Canucks Blueger Will Make 2025-26 Season Debut Against The Blackhawks

The Vancouver Canucks will be making a lineup change ahead of their matchup against the Chicago Blackhawks. As per Sportsnet's Dan Murphy, center Teddy Blueger will make his season debut, replacing Aatu Räty. As for the starting goaltender, that will be Kevin Lankinen, who started his NHL career with the Blackhawks

Blueger has been out of the lineup with a suspected knee injury that he suffered during the pre-season. The 31-year-old center didn't miss a game last season, recording 26 points in 82 games. While the exact line combinations are not yet known, Blueger will most likely play on the third line with Kiefer Sherwood and Drew O'Connor, as well as on the penalty kill. 

Vancouver continues its five-game road trip on Friday against Chicago. The Canucks have had plenty of success against the Blackhawks over the last few years, as they have not lost since the 2021-22 season. Game time is scheduled for 5:30 pm PT and will be broadcast on Sportsnet. 

Mar 22, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Vancouver Canucks center Teddy Blueger (53) skates against the New York Rangers during the second period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images

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3 Takeaways From Nashville Predators' First Week Of 2025-26 Season

Oct 11, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville Predators left wing Filip Forsberg (9) celebrates goal with center Brady Martin (44) against the Utah Mammoth during the first period at Bridgestone Arena. Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

The Nashville Predators have completed the first week of the 2025-26 season.

Through five games, the Preds have a 2-1-2 record for six points, good for second in the Central Division. They have lost just once in regulation: a 7-4 road defeat against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Oct. 14. The other two losses came in overtime to Utah and Montreal.

The sample size may be small, but there are numerous positive and negative aspects to the Predators’ first week of action. Here are three takeaways from the week.

The Predators Are Ahead Of Last Season’s Pace

Oct 16, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Nashville Predators center Steven Stamkos (91) celebrates his goal against the Montreal Canadiens with his teammates during the second period at Bell Centre. David Kirouac-Imagn Images

Things couldn’t have started off much worse for Nashville in 2024-25. The club began 0-5 in the season’s first week before winning its next two.

Filip Forsberg, who ended up leading the Preds in scoring, was averaging a point per game through the first five. The offense was averaging 2.00 goals per game while opponents were averaging 4.60.

Juuse Saros sported an 0-4 mark with a 3.64 goals-against average and .875 save percentage.

After six games this season, Erik Haula (2-2-4), Jonathan Marchessault (2-2-4) and Roman Josi (1-3-4) each have four points. Haula, Marchessault and Nick Perbix are in a three-way tie for the team lead in goals with two.

The Preds are averaging 2.80 goals per game while giving up a 3.00 average to the opposition.

Saros has been lights-out with a 2-0-2 record, 1.94 goals-against average and .935 save percentage. Backup Justus Annunen suffered the only other OT loss, allowing four goals in Toronto.

To say the Predators look like a team who could contend for the playoffs is unrealistic, as the overtime loss against the Canadiens Thursday in Montreal proved.

The Preds held a 2-1 lead until Cole Caufield scored with just 19 seconds left in regulation to require overtime, then tallied the golden goal to give the Habs a come-from-behind win.

“(It) sucks when you're 19 seconds away from pulling out of the win and you only get one point,” Preds forward Steven Stamkos, who scored his first goal of the season, told reporters following the loss.

The goal-scoring hasn’t come in bunches, and the defense, while showing some flashes, has had costly breakdowns. Nevertheless, the Predators will take what progress they can get.

Special Teams Have Had Mixed Reviews

Last season, the Predators finished 18th in the NHL on the power play at 21.9%. Through six games in 2025-26, it has been abysmal.

The power-play unit is 2-for-19 through five games. It snapped a string of 13 consecutive chances without a goal when Stamkos scored on a power play at the 11:36 mark of the third period in Montreal.

The Preds were 0-for-6 with the man advantage in their 4-1 victory in Ottawa against the Senators Oct. 13. It didn’t affect the outcome in that game, but through the course of an 82-game season, that won't be the case.

the Preds had the chance to put the game against the Senators out of reach with a 1-0 lead in the third period after David Perron went off for tripping, but failed to convert.

"We've got to put teams away in those situations, especially when you get a power play in the third period," forward Jonathan Marchessault said after the Ottawa win.

Such paltry numbers are sure to turn around to some degree. With Roman Josi, Filip Forsberg, Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Ryan O'Reilly making up the first unit, the Preds have to get better production.

Meanwhile, Nashville’s penalty-kill unit has been near-perfect. Entering the Montreal game, the Preds successfully killed off 11 of 12 penalties (91.7%), good for sixth in the league. They were a perfect 3-for-3 against the Habs. The only chance they failed to kill was a 6-on-4 against Ottawa.

The stellar play of the PK has thus far rolled over from last season, when the Preds finished seventh in the NHL at 81.5%.

Juuse Saros Has Been Money

Oct 13, 2025; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Nashville Predators goalie Juuse Saros (74) prior to the start of the game against the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-IMAGN Images

Some eyebrows may have been raised when the Predators inked goaltender Juuse Saros to an eight-year, $61.92 million contract in July 2024. After posting a 2.98 GAA and .896 SP in 2024-25, the doubters got louder.

Saros has been spectacular in the four games he has started. Even in the heart-breaking 3-2 overtime loss to the Canadiens, he made a number of crucial saves amid a barrage of shots during sequences when the Preds’ defense failed to protect him.

The Finnish netminder has answered the bell in the early going, but even a great goaltender can’t do everything by himself. The back end has failed to protect both Saros and Annunen in key situations.

Such was the case in Toronto, when at least four of the Maple Leafs’ goals were scored when Annunen had little help.

"We probably weren't all that sharp around the front of the net," Preds head coach Andrew Brunette said after the 7-4 loss. "Those stick battles weren't quite to our standard. A little bit slow early."

If Saros continues to be great, the Preds will be in most games. At some point, however, the defense must be stronger around the net, especially when closing out an opponent.

NHL Rookies Schaefer And Nikishin Chase Scoring Streak Record

Rookie defensemen Matthew Schaefer of the New York Islanders and Alexander Nikishin of the Carolina Hurricanes are off to a dream start in the NHL.

Schaefer and Nikishin are on a four-game scoring streak to begin their NHL regular-season careers, with a goal and three assists each. 

On Thursday night, Nikishin scored his first career NHL goal against the Anaheim Ducks in a 4-1 victory, as the Hurricanes remain the only undefeated team this season. Nikishin has averaged 16:33 of ice time to start this season.

On the same day, the Islanders defeated the Edmonton Oilers for their first win of the season. Schaefer’s assist on the game-winning goal by center Bo Horvat made him the youngest player in NHL history to record a four-game point streak to begin their NHL career.

