The Philadelphia Flyers are impressively continuing to find ways to turn water into wine with what has been a rather quiet NHL trade market thus far.
On Monday, the Flyers traded veteran defenseman Dennis Gilbert to the Ottawa Senators for unsigned prospect Maxence Guenette, which was yet another example of a rebuilding team doing exactly what they should be doing.
But, what does that mean?
Gilbert, 29, is a career tweener and journeyman who has played a total of just 111 NHL games across seven seasons. He finished training camp well behind Flyers teammates Noah Juulsen, Egor Zamula, and Adam Ginning, and, while Emil Andrae failed to make the cut initially for whatever reason, he, too, bypassed Gilbert with time.
Gilbert played four games for the Senators last season, so he returns to a team that has a use for him and knows what he can bring. At 29, the former third-round pick is what he is, and the competition the Flyers felt they needed to bring with Gilbert's signing in free agency no longer exists.
On the other side of the fence, the Flyers got five years younger with Guenette, 24, a former seventh-round pick with eight games of NHL experience and 236 games of AHL experience.
Guenette is on the older side for a prospect, but he has at least shown some promise in the past. In the 2022-23 season, the 6-foot-2 blueliner racked up five goals, 35 assists, and 40 points in 72 games with the Belleville Senators.
With Andrae presumably staying for the Flyers for the foreseeable future, Guenette can and should help bring further offense to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms' back end.
This is not the first time the Flyers have made a move like this, either.
On Oct. 29, the Flyers traded Samu Tuomaala to Dallas for defenseman Christian Kyrou, who, like Guenette, is a right-shot defender.
Kyrou, 22, has already managed a goal, eight assists, and nine points in seven games with the Phantoms and is pacing well to smash his career-high of 23 points in 57 games, set back in the 2023-24 season with the Texas Stars.
How Guenette fits in the Phantoms' lineup remains unclear; the Flyers added Kyrou, still have Helge Grans, and just got Ethan Samson back from injury. Oliver Bonk could soon return from an injury of his own, which makes four right-shots for three lineup spots.
It would be unrealistic to expect Bonk to come back and hop right into contention for an NHL roster spot, but anything is possible.
At the end of the day, though, even if the Flyers turned nothing into nothing, they got a younger player in Guenette, provided he clears waivers, who has an outside chance of growing beyond his previous circumstances.
That's a smart play from GM Danny Briere and Co., regardless of the outcome.
It's been a season of milestones for the Detroit Red Wings during their centennial campaign, as multiple rookies have not only made the team but also tallied their first of hopefully many goals at the NHL level.
And now, Nate Danielson can add his name to the list. Danielson, whom the Red Wings made their opening round selection (ninth overall) in 2023, scored the first goal of his NHL career on Tuesday evening against the Seattle Kraken.
Danielson redirected a shot from fellow rookie Axel Sandin-Pellikka past Kraken goaltender Joey Daccord for the historic tally. Immediately, rookie Emmitt Finnie retrieved the puck for a keepsake souvenir:
Just minutes later, Danielson would score what appeared to be a highlight-reel goal, only to have it ultimately waived off after Finnie was ruled to have entered the offensive zone an instant too early.
While the Kraken would knot the score at 2-2 just minutes afterward, Danielson then collected an assist on a goal from Finnie, his first goal since Oct. 25.
The Red Wings now have eight total goals scored by rookies so far this season, which is good for a three-way tie with the St. Louis Blues and New York Islanders for the second most in the NHL.
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The Calgary Flames announced today that the organization has claimed forward John Beecher off waivers. The 24-year-old centre joins the club after spending the start of the season with the Boston Bruins.
Beecher, originally selected 30th overall in the 2019 NHL Draft, brings size, speed, and a responsible two-way game down the middle. Standing 6’3” and 220 pounds, he provides the Flames with a young, pro-ready option for depth at centre, particularly in a fourth-line role.
Beecher has appeared in 136 NHL games, recording 11 goals and 22 points over parts of three seasons. He is currently on a one-year contract valued at $900,000 and will be a restricted free agent at season’s end.
Sitting 32nd in the league standings, the Flames held top priority on the waiver wire and secured Beecher’s rights upon submitting their claim.
