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The Wraparound: Should The Canadiens Find An Upgrade In Net?

The Wraparound is here to discuss a new batch of NHL and hockey topics in bite-sized segments.

Here's what Emma Lingan, Michael Augello and Stephen Kerr discussed in this episode:

0:00: Which team in the Central Division is under the most pressure to translate their hot start into playoff success?

4:45: Can Steven Stamkos get his offense back on track in Nashville or elsewhere?

10:05: How concerning is the lack of depth scoring for the Detroit Red Wings?

13:28: How will Adam Fox's injury impact the Rangers' playoff chances?

17:41: Should the Montreal Canadiens look to make an upgrade in net?

22:40: Will Tyler Bertuzzi be a long-term fit for the Chicago Blackhawks?

25:39: Exploring potential trade partners for Quinn Hughes and the Vancouver Canucks

Should The Canadiens Find An Upgrade In Net? by The WraparoundShould The Canadiens Find An Upgrade In Net? by The Wraparound

See below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.

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Bucks players, coach Doc Rivers downplay buzz around Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors

Giannis Antetokounmpo was frustrated. Doc Rivers was frustrated. Bucks GM Jon Horst was frustrated. All the Bucks players were frustrated. Milwaukee went into training camp believing internally they could be a force in a down Eastern Conference this season, but there they were on Wednesday morning at 9-13, having not only lost four in a row while Antetokounmpo was out with a groin strain, but they had lost on Monday night with him to a struggling Wizards team.

That's when the report dropped that Antetokounmpo and his agent would meet with Bucks management to discuss his future with the franchise. That report sparked countless conversations — from front offices around the league to media broadcasts to barstools in New York City — about what an Antetokounmpo trade might look like.

Wednesday night, the Bucks players, as well as Rivers, pushed back on all that talk on a number of fronts:

• The most impressive was a win without Antetokounmpo — who left the game with a calf strain two minutes in and now reportedly will be out 2-4 weeks — beating the top team in the East, the Detroit Pistons. That's the Bucks' best win of the season and met with Antetokounmpo's approval, according to Bobby Portis.

"What's so crazy is Giannis is the first person texting in the team group message, 'Good job, fellas, way to get one,'" Portis said, via the Associated Press.

• Kevin Porter Jr. had maybe the best summation of where the Bucks locker room stands, seeing everything as outside noise until Antetokounmpo himself talks to the team, with the quote via Eric Nehm at The Athletic.

"I'll just say this: There's a lot of outside noise, that's just what comes with it," Porter said. "And Giannis does a great job of assuring (us) that he's wanting to be here with this group specifically.

"So, we ain't even worried about all the outside noise. That's my brother and I'm sure if it was something he would come to us, but he's with us and we're gonna hold it down until he's ready."

• Before the reports of Antetokounmpo meeting with management even dropped, the Bucks players held a team meeting to talk about why they had not been playing up to their own standards and what needed to be done. Here is how Portis described it, via The Athletic.

"Just trying to keep guys' minds right, keep guys together, that's a big thing in the league," Portis explained of the motive behind the meeting. "Obviously, everybody wants to get paid, everybody has different motives, whatever it is. Just making sure that we're together, right? And then, most importantly, understanding that we have to get a win. No matter how we get it. If it's ugly, if it's good, if we're knocking down shots, whatever it is, the most important thing was to win."

The Bucks got the kind of win they needed on Wednesday night.

• Doc Rivers is maybe the best salesman among the current crop of NBA coaches, and he was selling the company line on Wednesday — but there is a truth in what he is saying. Here's his full quote from pregame:

"I want to make it clear for the — I want to say one more time — for the 50th time, and clearly it's not getting to one network, for sure, Giannis has never asked to be traded. Ever. I can't make that more clear."

Rivers also went on to say that if the Bucks turn things around and start winning games again, playing to their potential, all these questions will go away.

Rivers is not lying here. The Bucks are not going to trade Antetokounmpo until he formally asks to be traded, and he has yet to do that forcefully and directly. He did pressure the Bucks to talk to the Knicks late in this summer (August), but after the Knicks re-signed Mikal Bridges to an extension, taking him off the trade table until Feb. 1, 2026. Those talks went nowhere.

This is the first big question being asked around the league, according to sources NBC Sports has spoken with: Is Antetokounmpo going to formally, officially ask for a trade? He's danced up to that line before, but never stepped over it and officially asked. He comes off as maybe wanting out but also not wanting to be the bad guy. When asked about his status, his response is always some version of what he said at this year's training camp: "I want to be in a situation that I can win, and now I'm here. I believe in this team. I believe in my teammates. I'm here to lead this team to wherever we can go."

Until Antetokounmpo stops just rattling his sabers and actually makes a trade request (or, until he doesn't sign an extension with the team next October when they can offer him a new max deal), the Bucks are going to try to find ways — including making moves at the February trade deadline — to improve the roster and win with him. The Bucks are all-in on Antetokounmpo until he tells them not to be.

• The other question being asked around the league is, if Antetokounmpo does request a trade, will the Bucks be willing to work with him and take less in return to get him where he wants to go (New York, presumably, but other teams like Miami or Golden State could be on a short list) or, are they going to take the best package regardless of where it sends the two-time MVP? Teams like Atlanta and San Antonio can put together offers far better than New York or the other reported preferred Antetokounmpo landing spots, should those teams decide to jump in and go after him. How would Antetokounmpo react if the Bucks worked out a trade with the Hawks or Spurs? Would this be like Antetokounmpo's former teammate, Damian Lillard, who didn't have Milwaukee on his trade list but was open to the idea once presented with the deal? Antetokounmpo has some leverage because he is under contract for one more season after this one and could tell a team he would not re-sign with them if they trade for him. Of course, that's what Kawhi Leonard told Toronto, they traded for him anyway, won a ring, and then he left. There are teams that would sign up for that outcome.

• The Bucks' current roster is going to ignore all that and focus instead on what matters most right now — winning games, so this becomes moot.

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Sabres Inconsistency Comes Back To Bite In Loss To Flyers

The crossroads of the Buffalo Sabres 2024-25 season was exactly one year to the day of the club beginning their six-game road swing, that may determine whether they remain competitive for an Eastern Conference playoff spot or not. On December 3, 2024, the Sabres led Colorado 4-0 after 20 minutes and 4-1 entering the third period before the Avalanche rallied with four third-period goals to win 5-4.  That loss failed to end a three-game losing skid and excelerated a 13-game crashdive that caused the club to miss the playoffs for a 14th straight season. 

The 5-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers was much less dramatic, but began the Sabres critical road swing on a discouraging note. Early momentum from a Jason Zucker power play goal was squandered by a Buffalo penalty killing unit that was second in  the NHL entering the game and by a questionable review request for goalie interference by head coach Lindy Ruff on Travis Konecny’s tying goal. 

