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Continue reading...Report: Maple Leafs, NHLPA, And William Nylander's Agent Fought To Have Argument With Sheldon Keefe Removed From All Or Nothing Series
The relationship between Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube and William Nylander is fascinating.
Over the year and a quarter that Berube has been in charge, we've seen countless interactions between the coach and Nylander where they've sputtered at each other. It's occurred during games, and we've even seen it at points when Berube talks to the media.
They have an open line of communication, which is a good thing.
In some cases, however, those interactions can turn sour. And according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman on 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, that's what happened between Nylander and former Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe at one point.
Friedman said that Keefe would often push Nylander, as Berube does, going back to their days with the AHL's Toronto Marlies after the forward was drafted by the Maple Leafs back in 2014.
"The organization has protected him a lot. He was (Brendan) Shanahan's first pick; Shanahan really protected him," Friedman said. "He was Shanahan's guy. His first-ever first-rounder, and he had a lot invested in him. They've paid him really well; that's the ultimate belief in him."
How William Nylander Has Gotten Off To The Best Start Of A Season In His NHL Career With Maple LeafsNylander's 20 points through 11 games put him in the upper echelon of NHL scoring this season.During the 2021 COVID-19 season, when Amazon was following the Maple Leafs for their 'All or Nothing' series, there was reportedly a moment when Nylander and Keefe got into an argument, which was removed from the final cut of the show released later that year.
"In the first Amazon (series) they did, the 'All or Nothing', there was a scene in there that the Leafs and the NHLPA and his agent all fought to have taken out, and it wasn't supposed to happen. Like, everybody was supposed to be like, 'It's there, you have to say yes.' But the Leafs, the players' association, and the agent, it was an argument between Keefe and Nylander, and those three felt strongly it made Nylander look bad," Friedman reported.
"And initially, Amazon fought it. They're like, 'Nope.' But (the three groups) put up such a stink that eventually they won their way. So this is a marriage, and like I said, I know Nylander drives some people crazy, but he's been good for them, and they've been good for him.
"Just watching (Berube and Nylander's interactions), I wonder where this is going. Because it's boiling over in a very frustrating time for the team. If it was me, I think I would be able to handle it, but I'm not seeing 100 percent what's happening, so I can't say for sure."
This report follows Nylander and Berube being pictured passionately speaking to each other during Wednesday's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. A few moments prior, Nylander was the last Toronto player back during a Blue Jackets four-on-two, which Joseph Woll ended up stopping.
Berube and Willy pic.twitter.com/PysnOCnuoe
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) November 27, 2025
Nylander has been red-hot all season long for the Maple Leafs, scoring 11 goals and 31 points in his first 20 games of the year. The 29-year-old leads the Maple Leafs in scoring and is tied for fifth in the NHL for points and tied for fourth in assists.
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Red Wings Reassign Erik Gustafsson to Grand Rapids
The Detroit Red Wings reassigned defenseman Erik Gustafsson to the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins on Friday, ending a short stint with the NHL club that include just one apperance.
UPDATE: The #RedWings have assigned Erik Gustafsson to the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins and activated Michael Rasmussen from IR. pic.twitter.com/Q4GudHauzA
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) November 28, 2025
Gustafsson was recalled last Sunday after Detroit lost Simon Edvinsson to injury, but the 33-year-old veteran drew into the lineup just once in the team's 6-3 loss on Wednesday to the Nashville Predators. He now returns to Grand Rapids, where he has been one of the key contributors to the Griffins’ remarkable 14-1-0-1 start. Gustafsson leads all Griffins defensemen in points per game, recording eight assists through ten appearances.
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His strong AHL play has caught the attention of teams around the league. Several insiders reported that Detroit had explored potential trade options in recent weeks to find the veteran blueliner another NHL opportunity, though no deal ultimately came together.
Gustafsson brings a long résumé of NHL experience, highlighted by his breakout 60-point campaign with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2018–19, when he tallied 17 goals and 43 assists in 79 games. He later posted 42 points with the Washington Capitals in 2022–23 and followed with a 31-point season for the New York Rangers in 2023–24.
