41 points in the first quarter and a season-high 78 at the half. They allowed 57 points in the second half and put the Jazz away by scoring 41 points in the fourth quarter.

“Obviously we know this Utah team can score points at a very high rate, but it was very imperative that we got stops,” said LeBron James, who had another productive night with 28 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds. “We had to get stops to start that fourth and then it allowed our offense to click.”

But even with the Lakers building a 12-point lead in the fourth, the Jazz continued to put stress on L.A.’s defense, getting within four points late in the game.

The Lakers' Lebron James dunks over the Jazz's Kyle Filipowski at Delta Center Thursday night in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The Lakers' Lebron James dunks over the Jazz's Kyle Filipowski at Delta Center Thursday night in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Alex Goodlett / Getty Images)

The Lakers had answers every time, keeping the game in their hands behind Luka Doncic’s triple-double — 45 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds.

His 45-point triple-double and five steals made Doncic just the second player in NBA history to accomplish that feat since steals became official in 1973-74. Detroit Cade Cunningham (46 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists, five steals) is the other player to do so, producing that against the Wizards on Nov. 2025 in overtime.

Doncic was 14-for-28 from the field, four-for-12 from three-point range and had just one turnover in 39 minutes and 33 seconds of play.

Doncic also was the first Laker to have a 40-point triple-double since Magic Johnson in 1981.

“I think, honestly, I could do so much more,” Doncic said. “But I think that one turnover is the best stat-wise on this stat sheet. So, we had seven turnovers, which is impressive for us and we won the game. And again, that's what matters. But I think we locked in a lot in the second half. We did a great job.”

The Lakers got a scare when James went down holding his left knee after a collision with Utah’s Walter Clayton Jr.

James was dribbling the basketball near the three-point arc when Clayton went for a steal, but instead his knee hit the inside of James’ knee, knocking the Laker to the floor with 7:52 left in the second quarter.

James eventually got up and continued to play, taking a rest with 4:53 left in the half.

James described what happened on the play.

“Just a little bolt to the knee, like a sharp pain to the knee,” James said. “Got kneed on the the inside, like the medial side of the knee. And just kind of wanted to take my time a little bit as it calmed down or whatever the case may be. Or hoping it calmed down. Told Mike (Mancias) my trainer, I said, 'We dodged a bullet there.' ”

The Lakers were already without starters Austin Reaves (left calf strain) and Deandre Ayton (left elbow soreness), but then they added key role player Gabe Vincent (lower back tightness) to the injury list, leaving them without three main players entering the game at Utah. Vincent will be reevaluated in a week.

Lakers guard Luka Doncic celebrates after making a play during the second half of a win over the Jazz Thursday night.
Lakers guard Luka Doncic celebrates after making a play during the second half of a win over the Jazz Thursday night at Delta Center in Salt Lake City. (Alex Goodlett / Getty Images)

Jaxson Hayes started at center in place of Ayton and Smart started at guard for Reaves.

Injuries also hit the Jazz, as star forward Lauri Markkanen, the ninth-highest scorer (27.8) in the NBA this season, was out because of a right groin injury.

Smart had 17 points, which included him going three-for-four from three-point range in the fourth quarter.

Hayes had 16 points, making all seven of his field goals.

Redick talked to his team at halftime about their poor defensive effort and he did again in the third quarter during that timeout.

His message was simple.

"The players gotta go out and do it,”: Redick said. “So it's not, I don't know if it sparked 'em or not, and I just know that after that they were better."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Takeaways: Penguins Deliver Listless Effort In Loss To Ottawa Senators, Drop Seventh Straight

It seems like these recaps for the Pittsburgh Penguins are starting to get a bit redundant. And well, that's probably because they are. 

Because, for the seventh straight game, we're talking about a Penguins' loss. 

After a messy losing effort against the Edmonton Oilers at home on Tuesday, the Penguins embarked on the first leg of their annual Dads Trip on Thursday to face the Ottawa Senators in hopes of snapping their six-game losing streak. But from the moment they took the ice, they looked like a team that wasn't ready to play.

The Penguins fell to Linus Ullmark and the Senators, 4-0, in one of their most listless efforts of the season to date. Ullmark stopped all 24 of the shots he faced, and Penguins' goaltender Arturs Silovs stopped 22 of 25 Senators' shots on goal. 

This was one of those games where it felt like the Penguins were never really in it. However, they certainly didn't get any help from the officiating from the jump, either. 

Early in the game, Arturs Silovs was called for a tripping penalty on a net-front opportunity from the Senators - a questionable call, as there's not much Silovs could have done there - and the Sens capitalized on the ensuing power play when Brady Tkachuk buried one a little more than two minutes into the game. The Penguins started to get a tiny fraction of momentum at the end of the first that they hoped to carry into the second.