 "We felt that (Owen Tippett's) stick got into our goalie's blocker, whether that was going to be enough or not, you couldn't really tell." Ruff said after the game. "It looked like his body was inside the paint, but skates weren't."

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The failed review led to another Flyers power goal from Trevor Zegras and a reeling Sabres squad allowed a third Philadelphia goal by Bobby Brink within a span of 59 seconds. Buffalo had several opportunities in the contest to close the gap, but were unable to beat Samuel Ersson, who made 27 saves. According to Ruff, the club’s top players did not come through, including team captain Rasmus Dahlin, who was ejected for a major boarding penalty and game misconduct for a hit on Zegras in the second period.

"The top guys failed the test. (Tage Thompson) took a bad penalty. We had a bad clear (from Alex Tuch), we had plenty of opportunities to get back in the game,” Ruff said. “If you look at a couple of chances, even Tage had one on the goal line that Samuelsson set him up. We weren't sharp. We've talked about consistent play, we failed the test on consistent play."

The loss ended the Sabres two-game winning streak and has them just one point ahead of last-place Florida in the Eastern Conference. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram  @MikeInBuffalo

THN.COM/Free
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Revisiting The Jake Guentzel Trade Tree

On Thursday, the Pittsburgh Penguins will take on the Tampa Bay Lightning in Florida, as Pittsburgh looks to hold onto its playoff positioning and Tampa looks to extend its Atlantic Division lead. 

But there is another storyline as well.

For the fifth time, the Penguins will face their former teammate Jake Guentzel, who was dealt to the Carolina Hurricanes at the 2024 trade deadline and was subsequently traded to then signed by the Lightning the following summer. In four games against Pittsburgh, Guentzel has notched no goals and three assists. 

At the time, the Guentzel trade definitely seemed to be one focused on quantity rather than quality, although the jury is still out on that with a few promising prospects dealt as part of that trade. 

In fact, let's revisit where the Guentzel trade tree has extended so far:

- Mar. 8, 2024: Penguins acquire forwards Michael Bunting, Ville Koivunen, Vasily Ponomarev, Cruz Lucius, and conditional first-round and fifth-round draft picks from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for forward Jake Guentzel and defenseman Ty Smith

- Jun. 29, 2024: Penguins use conditional first-round pick acquired from Hurricanes (condition not met) to draft defenseman Harrison Brunicke 44th overall in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. 

- Jun. 30, 2024: Hurricanes acquire 2025 third-round pick from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Guentzel

- Jul. 1, 2024: Guentzel signs seven-year, $63 million contract with Lightning

- Mar. 6, 2025: Penguins acquire forward Tommy Novak and defenseman Luke Schenn from the Nashville Predators in exchange for Bunting and a 2026 fourth-round pick

- Mar. 7, 2025: Penguins acquire a 2026 second-round pick and a 2027 fourth-round pick from the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for Schenn

- Jun. 28, 2025: Hurricanes use third-round pick acquired from Lightning to draft defenseman Roman Bausov 87th overall in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft

Penguins' Prospect Earns Two Honors In Same WeekPenguins' Prospect Earns Two Honors In Same WeekThere are a lot of <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>' prospects making noise in the pipeline this season, and the organization's prospect pool is looking deeper than it has in quite a long time.

Winner: Tampa Bay Lightning

There's no doubt that Tampa Bay is the clear winner in this trade tree scenario, as they ended up acquiring a perennial 30-40 goal-scorer for only a third-round pick due to his unrestricted free agent status. No matter how you slice it, Tampa has - so far - come out on top of this trade tree

Biggest loser: Carolina Hurricanes

It's certainly not ideal to lose Guentzel to a trade for unrestricted free agency rights and net only a third-round pick in return. Carolina not only lost a perennial 30-40 goal-scorer, but they also lost a potential top-six winger in Koivunen and the second-round selection that led to the Penguins getting Brunicke, who has a ceiling as a top-pairing defenseman. Carolina lost this one, and they lost big.

New 'Kid Line' Might Be Just What Penguins NeedNew 'Kid Line' Might Be Just What Penguins NeedThe Pittsburgh Penguins debuted their new "kid line" of Rutger McGroarty, Ben Kindel, and Ville Koivunen against the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday - and it paid off.

Jury's still out: Pittsburgh Penguins

It's very hard to replace a point-per-game, perennial 30-40 goal-scorer. Even with unrestricted free agency, trading a player of that caliber typically requires at least a first-round pick, which Penguins' GM/POHO Kyle Dubas failed to secure.

However, the Penguins probably got first-round value out of Brunicke, Koivunen's stock has risen since joining the organization, Lucius is playing well at the NCAA level, Novak has been a serviceable player for Pittsburgh, and they still have some picks at their disposal - which is good news, considering how Dubas and Wes Clark have fared in drafting up to this point.  

Regardless, it will be interesting to see how this trade tree continues to play out and if there are any more surprises in store with it. 

Pittsburgh Penguins At Tampa Bay Lightning Preview: Lineup Changes, Where To WatchPittsburgh Penguins At Tampa Bay Lightning Preview: Lineup Changes, Where To WatchThe Pittsburgh Penguins will face one of the toughest teams in the NHL on Thursday night.

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!    

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Pittsburgh Penguins At Tampa Bay Lightning Preview: Lineup Changes, Where To Watch

The Pittsburgh Penguins have won three of their last four games since head coach Dan Muse called them out following a 3-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken on Nov. 22.

They recently beat the Philadelphia Flyers 5-1 in dominant fashion on Monday, thanks to another outstanding performance from captain Sidney Crosby. Crosby, who loves torturing the Flyers and their fans, notched two goals and was a menace in all three zones. 

Goaltender Tristan Jarry was also great, saving 28 of 29 shots. He's set to get the start against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday after he was the first goaltender off the ice at the morning skate.

Speaking of the Lightning, they are one of the best teams in the NHL right now. After losing six of their first seven games to open the season, they've won 15 of their last 19 games and have a 16-8-2 record, good for first place in the Atlantic Division. They had their seven-game winning streak snapped by the New York Islanders on Tuesday. 

The Penguins will avoid seeing Andrei Vasilevskiy on Thursday after Lightning head coach Jon Cooper confirmed that Jonas Johansson will start in goal. They'll still have to face the Lightning's vaunted top six, led by supertstar Nikita Kucherov. Kucherov is off to another fantastic start, compiling 11 goals and 32 points in 24 games. 

Brandon Hagel and old friend Jake Guentzel are also off to great starts, each compiling 27 points to start the year. 

The Penguins didn't do line rushes at the morning skate, so there's a good chance the lines will remain the same from Monday.

Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh. You can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!   

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NHL Calder Trophy Tracker: Schaefer Overtakes Demidov, Sennecke And Wallstedt Join The Race

The NHL's had an excellent Calder Trophy race to start the year.

The top rookies are incredibly effective for their teams, helping them to much-improved results. Even beyond the top rookies, some strong performers would usually be at the top of the rookie race in most other years. 

