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A Natural Fit: Denver Barkey’s Early NHL Games Raise Meaningful Questions About His Future With Flyers

Denver Barkey’s transition to the NHL has not followed the usual arc of a young player trying to announce himself. There has been no frantic pace to his game, no sense that he is pressing for offense or trying to force relevance shift by shift.

Instead, his arrival has been defined by a steady absorption into the Philadelphia Flyers’ daily rhythms—systems, details, and expectations—until his presence feels less like a trial run and more like a natural extension of the lineup.

That is the most telling part of Barkey’s early NHL sample. He doesn’t look like a player borrowing time at this level. He looks like someone who understands the terms of the job.

His first NHL goal—scored against the Edmonton Oilers on Jan. 3—served more as confirmation than revelation. Barkey didn’t chase the moment, and when it arrived, he treated it as a byproduct of doing the right things rather than a destination in itself.

“Obviously, it helps with the confidence,” Barkey said. “I’m just continuing to grow as a player every game and get comfortable with the league, and getting some points or a goal really helps. But just continue to focus on a 200-foot game, making sure I’m executing the systems and the game plan day in, day out.”

That perspective isn't rehearsed. It's reflected in how he plays. Barkey’s game has translated because it is rooted in decision-making and spatial awareness. He understands where pressure is coming from, when to support underneath the puck, and how to arrive in scoring areas without abandoning defensive responsibilities. His shifts rarely feel disjointed. They flow.

Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet has been careful to frame Barkey’s progress around those details rather than the result on the scoresheet. The goal itself was the visible reward. What mattered more was the sequence that made it possible.

“If you look at the play, where he scored—backdoor, then scoring, that’s awesome,” Tocchet said. “But I love what happened in our end… He’s willing to play that 200-foot game to get that. As a coach, that’s what you want to see. He’s not just looking to play a half-ice game; he’s playing a full game.”

Denver Barkey Reflects On A Largely Successful Season And An Even More Promising FutureDenver Barkey Reflects On A Largely Successful Season And An Even More Promising FutureDenver Barkey's star was launched into the stratosphere during the 2023-24 season, where he burned intensely bright—and shows no sign of burning out anytime soon.

That distinction explains why Barkey has earned trust quickly. He doesn’t drift toward offense at the expense of structure, and he doesn’t disappear when the puck moves away from him. His defensive routes are clean. His support is timely. He closes space with purpose. 

The foundation for that maturity lies in Barkey’s hockey sense, which Tocchet has singled out repeatedly, but there's another trait the head coach highlighted that might not immediately come to mind when fans think of the five-foot-ten, 174-pound winger. 

Recalling what qualities stood out to him as far back as watching Barkey captain the London Knights to an OHL Championship, the Flyers bench boss said, “The one impressive thing about him, obviously, is his hockey IQ. But he’s not scared to go into a corner. He’s a small guy, but just goes in reckless sometimes. He doesn’t care. He’s got a lot of courage.”

That courage isn’t performative. Barkey doesn’t seek out collisions, but he doesn’t avoid them either. He wins body positioning through anticipation, uses contact to extend plays, and remains available in traffic. He plays with the understanding that NHL ice demands commitment in uncomfortable areas, and he hasn't tried to negotiate around that reality.

There is also a continuity to what Barkey is doing now and what the organization believed he could be. Tocchet referenced conversations dating back to his arrival in Philadelphia, including early endorsements from President of Hockey Operations Keith Jones.

"Jonesy told me when I took the job, 'You'll like this kid,'" he said.

The traits showing up at the NHL level—competitiveness, awareness, fearlessness—are not new developments. They are simply being tested under brighter lights.

Still, none of this eliminates the complexity of the decision facing the Flyers. Barkey’s performance has earned him consideration, but performance alone is not the only variable. The NHL calendar is unforgiving, and the mental and physical toll of the season is often where young players face their steepest learning curve.

“We’re still evaluating, but he’s putting some good games together,” Tocchet said. “It’s a heavy schedule. It’s different than juniors and the minors, but we’re seeing, does he wear down, things like that. And we’ve gotta help him out.”

That evaluation is as much about sustainability as it is about readiness. Barkey has handled the pace, structure, and travel schedule across his seven NHL games so far. The question is whether the environment he’s in right now is the one best suited to support continued growth over months, not weeks.

Denver Barkey (52). (Megan DeRuchie-The Hockey News)

Tocchet addressed another factor that weighs heavily on development decisions: stability.

“There’s a time, also, where you can’t have a guy living out of a suitcase,” he said. “You’ve got the mental aspect, too… You can do it short-term, but I don’t think you can do the long-term.”

