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Ex-Blackhawks Forward Is Heating Up Right Now

Taylor Hall (© Steve Roberts-Imagn Images)

During this past season, the Chicago Blackhawks traded Taylor Hall to the Carolina Hurricanes. Seeing Hall on the move was understandable, as he was a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA), and the Blackhawks were out of the playoff hunt. 

Now, after signing a three-year, $9.5 million contract extension with the Hurricanes, Hall is in his second season in Carolina. So far, the former Blackhawks forward is having a solid start to the year, posting five goals, seven assists, 12 points, and a plus-6 rating in 19 games. 

However, Hall is only heating up as the season carries on. In his last six games with the Hurricanes, the former Blackhawks winger has posted three goals and six points. This included him scoring a goal and recording an assist in the Blackhawks' most recent contest against the Boston Bruins on Nov. 17.

With numbers like these, there is no question that Hall is giving the Hurricanes solid secondary scoring right now. He is continuing to be a solid fit on their roster, and his goal will be to stay hot from here. 

In two seasons with the Blackhawks from 2023-24 to 2024-25, Hall posted 11 goals, 17 assists, 28 points, 30 hits, and 30 blocks. 

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Pete Alonso buzz, Edwin Diaz at 50/50, and a new top 30 prospects list | The Mets Pod

On the latest episode of The Mets Pod presented by Tri-State Cadillac, Connor Rogers and Joe DeMayo keep talking Pete Alonso, Edwin Diaz, and also dive into a new Mets Top 30 Prospects list.

First up, the guys look at the deal that Josh Naylor signed in Seattle to stay with the Mariners, and discuss whether or not that contract truly affects the free agent market for Alonso.

Then, Connor and Joe react to comments from Diaz about the odds for his Mets return being "50/50."

Later, the guys get into Joe’s new prospects list, and open the Mailbag to take on questions about Ketel Marte, Alex Bregman, Tatsuya Imai, Nate Lavender, and the potential of David Stearns hiring a GM.

Be sure to subscribe to The Mets Pod at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Avengers will not reassemble: Stephen Curry says he is 'highly doubtful' for Los Angeles Olympics, LeBron out

The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will not be one last reunion for LeBron James and Stephen Curry. The Avengers of 2024 in Paris will not reassemble.

"I will be watching it from Cabo," LeBron James said on his Mind the Game podcast with Steve Nash, part two of a sit-down with Curry. LeBron has competed in four Olympic Games and has three gold medals (and a bronze from 2004) to show for it.

Curry likely isn't suiting up for Team USA either, but he would not completely shut the door.

"God willing, I still have the choice and physical option to be like, I could actually impact the team," Curry said. "I never say never, but I highly doubt it."

"We could never top those last two games," LeBron said, referencing close wins over Nikola Jokic and Serbia, followed by Victor Wembanyama and the French team. "Like, we literally played France in Paris in the finals."

The USA brought home its fifth consecutive Olympic gold in men's basketball from Paris, with LeBron being named tournament MVP. Winning a sixth will require the next generation of American stars to step up — Anthony Edwards, Devin Booker, Tyrese Haliburton, Jayson Tatum and others — and face the deepest pool of international teams the Games will have ever seen. A more mature, improved Wembanyama will lead a French team that has a legitimate shot at gold.

The LA28 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony is set for July 14, 2028, and will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock.

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Jimmy Butler threatens Buddy Hield after turnover in Warriors' game vs. Magic

Jimmy Butler threatens Buddy Hield after turnover in Warriors' game vs. Magic originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Jimmy Butler was not happy with Buddy Hield toward the end of the first quarter of Tuesday’s game.

During an inbounds play with less than one minute remaining in the opening frame, Butler’s pass intended for Hield was intercepted by Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane. After the apparent miscommunication between the two teammates, Butler shared a not-so-subtle threat to the Warriors guard.

“Put your hands up,” Butler shouted. “I’m never passing you the ball again.”

Yikes.

It appears Hield is on a short leash with Butler.

Of course, the two have a great relationship off the court that has been adored by Dub Nation since Butler was traded to the Warriors in February.

But Butler is a fierce competitor, and perhaps his warning was an attempt to motivate Hield to better lock in as the Warriors seek their fourth consecutive win amid their current six-game road trip.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr has been adamant and overly vocal about limiting turnovers after his team has made some careless mistakes throughout the early part of the 2025-26 NBA season.

Hopefully for the Warriors, Hield is receptive to the constructive — and outspoken — criticism from his teammate.

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Clippers injuries keep piling up: Derrick Jones Jr. out at least six weeks with MCL sprain

It looked bad when it happened: Jaylen Brown lost his dribble then reached out to get it back as he went to the floor, and in doing so his arm hit the Clippers' Derrick Jones Jr. in the knee and bent it sideways. Jones had to be helped off the court.