The favorites coming into the year – Ivan Demidov and Matthew Schaefer – are still right up there at the top of the race. Beckett Sennecke joined them, but some netminders also entered the conversation with outstanding performances.

Let's check in on the NHL's top rookies as we approach the holiday season, because we are starting to get a clearer picture of how effective each of them has been for their respective squads.

1. Matthew Schaefer, D, New York Islanders

The Islanders' first overall pick has been nothing short of exceptional to start his NHL career. His eight goals are tied for the most among rookies, and combined with his 11 assists, he's one point behind Demidov and Sennecke for the rookie points lead.

The way that 18-year-old Schaefer dictates the play, pushes the pace and consistently brings life to the Islanders' attack is truly game-changing. 

Defensively, Schaefer has been better than just about any rookie D-man in recent memory.

His skating allows him to get into position defensively or recover when he decides to pinch and join the attack. His underlying numbers are stellar for any defender, let alone a first-year player.

There is legitimate conversation about him getting into the Norris Trophy conversation, so he's sure to stay atop the Calder race if he keeps this up.

BetMGM Calder Trophy odds: 1.42/-238

2. Ivan Demidov, RW, Montreal Canadiens

It's quite impressive that Demidov isn't the top rookie at the moment. His season has been nothing short of outstanding.

He's tied for the rookie lead in points in one fewer game played, and he's doing so as the offensive catalyst on the second line for the Montreal Canadiens, primarily playing away from top players Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. Demidov has been making magic with fellow rookie Oliver Kapanen, Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook throughout the season. 

Demidov might be the most purely skilled rookie in the class. His puckhandling and playmaking have come as advertised, and he shows a much more consistent effort in all three zones than most rookies.

The 19-year-old has been the kind of offensive catalyst Montreal has needed for years. His continued growth throughout the season will keep him right near the top of this list all year.

BetMGM Calder Trophy odds: 4.60/+360

Anaheim Ducks right wing Beckett Sennecke skates with the puck in the game against the Vegas Golden Knights at Honda Center on Nov. 22. (Corinne Votaw-Imagn Images)

3. Beckett Sennecke, RW, Anaheim Ducks

The NHL's other rookie scoring leader, with 20 points, has been better than advertised for the Anaheim Ducks. He's a big reason they're not just in a playoff spot but leading the Pacific Division.

Sennecke has added additional offensive depth, with high-end skill and an excellent dual-threat offensive game.

The 19-year-old has been a breath of fresh air, bringing some high-end puckhandling and dangles to a team built on playing hard, heavy hockey. If he continues to lead all rookies in scoring, it's going to be hard not to have him near the top of the Calder list.

BetMGM Calder Trophy odds: 17.00/+1600

4. Jesper Wallstedt, G, Minnesota Wild

With the opportunity to play in the NHL full-time this season, the 'Wall of St. Paul' has had some incredible performances as the Wild's backup to Filip Gustavsson.

In 10 games, he has eight wins and four shutouts. His two losses came in overtime.

Wallstedt, 23, has a .944 save percentage, which leads NHL goalies who played at least 10 games. If he gets a bit more of the start split with Gustavsson, he could find his way up the list because he's been unbeatable over the last month.

BetMGM Calder Trophy odds: 8.00/+700

5. Alexander Nikishin, D, Carolina Hurricanes

The unfortunate thing about the Calder Trophy is that so much of the award is based on counting stats. Nikishin's impact goes far beyond that, with incredible defensive acumen and a physical edge that most rookies don't come close to bringing.

The 24-year-old Russian is one of the older rookies in the league, but he's shown exactly why he was one of the KHL's best blueliners before this season. Nikishin is undeniably one of the top rookies in the class thanks to his defensive impact, which should earn him some love in the Calder conversation, albeit likely not enough to get a finalist's nod.

BetMGM Calder Trophy odds: 101.00/+10000

San Jose Sharks goaltender Yaroslav Askarov controls the puck against the Vancouver Canucks at SAP Center at San Jose on Nov. 28. (Eakin Howard-Imagn Images)

6. Yaroslav Askarov, G, San Jose Sharks

The Sharks traded for Askarov in hopes that he would become their goalie of the future. His performance this season proves just that.

Askarov plays with incredible athleticism. His ability to move around the net and read the play makes him not only effective but highly entertaining.

The 23-year-old is a bit of a throwback goalie. While his game has structure, his ability to play an unorthodox style when desperate means he is never out of the play. His .905 save percentage through 18 games is a great start to his rookie season.

BetMGM Calder Trophy odds: 56.00/+5500

7. Ryan Leonard, RW, Washington Capitals

The drop off from the top six to the next group is steep, but Leonard's impact has been quite impressive. The 20-year-old still has his bull-in-a-china-shop style of play and a very good shot. His blend of a physical edge and nifty skill has been a welcome addition to the Capitals' forward core.

BetMGM Calder Trophy odds: 101.00/+10000  

8. Oliver Kapanen, C, Montreal Canadiens

When Kapanen made the Canadiens' roster, he was expected to fill the role of fourth-line center. Because of injuries and strong play from Kapanen, he's played up and down the lineup.

Even before injuries hit the Habs' lineup, the Finnish center was playing as high as the second line alongside Demidov. Kapanen, 22, plays a smart, positional, two-way game, which has made it easy to trust him in just about any situation. His eight goals are tied with Schaefer for the most among rookies.

BetMGM Calder Trophy odds: 126.00/+12500

 

Detroit Red Wings forward Emmitt Finnie celebrates a goal against the Seattle Kraken at Little Caesars Arena on Nov. 18. (Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images)

9. Emmitt Finnie, LW, Detroit Red Wings

No one expected Finnie to make the Wings' roster, and now, he's been the team's most consistent linemate for Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond on the top line. His no-nonsense game, focused on going to the hard areas and making life easier for his teammates, has helped him succeed. He may not be putting up the kind of numbers the top rookies are, but he's finding a way to make an impact.

BetMGM Calder Trophy odds: 151.00/+15000      

10. Matthew Wood, W/C, Nashville Predators

Wood's performances have been somewhat inconsistent, but he's been a bright spot on a dim Nashville Predators squad. His size and finishing ability are notable. His production has slowed down considerably since his hat trick in mid-November, but the flashes have been there. Wood is an excellent complementary secondary scorer, but he'll need some help from the veterans around him.

BetMGM Calder Trophy odds: 101.00/+10000        

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Senators Recall Belleville Forward For Thursday's Home Date With New York Rangers

With a long seven-game road trip now behind them, the Ottawa Senators settle in for three games at home, starting Thursday night against the New York Rangers. The Sens posted a record of 4-3 on the trip, capping things off with a convincing 5-2 victory in Montreal on Tuesday night.

The Rangers also come in on a high from Tuesday night, defeating the Dallas Stars, one of the very best teams in the league, 3-2 in overtime at MSG. That's the same Stars team than thumped the Sens 6-1 on Sunday. 

