The NHL unveiled their 2025-26 King Clancy Trophy nominees on Friday, with veteran defenseman Colton Parayko selected for the St. Louis Blues.
The King Clancy Trophy goes “to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.”
Each team nominated a player who best fit the criteria.
A committee including NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, former winners of the King Clancy Trophy and past winners of the former NHL Foundation Player Award will consider a nominee’s inspiration, involvement and positive impact on their community. They will then take a vote to determine the winner.
Whoever gets the most votes wins not only the award but also a $25,000 donation to a charity or charities of their choice. The winner can even choose to have his team receive a grant of up to $20,000 from the NHL to help organize an activation supporting his humanitarian cause.
Kelly Chase in 1997-98 is the only Blues player to win this award.
In a press release, the Blues outline Parayko's work in the St. Louis community.
“Since arriving in St. Louis in 2015, Parayko has built a reputation that extends far beyond his play on the blue line. He remains a familiar face at St. Louis Children’s Hospital and the Ronald McDonald House, while also supporting a wide range of charitable efforts both locally and in his home province of Alberta.
In 2021, Parayko expanded his commitment to giving back by launching Project 55, a foundation focused on supporting hospitalized children and their families. The initiative provides both financial assistance and emotional support, and over the past several years has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to help families navigating difficult circumstances.
Project 55 also creates memorable experiences designed to lift spirits during challenging times. Throughout the season, Parayko hosts patients and their families at Blues home games at Enterprise Center, offering an all-inclusive experience that includes game tickets, team gear, and a postgame meet-and-greet.”
In addition to the 32-year-old’s off-ice work, he’s posted three goals and 17 points in 73 games this season, claimed a silver medal with Team Canada at the Olympics, and will reach 800 career NHL games if he plays in each of the Blues’ remaining games.
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It smelled of outright tanking — Draymond Green said as much after the game. Wednesday night, the Kings had a slim 101-100 lead with 3:15 remaining in the game when head coach Doug Christie motioned to his team to intentionally foul career 86.4% free-throw shooter Seth Curry off the ball, even though the Warriors were already in the bonus.
Could someone wake up Adam Silver and tell him the bottom half of the league is in shambles? pic.twitter.com/5Z8caYjPzN
The NBA investigated and concluded that the Kings were not tanking, they were just inept. The Kings had three timeouts left and would have lost one at the 3:00 mark (teams can only call two timeouts in the final three minutes), and Christie is a coach well known for taking that timeout to avoid losing it. However, he just forgot or didn't know the Warriors were in the bonus. Here is the league's statement.
"The league's investigation determined that Christie mistakenly believed that the Warriors were not in the penalty and therefore instructed his team to foul in an attempt to stop the clock and utilize one of the team's remaining timeouts. The investigation found that Christie made no intentional effort to give the Warriors a shooting foul, or to cause the Kings to lose the game."
Kings head coach Doug Christie talks about being investigated and cleared by the NBA for his decision to foul Seth Curry in the loss to the Warriors two nights ago, explains his strategy, talks about celebrating DeMar DeRozan in Friday's home finale & what he wants fans to know. pic.twitter.com/cELezwA0BV
Curry made one of two and tied the game from the free-throw line. On its next possession, the Kings retook the lead, but ultimately lost the game 110-105.
Clippers vs Trail Blazers best bet: Blazers moneyline (-115)
The Portland Trail Blazers are in the midst of a two-game losing skid, but they return to the Moda Center tonight for a two-game home stand to finish up the regular season.
The Blazers have compiled a 22-17 record at home in 2025-26, and they’ve won five of their last six games at the Moda Center.
Also, Portland just ended a four-game losing streak against the Los Angeles Clippers last month, beating them 114-104 on the road. Meanwhile, Los Angeles is coming off an 18-point defeat to the OKC Thunder, and they’re just 19-21 away from the Intuit Dome.
The Blazers will grind out a victory tonight.
Clippers vs Trail Blazers same-game parlay
Deni Avdija has been balling out this season, averaging a career-best 24 ppg. He’s cashed the Over in four straight appearances, and he just dropped 29 points in a loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday.
The 25-year-old is one of Portland’s top options, and he already scored 28 against the Clippers on March 31. He’s also averaging 24.8 ppg at home.
Jrue Holiday has cashed the Over in dimes in three consecutive outings, and he’s averaging 6.2 assists overall. In his last home game, Holiday dished out nine dimes.
