With November’s
international tournaments in the books, it’s time to look back at some
early-season draft risers. Jacob Smeds takes a closer look at three
draft-eligible prospects who have boosted their stock during the first part of
the season, as well as two players already making a name for themselves ahead
of the 2027 NHL Draft.
Alexander Command (C), 2026 NHL Draft Alexander Command
put together an impressive performance for Sweden at the Five Nations, adding
another layer to his already rising draft stock. Since the early stages of the
U20 Nationell season, he’s stood out for his powerful skating and confident puck
handling. Command moves through the neutral zone with ease, gliding past
opponents with a stride that looks both smooth and deliberate. What truly
separates him from most Swedish forwards is the blend of skill and grit in his
game. He’s unafraid to battle along the boards or drive to the net, combining
finesse with a competitive edge that makes him a player to watch.
So far, Command
has produced an impressive 11 goals and 22 points through 14 games in Sweden’s
top junior league. The production continued at the international level, where
he contributed in all four games for Sweden’s U18 team this past week. Command
was a somewhat surprising omission from Sweden’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup roster
earlier this year, though that was likely due to an untimely illness over the
summer. I would be very surprised if he isn’t a regular on the national team
for the rest of the season.
Elton Hermansson (RW), 2026 NHL Draft Elton
Hermansson’s draft stock was already high before the season began, but his play
in Sweden’s second-tier league earns him a spot on this list. Beyond his
brilliant offensive game, he has shown a surprising level of responsibility in
his defensive play. Hermansson may never be a Selke candidate, but handling
professional competition requires more two-way awareness than junior hockey
does, and he has shown real progress in that area during the first few months
of the season.
Hermansson’s
offensive game remains brilliant. At this stage, it is mostly about refining
his decision-making in the offensive zone and further polishing the raw diamond
that he is.
Theodor Knights
(D), 2026 NHL Draft Theodor Knights
has a clear profile as a reliable shut-down defenseman, filling a role that few
other Swedish prospects occupy. What stands out most about Knights is his
ability to blend physical play with strong skating. That combination allows him
to time his hits perfectly in the defensive zone and effectively break up
opposing rushes. Knights also has the right mentality, frequently standing up
for himself and his teammates when things get heated around his own net.
With his 6-foot-4
frame and defined playing style, he’s an easy player for NHL teams to project.
It’s not uncommon to see players like Knights go as early as the second round
or even late in the first. With that in mind, I don’t think we’ll have to wait long
to hear his name called at the draft.
Olle Karlsson (C/RW), 2027 NHL Draft Olle Karlsson
won’t be draft eligible until 2027, but he showed at the Five Nations that he’s
a name to watch. Karlsson played on Sweden’s fourth line in a shutdown role,
where he found great success. His line with Adam Andersson and Ludvig Andersson
earned the coaches’ trust in key defensive situations and delivered with
confidence. Karlsson was most effective as the first forward on the forecheck,
repeatedly forcing turnovers and keeping the puck in the offensive zone. His
strong skating ability was the most standout aspect of his game and played a
major role in that success.
Hampus Zirath (C), 2027 NHL Draft Hampus Zirath
didn’t play U20 hockey last season and therefore wasn’t on many radars for the
2027 draft heading into this year. Over the first few weeks of the season,
however, he has impressed in the Swedish junior league. Sweden’s U18 head coach
Johan Rosén described Zirath as a blend of Viggo Björck and Victor Eklund in
terms of playing style, combining Björck’s hockey sense and shiftiness with
Eklund’s competitive edge. Zirath brings both offensive upside and a reliable
two-way game, making him an intriguing player to watch ahead of the 2027 draft.
Steve Borthwick has picked six British & Irish Lions on his bench with a further nod to the growing importance of the endgame
Selecting your best XV to start a big rugby match feels increasingly quaint these days, as redolent of a different era as the Generation Game or Starsky & Hutch. To the point where you half expect to find the home teamsheet to face New Zealand this weekend has D‑N‑A‑L‑G‑N‑E printed at the top of it. Even with the All Blacks in town, the traditional order of selection no longer applies.
Instead it is all about the endgame. On this occasion Steve Borthwick has picked six British & Irish Lions on his bench compared with only four in his starting lineup. At some point around the 50th minute on Saturday there will be a mass discarding of XXL tracksuits and a fresh set of white orcs will rumble on. As South Africa’s “Bomb Squad” have long since shown, it can be mighty hard to combat.
While the Lakers are on a five-game road trip without him, LeBron James will work out with the Lakers' G League team and is expected to be near a return when the Lakers return home in a week.
LeBron has been out since before the start of training camp due to sciatica on his right side. He was recently cleared for contact with a re-evaluation expected later this week or early next week. Part of the recovery process involves getting him back into playing, though 5-on-5 scrimmages. Before his team's win over Charlotte on Monday, coach J.J. Redick said LeBron was "practicing with South Bay" (Redick stated it was happening on Monday, but the Lakers' staff clarified it would take place at some point this week).