Where Do They Stand?

Both teams enter the game tied with 30 points, but the Rangers (14-12-2) are a point behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for the final wild card spot. The Senators (13-9-4) are third in the Atlantic, one point behind the Montreal Canadiens (14-9-3), and four points behind the first-place Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Rangers come into this one with what we'll call road-ice advantage. They lead the league in road wins (11) and rank second in road points (23).

What's New?

The Senators are set for some more Halliday time. Lars Eller missed practice on Thursday morning and will not play. He's listed as day-to-day, but when asked for details, Travis Green "didn't want to get into it." Centre Stephen Halliday has been recalled from Belleville and will play in his fifth career NHL game. He has 19 points in 17 AHL games this season.

The Senators were also missing defenseman Artem Zub, whose issues is described as a nagging lower-body injury. So, Jordan Spence moved up to play with Jake Sanderson, while Dennis Gilbert skated alongside Nick Jensen. After being part of the Josh Norris deal in March, Gilbert left the Senators in free agency, then was reacquired last month for Max Guenette. This will be the debut of Gilbert 2.0.

Halliday was here in time for practice, so here's how the chess pieces were aligned.

Green also announced after practice that Cousins would play while Sens backup Leevi Merilainen will get the start in goal.

New York State of Mind

Here's how the Rangers lined things up at their Wednesday practice. After taking down Dallas, they changed nothing, and they're not likely to do so in Ottawa on Thursday.

Panarin-Zibanejad-Lafrenière
Brodzinski-Trocheck-Miller
Cuylle-Laba-Berard
Sheary-Carrick-Raddysh

Gavrikov-Schneider
Soucy-Borgen
Robertson-Morrow

Igor Shesterkin is expected to start in goal with Spencer Martin backing him up. Shesterkin is 5-1-2 against the Sens with a goals against average of 1.86 and a save percentage of .939.

Former Senators first-rounder Mika Zibanejad leads the Rangers in goals (9) and power play goals (6), and ranks third in points (20) behind Artem Panarin (28) and Adam Fox (26).

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News - Ottawa

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21 AHL Graduates Made NHL Debuts In November

21 AHL Graduates made their NHL debuts in November 2025, brining the total to 39 for the 2024-25 season.

The 21 players are: 

  • Taylor Makar (F) - Colorado Avalanche
  • Tristen Nielsen (F) - Colorado Avalanche
  • Jaroslav Chmelar (F) - New York Rangers
  • Nate Danielson (F) - Detroit Red Wings
  • Sergei Murashov (G) - Pittsburgh Penguins
  • Braedon Bowman (F) - Vegas Golden Knights
  • Hunter Skinner (D) - St. Louis Blues
  • Shane Lachance (F) - New Jersey Devils
  • Jared Davidson (F) - Montreal Canadiens
  • Jack Devine (F) - Florida Panthers
  • Oscar Fisker-Molgaard (F) - Seattle Kraken
  • Stephen Halliday (F) - Ottawa Senators
  • Connor Clattenburg (F) - Edmonton Oilers
  • Florian Xhekaj (F) - Montreal Canadiens
  • Luca Pinelli - Columbus Blue Jackets
  • Tristan Broz (F) - Pittsburgh Penguins
  • Elias Salomonsson (D) - Winnipeg Jets
  • Adam Engstrom (D) - Montreal Canadiens
  • Travis Mitchell (D) - New York Islanders
  • Thomas Milic (G) - Winnipeg Jets
  • Reid Schaefer (F) - Nashville Predators

Halliday, Clattenburg, Xhekaj, Fisker-Molgaard, Bowman, Danielson, and Nielsen all recorded their first career NHL points. 

Murashov made four appearances in net while Milic made his first career appearance. 

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NBA Minutes Report: How injuries to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Steph Curry impact playing time

Welcome to the Fantasy Basketball Minutes Report. Every week, I will review each team's updated minutes per game to see which players are seeing the court more or less than in previous weeks. With this information in hand, I'll try to discuss any relevant fantasy risers or fallers; players who we should be adding off waivers or removing from our teams.

The charts below are also great for exploring on your own. You can track the minutes over the last three, five, and ten games, and for the entire season, to see which trends stand out to you.

All of this data was made accessible by Kyle Bland, who is incredibly talented and also incredibly generous, so make sure to give him a follow to check out all of his baseball data as well.

NBA: Toronto Raptors at Charlotte Hornets
2025-26 Fantasy Basketball Top 200 Rankings: Nikola Jokić remains on top and Scottie Barnes shines
Check out the fantasy basketball rankings update as the season enters December.

Atlanta Hawks

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Jalen Johnson41.437.938
Onyeka Okongwu393433.4
Dyson Daniels38.83735.6
Nickeil Alexander-Walker36.835.535.7
Zaccharie Risacher28.328.325.8
Mouhamed Gueye22.821.918.9
Vít Krejčí21.52024.7
Luke Kennard17.516.716.9
Kristaps Porziņģis—21.828

Kristaps Porzingis has been battling an illness and has missed four straight games, so we have to hope everything is alright. Trae Young (knee) remains out and will be re-evaluated later this week. In his absence, Nickeil Alexander-Walker has been tremendous, averaging 23.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists over his last eight games. That's a top-50 value in fantasy basketball leagues. Jalen Johnson is dealing with a bit of a calf injury of his own, but he's been one of the best players in the league so far this year.

Boston Celtics

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Jaylen Brown3937.735.1
Derrick White3735.434.1
Payton Pritchard30.63232.5
Sam Hauser27.925.721.5
Jordan Walsh25.625.924.5
Neemias Queta24.918.623.7
Anfernee Simons22.820.522.1
Josh Minott18.618.916.3

The Celtics' rotation has been pretty consistent for much of the season. The end-of-rotation minutes between Neemias Queta and Josh Minott fluctuate a little bit, and only three players (Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard) have consistent fantasy value.

Brooklyn Nets

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Michael Porter Jr.34.832.433.8
Nic Claxton31.231.531.8
Noah Clowney28.531.931.4
Egor Dëmin25.827.525.4
Danny Wolf24.721.717.8
Ziaire Williams21.323.425.7
Tyrese Martin21.321.622
Terance Mann21.125.326.7
Ben Saraf20.820.820.8

Cam Thomas remains out until the middle of December, and Terance Mann has been dealing with a rib injury, which has caused him to miss the last two games. That has allowed Danny Wolf to enter the rotation, where he has fluctuated between good and bad games. Noah Clowney has been playing better of late, averaging 18.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.0 assists over his last seven games. Aside from his recent stretch and the consistent production from Michael Porter Jr. and Nic Claxton, there hasn't been much to be excited about for the Nets.