That reality frames the conversation going forward. Keeping Barkey in the NHL would require a clear, consistent role and the support structures to match it. Sending him to the AHL would not be a retreat, but a strategic choice to provide continuity and minimize friction in a critical stage of development.

What Barkey has already done, however, is shift the tone of that discussion. This is no longer about whether he belongs. He has answered that question with his play. The remaining decision is about timing, context, and long-term benefit—how best to ensure that the qualities he’s already shown not only persist, but deepen.

For a player this young, that's an enviable position to be in. And for the Flyers, it's a testament to a prospect that knows exactly what kind of player he is, and knows how to show it on the biggest stage.

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The Ten Eastern Conference Teams Who Scare The Rangers

 Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

S.O.S. to the Blueshirt Brass:

If you want to make the playoffs, here are the teams in the way:

1.Tampa Bay Lightning: Head coach Jon Cooper has made miracles of a team that refused to die even after Steve Stamkos became an ex-Bolt.

2.Carolina Hurricanes: They won't win the Stanley Cup because they still don't have the goaltending, but they have everything else, including a driving coach.

3.Boston Bruins: The rookie coach Marco Sturm has made a huge difference along with surprise hotshot Morgan Geekie and Jeremy Swayman's solid goaltending. This is a Beantown team in a comeback year.

4.Washington Capitals: As long as Al Ovechkin is leading them and Tom Wilson is pacing them, the Caps are well-balanced  with Logan Thompson as one of the NHL's best goalkeepers. Because of Wilson, they have New York's number.

5.Montreal Canadiens: Although Marty St.Louis is not coaching “The Flying Frenchmen of yesteryear,” he still has a flying team. He also has enough talented youngsters for a strong second half. The ugly part is that Marty's goalies are terrible.

6.Pittsburgh Penguins: All they needed was a new coach. Dan Muse is doing what Mike Sullivan could not; getting A-Plus efforts from Sidney Crosby, Gino Malkin and Kris Letang. Muse also will do what Sully didn't – and may not with the Rangers – is get Pitt back in the postseason. 

7. New Jersey Devils: They should do better with the Hughes boys Luke and Jack and good balance up and down the line. But even though they underperform, the Devs' talent spread from goal to attack is better than most.

8.Buffalo Sabres: The Law of Averages stated that – sooner or later – Buffalo would find its way to the playoffs. An across the board group of good kids is finding the way. Plus, Lindy Ruff still knows how to coach.

9.New York Islanders: Despite a killing collection of injuries, the Isles keep finding ways to stay in the mix. And an amazing rookie Dman Matthew Schaefer is leading them. The Nassaumen showed the Rangers a thing or two – goals, that is – on December 27th.

10. Florida Panthers: Rules No. 1 through No. 32: Never bet against the champions!

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NBA power rankings 2025-26: Pistons take over top spot, with Thunder sliding to third

We took a week off in these power rankings for a little family holiday vacation, but we are back — and with a new No. 1 for the first time this season after the Thunder have started to look human.

1. Detroit Pistons

(26-9, last week No. 3)
Detroit may be a team on top of these rankings and on top of the East, but it also is a team with a lot of eyes on it headed toward the trade deadline. This is an elite team, but in playoff basketball, where opposing defenses will load up on Cade Cunningham and make his life difficult, who is the secondary shot creator they can trust? Will they look to add someone such as Michael Porter Jr. at the trade deadline to fill that role? The Pistons need more shooting as well if they are going to defeat the Knicks and other top teams in a seven-game series. That shooting will get tested Monday night when the Pistons face the Knicks on Peacock NBA Monday.

2. San Antonio Spurs

(25-10, last week No. 7)
San Antonio is getting up for the big games — beating the Thunder three times, defeating the Knicks — but is letting their guard down against teams like Portland and Utah and racking up losses. That's part of maturing for this team (the Duncan/Popovich era Spurs were the best at pummeling the bottom half of the league). Victor Wembanyama remains day-to-day after hyper-extending his knee, but that is about as lucky as one could hope for with that injury. San Antonio has four of its next five on the road, including a brutal back-to-back next weekend in Boston and then Minnesota the next night.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder

(30-6, last week No. 1)
The Thunder may have looked human going 5-4 in their last nine games, but they have a +8 net rating in those games (second in the league in that stretch), they have just been a bit unlucky (and the Spurs are a matchup issue). Don't sleep on how great this team has been. Oklahoma City became the sixth team in NBA history — and the third franchise — to start a season 30-5. Only the Jordan-era Bulls (twice) and the peak Curry-era Warriors (three times) started a season that fast, and five of those six teams won the title (the one that didn't, the 2015-16 Warriors, had a 3-1 lead in the Finals).