Since joining Detroit, Gustafsson has appeared in 60 games, registering 18 points. However, he has struggled defensively during his tenure, finishing with a minus-19 rating.
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NBA Cup 2025: Four must-watch games Friday night that will set the quarterfinals field
By the time the final buzzer sounds on Friday night, we will know the eight teams advancing to the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup, the bracket-style knockout round stage of the tournament.
While we already know a couple of the final eight (the Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles Lakers), the final six spots — four division winners plus one wild card in each conference — will be decided on Friday. Here are four must-watch games that will go a long way to determining who advances and starts playing for the size of their bonus check and a trip to Las Vegas.
Orlando at Detroit
The math is pretty simple here: Win and you're in. Whichever team wins this game advances to the quarterfinals and wins East Group B. If Detroit loses, it would need a lot of help to advance as the wild card. However, if Orlando loses a close game and doesn't ding its +61 point differential too much, it very likely would advance to the quarterfinals as a wild card.
Milwaukee at New York
If the Knicks win, they advance as the winners of East Group C, but if they lose, they are out. With a New York victory, both teams would be 3-1, but the Knicks would advance because they won the head-to-head matchup. If Milwaukee wins, Miami wins the group at 3-1 (the Heat do not play Friday), and the Knicks are eliminated — and if Milwaukee wins in a blowout, the Bucks become a long shot to advance as the wild card, but they need a lot of help.
Even if the Knicks win, Miami has a chance to advance as the Wild Card with its +49 point differential. However, the Heat would need some help (depending on the point differential of the other 3-1 teams, the Heat would need Orlando to lose by more than 12 and Cleveland to lose or at least beat Atlanta by less than 16).
Phoenix at Oklahoma City
Another win-and-you're-in scenario. Whichever team wins this game will be 4-0 in group play and will advance to the quarterfinals. With Oklahoma City entering the game +71 in point differential for NBA Cup games and Phoenix at +35, the loser of this game has a very good chance to advance as the wild card (but if the Suns lose they need it to be close). Also of note, Oklahoma City — which made it to the finals of the NBA Cup in Las Vegas last year — will get Jalen Williams back for this game.
San Antonio at Denver
It's another win-and-you're-in scenario, but this game is far more influenced by injuries than the others. No Victor Wembanyama for San Antonio, which makes matching up with Nikola Jokic a challenge and puts a lot on Luke Kornet's plate. Denver is dealing with injury issues itself, down two starters (Christian Braun and Aaron Gordon), and is now asking a lot more of Peyton Watson. The loser of this game could advance as the wild card if it's a close game and OKC blows out Phoenix, and Memphis doesn't blow out the Clippers.
Stuck in Neutral: The Kings' Premature Exit Leaves Them Watching Two Rivals Accelerate
ANAHEIM, CA — The prevailing narrative around the Los Angeles Kings remains mystified. For years, the organization confidently asserted its structural superiority over the "rebuilding" Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks, believing it had completed the hard part and secured its place in the league's upper tier. The Kings, they thought, had earned a permanent seat among the contenders. Let’s shatter that thought.
Today, their structural advantage is revealed as a rigid, high-cost trap. Great possession team, hard to watch for flashy offensive hockey. The Kings, with their size and slow backend mobility, are indisputably a playoff team—a strong defensive club with possession metrics that guarantee relevance. Yet, they remain stubbornly outside the bubble of the truly elite, forever a team of close to the cap spenders built for launching pads for other clubs in the first round. Meanwhile, their California rivals are charting paths toward clear, high-ceiling futures, accelerating their timelines and leaving the Kings stuck in the obscure middle ground.
The Kings are paying the price for the premature exit from their rebuild during the COVID era. That rush to contend left the pipeline depleted (Brock Faber and Gabriel Vilardi traded), blocking an assortment of mid- to low-tier top-end prospects but acquiring soluble pieces towards a win-now schematic, and the cap that has been mostly restricted. The result is a structural flaw that permeates the entire offense.