Charlotte Hornets

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Kon Knueppel35.233.434
Miles Bridges33.433.933.9
Sion James29.72726.3
LaMelo Ball29.428.828
Brandon Miller25.328.227.6
Moussa Diabaté24.221.322.4
Ryan Kalkbrenner24.12624.4
Tidjane Salaün20.320.320.3
Collin Sexton20.220.724.5

Brandon Miller has missed the last two games while managing the same shoulder injury, which has led to an uptick in minutes for Sion James and allowed for Tidjane Salaün to enter the rotation in the last two games. Collin Sexton has also returned but remains set around 20 minutes per game, which caps his fantasy upside. Ryan Kalkbrenner did leave Wednesday's game with an ankle injury, so that's a situation to monitor because Moussa Diabaté had actually been more impactful of late and could be an interesting player if he gets near 30 minutes a game.

Chicago Bulls

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Ayo Dosunmu36.132.830
Josh Giddey35.134.734.3
Matas Buzelis34.130.728.2
Nikola Vučević32.732.131.1
Tre Jones29.428.326.2
Julian Phillips24.416.413.7
Patrick Williams19.519.717.9
Kevin Huerter18.720.821.3
Coby White—32.230.7
Jalen Smith—21.919.1
Isaac Okoro——25.7

Kevin Huerter went from battling through a pelvic issue to being out with a hamstring injury. Isaac Okoro has also missed the last six games with a back injury, Jalen Smith has missed three games with a hamstring injury, Tre Jones missed a game with an ankle injury, and Coby White has missed the last three games with a calf injury. That has allowed Julian Phillips to enter the rotation and allowed Matas Buzelis to be counted on for a larger role. He's averaging 12.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.5 blocks over his last four games. All of Smith, White, Jones, and Okoro could be back this weekend, so this is a situation in flux.

Cleveland Cavaliers

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Donovan Mitchell35.935.334.6
Evan Mobley33.933.334.3
Jaylon Tyson32.630.629
Darius Garland30.331.229.9
De'Andre Hunter28.229.229.2
Lonzo Ball2424.924.3
Nae'Qwan Tomlin21.721.619.1
Dean Wade20.520.122.4
Jarrett Allen—2826.8
Larry Nance Jr.—1412.9
Sam Merrill——27.5

This Cavs team has been disjointed for much of the year. We know Max Strus has yet to play at all this season, and Darius Garland has been in and out of the lineup. Now, Jarrett Allen has been sidelined with a finger injury, Larry Nance Jr. will be out until the end of the month with a right calf strain, and Sam Merrill has missed eight games with a hand injury. Jaylon Tyson continues to remain a key part of the rotation, but also Garland, Donovan Mitchell, and Evan Mobley can be counted on for fantasy value.

Dallas Mavericks

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Naji Marshall3530.328.9
Cooper Flagg34.234.433.5
Anthony Davis30.329.629.6
Ryan Nembhard29.925.925.9
Max Christie27.227.827.7
Klay Thompson25.223.122.9
Dwight Powell18.313.312.3
Brandon Williams17.619.623.3
D'Angelo Russell16.714.418.7
P.J. Washington—34.833.7
Dereck Lively II——15.8

It seems that the Mavericks have found their point guard, with Ryan Nembhard averaging 17.0 points, 7.5 assists, and 2.8 rebounds over his last four games. That has also coincided with D'Angelo Russell continuing to see less playing time. Mebhard has been a top 60 player over that stretch and needs to be added in all fantasy leagues. We've also seen the Mavericks stop experimenting with Cooper Flagg as a point forward and start using him as a stretch forward next to Anthony Davis, which has been great for both of them in recent weeks. All of P.J. Washington, Dereck Lively II, and Daniel Gafford could return from their various injuries this weekend, which would mean less playing time for Naji Marshall and Dwight Powell.

Denver Nuggets

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Cameron Johnson3535.935.3
Nikola Jokić34.634.736
Jamal Murray3334.536.2
Peyton Watson32.83333.6
Tim Hardaway Jr.28.428.226.7
Spencer Jones27.824.320
Bruce Brown24.324.124.8
Jonas Valančiūnas12.412.712.3
Aaron Gordon——23.8

The Nuggets are dealing with injuries to Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun, which has shaken up the rotation a bit. Cameron Johnson and Peyton Watson are the big winners here, and I covered that in this video I recorded last week. Spencer Jones has left Wednesday's game with a knee injury, so that's a situation to monitor in the weeks ahead.

Detroit Pistons

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Cade Cunningham37.237.636.3
Duncan Robinson31.932.231.9
Jalen Duren29.129.929.4
Tobias Harris28.628.527.4
Ausar Thompson28.626.927.1
Caris LeVert23.923.821.4
Isaiah Stewart23.821.221.9
Daniss Jenkins21.816.320.1
Ronald Holland II19.316.218.2
Jaden Ivey15.914.514.2

The Pistons are at full strength now, which has led to an extended rotation that doesn't seem sustainable.I covered that in a video this week, but I'm concerned about what this has done to Ausar Thompson's fantasy value. He's barely been a top-160 player over the last two weeks.

Golden State Warriors

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Stephen Curry32.831.832.5
Draymond Green31.532.130.6
Brandin Podziemski29.627.328.2
Jimmy Butler III28.329.531.7
Will Richard24.320.819.7
Moses Moody23.925.928.4
Buddy Hield20.119.719.4
Quinten Post18.920.216.2
Gary Payton II18.818.816.6
Al Horford—18.122.3

Steph Curry will be out at least another week with a quad injury, which I discussed in a video this week. Brandin Podziemski will see the biggest uptick in minutes and usage, which has led to him being a top 100 player in the small sample size since Curry has been out. Jonathan Kuminga also returned, but he has been limited to about 16 minutes in his first two games, and we should see his minutes tick up as the days go on. Gary Payton Jr. has been good in his two games with Curry out, posting 16 points, eight rebounds, and four assists, and could be worth an add in fantasy formats.

Houston Rockets

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Amen Thompson34.93637
Kevin Durant343435.7
Jabari Smith Jr.33.133.633.5
Alperen Sengun32.133.134.9
Reed Sheppard27.429.328.5
Aaron Holiday23.225.319.1
Josh Okogie18.421.719.6
Steven Adams17.417.120.5
Tari Eason——15.7

With Tari Eason out until the middle of December and Steven Adams playing fewer minutes, it's been Reed Sheppard who has moved into a bigger role. He's also been really good over the last two weeks, posting 14.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.0 steals over his last six games, which has been good for top-75 value. He should be added in more leagues.

Indiana Pacers

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Pascal Siakam33.831.733.6
Andrew Nembhard30.831.932.7
Bennedict Mathurin29.331.231.2
Jarace Walker23.724.224.9
Jay Huff22.923.821.4
Ben Sheppard19.322.824.3
Isaiah Jackson18.318.619.6
T.J. McConnell15.818.217.6

T.J. McConnell is doing a lot in limited minutes so far. Over the last two weeks, he's averaging 11.7 points, 5.1 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game in seven games. That's been good for top-100 value. Jay Huff has also snuck into fringe fantasy consideration as the primary big man in Indiana and is averaging 3.1 blocks per game over his last seven games.