Islanders Rookie Matthew Schaefer Becomes Youngest In NHL History To Open Career With Four-Game Point StreakIslanders Rookie Matthew Schaefer Becomes Youngest In NHL History To Open Career With Four-Game Point StreakSchaefer broke another NHL record, becoming the youngest ever to record a point in four consecutive games to start his career. His impressive debut lights up the league.

Schaefer has also averaged 21:53 of ice time under Isles coach Patrick Roy.

While that’s an impressive feat for the 18-year-old blueliner, who missed most of his draft year with a broken collarbone, he’s still chasing a greater point-streak record.

Although Nikishin played four playoff games for Carolina last season and is 24 years old, the rulebook still considers this regular season the first games of his career, meaning the Russian D-man is also eligible to chase a bigger record.

Former defenseman Marek Zidlicky holds the record for a blueliner with the longest point streak to begin an NHL career.

Zidlicky accomplished this with the Nashville Predators during the 2003-04 season, scoring in six straight games to begin his career. He scored two goals and five assists in that span, and he went on to record 53 points in 82 games that year, the most he would score in his career.

Schaefer and the Islanders play the Ottawa Senators and San Jose Sharks in the next two games, while Nikishin and the Hurricanes face the Los Angeles Kings and Vegas Golden Knights.

Both players are tied for seventh on the list. If they extend the streak to five games, they'll be tied for second. Only Zidlicky reached six games.

Alexander Nikishin Scores First Career NHL GoalAlexander Nikishin Scores First Career NHL GoalRookie defenseman Alexander Nikishin nets his first NHL goal, a thrilling moment in his young career.

As for other active NHL defensemen who appear on the list, Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski had two goals and three assists for five points in his career-opening four-game point streak in 2016. Colorado Avalanche D-man Cale Makar is tied for second, with six assists in five regular-season games in 2019 after he first appeared in the previous campaign's playoffs.

The longest point streak to start a career for any player belongs to two players: the Montreal Canadiens' Joe Malone, who scored in 14 straight games to start the NHL's first-ever season in 1917-18, and Boston Bruins left winger Dimitri Kvartalnov, who had 12 goals and 10 assists for 22 points in 14 games to kick of the 1992-93 season. Malone is a Hockey Hall of Famer, while Kvartalnov put up 91 points in 112 games before returning to Europe.

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What we learned as Warriors conclude 2025 NBA preseason with loss to Clippers

What we learned as Warriors conclude 2025 NBA preseason with loss to Clippers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – The 2025 NBA preseason is over, and everybody can sense a sigh of relief — including the Warriors, too. 

To put a final stamp on the preseason, the Warriors battled all four quarters, but too many mistakes cost them in a 106-103 loss against the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night at Chase Center.

Steph Curry’s 20 points led the Warriors, and his rookie teammate continued to make a strong impression. Will Richard started his second consecutive game and made an impact on both sides of the ball. The second-round 2025 NBA Draft pick out of Florida scored 13 points, but on 5-of-14 shooting and 3 of 10 on threes, adding four rebounds and three steals.

Neither team could consistently buy a bucket from beyond the arc. The Warriors (8 of 34) made 23.5 percent of their 3-point attempts, and while the Clippers made 15 triples, they converted on a lowly 32.6 percent clip.

The Warriors were without several key players, including Jimmy Butler, Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, Seth Curry and De’Anthony Melton.

Here are three takeaways from the Warriors’ preseason finale. 

Injury Scare

Health will be top of mind for the Warriors all season. The very last thing they, or any team, wants to see is a player go down in the final preseason tune-up. But just two and a half minutes into Friday night’s game, Brandin Podziemski took a hard fall and only added more worries once he was up. 

Podziemski collided with Kobe Brown while dribbling at halfcourt. He stayed on the floor for an extended period and then hobbled very gingerly off the court and into the Warriors’ locker room. Podziemski tried twice to walk but had to stop right away before he finally was able to make his way down the tunnel with director of sports medicine and performance Rick Celebrini. 

While the Warriors ruled Podziemski’s return as questionable with a left hip contusion, he was back in at the 3:50 mark of the first quarter. Podziemski drained his first shot attempt, a three from the left wing, with just 25 seconds remaining in the first quarter, but he also had three turnovers in only six minutes.

Podziemski played 20 minutes and scored five points on 2-of-4 shooting. He didn’t rack up his usual rebounds or assists. His six turnovers were a team high, one more than Draymond Green’s five, and Podziemski’s minus-9 was the worst plus/minus among starters. 

Turnover Trend Continues

Warriors players often joke they have three players allowed to turn the ball over: Curry, Green and Butler. Without Butler, that only gave two Golden State players the leeway Friday night. Yet the Warriors already had up to 14 turnovers at halftime, and Curry (one) and Green (two) were responsible for only three.

Seven players not named Curry or Green accounted for at least one turnover. Podziemski had the most of the bunch with four. Once the regular season begins in a few days, the Warriors simply can’t be as sloppy, especially in games they’re down at least one of their core veterans. 

The Warriors entered Friday averaging 21.8 turnovers per game, which was fewer than only the Brooklyn Nets (24) and Indiana Pacers (23.7) in the preseason. Their 14 first-half turnovers resulted in 18 points for the Clippers. Luckily for Golden State, the Clippers tallied 15 turnovers in the first half for 16 Warriors points. 

Though the Warriors took much better care of the ball in the second half with nine more turnovers, they ended the preseason with at least 20 turnovers (23 on Friday) in all five preseason games.

Curry Does His Part 

When the fourth quarter began, the Warriors trailed by 11 points. The deficit was cut down to six points when Curry took a seat for the rest of the game, and he was the main reason why the Warriors got it down to a one-point game with eight and half minutes left. 

When Curry left the game, he was leading the Warriors in points (20), assists (five) and plus/minus (plus-7). He also was second in rebounds (four). Curry made four 3-pointers in 30 minutes, and just one other Warrior had made more than one. 

It’s true that the Warriors were down multiple players. As were the Clippers. There will be nights where even in Year 17 the Warriors need Curry to be a one-man show. 

With the preseason over and the regular season lurking in the shadows, that can’t be the case too often starting Tuesday night in LA.

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Middlesbrough go top of Championship after Whittaker gets off mark against Ipswich

Morgan Whittaker scored his first Middlesbrough goal as Rob Edwards’ side returned to the top of the Championship with an action-packed 2-1 win against Ipswich. Victory ended a three-game winless run for the home side, who had made their intent plain by pummelling the visitors’ goal after a forgettable first 30 minutes.

Whittaker doubled Boro’s lead in the 55th minute after Cédric Kipré’s own goal in first-half added time had given them the advantage, shortly after the home goalkeeper Sol Brynn saved a George Hirst penalty.