The team successfully installed Quinton Byfield as the top center, and he is showing all the signs of a top-tier defensive playmaker. However, his 6.8% shooting percentage illustrates the larger problem: Byfield has yet to find synergy with elite sniper Adrian Kempe and become an elite center in this league. The organization has thrust him on a poor man’s Edmonton Oiler nuclear line, a combination that has crushed the Kings increasingly so, four seasons in a row. The Kings are forced to rely on a theoretically powerful combination that doesn't produce the output of the total skill that is thrown together. The Kings lack the organizational flexibility—the cap space or prospect capital—to get the missing winger who could unlock the roster’s ability to capitalize on the team's outstanding possession metrics and possibly Byfield’s true scoring potential. The Kings cannot get better without making a painful, difficult trade.
The Rivals’ Freedom
In stark contrast, the Ducks and Sharks are operating from positions of immense organizational freedom. The Anaheim Ducks have stunned the league and are atop the Pacific Division, their "uncohesive talent" coalescing faster than anyone predicted. They traded away players like Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale to commit to a physical, structured identity, anchored by the impressive play of Leo Carlsson. More importantly, the Ducks project to have significant cap space, allowing them to acquire a star defenseman or another high-end forward to optimize a winner without compromising their core.
Leo Carlsson with a little "Who's Sweden's No. 1 Olympic Center Now?" stick lift on Elias Pettersson.#FlyTogetherpic.twitter.com/NbpEEI9tAK
— Zach Cavanagh (@ZachCav) November 27, 2025
The San Jose Sharks, despite the massive dead cap on their books now, are staring at a future defined by financial wealth. Their cap space clears to over $54 million next season. This will allow them to skip years of gradual building and immediately surround the young, explosive trio of Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, and William Eklund with premier veteran free agents. Their long road has become a high-speed acceleration lane.
The Kings' dilemma is clear: they have built a rigid structure that locks them into being a good, but never great, team. Their cap space is gone, their draft capital is spent, the structural integrity of their offense is questionable, and their defensive core remains suspect.
Their choice is not about joining the elite but about managing the inevitable decline of Drew Doughty, as the team is witnessing in real time, and the Anze Kopitar retirement is rapidly approaching. It is pivotal that Ken Holland and company manage these contracts without collapsing into another complete rebuild, certainly not a reason he was brought in in the first place.
While the Ducks and Sharks have the flexibility to make high-impact choices that accelerate their windows, the Kings are trapped by negligible forks in the road—only able to choose between two painful options: trade the remaining future to go all in, or trade a core veteran to free up money. Right now, the team is positioned to double, if not triple down on past mistakes, sailing directly for an iceberg while continuously confirming their course. The Kings may have arrived first for playoff contention. Still, they have parked themselves in the most precarious position in the Pacific: a perennial playoff team defined not by its ambition, but by a year-to-year, ever-shrinking ceiling.
With 30 points in 20 games this season, Macklin Celebrini joins some ridiculously elite company 😳 pic.twitter.com/i2Wbtj1mdZ
— NHL (@NHL) November 19, 2025
The divergence in the California triangle is perhaps best illustrated by the recent playoff picture. The Kings have achieved the organizational goal of consistency, securing a spot in the postseason for four consecutive seasons—a proud mark of stability that neither Californian rival can touch. However, this consistent relevance has only underscored their ceiling; the Kings have not advanced past the second round during this entire run, remaining a playoff fixture but never truly in the conversation for elite contender status. In contrast, the Ducks (last in 2018) and Sharks (last in 2019) have not seen playoff action in recent years, their absence a direct consequence of the organizational teardowns that yielded Carlsson and Celebrini, amongst a glut of homegrown high-end talent from both organizations.
This current quiet period for their rivals has been the necessary cost of their impending acceleration, meaning the Ducks and Sharks have traded short-term playoff droughts for the long-term promise of genuine Cup contention. The Kings' consistent just-good-enough playoff presence has solidified their current middle-ground predicament.
Why is Karl-Anthony Towns' scoring boom or bust to start Knicks season?
The Knicks' offense is off to a hot start under head coach Mike Brown’s new system, producing over 120 points per game and ranking third in efficiency, en route to an 11-6 start despite multiple missed games from key starters and reserves. However, there is a lone, striking fault in the early returns: Karl-Anthony Towns’ struggles.
