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Knicks, Raptors mutually agree to dismiss 2023 lawsuit

The New York Knicks and Toronto Raptors have mutually and voluntarily decided to dismiss a lawsuit filed in 2023, which most people around the league thought should never have been filed, a story broken by Baxter Holmes for ESPN. A spokesperson for the teams gave ESPN this statement:

"The Knicks and [Raptors owner] Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment withdrew their respective claims and the matter is resolved. The Parties are focused on the future."

The lawsuit was over something seen as commonplace in NBA circles (sources who had been in similar jobs told NBC Sports at the time that this was no big deal and the suit seemed "very James Dolan"). New York was seeking $10 million in damages from Toronto for the alleged "theft of trade secrets" when the Raptors hired away New York's director of video/analytics/and a player development assistant coach, Ikechukwu Azotam. In the suit, the Knicks alleged that the Raptors organization — at the behest of rookie head coach Darko Rajakovic — took more than 3,000 confidential, proprietary files, including video scouting files and play frequency numbers. Part of the Knicks' argument was that Rajakovic didn't have the depth of background to build a team structure, so he stole that from New York. That despite the fact that Rajakovic had been a legendary head coach in Serbia, was head coach of the Tulsa 66ers of the G-League, and was an assistant known for player development with the Thunder, Suns and Grizzlies.

Toronto's first counterargument was that this had to be decided by the NBA league office and commissioner Adam Silver, not the courts. Toronto reached out to the NBA's general council and pointed out that the NBA's constitution (Article 24, bylaw "D") states: "The Commissioner shall have exclusive, full, complete, and final jurisdiction of any dispute involving two (2) or more Members of the Association." Dolan, who has had a long-running feud with Silver, did not feel the commissioner would be an unbiased arbiter of the situation.

In the end, both sides just decided to drop the issue and move on.

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Mike Dunleavy lauds Brandin Podziemski's goal to become Warriors cornerstone

Mike Dunleavy lauds Brandin Podziemski's goal to become Warriors cornerstone originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Steph Curry has been the face of the Warriors for the better part of two decades, but who’s next in line to carry that burden once the two-time NBA MVP decides to hang it up?

Brandin Podziemski recently stated his desire to earn that prestigious role, displaying a level of ambition that is appreciated by general manager Mike Dunleavy.

Dunleavy wouldn’t make a hard commitment to handing the keys of the franchise over to Podziemski, opting to see how the cards unfold when the time comes, as he explained further during an interview on 95.7 The Game’s “Steiny & Guru” Friday.

“I think we like his ambition overall. That’s part of the reason that makes him good,” Dunleavy told Matt Steinmentz and Daryl Johnson. “He believes in himself, he goes out there and shows it every night. So, on the whole, I like to see that. As far as the future goes, it’s so hard to predict. I think from his standpoint or any of our young players’ standpoint, who knows how good these guys are going to be … we’ll see where the chips fall.

“We love having BP. He has been an integral part of our team the last couple years, as has some of the young guys we drafted in the first round, second round, picked up, undrafted, whatever it may be. We feel good about our young group. But who knows five years from now what any of this is going to look like. So, we just want to focus on this year, putting together the best team we can do and we’ll kind of cross the bridge of everything else as it goes.”

Podziemski voiced his lofty goal during an exclusive interview with The Athletic’s Nick Friedell, detailing how warning that trust goes beyond just his skill on the court.

“When they leave this thing, they got to leave it with somebody,” Podziemski told Friedell. “How can I have their trust? And they can go to [owner] Joe [Lacob] and [general manager] Mike [Dunleavy] and be like, “Hey, we want to leave it with him. He’s going to continue what we’re leaving.

“So, I think about that all time, and I set myself up in that position to have that. And there’s a lot of other things than just skill that you need to be in that position.”

Podziemski is entering his third NBA season after being selected No. 19 overall in the 2023 draft, earning All-Rookie honors after a standout campaign in his first year as a professional.

The 22-year-old guard followed that up with another solid performance in his sophomore season, posting 11.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game in 64 appearances.

While Podziemski certainly has displayed the desired traits you’d seek in a leader, his long-term role will be sorted out when the time comes. For now, his, and every member of Golden State’s focus remains putting the Warriors in the best position possible to pursue a championship this season.

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Why Easton Cowan Will Not Play For Maple Leafs Against Red Wings, Lineups And Where To Watch

DETROIT — Easton Cowan’s NHL debut will have to wait a little bit longer.

The Toronto Maple Leafs will stick with the same lineup they used in their season opener as they visit the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesar's Arena. Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube confirmed there would be no changes, explaining that the recent win was a factor in his decision.