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Alexander Isak now ‘100%’ ready to start making a major impact at Liverpool

  • Sweden striker missed pre-season training at Newcastle

  • Arne Slot says Isak is at full fitness ahead of United clash

Arne Slot has said Alexander Isak is ready to showcase the qualities that made him Britain’s most expensive footballer.

Isak’s low-key start to life at Liverpool has been attributed to him missing the majority of pre-season training with Newcastle while he forced through a record £125m transfer to Anfield. Seven weeks after joining the Premier League champions, however, and having played the entirety of Sweden’s two recent World Cup qualifiers, Slot believes match fitness is no longer an issue for a striker who aims to kickstart his Liverpool career against Manchester United on Sunday.

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Thomas Frank calls for ‘cohesion’ between Spurs fans and team to lift home form

  • Tottenham have taken 13 points from past 17 home games

  • ‘We need the fans, especially in the tough moments’

Thomas Frank believes that Tottenham’s poor home form will improve if there is a better connection with the crowd, the fans make more noise and stay positive during tough spells.

Frank’s side have made a strong start to the season, 14 points from their first seven games taking them into third place, but they will need to raise their level when they host Aston Villa on Sunday. The statistics do not reflect well on Spurs, whose record of 13 points from their past 17 Premier League home fixtures is the worst of any team to have been in the division throughout that period.

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Manchester City delay decision on John Stones’ future due to fitness concerns

  • England defender is out of contract in the summer

  • Stones played only 11 Premier League games last season

John Stones’s Manchester City future will be reliant on the defender’s fitness, according to Pep Guardiola. The England international’s contract expires in the summer and the club must decide if he deserves an extension after an injury-hit spell at the Etihad Stadium.

The 31-year-old recently said he contemplated retirement last season due to fitness problems, which resulted in him making only 11 Premier League appearances and missing the final three months of the campaign with a hamstring injury. Stones was an unused substitute for City’s past two league matches but will hope to return to the starting lineup against former club Everton on Saturday, having featured twice for England during the international break.

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3 observations after Embiid comes back, Edgecombe shines in Sixers' preseason finale

3 observations after Embiid comes back, Edgecombe shines in Sixers' preseason finale originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers concluded their 2025 preseason with a win and Joel Embiid’s first appearance in many months.

The team closed out a 1-3 preseason Friday night by notching a 126-110 victory over the Timberwolves at Xfinity Mobile Arena. 

In his first game since late February, Embiid tallied 14 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and three steals. 

Tyrese Maxey had 27 points and seven assists. VJ Edgecombe added 26 points, six rebounds, three assists and five steals.

The Sixers were still down Paul George (left knee), Jared McCain (right thumb) and Trendon Watford (right hamstring). Veteran Kyle Lowry also sat. 

The team’s regular-season opener is next Wednesday against the Celtics. Here are observations on the Sixers’ win over Minnesota:

Embiid’s return  

Seconds after the opening tip, Embiid took a pull-up jumper that grazed the front rim. He got everything properly calibrated soon enough, making his next try from the left elbow.

Outside of scoring, Embiid had several bright moments in the early going. He swiped a steal and then tossed a long-range outlet pass that set Maxey up for an and-one layup. 

The Sixers’ half-court offense largely revolved around Embiid in the middle of the floor. Embiid facilitated well, initiating two-man games with his guards, spotting open cutters and capitalizing on the Timberwolves’ aggressive double teams. 

When Embiid rested at the 5:44 mark of the first quarter, the Sixers held a 20-11 lead. His conditioning appeared to be good throughout his 19 minutes on the floor.

In terms of health, Embiid generally did not look bothered by his left knee. The big man did have a somewhat worrisome play in the third quarter when he committed a charge, fell awkwardly and was slow to get up.  He stayed in the game but subbed out about a minute later.

Starting nod for Bona 

Embiid started the night with Maxey, Edgecombe, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Adem Bona. 

Sixers head coach Nick Nurse acknowledged pregame that his current plan is to start the 20-year-old Edgecombe on opening night. All signs have been pointing toward thatthis preseason.

Bona’s start was less expected, although it wasn’t a complete shocker. The Sixers played Bona and Embiid together Sunday in their Blue-White scrimmage and Nurse suggested he wanted to experiment further with the double-big frontcourt. 

Bona steered clear of foul trouble and had an excellent offensive rebounding game. He posted four points, seven boards and a block in 23 minutes.

Dominick Barlow still seems to be firmly in the rotation picture with George and Watford out. The 22-year-old was the first player off the bench Friday and started the second half in Bona’s place. He played 20 minutes and had six points and five rebounds. 

As far as rotation projections, it’s notable that the Sixers’ only four bench players until the fourth quarter were Barlow, Quentin Grimes, Justin Edwards and Jabari Walker. Edwards had the smallest first-half role of that group, playing just three minutes in the second quarter. 

Edgecombe does it all

Edgecombe brought the ball up often Friday. 

Nurse wants greater offensive variety and movement this season. One important aspect of that vision is more Maxey off-ball reps and less onus on the sixth-year guard to create offense from thin air. It will be interesting to see how Edgecombe deals with the ball pressure and split-second decision-making that come with NBA point guard work. 

Edgecombe’s transition talent pops every time he plays. He capped the third quarter with a buzzer-beating fast-break layup. The home crowd encouraged him to sprint ahead of the pack and fly high in the fourth. Edgecombe did so at every possible opportunity. At a bare minimum, the Sixers should have elite speed when Edgecombe shares the floor with Maxey.

The No. 3 overall pick has also continued to look promising in quite a few other departments, including cutting and offensive rebounding. He already has a knack for impacting the game in both eye-popping and subtle ways.

Defensively, Edgecombe got beaten on a couple of occasions by T-Wolves guard Rob Dillingham. However, he’s frequently shined on defense. Edgecombe had several rock-solid 1-on-1 sequences and those five steals. 

As Maxey’s final stat line indicates, he enjoyed playing off the ball and found plenty of shots in his wheelhouse. Not too shabby a preseason finale for the Maxey-Edgecombe duo.

2025-26 Fantasy Basketball Draft Strategy Mega Guide

For some of you, this weekend is when you'll select your fantasy basketball teams for the upcoming season. But if you're like the Rotoworld crew, you would have gotten some of your drafts done well beforehand. However, there's still the need to pay attention to the final preseason games while scouring the waiver wire for value. Noah Rubin and Raphielle Johnson provide their thoughts on approaching the draft, including strategies and some of their favorite picks for each round.

Who is your favorite pick in each round?