The former No. 1 overall pick is off to a slower offensive start, averaging 22.4 points per game on 51.7 percent shooting from two and 32.6 percent shooting from three. Those shooting numbers, percentage-wise, would be career lows by a longshot if sustained, which naturally has fans concerned about the team’s second option.
Towns has put up some major performances in contrast — 39, 37 and 33 points in wins against the Heat, Nets and Wizards, respectively — but he’s had many more snoozers. So, is this just a rough shooting patch, an adjustment to the new offense, or something more?
Let’s dive into his two-point conversions first. Towns should be benefitting from the increased spacing this season, yet hasn’t converted in the paint to his usual standards.
The good news here is that Towns was playing through a Grade 2 quad strain to start the year, and that appears to be the likely culprit. His first six games, he shot sub-40 percent from two, and has been at a career-average mark of 57 percent since.
It’s apparent when comparing the film between the first games and more recent ones: Towns was moving with real discomfort and generally looked grounded. Now his explosiveness on drives and leaps to the rim has returned, and the numbers have backed it up.
With the inside scoring seemingly solving itself with time, that leaves Towns’ normally deadeye three-point shooting, which has not bounced back similarly. He’s seen an uptick in volume, but just compared to last year, this is a normal amount of attempts for him, and they’re coming from largely the same geography.
Though he is an especially rough 1-13 on the right wing, he’s shooting worse consistently from every spot. Opponent pressure doesn’t appear to be the case, first with the new rules protecting shooters’ hands, second as he’s getting a higher frequency of wide open shots than last year, per NBA.com stats data.
They haven’t fallen at the same rate, dropping from 46.7 percent to a staggering 26.2 percent clip. These looks, however flawed in their classification, make up about half of Towns' threes and should be his easiest buckets, yet they aren’t going down.
There was nothing reported about Towns tweaking his jumper nor does it look like he has. He’s not taking a material amount of threes from further out, and has always been comfortable with deep range anyway.
Could Brown’s new offense be putting Towns in some discomfort that’s affecting his shooting? Towns did have a quote about figuring out his role earlier in the year, but he’s looked in sync otherwise and increasingly been put in beneficial positions.
It’s possible his workload has changed a bit, with the Knicks’ pace increasing 3 percent year over year and Towns potentially setting more screens. Neither of these would make such a huge dent in his shooting, and would theoretically impact him as the season went on, not right out of the gates.
With a shooter and scorer like Towns, sometimes the simplest answer is also the correct one. He’s going through a random shooting rut and will shortly shoot his way out of it.
Knicks fans are quick to ring alarm bells, especially in a season with stakes like this one. But among the many valid issues to worry about, Towns turning his scoring around is not one of them.
Canadiens Make Mike Matheson Their Fourth D-Man Signed Through At Least 2031
The Montreal Canadiens locked up defenseman Mike Matheson to a five-year, $30-million contract extension on Friday.
The 31-year-old's new $6-million cap hit kicks in next season and runs through 2030-31.
Matheson, 31, is in the final year of his eight-year contract he signed with the Florida Panthers in October 2017. Across those eight years, he carried a $4.875 million cap hit.
Matheson becomes the fourth Canadiens defenseman to be signed to a contract through at least the 2030-31 campaign. Kaiden Guhle signed a six-year contract extension in July 2024, while Noah Dobson and Lane Hutson signed eight-year deals this year.
In 22 games played this season for the Habs, Matheson has four goals and 10 assists for 14 points. He’s second on the team behind Dobson in scoring among blueliners.
The Pointe-Claire, Que., native also has a plus-13 rating, which is a team high. It's tied for 13th-best in the NHL, sharing that spot with Colorado Avalanche D-man Josh Manson and Tampa Bay Lightning center Anthony Cirelli.
Matheson also leads the team with 24:50 of average ice time, which is less than he’s averaged in the last two campaigns. He ranks 10th in the NHL in that category.
Speaking of Matheson’s last two seasons, that’s when he struck a career high. In 2023-24, he matched a personal best of 11 goals and beat other bests with 51 assists and 62 points. He finished third on the team in points that season, sitting behind captain Nick Suzuki and right winger Cole Caufield.