NBA: Minnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Lakers
Fantasy Basketball Week 2 Injury Report: Luka Dončić, Anthony Edwards headline the list of sidelined stars
The Pacers, Lakers and Thunder are among the teams with lengthy injury reports at the halfway point of Week 2.

Los Angeles Clippers

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Ivica Zubac33.835.533.9
Kawhi Leonard31.530.229.5
James Harden31.234.134.3
John Collins31.23229.8
Kris Dunn26.427.926.7
Nicolas Batum22.822.720.8
Kobe Sanders20.718.523
Cam Christie15.911.211.7
Bogdan Bogdanović——27.5
Brook Lopez——12

The Clippers have been a disaster, and things got even weirder when they sent Chris Paul home in the middle of the night on Wednesday. Right now, only James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, and Ivica Zubac are fantasy-relevant, and this whole team needs a reset in a bad way.

Los Angeles Lakers

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Austin Reaves38.137.935.8
Luka Dončić35.637.136.9
LeBron James32.63332.3
Rui Hachimura3130.631.4
Deandre Ayton30.426.228.6
Gabe Vincent22.821.320.4
Jake LaRavia18.317.121.6
Marcus Smart—18.825.6

Luka Dončić missed one game due to the birth of his child (congrats), and Marcus Smart has missed three games with a back injury, but things have remained remarkably consistent otherwise for the Lakers.

Memphis Grizzlies

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Jaren Jackson Jr.30.531.230.6
Zach Edey30.426.325.8
Cedric Coward29.429.827.5
Jaylen Wells28.730.427.7
Vince Williams Jr.25.627.126.5
Santi Aldama22.925.226.3
Cam Spencer22.523.123.6
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope1818.619.7
Ja Morant——6

Zach Edey has returned and been tremendous over his last seven games, posting 15.3 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks. He's a borderline top-50 player and is underappreciated, but not as underappreciated as his teammate, Vince Williams Jr., who has been filling in at point guard with Ja Morant out and has been a top-50 player over the last two weeks as well. The increased usage of those two and led to a smaller role for Cedric Coward, who remains talented but is no longer as involved in the offense.

Miami Heat

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Andrew Wiggins34.133.433.8
Norman Powell32.531.330.1
Tyler Herro31.631.331.3
Davion Mitchell31.230.929.9
Bam Adebayo31.130.230.2
Jaime Jaquez Jr.21.32327.8
Kel'el Ware21.124.626.2
Simone Fontecchio20.817.418.6
Pelle Larsson18.420.924.1

Norman Powell missed the last game with an ankle injury, but everything else has been status quo since Tyler Herro returned. As we expected, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kel'el Ware have seen their roles reduced. Even with Herro back, Andrew Wiggins has been arguably Miami's best player, averaging 18.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game, which has made him a top-50 player in fantasy basketball.

Milwaukee Bucks

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Ryan Rollins33.136.334.2
AJ Green31.333.932.4
Kevin Porter Jr.30.230.230.2
Gary Trent Jr.25.927.528.2
Jericho Sims23.922.117.6
Bobby Portis22.921.423.1
Myles Turner22.625.928.8
Kyle Kuzma21.224.224.6
Giannis Antetokounmpo17.920.421

We just found out on Thursday that Giannis Antetokounmpo will miss two to four weeks with a calf injury. It's a brutal blow for the Bucks, but we've seen what will happen when he's out. We know Kyle Kuzma and Kevin Porter Jr. are going to see an uptick in usage, while Bobby Portis will be a key member of the rotation, and Jericho Sims will likely play more minutes as a backup big man.

Minnesota Timberwolves

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Anthony Edwards40.240.238.1
Donte DiVincenzo33.83432.8
Julius Randle33.634.533.7
Rudy Gobert30.73332.3
Jaden McDaniels30.631.931.9
Naz Reid29.927.527
Mike Conley1617.118.6
Terrence Shannon Jr.12.412.312.3

I say this every week, but Minnesota has probably had the most consistent lineup and rotation of any team in basketball this season. Not much is changing here, except that Terrence Shannon Jr. is entering the fringe of the rotation.

New Orleans Pelicans

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Trey Murphy III40.938.535.3
Saddiq Bey35.235.830.3
Jeremiah Fears32.329.528.6
Zion Williamson30.730.930.3
Bryce McGowens28.523.320.2
Jose Alvarado28.128.624.6
Derik Queen27.624.526.9
Micah Peavy27.124.520.9
Jordan Hawkins22.218.718.1
Herbert Jones——29

Stop me if you've heard this before, but Zion Williamson is hurt and will be out at least three weeks with an adductor injury. I covered the repercussions of that in a video this week, but the injury is a big boost for Derik Queen and Saddiq Bey.

New York Knicks

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Jalen Brunson36.536.535.9
Josh Hart35.936.334.6
Miles McBride35.135.533.1
Karl-Anthony Towns34.534.334.7
Mikal Bridges34.334.736.2
Jordan Clarkson21.620.123.4
Mitchell Robinson16.417.217.5
Tyler Kolek14.113.614.5

The Knicks have moved Josh Hart back into the starting lineup, where he has thrived. With OG Anunoby nearing a return to action, the Knicks will have an interesting decision to make regarding their starting five. However, their rotation has remained consistent, and we know that everything runs through Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikail Bridges, and both Hart and Anunoby when they're healthy.

Oklahoma City Thunder

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander35.734.832.7
Jalen Williams32.132.132.1
Chet Holmgren30.629.328.9
Luguentz Dort29.127.626.8
Cason Wallace27.22827.6
Alex Caruso24.120.116.8
Ajay Mitchell21.822.524.9
Aaron Wiggins212121
Jaylin Williams18.816.617.2
Isaiah Joe18.818.522
Isaiah Hartenstein—25.125.4

The Thunder got Jalen Williams back this week, but lost Isaiah Hartenstein to an injury.I covered the Thunder rotation in a video this week, but I think we might not see how this rotation truly shakes out until next week when Hartenstein returns.

Orlando Magic

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Desmond Bane37.133.735.5
Franz Wagner34.731.733.8
Anthony Black3129.729.2
Jalen Suggs30.426.828.2
Wendell Carter Jr.30.428.230.1
Tristan da Silva22.421.626.8
Goga Bitadze17.117.716.9

Paolo Banchero could return this weekend, which would lead to fewer minutes for Anthony Black and less usage for Franz Wagner. However, the Magic have been playing really well of late, so we need to see how things shake out when Banchero is back in the fold.

Philadelphia 76ers

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Quentin Grimes44.737.835.3
Tyrese Maxey4138.239
Dominick Barlow30.128.226.4
Joel Embiid303030
Jared McCain27.526.619.1
VJ Edgecombe22.622.632.8
Paul George22.421.822.2
Adem Bona22.222.218.1
Trendon Watford—18.418.2
Kelly Oubre Jr.——22.9

The 76ers seem to be oscillating between missed games for Joel Embiid and Paul George as they look to keep the knees of both aging veterans healthy. VJ Edgecombe also missed three games with a calf injury and has had limited minutes in his return. Perhaps those minutes will tick up in the coming weeks, and it will be curious if those minutes come at the expense of Jared McCain.

