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Stephen A. Smith explains his 'NBA Countdown' exit: 'I didn't want to be on the show'

Stephen A. Smith looks on before an NFL football game between the Detroit Lions and the Baltimore Ravens
Stephen A. Smith looks on before an NFL football game between the Detroit Lions and the Baltimore Ravens, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, in Baltimore. (Nick Wass / Associated Press)

Stephen A. Smith is a very busy man.

He is the star of ESPN's "First Take."

He hosts two radio shows on SiriusXM.

He has his own production company.

Since 2021, Smith also has been an analyst on ESPN's "NBA Countdown" pregame and halftime studio show.

But he isn't anymore, at least not on a full-time basis.

This week, ESPN announced a new "NBA Countdown" broadcast team that features host Malika Andrews and analysts Brian Windhorst, Michael Malone and Kendrick Perkins, with frequent contributions from Shams Charania.

Read more:Stephen A. Smith would’ve ‘swung on’ LeBron James had he touched him. Lakers star trolls him

Smith said Tuesday on "The Stephen A. Smith Show" that he hadn't been demoted from his status as a show regular, as some outlets suggested. Instead, he said, the change was something he had asked for while negotiating his reported five-year, $100-million contract to remain with the network earlier this year.

Why? Smith said he simply no longer has the time.

"I didn't want to be on the show," Smith said. "I negotiated coming off of it. Now I love doing 'NBA Countdown,' but once the countdown show is over, I got other things to do than to be in studio, watching the doubleheader and coming on at halftimes. I got other stuff that I want to do, to prepare for 'First Take' the next day, the next morning, and to do an abundance of other things that I aspire to do."

Smith said his departure from "NBA Countdown" had been reported "months ago," and he is correct. In breaking the news of Smith's new deal with ESPN in March, The Athletic's Andrew Marchand wrote that Smith "will not be a regular on ESPN’s premiere NBA pregame show anymore."

Read more:Shae Cornette is named as Molly Qerim's replacement as host of ESPN's 'First Take'

ESPN did not immediately respond on Wednesday to a request for a comment.

Smith added that he will continue to make frequent guest appearances on several ESPN shows, and that includes "NBA Countdown."

"If they need me in L.A. for 'NBA Countdown,' I'll be there," Smith said. "Matter of fact, I have days in my contract to be there. I just don't have to be there full time."

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Wimbledon’s expansion plans heading for court of appeal after judge’s ruling

  • Plans for 39 grass courts were given approval in 2024

  • Pressure has led to judicial review of that decision

Wimbledon’s battle to build 39 new grass courts on a nearby golf course has taken a fresh twist after local residents were granted permission to take a judicial review case to the court of appeal.

Last year the All England Club (AELTC) was given approval by Jules Pipe, the London deputy mayor for planning and regeneration, to build the courts on what used to be Wimbledon Park Golf Club – a decision that was then endorsed in the high court on 21 July. However, the Save Wimbledon Park pressure group challenged that verdict and on Monday it was announced that Lord Justice Holgate had granted a judicial review of the court’s decision.

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Wendell Carter Jr. addresses relationship with Angel Reese: ‘That’s my girl’

Wendell Carter Jr. addresses relationship with Angel Reese: ‘That’s my girl’After months of rumors swirling around a possible relationship between All-Star Chicago Sky center Angel Reese and Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr., the eight-year NBA veteran finally addressed it with the FanDuel TV “Run It Back” NBA crew of Lou Williams, Chandler Parsons and Michelle Beadle.

“That’s the homie for sure,” Carter said. “We locked in. Y’all gonna find out when y’all need to find out. We’ll just leave it at that. That’s my girl, though. We locked in for sure.”

Carter’s statement was committal, but also vague.

According to Jenna Lemoncelli of the New York Post, the two were first linked earlier in 2025, when Carter attended Reese’s 23rd birthday party in May. He was also at the WNBA All-Star Game in July, wearing a shirt with Reese’s picture on it.

Reese has yet to address the relationship rumors, but she’s dropped various hints on social media — whether through a recent photo of her in Orlando gear or by attending multiple of Carter’s games this season.

Reese is currently in the offseason after her second WNBA campaign. She made the All-Star Game for the second straight season, averaging 14.7 points and 12.6 rebounds. Over her short career, she’s totaled 46 double-doubles — the most by any player in their first two seasons.