“Yeah, I think the win, and I just didn't feel there was any need to make a change tonight in the lineup,” Berube said.

Cowan, along with Sammy Blais and defenseman Philippe Myers, were on the ice late doing extra work.

Toronto’s first-round draft pick (28th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft. Cowan has been part of the club’s 23-man roster since the second day of the NHL season, but there doesn't appear to be a set timeline for when the forward prospect will make his NHL debut.

'We'll See What Happens': Could Easton Cowan Make His NHL Debut Against Red Wings?'We'll See What Happens': Could Easton Cowan Make His NHL Debut Against Red Wings?Easton Cowan is staying patient for his NHL debut.

Cowan is eligible to be sent up and down at will to the Toronto Marlies, who played their season-opening game against the Rochester Americans on Friday. Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving indicated earlier in the week that he “wants him playing” if he's going to be with the team.

“He's close. He's got a great attitude, he works hard, he had a good practice today,” Berube said of Cowan before the team arrived in Detroit.

Why Easton Cowan Won't Be In The Maple Leafs' Home-Opening Lineup Vs. CanadiensWhy Easton Cowan Won't Be In The Maple Leafs' Home-Opening Lineup Vs. CanadiensDespite Easton Cowan being on the ice for the Toronto Maple Leafs' optional morning skate on Wednesday morning, he will not be in the lineup for the home opener against the Montreal Canadiens.

The Leafs will visit a Red Wings team that fell 5-1 to the Montreal Canadiens in their season opener. Detroit activated former Leafs forward James van Riemsdyk to their roster, but he will not be in the lineup. Cam Talbot will start in goal for the Red Wings after John Gibson opened the season in goal.

Leafs projected lineup

The Leafs will go with the same forward and defense group from the previous game

Red Wings projected lineup

In addition to Detroit changing up their goaltender, Jacob Bernard-Docker will replace Travis Hamonic and Jacob Ner

Where To Watch 📺

  • Canada: Viewers will be able to watch the game on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.
  • Detroit Area: Viewers can watch the game on the FanDuel Sports Network.
  • Rest of the United States: The game will stream on ESPN+.
  • Rest of the World: The game will stream on DAZN.

Latest stories:

Maple Leafs Challenge Matias Maccelli To Play With More Confidence

'We'll See What Happens': Could Easton Cowan Make His NHL Debut Against Red Wings?

Fraser Minten Plays Overtime Hero As Former Maple Leafs Prospects Make Impact On New NHL Clubs

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Mike Dunleavy acknowledges uncertainty of Steve Kerr's Warriors coaching future

Mike Dunleavy acknowledges uncertainty of Steve Kerr's Warriors coaching future originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors are focused on the present, but general manager Mike Dunleavy can’t ignore the uncertainty looming with Steve Kerr’s future as coach.

Dunleavy joined 95.7 The Game’s “Steiny & Guru” on Friday and discussed where things stand with Kerr as he enters the final year of a two-year contract he signed in February 2024.

“Yeah, I mean, I guess technically there is [uncertainty],” Dunleavy said. “This isn’t really a regular situation with a head coach where he’s in the last year of his deal. We know what it is with Steve. He’s been here a long time. He’s been an amazing part of this franchise, and as far as I’m concerned, can stay as long as he wants.

“We’re going to give him the grace of the season to go through it, or at least some of it, to see and feel where he’s at mentally and physically.”

With two years left on Steph Curry’s contract, two left on Draymond Green’s with a player option in the final year and Jimmy Butler also signed through the 2026-27 NBA season, it only feels right that Kerr would end his Warriors tenure with the guys he started it with.

When asked about it last week, Kerr told reporters he didn’t want to address it at that point because he wants to see how he feels in six months, adding that he’s “very comfortable” just going into the season with one year left on his deal.

“I get how maybe it doesn’t line up,” Dunleavy said, “but it’s hard to see Steve moving on, or to see Steph finish his career without Steve on the sidelines. I think it’ll all work out, but we’re not going to jump into anything. We’re going to go on Steve’s terms.

“And right now, he just wants to take it and see how the season goes. And no problem on our end.”

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

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Steve Kerr throws support behind Erik Spoelstra as Team USA coach, 'Spo is a perfect choice'

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra is expected to be named head coach of USA Basketball’s men’s team for the next cycle, including the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

He has the backing of the last guy to have the job, Warriors coach Steve Kerr.

"I mean, Spo is incredible. He's a phenomenal coach," Kerr said after a Warriors practice Friday. "And, just watching him the last two summers and getting to know him up close, rather than just from afar, where I've admired him for so long, I got a first-hand glimpse at what a great coach he is."