Phoenix Suns

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Dillon Brooks33.232.932.6
Collin Gillespie31.931.830.7
Royce O'Neale30.431.230
Devin Booker27.932.132.9
Grayson Allen25.825.819
Oso Ighodaro24.822.118.8
Mark Williams23.625.325.7
Jordan Goodwin21.823.224.4
Ryan Dunn20.620.622.8

Devin Booker injured his groin this week and will be out up to a week.I recorded a video this week covering what the fallout of that would be, but it's good news for Collin Gillespie, who has already been a top-60 player over his last seven games and should continue to produce solid, across-the-board usage with Booker out.

Portland Trail Blazers

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Deni Avdija36.836.335.1
Toumani Camara36.334.134.1
Jerami Grant33.532.732.8
Kris Murray30.629.328.1
Shaedon Sharpe28.126.429
Donovan Clingan23.32525.7
Sidy Cissoko22.722.922.7
Caleb Love19.719.522.6
Robert Williams III17.917.916.7

Jrue Holiday remains out, and Scoot Henderson will be out til the end of December, so that has led to more minutes for guys like Caleb Love. Shaedon Sharpe also returned after missing four games and has averaged 15.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.3 steals in his four games back, good for top-115 value in fantasy leagues. Donovan Clingan has also spiked some usable games but has been splitting time with Robert Williams III, who is now battling a knee injury.

Sacramento Kings

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Keegan Murray39.540.238.6
DeMar DeRozan3132.331.6
Zach LaVine3131.330.9
Malik Monk2826.624.4
Russell Westbrook2728.128.6
Maxime Raynaud25.519.918.4
Precious Achiuwa20.524.121.8
Nique Clifford13.712.411.6
Keon Ellis15.918.517.5

Domantas Sabonis will be out for around a month with a knee injury, and I covered all the repercussions of that in a video here. Maxime Raynaud has seen the biggest minutes increase and just scored 25 points on 10-of-15 from the field on Wednesday, so he could be a name to watch. Keegan Murray has also been a top-60 fantasy player since he returned from injury and could be the most reliable option on this team while Sabonis is out.

San Antonio Spurs

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Harrison Barnes32.332.832.3
De'Aaron Fox30.831.932.5
Devin Vassell30.431.532.4
Julian Champagnie29.431.429.2
Luke Kornet26.727.225.6
Keldon Johnson26.324.825.3
Dylan Harper20.818.818.8
Jeremy Sochan16.814.717.4
Victor Wembanyama——38.2
Stephon Castle——26

Dylan Harper returned to a bench role, and Stephon Castle could return this weekend, so it will be interesting to see how the Spurs divide their minutes with all three guards healthy. Victor Wembanyama is still likely out for another two weeks, which means continued playing time for Luke Kornet. We've also seen Keldon Johnson provide solid value over the last two weeks, but you have to wonder if that would take a hit when Castle returns.

Toronto Raptors

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Scottie Barnes36.536.834.9
Brandon Ingram35.636.434.6
Immanuel Quickley35.534.833.4
Jakob Poeltl29.529.328.3
Ja'Kobe Walter22.124.619.8
Sandro Mamukelashvili21.720.520.2
Jamal Shead20.920.720.1
Gradey Dick17.614.116.2
RJ Barrett——28.8

RJ Barrett is still dealing with a knee injury, and Jakob Poeltl has been missing games here and there to help manage his back injury, but the rest of the rotation remains pretty consistent in terms of minutes and usage.

Utah Jazz

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Lauri Markkanen35.53535.9
Keyonte George30.633.734.2
Kyle Filipowski26.823.222.4
Ace Bailey25.527.525
Svi Mykhailiuk24.724.525
Kyle Anderson24.624.122.7
Jusuf Nurkić23.725.127.4
Brice Sensabaugh20.719.118.6
Isaiah Collier17.519.322

Jusuf Nurkić is dealing with a rib injury, which has led to a few more minutes for Kyle Filipowski. We also saw Kyle Anderson return, but he seems to be playing every other game at this point, which makes his role inconsistent at best.

Washington Wizards

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Alex Sarr32.732.831.8
Kyshawn George30.331.732.2
CJ McCollum29.730.631.4
Bilal Coulibaly29.429.528.8
Khris Middleton28.629.527.1
Marvin Bagley III27.827.821.8
Bub Carrington24.423.822.6
Justin Champagnie18.11914
Corey Kispert—30.721.1
Tre Johnson——20.9

Tre Johnson and Corey Kispert are still battling injuries they suffered last week, and now Bilal Coulibaly is going to miss "multiple weeks" with yet another injury. Ca, Whitmore, Bub Carrington, and Justin Champagnie should see more minutes with all three of Coulibaly, Johnson, and Kispert sidelined, but none of them have produced consistent value at this point in the season.

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(12-4-25) Blues-Bruins Gameday Lineup

The St. Louis Blues are running through the gamut of injuries at the moment and will have at least one new face in the lineup when they begin a three-game road trip against the Boston Bruins on Thursday (6 p.m.; FDSNMW, ESPN 101.1-FM).

But there will be some reinforcements also as Pius Suter, who has missed the past two games with a lower-body injury, will be back in the lineup and centering a line with Dylan Holloway and Jordan Kyrou, a line that got plenty of looks during training camp and preseason.

“Suter looks really good,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said after Wednesday’s practice. “He’ll be a player for us tomorrow.”

Also Robert Thomas, who did not skate during an optional practice or Wednesday’s full practice, will be in the lineup.

“Just maintenance,” Montgomery said after Wednesday’s practice. “He’ll be a player tomorrow.”

The Blues are down three forwards (Jimmy Snuggerud, left wrist; Alexey Toropchenko, leg burns; and Nathan Walker, upper-body injury), and they’ve had to recall Aleksanteri Kaskimaki, who will make his NHL debut Thursday, and Matt Luff

- - -

Montgomery will be facing the Bruins for the first time since he was fired there on Nov. 19, 2024.

The Blues faced the Bruins twice last season but they both were among the final games Montgomery coached Boston, on Nov. 12 in St. Louis (a 3-2 Bruins win, Montgomery’s last win there) and Nov. 16 in Boston, a 3-2 Blues win in overtime.

Montgomery, who was coach of the Bruins for two-plus seasons, was part of the greatest regular-season team in NHL history when the Bruins were 65-12-5 in his first season of 2022-23 but bounced in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs by the Florida Panthers in seven games. He was fired after going 8-9-3 to begin the 2024-25 season; the Blues hired him five days later on Nov. 24.

Montgomery was 130-41-23 in his time as Bruins coach.