The Lakers' next home game is on Nov. 18 against the Utah Jazz. His taking the court then would fit with the long-planned return for LeBron in mid-November. Lakers players aren't concerned about James fitting in upon his return, whenever that may be.
"The thing about him is he understands the game, as everybody knows," Austin Reaves told the Associated Press. "Knowing him, he's been watching these first, what is that 11 games and, analyzing the game in a sense of where he knows when he comes back, 'This is how I can help the team.'" The Lakers are off to a fast 8-3 start without LeBron behind a top-10 offense sparked by Luka Doncic playing at an MVP level. Reaves has stepped up as a high-level secondary scoring option, while Deandre Ayton has shown to be solid most games and the kind of two-way big man the Lakers have needed with Doncic. These Lakers will get a measuring stick game on Wednesday against the defending champion Thunder (who remain without their second-best player, Jalen Williams, who is nearing a return from wrist surgery).
Not long after, it appears the Lakers will add LeBron James back into the mix. With his return, LeBron will add another record to his already historic resume, becoming the first player to reach his 23rd NBA season.
What will change with tonights CFP ranking? Will Texas A&M jump Indiana? Wisconsin is retaining Luke Fickell, but how will they improve their NIL funding? Private equity drama with the Big Ten heats up.
The NHL's hot and cold players over the past week stand out for more than just their recent stats.
Most of these players' results since Nov. 3 are just a more pronounced part of a promising – or disappointing – campaign to date.
And in case you missed last week's hot and cold edition, Cutter Gauthier, Dawson Mercer and Michael Bunting were on a hot streak, while Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky were the opposite. Let's get to this latest bunch.
Hot: Nathan MacKinnon, C, Colorado Avalanche
In short order, the Avalanche have surged to the top of the highly competitive Central Division, and a key reason why is the performance of superstar MacKinnon.
MacKinnon’s currently on a nine-game point streak, with
The 30-year-old is in his prime, and MacKinnon has already made a great case for player of the month – and it’s only the 10th day of the month. That’s how you know you’re white-hot.
Cold: Jonathan Marchessault, RW, Nashville Predators
Prior to signing with the Predators in the summer of 2024, Marchessault had experienced a lot of winning, mainly because he was on the talent-rich Vegas Golden Knights for his prime years.
But since last year began, Marchessault has struggled mightily as a Pred. His zero points in the last five games since Nov. 3 cement that point.
In 2024-25, Marchessault’s goal total fell to 21 – exactly half of the previous year’s total of 42 goals. Marchessault’s point total fell to 66 – not horrible, but not what the Predators were hoping for when they gave him a five-year, $27.5-million contract.
This season, Marchessault’s production has fallen to four goals and six points in 15 games, putting him on a 21-goal, 32-point pace.
The 34-year-old is still playing about the same amount of ice time (17:55) he’s averaged over the past decade. Can the Predators afford to keep giving him a comfortable amount of playing time when the results just aren’t there?
The Blackhawks are somewhat surprisingly competitive this year, and they’re being led by the cornerstone of the franchise in 20-year-old Bedard, who is second in the league in points with 25 points in 16 games.
Bedard is on pace for 46 goals and 128 points in 82 games, which would destroy his career-high 23 goals and 67 points, although that would be a massive jump if he did so.
Bedard had some detractors last season who questioned whether he was a true generational talent. Thus far, he’s answered those doubters by dominating and signalling the start of the Bedard Era in the Windy City.
Cold: John Gibson and Cam Talbot, G, Detroit Red Wings
Detroit’s two veteran netminders – newcomer Gibson and returning veteran Talbot – were supposed to be a strength. That hasn’t turned out to be the case.
The Red Wings lost all three of their games in the past week, with Talbot allowing four goals on 26 shots and Gibson conceding five goals on 53 shots over two matches.
Now, their combined 3.33 goals-against average in that span was not all on them. Gibson actually played very well in a 1-0 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Nov. 4, stopping 33 of 34 shots, and Talbot still had 0.37 goals saved above expected against the New York Rangers despite recording a .846 save percentage. At some point, the team needs to help them and either score some goals or shut down Grade-A scoring chances against them.
But while Gibson and Talbot haven't been horrible, they've been inconsistent and colder than we thought at least one of them would be.
In six of nine appearances, Gibson has posted a save percentage of .889 or worse. And his season numbers this year – an .882 SP, 3.15 goals-against average and 1.6 goals saved above expected – are hardly confidence-inspiring for Gibson and the Red Wings.
Talbot, meanwhile, hasn’t fared much better, putting up an SP of .891 and a 2.92 GAA. In three of his past four games, Talbot has an SP of .889 or worse.
The Red Wings will go with the goalie who has a hot hand, but so far this year, neither Gibson nor Talbot has seized the moment and made the No. 1 job their own.
Heiskanen has been a foundational talent for the Stars for more than seven years now, and this past week reminded everyone how consistently effective he is in Dallas.
Heiskanen led all defensemen with eight assists and nine points in four games, and he's now on a four-game points streak.