And, well, they did have a nice first shift by the first line of Rickard Rakell, Sidney Crosby, and Bryan Rust, and they were beginning to push a little bit. But a fortuitous bounce for Ottawa landed right by the net-front and next to David Perron, who put it past Silovs for his 800th career NHL point to make it 2-0 less than two minutes into the middle frame. Claude Giroux added another tally just three minutes later.

Then, in the third, the Penguins did start pushing a bit, and it resulted in a puck getting past Ullmark on a floater from Kris Letang at the point. However, the goal was waved off immediately on the ice, as the officials deemed that Rickard Rakell interefered with Ullmark. 

The Penguins challenged, and - well - it seemed like a good challenge. Rakell was being hauled down by Jake Sanderson at the net front and outside of the blue paint, and Sanderson's stick is the one that made contact with Ullmark. And the contact seemed to be initiated after the puck had already gotten behind Ullmark. 

However, the Penguins lost the challenge, the call on the ice stood, and they weren't able to recover. With around six minutes remaining in regulation, Silovs started skating to the Penguins' bench for the extra attacker while Ottawa was breaking out of the defensive zone. With no goaltender in the net - and Silovs desperately trying to get back to the net - Tkachuk buried his second of the game, and the Penguins went down with a whimper. 

Things didn't exactly go the Penguins' way Thursday. But they still couldn't find a way to respond to the adversity they faced, which is something they were doing at the beginning of the season. 

Here are some takeaways from this one:

- This is as uninspired a performance I've seen from the Penguins this season. And it was like that from the drop of the puck. 

Lately, the Penguins have gotten off to good starts in games. That wasn't the case Thursday. Ottawa was pressuring hard from the start of the first period, and they never really relented until a spell in the third period prior to the disallowed goal. The Penguins had no answer for the Senators' momentum, and it doomed them from the start. 

Simply put, the Penguins didn't come ready to play Thursday, and this is not ideal given the fact that they had lost six straight coming into this one and that they're falling in the standings. 

- Before getting to the negatives, I do want to point out that Parker Wotherspoon and Erik Karlsson - along with Rakell - were probably the Penguins' best players Tuesday. And they seemed to be the only ones really trying hard to seize momentum and get something going. 

Early on, there were a few shifts where they were doing everything they could to spark some offense. I didn't love their defensive play in the latter part of the game, pretty much like everyone else's. But I at least saw a concerted effort from those two in this one. 

After Disastrous Homestand, The Penguins Need To Decide Who They Want To BeAfter Disastrous Homestand, The Penguins Need To Decide Who They Want To BeIt's time for the Pittsburgh Penguins to decide who they want to be after losing their sixth in a row.

- Now, let's get to the ugly. 

Although I wouldn't really pin any of the goals against on Silovs, this was his seventh straight loss. The good start to the season that he had seems like a distant memory, and he - like the rest of his team - cannot find any consistency right now. 

If the Penguins' season continues to go south, it wouldn't be the worst thing to keep him. But the Penguins also have two performing goaltenders in Sergei Murashov and Joel Blomqvist in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS), and there's no point in blocking one of them at the NHL level if they show readiness. Which, they have up to this point. 

If there is one more iffy start from Silovs, I'd say were approaching decision time for the goaltending situation. 

- I said it after the last game, and I'll say it again: The Penguins need to split up Crosby and Rust. 

The effort is there for Rakell, even if the rust is evident. He's still playing decent defensive hockey in comparison to the other two, and his production is somewhat tethered to Crosby. But this line is so often caught flat-footed in their own zone that something needs to be tweaked. 

Give Rutger McGroarty or Ville Koivunen a few games with Crosby and Rakell, and give Rust some time with Ben Kindel. A shakeup like that could be beneficial for everyone, and having someone like Rust with Kindel and one of McGroarty or Koivunen could give that line a boost production-wise. 

Is It Time For Pittsburgh To Break Up Its Top Line?Is It Time For Pittsburgh To Break Up Its Top Line?The Pittsburgh Penguins' first line of Sidney Crosby, Rickard Rakell, and Bryan Rust has struggled so far this season, and it may be time for a change.

- Again, I feel like I'm beating a dead horse. But Letang's defensive play continues to be a problem. He was beat one-on-one on several occasions Thursday - including on the play that led to the Silovs penalty - and it's happening with regularity. 

There is still some offensive value there, but he really, really needs a lesser role and a more stable partner. Ryan Shea has looked more like a third-pairing defenseman over the last several weeks, so I would give Brett Kulak a try alongside Letang. 

Try that first on the second pairing. And if that doesn't work? Well, I think it's probably time to look ahead a little bit because it's not like fellow right-siders Jack St. Ivany or Connor Clifton have shown much of anything, either. 