Round 1

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder - I love SGA's skill set and production, and he's a player who allows for versatility when building out your fantasy roster. Add in the fact that the Thunder are unlikely to be able to coast through the regular season, given the depth of the Western Conference, and I don't think you can go wrong with drafting Gilgeous-Alexander. - Raphielle Johnson

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks - Avoiding the consensus top-four, Giannis is my favorite pick of the first round. He has his obvious limitations, but Antetokounmpo should be in for a big season with the Bucks. Some people may shy away from being forced to punt free throws and three-pointers in round one, but I’m happy to lean into those. - Noah Rubin

Round 2

Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers - Of the 76ers' "big three," he's the one I trust the most regarding fantasy basketball due to the availability concerns for Joel Embiid and Paul George. While Maxey's 2024-25 season ended prematurely due to injury, playing in 52 games, he's been available for the entire preseason. That should alleviate any concerns, and Maxey played at least 60 games in each of his first four seasons. If you can get him in the second round of your draft, do so. - RJ

Amen Thompson, Houston Rockets - I’m all in on Thompson’s breakout this season. I was excited about him prior to Fred VanVleet’s season-ending knee injury, and now I think he has first-round upside. First All-Star appearance is on the way. - NR

Round 3

Pascal Siakam, Indiana Pacers - The Pacers were already in a challenging spot when Tyrese Haliburton was ruled out for the entire 2025-26 season with a ruptured Achilles tendon. During the preseason, they lost T.J. McConnell to a hamstring injury, and Delon Wright suffered a nasty head injury. While Andrew Nembhard will be the point guard, I can envision Siakam having more playmaking responsibilities out of necessity, raising his fantasy ceiling. - RJ

Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks - Johnson enjoyed a breakout year that was cut short by shoulder injuries. Those aren’t recurring issues to worry about like knees and ankles; it’s just a random occurrence. However, I think he has another level to reach, and he can get there this season. -NR

Round 4

Myles Turner, Milwaukee Bucks - After ten seasons with the Pacers, Turner moved to a Central Division rival this offseason. While his scoring decreased last season, I don't think that will be an issue on a Bucks team that will need more offensive production from Turner. And he'll provide valuable floor spacing in a lineup headlined by Giannis Antetokounmpo. After averaging 5.5 three-point attempts per game last season, Turner may take even more in Milwaukee, and the blocks will always be there. - RJ

Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks - The rookie has been starting at point guard for Dallas even with D’Angelo Russell healthy. He may have the same efficiency issues that many players have during their first season, but he should be a strong source of rebounds, assists, steals and blocks with the upside to contribute in other categories. -NR

Round 5

Brandon Miller, Charlotte Hornets - Injuries limited Miller to 27 games last season, but he's mostly been excellent when on the court. Having a reasonably healthy LaMelo Ball on the floor will also help the third-year wing, who averaged 21.0 points per game last season. If he stays healthy, Miller can put together a top-50 fantasy season in Charlotte. - RJ

Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz - Following a down year in Utah, I’m buying the Markkanen bounceback. The Jazz need to increase his trade value, whether they want to actually move him or not. I think they’ll emphasize him early and often. -NR

Round 6

OG Anunoby, New York Knicks - Despite providing fourth-round per-game value in his first full season with the Knicks, Anunoby's ADP would place him in the sixth round of 12-team drafts. That may be too low for him, especially with Mike Brown taking over as head coach. Brown's desire to ramp up the pace did not come to fruition during the preseason, as the Knicks were dead last in that category, but the talent is there to make things happen once everyone gets comfortable with the system. And I think the wings, especially Anunoby, will benefit if they can have the ball in their hands a bit more than they did last season. - RJ

Jordan Poole, New Orleans Pelicans - Poole was really good last season in Washington, but it went under the radar because the team was so bad. Now, he’s on a team that isn’t expected to be good but doesn’t have their own pick. Poole shouldn’t be considered a shutdown candidate, and if New Orleans is going to get back to the postseason, he’s going to have to shine. -NR

Round 7

Mikal Bridges, New York Knicks - Last season wasn't easy for Bridges, as many did not hesitate to bring up what adding him to the roster cost the Knicks. Year two should be easier for him, for multiple reasons. He's solidified his contract situation, and Bridges is one of the players who may benefit from the change to Mike Brown as head coach. He's had the ball in his hands more during the preseason, which could raise Bridges' ceiling if that carries over into the regular season. Also, you know he'll be available, as he's yet to miss a game in his NBA career. - RJ

Ausar Thompson, Detroit Pistons - Amen broke out last year, and I think it’s Ausar’s turn. He’s the best defender on the team and was really good down the stretch of last season. I’m happy to take him two rounds before this; that’s how confident I am in Thompson this year. -NR

Round 8

Christian Braun, Denver Nuggets - Braun's third NBA season was by far his best, as he more than doubled his scoring average from the season prior. Transitioning from bench contributor to starter, he looks like a player who can offer more in 2025-26. Of course, playing in a lineup headlined by Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray limits his ceiling, but I like Braun's floor, especially with an eighth-round ADP. - RJ

Donovan Clingan, Portland Trail Blazers - Clingan was really good in limited action during his rookie season and is now the full-time starter in Portland. He’ll play a career-high in minutes and put up a ton of double-doubles and blocks while maintaining a sky-high field goal percentage. -NR

Round 9

Devin Vassell, San Antonio Spurs - If I can get Vassell in the ninth round of a draft, sign me up. Since being limited to 38 appearances in 2022-23, he's played 68 and 64 games the past two seasons, so injuries should not be a significant concern for fantasy managers. While the Spurs have a deep perimeter rotation when healthy, few options provide the versatility on both ends of the floor that Vassell does. - RJ

Toumani Camara, Portland Trail Blazers - I’ve loved Camara for a while, and he’s one of the most important players in Portland this season. The Trail Blazers are good enough to compete for a play-in spot, and Camara should provide plenty of threes and steals. -NR

Round 10

Brandin Podziemski, Golden State Warriors - What Podziemski was able to do after the Warriors acquired Jimmy Butler III last season should not be overlooked, especially when gauging his fantasy value for this season. In 27 games (24 starts), he averaged 14.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.2 steals and 2.4 three-pointers while shooting 45.8 percent from the field. That's excellent value, especially for a player who may be available in the 10th round based on his current ADP. - RJ

Zach Edey, Memphis Grizzlies - He’s injured to start the season, but Memphis is going to be focused on running pick-and-rolls with Ja Morant and Edey when both are healthy. Even if Morant is hurt, Ty Jerome and Scotty Pippen Jr. will be there to feed Edey down low. -NR

Who is your least favorite pick in each round?

