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Canucks Winless Streak Hits Nine As Vancouver Falls 4-1 To The Columbus Blue Jackets

The Vancouver Canucks wrapped up their six-game road trip on Thursday with a 4-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Brock Boeser scored on the power play, which broke a 21-game goalless drought. As for Kevin Lankinen, he stopped 32 of the 36 shots he faced in the loss. 

With the loss, the Canucks pushed their winless streak to nine games. Vancouver has only had two other nine-game winless streaks since the turn of the century, with the other two coming during the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons. The last time Vancouver went winless in 10 straight was during the 1997-98 season, which led to the Canucks finishing 24th out of 26 teams. 

Thursday was a high-paced game from the start. Vancouver and Columbus each hit double digits for shots in the first and second, and both finished above 30 shots for the game. In the end, the difference was the Blue Jackets' ability to convert on their chance, while the Canucks could only produce one goal.

While this game featured another loss, there was a positive as Boeser broke his 21-game goalless streak. The 28-year-old's last goal came on November 28, which was 48 days ago. Boeser looked relieved on the play as he finally potted his 10th of the season and 214th goal of his career. 

Speaking of Boeser, he showed some chemistry late in the game when put on a line with Elias Pettersson and Liam Öhgren. The trio played 6:10 together as per Natural Stat Trick and finished with a 4-3 shots advantage. Watch for these three to stay together next game, as they were one of the more successful lines over the final 20 minutes. 

The penalty kill was a focus in this game as Columbus scored on both of their opportunities. After gaining some momentum, Vancouver's penalty kill has struggled over the past few weeks, and has now given up at least one goal in four of it's last five games. At this point, it is hard to determine what the solution to fixing the penalty kill as pucks are going in regardless of which players are on the ice. 

Jan 15, 2026; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Jake Christiansen (2) scrums with Vancouver center Aatu Raty (54) and left wing Evander Kane (91) during the first period at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images
Jan 15, 2026; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Jake Christiansen (2) scrums with Vancouver center Aatu Raty (54) and left wing Evander Kane (91) during the first period at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images

Let's just call it as it is; this was the perfect road trip for the Canucks. Vancouver didn't pick up a point over the six games and put some distance between themselves and other teams at the bottom of the standings. While some may view this opinion as negative, it is a positive from a rebuilding perspective as the Canucks main focus the rest of the year should be to finish 32nd in the league. 

Stats and Facts:

- Elias Pettersson records his 100th career power play assist

- Brock Boeser's 75th power play goal breaks his tie with Stan Smyl and moves him into sole possession of sixth all-time in franchise history

- Elias Pettersson extends his point streak to three games

- Vancouver has scored one goal or fewer in four of its last five games

Scoring Summary: 

1st Period:

17:25- CBJ: Charlie Coyle (10) from Kirill Marchenko and Adam Fantilli (PPG)

2nd Period:

5:59- CBJ: Kirill Marchenko (17)
10:14- CBJ: Zach Werenski (18) from Kent Johnson (PPG)
14:09- VAN: Brock Boeser (10) from Elias Pettersson and Zeev Buium (PPG)

3rd Period:

10:13- CBJ: Kent Johnson (5) from Boone Jenner and Damon Severson

Up Next:

The Canucks return home from their road trip to start an eight-game homestand. Their first matchup will not be an easy one as the Edmonton Oilers come to town on Saturday. Game time is scheduled for 7:00 pm PT. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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Drake Powell cracks starting lineup as Nets try to break five-game skid

An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows Drake Powell (4) looks to shoot against New Orleans Pelicans center Yves Missi (21) in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in New Orleans.

Nets coach Jordi Fernàndez hinted that he is considering making rotation changes after his rebuilding team suffered its fifth straight defeat Wednesday night in New Orleans.

One significant alteration Fernàndez already had executed on Brooklyn’s road trip this week, however, was the insertion of rookie Drake Powell into the starting lineup in each of the past two games.

Powell — the third of the Nets’ league-record five first-round picks in 2025 (22nd overall) — has totaled 26 points over 49 minutes in the two starts, including 16 with five rebounds and two made 3-pointers in their 116-113 loss to the Pelicans.

Drake Powell looks to shoot against Yves Missi in the second half of the Nets’ loss to the Pelicans on Jan. 14, 2026, in New Orleans. AP

“We have high expectations for him,” Fernàndez said after the game about Powell, whose rights were obtained from the Hawks on draft night. “We can see a player that not just can develop and play on both ends of the floor, but can be pretty good, so it’s time to see how he does in that situation.

“I’m very happy with the way he’s played. Does that mean he’s gonna be there the whole time? There’s no guarantees here. If he keeps playing hard, we want to see that growth, same as everybody else. That goes for the rookies, that goes for everybody. Keep working, keep getting better. The opportunity is there, and you gotta take advantage of it.”