The 26-year-old is averaging 25:21 of ice-time, nearly two-and-a-half more minutes than the Stars’ next-most-used skater. His 11 assists and 14 points in 16 games have him near the top of scoring by a defenseman this season.
Heiskanen is one of the league’s best bargains at $8.45 million, and he’s signed for another three seasons after this one. He’s a dynamo, and his best years may still be yet to come. But right now, he’s thriving at both ends of the ice.
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Even in the 17th season of Steph Curry’s NBA career, the superstar Warriors guard still is notching firsts.
In the first quarter of Golden State’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday at Paycom Center, Curry committed his first career flagrant foul, per SportRadar. He had gone 1,193 career games without committing a flagrant foul.
Thunder guard Isaiah Joe attempted a deep 3-point shot in the closing seconds of the first quarter, and Curry stepped into Joe’s shooting path while closing out to contest the shot. Joe landed on Curry’s foot on his follow-through.
The play was called a foul on the floor and subsequently upgraded to a Flagrant 1 foul after review.
It is the second flagrant foul committed by a Warriors player this season. Draymond Green committed the first in Golden State’s Oct. 27 game against the Memphis Grizzlies.
One of the most exciting World Series ever played only concluded a week and a half ago, but the MLB offseason officially kicked into gear this week with the GM meetings taking place in Las Vegas.
While the GM meetings don’t lead to as much direct action as the winter meetings later in the offseason (Dec. 7 in Orlando this year), they are an obvious opportunity for executives and agents to begin the work that will shape rosters for the 2026 season and beyond.
And whenever people start talking, rumors are sure to follow.
With that, here’s what’s come out regarding the Red Sox this week out of Vegas.
Joe Ryan still makes sense as a trade target
This one’s not a rumor so much as it’s some informed speculation from ESPN’s Jeff Passan, who noted that the Red Sox “believed they were close to landing” Twins starting pitcher Joe Ryan at the deadline this year. As such, Passan tabbed Ryan as the perfect offseason move for the Red Sox to make.
“As long as Red Sox ownership keeps the financial clamps on chief baseball officer Craig Breslow, he’ll need to get creative in improving a Red Sox team that’s already quite good,” Passan wrote. “Revisiting what he missed at the deadline is the simplest way to do so.”
While nobody in Boston wants to hear about “financial clamps” being placed on Breslow, Ryan would be a wise addition for any team, whether they were on a spending spree or trying to be frugal.
A bit of a late bloomer, Ryan made his first All-Star team last season, finishing the year with a 3.42 ERA and 1.035 WHIP in 30 starts. He posted a 0.985 WHIP in 135 innings in 2024.
With two seasons left under team control, Ryan is the perfect candidate to receive a pre-free agency contract extension, much like how the Red Sox handled Garrett Crochet after acquiring him via trade last season.
Certainly, the prospect of having Crochet (signed through 2031), Brayan Bello (signed through 2029 with a 2030 option) and Ryan at the top of the rotation for years to come makes such an acquisition awfully enticing for the Boston front office.
According to The Athletic’s Jen McCaffrey, the Red Sox were unwilling to part with either Jarren Duran or Wilyer Abreu at the deadline when they talked with Minnesota about Ryan. With four starting-caliber outfielders on the current roster (Duran, Abreu, Ceddanne Rafaela, Roman Anthony), there should be no such hold-up this time when engaging the Twins in trade talks for Ryan.
Red Sox an ‘interesting fit’ to trade for Freddy Peralta
The Milwaukee Brewers are coming off their best regular season ever, winning 97 games and a division crown in 2025. So they might not be supremely motivated to offload talent.
However … MLB Network’s Jon Morosi noted that the Brewers did trade away pitchers Corbin Burnes and Devin Williams when they were a year away from free agency, noting that listening to offers on free-agents-to-be is “in their DNA.”
With that in mind, Morosi singled out the Red Sox as a team that may come calling for Freddy Peralta.
Freddy Peralta ➡️ Boston?@jonmorosi mentions the Red Sox as an interesting fit for the 2x All-Star if he is moved this offseason.
“I think [they're] one starting pitcher away from making a real run at this…” pic.twitter.com/G51iJcIuMY
“The Red Sox, when you think about Garrett Crochet, and you consider what they’ve been able to build there with the Red Sox being able to get back to the playoffs in 2025, they’re — I think — one starting pitcher away from making a real run at this,” Morosi said. “And we know they’ve got an excellent farm system. They even have some position players they could move from the major league club if they had to with Duran and Abreu. So I think that’s an interesting fit to watch going forward.”
Peralta, 29, is the same age as Joe Ryan (they were born one day apart) and is also coming off an All-Star season in 2025, when he went 17-6 with a 2.70 ERA and 1.075 WHIP, striking out 204 batters in 176.2 innings. Peralta previously made an All-Star team in 2021, when he posted a 2.81 ERA and 0.970 WHIP in a breakout season for Milwaukee.