Carter, drafted by the Chicago Bulls at No. 7 in 2018, spent two and a half seasons in Chicago before being traded to the Magic in March 2021, where he’s played ever since. This season, he’s averaged 12.7 points and 7.7 rebounds, while shooting 44 percent on nearly three three-point attempts per game.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

Orlando Magic, Chicago Sky, NBA, WNBA

2025 The Athletic Media Company

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Key threat to Warriors' season hopes on display again late in loss to Heat

Key threat to Warriors' season hopes on display again late in loss to Heat originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

It’s rare that an NBA team missing three starters can compete on the road with a team nearly invincible at home when it spends much of the game shooting as if blindfolded, ponderously dribbling into traffic and throwing up air balls.

Yet the undermanned and profoundly defective Warriors were giving the Miami Heat all the smoke they could handle Wednesday, taking a 74-72 lead into the fourth quarter.

Then came a disastrous turnover spree that beckoned a richly deserved 110-96 loss.

Perhaps the most instructive element for the Warriors was that Jimmy Butler III, Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Al Horford – veterans too often prone to distressing turnovers – all watched the fourth-quarter meltdown from the bench. They got an up-close look at a potential upset win spiral into a double-digit loss.

The Warriors gave the Heat 34 points off 23 turnovers, with 16 of those points coming off nine giveaways in the fourth quarter.

“I’m very, very confident that we will get that turned around,” coach Steve Kerr told reporters at Kaseya Center. “We got it turned around last year after we got Jimmy, cut our turnovers way back. That’s going to be the focus when we get home.”

The Warriors (9-8), who return to Chase Center on Friday and open a five-game homestand against the Portland Trail Blazers, closed their six-game road trip with a 3-3 record that under the circumstances leaves them somewhat satisfied but less than content.

No matter who is on the floor for the Warriors, though, turnovers continue to undo much of their best work. The math blatantly tells them that is the biggest of their problems. They’re undefeated (8-0) when they win or tie the turnover war, 1-8 when the lose it.

“We have to do a better job of this as coaches of giving the guys better spacing and cutting and teaching it better so that the decisions become easier,” Kerr said. “And then they’ve got to do a better job of just making simple decisions.”

Golden State had to be much smarter to overcome an offense in which only two players – Quinten Post (8 of 13 from the field, including 3 of 7 from deep) and Trayce Jackson-Davis (2 of 2) – shot better than 35 percent from the field. Buddy Hield was 7 of 20, 4 of 15 from distance. Brandin Podziemski was 6 of 19, 2 of 7 beyond the arc. Moses Moody was 3 of 12 from deep, while Gui Santos was 1 of 7, 1 of 6 from deep.

And, somehow, the Warriors still were in position to steal a victory. They played ferocious defense. They rebounded. They displayed enough grit and perseverance to offset their atrocious shooting, 36.2 percent from the field, including 26.5 percent beyond the arc. 

But that formula trends sharply toward losing when giving your opponent 34 points off 23 turnovers. The Warriors were outscored by, hmm, 16 (38-22) in the fourth quarter.

Key threat to Warriors’ season hopes on display again late in loss to Heat“Turnovers got [the Heat] going,” conceded Pat Spencer, who came off the bench to contribute 11 points, a career-high 13 assists and only two turnovers.

After all these years, and what seems like relentless dialogue about Golden State’s tendency to play fast and loose with the basketball, fast and loose continues to drag them down more than anything else.

The Warriors dropped to 29th in the NBA in turnovers committed, averaging 17.1 per game. They bless their opponents with more gifts than the Washington Wizards or the Utah Jazz or the Charlotte Hornets. 

At what point will the Warriors – from Curry, Butler and Green to the men on the far end of the bench – address this problem with the sincerity required to curb what plagues them?

The Warriors’ early season travel schedule has been the toughest in the NBA, 17 games over 29 days, with a league-high five back-to-back sets. It’s about to get easier, with eight of their next 12 games at Chase Center.

Maybe they’ll find a rhythm once they return home. But with the issue being as vexing as it typically is, seeing improvement is the only real fix.