Round 1

Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks - With the additions the Hawks made this offseason, this will likely be the best team Young has played on since entering the NBA. However, while adding Kristaps Porziņģis, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and others to the roster while getting Jalen Johnson back strengthens the roster, this may negatively impact Young's scoring. He led the NBA in assists last season while scoring 24.2 points per game, but he also did so while shooting a career-worst 41.1 percent from the field. - RJ

Anthony Davis, Dallas Mavericks - I like all of the first-round options this year, but I just feel that Davis is the riskiest. Sure, he’s elite when he’s healthy, but he’s back at power forward, which likely means a slight drop in rebounds. Honestly, it’s not the talent here. I think he’ll easily return first-round value, but it’s the injury risk that makes me hesitate. -NR

Round 2

Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks - While Brunson is coming off another exceptional season, his ADP (22.3 as of Friday morning) may be a bit high. Considering the head coaching change and an offensive system that may take the ball out of Brunson's hands more often, I can see his fantasy value taking a hit. Not to the point where he becomes a poor selection, but to where using a second-round pick on him would not be the best approach. - RJ

Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings - The hamstring injury strengthens my case, even if it ends up being a minor injury. I’m fine with Sabonis in certain builds, but there are so many other players in the second round that I’m really excited about this season. Plus, I just don’t feel confident in Sacramento having a good season, which makes me want to steer clear when I can. -NR

Round 3

LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers - Despite being sidelined by sciatica, James still has a third-round ADP heading into the final weekend before the regular season. I understand the man's greatness, but the ADP is too high considering the circumstances. The Lakers will prioritize ensuring James, who turns 41 in December, is healthy for the stretch run. That could make him a more challenging player to rely on during the "dog days" of the NBA season. - RJ

Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors - I still like Barnes long-term, but he’s looked rough during the preseason, and there are so many ways that this season can go south for Toronto. Playing alongside Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett and Brandon Ingram could also limit Barnes’ touches. Hopefully, he’s able to make up for it with bonus defensive production. -NR

NBA: Atlanta Hawks at Milwaukee Bucks
Depending on the category you’re willing to punt, players like Giannis Antetokounmpo will have greater fantasy value.

Round 4

Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies - Sadly, fellow South Carolina native Zion Williamson is another option for this spot, as both have struggled to remain healthy during their NBA careers. In Morant's case, it feels like a safe bet that he'll have at least one extended absence during the season, and he sat out the preseason with an ankle injury. One would hope he'll stay relatively healthy, but Morant played 59 games the prior two seasons and has not surpassed 65 games since his rookie campaign. - RJ

Ivica Zubac, Los Angeles Clippers - Zubac is coming off the best season of his career. He took legitimate steps forward, but the lack of an effective backup center forced him into a career-high for minutes. With Brook Lopez and John Collins in town, I’m confident that Tyronn Lue doesn’t play Zubac quite as much as he did last year. -NR

Round 5

Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz - Due to his skill set, selecting Markkanen in the fifth round can represent excellent value. The issue for me is the franchise he plays for. Utah said all the right things during the offseason regarding competing after a few seasons or tanking, but how high can they finish in the West? Add in a 2026 draft class that appears very strong at the top, with BYU's AJ Dybanta in the mix to go first overall, and I'm not sure they'll let established players like Markkanen "run through the tape" this season. - RJ

Nikola Vucevic, Chicago Bulls - If you don’t like taking risks, this is probably a fine pick for you. Vucevic started off playing at a high level last season, but he cooled off as the year progressed. He’s pretty reliable, but he's 35 years old. I’m not confident that he’ll return fifth round value. -NR

Round 6

Josh Hart, New York Knicks - Hart returned excellent fantasy value last season. Boasting Yahoo! ADP of 116, he finished the year just outside the top-25 in nine-cat per-game value. Unfortunately, Hart has been banged up during the preseason, dealing with an aggravation of a prior finger injury and a back issue. Add in the likelihood that Mitchell Robinson will replace him in the starting lineup, and Hart's ceiling appears to be considerably lower than last season's when he was a starter. - RJ

DeMar DeRozan, Sacramento Kings - DeRozan regressed late last season, but people seem happy to take him in the top-75. I just think the risks outweigh the rewards. On a team with Sabonis, Zach LaVine, Malik Monk, Dennis Schroder and now Russell Westbrook, is there enough touches to go around? I could see DeRozan taking a pretty significant step back this season. -NR

Round 7

Jalen Green, Phoenix Suns - Green is currently dealing with a hamstring injury and won't be available when the regular season begins. Beyond that, I'm not sold on his fantasy potential, especially as part of a Suns roster that seems stuck between rebuilding and trying to sneak into the postseason. Green will undoubtedly have opportunities, but the inefficient shooting is an issue. - RJ

Paul George, Philadelphia 76ers - I think I’ll just let someone else take George here. He’s gonna miss the start of the season, and when he was available last season, he wasn’t as good as he had been. There’s tremendous upside with this pick if he is able to return to who he was two years ago, but I’m just not a believer in that happening. -NR

Round 8

RJ Barrett, Toronto Raptors - As of October 17, Barrett had a Yahoo! ADP of 91.4, which is too high for me. Not only has he never been a top-100 player in per-game or total value, but he has just one top-150 season to his credit. Add in Brandon Ingram being healthy, and I don't see Barrett returning top-100 fantasy value this season. - RJ

Kel’el Ware, Miami Heat - Ware has started in two preseason games for the Heat, but they were both games where Nikola Jovic didn’t play. Though Ware has looked good during the preseason, he has been a reserve. I don’t dislike many picks in this range, and I don’t absolutely hate selecting Ware here, but I’d rather wait a little bit to add a backup big. -NR

Round 9

Jaden Ivey, Detroit Pistons - Ivey was playing good basketball last season at the time of his leg injury, which ended his 2024-25 campaign on New Year's Day. Unfortunately, a knee procedure unrelated to the fractured fibula suffered last year will keep Ivey out for at least four weeks. Combined with Ausar Thompson's emergence, that may conspire to limit Ivey's fantasy value this season. He certainly would not be a "bad" pick, but there's reason for concern. - RJ

Nic Claxton, Brooklyn Nets - This is not a talent issue; Claxton can be a borderline top-25 player in category leagues when he’s in the right situation. This Nets team simply isn’t that. Brooklyn is going to be bad (by design), which makes Claxton a shutdown candidate. Plus, even though Brooklyn added a bunch of ball handlers, he isn’t going to have an elite pick-and-roll operator to set him up at the rim. This is a recipe for a disaster season for Claxton, though it will likely lead to him being a value pick next year. -NR

Round 10

Dennis Schröder, Sacramento Kings - As great as Schröder looked in leading Germany to EuroBasket glory this summer, I'm not too big on his fit in Sacramento, especially with the Kings signing Russell Westbrook. The starting lineup includes two wings in Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan who like to play with the ball in their hands, and center Domantas Sabonis also has playmaking abilities that he can showcase. Schröder has been a top-150 player once in the last five seasons, during the 2023-24 campaign. - RJ

Keyonte George, Utah Jazz - George has been starting during the preseason, but Isaiah Collier hasn’t been healthy. I assume that Collier will be the starting point guard when he’s available, but even if George starts, he hasn’t been effective in category leagues. He’s an inefficient scoring guard that doesn’t get defensive stats. The assists have been decent at times, but he’s not a player I’m looking to draft this year. -NR

What is your favorite punt build, and why?