If Breslow does have “the financial clamps” limiting him this offseason, Peralta may make the most sense as a Plan B for Boston. With one fewer year of team control and significantly more MLB experience, Peralta will be due a bigger payday than Ryan.
On the other hand, a lesser package could potentially land Peralta, which would at the very least provide a major boost to the rotation in the short term.
Breslow wants an impactful middle-of-the-lineup bat
Here’s a quote that might inspire some baseball fans in Boston to pull out their hair, smash their face off a table, and/or chew on a handful of broken glass (per The Boston Globe’s Tim Healey):
“There is just something about a bat in the middle of the lineup that forces another team to game plan against it that has a compounding effect on the rest of the roster. So we didn’t slug nearly as much as I think we can, or we will, and we’ll pursue opportunities to improve that.”
Using so many words to say “it’s helpful to have a power hitter in the middle of the lineup” is certainly verbose, but this isn’t a rant on Craig Breslow’s diction.
It is, however, a note that the Boston Red Sox did indeed have one of the best power bats in all of baseball in Rafael Devers but butchered their relationship with him so badly that they felt the need to trade him away last June. The Red Sox received a 20-year-old pitcher, an outfield prospect (subsequently traded), a bad relief pitcher and a potential back-of-the-rotation starter in return.
Unsurprisingly, the team didn’t slug nearly as much as Breslow thought they could.
As for who could fill that need?
Pete Alonso fits the bill, and could help fill the first base black hole that’s plagued the Red Sox since Mitch Moreland left following the 2019 season.
Kyle Schwarber was a fan favorite in Boston during his brief 2021 stint, but locking in on a designated hitter at top dollar for a roster that already has an extra outfielder and a DH that cannot play the field doesn’t seem like the likeliest path.
Free-agent shortstop Bo Bichette primarily batted leadoff for the AL-champion Blue Jays, but he did mash in his 40 starts in the cleanup spot, batting .372 with a 1.008 OPS. Even though Trevor Story opted in to his deal, he has already spent a year at second base with Boston and could do so again if the Red Sox opted to pursue Bichette.
But speaking of that Red Sox infield …
All quiet on the Alex Bregman front
If you’re looking for an update on Alex Bregman’s status, you’re out of luck.
After he opted out of his deal last week, not much at all has percolated in terms of teams that may pursue him in free agency. ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel projected Bregman to land a five-year, $160 million deal, despite the fact that he’ll be 32 on Opening Day and missed significant time last year with a quad injury that never truly healed. (Bregman opted out of two years at $40 million per season.)
Much like last year, it would seem as though Bregman’s market may take a while to crystallize. And as he proved last spring, he’s willing to wait until the last minute to make up his mind.
Considering Breslow’s comment about the need for impactful middle-of-the-order bats, the Red Sox would seemingly be very interested in keeping Bregman in the fold. He batted .299 with a .938 OPS in 51 games before suffering the injury, hitting 17 doubles and 11 home runs with 35 RBIs. That dropped to a .250 average and .724 OPS in 63 games after returning from the injury.
Assuming the quad heals in the offseason, Bregman could be part of Boston’s solution in the middle of the order. The price, though, will likely have to drop significantly for that relationship to continue.
Morosi also offered up this potential wrinkle: Teams have expressed interest in moving Bichette to third.
Early in free agency, the majority of interest in Bo Bichette is at shortstop.
Other teams with incumbent shortstops have expressed interest in him at second base or third base.@MLBNetwork
If Bichette is open to a position change (the Red Sox learned last season that some players are not), and if Bichette actually wants to leave Toronto, the Red Sox could “replace” Bregman with the younger Bichette at a similar cost. For now, that looks like it would go in the “surprise” category of any potential offseason moves.
Royals eyeing Red Sox outfielders
The Royals have one of the best all-around players in baseball in Bobby Witt Jr. They also have an elite, young third baseman in Maikel Garcia.
After that, though, the lineup is lacking, so the team is reportedly looking to add to its outfield via trade. (Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger are free agents but are likely too expensive for Kansas City.) And according to Morosi — who’s full of all of the early-offseason information — the Red Sox are a potential partner.
Sources: Royals are evaluating the trade market for outfielders during this week's GM Meetings.
The Angels and Red Sox are among the possible trade partners. @MLBNetwork
While the Red Sox do have an abundance of outfielders, they also can only really afford to trade one of them away. As such, they’ll be selective when it comes to maximizing the return out of whoever it is they opt to send away. (The guess here: Jarren Duran.)
Morosi didn’t detail which players the Royals might be willing to part with, but the Red Sox’ priority in trading away an outfielder would most likely be in landing a frontline starter like Joe Ryan. Any potential Royals deal would likely be placed on the backburner for now.
Red Sox believe Jarren Duran needs ‘a fresh start’
Perhaps the most concrete evidence that Jarren Duran will be the odd man out of the outfield picture came from USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, who wrote that Duran is indeed on the trade block.
“The Red Sox believe that they need an upgrade over Duran, and that he needs a fresh start,” Nightengale wrote. “It would a huge surprise if he’s in Fort Myers, Fla., come spring training.”