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Capitals Set For Offensive Burst Against Oilers' Leaky Defense

Wednesday features a small NHL slate with only four games, but it includes a standout matchup between two playoff-caliber teams that have stumbled out of the gate. The Edmonton Oilers have been one of the weakest defensive clubs in the league, allowing 73 goals through 21 games while still managing a 9-8-1 record. 

They meet a Washington Capitals team that appears to have spent much of its early-season energy pushing Alex Ovechkin toward the goal record. Washington sits at 9-8-2, kept afloat by strong play from goaltender Logan Thompson, who leads the league with a 1.85 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage.

For anyone following our Pad Stack challenge, the mission has not changed. We began with a ten dollar bankroll and continue to grow it through calculated, research-driven plays. Our previous run ended on Monday at a season-high total of $411.47 before a last-minute empty-netter from the Florida Panthers spoiled our Vancouver spread. We are now rebuilding after resetting to $31, boosted by Tuesday night’s winning play on the Maple Leafs. Our aim is to keep climbing with a confident selection from Wednesday’s Oilers versus Capitals matchup.

All betting lines are from BetMGM Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly. 

Sign up with BetMGM, make a deposit, and place your first wager on any game using your First Bet Offer token. If that bet with the token applied loses, you’ll get your original stake paid back in Bonus Bets, up to $1,500! Get in the game today with BetMGM.

Are The Detroit Red Wings For Real?Are The Detroit Red Wings For Real?Detroit's surprising start defies middling stats. Can a youth-fueled surge finally end the playoff drought?

Picks: Capitals Over 3.0 Goals (-133)

Yesterday, we avoided the trap set by the sportsbooks. We explained why the Leafs’ matchup with the Blues looked almost guaranteed to be a high-scoring shootout, yet the odds suggested the books knew something the public didn’t. All the signs pointed to a goal-heavy game, which is exactly what they wanted bettors to believe. Instead, we backed the Maple Leafs and the under, and it paid off as Toronto pulled out a 3–2 overtime win.

A similar situation appears to be unfolding on Wednesday when the Oilers face the Capitals. Many will expect an Oilers bounce back, especially since they have won only three of their last eight games and have allowed 33 goals during that stretch. The Capitals have been slightly better with three wins in their last seven games. Their challenge is not defense but offense. Before last season’s breakout, Washington struggled to generate scoring, and that issue has resurfaced. They rank ninth worst in goals per game at 2.79, though there has been modest improvement with 11 goals in their last four games.

I expect Edmonton’s defensive issues to continue. The public will assume the Oilers will push hard to respond, but the Capitals should be ready for a tough battle. Choosing a side is tricky because Washington is at home while Edmonton is 3–1 against the spread this season as an underdog. The Capitals have also won four of their last six meetings with the Oilers, scoring three or more goals in each of those wins, including a 7–3 blowout in February. Even in losses, Washington still finds ways to score on Edmonton with three or more goals in eight of their last ten matchups.

A $31 wager on the Capitals to score at least three goals would return a profit of $23.25, bringing the total to $54.25 plus if Washington finishes with exactly three goals, the bet results in a push.

Islanders' Matthew Schaefer, Avalanche's Cale Makar Already Near-Locks in NHL Award RacesIslanders' Matthew Schaefer, Avalanche's Cale Makar Already Near-Locks in NHL Award RacesAn 18-year-old phenom and a Norris contender are dominating early NHL award races, setting impressive records and dazzling fans.Image

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Penguins Notebook: Injured Players Skate, Vibes High To Close Out Practice

After an optional practice Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Penguins took to the ice Wednesday for a longer session that included everyone.

And - once again - even several injured players. 

Goaltender Tristan Jarry and defenseman Jack St. Ivany took part in practice for the second consecutive day, as Jarry was a full participant while St. Ivany was still donning a white no-contact jersey. Injured forwards Rickard Rakell, Justin Brazeau, and Noel Acciari also took the ice for a second consecutive day prior to the team practice.

Little by little, the Penguins are getting healthier. And they've managed to stay afloat despite their injury struggles. Still, an important stretch of games looms, as five of their next seven opponents are currently out of the playoff picture. 

So, they know how important it is to keep banking points until their injured players come back into the fold - and in preparation for the gauntlet they have waiting for them in December, which includes a stretch of 10 games in 17 days.