4. Houston Rockets

(21-11, last week No. 6)
The peak Curry-era Warriors could play loose and fast, turn the ball over too much, and get away with it because of Curry/Thompson/Durant. It's less certain the Rockets can do the same. They have the second-best net rating in the league this season, but also turn the ball over on 16.2% of their possessions, the second-highest percentage in the league. They miss the ball security of Fred VanVleet out top, but that is not an easy fix at the trade deadline. Houston just has to take better care of the ball (and keep up the historic offensive rebounding pace it is on). Interesting test against a hot Phoenix team Monday night.

5. Boston Celtics

(22-12, last week No. 8)
Get Jaylen Brown into another Salsa dancing class. The Celtics star was sixth in the first round of 2026 NBA All-Star Game fan voting, just outside the starting five — what are we doing people? Brown should start without question, and he needs to be in the MVP conversation. His dropping 50 on the Clippers last week — and crediting taking a Salsa dancing class — was just the latest and greatest sign of how he has played all season. Give the man his flowers.

6. Minnesota Timberwolves

(23-13, last week No. 5)
Minnesota has been relatively lucky on the health front this season — they have had just four different starting lineups, the fewest in the league (by a fair amount, Boston and San Antonio are next at seven). The bellwether for this team is turnovers: in their wins they cough the ball up an average of 13.4 times, but in their losses that jumps to 15.7 — they are 7-10 in games with 15+ turnovers this season.

7. New York Knicks

(23-12, last week No. 2)
Jalen Brunson isn't just getting a shoutout from hoops fans — he is third in the East in the first round of fan voting and would be an All-Star starter — but also from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who did Brunson's signature 3-point celebration (putting his hand in front of his face) during his inauguration speech. "We expect greatness… from those who stride out onto our Broadway stages and from our starting point guard at Madison Square Garden. Let us demand the same from those who work in government." The Knicks are 5-5 since winning the NBA Cup, with a tough couple of weeks coming up, starting with the Pistons as the first game of a Peacock NBA Monday triple-header.

8. Phoenix Suns

(21-14, last week No. 15)
There is no hotter team in the league right now — the Suns are 6-1 in their last seven with a +9.3 net rating, and on Sunday pulled off an 18-point comeback against the Thunder, capped off by Devin Booker draining the game-winning 3-pointer over Alex Caruso. Booker is shooting just 29.5% from beyond the arc this season on the whole and 27.6% in his last five games. He's never been an elite 3-point shooter, but if that game-winner can get Booker's jumper back on track and closer to his 35.1% career average, Phoenix looks that much more dangerous.

9. Denver Nuggets

(23-12, last week No. 4)
There is actually, finally, some good injury news in Denver: Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun returned to the court Sunday. The Nuggets went 11-8 with both of them out of the lineup, and with Nikola Jokic out for a few more weeks, their return could not have come at a better time. Denver is 1-2 without Jokic so far. Jamal Murray being 14th in the fan vote so far for Western Conference All-Star is a crime, the man is having the best season of his career and is a lock to be an All-Star (Jokic will get in on the fan vote, whether he will be able to play is another issue).

10. Cleveland Cavaliers

(20-17, last week No. 14)
Have the Cavaliers started to find their footing? The team went 3-1 through a rough gauntlet of games with wins against the Spurs, Suns and Nuggets (the lone loss was to the Pistons). Cleveland did it with their defense — second-best in the NBA over their last five games, and Evan Mobley's return should help that — but the offense continues to stumble. Cleveland's season will be based on their postseason success, not the first 82 games, but they need to get out of the play-in — the Cavaliers sit eighth in the East, just half a game out of the top six and avoiding the play-in. That has to be the goal. Two games against Minnesota this week continue the run of tests for this team.

11. Los Angeles Lakers

(22-11, last week No. 9)
There have been a lot of questions and criticism of the Lakers' defense of late (with good reason), but this team is doing a lot of things right. Luka Doncic is averaging 53.9 points scored or assisted a game, second in the league (to the injured Nikola Jokic). Behind Luka and LeBron James, the Lakers are 11-0 in clutch games. And, when the Lakers get a lead, they hold on to it: the Lakers are 13-0 when leading at the half, and 17-0 when leading after three quarters. When the Lakers lose, they tend to get blown out (they are 4-11 when entering the fourth quarter behind), but they are good frontrunners.

12. Toronto Raptors

(21-15, last week No. 12)
Scottie Barnes has had two triple-doubles in his last four games and is playing his best basketball of the season. In his last five games, he has averaged 18 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 6.6 assists a game. A strong push now makes him more likely to be an All-Star reserve, he is on the bubble after the first round of fan voting where he finished outside the top 20 (Brandon Ingram was 12th).