Wednesday’s game marked the first time the North Carolina product started in the Brooklyn backcourt with No. 8 overall pick Egor Dëmin, who missed Monday’s loss in Dallas due to injury management.

The 20-year-old Powell got off to a slow start due to an ankle injury suffered on opening night in October, missing the following four games. The 6-foot-5 wing has averaged 5.8 points in 17.8 minutes per game over 25 appearances off the bench as a rookie, and 11.3 points in 25.0 minutes in three games as a starter, also including his first NBA start Jan. 1 against the Rockets.

“Just want to stay aggressive on both ends of the floor,” Powell told YES Network after Monday’s game in Dallas. “That’s what Jordi told me to do leading up to the game, and I ultimately trust myself and trust my teammates.

“I think I have a great circle back home that keeps my head on straight, and, like I said, just trust my teammates, trust my coaches, and then just from there, at the end of the day, it’s just basketball.”

Drake Powell shoots a jumper during the Nets’ road loss to the Pelicans. NBAE via Getty Images

Powell is shooting just 31.3 percent from 3-point range, but he believes his defensive game has steadily improved, with just two personal fouls committed in the past two games.

“It’s a lot different from college, you gotta show your hands a lot, and that’s something I’ll continue to grow at, to be a good defender in this league,” Powell said. “With the more film that I watch and the more games that I play, it’ll just build over time.”

Dëmin has made the most starts among the Nets’ rookie crop with 27, followed by guard Ben Saraf (26th overall) with five and Powell and forward Danny Wolf (27th) with three apiece.

French guard Nolan Traore (19th) has made all of his 18 appearances off the bench entering Friday’s home game against the Bulls, including five points in 19 minutes in New Orleans.

Veteran guard Terance Mann moved into a reserve role Wednesday night, and Fernàndez indicated more rotation changes could be coming after the Nets (11-27) allowed 33 second-chance points and lost for the eighth time in nine games following an encouraging 7-3 stretch in December.

“I know our guys care about doing the right things,” Fernàndez said. “The problem is, right now our focus and our intentions are not there. And that’s something that I’ve got to help them better. And there’s different ways you can do it, obviously. So I’m going to try to do my best to find 10 guys in the rotation that care about rebounding, that care about ball pressure, that care about doing the right things.

“And then if you make mistakes, we can live with it. But the intentions and the effort, it’s a priority for us. I trust the group. They’ve always shown a reaction, and work. I trust the coaches, they always come back with answers and positive energy. And that’s how we’re gonna do it here.”

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Two Penguins' Prospects Named To AHL All-Star Classic

On Thursday, two Pittsburgh Penguins' prospects were recognized for the strong seasons they are having. 

Forward Tristan Broz and goaltender Sergei Murashov were named to the Atlantic Division's team for the AHL All-Star Classic, which will take place Feb. 10-11 in Rockford, Ill. The rosters were chosen by a committee of AHL coaches. 

It will be the first AHL All-Star appearance for both players.

Broz, 23, has appeared in just one NHL game for the Penguins this season, but he has continued to build off a strong 2024-25 rookie campaign in the AHL for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins. He has recorded 13 goals and 26 points in 33 games this season to go along with a plus-8, and he leads all WBS skaters in points and goals. 

Murashov, 21, saw a pair of brief stints at the NHL leve this season, posting a 1-1-2 record with a 2.56 goals-against average and .897 save percentage in five appearances. For most of the AHL season, Murashov led the league in both goals-against average and save percentage, but a recent two-game slide dropped him down to third. 

He is 13-4-0 with a 2.03 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage in 18 AHL appearances this season. 

A Sitdown With 'Stu': Skinner Talks Hockey, Transition To PittsburghA Sitdown With 'Stu': Skinner Talks Hockey, Transition To PittsburghNew Pittsburgh Penguins' goaltender Stuart Skinner is adjusting to life in Pittsburgh after spending his first five-plus NHL seasons with the Edmonton Oilers

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Game Preview #42 – Timberwolves at Rockets

Minnesota Timberwolves at Houston Rockets
Date: January 16th, 2026
Time: 8:30 PM CST
Location: Toyota Center
Television Coverage: ESPN
Radio Coverage: KFAN FM, Wolves App, iHeart Radio

Texas Two-Step: Wolves Hit Houston With the Season’s Biggest Weekend in Front of Them

The Minnesota Timberwolves are about to take a Texas two-step that could define the mid-point of their season.

Friday night in Houston.
Saturday night, a rematch with San Antonio.

Two games. Two Western Conference heavyweights. Two chances to either cement what the Wolves have been building since January 1, or remind everyone how thin the margin still is in a brutal West.