"Obviously, every game is important," center Ben Kindel said. "So, right now, we just have to keep banking points and keep riding our momentum. These points are really going to matter, especially down the stretch. We all want to make the playoffs here, so every point is going to matter, and we're going to fight, scratch, and claw to get each and every one."

Starting in Sweden, Penguins Must Win Upcoming Stretch Of GamesStarting in Sweden, Penguins Must Win Upcoming Stretch Of GamesOn Friday, the 2025-26 NHL Global Series kicks off. 

Obviously, there is a lot of fight in this group, and it was a hard practice Wednesday - even if there were some fun and games after, which I'll get to in a second. The Penguins rolled with these lines and pairings, which included forward Sam Poulin, who was recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Tuesday:

Forwards
Connor Dewar - Sidney Crosby - Bryan Rust
Kevin Hayes - Evgeni Malkin - Anthony Mantha
Tommy Novak - Kindel - Poulin
Joona Koppanen - Blake Lizotte - Danton Heinen
Philip Tomasino

Defensemen
Parker Wotherspoon - Erik Karlsson
Ryan Shea - Kris Letang
Ryan Graves - Connor Clifton
Matt Dumba - Harrison Brunicke
St. Ivany

Goaltenders
Arturs Silovs
Sergei Murashov
Jarry

Pittsburgh Penguins Forward Has Big OpportunityPittsburgh Penguins Forward Has Big OpportunityThis Penguins forward has a golden chance in front of him.

Tomasino clears waivers

Of note, Philip Tomasino did clear waivers Tuesday and will, presumably, be assigned to WBS.  The 24-year-old forward registered one point in nine games with the Penguins this season.

If Tomasino is re-assigned to WBS, it will clear a spot for another player to take his place on the roster. This will be something to keep an eye on in the coming days.

Pittsburgh Penguins Place Forward On WaiversPittsburgh Penguins Place Forward On WaiversThe Penguins have placed one of their forwards on waivers.

Post-practice fun

At the conclusion of the formal team practice, a large group of players stayed out for a long while playing some on-ice games. And, no not an actual game, but just little minigames.

Crosby, Letang, and Dumba were the veterans among the group, and the rest of it comprised of Kindel, Poulin, Brunicke, Wotherspoon, Shea, and the two young goaltenders in Silovs and Murashov. 

There may have been a few others. But, regardless, things like this don't always happen - and it's a real testament to how much chemistry this group has. 

"I think you see [the youthful energy]," head coach Dan Muse said. "I also think it's a mix. You've got a group of guys - some guys that have been doing this for 20-plus years - and other guys that are first-year in the league, and they're just all about the game. And that's probably the biggest thing for me. When you're seeing what goes on after practice, too, sometimes we've got to put a stop clock on practice and be like, 'Alright, this has been enough.' But that's a good thing. I'd way rather that than guys that just want to get out of here. These guys truly love the game.

And I think it's the young guys, definitely, they add to it... but the veteran guys, also, they add to it a ton, too, because they're showing those young guys [that] you could be doing this for 20 years, and you can just still love the stuff after practice and being on the ice. Those things are fun, and you want to see that. I don't know if that's the case everywhere, but it is here, and these guys... they love being out there, and it's awesome."

What's the plan for Brunicke?

Brunicke and Muse were both asked about whether or not they have a plan for the 19-year-old defenseman, who has now been scratched for five consecutive NHL games and is eligible for an AHL conditioning stint. 

And both were equally coy when talking about it and simply re-emphasized that there is a plan. 

"We have a plan for him, and we've been working through that plan," Muse said. "There have been a lot of discussions on that with him and our plan and continuing to execute it. There's on-ice, there's off-ice, there's video... I think there's a lot of things, too, that have gone on behind the scenes, which might not be, maybe, as evident there just from coming in and watching practice. But there is a plan. I'm not going to get into any more details on it past that, but we're continuing to work through that with him, and we feel like it's been going well."

Penguins' Rookie Defenseman Eligible For AHL StintPenguins' Rookie Defenseman Eligible For AHL StintIt has been exactly two weeks since <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>' rookie defenseman Harrison Brunicke dressed for a game day.&nbsp;

Brunicke certainly wants to get back on the ice and into game action, but he understands that there is a process and a plan and trusts that plan. 

"I want to play. That's, kind of, the thing," Brunicke said. "Right now, it's obviously tough watching all the time, but like I said, it's my job just to show up and do the best I can, and my time will come. They have a plan for me.