Beecher will join the Flames in Buffalo and will be available, if needed, against the Sabres.
The Yankees protected a trio of top prospects from the Rule 5 Draft on Tuesday, officially adding outfielder Spencer Jones and right-handers Chase Hampton and Elmer Rodríguez to the 40-man roster.
All major league clubs had until Tuesday's 6 p.m. ET deadline to set their rosters, and Jones was among five prospects inside MLB Pipeline's Top 100 rankings list who would've been exposed to the draft process and eligible to be poached.
New York's decisions were no-brainers, as Jones (No. 4), Hampton (No. 8), and Rodríguez (No. 3) are consensus Top 10 prospects within the organization. Their big league debuts are projected to arrive between the 2026 and 2027 seasons, according to MLB Pipeline.
As one of the best minor league hitters in 2025, Jones slashed .274/.362/.571 (403 at-bats) with 35 home runs, 23 doubles, 80 RBI, 102 runs, and 29 stolen bases in 116 combined games with Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The 25-year-old also placed second among all qualified minor leaguers in home runs and fifth in slugging.
Hampton, who underwent Tommy John surgery in February and missed the entire 2025 campaign, has produced a 3.45 ERA with 161 strikeouts over 125.1 innings (27 starts) across three different levels, reaching as high as Double-A in 2023 and 2024. The 24-year-old was a sixth-round pick in 2022.
Rodríguez, named the Yankees' top minor league player by Baseball America this season, produced a sharp 2.58 ERA with 176 strikeouts across 27 appearances (26 starts) between Triple-A, Double-A, and High-A Hudson Valley. The 22-year-old's strikeouts mark ranked second among all minor league pitchers.
Here are the latest news updates and possible return dates for Knicks players...
Dec. 22, 4:20 p.m.
The Knicks will be short-handed on Tuesday night in Minnesota against the Timberwolves.
Jalen Brunson (right ankle management), OG Anunoby (left ankle soreness), and Guerschon Yabusele (illness) are all listed as out.
Additionally, Miles McBride (ankle), Landry Shamet (shoulder), and Pacôme Dadiet (G-League assignment) will remain out as well.
New York has gone 2-1 since winning the NBA Cup last Tuesday and face a hot Minnesota squad, winners of four out of their last five games.
Dec. 19, 5:25 p.m.
Head coach Mike Brown confirmed that Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart will play against the 76ers on Friday, hours after they were listed as probable on the injury report.
Dec. 19, 2:00 p.m.
On the heels of a back-to-back, the Knicks will get some of their core back in the lineup on Friday night against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Karl-Anthony Towns (knee soreness) and Josh Hart (rectus abdominis strain) are listed as probable, while Mitchell Robinson and OG Anunoby aren't on the injury report and should be available. Towns, Hart, and Robinson all did not play in Thursday's win over the Indiana Pacers.
Miles McBride (ankle) and Landry Shamet (shoulder) will remain out for New York on Friday. Additionally, Pacôme Dadiet was assigned to the Westchester Knicks.
The Sixers will be without former MVP Joel Embiid (illness, right knee injury management), who was downgraded from questionable. Embiid has played in just 11 of Philly's 25 games this season, averaging only 20.5 points and 6.6 rebounds when on the court (26.2 minutes per game). Philadelphia will also be without Kelly Oubre Jr. (left knee sprain) and Trendon Watford (left adductor strain).
Dec. 18, 5:15 p.m.
Fresh off the NBA Cup triumph, the Knicks are going to be without a host of players for Thursday night's matchup with the lowly Indiana Pacers (6-20).
Karl-Anthony Towns (knee soreness), Josh Hart (rectus abdominis strain), and Mitchell Robinson (ankle management) will all not feature due to slight injuries. New York will already be without Miles McBride and Landry Shamet, who are on the shelf with longer-term injuries.
OG Anunoby (knee contusion) was on the injury report, but will play.
Dec. 7, 3:22 p.m.
Knicks guard Miles McBride exited Sunday's win over the Orlando Magic in the first half, and according to SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley, the guard is still in the process of being evaluated for a left ankle injury.
The Knicks say they will know more on McBride's status on Monday.