Minnesota storms into this weekend playing some of the best basketball this franchise has ever seen. The identity is clear now. Defense first. Physicality second. Relentless effort third. The Wolves are shutting down the paint, swarming ball handlers, closing out on shooters, and playing with an edge that simply did not exist during the December slog. Offensively, it hasn’t always been pretty, but when it clicks, it goes nuclear — the kind of avalanche offense that breaks teams before the fourth quarter even arrives.

The latest proof came in Milwaukee, where Minnesota walked into Giannis Antetokounmpo’s house without Rudy Gobert or Anthony Edwards and somehow delivered one of the most dominant road wins of the season. No Defensive Player of the Year candidate. No franchise superstar. No excuses. Just collective toughness. Julius Randle played dominant bully ball. Naz Reid produced highly efficient offense. Donte DiVincenzo was true from deep. Bones Hyland had a coming out party. Everyone stepped up.

That win mattered. It pushed Minnesota within a half-game of San Antonio and one game of Denver in the race for the two and three seeds. And now the Wolves get the opportunity every contender waits for: grab momentum and turn it into separation.

First obstacle? Houston.

Last season, Wolves-Rockets games were borderline cage matches. Physical. Emotional. Often decided in the final minutes. This year’s Rockets are different. Kevin Durant in a Houston uniform changes the equation entirely. For all the off-season smoke and mirrors, it appears that Minnesota never seriously pursued KD, and Durant never seriously considered Minnesota. Fine. Friday night offers a chance to make that decision sting just a little.

With a nationally televised game on ESPN and an even bigger showdown looming Saturday, the Wolves have to treat Houston like what they are: the gatekeeper to something real.

Keys to the Game

#1 – Come out on fire and test Houston’s legs early.
The Wolves smelled blood in Milwaukee and pounced. The Bucks looked like a team that wanted no part of the night, while Minnesota looked energized, aggressive, and prepared to dictate terms. Houston enters Friday coming off what should be a high-intensity game against Oklahoma City in the first leg of a back-to-back. That matters. NBA games are as much mental as physical, and tired legs usually mean slow rotations, late closeouts, and lazy decisions. Minnesota has to seize that advantage immediately. Push the pace. Crash the glass. Force Houston to work on every possession. If the Wolves bring that January intensity from the opening tip, they can put the Rockets in survival mode before halftime.

#2 – Win the battle of the bigs.
Houston has size, skill, and one of the league’s most quietly effective centers in Alperen Sengun. Last season, Sengun had moments where he got the better of Gobert, but this version of Rudy Gobert is different. He’s rested, reinvigorated, and playing like a Defensive Player of the Year again. Rudy has to own the paint, deny Sengun easy looks, control the glass, and set the tone defensively. Julius Randle must continue his physical play, and Naz Reid’s recent defensive uptick has to carry over. Minnesota cannot afford to lose the rebounding battle or allow Houston to feast inside. This game starts at the rim.

#3 – Don’t give up easy ones.
The Wolves’ defensive leap since January hasn’t been about highlights. It’s been about discipline. No straight-line drives. No lazy closeouts. No wide-open threes off broken rotations. Houston has scorers everywhere, but they become far more manageable when forced into contested looks. That responsibility falls heavily on Minnesota’s wings. If the Wolves stay connected, rotate with purpose, and take away Houston’s first and second options, the Rockets’ offense becomes far less dangerous.

#4 – Put Kevin Durant in a straightjacket — again.
Minnesota has a recent history of bothering Durant. The 2024 playoff sweep. The regular-season matchups with Phoenix last season. Jaden McDaniels has the length and discipline to match Durant physically, and Anthony Edwards has shown he relishes the challenge of guarding his former idol. With Fred VanVleet sidelined, Houston lacks the secondary offensive engine to consistently punish Minnesota if Durant is contained. KD will get his points — that’s inevitable — but the Wolves must make every bucket hard-earned. No rhythm. No comfort. No takeover stretch.

#5: Anthony Edwards has to elevate — again.
If Edwards plays, and all signs point toward him being ready, this is his stage. He loves these games. He loves playing Durant. He loves moments where the stakes are obvious. With fresh legs after resting his left foot, Ant has to set the tone offensively by attacking the rim, collapsing Houston’s defense, creating clean looks for teammates, and picking his spots from deep. His gravity is what unlocks Minnesota’s offense. As the season flips to its second half, this is the kind of performance that defines leadership and separates stars from superstars.

(UPDATE: Anthony Edwards will be out again with continued “Right foot injury management.”)

The Finish

The Wolves haven’t consitently shown up against the West’s elite this season. That’s been the knock. This weekend is a chance to flip that narrative in real time.

Friday in Houston is about setting the tone by grabbing the early series lead, creating real space in the standings, and sending a message that Minnesota is done hovering. Saturday against San Antonio is about something bigger, where the Wolves can find themselves potentially flipping positions with the Spurs and grabbing hold of the three seed.