"Every time I'm here with these guys, whether it's going for dinner or watching games, stuff like that... I'm taking it all in and listening to what they have to say. I got guys here that are really helping me, so yeah, that's kind of the big thing here is taking it day-by-day."

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MLB Finalizes New Rights Deals with NBC, ESPN and Netflix

On the heels of its most-watched postseason since 2017, Major League Baseball has officially signed off on a package of new, short-term media rights deals with NBCUniversal, ESPN and Netflix.

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred formally heralded the three-year agreements on Wednesday afternoon, or a little more than two months after he first acknowledged that negotiations over the league’s media arrangements for 2026-28 were effectively in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Under the terms of the new package, MLB will return to the NBC airwaves on Opening Day of the 2026 season, as the Dodgers host the Diamondbacks. But for a pair of promotional one-offs that aired in 2022 and 2023, the March 26 NL West opener will mark NBC’s first significant MLB outing since Bob Costas signed off at the end of Game 6 of the 2000 American League Championship Series.

As part of a pact valued at nearly $200 million per year, NBC has assumed the rights to the ESPN mainstay Sunday Night Baseball and the four Wild Card series. As was the case during the program’s 36-year run on cable, the Sunday night matchup will continue to enjoy timeslot exclusivity, as no other MLB games will be scheduled opposite the weekly primetime showcase. Peacock and the revived NBCSN will pick up the slack on certain fall and spring dates when a scheduled SNB game conflicts with one of NBC’s NFL or NBA broadcast windows.

Peacock also regained the rights to MLB’s 18-game Sunday morning streaming package, which it helped inaugurate in 2022. After two seasons, the league shifted the carveout to Roku for the low, low price of $10 million per year, a discount that ESPN execs found particularly irksome, given Bristol’s own annual $550 million rights payment. (MLB’s Roku pact was one of the factors that led ESPN in February to announce its intention to terminate its legacy MLB contract three years before its 2028 expiration date.)

The NBC flagship first began airing MLB games in 1947, when Jackie Robinson made his debut with Brooklyn. On Oct. 27, 1999, the network served up 25.8 million viewers with its final World Series broadcast, as the Yankees completed their sweep of the Braves with a 4-1 win at home. It chalked up its all-time biggest MLB turnout with Game 7 of the 1986 World Series, as a crowd of nearly 60 million viewers watched the Mets rally from a 3-0 deficit to topple the Red Sox 8-5 at Shea.

The resumption of NBC’s long-dormant baseball duties began taking shape while MLB and ESPN were mending their fences. At times, the rift seemed unbreachable, especially after Manfred sent owners a memo in which he put the cable model on blast. “[We] do not believe that pay-TV, ESPN’s primary distribution platform, is the future of video distribution or the best platform for our content,” Manfred wrote, an assessment that couldn’t have been met with much enthusiasm by fellow MLB cable partners FS1 and TBS.

While the air had grown frosty in recent years, Manfred and ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro this summer began the process of what amounted to a mutual thawing-out. By September, it had become clear that neither party was ready to quit on its partner of four decades, and Pitaro’s team had worked out the broad strokes of a deal that would see ESPN assume oversight of the league’s out-of-market platform, MLB.TV.

In addition to snapping up the rights to sell and distribute MLB.TV, ESPN also has assumed the in-market rights to a six pack of RSN refugees that includes the Arizona Diamondbacks, Cleveland Guardians, Colorado Rockies, Minnesota Twins, San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners. ESPN has the option to pick up additional local rights if and when they become available.

Although local baseball is now the focal point of ESPN’s MLB investment, Bristol will continue to carry a 30-game slate of nationally televised games across its linear networks and the ESPN app. Among the games ESPN will host next season include a Phillies-Mets clash on July 16 and Braves-Brewers in next year’s Little League Classic. ESPN closed out its final season of Sunday Night Baseball with its strongest deliveries in 12 years, as the package averaged 1.8 million viewers per game—up 21% versus 2024.

While terms were not disclosed, ESPN is said to have agreed to continue paying the annual $550 million rights fee stipulated in its original contract.

For its part, Netflix has picked up the rights to a pair of midseason tentpoles in the Home Run Derby and the “Field of Dreams” game. The streaming giant also will carry the standalone Opening Day meeting between the Yankees and Giants.