As a starter or a bench player, McBride has been terrific this season. In 19 games (nine starts), McBride has averaged a career-best 15.8 points per games while shooting 46.2 percent from beyond the arc.
Dec. 4, 5:10 p.m.
The Knicks are seemingly close to getting OG Anunoby back. According to SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley, Anunoby (hamstring) has been upgraded to questionable for Friday's game against the Utah Jazz at MSG.
Begley noted on Thursday's episode of The Putback that this weekend's games are a target for the Knicks to get Anunoby back on the court.
Anunoby has missed every game since suffering the injury on Nov. 14 against the Miami Heat.
Head coach Mike Brown said that Anunoby has progressed to taking contact in practice and it seems as though the forward is reacting to it in a positive manner. Of course, this doesn't mean Anunoby will play on Friday, but it leaves open the possibility.
Dec. 3, 6:40 p.m.
Knicks head coach Mike Brown gave a short update on OG Anunoby (hamstring). The coach said that Anunoby has progressed to taking contact in practice.
“It’s still the same, he’s still progressing in the right direction," Brown said of Anunoby before Wednesday's game against the Hornets. "We’re not going to rush him."
Brown also confirmed that Mitchell Robinson (injury management) will miss Wednesday's game, as it's the second of a back-to-back.
Mike Brown said that OG Anunoby has taken contact in practice but the Knicks "won't rush him" pic.twitter.com/tZLSHsXqY0
Jalen Brunson (ankle) will return to the court and start on Wednesday night in Dallas against the Mavericks, the team announced prior to tip-off.
Brunson suffered a Grade 1 right ankle sprain against the Orlando Magic on Nov. 12 and missed the team's next two games against the Miami Heat. New York split the two contests, winning at home and losing on the road. The team is still searching for its first road win of the season, dropping all four games away from the Garden.
Over 11 games this year, Brunson is averaging 28.0 points on 46.7 percent shooting and 6.5 assists per game.
Meanwhile, the Mavs will be without rookie Cooper Flagg (illness) on Wednesday night as he'll miss the first game of his career.
Nov. 18, 6:50 p.m.
The Knicks upgraded Jalen Brunson (ankle) to questionable for their Wednesday tip against the Mavericks in Dallas.
Brunson had missed the team's last two games since suffering a right ankle sprain back on Nov. 12 against the Orlando Magic at MSG. Already without OG Anunoby (hamstring), the Knicks could use their captain to try and get their first road win of the season.
Oct. 28, 7:18 p.m.
Before the Knicks' tip-off against the Bucks, the Knicks announced that Towns (right quad strain) will play, but Yabusele (left knee sprain) will be out, joining McBride (personal) and Robinson (ankle sprain management) as players who are unavailable for Tuesday's game.
Oct. 28, 3:35 p.m.
Miles McBride has been downgraded from questionable to out for the Knicks' game on Tuesday at the Milwaukee Bucks, the team announced. This is the second-straight game the guard missed due to personal reasons. He was out for Sunday's loss against the Miami Heat.
Oct. 27, 6:45 p.m.
Mitchell Robinson still isn't ready to make his season debut, as the Knicks have officially ruled him out again for Tuesday night's game against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Robinson has been sidelined for the first three games due to left ankle injury management, and it's still unknown when he'll make his return to the court.
New York has also listed Karl-Anthony Towns (right quad strain), Miles McBride (personal reasons), and Guerschon Yabusele (left knee sprain) as questionable for the contest.
Yabusele is the only new addition to the injury report. Towns has been included heading into each of the first three games, but played in all three, and McBride missed Sunday's game against the Heat for personal reasons.
Yabusele left Sunday's game at one point and had his knee checked, but he was able to return and saw regular time off the bench down the stretch.
Oct. 23, 6:10 p.m.
The latest NBA injury report has been released and the Knicks have designated center Mitchell Robinson (left ankle injury management) as out for Friday's home game against the Celtics.
Robinson missed Wednesday's season opener and the Knicks are being cautious with their big man this season as they want to have him at close to full strength for an anticipated long playoff run.
The Knicks have also designated both Josh Hart (lower back) and Karl-Anthony Towns (right quad strain) as questionable.
Hart also missed the season opener but has not seen action since the first preseason game where he tweaked his back. Towns almost missed Wednesday's game but toughed out his quad strain and to help the Knicks' win against the Cavaliers.