These are not “nice wins.”
These are not “confidence builders.”

These are statement games.

If Minnesota handles its business over the next 48 hours, the conversation changes. Not about whether the Wolves belong, but about how high they can climb.

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Seamus Casey Selected For AHL All-Star Game

Seamus Casey, New Jersey Devils defenseman, was named to his second straight AHL All-Star Game.

This season, the former second-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft has suited up for the Utica Comets and the New Jersey Devils. He has tallied 17 points (one goal and 16 assists) for the Comets in 26 AHL games.

In addition to his AHL contributions, he has also appeared in two NHL games this season, earning zero points.

During the 2024-25 season, Casey made 14 appearances with the Devils and collected eight points.

Casey is among 30 AHL All-Stars who played in the NHL this season.

Set to represent the North Division in Illinois on February 10th and 11th, the 22-year-old defenseman will take the ice on behalf of the Comets.

Make sure you bookmark THN's New Jersey Devils site for THN's latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

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Sabres Place Forward On Injured Reserve

The Buffalo Sabres have announced that they have placed forward Josh Dunne on injured reserve.

Seeing the Sabres place Dunne on injured reserve is entirely understandable. Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff recently announced that the 27-year-old forward would be out for the next four to six weeks due to a mid-body injury. Because of this, it makes sense that Dunne has now been placed on injured reserve as he focuses on his recovery. 

Dunne has played in 28 games so far this season with the Sabres, where he has recorded one goal, three assists, four points, 34 penalty minutes, 34 hits, and a minus-4 rating. 

Dunne has gotten into the most NHL action of his career already this season, as he entered the campaign with just 16 NHL games played over three seasons. Yet, he will now be forced to miss a good amount of time due to his injury. 

In 44 career NHL games over four seasons split between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Sabres, Dunne has recorded one goal, four points, 49 penalty minutes, 70 hits, and a minus-14 rating. 

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Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekend

Chelsea need to avoid long-throw blues, plus: a vacant spot for Liverpool and West Ham’s best hope for survival

Can the 198th derby be any spicier for Manchester United and their latest interim manager, Michael Carrick? This is his second caretaker tenure though the three games of November-December 2021 (beating Villarreal and Arsenal, drawing with Chelsea) hardly compares to sending out an XI to try to beat Manchester City in Saturday’s early kick-off. Pep Guardiola’s high-performing unit remain in contention on all fronts. Carrick takes charge of a United suffering the aftershocks of a latest manager sacking, hoping to salvage the season via European qualification. The lad from Wallsend has 17 games to do so – his new team are in seventh place on 32 points, so victory over City would be a fine start. But you wonder if the match might end with Carrick and United humbled or, even worse, humiliated. Jamie Jackson

Manchester United v Manchester City, Saturday 12.30pm (all times GMT)

Chelsea v Brentford, Saturday 3pm

Leeds v Fulham, Saturday 3pm

Liverpool v Burnley, Saturday 3pm

Continue reading...
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Kraken Assign Jacob Melanson To The AHL; Activate Brandon Montour Off The Injured Reserve

Seattle Kraken defenseman Brandon Montour is poised to return after missing 14 games with a hand injury, as he’s been activated from the injured reserve.

To free up a roster spot for Montour, winger Jacob Melanson was sent down to the AHL’s Coachella Valley Firebirds.

The 22-year-old Melanson played 15 games in this NHL stint, scoring his first career NHL goal and adding three assists. Melanson routinely impressed the coaching staff with his physicality and aggressiveness on the forecheck.  

Despite averaging just 9:25 of ice time, Melanson threw 65 hits, blocked six shots, and fired 12 shots on goal. Melanson turned a lot of heads in this call-up stint and could be a contender to make the NHL roster out of training camp and pre-season next year. 

He’ll return to the Firebirds, where he’s notched seven goals and 14 points in 23 games. 

Kraken's Brandon Montour Deemed A 'Possibility' For Tonight's Matchup Against The BruinsKraken's Brandon Montour Deemed A 'Possibility' For Tonight's Matchup Against The BruinsThe fourth stop of the Seattle Kraken's five-game road trip is in Boston, where veteran defenseman Brandon Montour could be making his return to the lineup.

At the moment, who Montour will enter the lineup for is undetermined. The three possible players to step out of the lineup are Cale Fleury, Jamie Oleksiak and Ryker Evans. Fleury has impressed his teammates and the coaching staff since he entered the lineup in place of Montour. 

The answer will be revealed when the Kraken take the ice for warmup prior to their matchup against the Boston Bruins. 

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"An Incredible Player": Red Wings Know Their Hands Will Be Full Playing Macklin Celebrini

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Despite being one of the lowest-ranked teams in the Western Conference in recent years, the San Jose Sharks have given the Detroit Red Wings a tough time in their most recent visits to Little Caesars Arena. 