Duran was an All-Star in 2024, leading the league in doubles (48) and triples (14) while posting an .834 OPS. He was named MVP of the All-Star Game and finished eighth in AL MVP voting. He understandably took a step backward in 2025, though was still a productive player with a .774 OPS and an AL-leading 13 triples.
At 29 years old, he’s still in his prime, thus making him an appealing addition for a team in need of a corner outfielder and a lefty bat. Yet with Rafaela (25 years old), Abreu (26) and Anthony (21) in Boston’s outfield, the team is fairly set for the future in the outfield without Duran.
They started in February after Dallas Mavericks general manager and president of basketball operations Nico Harrison initiated a trade that sent superstar Luka Doncic to the Lakers and continued to occur at home games throughout the end of last season and into the 2025-26 campaign.
On Tuesday morning, those vocal fans got their wish, as Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont announced that Harrison had been let go weeks into his fifth season with the team. Dallas went 182-157 under the former Nike executive, including a 3-8 start to this season.
Assistant general managers Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi were named co-interim general managers to oversee basketball operations.
“This decision reflects our continued commitment to building a championship-caliber organization, one that delivers for our players, our partners, and most importantly, our fans,” Dumont said.
Harrison spent nearly two decades with Nike before being hired by the Mavericks in June 2021. The team made it to the Western Conference finals the following season and to the NBA Finals in 2024, with Doncic as its undisputed star.
The move shocked most people involved with the NBA, and Dallas fans felt blindsided. That's when "Fire Nico" started. The words appeared on signs and T-shirts in addition to being yelled during home games, including the Mavericks' 116-114 loss Monday to the Milwaukee Bucks.
During that game, Dumont was seen sitting courtside having a lengthy conversation with a fan in a Lakers jersey featuring Doncic's name and number. That person, 18-year-old Mavericks fan Nicholas Dickason, told The Athletic that he had initiated the conversation to apologize to the team governor for yelling curse words at him and giving him the finger at a game earlier this season.
According to Dickason, Dumont accepted his apology and added an admission of his own.
“Basically Patrick was like, he feels horrible for the trade. And wants to make it up to us,” Dickason said. “That’s basically what he said. He accepted my apology for it as well.”
The next day, Dumont explained his decision to fire Harrison in an open letter to Mavericks fans. He did not specifically mention the Doncic trade but acknowledged "the profound impact these difficult last several months have had" on the team's supporters.
"You have every right to demand a commitment to success from us," Dumont wrote. "No one associated with the Mavericks organization is happy with the start of what we all believed would be a promising season. You have high expectations for the Mavericks, and I share them with you. When the results don't meet expectations, it's my responsibility to act."
In April, after the Mavericks finished the 2024-25 season with a 39-43 record and missed the playoffs, Harrison admitted he underestimated the level of outrage the trade would cause.
“I did know that Luka was important to the fan base,” Harrison said. “I didn’t quite know it to what level.”
He added: “When you have 20,000 people in the stadium chanting ‘Fire Nico,’ you really feel it. ... But my job is to make decisions I feel are in the best interest of this organization, and I gotta stand by the decisions, and some of them are going to be unpopular. This was clearly one that’s unpopular.”
Tuesday’s NHL slate is full of excitement, featuring nine high-stakes matchups that promise fast-paced action, dramatic finishes, and plenty of highlight-reel moments.
One of the most intriguing games of the night is the rivalry between the Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs. The teams faced off over the weekend, with the Bruins upsetting the Maple Leafs to secure their fifth consecutive win. Toronto will look to bounce back after winning five of their previous six games before Saturday’s loss.
For those following our betting challenge, we start with a modest $10 bankroll and aim to grow it through strategic, data-driven wagers. In past runs, we have successfully turned profits into triple-digit totals. Tonight, our focus is on the Bruins-Leafs matchup, offering a prime opportunity to continue building.
Our bankroll had climbed to $264.60 before a setback in last Tuesday’s Golden Knights–Red Wings game. However, we’re ready to get back on track after building our current bankroll to $18.80 following the Blue Jackets’ cover against the Oilers on Monday.
All betting lines are from BetMGM Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.
Sign up with BetMGM, make a deposit, and place your first wager on any game using your First Bet Offer token. If that bet with the token applied loses, you’ll get your original stake paid back in Bonus Bets, up to $1,500! Get in the game today with BetMGM.
The Maple Leafs have struggled with both of their goaltenders unavailable, particularly with Joseph Woll away from the team. Woll returned to the ice for a conditioning stint on Sunday, but he is unlikely to play anytime soon.
This means Toronto will once again rely on Anthony Stolarz. The 31-year-old goaltender has carried a heavy load early in the season without Woll, starting 12 games and posting a 6-5-1 record with a 3.35 goals-against average.