“Personally and professionally, it was a great time for my family,” Montgomery said. “We really enjoyed Winchester (a suburb north of Boston) where we lived. Still have tremendous friends that live in the area. Professionally, it’s a bag of mixed emotions. Some great times and some very, very disappointing times.”

- - -

Per the team, Jordan Binnington will get the start in goal on Thursday, three days after being pulled from a 4-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks in which the goalie allowed two goals on five shots and had a verbal spat with Montgomery upon being pulled from the game.

Binnington addressed the situation on Tuesday and considers the situation done and will get a shot at redemption.

- - -

Blues Projected Lineup:

Brayden Schenn-Robert Thomas-Jake Neighbours

Dylan Holloway-Pius Suter-Jordan Kyrou

Aleksanteri Kaskimaki-Dalibor Dvorsky-Pavel Buchnevich

Mathieu Joseph-Oskar Sundqvist-Nick Bjugstad

Philip Broberg-Colton Parayko

Tyler Tucker-Justin Faulk

Cam Fowler-Logan Mailloux

Jordan Binnington will start in goal; Joel Hofer will be the backup.

Healthy scratches include Matthew Kessel and Matt Luff. Jimmy Snuggerud (wrist), Alexey Toropchenko (leg burns) and Nathan Walker (upper body) are all out long-term.

- - -

Bruins Projected Lineup:

Alex Steeves-Elias Lindholm-Morgan Geekie

Casey Mittelstadt-Pavel Zacha-Viktor Arvidsson

Tanner Jeannot-Fraser Minten-Mark Kastelic

Marat Khusnutdinov-Sean Kuraly-Michael Eyssimont

Hampus Lindholm-Andrew Peeke

Nikita Zadorov-Jonathan Aspirot

Mason Lohrei-Victor Soderstrom

Joonas Korpisalo will start in goal; Jeremy Swayman will be the backup.

The healthy scratch includes Jeffrey Viel. David Pastrnak (undisclosed), Charlie McAvoy (upper body), Jordan Harris (ankle), Matej Blumel (lower body), Henri Jokiharju (undisclosed) and Michael Callahan (lower body) are all out.

Blues Recall Another Forward From SpringfieldBlues Recall Another Forward From SpringfieldMatt Luff called up for reinforcements amidst injuries to Snuggerud, Toropchenko, Walker up frontImage

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Joe Root is finally a wizard in Aus after Harry Brook’s Bazball scarecrow act | Barney Ronay

A tale of two Yorkshiremen, one keeping England in the series, the other batting without a brain

In the end even the celebration was perfect, out there under that strange deep-blue southern sky, in the frenzy of the game-state – manic Baz energy, England’s lower order scything away death cult-style at the other end, the way even the grass seems lacquered and glazed by the lights.

So yeah. All that stuff. In the middle of this Joe Root guided the ball away through fine leg to complete his first Test hundred in Australia, then marked it with a gentle smile and a wave of the bat, no fist-punching, no monkeys off backs, no angsty and pointed messaging.

Continue reading...
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Game Day: Everything you need to know ahead of Nashville Predators game at Florida Panthers

Can the Nashville Predators rattle off back-to-back wins for just the third time this season? 

That is the task at hand as they travel to Sunrise to face the Florida Panthers on Thursday at 6 p.m. CST. 

The Predators have seemingly begun to turn things around, winning three of their last four, including a 5-1 victory over the Calgary Flames at home on Tuesday. However, Nashville has not defeated Florida since the 2023-24 season. 

Here is everything you need to know ahead of tonight's game. 

Game info

Who: Nashville Predators (9-13-4, 8th Central) at Florida Panthers (12-12-1, 8th Atlantic)

When: 6 p.m. CST 

Where: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, Florida 

TV: FanDuel Sports Network South 

Radio: 102.5 The Game 

Line (via BetMGM): Predators (+1.5) Panthers (-1.5). Over/under 6 (-115/-105)

Future on display 

A pair of Predators rookies has milestone performances in the win over the Flames. In just his third NHL game, Reid Schaefer scored his first career goal and recorded his first career fight. 

Not long after that, after 23 games played, Ozzy Weisblatt scored his first career goal and recorded the second fight of his career. After scoring the goal, Weisblatt paid homage to his late brother, Orca, by pointing to the sky in his celebration. 

Weisblatt and Schaefer aren't the only rookies to have scored the first goals of their careers this season. Matthew Wood netted his first NHL goal against the Flyers on Oct. 30. He has 11 points (seven goals, four assists) on the season. 

Stammer beginning to heat up 

Nov 28, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Nashville Predators center Steven Stamkos (91) controls the puck against Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Wyatt Kaiser (44) during the first period at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

After a slow start to the season, Steven Stamkos is slowly beginning to find his mojo. 

He has five points in the last four games, which included multi-point performances in wins over the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks. Stamkos has not had back-to-back multi-point performances since March 8. 

Stamkos' goal against the Flames was also the 1200th point of his career, which averages out to about a point per game over the 1190 games he's played in his 18 seasons in the league. 

Seeing Stamkos beginning to find a rhythm is huge, as it could be the shove the Predators need to finally get their offense going. He had seven points through 13 games played in November, but four of those points have come in the last nine days. 

Cat scratched 

Nov 24, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Florida Panthers and Nashville Predators both fight during the third period at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

The Predators have not beaten the Panthers in 623 days, a 3-0 victory that extended Nashville's point streak to 16 games. It was a very different time. 

Their last meeting, an 8-3 loss on Nov. 24 in Nashville, was the Predators' worst loss of the season and the biggest blowout since losing to the New Jersey Devils, 5-0, on Feb. 23, 2025. 

It was a game with a lot of offense, seeing six combined goals in the first period, that the Predators lost control of. The Panthers took a 5-2 lead into the third period before Nick Blankenburg scored in the first two and a half minutes to make it a two-goal game.

The wheels fell off for Nashville as Florida scored three unanswered goals to push the game way out of reach. Six Panthers players had two goals or more. 

Things have not been ideal for the defending Stanley Cup champions either, as they have lost three straight and are in last place in the Atlantic Division. However, nine points separate first from last place in the Atlantic and Florida is only six points out of a Wild Card spot. 

Meanwhile, Nashville is 22 points behind Central Division leader, Colorado, and is seven points outside of a Wild Card spot. 

Inactive players 

Nashville: Cole Smith (upper body, injured reserve), Zach L'Heureux (lower body, injured reserve), Nick Perbix (upper body, day-to-day), Justin Barron (lower body, day-to-day), Michael McCarron (lower body, day-to-day) 

Florida: Matthew Tkachuk (groin, injured reserve), Aleksander Barkov (knee, injured reserve), Dmitry Kulikov (upper body, injured reserve), Jonah Gadjovich (upper body, injured reserve), Eetu Luostarinen (lower body, week to week), Tomas Nosek (knee, injured reserve), Cole Schwindt (arm, injured reserve)