Harrison Brunicke was lent to Team Canada for the World Junior Championship (WJC), and the Penguins will have a decision to make on him prior to the conclusion of the tournament because Jan. 3 is their 40th game of the season. At that point, if Brunicke and Kindel are still on the NHL roster, they lose a year of restricted free agency. 

If things don't get any better with the Penguins' backend, there is no reason - purely from a hockey standpoint, anyway - not to give Brunicke some NHL runway for the rest of the season. The team's blue line is hardly playing much defense as is, so why not let the rookie show what he can do and make some mistakes along the way?

Truthfully, giving Brunicke those minutes can't look any worse than what Letang and several others have shown defensively this season. And, at the very least, Brunicke can skate and backcheck well.

After the WJC, split minutes between the second and third pairing so that Brunicke and Letang are playing about the same amount of minutes. If the Penguins continue trending downward, that's what I'd do, and I don't think it would be a particularly difficult decision, either. The Penguins are clearly hesitant about sending Brunicke back to junior hockey, so maybe they just shouldn't, and they can let him take his lumps at the NHL level. 

Players Won't Stop Asking Harrison Brunicke About Sidney Crosby At Canada's World Junior Camp - Community PostPlayers Won't Stop Asking Harrison Brunicke About Sidney Crosby At Canada's World Junior Camp - Community Post<a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>' rookie defensive prospect Harrison Brunicke has gained some valuable experience at the NHL level this season as a 19-year-old. So, <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/players/penguins-top-defensive-prospect-named-to-team-canada-s-preliminary-world-junior-roster">when he was lent to Team Canada for their World Junior camp</a>, it would only have been natural for his young Canadian teammates to ask him plenty of questions about playing in the NHL.

- At this point, I don't think Kevin Hayes and Danton Heinen are doing all that much to help this team win hockey games. Heinen did hit the iron a few times on Thursday, but his lack of experience at the center position is definitely showing. And with two centers in Evgeni Malkin and Blake Lizotte still out, there are not many options on the roster as is. 

Well, I think it's about time that the Penguins consider making some changes to that NHL roster as is. 

Tristan Broz got one game earlier this season before being healthy scratched twice then sent back down, where he's continued to put up numbers. Avery Hayes supplies a brand of energy that the Penguins could use right now. Boko Imama certainly brings an energy to a lineup, too, and he's well-liked in the locker room.

Those three players should be on the first plane to Montreal, and the Penguins should cut ties with underperforming veterans who simply aren't getting the job done right now. There is too much dead weight on the roster, and the Penguins could use another center as well as more youth. 

This roster should not look the same come Saturday or Sunday. We'll see what happens - or if anything happens - in the coming days. The Penguins are falling fast, and they need to shake things up quickly if they are to salvage their season. 

3 Injured Penguins' Forwards Skate Before Team Practice Wednesday3 Injured Penguins' Forwards Skate Before Team Practice WednesdayThe struggling Pittsburgh Penguins could be getting some help soon on the injury front

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Knicks not surprised by Tyler Kolek's career game against Pacers: 'We knew this was what he was capable of'

The Knicks returned to regular season action after winning the NBA Cup when they traveled to Indiana to take on the rival Pacers on Thursday night.

Despite the Pacers' tough start to the season thanks to injuries to key players, it was not a cakewalk for New York, which was missing five rotation pieces, including two starters. The Knicks' bench needed to step up, and it did. Although Jalen Brunson's heroics are the headline for the team's 114-113 win, it was the play of young Tyler Kolek that the Knicks captain had to focus on.

"I was garbage," Brunson told the MSG broadcast on the court after the win. "To start the game, and then in the second half was garbage as well. I want to thank the lord for Tyler Kolek, for playing the way he's playing... and saving me. We found a way to win this one."

Brunson still scored 25 points -- on an inefficient 10 of 23 shooting -- and came up clutch when it mattered for his team. Kolek, however, was the lynchpin for the Knicks when they were down double-digits in the third quarter. In just three minutes, Kolek scored three points but dished four assists, for a team-high plus-eight on the court. That play carried over into the fourth quarter, where he scored four points and posted three rebounds and three assists.

In total, Kolek scored a career-high 16 points and had a career-high 11 assists for the first double-double of his NBA career.

"Our guys had plenty of opportunities to say, ‘Hey, we gave the good old College try, and we'll wrap it up...figure it out tomorrow, especially being in Vegas," head coach Mike Brown said of his team's resilience. "As long as we were and going through what we went through out there and then, having so many guys out…nobody would have been mad at them. On a couple of different occasions. If they just threw the towel in. It's not our group.

"We have a standard, and no matter who's on the floor, we expect everybody to hold each other accountable to what our standard is."

"They’re willing to give me the ball and I want to give them the ball, too," Kolek said of his play after the win. "Just having the trust of my guys and with my coaches."