In the past, having Woll as a backup allowed the Leafs to rotate goalies if one got cold. However, backups Cayden Primeau and Dennis Hildeby have struggled, giving up a combined 19 goals in just five starts. Stolarz has been forced to carry the bulk of the workload, which benefits the Bruins. That was clear in Saturday’s matchup when Boston scored four goals on 19 shots, forcing Stolarz out of the game in favor of Hildeby.
Games between the Bruins and Leafs have been high-scoring in recent years with four of their last five meetings totaling seven or more goals. The trend is likely to continue as Toronto ranks third-worst in goals allowed with 60 in 16 games, while Boston ranks eighth with 56 goals allowed in 17 games.
Both teams also have potent offenses with Auston Matthews and William Nylander helping Toronto to the third-best scoring unit in the league with 59 goals, while Boston also ranks in the top seven with 56 goals, led by stars David Pastrnak and the red-hot Morgan Geekie.
Many expect a Maple Leafs bounce-back, but the smarter play is to back the Bruins, who have won six games in a row and seven of their last ten home matchups against Toronto.
A wager on the Bruins and the over at +115 odds with an $18.80 bankroll would return a profit of $21.62, for a total payout of $40.42. With a strong NHL slate scheduled for Wednesday, this is an ideal opportunity to build momentum and grow the bankroll.
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LAS VEGAS — As Buster Posey settled into a corner of a conference room at The Cosmopolitan on Tuesday afternoon, a large crowd gathered a few feet away for Paul DePodesta, who was named Colorado Rockies president of baseball operations last week after a decade in the NFL. It was a reminder that for all the heavy lifting ahead for Posey and the Giants, there are other organizations with bigger holes to fill.
At the annual General Managers meetings, Posey said the front office and new manager Tony Vitello are closing in on finalizing contracts with several coaches, but announcements were not imminent Tuesday afternoon. There are some, however, who know they will be back.
Assistant hitting coach Oscar Bernard, quality control coach Taira Uematsu and bullpen catcher Eliezer Zambrano all have been informed they’ll be back, Posey said. There will be new leadership atop the hitting and pitching groups, and possibly new base coaches. Matt Williams was told early in the offseason that he wouldn’t return, and the status of first base coach Mark Hallberg is to be determined.
“He’s one of those that we’d love to have back, but he has been kind of a popular guy with some other teams, as well,” Posey said of his former Florida State teammate. “We’re working through that.”
Catching coach Alex Burg is in a similar spot, balancing external interest with the Giants’ offer. Posey also said that Ron Wotus will be back in a similar role to the last few seasons, working with the front office, big leaguers and visiting minor league affiliates. Hitting coach Pat Burrell will remain with the organization but will not be on Vitello’s staff, and assistant hitting coach Damon Minor also has been let go.
While it’s not yet official, Vitello’s first addition was former San Diego Padres manager Jayce Tingler. It would seem like an obvious fit to make Tingler the bench coach or associate manager, but Posey said the front office isn’t ready to announce his exact role.
The Giants are believed to be closer to hiring a hitting coach than a pitching coach. J.P. Martinez, the incumbent on the pitching side, had hoped to remain, but he ended up taking a job as the bullpen coach for the Atlanta Braves. Bullpen coach Garvin Alston also hoped to return, but he was let go, too.
“With nothing being a guarantee [in San Francisco] for J.P., I think he took the bird in hand,” Posey said. “We were still going through the process with him. We hadn’t told him that he was not going to be returning. I’m a J.P. fan and had a good talk with him when he took the [Braves] job. I told him I think he’s going to be successful and maybe we’ll see him down the road.”
While Ryan Vogelsong has been rumored as a potential replacement for Martinez, he is not in the mix, per sources. Another former Posey teammate does have an increased role, though. Former Giants reliever Javier Lopez has been added to the front office in an advisory role.
There are a lot of holes to fill, and all of Vitello’s picks will get a bit of extra scrutiny given the manager’s lack of MLB experience. But Posey said the group is trying to avoid feeling rushed. There’s plenty of offseason left and the interviews will continue this week, with Posey and Vitello leading the way. General manager Zack Minasian, assistant GM Jeremy Shelley and VP of analytics Paul Bien also have been part of the process.
Posey let Bob Melvin handle his own staff, but has been much more involved in helping Vitello fill out his first big league coaching staff. He said the process has been “a collaboration.”
“I think you’re going to be most productive in that way,” he said. “I don’t think it would be fair for me to come in and say I’m going to choose every single person. That’s just not the way I think is best, or vice versa, for [Vitello] to operate that way, as well.”
Peat lived up to it in his first game, scoring 30 points with seven rebounds and three steals in No. 5 Arizona's 93-87 win over reigning national champion and then-No. 3 Florida. The 6-foot-8 forward had the second-highest scoring game by an Arizona freshman behind Eric Money's 37-point game in 1972 and became the first player in Big 12 history with 30 points and five assists in his debut.
The Denver Nuggets (7-2) and Sacramento Kings (3-7) meet for the second time this season, but the first on NBC and Peacock!