The Sharks have beaten the Red Wings by a combined score of 12-8 in each of their two most recent matchups in Detroit, which included a wild 6-5 overtime setback in December 2023. 

The last time the Red Wings defeated the Sharks on home ice was Jan. 24, 2023, a 3-2 overtime victory with Andrew Copp playing the role of hero. 

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This season, the Sharks are showing that they're no longer pushovers, thanks in large part to forward Macklin Celebrini, a 19-year-old phenom whom San Jose selected first overall in 2024. 

With an astounding 24 goals and 46 assists for 70 points, Celebrini is proving that he's every bit worth the hype he came with coming into the 2024 NHL Draft.

The Red Wings, who host the Sharks on Friday evening, know that they must always be aware of when he's on the ice. 

"He's obviously the main focus," Patrick Kane said of Celebrini following Thursday's practice. "He's the main guy offensively for that team; he's been carrying them all year."

Not yet of legal drinking age in the United States, Celebrini is not only ranked third overall in total NHL scoring, but also was announced as being included on Team Canada's Olympic roster. 

Not bad for a 19-year-old. 

"His points compared to the next guy on their team show how valuable he's been, and he's got them in a playoff spot now, too," Kane continued. "He'll definitely be the main focus of our attention defensively, and making sure whoever is on the ice is aware of him." 

As Kane noted, Celebrini’s 70 points are 38 more than San Jose’s next-leading scorer, Tyler Toffoli, who has 13 goals and 32 total points.

As of Thursday afternoon, Celebrini and the Sharks occupy the second and final Wild Card playoff berth in the Western Conference. 

The Red Wings, who defeated the Sharks by a 3-2 final score in a shootout in San Jose on Nov. 2, will be focusing their game plan on how best to neutralize the former first overall pick. 

Todd McLellan Hits the Reset Button as Red Wings Shuffle Lines AgainTodd McLellan Hits the Reset Button as Red Wings Shuffle Lines AgainFollowing their 3-0 loss against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday, the Detroit Red Wings displayed some new line combinations at Thursday morning's practice.

"It's not an easy task because the book on him isn't real big in the NHL; he's taken it by storm and is an incredible player," head coach Todd McLellan said of Celebrini. "But he is starting to show some tendencies that other teams are looking at." 

"He's definitely driving that team and creating lots of confidence, and as he elevates his play, others around him elevate their play, and they're a tough team to play against," McLellan continued. "We'll obviously have to be aware of him when he's on the ice and help the players with any type of pre-scout analysis we can give them." 

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Dodgers sign top free agent outfielder Kyle Tucker to 4-year, $240 million deal

Dodgers sign top free agent outfielder Kyle Tucker to 4-year, $240 million deal originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The wait ended the way so many modern baseball stories seem to in Los Angeles.

Kyle Tucker, the crown jewel of the 2026 MLB free agency class, is officially a Los Angeles Dodger.

Late Thursday night, the Los Angeles Dodgers finalized a deal with the four-time MLB All-Star and 2022 World Series Champion, agreeing to a four-year, $240 million contract that includes an opt-out after the second season. The pact carries one of the highest average annual values in baseball history and once again underscores the Dodgers’ willingness to operate at the very top of the sport’s financial ecosystem.

For months, Tucker’s free agency felt like a slow-burning standoff. Executives around the league believed his market would soar past $400 million on a long-term deal, especially given his age, durability, elite defense, and left-handed power bat. Tucker, coming off a season with the Chicago Cubs after being traded from the Houston Astros last offseason, was widely viewed as the rare free agent who checks every box: postseason pedigree, consistent production, and star presence without volatility.

But the market never quite erupted.

Instead, it pivoted.

As winter dragged on, the industry began buzzing about a different approach—shorter deals, massive annual value, and the chance for Tucker to re-enter free agency while still firmly in his prime. That’s where the Dodgers and New York Mets entered the picture in earnest. The Mets reportedly offered four years and $200 million, a strong bid that reflected their continued pursuit of top-tier talent. The Toronto Blue Jays, fresh off a 2025 World Series runner-up finish, went longest with their offer, hoping stability and years would sway the slugger north of the border.

In the end, Los Angeles wouldn’t be outdone.

The Dodgers pushed their offer to a level no one else could touch, combining financial dominance with flexibility.

According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the deal is fully guaranteed. Includes opt-outs after years two and three. Comes with a $64 million dollar signing bonus, includes $30 million in deferred money, and is a record by AAV by over $6 million (previous record, Juan Soto by the New York Mets last season).

Tucker batted .266 with 22 home runs, 73 RBI, and 25 stolen bases in 136 games with the Cubs last season. He was voted to his fourth All-Star Game in July. 