OG Anunoby, who played Wednesday despite being questionable with an ankle sprain, is probably for Friday's game.
Oct. 22, 10:59 p.m.
Karl-Anthony Towns was questionable, then doubtful, then questionable again in the hours leading up to the Knicks' win over the Cavaliers and now we know exactly why.
The Knicks forward told reporters after Wednesday's win that he is playing through a Grade 2 quad strain.
"I’ve been banged up and haven’t really got a chance to practice or play in the last two preseason games," Towns said. "I didn’t want to disappoint the fans, dealing with a Grade 2 quad strain. It’s not something that’s easy to do. We made it happen tonight. Glad the fans respect the effort I put in to play tonight, and my teammates, too. Shoutout to them for supporting me, knowing the situation that I was in."
Towns played through the pain to give the Knicks 19 points and 11 rebounds in 30 minutes.
The Yankees finally made it to the World Series in 2024 after a 15-year absence and then they were ousted -- convincingly -- by the Blue Jays in the ALDS a year later.
It was a disappointing end for a team that had high hopes despite the loss of Juan Soto. The additions of Cody Bellinger, Max Fried, Paul Goldschmidt,and others helped the Yanks get out to a hot start before their usual summer swoon cost them the AL East. Even though the Yankees ended the 2025 regular season on a heater, and bounced the rival Red Sox in the Wild Card round, they weren't able to get past the eventual AL champions.
So, how can New York finally get over the hump? That's a question principal owner Hal Steinbrenner and GM Brian Cashman have to answer, and it won't be easy.
Although the starting rotation is set -- once the injured arms return -- the Yankees need to rebuild the back end of the bullpen and the lineup needs some tweaks to surround Aaron Judge with quality bats.
As the offseason chugs along, here's a look at the team's payroll situation for the upcoming season and beyond...
SALARY COMMITTED FOR 2026
The last two seasons, the Yankees' payroll eclipsed the top luxury tax (competitive balance tax) and they will be close to doing so again in 2026.
The first luxury tax threshold is set for $244 million this upcoming season, so it's hard to imagine a world where the Yankees will not exceed the top threshold (set for $304 million in 2026) again, despite how ownership may feel.
After Grisham's qualifying offer, the Yankees have approximately $190.25 million committed for 2026, coming from seven contracts: Judge ($40 million), Gerrit Cole ($36 million),Fried ($27.25 million), Carlos Rodón ($27 million), Giancarlo Stanton ($22 million), Grisham ($22 million) and Ryan McMahon ($16 million).
Sep 26, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton (27) watches his two run home run against the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning at Yankee Stadium / Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Then there's the dead money.
Aaron Hicks and his $10 million will be off the books this season (after a $1 million buyout) and give the Yanks more flexibility. Unfortunately, it's offset by the contract of DJ LeMahieu. The Yankees released the utility man midseason, but he will still be owed $15 million in 2026. LeMahieu's contract was destined to be bad, but it was compounded by how New York tried to utilize the former batting champion in 2025, when his skills were clearly diminished.
The team eventually made the right decision to release him, but he'll still be owed money this coming season. Luckily, it's just for one season. That pushes the committed payroll to $183.25 million.
Aside from Hicks' contract, here are the Yankees' free agents and what they earned in 2025 after Grisham and Yarbrough's return:
Cody Bellinger ($27.5 million)
Paul Goldschmidt ($12.5 million)
Devin Williams ($8.6 million)
Luke Weaver ($2.5 million)
Amed Rosario ($688,200)
Austin Slater ($573,900)
Paul Blackburn ($159,400)
With Hicks' $10 million gone, that brings the total to around $61 million off the books. That's a nice chunk of change, but there are serious decisions to be made about which players the Yanks should think about bringing back. Bellinger was arguably the team's second-best hitter this season and brought elite defense.
Cashman said at the GM Meetings this offseason that the possibility of Grisham accepting the qualifying offer wouldn't change their pursuit of Bellinger, but we'll see if that is true, now that it has happened.
The potential losses of Williams and Weaver put the bullpen in a tough spot, but Yarbrough gives the Yankees flexibility to have a longman out of the bullpen while also having a potential starter to fill in spots left open by injured starters Cole and Rodón.