Matheson has played parts of 11 seasons in his NHL career since the Panthers drafted him 23rd overall in 2012. His new contract sets him up to play through another five. He’ll be 37 once his new deal expires.
He's played 649 career games in the NHL, registering 78 goals and 279 points.
Correction: Matheson's cap hit is $6 million, not $5 million.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
NHL Rumor Roundup: Could The Oilers Pursue Jordan Binnington Or Tristan Jarry?
Heading into the American Thanksgiving weekend, the Edmonton Oilers were two points out of the final Western Conference wild-card spot.
That's prompting media conjecture that they could pursue a goaltending upgrade in the trade market.
Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos claimed “the strongest speculation” tied the Oilers to Jordan Binnington of the St. Louis Blues. Meanwhile, ESPN's Kevin Weekes stated that Tristan Jarry of the Pittsburgh Penguins was among the goalies “drawing significant interest as a potential option” for the Oilers.
Concerns over the performance of goaltenders Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard have kept the Oilers in the rumor mill since the regular season began.
One suggestion was that they should attempt to sign Sergei Bobrovsky when the Florida Panthers starter becomes a UFA next July. Apart from the fact that the Panthers will likely re-sign Bobrovsky, waiting until next summer won't help the Oilers now.
Another proposed that the Oilers pursue Juuse Saros of the Nashville Predators. That was assuming Saros would agree to waive his no-movement clause, while ignoring the fact that the Oilers can't afford his $7.74 million average annual value.
Kypreos considers Binnington unlikely to be part of any retooling project by the Blues because he has a year left on his contract. As for Jarry, he has three more seasons remaining on his deal. He shares the Penguins' net with Arturs Silovs, while promising Sergei Murashov and Joel Blomqvist are with their AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
As part of the return for Binnington, Kypreos suggested the Oilers send Skinner to St. Louis. He felt they could also try to pry away a defenseman from the Blues. Meanwhile, Weekes pointed out that Jarry played his junior hockey with the WHL's Edmonton Oil Kings.
David Staples of the Edmonton Journalobserved that Binnington carries an average annual value of $6 million while Skinner's is $2.6 million. He felt it would take a significant sweetener to convince the Blues to retain part of Binnington's salary to make the dollars work for the cap-strapped Oilers.
Staples cited Oilers insider Bob Stauffer claiming that he felt the Jarry rumor made more sense. However, Stauffer also noted the difficulty the Oilers would face taking on Jarry's $5.375-million cap hit. The Penguins wouldn't have much need for taking on Skinner in return because of their goaltending depth.
Acquiring Binnington or Jarry is a long shot for the Oilers, assuming they're not on their respective no-trade lists. They'll have to convince the Blues or Penguins to retain salary, and that could cost them what few promising youngsters they have in their system, along with their 2027 first-round pick, since they no longer have one in next year's draft.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
Los Angeles Lakers' NBA Cup court deemed ‘unplayable' for Friday's game: Report
Los Angeles Lakers' NBA Cup court deemed ‘unplayable' for Friday's game: Report originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Los Angeles Lakers’ court for the NBA Cup is a late scratch for Friday’s game.
The alternative court, with its bright yellow color scheme and NBA Cup trophy decals, will not be used when the Lakers host the Dallas Mavericks during the in-season tournament matchup at Crypto.com Arena after being deemed “unplayable,” according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
The Lakers will not play on the NBA Cup court tonight when they host the Mavericks, according to the team. Techs from the league's court vendor determined that the court is unplayable for tonight. It will be sent back to the vendor for repairs.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) November 28, 2025
Technicians from the league’s court vendor determined the floor is in need of repair because of safety concerns, The Athletic reported.
Friday’s game will instead be played on the Lakers’ regular home court.
Lakers star Luka Doncic had complaints about the NBA Cup court after the team played on it for the first time Tuesday in a win against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty ImagesThe Lakers’ alternative NBA Cup has been determined to be unplayable due to safety concerns, per reports.