Although Netflix stopped reporting its subscriber numbers at the start of 2025, the last official head count put its global base at 301.6 million customers. In exchange for its new baseball package, Netflix will pay MLB approximately $35 million per year.

The Netflix deal comes as the company begins prepping for its second annual NFL Christmas doubleheader. In its inaugural holiday offering, Netflix last year averaged 24.2 million U.S. viewers with a Chiefs-Steelers/Ravens-Texans two-fer, the latter of which included a halftime performance by Beyoncé.

In finally wrapping up its new suite of rights deals after a full season of negotiations, MLB can now focus its attention on the rapidly approaching 2028 campaign, when all of its national contracts are set to expire. While lead TV partner Fox Sports is determined to continue its longstanding partnership with baseball, the ontological status of another linear player is somewhat more uncertain as Paramount, Comcast and Netflix prepare their bids on TNT Sports’ parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery.

Manfred has said he hopes to increase the number of national MLB games under the next round of rights deals, while developing a centralized model for all local rights.

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Five NHL Squads Most Likely To Hoist The Stanley Cup

By Gary Pearson, BetMGM

If you look up the definition of perennial, you might see these five teams as case studies.

Not only do they have the shortest Stanley Cup odds, but they’ve also either won the Cup or have been knocking on the door in recent seasons. 

And probabilities suggest one of them will be lifting the Holy Grail come season's end.  

Colorado Avalanche (+250)

The Colorado Avalanche are the best team in hockey, and it’s not particularly close at this early juncture. With just one regulation loss, Jared Bednar's squad is the class of the league.

Their plus-31 goals differential is 15 better than second-place Carolina. Nathan MacKinnon, the MVP front-runner, is accumulating points faster than a toddler collects toys, and Cale Makar is as dominant as ever. 

I don’t think either Central Division rival, the Winnipeg Jets or Dallas Stars, pose a disconcerting threat. 

The looming question is whether the tandem of Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood can hold up their end of the bargain when it counts.

Seth Jarvis and Brayden McNabb (James Guillory-Imagn Images)

Carolina Hurricanes (+360)

If at first you don’t succeed… well, you know the rest. No phrase better encapsulates the Carolina Hurricanes, which were tripped up at the Eastern Conference final in two of the previous three seasons. 

And we all know who did the tripping — those pesky Florida Panthers. As has become customary, the Hurricanes are among the NHL’s best at the quarter mark of the season. 

They arguably have the most well-rounded unit, and the callouses they’ve built from previous playoff heartbreak should help them secure the Prince of Wales Trophy for the first time since they won the Stanley Cup in 2006. 

Their path to the promised land, however, could come down to whether they can exorcize their Panthers’ demons.

Florida Panthers (+375)

Even without captain Aleksander Barkov, the defending back-to-back champions have the depth, experience and pedigree to return to the Stanley Cup final four a fourth successive season. 

The Panthers have repeatedly proven that they’re the class of the Eastern Conference, especially when it matters most. As long as they make the playoffs, I don’t think their seeding matters. 

Paul Maurice’s collective is built for the post-season, and there is no other team I trust more to do the business when the chips are down. Attrition and Barkov’s absence might be the only factors preventing them from capturing the elusive three-peat.

Which State Or Province Will Produce The NHL's 2026 Stanley Cup Champ?Which State Or Province Will Produce The NHL's 2026 Stanley Cup Champ?Will the state of Florida host a Stanley Cup champion yet again this season?

Vegas Golden Knights (+400)

Some immediate concerns have surfaced in Sin City. The good news is that time is on the side of Bruce Cassidy and the collective. Mark Stone needs to return to full health, and Vegas must find an answer between the pipes. 

We’ll see whether Carter Hart can stop the bleeding while they await Adin Hill’s return. But akin to the Panthers, these Golden Knights are built to succeed in the playoffs, with the addition of Mitch Marner reinforcing that notion. 

Edmonton Oilers (+450)

There are a few guarantees in life: the sun rises in the east, the Toronto Maple Leafs won’t make the Stanley Cup final, and the Edmonton Oilers will come good in the nick of time. 

As long as Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are healthy, Edmonton will be among the front-runners to secure a third straight Stanley Cup final berth.