Following an MRI, the Clippers have announced that Jones has suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain and is out, to be re-evaluated in six weeks. While not ideal, the concern around the Clippers was that this was something much worse, so there was some relief.

Jones joins Kawhi Leonard (ankle/foot sprain) and Bradley Beal (hip surgery, out for the season) as three planned starters in street clothes for Los Angeles. Tyronn Lue had to go to his seventh starting lineup through 14 games on Monday night against Philadelphia, starting two-way player Kobe Sanders in Jones' place.

Don't let the counting stats fool you — 10.9 points and 2.5 rebounds a game in 26 minutes a night — Jones was a key piece for the Clippers, one of their few real transition finishing options, plus one of their best man defenders.

The Clippers are 4-10 on the season but have no motivation to tank, they owe next June's first-round pick to Oklahoma City as the last part of the Paul George trade.

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Steph Curry passes Vince Carter for 22nd place on NBA's all-time scoring list

Steph Curry passes Vince Carter for 22nd place on NBA's all-time scoring list originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Human Torch has vanquished Half-Man/Half-Amazing.

With his 14th point in Tuesday’s Warriors game against the Orlando Magic, Steph Curry passed Hall of Famer Vince Carter for No. 22 on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.

Curry entered the day with 25,715 career points and trailed Carter by 13 points.

The Warriors star continues to climb up the all-time scoring list, and if he stays healthy this season, he could pass another eight Naismith Memorial Hall of Famers.

Next up for Curry is former Minnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets great Kevin Garnett, who finished with 26,071 points in 21 NBA seasons.

At his current average of 29.1 points per game, Curry could catch Garnett by mid-December.

Curry has a legitimate chance to finish his career in the top 10 on the all-time scoring list, which would cement his status as one of the greatest players in NBA history.

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Mets' Brandon Nimmo can 'be had' in a trade this offseason: report

There’s no doubting that the Mets are looking to shake up their roster this offseason, with president of baseball operations David Stearns saying the club is “going to have to be open-minded on our position player grouping so that we can improve our run prevention.”

And while most fans and media members have pointed to the names involved in the Mets’ surplus of infielders when it comes to potential trades – players like Mark Vientos, Luisangel Acuña, Jeff McNeil, and BrettBaty – perhaps a core member of the outfielder could be on the block as well. 

While previewing what should be a highly entertaining MLB offseason, ESPN’s Jeff Passan mentioned Brandon Nimmo, along with McNeil, as Mets who "can also be had" in a trade. 

After the Mets’ season came to an end, SNY MLB Insider Andy Martino also brought up the possibility of the Mets exploring the trade market for stars like Nimmo and Francisco Lindor.

As Passan points out, Nimmo has a full no-trade clause as part of the eight-year, $162 million contract he signed after the 2022 season, and he is still owed $20.5 million per season through 2030. 

Nimmo had another consistent season in 2025, slashing .262/.324/.436 with 25 homers, 92 RBI and 81 runs scored. His average exit velocity (91.9 MPH) and hard-hit percentage (50.2 percent) both ranked in the 88th percentile, according to Baseball Savant. 

His advanced defensive numbers tell a different story, though, as both his range (42nd percentile) and his arm strength (48th percentile) rank him below league average.

The left-handed-hitting Nimmo has seen his power numbers on the rise over the course of the past few years as well, hitting at least 23 big flies in each of the last three seasons, including his career-best of 25 this past year.

While trading Nimmo would certainly come as a bit of a surprise, it could perhaps open up a corner outfield spot for free agents like Cody Bellinger or Kyle Tucker.

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Troubling Trend: Internet Reacts As Pressure On Oilers' Darnell Nurse Reaches Boiling Point

Darnell Nurse is taking a beating from both Edmonton Oilers fans and analysts as frustrations mount over his sluggish start to the season. By no means has he been the only problem on this roster, but his detractors are pointing to alarming defensive metrics, a lack of offensive impact, and costly penalties that have magnified Edmonton’s early struggles.

With three goals and seven points in 21 games, Nurse is a plus/minus of -8. He's playing over 20 minutes per night, and the Oilers need him to be better. 

After Monday's game against the Buffalo Sabres, where Nurse was among the more problematic players in a very lacklustre group of Oilers, social media had a heyday discussing how his play has fallen well below expectations for a top-four defenceman — especially one carrying a massive contract ($9.25 million per season).

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Thanks to his contract and tendency to do too much on the ice, Nurse has often been polarizing. However, the vitriol has intensified as the numbers continue to look less favorable as the season rolls along. Nurse is being outplayed in nearly every situation, fueling debate about his role, usage, and future with the team.

Frankly, the pressure has reached a boiling point, and the reaction across Oilers Nation is nothing short of fierce. 