“It’s just slippery. It’s dangerous,” Doncic told reporters after the game. “I slipped. I slipped a lot of times, and you could see a lot of players slipped. And that’s dangerous, man.”
Despite the slippery surface, Doncic managed to score 43 points while leading the Lakers to a 135-118 victory over the Clippers.
With the win, the Lakers improved to 3-0 in NBA Cup play and won Group B in the Western Conference to secure a spot in the tournament’s quarterfinals. With a win over the Mavericks on Friday, the Lakers will clinch a home game for their quarterfinal matchup the week of Dec. 8.
The ensuing semifinal matchup will be hosted by the higher seed of the two advancing teams. The championship game will be played in Las Vegas.
The Lakers’ NBA Cup court will be returned to the vendor for repairs and is expected to be ready in two weeks, per The Athletic.
“That was bad,” Lakers forward Rui Hachimura told reporters Friday about the court. “I felt it right away when I was warming up. It just felt weird. Just like oily, slippery. Everybody was on the floor, literally, every second…I don’t know if they fixed it or they changed it…We’re going to do the normal court, so it will be fine.”
Los Angeles Lakers' NBA Cup court deemed ‘unplayable' for Friday's game: Report
Los Angeles Lakers' NBA Cup court deemed ‘unplayable' for Friday's game: Report originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Los Angeles Lakers’ court for the NBA Cup is a late scratch for Friday’s game.
The alternative court, with its bright yellow color scheme and NBA Cup trophy decals, will not be used when the Lakers host the Dallas Mavericks during the in-season tournament matchup at Crypto.com Arena after being deemed “unplayable,” according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
The Lakers will not play on the NBA Cup court tonight when they host the Mavericks, according to the team. Techs from the league's court vendor determined that the court is unplayable for tonight. It will be sent back to the vendor for repairs.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) November 28, 2025
Technicians from the league’s court vendor determined the floor is in need of repair because of safety concerns, The Athletic reported.
Friday’s game will instead be played on the Lakers’ regular home court.
Lakers star Luka Doncic had complaints about the NBA Cup court after the team played on it for the first time Tuesday in a win against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty ImagesThe Lakers’ alternative NBA Cup has been determined to be unplayable due to safety concerns, per reports.
“It’s just slippery. It’s dangerous,” Doncic told reporters after the game. “I slipped. I slipped a lot of times, and you could see a lot of players slipped. And that’s dangerous, man.”
Despite the slippery surface, Doncic managed to score 43 points while leading the Lakers to a 135-118 victory over the Clippers.
With the win, the Lakers improved to 3-0 in NBA Cup play and won Group B in the Western Conference to secure a spot in the tournament’s quarterfinals. With a win over the Mavericks on Friday, the Lakers will clinch a home game for their quarterfinal matchup the week of Dec. 8.
The ensuing semifinal matchup will be hosted by the higher seed of the two advancing teams. The championship game will be played in Las Vegas.
The Lakers’ NBA Cup court will be returned to the vendor for repairs and is expected to be ready in two weeks, per The Athletic.
“That was bad,” Lakers forward Rui Hachimura told reporters Friday about the court. “I felt it right away when I was warming up. It just felt weird. Just like oily, slippery. Everybody was on the floor, literally, every second…I don’t know if they fixed it or they changed it…We’re going to do the normal court, so it will be fine.”
NHL Nugget: Calgary Flames' Blake Coleman's Birthday Backcheck
Here's today's NHL Nugget – this Birthday Backcheck features Calgary Flames right winger Blake Coleman, who turns 34 on Nov. 28.
Coleman scored his 300th career point in his 649th game against the Vancouver Canucks on Nov. 23. He's been a valuable secondary scorer who isn't afraid to throw hits when needed.
The player the New Jersey Devils selected 75th overall in 2011 became a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Tampa Bay Lightning. But some of the Plano, Texas, native's biggest goals came against his home-state squad, the Dallas Stars. Watch the full video for more in Coleman's Birthday Backcheck.
Brian T. Dessart takes fans on a distinctive ride through the historic-laden NHL with the #NHLNugget. Check out NHLNugget.com to find where to follow NHL Nugget on social media. And for past NHL Nuggets, click here.