Scoot Henderson dropped 15 points versus Los Angeles in March, and he’s in his bag right now, cashing the Over in three of his last five appearances.
The guard has played 36 minutes or more across the last two games, and he had 20 points on Wednesday. Heavier minutes mean a better chance for more offensive output.
Clippers vs Trail Blazers SGP
Deni Avdija Over 25.5 points
Jrue Holiday Over 5.5 assists
Scoot Henderson Over 15.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: All eyes on Avdija
Avdija is also averaging 6.7 assists, serving as one of Portland’s best facilitators. He had eight dimes against the Clippers last month, and he’s cashed the Over in three of his previous four.
Clippers vs Trail Blazers SGP
Deni Avdija Over 25.5 points
Jrue Holiday Over 5.5 assists
Scoot Henderson Over 15.5 points
Deni Avdija Over 6.5 assists
Clippers vs Trail Blazers odds
Spread: Los Angles +1 (-110) | Portland -1 (-110)
Moneyline: Los Angeles -105 | Portland -115
Over/Under: Over 226.5 (-110) | Under 226.5 (-110)
Clippers vs Trail Blazers betting trend to know
The Portland Trail Blazers have hit the 3Q Moneyline in 27 of their last 45 games (+10.35 Units / 16% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Clippers vs. Trail Blazers.
How to watch Clippers vs Trail Blazers
Location
Moda Center, Portland, OR
Date
Friday, April 10, 2026
Tip-off
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN SoCal, BlazerVision
Clippers vs Trail Blazers latest injuries
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - MARCH 28: Ronald Holland II #5 of the Detroit Pistons celebrates his three-point basket against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the third quarter at Target Center on March 28, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Pistons defeated the Timberwolves 109-87. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Another dust-up is waiting to be settled as the Detroit Pistons face the Charlotte Hornets for the first time since the February game that ended in chaos and suspensions.
The Pistons are locked at the one seed, and the Hornets appear to be headed for the play-in tournament. Everything is on the table for them, and tonight is a must-win.
Do the Pistons rest vs the hungry Hornets? Or does Cade Cunningham continue to get his legs under him? It will be interesting to see how JB Bickerstaff plays his hand against another potential playoff opponent.
Game Vitals
Where: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, North Carolina
When: 7:00 PM
Watch: FanDuel Sports Network Detroit
Odds: Pistons (+5)
Analysis
The Hornets have been the best offense in the league since Dec. 2. They hit the offensive glass, get up 3s, and have multiple 20-point threats. With their high 3-point rate comes variance.
The Hornets are an interesting watch when they do not have it going from 3 because they do not have many consistent 2-point scorers. None of their go-to options gets to the rim a lot compared to other offensive engines.
The Pistons are the complete opposite. They live in the paint. Cade Cunningham played 26 minutes after missing time. It was good to see him attacking the basket. Cade was 5/7 from the restricted area (PivotFade). He got back in the lineup and immediately began dropping his shoulders and making contact with defenders to get buckets. Getting more minutes tonight before the playoffs could keep Cade sharp after his layoff.
Jalen Duren is an automatic 2-point player. In a playoff series, the Hornets would try to get JD on the perimeter and hunt 3s. He has to be ready for that, no doubt. But how would the Hornets solve the Duren puzzle on the other end?
Moussa Diabaté is Charlotte’s offensive rebound machine, and he kicks it out to his shooters like his life depends on it. He is a ball of energy, but is not sturdy enough to handle Duren in the paint. Not many are. Grant Williams is a good undersized defender, but he would struggle with Duren’s mass. Ryan Kalkbrenner would too, despite his length.
While Charlotte has been the top 3-point shooting team all year (2nd in attempts, third in %), Detroit is on a heater. They are shooting 39 percent (sixth in league) in the last 15 games. Duncan Robinson, Daniss Jenkins, Javonte Green, Tobias Harris, and Marcus Sasser are all shooting over 40 percent during this hot stretch from triple.
Ron Holland is on the 3-point action, shooting 44 percent on three attempts over the last seven games. Holland is going to let it fly every time. He knew these shots were down as soon as they left his hands. That is progress.
On the other side, the Hornets have shooters galore. Kon Knueppel (268) and LaMelo Ball (261) are first and second in total 3s. Brandon Miller is 38.5 percent on over eight attempts. Grant Williams, Coby White. There are some guys over there who can shoot it. While their trigger-happy offense results in tons of 3s, turnovers come with Charlotte’s package. This team turns the ball over a ton (15.4 TO #24), and Detroit feasts off those.