13. Philadelphia 76ers

(19-14, last week No. 10)
VJ Edgecombe may not win Rookie of the Year (Cooper Flagg and Kon Knuppel are your frontrunners), but he has been the most clutch rookie this season — including a game-winner against Memphis last week. Memphis doubled Tyrese Maxey to get the ball out of his hands and he found Edgecombe open for the 3. "The moment's never too big for me," Edgecombe said postgame. “It's never too big. I was ready, to be honest." Edgecombe is doing well in the non-clutch minutes, too (15.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and four assists a game, shooting 37.4% from 3-point range). Philly's win over the Knicks this weekend was a reminder of why, when fully healthy, this team is a playoff threat in the wide-open East.

14. Miami Heat

(20-16, last week No. 13)
The most unexpected thing in Miami this season: Kel'el Ware, 3-point marksman. He's not exactly a high-volume shooter from deep, 2.8 attempts a game, but he's hitting 47.3% of those this season, which is a higher percentage than Nikola Jokic, Karl-Anthony Towns and other bigs. Teams have to at least respect Ware from deep. Miami just keeps on running — they still start 17.8% of their possessions in transition (second highest in the league) and have the fastest pace in the league.

15. Golden State Warriors

(19-17, last week No. 16)
Throw out the loss to OKC, where Golden State sat all its stars, and this team has won 6-of-7 (and the one loss was in OT). It's a good sign entering 2026. The key to keeping this run going may be getting a little more from Draymond Green — first, keeping him on the court (he's been ejected in two of the last four games he's played at the Chase Center), then getting a little more scoring. Stat of the day: Green has more personal fouls (94) than made baskets (90) this season.

16. Orlando Magic

(20-16, last week No. 11)
Anthony Black was always a high-level defender, but in recent weeks he has made a huge leap offensively. In his last 10 games, Black is averaging 20.6 points a night, shooting 43.3% from 3-point range (on 5.5 attempts a game) and dishing out 4.5 assists. Orlando has been looking for a point guard, maybe Black is ready for that job. Fun random stat: Magic coach Jamahl Mosley has been correct on 82.6% of his coach's challenges this season, the highest percentage in the league.

17. Milwaukee Bucks

(16-20, last week No. 22)
The Bucks are 4-1 since Giannis Antetokounmpo re-entered the lineup, and we're just going to ignore that it came against a soft part of the schedule because Milwaukee needs the good news. The key to keeping that going is two-fold: 1) Keeping Antetokounmpo on the court (the most consecutive games he has played this season is six); 2) Getting some wins on the road against good teams. That can start this week at the Warriors, at the Lakers and at the shorthanded Nuggets.

18. Chicago Bulls

(17-18, last week No. 18)
If you're looking for a silver lining to a disappointing season in the Windy City, the team has a league-leading 10 wins coming back from 10+ down. Chicago has gone a respectable 2-1 with Josh Giddey and Coby White missing time with injuries (White could return later this week, but Giddey is going to miss more time). Giddey finished 14th in the first round of East All-Star fan voting, but he stands a chance of making it as a coaches' selection as a reserve; he is on the bubble.

19. Los Angeles Clippers

(12-22, last week No. 27)
While Boston ended the Clippers' six-game win streak, the run was still impressive — every win by double-digits with an average spread of 20.3 points a game. They were blowing teams out. That run was thanks to one of the best regular-season stretches of Kawhi Leonard's career, including dropping 45 on the Jazz. The streak was bound to end, the Clippers had been unsustainably hot from 3-point range (41.2% from beyond the arc on increased volume in the six wins, while their opponents have gone cold from deep in that same stretch). Ivica Zubac is back, but rookie Yanic Konan Niederhäuser stepped up with him out and earned minutes even with Zubac back. You can see what the Clippers are doing right on Peacock NBA Monday when they take onthe Golden State Warriors.

20. Atlanta Hawks

(17-20, last week No. 19)
For all the focus on how the team is 2-8 in games when Trae Young plays, and they are more than 9 points per 100 possessions worse with him on the court, that ignores the other big factor for the Hawks this season: Kristaps Porzingis. He returned in a win against Minnesota and had 16 points off the bench, and it was a reminder of how the construction of this team was based around him — the Hawks have a +5.5 net rating when he is on the court this season. His availability is an issue, which is why the Hawks are looking into a trade for Anthony Davis (he has his own injury/availability issues). The Hawks have been one of the most active teams as we move toward the trade deadline, and the headline is they are willing — maybe even eager — to get out of the Trae Young business, according to multiple reports. The problem is that there is not much of a market for his services, league sources have told NBC Sports. Look for Young to be traded in the offseason and for a lot of people to say, “That's all the Hawks got for him?"