Denver enters this game on a four-game winning streak that started with a 130-124 win over Sacramento and off two days of rest. Nikola Jokic has scored at least 26 points in four straight games after failing to score more than 25 points in the first five games. The Nuggets will be playing their fourth road game of the season as they are 1-2 this year with a win at Minnesota, an OT loss to Golden State and two-point loss at Portland.
Sacramento is on a two-game losing streak with blowout losses of 31 and 27 points versus Oklahoma City and Minnesota. The Kings played four games last week and five games in eight days leading up to Monday's rest day, so this could be a fatigued Kings' squad. Luckily, this is the fourth of a five-game home stand, so the Kings haven't had to travel lately.
Let’s dive into tonight’s matchup and find a potential sweat or two! We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff. Odds courtesy of DraftKingsrecent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
After 24 years, the NBA is back on NBC and Peacock, combining the nostalgia of an iconic era with the innovative future of basketball coverage. The NBA on NBC YouTube channel delivers fans must-see highlights, analysis, and exclusive and unique content.
Game Details and How to watch the Nuggets vs. Kings live
Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA Player News for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Game odds for the Nuggets at the Kings
The latest odds as of Tuesday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Nuggets (-375), Kings (+295)
Spread: Nuggets -8.5
Total: 241.5
That gives the Nuggets an implied team point total of 125.5 and the Kings 116.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Expected Starting Lineups for the Nuggets and the Kings
Nuggets (7-2)
PG Jamal Murray
SG Christian Braun
SF Cam Johnson
PF Aaron Gordon
C Nikola Jokic
Kings (3-7)
PG Dennis Schroder
SG Zach LaVine
SF DeMar DeRozan
PF Precious Achiuwa
C Domantas Sabonis
Injuries for the Nuggets and the Kings
Nuggets
G Jamal Murray (calf) is probable for Tuesday's game F Aaron Gordon (hamstring) is probable for Tuesday's game
Kings
F Domantas Sabonis (ribcage contusion) is day-to-day and questionable for Tuesday's game
Important stats, trends and insights ahead of Nuggets at Kings on Tuesday.
Sacramento is 4-6 ATS, ranking 9th-worst
Sacramento is 1-4 ATS at home, ranking 3rd-worst and 0-2 ATS as a home underdog
Sacramento is 7-3 to the Over, tied 4th-best
Sacramento is 3-2 to the Over at home
Denver is 6-3 ATS, ranking tied 5th-best
Denver is 1-1 ATS, ML as a road favorite
Denver is 2-1 to the Over on the road
Denver is 5-4 to the Over on the season
Rotoworld Best Bet
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) likes Nikola Jokic to triple double against the Kings:
"Nikola Jokic has seen an uptick in scoring over the Nuggets four-game winning streak, reaching 26 points or more in all four compared to 25 or fewer in the first five games. Despite the increase in points, I am focusing on the triple-double here as this matchup is better the second time around.
Domantas Sabonis is suffering from a ribcage contusion, so Jokic could really take advantage of that matchup in a lot of ways if Sabonis plays. Sabonis had 17 rebounds and Russell Westbrook recorded 12 in the first meeting against Denver, so when you look at Jokic's state line of 34 points, 14 assists, and 7 rebounds — it makes more sense.
Jokic is coming off a 32-point, 14-rebound, and 14-assist triple-double against the Pacers on Saturday after narrowly missing a triple-double on Friday with nine rebounds and nine assists. I like another triple-double for Jokic as Denver is coming off two days of rest. Jokic was -118 to triple double the first meeting against Sacramento and is -138 at DraftKings for the second meeting. I will take another shot on The Joker."
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Nuggets & Kings game:
Moneyline: Nuggets ML (low confidence)
Spread: Nuggets -8.5 (high confidence)
Total: Under 241.5 (low confidence)
Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!
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Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere looks ready to return to the lineup after missing the last six games after suffering a midsection injury against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Gostisbehere was working alongside Alexander Nikishin on the blueline as well as with the team's top power play at morning skate on Tuesday before Carolina's game against the Washington Capitals.
"I feel better," Gostisbehere said Tuesday morning. "Watching really sucks, but glad the boys have been stringing some wins together and battling through adversity. The backend, we're hurting a little bit and these young guys who have come up have really picked up the slack. The transition has been seamless for them and it's nice to see the depth we have in the organization."
"We need him with all the injuries that we have," said Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour. "We've gotta have guys who certainly know how to play and play at a high level. Obviously he's been out for a long time. Came back for a little bit, but not really. So he's probably going to need some time to get up to where he was, but he was certainly playing at a high level to start the season."
The veteran defenseman has only appeared in six games for Carolina this season, as he had dealt with a separate lower-body injury for three games too before suffering a new injury after just one period against Vegas.
"It was just tough luck, I guess," Gostisbehere said. "That's never really happened to me before. Obviously stinks, but hopefully I'll come back tonight and I'll feel good and get one behind me — hopefully at least more than one period behind me — but just thankful to have the opportunity to come back."
Gostisbehere has a goal and seven points so far this season and before his injury, he was playing some of the best hockey of his career.