Detroit is the best turnover creation team in basketball. They have the best wing defender in Ausar Thompson. All of those Hornets snipers will deal with him at some point.
It is not fair what Ausar can do to offensive players. The save on this possession was just as impressive as Ausar’s perfectly-timed block. The balance and awareness needed to pull off this sequence is wild.
On the next possession down, it seemed like Ryan Rollins, who is having a Most Improved Player-type year, was fine immediately giving up the ball because of the harassment from Ausar. The turnover-prone weapons in Charlotte cannot be loose with the ball in this matchup.
Daniss Jenkins, who trains with Rollins, will be a critical piece tonight and on this postseason run. He is the backup ball handler who needs to stay prepared. He is good enough to be more than a neutral, but even that would be enough. Detroit needs Jenkins to remain competent with Cade back in the lineup.
We will see how Bicketstaff handles the rotation tonight. The chase for 60 wins and the need to stay sharp are reasons to get starters on the floor. The Hornets will be desperate, and the Pistons can spoil their standings push tonight.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - AUGUST 13: Jacy Sheldon #4 of the Washington Mystics shoots the ball during the game against the Golden State Valkyries on August 13, 2025 at CareFirst Arena in Washington, D.C. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Kenny Giarla/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Currently, WNBA teams, including the Washington Mystics are negotiating with free agents who may be interested in coming to their team. One of the key things that remains in teams’ hands is whether to give the core player designation on one player. According to Alexa Philippou of ESPN, most teams have, but the Mystics appear not to have done that.
This is not particularly surprising. According to Sportrac, the 2025 Mystics roster at the end of the season had two players with cap hits above $100,000: Alysha Clark and Stefanie Dolson. However, both Clark and Dolson are longtime veterans and wouldn’t be able to be cored. The remaining players are primarily on rookie scale contracts.
What this means is that the Mystics are in prime position to spend on free agents though they can’t give a supermax salary. They have over $5 million in cap space out of a $7 million salary cap. Remember, the Mystics, EVEN IF THEY CHOOSE TO …. deconstruct like the Wizards … HAVE TO PAY SOME PLAYER a big salary, likely at around $1 million.
Also, out of their cap space, some of these players will be used on their three first round picks (No. 4, No. 9, No. 11) and there’s a good chance that their second round picks (No. 19, No. 30) could ALL make the roster. If that happens, there will still be cap room to sign a free agent or two at a very large salary.
TORONTO, CANADA - MARCH 3: Scottie Barnes #4 of the Toronto Raptors passes the ball during the game against the New York Knicks on March 3, 2026 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In the second game of a back-to-back, the Knicks (52*-28) host the Raptors (44-35) tonight at Madison Square Garden. New York ranks third in the Eastern Conference, while riding a four-game win streak and having beaten the Celtics in a thriller last night, 112-106. The Raptors are scrappy but inconsistent, in a three-horse race with the Hawks and the Magic for the fifth, sixth, and seventh seeds.
The Knicks lead the season series 4-0. The teams last met on March 3 in Toronto, where New York cruised to a 111-95 victory. Jalen Brunson led the way with 26 points, while Brandon Ingram scored 31 points for the Canucks.
The Raptors have relied on a mix of veterans and young pieces, with Brandon Ingram leading them in scoring with 21.1 PPG. When healthy, Jakob Poeltl anchors the frontcourt (he missed half of the season with injury), while OAKAAKUYOAK Immanuel Quickley commands the backcourt when healthy (IQ has played 68 games this season). Toronto ranks around the middle of the pack offensively (scoring in the 114-point range) but they rate fifth for defense. Scottie Barnes, playing his fifth season, has been an anchor for them defensively and chips in about 18 points per game.
Injury notes: Tyler Kolek remains a question mark for the Knicks with an oblique issue. The Raptors have been cursed with various ailments throughout the year. Chucky Hepburn (knee) and Trayce Jackson-Davis (illness) are game-time decisions for them.
Prediction
The Knicks are solid favorites, with ESPN giving them a 65% chance for victory. Right on. Toronto has shown fight at times, but they’ll face a locked-in Knicks squad at MSG—one that has recently taken care of business against stiffer competition like Boston and Atlanta. Should be another tough night for the visitors, despite potential fatigue for the home team on a SEGABABA. The Raptors will be motivated to win, sure, but the Knickerbockers look playoff-ready and should handle this one without too much drama. Knicks by eight.