Punt turnovers

I like punting this category because it keeps so many roster-building options open. High-usage players benefit the most from this approach, whether you're talking about point guards or post players. I'm not passing on Cade Cunningham or Anthony Edwards because of their turnover numbers; I'm fine losing that category. - RJ

Punt threes and frees

This works out well with Giannis! Some of my favorite players to watch and draft are athletic freaks that rack up defensive stats and get to the rim. Usually, they’re below average shooters. Plus, you can add shooters in the last few rounds to at least give yourself a chance to win threes any week. There are way more elite shooters than elite defenders that are available at the end of drafts. - NR

What is your least favorite punt build, and why?

Punt points

Maybe you can get away with this in Yahoo's new High Score game, but I'd prefer not to do this in traditional fantasy formats. Things can get really weird when punting the points category. Of the top 24 players in fantasy basketball last season, only one averaged less than 18.5 points per game: Atlanta's Dyson Daniels. For this reason, I prefer not to punt points. - RJ

Punt defense

Defense wins championships, or something like that. It’s certainly a strategy, but it’s honestly pretty boring to punt both steals and blocks. Plus, players that don’t play defense can be taken off the floor if their offense isn’t offsetting those issues. -NR

How do you identify value in drafts?

The first step for me is to identify the categories in which a player can provide solid production. The more, the merrier, especially when drafting in the early rounds. I'd prefer to avoid a scenario in which I'm selecting a player who's deficient in multiple categories, but that's unavoidable at times. You can usually pick off a "specialist" or two in the later rounds to help address production gaps, so I'd prefer not to do that early. I try to to worry too much about the ADP data that may be displayed on a draft board, as that can be somewhat deceiving. - RJ

Zig when others zag. When other people are loading up on specific categories or positions, add what nobody else is adding that round. Try and balance getting “your guys” with players that may have slipped further than they should. There aren’t really any “bad players” in fantasy basketball, but there are bad picks. I have zero interest in drafting Paul George this year, but at what point has he fallen far enough for me to take him? Pick 90? Pick 100? Everyone will have a different number for that. -NR

How do you leverage rankings to your advantage while drafting?

Rankings help, but having a proper understanding of player roles and places within their team's rotations is of far greater importance. How much did a preseason injury impact the player's role? It's not enough to have the numbers (rankings); you also have to know what's influencing them. If you have that information and the other managers in your league don't, that goes a long way toward being able to win. - RJ

Most people you draft with are going to draft players close to where they’re ranked on the platform you’re drafting on. It’s just natural. Sometimes, I fall victim to it as well. That helps you get a nice range of when you need to reach for someone. If you’re at pick 49 and know your next pick is 72, but “your guy” has an ADP of 74, you may need to consider reaching to ensure you get that player, especially if everyone you’re drafting against is aware of your biases. - NR

How soon do you reach for your guys? Describe your approach to reaching in general.

I tend to be more conservative when it comes to reaching. The third round is when I'll begin to consider doing something wild, depending on how the draft board has played out. The other area where I'll reach is in the final two or three rounds, which may be what a lot of drafters look to do. If taking a swing works out, you've got a player who may help you win the league. If not? You aren't losing out on too much from a value standpoint if you have to drop a late-round pick. - RJ

Typically, I try not to reach early in drafts. As the draft progresses, I’m more likely to reach further down the board. In the first couple rounds, I’ll reach a few spots. In the middle rounds, I’ll reach by a round or two. Once it gets past pick 90-100, it’s a free-for-all. Also, it helps to even things out. If you reach for a player in round six, make a value pick in round seven to help mitigate the risk. - NR

Name 3 players you’re much higher on than consensus.

OG Anunoby - I think the Knicks wings are in for excellent seasons with Mike Brown at the helm. Anunoby was a top-40 player last season, yet still has an ADP in the sixties. - RJ

Devin Vassell - While the scoring did decrease last season, I think Vassell is in for a bounce-back season. Instead of focusing on getting healthy, he was able to focus on improving his game this summer, which should pay dividends. - RJ

Trey Murphy - His Yahoo! ADP places him in the fourth round of 12-team leagues, which is respectable. But I think he'll be even more productive than he was during the 2024-25 campaign, even with Zion Williamson back in the mix. Don't be surprised if Murphy puts up a top-25 season. - RJ

Ausar Thompson - It’s breakout season for Ausar. I think we can be talking about him as a round three pick at this time next season. - NR

Jordan Poole - For dynasty managers, Poole’s value has a clock on it, but he’s going to be really good this season. - NR

Brandin Podziemski - Podz was a top-75 player in category leagues over the final two months of last season, but he’s going outside the top-120 in Yahoo! leagues. That doesn’t make sense to me. Steve Kerr will continue to toy with the Warriors’ lineup, which will be a headache, but he’s worth a top-100 selection. - NR

Name 3 players you’re much lower on than consensus.

Domantas Sabonis - His ADP has decreased somewhat after being just outside the top-10, but the team situation still concerns me. Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan will need their touches, as will new point guard Dennis Schröder. And now the Kings have added Russell Westbrook? Sabonis' points and assists may take a hit this season. - RJ

Ivica Zubac - Zubac is coming off a career year, but Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue has already said during the preseason that he believes his starting center played too much last season. To that point, the Clippers added John Collins and Brook Lopez during the offseason, which may push Zubac back below 30 minutes per game (he averaged nearly 33 minutes in 2024-25). - RJ

Jaylen Brown - Due to Jayson Tatum's Achilles injury and the departure of multiple rotation players, Brown's role will expand. However, will his percentages and turnovers improve? That's been the issue for him in the past regarding fantasy value, and I'm not sold on Brown being able to improve in those areas while leading a roster that's taken a step back. - RJ

Jalen Brunson - I think Brunson is really, really good. I just don’t think things are set up in New York for him to return second-round value, which is where he’s going in Yahoo! leagues. Mike Brown is likely going to manage his minutes and usage more than Tom Thibodeau did. - NR

Josh Giddey - I understand why people are high on Giddey this season. He was phenomenal down the stretch of last season. I just don’t think I’d take him until the fourth round, but he’s been going in round two of most of the recent drafts I’ve participated in. He’ll be a quality source of rebounds and assists this year, but I’m not confident that he’ll do enough elsewhere to make him worth your second selection. - NR

Jalen Green - I think a fresh start will be good for Green, but I don’t think that means he’s going to be better than he had been previously. It’s not like he didn’t have a green light in Houston. We’ve seen Green in a high-usage role, and that’s what he’s going to play in Phoenix. I don’t see why he’s a top-75 pick now. - NR

Which 3 players have the biggest range of outcomes this season?