Will Dylan Raiola hit transfer portal? Nebraska coach says, ‘I don’t know anything about that’
Rumors are swirling Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola may enter transfer portal, look for a new home in 2026. Huskers coach Matt Rhule didn't offer much clarity.
Clark Lea agrees to 6-year extension to stay with Vanderbilt
Lea has compiled a 25-35 record in five years with the Commodores, including a 9-2 start this season.
Who should Mets' left fielder be in 2026 following seismic Brandon Nimmo trade?
Before the Mets traded Brandon Nimmo to the Rangers for Marcus Semien -- a move that will lead to aftershocks for New York as the offseason progresses -- there was no question about what their left field plan was going to be for 2026.
It was going to be Nimmo, who had five seasons left on his contract.
Yes, there was a possibility Nimmo could've been asked to serve as the designated hitter more than he had in prior seasons (he spent a grand total of four games at DH in 2025). But he probably would've been in left field nearly every day, with Juan Soto in right field.
Now, the possibilities are endless -- not just when it comes to who the Mets turn to in left field, but who might be brought in to play center.
It's possible New York goes internal in the outfield in both left and center, but that would be a relatively risky proposition.
Regarding left field specifically, how could the Mets address it?
Let's break it down...
The Internal Candidates
The second the Nimmo deal became official, things got more interesting for top Mets outfield prospect Carson Benge.
When Nimmo was still in the fold, Benge was viewed by president of baseball operations David Stearns as someone who could break camp as the starting center fielder. Now, he could possibly be looked at as an option to start in left field instead.
Benge played all over the outfield last season in the minors, spending 67 games in center, 26 games in right, and 22 games in left.
Whether Benge opens the season with the Mets or gets some more time with Triple-A Syracuse, he is expected to play a big role in 2026. And what New York decides to do with Benge could also have an impact on fellow prospect Jett Williams.
Williams might profile better as a second baseman (the spot now blocked by Semien) than a center fielder, so it's possible New York decides to shift Williams to center full time in 2026 in preparation for him to make that his long-term home. That could pave the way for a Mets outfield at some point next season of Benge, Williams, and Soto from left to right.
However, the possibility also exists that Williams is traded this offseason -- perhaps as part of a deal for a top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher.
There's also the case of Jeff McNeil, who could also possibly get dealt. But when speaking about him following the Nimmo trade, Stearns said he had spoken to McNeil after it went down -- saying the infielder/outfielder was on board with what New York was doing.
McNeil could theoretically be a left field option for 2026. However, given his offensive profile, it's hard to envision New York turning to him there on a regular or even semi-regular basis unless they make a big center field addition.
The presence of Tyrone Taylor could also have a big impact when it comes to what the Mets do in left. In a world where Taylor is the starting center fielder at the start of the season, it likely means either Benge or an external acquisition is in left.
The External Candidates
The two who immediately come to mind are Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger.
Tucker is the crown jewel of the free agent position player market. A relatively young star (he'll be entering his age-29 season in 2026) who controls the strike zone at an elite level and whose Baseball Savant page lights up red, the expectation is that he will get a massive deal this offseason.
Whether Tucker lands something in the range of 10 years remains to be seen, but it will take a huge payday to snag him -- especially with the Blue Jays and Dodgers possibly among his top suitors.
The Mets certainly have the wherewithal and open spot for Tucker, but whether they're prepared to hand out another megadeal after giving one to Soto last offseason remains to be seen.
Bellinger will cost a lot less than Tucker, but is still expected to be handsomely paid.
In addition to being able to play all three outfield positions, Bellinger would also give the Mets a first base option -- something that would be huge in the event they re-sign Pete Alonsobut ask him to DH a lot of the time.
Another thing to consider with Bellinger is that while his struggles in 2021 and 2022 seem like an aberration, there are some underlying concerns regarding his offensive production.
One of those concerns? Bellinger slashed .302/.365/.544 (.909 OPS) at the hitter's haven that is Yankee Stadium in 2025. On the road, he hit just .241/.301/.414 (.715 OPS).