The Yankees' bench is also in need of some additions. Rosario was a great right-handed bat that gave manager Aaron Boone some flexibility and should be a player the organization considers bringing back.
The Yankees had two players with options, and they accepted one and declined the other. Jonathan Loaisiga ($5 million) will not return under that contract, while Tim Hill ($3 million) will.
Sep 3, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. (13) runs to first base on a single during the fifth inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park. / Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
WHAT WILL THE ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE AND 0-TO-3 PLAYERS MAKE?
The Yankees have 14 players who are eligible for arbitration. Those players, along with their expected 2026 salary via Cot's Baseball Contracts, are:
Jazz Chisholm Jr. ($10.25 million)
David Bednar ($8.5 million)
Camilo Doval ($6 million)
Clarke Schmidt ($5.25 million)
Anthony Volpe ($3.525 million)
Mark Leiter Jr. ($2.75 million)
Jose Caballero ($2.325 million)
Luis Gil ($1.9 million)
Fernando Cruz ($1.2 million)
Ian Hamilton ($1.1 million)
Jake Bird ($1 million)
Oswaldo Cabrera ($1 million)
Jake Cousins ($841,050)
Scott Effross ($800,000)
The combined salary of the arbitration players is approximately $46.45 million, and that's if the Yanks don't non-tender certain players. And out of this list of 14(!), there are a few candidates who may not get offered arbitration -- they come out of the bullpen.
Leiter has been mercurial since arriving at the deadline in 2024, and this is his final arbitration-eligible season. Hamilton and Bird finished 2025 in the minors due to poor performance, but both have two more years of arbitration, so the Yankees may want to keep them around. The same goes for Cousins -- who underwent Tommy John surgery in mid-2025 and will likely be out for 2026 -- while Effross has one more year of team control after 2026 and wasn't effective when he returned from injury in the middle of the season.
Adding in all the arbitration players, the Yankees' payroll in 2026 would be at $229.7 million.
This list doesn't include players who are not eligible for arbitration and will make the league minimum ($780,000). Those players include Austin Wells, Jasson Dominguez, Ben Rice, Will Warren and Cam Schlittler.
Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman talks with the media before the game between the Yankees and the Washington Nationals at Yankee Stadium. / Vincent Carchietta - USA TODAY Sports
HOW MUCH MONEY IS THERE TO ADD PLAYERS THIS OFFSEASON?
With committed salaries and estimated arbitration salaries and raises, the Yankees currently have approximately $271.4 million on the books for their 40-man roster in 2026, already going over the first tax threshold, and threatening the top threshold.
It's unlikely the Yankees remain below $300 million as ownership would like, but it'll be interesting to see how Cashman approaches the offseason with the recent additions.
The Yankees still need to add to their outfield with Bellinger gone. While the Yanks have made it clear they want to bring back Bellinger, they won't be the only team looking for the former NL MVP's services.
Kyle Tucker is now a free agent and should be a target for the Yankees, who can use a consistent bat to go alongside Judge. Going after Tucker would be a longer-term commitment than one the Yanks would give to Bellinger. It'll likely come down to money and how much Steinbrenner is willing to spend. However, it's very likely that Grisham's QO will limit the money the Yankees could offer Tucker in 2026, so we'll see what happens on that front.
Although the Yankees' starting rotation is pretty much set once Cole and Rodon return, opportunities to add are possible. The Yankees could want to bring in a stop-gap arm to go alongside Fried, Gil, Warren, and Schlittler. There's also the trade market the Yankees could explore. Tarik Skubal is a name the hot stove has thrown out there, and he would fit in a rotation that is already one of the best in the majors.
And then there's the bullpen. It's unlikely that both Weaver and Williams will be back, but re-signing Weaver -- who will likely be cheaper -- and then adding arms to fill out the rest of the bullpen, like with Yarbrough and bringing back Hill, could make sense.
The Yankees also need to add to their bench. Luckily, Cabrera will return to be Boone's Swiss-Army Knife alongside Caballero. However, a right-handed hitting first baseman option to platoon with Rice may be needed this offseason.