Tucker is expected to start in right field for the Dodgers, moving Teoscar Hernandez to left field, where he played predominantly during the 2024 World Series season. The Dodgers needed another outfielder after left fielder Michael Conforto didn’t quite pan out as the team had thought in 2025.

Tucker slides into an already formidable Dodgers lineup as a middle-of-the-order force, capable of changing games with one swing while providing Gold Glove-caliber defense in the outfield. His postseason résumé only strengthens a team that measures success in October, not summer standings.

For the Dodgers, this signing isn’t just about winning the offseason. It’s about control—of the market, of the narrative, and of the championship window. While other teams blinked or hedged, Los Angeles leaned in.

Kyle Tucker bet on himself.

The Dodgers bet on now.

And once again, the rest of baseball is left reacting to a move that reshapes the balance of power—one expensive, deliberate swing at a time.

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Dodgers sign top free agent outfielder Kyle Tucker to 4-year, $240 million deal

Dodgers sign top free agent outfielder Kyle Tucker to 4-year, $240 million deal originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The wait ended the way so many modern baseball stories seem to in Los Angeles.

Kyle Tucker, the crown jewel of the 2026 MLB free agency class, is officially a Los Angeles Dodger.

Late Thursday night, the Los Angeles Dodgers finalized a deal with the four-time MLB All-Star and 2022 World Series Champion, agreeing to a four-year, $240 million contract that includes an opt-out after the second season. The pact carries one of the highest average annual values in baseball history and once again underscores the Dodgers’ willingness to operate at the very top of the sport’s financial ecosystem.

For months, Tucker’s free agency felt like a slow-burning standoff. Executives around the league believed his market would soar past $400 million on a long-term deal, especially given his age, durability, elite defense, and left-handed power bat. Tucker, coming off a season with the Chicago Cubs after being traded from the Houston Astros last offseason, was widely viewed as the rare free agent who checks every box: postseason pedigree, consistent production, and star presence without volatility.

But the market never quite erupted.

Instead, it pivoted.

As winter dragged on, the industry began buzzing about a different approach—shorter deals, massive annual value, and the chance for Tucker to re-enter free agency while still firmly in his prime. That’s where the Dodgers and New York Mets entered the picture in earnest. The Mets reportedly offered four years and $200 million, a strong bid that reflected their continued pursuit of top-tier talent. The Toronto Blue Jays, fresh off a 2025 World Series runner-up finish, went longest with their offer, hoping stability and years would sway the slugger north of the border.

In the end, Los Angeles wouldn’t be outdone.

The Dodgers pushed their offer to a level no one else could touch, combining financial dominance with flexibility.

According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the deal is fully guaranteed. Includes opt-outs after years two and three. Comes with a $64 million dollar signing bonus, includes $30 million in deferred money, and is a record by AAV by over $6 million (previous record, Juan Soto by the New York Mets last season).

Tucker batted .266 with 22 home runs, 73 RBI, and 25 stolen bases in 136 games with the Cubs last season. He was voted to his fourth All-Star Game in July. 

Tucker is expected to start in right field for the Dodgers, moving Teoscar Hernandez to left field, where he played predominantly during the 2024 World Series season. The Dodgers needed another outfielder after left fielder Michael Conforto didn’t quite pan out as the team had thought in 2025.

Tucker slides into an already formidable Dodgers lineup as a middle-of-the-order force, capable of changing games with one swing while providing Gold Glove-caliber defense in the outfield. His postseason résumé only strengthens a team that measures success in October, not summer standings.

For the Dodgers, this signing isn’t just about winning the offseason. It’s about control—of the market, of the narrative, and of the championship window. While other teams blinked or hedged, Los Angeles leaned in.

Kyle Tucker bet on himself.

The Dodgers bet on now.

And once again, the rest of baseball is left reacting to a move that reshapes the balance of power—one expensive, deliberate swing at a time.

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Flyers play two goalies for second straight game as losing streak hits 5

Flyers play two goalies for second straight game as losing streak hits 5 originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Flyers’ most troubling stretch of the season worsened Thursday night.

Rick Tocchet’s club lost convincingly to the Penguins, 6-3, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. It trailed 4-1 at second intermission for a third straight game and was down 6-1 in the final stanza.

Samuel Ersson was pulled in the middle frame.

Rodrigo Abols, Nick Seeler and Matvei Michkov provided the team’s goals.

The Flyers (22-16-8) have dropped five straight (0-4-1). They’ve been outscored 25-9 over this season-long skid.

Tocchet’s club is 1-2-0 in its four-game regular-season series against the Penguins (22-14-10). The clubs wrap things up March 7 back at PPG Paints Arena.

• Ersson denied 11 of 14 shots in a period and change of work.

The 26-year-old has surrendered 15 goals over his last three starts. He entered the game with the worst save percentage of his career at .855.