21. Memphis Grizzlies

(15-20, last week No. 17)
Memphis has dropped four in a row, all clutch losses at that. The Grizzies have played the sixth-most clutch games (within five points in the final five minutes) in the league this season and are 8-13 in those games, with a -7.9 net rating in clutch minutes. Make that games within three points in the final three minutes and the Grizzlies have a -11.2 net rating. Things are not going to get easier as Memphis has a brutal January schedule, and this week that includes the Spurs, red-hot Suns, and Thunder (but all at the FedEx Forum, at least).

22. Portland Trail Blazers

(16-20, last week No. 20)
The Trail Blazers are 4-1 in their last five games, doing so mostly thanks to a top-10 defense in the league during that stretch (against some good offenses). It's hard not to wonder what this team would look like if its guards were healthy: Jrue Holiday has been out since mid-November with a calf strain, Scoot Henderson hasn't played yet this season due to a torn left hamstring suffered in training camp, and don't forget that Damian Lillard has taken the season off to rehab his Achilles. There are good reasons to be positive in Portland.

23. Charlotte Hornets

(12-23, last week No. 23)
We all need more Kon Knueppel: His 3.6 made 3-pointers per game is the most ever by an NBA rookie (besting the other guys on the list, such as Stephen Curry and Tyrese Haliburton, by more than one made 3 per game). This offseason, expect to see a big pivot in Charlotte to start building around Knueppel (which is the smart thing to do). The Hornets have been one of the least lucky teams in the league this season, they have the net rating of a team that should be 15-20 (which still is outside the play-in).

24. Brooklyn Nets

(11-22, last week No. 26)
The Nets are now 0-6 in games Michael Porter Jr. has missed, the latest being a loss to the Wizards when Porter had an illness. He could be missing a lot more Nets games in the future as he is the hottest name on the trade market right now, with a number of teams — Milwaukee and Golden State are at the front of the line, and a lot of people around the league are watching Detroit — interested in the wing with a ring. Porter is having the best season of his career (having a full-time green light as the primary scorer helps), averaging 25.8 points and 7.5 rebounds a game while shooting 41% from 3-point range.

25. Dallas Mavericks

(13-23, last week No. 21)
Dallas went 0-2 when Anthony Davis went out with an adductor strain, and has split the two games since his return. The Mavericks are on the road for three games this week, which his worth watching because this team is clearly far more comfortable at home, where they are 9-9, but they have dropped seven straight on the road and are 3-13 away from Big D. Fans will show up on the road because they want to see Cooper Flagg, who scored 15+ points in 14 straight game up until that streak ended two games ago (when Davis returned and got some of those touches). Consider this a reminder that Flagg is the youngest player in the NBA this season.

26. Washington Wizards

(9-24, last week No. 28)
Washington has won 4-of-6 and is no longer sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. That will not be the focus for the next month, as Washington should be finding a new home for CJ McCollum — because he could help a playoff team down the stretch (he's averaging 18.6 points a game), because he deserves to be in a better spot, and because the Wizards need to focus on the future.

27. Utah Jazz

(12-22, last week No. 24)
The Jazz are sixth in the league in fourth-quarter scoring, averaging 29.4 points a game in the final frame. The problem is that, because of a porous defense, they are playing teams a little less than even in the fourth quarter rather than pulling away (-0.7 net rating in the fourth). That defense is not just a fourth-quarter issue, Utah has the worst defense in the NBA this season.

28. New Orleans Pelicans

(8-29, last week No. 25)
Zion Williamson is back in the starting lineup and putting up numbers. For the first seven games after his return from an adductor strain Zion came off the bench, but he has started the last four games and put up 30+ points in three of them, his first three 30+ games of the season. However, this has not led to winning, with the Pelicans dropping seven in a row. For people saying it is time to sell high on Zion at the trade deadline, there is no market for him, league sources tell NBC Sports. Not at a fair price, anyway (teams want to talk more about Herb Jones and Trey Murphy III). The challenges are his injury history and the fact that he is guaranteed $87 million over the two seasons after this one. If he gets traded, it will be in the offseason.

29. Sacramento Kings

(8-28, last week No. 29)
Losers of five in a row and 11-of-13, with a bottom-three offense and defense, the focus in Sacramento needs to be on making trades to build for the future. Which is why the return of Zach LaVine to the lineup this week matters, he needs to show teams he's healthy (Domantas Sabonis remains sidelined with a knee injury that likely has hit out until the trade deadline, which is bad because he was drawing the most trade interest of Sacramento's veterans).

30. Indiana Pacers

(6-30, last week No. 30)
Rick Carlisle has 999 career wins and has been stuck on that number for weeks as the Pacers have dropped 12 straight. That losing streak may cost Pascal Siakam an All-Star spot — he deserves it, averaging 23.8 points and 6.7 rebounds a game while shooting 37.2% from 3, but the losses are going to hurt his cause when the coaches select the All-Star reserves.