And what about Volpe? Will the Yankees stay patient with their former prospect, or try to look outside the organization? Bo Bichette is a free agent, but it's highly unlikely the Yankees will spend the big money to acquire him.
Will the Yankees go over the $304 million top threshold? With what they need, it looks likely.
WHAT ABOUT EXTENSIONS FOR UNDER-CONTROL PLAYERS?
In previous years, you could have listed names like Volpe or Wells, but after subpar 2025 seasons -- and with so many years of arbitration still left -- the Yankees will likely let their play dictate whether an extension is in the cards.
There is one player who could be receiving an extension, and that's Chisholm. The talented infielder is in the final year of arbitration and will be a free agent after the 2026 season. The organization clearly likes Chisholm for his athleticism, versatility, power, and locker room presence. He made his second career All-Star Game this season and became just the third player in Yankees history to record a 30-30 season.
There's a world where the Yanks extend Chisholm (entering his age-28 season), buying out his final year of arbitration and keeping him in pinstripes for the foreseeable future.
New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. (13) scores on an hits an RBI single from New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells (28) (not pictured) during the eighth inning against the Boston Red Sox during game two of the Wildcard round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Yankee Stadium. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images
THE PAYROLL SITUATION IN 2027 AND BEYOND
Here are the Yankees' projected 40-man roster salary obligations from 2027 to 2030, via Cot's:
2027: $166.33 million 2028: $125.33 million 2029: $71.5 million 2030: $71.5 million
After 2027, it gets interesting.
Stanton has a club option that the Yankees will most likely not exercise after that year, freeing up $15 million. McMahon will also be a free agent, adding another $16 million to the Yankees' coffers. However, by then, Chisholm and Bednar will be free agents, unless they are extended. There will be big holes to fill -- as per usual with this team -- so that money will need to be used to shore up the infield and the closer's role.
Looking past 2028, only Judge and Fried have guaranteed contracts -- Cole and Rodon are free agents after 2028 -- so it'll be interesting to see where Cashman puts the money.
The Yankees do have young arms who are major league ready, like Gil, Warren, and Schlittler, who could eventually replace Cole and Rodon for much cheaper. Meanwhile, prospects like Carlos Lagrange, Elmer Rodríguez and Chase Hampton are close to the majors. The Yankees' pipeline of pitchers is rich and its future is seemingly bright.
The same might not be said about the Yankees' infield situation. Outside of George Lombard Jr., who is close to the majors and could realistically usurp Volpe sooner rather than later, there isn't much developed. The same can kind of be said about the outfield.
This season will be big for Dominguez, as it'll show the Yankees whether he can be an everyday outfielder for them.
There's also Spencer Jones, who skyrocketed up to Triple-A this past season and could be an option in the outfield in 2026. But outside of Judge, there's a lot of unknowns in the outfield, which won't change in the near future, even with Grisham returning next season.
So while the Yanks would love to stay below the top tax threshold, it's not realistic for the next few seasons. And it won't be realistic unless these prospects start to develop and prove they can perform at the big league level.
Until then, expect more big contracts from the Bronx, and that's OK. The Yankees, despite the guaranteed bucks, can work in that realm and remain flexible.
Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff provided an update defenseman Michael Kesselring, who left the Sabres 5-4 overtime victory over Detroit on Saturday early in the third period and was seen walking in a boot on Monday.
"He's gonna be out an extended period of time, on the longer side……weeks,” Ruff said after the club’s practice on Tuesday.
Kesselring was the main piece in the Sabres trade with Utah for winger JJ Peterka in June, but his Sabres career thus far has been hampered by injury. He missed a month after suffering an unspecified injury near the end of training camp, and after returning in late October, he played eight games before being sidelined again.
Jacob Bryson took Kesselring’s spot in the lineup against Edmonton, playing the left side while Owen Power shifted to his off-side on Monday.
Ruff also provided some optimistic news on winger Zach Benson, who was also seen walking in the press box wearing a protective boot on Monday.
“I talked to him this morning,” Ruff said. “I think he’ll join the morning skate (on Tuesday), so he’ll be that close.”
The 20-year-old had a quick start this season after recovering from an infection of a facial cut that required an overnight hospital stay. Benson had eight assists in eight games before suffering a lower-body injury.