Spoelstra was one of the assistant coaches on Kerr's staff for the Paris Olympics, where Team USA won its fifth consecutive gold medal. That staff was also together for the World Cup in the Philippines the year before. Kerr said being an assistant coach for Team USA matters before moving over to the big chair.

"I think the assistant coaching is almost a prerequisite for coaching USA," Kerr said. "It's really a different job, and now he has that experience, just like I did with [Gregg Popovich], in the World Cup in '19 and the Olympics in '21.

"Spo is a perfect choice. He's gonna be great."

Spoelstra is the longest-tenured coach in the NBA, entering his 18th season, and has led the Heat to six NBA Finals appearances, winning two (2012 and 2013). In a sign of how respected he is around the league, a poll of NBA GMs voted him the "best coach in the NBA" as well as the best manager and motivator of players.

Spoelstra's contract with USA Basketball is not finalized and has to be approved by the organization's board of directors, but that is all expected to be wrapped up before the end of the month.

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Game Day: Senators Face A Banged-Up But Still Excellent Florida Panther Team

As the Ottawa Senators finish the second part of their season-opening two-game visit to the Sunshine State, they'll need to show up on time. The Sens fell behind 2-0 and 3-1 in Tampa Bay on Thursday night, then battled back for a 5-4 victory. They won't get away with that very often, particularly against the NHL's top teams.

On Saturday night in Sunrise, Florida, they'll get the very best.

They'll face the Florida Panthers, who have their eye on a third straight NHL title this season and a sweep of their season-opening homestand. A pair of non-playoff teams from last year gave the Panthers all they could handle this week. Florida beat the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 in their first game and then the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday, 2-1.

Most of the early-season news and previews on the Panthers are quick to mention the injuries to superstar forwards Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk. After a collision in the Flyers' game, defenseman Dmitry Kulikov was also placed on IR on Friday, which means Uvis Balinskis will likely see his first action of the season on Saturday. But he's no rookie. The guy played 76 games last season.

That kind of depth is part of the reason the Panthers have won two Cups. Their so-called lower-end players have already stepped up in their first two wins, with names like Greer, Samoskevich, and Rodrigues leading the team in scoring.

According to THN Florida's David Dwork, here are the Panthers' projected lines and pairings for Saturday’s showdown with the Sens. While the loss of some key players hurts the group, it's still pretty impressive, and loaded to thrive in any style of game you'd like to play. 

Forwards:
Carter Verhaeghe – Sam Bennett – Brad Marchand
Eetu Luostarinen – Anton Lundell – Sam Reinhart
Mackie Samoskevich – Evan Rodrigues – Jesper Boqvist
A.J. Greer – Luke Kunin – Jonah Gadjovich

Defense:
Gus Forsling – Aaron Ekblad
Niko Mikkola – Seth Jones
Uvis Balinskis – Jeff Petry

Sergei Bobrovsky has started the first two games for the Panthers, so they could have opted to give the net to his new backup, Daniil Tarasov, the former Columbus Blue Jacket. But head coach Paul Maurice announced this morning that Bobrovsky will start for the third straight game.

More Sens Headlines From The Hockey News Ottawa:
Pinto Scores Twice As Ottawa Senators Win Season Opener 5-4 in Tampa Bay
Jordan Spence: A Healthy Scratch For Ottawa Senators Season Opener
Travis Green Says Senators Are 'Headed In the Right Direction'
Senators Send Yakemchuk To The Minors, Place Batherson And Kleven On IR
Sens Land A True NHL Heavyweight In A Deal With The Devils
More Senators Broadcast Changes: Marc Methot Out At TSN

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Four Players Who Impressed In Their Debut With Their New Team

The 2025-26 season is underway, and each team has played at least once. The new faces of each team have made their debuts for the club, and some deserve to be highlighted as they stand out from the bunch.

Here are four players who had notable performances in their debut for their team.

Arturs Silovs, G, Pittsburgh Penguins

Arturs Silovs was acquired by the Pittsburgh Penguins from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for Chase Stillman and a 2027 fourth-round pick. So far, after Silovs’ debut for the Penguins, it seems like GM Kyle Dubas won that trade.

Silovs could not have had a better start to his Pittsburgh career as he posted a shutout in the season opener against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Despite the 24-year-old goaltender playing less than 20 games heading into this season, he played a perfect game in his Penguins debut.

K’Andre Miller, D, Carolina Hurricanes

K’Andre Miller made his debut for the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday and really put his imprint on that game. In a 6-3 win over the New Jersey Devils, Miller scored two goals from the back end, including a power-play marker.