For a second straight game, Cam York committed a first-period penalty and the opponent struck first on the ensuing power play. It marked the Flyers’ 32nd 1-0 deficit in 46 games.

A little over 10 minutes later, Pittsburgh made it 2-0 with another power play goal after Garnet Hathaway was whistled for tripping. The Flyers gave up two or more power play goals for a third consecutive game.

Aleksei Kolosov was called up from AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley to back up Ersson. Dan Vladar was unavailable after suffering an undisclosed injury Wednesday night in the first period of the Flyers’ 5-2 loss to the Sabres.

Kolosov ended up taking over 2:17 minutes into the second period after Abols drew the Flyers to within 3-1. About a minute before then, Ersson gave up a transition goal to the Penguins.

The 24-year-old Kolosov made 13 saves on 16 shots.

There has been no official word on Vladar, but the fact that he hasn’t been placed on injured reserve is a good sign for his status.

Pittsburgh netminder Stuart Skinner stopped 30 of the Flyers’ 33 shots.

• This felt like a critical game for the Flyers.

They really needed to stop the bleeding, but couldn’t. The Flyers have been mostly uncompetitive on this losing streak, their special teams have been costly and they’ve battled injuries.

You can’t blame fans if they’re thinking this is the inevitable slide that will ultimately sink the Flyers’ playoff push. It’s only mid-January and Tocchet’s club is still right there in a busy mix. But the Flyers had a collapse in 2023-24 that spoiled a surprise playoff push.

They’ve missed the playoffs in five straight seasons, matching the franchise’s longest drought.

• One positive for the Flyers was Michkov dropping the gloves in the third period to defend Denver Barkey, who took a big hit from Blake Lizotte.

Later in the period, Barkey recorded his second assist of the night on Michkov’s goal.

• To make room for Kolosov, Bobby Brink was placed on injured reserve, a stint retroactive to nine days ago.

Brink missed a fifth straight game with an upper-body injury. But whenever the 24-year-old winger is cleared to return, he can come off IR immediately.

Rasmus Ristolainen missed a second straight game with an upper-body injury. The 31-year-old defenseman has been considered day to day.

• The Flyers are back in action Saturday when they host the Rangers (1 p.m. ET/NBCSP).

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Chara: Joining Bruins in 2006 ‘best decision I ever made'

Chara: Joining Bruins in 2006 ‘best decision I ever made' originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

BOSTON – Zdeno Chara had his No. 33 raised to the TD Garden rafters Thursday night in a special pregame ceremony before the Bruins hosted the Seattle Kraken.

It was a well-deserved honor for the man who played the leading role in restoring the Original Six franchise back to greatness.

But this night would not have been possible without a key decision in July of 2006, one that Chara described Thursday night as the “best” he’s ever made.

NHL free agency typically is not where you find franchise cornerstones. That type of player is usually acquired through the draft or via the trade market.  

Chara is one of the rare exceptions.

The Ottawa Senators had a couple key players with expiring contracts after the 2005-06 season, including defensemen Wade Redden and Chara.

The Senators re-signed Redden and Chara went to free agency. The Bruins were interested, and despite being known at that time for not splashing the cash for top free agents in their prime, they ultimately signed the imposing 6-foot-9 defenseman to a five-year contract worth $37.5 million.

Chara and the Bruins were the perfect match. And in many ways, they needed each other.

The Bruins were coming off an awful 2005-06 season in which they traded captain Joe Thornton and finished with the league’s fifth-worst record. The once proud franchise was at a low. Competing for the Stanley Cup seemed like pure fantasy.

They were desperate for a foundational player to bring back the Big Bad Bruins era of hockey – one built on hard work, effort, commitment and determination.

Chara was seeking that kind of opportunity, so he chose to take his world-class talent to Boston and challenged himself to lift the Bruins to a championship level again.

“I knew that’s where I wanted to go because there were these opportunities of possibly leading the team, there was desperation to get better, the history, and the living,” Chara said at a press conference following his ceremony. “I saw that it would be a good fit, and it ended up being the best decision I ever made.”

Zdeno CharaSteve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images
Zdeno Chara waves to the crowd during his speech before raising his No. 33 to the rafters.

It didn’t take long for Chara to help the Bruins rediscover their identity, and in his second season as captain they were back in the playoffs. They would advance to the postseason 11 times in his 14 years wearing the spoked-B, including three trips to the Stanley Cup Final and one championship in 2011, which ended the franchise’s 39-year title drought.

“Things really changed when Z came here as a free agent,” Bruins legend Ray Bourque said Thursday night, a few hours before the ceremony. “From that point, the culture and everything that comes with that, and the success and the run that they had, he was such a big part of that.

“I remember him as a fresh, young player coming up with the Islanders and what he became. It’s a credit to him and how hard he worked and how dedicated to the game he was. It was so much fun to watch him develop into the player and person that he is. He’s a legend. He deserves to be up there (in the rafters) and deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.” 