There aren't many strong fits on the free agent market beyond Tucker and Bellinger, but there is one very intriguing one who could be available via trade -- Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran.
Duran, who is entering his age-29 season, has been a very strong offensive performer for Boston over the last three seasons, slashing .276/.339/.471 (.810 OPS).
In 157 games last season, Duran filled up the stat sheet, smacking 41 doubles, 16 home runs, and 13 triples, while swiping 24 bases.
He strikes out at a high clip and his defense has been up and down (elite in 2024, poor in 2025), but Duran -- who will make $7.7 million in 2026 and is under team control through 2028 -- is the kind of player it would make a lot of sense for New York to pursue.
Islanders Need Answers On The Power Play — Fast
After going 0-for-4 on the man advantage in a 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins, the New York Islanders' power play sits at 12.7 percent, which ranks 31st in the NHL.
For the most part, this season, the power play has actually looked dangerous, but the goals aren't coming. Against Boston, that was probably the weakest the man advantage has looked, but some great setups just went by the wayside.
The Islanders have the third-most scoring chances on the power play this season (148), but the second-fewest goals (10), with an Expected Goals for of 21.58.
"I just feel like our power play has been playing really well," Islanders head coach Patrick Roy said following Wednesday's loss. "And sometimes it's like our PK. Our PK right now is playing with a lot of confidence. Maybe, sometimes, it's just a matter of having a little bit more confidence around the net, and our power play will click. You get one, you get two—all of a sudden, I mean, you feel confident. And I feel like that's always missing, because we are doing everything right."
Roy touched on but let's elaborate a bit on the traffic part.
When the Islanders have had success on the power play, more often than not it's when Schaefer, at the point, keeps things simple. When he sees traffic in front, he has the innate ability to get his wrist shot through.
When the Islanders don't have success, it's when Schaefer, Mathew Barzal, and Jonathan Drouin are playing too much perimeter hockey. While you do have to credit some of the opposition's penalty killers who have clogged up the lanes, especially Bo Horvat in the bumper spot, too often the Islanders are trying to find the perfect pass.
"We seem dangerous," Barzal said. "When we're moving it around well, and looking at the net and attacking the net, we got a lot of threats out there. So, as long as we're just moving around and creating threats, I feel like we're always dangerous. We got good players in the unit."
Does Barzal think that they need to simplify things at all?
"I don't think so...we're definitely looking for like Bo Horvat shooting from the slot. I mean, if we can get one look at that versus four average looks, I'll take that all day," Barzal said. "We feel dangerous. I mean, everyone in the building knows it's dangerous, so we just gotta find a way."
With how tight the Metropolitan Division and the Eastern Conference are, the Islanders are fortunate, with their lack of power-play success, to find themselves in the wild-card spot at Thanksgiving. Seventy-seven percent of teams in a playoff spot by then make the playoffs.
However, the difference between first in the Metro and last in the division is 5 points. And over these first three games of the seven-game homestand, the Islanders' power play struggles are why they are 1-2-0. The team has scored just two total goals over those three games, with the power play going 0-for-10.
Roy did mention that he would talk with power-play coach Ray Bennett on Thursday to see what he thinks about maybe changing up some of the personnel.
One thing the Islanders may consider is taking Drouin off the first unit. While he is a fantastic playmaker, he isn't really a threat to shoot from the right flank. That allows the opposing PK to focus on Horvat in the bumper.
The same can be said about Barzal at the left flank, who is more often than not looking for Horvat once he gets the puck.
Until the Islanders have two players on the flanks who are true one-time threats, it will be hard not to score consistently on the man advantage. Even if those players don't rifle ones, if the opponent thinks the one-timer is coming, that will likely open up space for Barzal or Drouin to tap one to Horvat -- just a thought.
We saw this power-play story last season, finishing the campaign at 12.6 percent, 31st in the NHL. Had the power play been 10 percent better, the Islanders likely would have made the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Despite being in a playoff spot right now, the inability to come through on the man advantage could hinder this team's ability to stay in the hunt as the season progresses.
However, if the power play starts to find success, the Islanders will have a strong chance not just of making the playoffs, but of becoming one of the more dangerous teams in the Eastern Conference.