Joel Embiid - At his current ADP, he can be a league-winner if reasonably healthy due to the ability to provide elite fantasy value. However, there's also the possibility of another significant injury that would put him on the shelf. Embiid could be anywhere from top-5 to a player who can't be rostered due to the injury concerns. - RJ

Scottie Barnes - The overall skill set is such that he can be a solid fantasy option, even with the lack of three-point shooting. However, Barnes struggled during the preseason and seems to have regressed as a perimeter shooter. Add in Brandon Ingram, and Barnes' ceiling and floor are separated by a significant amount. - RJ

Mark Williams - The Suns center has a seventh-round ADP in Yahoo! leagues, but there's no telling when he'll be cleared to play in games. When available, he has top-50 fantasy potential. However, Williams played 43, 19 and 44 games in his first three NBA seasons. Betting on him being able to stay relatively healthy is a major risk, even in the middle rounds of drafts. - RJ

Alperen Sengun - Sengun appears poised for a breakout season, and he could average career-highs across the board and bounce back after a drop in field goal percentage last season, which could result in elite value. However, he has yet to finish in the top-50 in nine-cat leagues, and there is a scenario where the emergence of Amen Thompson and addition of Kevin Durant prevents Sengun from breaking out. I’d lean towards the first option, but the second is a real possibility. - NR

Joel Embiid - This one’s obvious. He’s capable of being a top-five player in fantasy basketball, but the injury question marks are real. He could win you leagues, and he could lose you leagues. - NR

Lauri Markkanen - Markkanen is coming off a rough season, but I think he’ll bounce back. After two straight top-20 seasons, he finished barely inside the top-100 last year. Either could happen this year, though I’d lean towards him being a top-50 player. - NR

Name 3 late-round fliers you love taking.

Ryan Kalkbrenner - He may not be guaranteed to be the Hornets' starting center on opening night, but he's the best option as far as fantasy basketball is concerned. And good luck keeping a 7-footer who was a four-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year off the floor. And you've probably seen my reaction to being sniped on Kalkbrenner by now. - RJ

Brandin Podziemski - Referring to Podziemski as a late-round flier feels weird, but he qualifies based on his ADP. He fit well in the Warriors' starting lineup after the team acquired Jimmy Butler III in February, and I see no reason for that to change this season. - RJ

VJ Edgecombe - Another rookie makes the cut for me. Due to the combination of his athleticism and Jared McCain's most recent injury, Edgecombe is well-positioned to hit the ground running in Philadelphia, whether he starts or comes off the bench. Cooper Flagg is the betting favorite to win Rookie of the Year, but I fully expect Edgecombe to be, at minimum, a finalist for the award. - RJ

Taylor Hendricks - Somebody’s going to have to play defense in Utah. Hendricks has upside to be a productive offensive player, but he’ll at least be on the floor and able to provide defensive stats. - NR

Nikola Jovic - He’s starting, and he’s able to provide well-rounded production. I get that Kel’el Ware being there scares people off, but he could end up starting all season. - NR

Ryan Dunn - Much like Hendricks, Dunn’s defense is going to keep him in the starting lineup. The offense is shaky, but it was much better as a rookie than we expected. Draft him for the defense and enjoy whatever offense he can give as a bonus. - NR

Describe Your Favorite Draft Strategy.

No dice rolls until the third round

I play it relatively safe in the first two rounds, looking to go with "best available" in the first and then a solid complementary option in the second who can fill any apparent gaps. After that, I'm rolling the dice. That leads to some risks, but the reward outweighs the risk for me. If you're right, that may be what pushes your team to the top of the league. And if not, there's always the ability to make trades, provided you don't wait too long to make a move. - RJ

Get your guys, and then even things out

Early on, get your favorite player in the first few rounds. Can't go wrong either way. In the middle rounds, take a few swings, but when you're not reaching, take the value pick. It helps make you feel a little better about taking a risk. As I said earlier in the article, the worst feeling is to leave your draft without that guys that you just have to have because you were playing it too safe. Set yourself up to take a risk by taking the value picks when you can. - NR

Screen Shots: How NHL Players Decompress – Plus Tusky And Growing The League

Welcome back to Screen Shots, an ongoing THN.com series in which we break down a number of hockey topics into shorter sequences.

Let’s get right to it.

When hockey players finish up with their daily on-ice routines – be they in games or practices – there are certain things they do to wind down.

After a recent Toronto Maple Leafs practice, THN.com spoke to a couple of Maple Leafs players about how they decompress and maintain a healthy life away from the game.

But thinking that any one player does the same thing day in and day out between playing is a mistake. Some hockey players are creatures of habit, but having a good variety of activities makes it easier for NHLers to decompress.

Leafs left winger Steven Lorentz is one such player.

“There’s nothing I really do that’s set in stone,” Lorentz said. “I’m pretty high-strung, so I don’t really decompress. It’s kind of more of a slow, kind of gradual thing over the course of the day. Once I get back home, I usually go with my wife for a walk. We like to stay active. So it’s just kind of winding things down, and after dinner, it’s probably watching a movie.”

Asked what his favorite movie is, Lorentz counts himself as a major fan of war movies and shows.

Saving Private RyanBand of BrothersThe Pacific – anything like that is something I’ll watch,” Lorentz said. “I like all the (war) shows and documentaries. I even watch them in other languages and turn the subtitles on.”

For his part, Lorentz’s teammate Bobby McMann does a number of different things to decompress. 

“I try and read – probably should try a little more,” McMann said. “But I’m more of a show guy, shows and movies. And I like thrillers, thriller movies.”

The recent release of a new thriller on Netflix also caught McMann’s attention, but he leans on a tried-and-true TV staple as a regular show to tune into.

The Girlfriend is a new thriller show I watched lately,” McMann said, referring to the Robin Wright thriller series. “But it’s not the easiest thing to decompress. Usually I’ll throw on Friends or something after a game to try and settle down. But when I’m home, after dinner, I’ll probably usually watch a thriller movie.”


Tusky (Rob Gray-Imagn Images)

The Utah Mammothunveiled their new mascot this week – Tusky, a 6-foot-5 Mammoth character that looks like it has emerged right out of the snowy tundra. 