Zach Hyman’s Return Gives Oilers Major Boost Against HurricanesZach Hyman’s Return Gives Oilers Major Boost Against HurricanesZach Hyman returns from a five-month absence, expected to rejoin the top line and spark the Oilers' offense against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Kevin McCurdy: "So being a guy that loves to torture myself with numbers, I was just doing some poking around NST. Darnell Nurse w/o 97 and 29: ZERO GOALS FOR AND ELEVEN AGAINST."

Jesse Corville Lynch, "Trading Darnell Nurse solves every issue the Edmonton Oilers have. #LetsGoOilers" His post led to several comments in the thread about how Nurse's contract is untradable and that the Oilers are stuck with one of the worst deals in the NHL. 

Paul Almeida writes, "Nurse should be sitting right now. July 1. 2027 can’t come fast enough when Nurse's contract goes from a full NMC to a modified NMC with a 10-team no-trade clause."

PuckMarks writes, "Darnell Nurse has been absolutely brutal so far this season. He’s not generating his usual offence, getting caved in defensively and taking way too many penalties. This contract is truly disastrous and keeps having worse and worse consequences."

Author of Connor McDavid: Hockey's Next Great One, Rob Soria: "The most troubling part with this Oilers lineup, no matter who Nurse plays with...he looks terrible. The blue line as a collective has been poor to start the season, but Darnell is hitting new lows."

Jonathan Willis: "From 2022-25, 153 NHL defencemen played at least three hours in 4v5 situations. Seven of them were on the ice for more goals against/hour than Darnell Nurse. 145 of them were on for fewer."From Mr. Bandana: "At some point, maybe someone with a microphone will talk about the fact that Darnell Nurse has been on the ice for 188 scoring chances against so far this year That is the second most in the entire NHL. No other Oiler is in the top 20."

Jonathan Willis: "From 2022-25, 153 NHL defencemen played at least three hours in 4v5 situations. Seven of them were on the ice for more goals against/hour than Darnell Nurse. 145 of them were on for fewer."

From Mr. Bandana: "At some point, maybe someone with a microphone will talk about the fact that Darnell Nurse has been on the ice for 188 scoring chances against so far this year. That is the second most in the entire NHL. No other Oiler is in the top 20."

Darnell Nurse is struggling for the Edmonton Oilers and fans are tired of it. Photo by  © James Guillory Imagn Images

Add it all up, and it’s clear the heat on Nurse is real, intense, and growing. Fans used to suggest his lack of a true top-four playing partner might explain his inconsistencies. The narrative has flipped, and now Nurse is being blamed for the shortcomings of the pairings he's on. 

Whether he rebounds — or becomes a bigger storyline this season — is now one of Edmonton’s biggest questions. As Edmonton stumbles through another uneven stretch, the veteran defenceman has become a focal point of frustration — and the numbers behind his play aren’t helping his case.

Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more.   Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.

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Giants reportedly decide new pitching coach hire after J.P. Martinez exit

Giants reportedly decide new pitching coach hire after J.P. Martinez exit originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

New Giants manager Tony Vitello’s coaching staff is coming together, with San Francisco reportedly deciding on its new pitching coach.

The Giants are hiring Justin Meccage to replace J.P. Martinez in the role, FanSided’s Robert Murray reported Tuesday, citing sources familiar with the situation. Meccage most recently spent last season with the Milwaukee Brewers organization as the Triple-A Nashville Sounds pitching coach.

Martinez had hoped to stay with the Giants, per NBC Sports Bay Area’s Alex Pavlovic, but he ended up taking a job as the bullpen coach for the Atlanta Braves after five total seasons with San Francisco and one as the team’s pitching coach.

“With nothing being a guarantee [in San Francisco] for J.P., I think he took the bird in hand,” Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey told reporters last week at the annual General Managers Meetings in Las Vegas. “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.”

Now, Meccage will join first-time MLB manager Vitello as a first-time big league pitching coach himself. The 45-year-old joined the Pittsburgh Pirates organization in 2011 as a minor league coach before being promoted to minor league pitching coordinator in 2017. He was named Pirates assistant pitching coach from 2018-2019, then became the bullpen coach in Pittsburgh in 2020 until the organization let him go after the 2024 season.

Meccage takes over a Giants staff featuring perennial Cy Young Award contender Logan Webb and two other locked-in starters, Robbie Ray and Landen Roupp. The rest is up in the air between MLB free agency and others within the organization like Carson Whisenhunt, Blade Tidwell, Trevor McDonald and Hayden Birdsong.

San Francisco also reportedly is set to hire Toronto Blue Jays assistant hitting coach Hunter Mense to replace Pat Burrell as the team’s hitting coach, The Athletic’s Mitch Bannon reported last week, citing sources, and former San Diego Padres manager Jayce Tingler is joining Vitello’s staff in a role yet to be determined.

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