During those 14 seasons with Chara wearing the “C”, the Bruins won the fourth-most games of any team, scored the fifth-most goals, allowed the fewest goals, had the fourth-best power play and the fifth-best penalty kill. They also won the second-most playoff games. Just like the great Bruins teams of the 1970s and 1980s, they were a nightmare for opponents to play against.  

It was one of the franchise’s most successful and exciting eras.

“They became the Bruins again,” Bourque said. “We could be proud of that group and how they played. They played hard and they were hard to play against.”

He added: “They were so much fun to watch and the fans could really appreciate that team and be proud of that team.”  

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What we learned as Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler carve up Knicks in Warriors' win

What we learned as Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler carve up Knicks in Warriors' win originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

BOX SCORE

SAN FRANCISCO – The Warriors knew what they were getting Thursday night when the New York Knicks came into Chase Center without their best player and following a loss to the lowly Kings in Sacramento 21 hours earlier.

The Knicks would be angry and surely knew they had to compensate for Jalen Brunson’s absence.

The Warriors shook off a slow start and a pesky outing by the Knicks by riding a superb game from Jimmy Butler III to come away with a 126-113 victory that put Golden State (23-19) four games over .500 for the first time this season.

Butler poured in a game-high 32 points, with Stephen Curry scoring 27, Moses Moody finishing with 21 and Brandin Podziemski adding 19. This was the eighth time this season that at least three Warriors scored at least 20 points.

Here are three observations from a win over the skidding Knicks:

The Jimmy-Steph tag team

When the Warriors endured another slow start, falling behind 33-19 with 3:33 left in the first quarter, Curry went to the bench a few seconds later, putting the non-Steph minutes under the microscope. 

When Curry exits, that means Butler enters. With his scoring and orchestration, the Warriors closed the quarter on an 11-2 run to pull within five.

That shifted the momentum ever so slightly, as Golden State won the second quarter by eight, taking a 62-59 lead into halftime. Butler scored 15 points in 15 first-half minutes.

When the Knicks opened the third quarter with a surge, it was Curry who lit a fire under the Warriors. After missing all five of his 3-point attempts in the first half, he drained back-to-back triples, pushing the lead to eight, and then snagged a steal that led to a Moody triple that pushed it to 11.

Curry scored 10 points in nine third-quarter minutes, shooting 4-of-4 from the field, including 2-of-2 from distance.

The Knicks spent the fourth quarter chasing the Warriors in vain.

Batman and Robin, folks, combining for 59 points.

Mo Buckets 2.0 drills Knicks

When Moody shot 30.1 percent from deep over a 15-game span from Dec. 12 to Jan. 11, it was fair to wonder if his wayward stroke would cost him his place in the starting lineup.

Coach Steve Kerr stayed with him, and his patience appears to be paying off.

Moody scored 12 first-half points, all on triples, without a miss. His game total of 21 points came on 7-of-10 shooting from the field, including 7-of-9 from deep.

With this game following an encouraging performance Tuesday night against Portland, when Moody scored 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field, including 4-of-8 from distance, it seems he has at least temporarily fixed his shot.

The Warriors will take it. Moody’s role is to provide point-of-attack defense on one end and be the designated catch-and-shoot wing on the other. His defense has been mostly satisfactory, but the offense gains another dimension when his deep shot is falling.

Podz comes through

After his slow start to this season, Podziemski became a lightning rod for criticism from Dub Nation. Some of it was warranted, some of it was subjective.

But the third-year pro put together a strong December, averaging 12.7 points per game while shooting 51.7 percent from the field, including 44.4 percent from deep.

Though Podziemski’s overall play has leveled off this month, he’s still productive and came off the bench to submit an excellent performance against the Knicks.

Podziemski’s 19 points came on 8-of-9 shooting from the field, including 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. He added five rebounds, two assists and two steals, playing 26 minutes and finishing a team-best plus-22.

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Knicks' Jalen Brunson out Thursday vs. Warriors after rolling ankle, leaving game Wednesday

Jalen Brunson is listed as out on Thursday night when the Knicks travel to the Bay Area for their one game at the Chase Center this season against the Warriors.

That comes one day after Brunson tweaked his ankle five minutes into the game against the Kings. He went back to the locker room, not to return the rest of the night.

The good news is the Knicks have listed Brunson as day-to-day with a sprained ankle. He was not expected to miss extended time, as Brunson was seen by reporters after the game in Sacramento walking without a boot on his ankle and no limp.

Brunson is averaging 28.2 points and 6.1 assists a game, shooting 38.8% from 3-point range this season. He is the heart of the Knicks' top-five offense and will almost certainly be named an All-Star Game starter when those are announced next week.

Mitchell Robinson also will be out against the Warriors on the second night of a back-to-back.