How to Watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock

Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones. Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.

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Four-time All-Star Trae Young working with Hawks on a trade, report says

Four-time All-Star Trae Young working with Hawks on a trade, report says originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

A new NBA star is about to be on the move.

The Atlanta Hawks are working with star guard Trae Young on a trade away from the franchise, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Monday.

Longtime NBA insider Marc Stein added that the Washington Wizards have emerged as a potential landing spot, with a deal possibly centered around CJ McCollum‘s expiring contract.

Young, 27 and the No. 5 overall pick in 2018, has seemed to plateau with Atlanta ever since leading the team to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2018.

With the Hawks at 17-20 at the time of the report, Young has featured in just 10 games and has seen a drop in per-game averages.

He’s posting 19.3 points, 8.9 assists, 1.5 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 28.0 minutes on a 41.5/30.5/86.3 shooting split. Just last season, he averaged 24.2 points, 11.6 assists and 3.1 rebounds on a 41.1/34/87.5 split in 36.0 minutes, but Atlanta hasn’t developed into a serious contender for multiple seasons.

Despite a small sample size, Atlanta has fared better without him thus far.

A four-time All-Star, Young can still provide a team with a focal point at the 1-spot thanks to his elite playmaking, but his dip in long-range shooting numbers and playoff defense will be notable concerns.

Jalen Johnson has led Atlanta with 24 points per game, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker, 27, is averaging a career-high 20.7 points on a healthy 45/38/85 split at the guard spot.

The 2026 trade deadline is set for Thursday, Feb. 5 at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT.

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Four-time All-Star Trae Young working with Hawks on a trade, report says

Four-time All-Star Trae Young working with Hawks on a trade, report says originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

A new NBA star is about to be on the move.

The Atlanta Hawks are working with star guard Trae Young on a trade away from the franchise, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Monday.

Longtime NBA insider Marc Stein added that the Washington Wizards have emerged as a potential landing spot, with a deal possibly centered around CJ McCollum‘s expiring contract.

Young, 27 and the No. 5 overall pick in 2018, has seemed to plateau with Atlanta ever since leading the team to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2018.

With the Hawks at 17-20 at the time of the report, Young has featured in just 10 games and has seen a drop in per-game averages.

He’s posting 19.3 points, 8.9 assists, 1.5 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 28.0 minutes on a 41.5/30.5/86.3 shooting split. Just last season, he averaged 24.2 points, 11.6 assists and 3.1 rebounds on a 41.1/34/87.5 split in 36.0 minutes, but Atlanta hasn’t developed into a serious contender for multiple seasons.

Despite a small sample size, Atlanta has fared better without him thus far.

A four-time All-Star, Young can still provide a team with a focal point at the 1-spot thanks to his elite playmaking, but his dip in long-range shooting numbers and playoff defense will be notable concerns.

Jalen Johnson has led Atlanta with 24 points per game, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker, 27, is averaging a career-high 20.7 points on a healthy 45/38/85 split at the guard spot.

The 2026 trade deadline is set for Thursday, Feb. 5 at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT.

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Potential Mets target Kyle Tucker could have to settle for shorter-term deal: report

The Mets remain in need of a starting outfielder, and Kyle Tucker -- the biggest bat out there -- is still on the free agent market with spring training just over a month away.

For months, the expectation has been that Tucker would get a massive contract in terms of length, with a deal for 10 or 11 years projected by many.

However, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported on Monday that Tucker's market is "the biggest mystery," adding that he could have to "take a higher AAV on a short-term contract and hit the market again after two consecutive injury-plagued second halves."

The Mets have been connected to Tucker throughout the offseason, and multiple recent reports indicated that they still have interest in him.

The Blue Jays have been the team most heavily linked to Tucker, but if they re-sign Bo Bichette it could take them out of the mix for Tucker. And if that happens, it's fair to wonder if any other team would be willing to give Tucker a long-term deal.

Since trading Brandon Nimmo earlier this offseason and getting out from under the five years remaining on his contract, it has felt unlikely that the Mets would turn around and ink another outfielder to a huge deal if the years were relatively excessive. 

But if Tucker's deal winds up being no longer than five years or so, he would make tons of sense for New York.

In addition to Tucker, the Mets have interest in fellow free agent outfielder Cody Bellinger.

While a better outfield defender than Tucker and a more versatile defender overall, Bellinger's career OPS+ of 120 is dwarfed by Tucker's career OPS+ of 140.

When it comes to the last three seasons, Tucker has an .892 OPS (150 OPS+), while Bellinger's is .815 (125 OPS+).

One potential issue with Tucker is that he has played right field over the last five seasons, with his last appearance in left field coming in 2020.