"We know he's an offensive-minded player, but he was playing really well away from the puck and that was the biggest part of his game that was standing out," Brind'Amour said. "Hopefully he picks up where he left off."
In his stead, the Canes have had to turn to multiple rookie blueliners, but the team has managed to string together an 11-4-0 record despite the injuries.
"They've been playing like they've been around for a while," Gostisbehere said. "So it's good to see. They're playing in bigger roles they maybe wouldn't normally have, but it's all about opportunity in this league and they're showing that they're great players and they're having fun doing it too. They're not letting the moment be too big."
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The 76ers (6-4) and Celtics (5-6) meet for the third time this season as the rivals rehash their rivalry on NBC and Peacock! The season series is split one apiece as both squads won by one point. The spread for this game, you guessed it, 1.5.
Joel Embiid is still not 100-percent and Paul George hasn't taken the floor yet, but Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe have shouldered the burden for Philadelphia. After a 4-0 start, the 76ers are 2-4 in the last six games.
Boston has at .500 or below for the entire season and has a chance to earn their second winning streak of the year and climb to 6-6. After winning three straight, Boston has gone 2-3 over the past five games and since beating Philadelphia.
Let’s dive into tonight’s matchup and find a potential sweat or two! We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff. Odds courtesy of DraftKingsrecent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
After 24 years, the NBA is back on NBC and Peacock, combining the nostalgia of an iconic era with the innovative future of basketball coverage. The NBA on NBC YouTube channel delivers fans must-see highlights, analysis, and exclusive and unique content.
Game Details and How to watch the Celtics vs. 76ers live
Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA Player News for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Game odds for the Celtics at the 76ers
The latest odds as of Tuesday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: 76ers (-118), Celtics (-102)
Spread: 76ers -1.5
Total: 231.5
That gives the 76ers an implied team point total of 115.5, as well as the Celtics (115.5).
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Expected Starting Lineups for the Celtics and the 76ers
Celtics (5-6)
PG Derrick White
SG Payton Pritchard
SF Jaylen Brown
PF Josh Minott
C Neemias Queta
76ers (6-4)
PG Tyrese Maxey
SG VJ Edgecombe
SF Kelly Oubre
PF Trendon Watford
C Joel Embiid
Injuries for the Celtics and the 76ers
Celtics
F Sam Hauser (wrist) is Probable for tonight's game F Jayson Tatum (achilles) has not been ruled out for the season and is out for the foreseeable future
76ers
F Paul George (knee) is OUT for today's game F Johni Broome (ankle) is OUT for today's game F Dominick Barlow (elbow) is OUT for today's game
Important stats, trends and insights ahead of Celtics at 76ers on Tuesday.
The Celtics are 4-7 ATS, ranking tied 6th-worst
Boston is 2-4 ATS on the road and 1-3 ATS as a road underdog
Boston is 6-5 to the Under
Boston is 3-3 to the Under as a underdog
The 76ers are 8-2 ATS, tied for best in the NBA
The 76ers are 7-3 to the Over, ranking tied for 4th-best
Philadelphia is 4-1 ATS this season, ranking 8th-best
Philadelphia is 4-0 to the Over as a favorite, ranking tied for first
Rotoworld Best Bet
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) likes the Celtics to cover the +1.5 and leans the Over:
“This is the third matchup of the season between the two squads, so we have a baseline of odds and what to expect here, if I am reading the tea leaves correctly.
Boston was a -5.5 point home favorite in the opener and the 76ers won outright by one. The game total was 230.5 and it went over hitting 233. In the second matchup, Boston was a -1.5 point road favorite and won by one, so the 76ers covered. The game total was 234 for the game and it sailed Under at 217.
Now it's -1.5 in favor of Philadelphia with a game total of 232.5. That makes me favor Boston and the Over, if Sam Hauser is able to go.
Boston has the better team in this bitter rivalry and with Joel Embiid not 100-percent, much of the load is thrown on Tyrese Maxey and rookie VJ Edgecombe. The 76ers are now 2-0 ATS the Celtics on the season and it's hard for me to imagine Philadelphia going 4-0 ATS in this season series, so I will take Boston here in the third matchup and double back on the C's in the season finale (March 1st) if Philly wins and covers tonight."
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Celtics & 76ers game:
Moneyline: Celtics ML (low confidence)
Spread: Celtics +1.5 (low confidence)
Total: Under 231.5 (low confidence)
Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
Theodor Knights: Hlinka Lessons and Five Nations MindsetThe Hockey News’ Jacob Smeds speaks with 2026 NHL Draft prospect Theodor Knights. After starring for Team Sweden at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, he now prepares for next week’s U18 Five Nations Tournament.
Sweden Wins Both the U18 and U20 Five NationsIt was a dramatic final day at both the U18 and U20 Five Nations. Despite Czechia holding pole position heading into the final day at the U20 level, Sweden ended up winning the tournament — helped by a win against Czechia. Sweden also claimed the title at the U18 level on home ice, thanks to a victory over the United States on Sunday.<br><br>