"Tyler was fabulous," Brown said of Kolek. "He was fabulous on both ends of the floor, but you're talking about a guy that played 26 minutes and had 11 assists, so he impacted the game on both ends of the floor."

It's been a coming-out party for Kolek of late. The Marquette product gave the Knicks solid minutes in their semifinal game against the Magic, being a plus-18 in 16 minutes on the court. He then scored 14 points in 20 minutes in the NBA Cup Finals against the Spurs on Tuesday, closing out the game alongside Brunson. (Though that game technically doesn't count toward the team's record or the player's individual stats)

With Miles McBride and Landry Shamet still hurt, Brown will lean on Kolek more down this stretch of games. And if the guard continues to perform, he'll continue to see important minutes.

"He works as hard as anyone. This dude’s always in the gym…He works so hard," Brunson said of Kolek. "He has that ability to stay ready because of his work ethic. The world may be surprised to it, but we knew this was what he was capable of."

"Work always pays off," Kolek says of his preparation. "It's undefeated. What you put in, you're gonna get out. I firmly believe in that, and I put in a lot of time."

Kolek and the Knicks will now head home to host the 76ers on Friday night.

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J.T. Miller scores in OT to give Rangers 2-1 win over Blues

ST. LOUIS (AP) — J.T. Miller scored 2:21 into overtime and the New York Rangers beat the St. Louis Blues 2-1 on Thursday night.

Rookie Gabe Perrault scored his first NHL goal for the Rangers, and Igor Shesterkin had 26 saves. New York had lost two straight and five of six (1-3-2).

Jonatan Berggren, claimed off waivers from Detroit earlier this week, scored for St. Louis, which has lost four of six. (2-3-1). Jordan Binnington finished with 28 saves.

Miller was open in the slot and delivered the decisive goal as New York snapped a five-game losing streak in St. Louis.

Shesterkin ended a 12-game stretch in which he had allowed multiple goals in each game. His last game allowing only one goal came Nov. 15 in a shootout victory against Columbus.

Berggren skated along the goal line and beat Shesterkin on a sharp angle over his left shoulder with 1:02 left in the first period. Rookie Dalibor Dvorsky got the assist after poking the puck away from Vladislav Gavrikov to set up the scoring chance.

The Rangers responded at 6:02 of the second, when Perrault deflected a Will Cuylle's wrist shot past Binnington on the power play. It was the first game for Perrault, a 2023 first-round pick and the son of former NHL All-Star Yanic Perrault, since being called up from the minors in a bid to spark a scuffling offense that had been shut out twice in its previous four games.

For the second straight game, New York was without one of its top scoring threats. Artemi Panarin, tied for the team lead with 11 goals, was scratched due to an illness.

Mika Zibanejad, who also has 11 goals, returned to the lineup after being scratched in the Rangers' 3-0 loss to Vancouver as discipline for missing a team meeting.

Up Next

Rangers: Host Philadelphia on Saturday.

Blues: Play at Florida on Saturday to start a two-game trip.

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Mets, Yankees target RHP Michael King signing with Padres

The Mets and Yankees were among the interested teams, but right-hander Michael King is re-signing with the San Diego Padres, according to multiple reports.

King will stay with the NL West club, despite the New York team's reported pursuit, on a three-year, $75 million deal that has opt-outs after the first and second season, as first reported by MLB.com's Mark Feinsand.

King, who turns 31 in March, elected free agency at the end of the 2025 season after an injury-riddled second year with the Padres, which was a shame considering how King pitched the season prior and the start he got off to this past year.

The righty, who began his career in The Bronx before the Yanks dealt him to San Diego in the Juan Soto deal, spent two stints on the injured list in 2025, the first due to right shoulder inflammation before knee inflammation sent him back to the training room. But when King was on the mound, he was decently effective, pitching to a 3.44 ERA and 1.200 WHIP across 73.1 innings and 15 starts. He struck out 76 batters to 26 walks, good for 9.3 strikeouts per nine innings.

But those numbers represent a drop off from his fine first season in Southern California, when he had a terrific year, his first as a full-time starter. That year, King posted a 2.95 ERA and 1.192 WHIP in 173.2 innings over 30 starts, with 201 strikeouts to 63 walks, a 10.4 strikeout-to-walk ratio. That saw him finish seventh in NL Cy Young voting.

As a starter, his sinker (29.5 percent), four-seamer (24.4 percent), changeup (21.4 percent, thrown mostly to lefties), and sweeper (18.9 percent) comprise the majority of his arsenal, with a slider that he throws to righties added in the past two seasons, rounding things out. San Diego will hope he returns to his 2024 form, when he was great at getting soft contact – 97th percentile in hard-hit percentage and 99th percentile in average exit velocity.

During his time with the Yanks, he made 115 appearances (19 starts) and posted a 3.38 ERA over 247.2 innings.