If Tucker signs with the Mets, either he or Juan Soto would have to play left field. 

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Sharks Dealt Blow as John Klingberg Lands on Injured Reserve

John Klingberg is set to miss additional time as the San Jose Sharks continue to manage injuries on their blue line.

On Monday, the Sharks announced that the veteran defenseman has been placed on injured reserve. In a corresponding roster move, San Jose recalled forward Patrick Giles from its American Hockey League affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda.

Klingberg has been sidelined since New Year’s Eve, when the Sharks earned a 4–3 shootout victory over the Minnesota Wild. The Swedish defenseman reportedly sustained a lower-body injury in that game, forcing him to miss San Jose’s matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday, a 7–3 loss at SAP Center.

Under NHL injured reserve rules, Klingberg will be eligible to return to the lineup this Saturday, when the Sharks host the Dallas Stars.

Klingberg Injured Again

Klingberg has been in and out of the lineup this season, missing time both due to injury and as a healthy scratch. The 33-year-old has appeared in 31 games, recording nine goals and seven assists for 16 points. He owns a plus/minus rating of plus-one while averaging 21:37 of ice time per game, continuing to log significant minutes when available.

A native of Gothenburg, Sweden, Klingberg is playing on a one-year contract with San Jose, carrying a $4 million cap hit for the 2025–26 season. He arrived in the Bay Area after finishing last season with the Edmonton Oilers.

Giles has appeared in three games with the Sharks this season and has not seen NHL action since Nov. 2. The 26-year-old has recorded one assist, which came in that contest against the Detroit Red Wings.

Sharks Remain in Playoff Hunt

The Sharks (20-18-3) are just within striking distance of the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. San Jose will look to bounce back at home after suffering a 7-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. They are set to do battle at SAP Arena when they take on the Columbus Blue Jackets. Coverage begins at 9 p.m. local time. 

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Seth Jones considered week-to-week, expected back with Panthers before NHL breaks for Winter Olympics

The Florida Panthers have lost another key player to injury.

Panthers defenseman Seth Jones was hurt during Florida’s loss to the New York Rangers at the 2026 Winter Classic on Friday, taking a deflected shot by Alexis Lafreniere to the shoulder/collarbone area early in the game.

Jones immediately left the ice and was briefly looked at by medical trainers before heading back underneath the stands at loanDepot park and into the Panthers locker room for further evaluation.

On Monday, Florida Head Coach Paul Maurice provided an update on Jones following a Panthers practice at the Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale.

Maurice said Jones would be considered week-to-week due to the injury, but added that he will probably be back before the NHL pauses for the 2026 Winter Olympics early next month.

“We expect him back before the Olympic break, we’re hopeful for that, we think it’s going to be that, but he’s going to be out a couple weeks,” Maurice said.

Between now and the Olympics, Florida has 16 games on the schedule, only five of which will come on home ice.

The Panthers called up defenseman Tobias Bjornfot from AHL Charlotte over the weekend and slotted Donovan Sebrango into the lineup Sunday, so we’ll see if that’s the third pairing rotation, along with Uvis Balinskis, that Florida wants to roll with over the next several weeks.

Remember, the Panthers aren’t expecting Dmitry Kulikov back from labrum surgery until sometime in March, so while there is help coming, it’s not arriving anytime soon.

The injury to Jones comes just as Florida was started to get on the healthier side with its forwards.

Matthew Tkachuk is nearing a return from offseason adductor and sports hernia surgery, and Jonah Gadjovich, Cole Schwindt and Noah Gregor have all been back on the ice in recent days as well.

We also learned recently that both Sasha Barkov and Tomas Nosek have been skating as they continue recovering from respective offseason knee surgeries.

While both are still months away from returning, it’s a positive sign to see they have not hit any setbacks as they work toward cracking the Cats’ lineup.

Florida will travel to Toronto Monday ahead of their matchup with the Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday night.

It’s the first of a six-game road trip for the Panthers, the first four of which all come against divisional opponents.

Buckle up, it should be fun.

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Photo caption: Dec 6, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers defenseman Seth Jones (3) celebrates a goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the second period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Jim Rassol-Imagn Images)

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Sharks Ink Key Forward to Three-Year Contract Extension

The San Jose Sharks locked up a key piece of their forward group on Sunday, signing Alexander Wennberg to a three-year contract extension worth $18 million.

The 31-year-old center was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, but the new deal will keep him in San Jose through the 2028–29 campaign. Wennberg has been a steady presence in the Sharks’ lineup this year, recording seven goals and 19 assists while providing dependable two-way play down the middle.