Miller joined the Hurricanes in the off-season when he was acquired for defenseman Scott Morrow, a 2026 second-round pick and a conditional 1st-round pick in 2026 or 2027. After one game with the Canes, Miller seems to be in a great spot to surpass his career-high nine goals in a season.

Miller Time: K'Andre Miller Dazzles In Carolina Hurricanes DebutMiller Time: K'Andre Miller Dazzles In Carolina Hurricanes DebutThe Carolina Hurricanes knew they had to make a bold move if they wanted to improve their blueline this past offseason after back-to-back years of top-four departures.

Justin Brazeau, RW, Pittsburgh Penguins

Justin Brazeau is another new member of the Penguins who has had a great start to the season. In his debut for Pittsburgh, he scored two goals in their 3-0 victory over the Rangers. 

Brazeau scored the game-winning goal and an empty-net goal in that contest. Furthermore, he scored another game-winning tally in the following game against the New York Islanders.

His three goals in two games come after a short stint with the Minnesota Wild. The undrafted right winger was acquired by the Wild ahead of the trade deadline, and he scored one goal in 19 appearances.

The Penguins' coaching staff and front office must be pleased with the early success that Brazeau has had.

Mitch Marner, RW, Vegas Golden Knights

Everyone knows how Mitch Marner ended up on the Vegas Golden Knights, but he’s made an immediate impact since arriving.

The Golden Knights took on the Los Angeles Kings in their regular-season and home opener. Marner finished the game with 22:48 of ice time, and of course, was on the score sheet.

Marner’s chemistry with Jack Eichel this season is evident, like it was in pre-season. The former Toronto Maple Leaf provided a primary assist for Eichel’s first goal of the season. Not long after that goal, Marner and Eichel combined to set up Ivan Barbashev to make it 5-3 for Vegas.

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Former Leafs, Avs Goalie Signs In Germany

Canadian goaltender Antoine Bibeau, 31, has signed a one-year contract with Red Bull Munich, the German DEL club announced recently.

“I’m very happy to now be part of the Red Bull organization in Munich,” said Bibeau. “I’ve already played in Europe for the past two seasons, where my family and I have really enjoyed it. When the offer from the Red Bulls came, my family and I quickly agreed that this was a perfect fit for everyone. My goal is quick and simple: Whenever I get the chance to play, I want to help my team win games.”

“Antoine is an internationally experienced goalie who has proven himself in a wide variety of roles – he brings calmness, consistency, and leadership qualities to a key position,” said Christian Winkler, the managing director of Red Bull Ice Hockey – a corporation that operates the Munich team and Red Bull Salzburg in the Austrian-based ICEHL.

“We are very pleased that we were able to convince him to play for our club in the future. With him, our goalie quartet is now complete – which this DEL schedule in an Olympic season demands.”

In addition to Bibeau, Munich has under contract German national team goalie Mathias Niederberger, Simon Wolff and Matthias Bittner.

Through nine games this season, Munich sits ninth in the 14-team DEL with four wins and five losses. The team’s leading scorer is Taro Hirose with 11 points. Other ex-NHLers on the roster include forwards Tobias Rieder and Adam Brooks and defenseman Ryan Murphy and Dillon Heatherington.

Ex-Canuck Heads To GermanyEx-Canuck Heads To Germany Canadian defenseman Akito Hirose, 26, has signed a one-year contract with the Fischtown Pinguins, a DEL club based in Bremerhaven, Germany.

Bibeau was born in Victoriaville, Que. and played junior hockey in the QMJHL for the Lewiston MAINEiancs, Prince Edward Island Rockets, Charlottetown Islanders and Val-d’Or Foreurs.

Bibeau was selected in the sixth round, 172nd overall, by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. He played in the Toronto organization from 2014 to 2017, mostly for the AHL Marlies but he played two NHL games for the Leafs in 2016-17, recording a win and a loss, and a 1.99 goals-against average.

Bibeau appeared in two more NHL games for the Colorado Avalanche in 2019-20. He also played in the organizations of the San Jose Sharks, Seattle Kraken, Carolina Hurricanes and Ottawa Senators.

Bibeau spent the 2023-24 season playing for AIK Stockholm in Sweden’s second-tier HockeyAllsvenskan, and last season for KooKoo Kouvola in Finland’s top-tier Liiga.

Leafs Prospect Impresses in SwedenLeafs Prospect Impresses in SwedenToronto Maple Leafs prospect Tinus Luc Koblar made his professional debut for Leksand on Thursday night. The young forward quickly looked at home in the SHL, scoring his first goal already in the opening period.
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Red Wings Look to Bounce Back as Home Underdogs in Rivalry Showdown with Maple Leafs

The Detroit Red Wings look for bounce back performance when hosting one of their biggest rivals in the Toronto Maple Leafs in a primetime showdown. 