Center Josh Norris and winger Jason Zucker participated in practice wearing grey non-contact jerseys on Tuesday, and Ruff indicated on Monday that the veteran winger could be available as soon as this weekend, when the Sabres play Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday and the Carolina Hurricanes in a rare Sunday afternoon matinee.
With the second-overall pick of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, the Chicago Blackhawks selected defenseman Artyom Levshunov. The 6-foot-2 blueliner is viewed as a massive part of the Blackhawks' future, as he has very high upside.
Levshunov appeared in his first 18 career NHL games this past season with the Blackhawks, where he posted six assists and a minus-13 rating. Overall, the young blueliner naturally had some growing pains during his first NHL action. However, he is now already showing clear signs of breaking out for the Blackhawks early on this season.
In 17 games so far this season with the Blackhawks, Levshunov has already recorded 10 assists, with five of them coming on the power play. He has also posted 15 blocks, 20 hits, and a plus-2 rating so far this season for the Central Division club.
Yet, what's more encouraging about Levshunov's play is that he is only heating up as the campaign rolls on. Over his last five games, he has recorded five assists. He has also posted eight assists in his last nine games, so there is no question that he is feeling it right now.
If Levshunov can continue to set up his teammates offensively and improve his all-around game, he could be in for a very big year with the Blackhawks. It will be interesting to see how he builds on his hot streak, but there is no question that he is impressing.
Ahead of the 2025-26 season, the Buffalo Sabres claimed goaltender Colten Ellis off of waivers from the St. Louis Blues. This was after the 25-year-old netminder posted a 22-14-3 record, a .922 save percentage, a 2.63 goals-against average, and three shutouts with the Blues' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds, this past season.
The decision to claim Ellis off of waivers is already looking like a great move by the Sabres, as the 2019 third-round pick is making an impact early on for Buffalo.
In four appearances so far this season with the Sabres, Ellis has recorded a 3-1-0 record, a .914 save percentage, and a 2.76 goals-against average. This included him stopping 32 out of 33 shots he faced against the Edmonton Oilers in his most recent appearance on Nov. 17, which equates to a .970 save percentage.
If Ellis can continue to play this well for the Sabres as the season rolls on, the Sabres' decision to bring him in will only keep looking better. It will be fascinating to see how he builds on his strong start to his Sabres tenure, but right now, he is certainly impressing as a waiver wire pickup.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to miss one to two weeks due to a "low-grade" groin strain, reports Shams Charania of ESPN.
The Bucks are not required to make anything official until Tuesday, and the team did not practice or meet on Monday. However, coach Doc Rivers did appear on the Bucks' official podcast Courtside and said this (hat tip Eric Nehm of The Athletic):
"I don't know what grade it is, but I know it's not a bad one, so that's good news for us...Probably two weeks he'll be out — hopefully less."
Antetokounmpo had to leave Monday night's game against Phoenix late in the second quarter after injuring his groin on a drive to the rim, though it might have started earlier, coach Doc Rivers said after the game.
"He grabbed his groin, I think in the first quarter, and I asked him right away. He said it was fine," Rivers said, via the Associated Press. "Then I think he grabbed it again and said it was fine. And then on the third time, you know, that's when it happened. But I think it happened before, in my opinion."
Antetokounmpo is playing at an MVP level early in the season, averaging 31.2 points, 10.8 rebounds and 6.8 assists a game, carrying the Bucks early in the season. The concern for the next two weeks is that the Bucks have a -13 net rating when he is off the floor. The Bucks' offense is 21.8 points per 100 possessions better when he is on the court.
Jericho Sims started the second half on Monday with Antetokounmpo out, and both he and Bobby Portis likely see increased run until the Greek Freak returns.
Georgetown center Vince Iwuchukwu needs to have a medical procedure and will be evaluated after six to eight weeks, the school said Tuesday, without giving any specifics about his condition. Iwuchukwu is a 7-foot-1 senior who began his college career as a five-star recruit at Southern California. In July 2022, he collapsed during an informal workout and went into cardiac arrest.
Flyers Star's Olympic Chances Just Received a Major BoostWith Jack Hughes injured, Philadelphia Flyers star Trevor Zegras can seize a golden opportunity to make Team USA's roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