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Two Former Michigan Teammates Hit Major NHL Milestones On The Same Night

On a night that felt like a nostalgic echo of Ann Arbor, two former Michigan Wolverines reached significant NHL milestones on the same day as each other.

Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin recorded his 600th career NHL point on Tuesday, sealing a 4–2 victory over the Seattle Kraken with an empty-net goal. In Winnipeg, Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski scored against the Jets to notch the 400th point of his NHL career, becoming the first defenseman in franchise history to reach that mark.

Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) on XMichigan Hockey (@umichhockey) on XFriends and former teammates, Zach Werenski and Dylan Larkin hit major milestones on same night #ProBlue

The simultaneous milestones served as a fitting reminder of the immense talent that passed through the University of Michigan during the 2014–15 season, when Larkin and Werenski starred on a Wolverines roster loaded with future NHL regulars including current Red Wings Andrew Copp and J. T. Compher, along with Zach Hyman and Tyler Motte.

Detroit's AHL Griffins Bring Back Former In-State Standout On PTODetroit's AHL Griffins Bring Back Former In-State Standout On PTOMichigan native Nolan Moyle earns another AHL shot with the Griffins after dominating in the ECHL, aiming for Red Wings organization success.

Werenski’s goal on Tuesday not only secured his 400th point but further cemented his place as one of the most productive American-born defensemen of his era. With 119 goals and 281 assists in 587 games, he became the eighth-fastest American-born defenseman to reach 400 points. All 400 of his points have come with Columbus, where he has long served as the backbone of the Blue Jackets’ blue line. 

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

On the same day in Detroit, Larkin added another achievement to his growing resume. His empty-net tally secured both the win and his 600th career point, bringing him to 12 goals and 12 assists for 24 points in 20 games to start the season.

Selected 15th overall in 2014, Larkin made his NHL debut in 2015–16 and has spent his entire career with the Red Wings. Now the team’s 37th captain, he has become a foundational piece of Detroit’s resurgence. In January 2025, he became the second-youngest player in franchise history, behind only Steve Yzerman, to reach 700 games played.

Red Wings' Sixth Round Pick Emerging as Surprise Gem in Prospect PipelineRed Wings' Sixth Round Pick Emerging as Surprise Gem in Prospect PipelineFrom a late-round gamble to a dominant QMJHL champion, Rudy Guimond is surprising everyone. The Red Wings' pipeline just got a whole lot more interesting.

With 254 goals and 346 assists in 754 games, the 29-year-old center now sits 11th on Detroit’s all-time points list, within striking distance of Brendan Shanahan, who has 633 points.

A decade after electrifying Yost Ice Arena together, Larkin and Werenski’s NHL careers have taken them down different paths, one captaining an Original Six franchise back toward contention and the other anchoring a younger team’s defensive core. But for one night in mid-November, the two Wolverines were in step once again in a special moment for Michigan fans. 

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Oubre to miss at least 2 weeks for Sixers with left knee injury

Oubre to miss at least 2 weeks for Sixers with left knee injury originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Kelly Oubre Jr. will miss at least two weeks with a left knee injury, the Sixers announced Wednesday night.

Oubre exited the Sixers’ loss last Friday to the Pistons after hyperextending his knee. According to a Sixers official, an MRI on the 29-year-old revealed a left knee LCL sprain and he’ll be re-evaluated in two weeks.

Early in the season, Oubre had been the Sixers’ primary wing player (34.8 minutes per game) and started all of the team’s first 12 games. He averaged 16.8 points and 5.1 rebounds and often handled star assignments defensively.

“He’s done that consistently where he’s got one of better scorers in the league or on the other team, and he just keeps working and working,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said after his team’s Nov. 8 win over the Raptors. “He’s been really good.

“He’s done a good job of playing physically and he’s been much better at just being solid — keeping himself in front of his man, challenging shots. They’re going to make some, but he just keeps at it over the course of the game and ends up with a good defensive game.”

Along with Oubre, the Sixers did not have Joel Embiid (right knee injury), Paul George (left knee injury recovery) and Adem Bona (right ankle sprain) on Wednesday night vs. Toronto for the first leg of a back-to-back.

George is expected to be available Thursday against the Bucks. Embiid has been a full participant in the Sixers’ last two practices and was initially listed as doubtful against the Raptors.