It was a season opener to forget for the Red Wings as they wanted to make it as memorable as possible for the start of the franchise's 100th season but it quickly soured late in the first period. After defensive lapses led to an early 3-1 deficit heading into the second, the Wings couldn't recover as they eventually lost 5-1 while debuting their new Centennial uniforms.

Detroit looks to bounce back against a familar foe in Toronto. The Red Wings lost game 82 of the 2024-25 season in tragic fashion when blowing a 3-1 lead to the Maple Leafs entering the third period before losing 4-3 in overtime. They look to exact revenge on Saturday as well as make up for their lackluster start to the season. 

It'll be their 688th meeting all-time with the Buds holding the upper hand historically with a 303-285-93-6 record. The rivalry has been neck-and-neck lately, with each team taking three wins in their last six matchups. Saturday night’s showdown will break the deadlock and show who truly owns this series.

Alex DeBrincat Reflects on Missed Chances in Red Wings' Loss to CanadiensAlex DeBrincat Reflects on Missed Chances in Red Wings' Loss to CanadiensThe ultimate fate of an NHL team during any given contest can sometimes come down to a series of bounces and what some fans would simply refer to as good or bad luck. 

Lineup Storylines

The Red Wings' trio of rookies (Emmitt Finnie, Michael Brandsegg-Nygård and Axel Sandin-Pellikka) held their own in their NHL debuts, avoiding costly mistakes, though their overall impact was more limited than Detroit bench boss Todd McLellan had hope. Brandsegg-Nygård saw his chances including a low slot chance that saw Montreal goaltender Jakub Dobes turn the puck away. 

Sandin-Pellikka played heavy minutes in the season opener (3rd-most on the team at 22:34) while Finnie wasn't given many opportunities to show what he has to offer as his linemates in captain Dylan Larkin and star winger Lucas Raymond spent a sizeable amount of time working the special teams. The trio will look to have a more impactful game on a big stage like a Saturday night primetime game against a fierce original six rival. 

Rookie Trio Shows Promise Despite Tough Debuts as Red Wings Drop Season Opener to CanadiensRookie Trio Shows Promise Despite Tough Debuts as Red Wings Drop Season Opener to CanadiensBreaking down how Detroit’s trio of rookies handled their first NHL test against Montreal in a challenging season-opening loss.

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

This will be Detroit's first look at a Toronto team without Mitch Marner as the 28-year-old superstar winger left for the Vegas Golden Knights in free agency, giving the Maple Leafs more cap space to add more players. In the process, the Buds added Utah Mammoth winger Matias Maccelli to take over Marner's role on the top line while lower in the lineup they added Vancouver Canucks winger Dakota Joshua and got back from the Golden Knights, Nick Roy as part of a sign-and-trade for Marner. 

Player & Betting Trends (Presented By BetMGM)

DET ML (+118) | TOR ML (-142)

DET +1.5 (-200) | TOR -1.5 (+165)

O/U 6.0 Goals

When the Red Wings and Maple Leafs face off it usually means fireworks as the two clubs have totaled six or more goals in 16 of their last 23 matchups. That means relying on certain players to find the back of the net and for the Red Wings, there’s no better bet than their top scorer, Alex DeBrincat. After generating several high-danger chances in the season opener, the Michigan native looks poised for a breakout performance. The 27-year-old also has a strong track record against the Maple Leafs, posting three goals and three assists for six points over his last seven meetings with Toronto.

On the Maple Leafs’ side, their key forwards all made an impact in the opener, highlighted by William Nylander’s standout performance with a goal and two assists for a three-point night. This time, though, it could be the captain’s turn to take over. Auston Matthews has scored in three straight games against the Red Wings and has dominated this matchup historically, tallying 16 goals and 15 assists for 31 points in his last 23 contests versus Detroit.

Expect DeBrincat To Lead Red Wings in Bounce-Back Win Over Matthews, Maple LeafsExpect DeBrincat To Lead Red Wings in Bounce-Back Win Over Matthews, Maple LeafsDetroit's Alex DeBrincat and Toronto's Auston Matthews headline Best Bets options for Saturday's marquee matchup between the Red Wings and Leafs.

Goalie Matchup

Detroit: Cam Talbot (VS TOR: 6-5-2 record, 2.83 GAA, .901 SV% in 15 Games)

Toronto: Anthony Stolarz (VS DET: 2-0-0 record, One Goal Allowed - 0.49 GAA, .980 SV%, One Shutout in 2 Games)

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