Tusky is going to be challenged to be as successful as Philadelphia Flyers icon mascot Gritty – but given how popular the Mammoth organization has been since relocating from Phoenix in 2024, the team needed to quickly move on a mascot that was family friendly and true to the team name.

In fact, they might have created a new mascot rivalry that would be fun for the league to buy into.

"A baby blue prehistoric animal... how orignal," Nashville Predators mascot Gnash posted on X Wednesday. 

Gritty became a cultural phenomenon, and that’s a hard bar for every other mascot to clear. Nobody is reinventing the wheel here with Tusky, but it’s nice that Salt Lake City and the Utah hockey community get the full NHL experience – and that includes having your own mascot. 


Finally, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman spoke out in the strongest terms yet regarding growing the league beyond North America

"We're focused on what we can be doing more outside of North America to continue to grow the game on a worldwide basis," Bettman told NHL.com following the league's board of governors meeting on Wednesday. "That's becoming an increasing focus and priority for us because we believe we're the most international, certainly with our player composition, of the four major sports in North America, and we think there's a great opportunity. But even more than the opportunity, we'd like to see the game continue to grow."

If You Ever Get A Chance To See A Hockey Game In Prague, Take ItIf You Ever Get A Chance To See A Hockey Game In Prague, Take ItWhen you walk into the O2 Arena in Prague to cover a hockey game, one of the first things they give you is a ticket, which allows you to redeem it for a sausage and a beer.

Deputy commissioner Bill Daly had previously given a strong indication the NHL is aiming to expand its footprint deeper into Europe and beyond and grow its product in a slew of big-city, big-money markets overseas. The latest announcement in that regard is a media deal that will broadcast 21 NHL games in Australia.

That said, Europe is the more significant area the league can extend its product into. While we won’t see NHL European teams anytime soon, you will see more games being staged there and more progress in growing the game where there’s a promising hunger for it.

"We're not talking about starting a league," Bettman said. "It's more about playing games, media, grassroots programs, providing content – the things we do in North America on a regular basis and we've been doing to some extent in Europe. But this is about investing more of ourselves in building."

That makes a lot of sense for the league. We’ve been a longtime proponent of any movement that grows hockey in Scandinavia and beyond – places where there are established markets for the sport – and these moves mark the first step toward eventually growing the NHL game to previously unthinkable heights.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

The Panthers Den: First road trip of season brings troubling results

The first two weeks of the NHL season have been quite different for the Florida Panthers.

After picking up three wins in their first three games, all on home ice, the Panthers hit the road this week and the results have not been great.

Playing three games in four nights, Florida scored a total of four goals while dropping all three by a combined score of 12-4.

To the Panthers’ credit, the games were all much closer than the final scores would indicate, as Florida was either tied or within one goal of each until the late stages of the third period.

We also learned that defenseman Dmitry Kulikov, who was injured during the second game of the season, would be out for around five months after having surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder.

It wasn’t all bad for the Cats though, as several players stood out for some good reasons, including youngster Mackie Samoskevich and new goaltender Daniil Tarasov.

Every week, The Hockey Show co-hosts Roy Bellamy and David Dwork pay a visit to the Panthers Den, where they discuss the week that was and go over all the Panthers news and happenings that occurred.

This week’s edition of the Panthers Den can be seen below. Let us know in the comments what you think!

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Panthers fall flat in New Jersey, lose third straight on road trip

Challenging road trip continues as Panthers visit New Jersey looking to avoid third straight loss

Panthers lose second straight, come up short against Red Wings in Detroit

Panthers Claim Senators Defenseman Off Waivers

On the Mets and Tarik Skubal

Thursday’s report in the New York Postthat the Detroit Tigers and Cy Young Award-winner Tarik Skubal were $250 million apart on contract value landed as a significant development in this winter’s starting pitching trade market -- a market in which the Mets will be involved.

If team and player are that far apart 12 months before Skubal hits free agency, it is logical to assume that the Tigers will explore trades.

Might Skubal remain with Detroit next season? Sure. But the Post story seemed like a big move in the other direction. A subsequent report in the Detroit Free Press added that the Tigers last year offered Skubal a four-year contract for less than $100 million.

Leaks like this more frequently precede baseball breakups than they do marriages.

The Mets are looking for pitching. In fact, they would love to have a best-in-class ace as soon as possible.

Paul Skenes is the dream target for any club seeking an ace, but teams that would be interested do not expect the Pittsburgh Pirates to make Skenes available. The Mets should call the Pirates just to be sure, but now Skubal seems far more attainable.

If (when?) the Tigers do take calls on Skubal, expect the Mets to be motivated and involved. While I don’t think the Mets would deal Nolan McLean for one year of any player -- McLean is part of the future, not a trade piece -- the Mets surely know that they would have to discuss just about any other prospect or young player to land Skubal.

Because the Tigers are in their window to win, they would probably want MLB talent in addition to top prospects like Jonah Tong and Jett Williams. For what it’s worth, Detroit has expressed interest in Brett Baty in the past.  

The Mets like Baty, but in general are willing to shake up their current position player group. For a pitcher like Skubal, any team would part with good players.

Doug Christie outlines former NBA MVP Russell Westbrook's role with Kings

Doug Christie outlines former NBA MVP Russell Westbrook's role with Kings originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Running the second unit isn’t typically the job description for a former NBA MVP, but new Kings point guard Russell Westbrook is ready for the task at hand.

Coach Doug Christie was asked how he sees Westbrook fitting into the Kings’ rotation.

“I want Russ to be Russ first and foremost,” Christie told reporters Friday. “Behind Dennis [Schröder], making sure that we are stable and running that second unit at a high level.”

The 36-year-old veteran came off the bench for most of the 2024-25 NBA season last year with the Denver Nuggets, where he averaged 13.3 points, 6.1 assists and 4.9 rebounds per game.

Christie will be Westbrook’s 10th NBA head coach. The nine-time All-Star has bounced around quite a bit, but every locker room he has been in has benefited from his contributions, as he often is able to guard multiple spots on the floor.

“At the same time, Russ plays multiple positions,” Christie continued. “I just want Russ to be Russ. Really, that’s the biggest thing. Be all the beautiful things I’ve seen him be for all these years.”

Malik Monk had high praise for his former teammate as well when he addressed reporters on Thursday.

“I feel like Russ has been playing an undersized 4,” Monk said. “He can guard a 4. I think that’ll give us a little more versatility on the offensive and defensive end … switching a little more. He’s been in the league how long? He knows how to play the game, knows how to win. And he’s a competitor, so he’s going to help us.”

When Westbrook is playing freely, the results seem to follow. He has averaged double-digit points in every season so far during his 17-year NBA career.

The newest member of the Kings is headed to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame; it’s only a matter of time. For now, he looks to give an uncertain Kings team direction and leadership.

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