His strong season has also earned international recognition, as Wennberg was selected to represent Sweden at the upcoming Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

Over the course of his NHL career, Wennberg has totaled 108 goals and 288 assists for 396 points in 830 games with the Sharks, New York Rangers, Seattle Kraken, Florida Panthers, and Columbus Blue Jackets. He originally signed with San Jose as a free agent prior to last season and has since become an important veteran presence and contributor for the club.

Sharks Fresh Off Loss

San Jose (20-18-3) is coming off a 7–3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning at home on Saturday. Despite the lopsided score, left winger Pavol Regenda provided a bright spot, scoring the first hat trick of his NHL career. Outside of Regenda’s three goals, however, offense was hard to come by for the Sharks at SAP Center.

Goaltender Yaroslav Askarov endured a difficult outing, surrendering three goals on 10 shots before being replaced by Alex Nedeljkovic. Nedeljkovic stopped 12 of 16 shots in relief.

The Sharks will look to bounce back Tuesday night when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets, as their six-game homestand reaches its midpoint. San Jose enters the matchup facing an uphill battle, having lost five of its last six games against Columbus. Coverage of the game begins at 9 p.m. local time.

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Kings Keegan Murray sidelined three-to-four weeks with moderate ankle sprain

Kings Keegan Murray sidelined three-to-four weeks with moderate ankle sprain originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The hits keep coming for the Kings as the injury bug has bitten Keegan Murray once again.

The 25-year-old rolled his left ankle on Milwaukee Bucks center Myles Turner’s foot in the third quarter of Sunday night’s 115-98 loss.

Sacramento announced on Tuesday that Murray underwent imaging that revealed a moderate left ankle sprain and that the young forward will be reevaluated in three-to-four weeks.

Murray, who has missed 17 games this season – 15 due to a torn UCL in his thumb and two because of a calf strain – will miss his 18th game on Tuesday when Sacramento hosts the Dallas Mavericks at Golden 1 Center and possibly 10 to 14 more before potentially returning in late January or early February.

The former first-round pick had missed just 13 games in his first three seasons combined prior to the string of bad luck he has faced this year.

In Murray’s 19 games played, he has averaged 14.6 points and 6.1 rebounds in 35.9 minutes per game.

The fourth-year forward has shown glimpses of what the Kings had hoped to see out of him, especially early on against Milwaukee on Sunday as he started the game 6 of 13 from the field.

But his offensive impact has been a struggle this season – Murray is shooting just 27.2 percent from the 3-point line while also knocking down 42.9 percent of his field-goal attempts.

On the defensive side of the ball, however, Murray has proven to be above average. He’s currently eighth in the NBA in stocks (steals plus blocks) this season with 2.8 per game and trails top-tier defenders like Victor Wembanyama and Kawhi Leonard in the category.

For the Kings, who also have been without Domantas Sabonis since Nov. 19 due to a torn meniscus in his knee, they’ll be forced to once again play without a pair of starters.

Sacramento’s 8-28 record is tied for the worst all-time in franchise history with the 1958-59 Cincinnati Royals, as well as the 2010-11 and 2008-09 Sacramento teams.

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Keegan Murray ruled out for Kings vs. Mavericks game with left ankle injury

Keegan Murray ruled out for Kings vs. Mavericks game with left ankle injury originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The hits keep coming for the Kings as the injury bug has bitten Keegan Murray once again.

The 25-year-old rolled his left ankle on Milwaukee Bucks center Myles Turner’s foot in the third quarter of Sunday night’s 115-98 loss.

Murray, who has missed 17 games this season – 15 due to a torn UCL in his thumb and two because of a calf strain – will miss his 18th game on Tuesday when Sacramento hosts the Dallas Mavericks at Golden 1 Center, according to the NBA’s injury report.

The former first-round pick had missed just 13 games in his first three seasons combined prior to the string of bad luck he has faced this year.

In Murray’s 19 games played, he has averaged 14.6 points and 6.1 rebounds in 35.9 minutes per game.

The fourth-year forward has shown glimpses of what the Kings had hoped to see out of him, especially early on against Milwaukee on Sunday as he started the game 6 of 13 from the field.

But his offensive impact has been a struggle this season – Murray is shooting just 27.2 percent from the 3-point line while also knocking down 42.9 percent of his field-goal attempts.

On the defensive side of the ball, however, Murray has proven to be above average. He’s currently eighth in the NBA in stocks (steals plus blocks) this season with 2.8 per game and trails top-tier defenders like Victor Wembanyama and Kawhi Leonard in the category.

For the Kings, who also have been without Domantas Sabonis since Nov. 19 due to a torn meniscus in his knee, they’ll be forced to once again play without a pair of starters.

Sacramento’s 8-28 record is tied for the worst all-time in franchise history with the 1958-59 Cincinnati Royals, as well as the 2010-11 and 2008-09 Sacramento teams.

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