Game Details
Who: New York Knicks (52*-28) vs Toronto Raptors (44-35) Date: Friday, April 10, 2026 Time: 7:30 PM ET Place: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY TV: MSG Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky
* Should be one more, but NBA Cup wins are biodegradable.
Apr 9, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks defenseman John Carlson (74) reacts after being selected as the first star of the night against the San Jose Sharks Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Kirby Lee/Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
ANAHEIM, Calif. — John Carlson played 1,156 regular-season games and 137 more Stanley Cup playoff contests in his 17 NHL seasons before he finally got his first hat trick.
The steady defenseman would never list a three-goal game as a true aspiration, but Carlson was still thrilled to do it — particularly because it came in a vital victory for his new team’s playoff aspirations.
The 36-year-old Carlson said he literally couldn’t remember his last pre-NHL hat trick after he fired three goals past the San Jose Sharks during the Ducks’ 6-1 win, which snapped a six-game losing streak and greatly improved Anaheim’s chances of ending its seven-year postseason drought.
“I’ve seen a lot (of hat tricks) in my day, and always was a little bit jealous,” Carlson said with a grin.
Indeed, Carlson witnessed plenty of multigoal barrages during his long tenure with the Washington Capitals. That’ll happen when you play nearly 17 seasons alongside the greatest goal-scorer in NHL history: Alex Ovechkin has 34 career hat tricks, including 26 since Carlson’s debut with the Caps as a teenager in late 2009.
But Carlson has been a steady contributor on both ends of the ice throughout his NHL career, and he had been a major factor for his new team in Anaheim even before his third goal sealed a big win. His shot sent a shower of hats onto the Honda Center ice with 5:57 to play in celebration of only the fourth hat trick by a defenseman in Ducks history, and the first since 2018.
“It was great,” Carlson said. “I’ve obviously always wanted one. I think it was a good game to do it in, a home game. The crowd was great tonight from puck drop, and I think we just kept feeding on that and played a really good game.”
Carlson became the third defenseman in NHL history to record a hat trick after his 36th birthday, joining Mathieu Schneider and Nicklas Lidstrom, who was 40 years old when he accomplished the feat on Dec. 15, 2010. Only Lidstrom (1,442) played more games among NHL defensemen than Carlson before getting that inaugural trick.
Carlson has 12 points in 13 games since joining the Ducks, who acquired him at the trade deadline to shore up the back end on one of the league’s worst defensive teams. Carlson has overcome the first jersey change of his NHL career and the midseason disruption of his family’s life to fit in well on the West Coast, providing much-needed veteran poise while improving the Ducks’ mediocre power play, which produced his two third-period goals.
“He comes in and he’s an amazing player,” said center Leo Carlsson, who opened the scoring with an impressive drive to the net for his 28th goal. “Great person, too. He helps us a lot, so nothing but amazing things to say about him.”
After his hat trick, Carlson has 14 goals this season between Washington and Anaheim, three off his career high from the 2021-22 season.
Carlson got his first goal against the Sharks in the first period on a 97.47 mph slap shot — the hardest shot that resulted in a goal for the Ducks all season long.
He scored two more power-play goals 3 1/2 minutes apart in the third period, both on heavy shots. Anaheim’s power play had been 1 for 15 over the previous four games, dropping to 25th in the league.
“I thought he’s got the presence to shoot from the top,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “He’s got good play recognition, and the power play needed that.”
Two days after the Ducks were booed off the ice by their home fans during a 5-0 loss to Nashville, they dominated the rival Sharks — another young, hungry team with playoff aspirations.
Anaheim’s victory left it in third place in the Pacific Division with 89 points, but just one behind Edmonton up in first place, where the Ducks had been for a full month before dropping back in the past week.
With just three games left, Carlson is confident the Ducks can pick up enough points to get him to the Stanley Cup playoffs for the 15th time in a career that included a championship in 2018.
“Building that mentality, reaching back for a picture or a memory of (good) starts, those things are all good to have at this point in the year,” Carlson said.
Apr 5, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) looks on against the Florida Panthers during the first period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark Alberti-Imagn Images
Mark Alberti/Mark Alberti-Imagn Images
NEWARK, N.J. — For the first time in four years, it soon will be a great day for playoff hockey in Pittsburgh.
The Penguins clinched a playoff spot by beating New Jersey, ending their postseason drought that lasted three seasons. They had made 16 postseason appearances in a row before that, last missing in Sidney Crosby’s rookie year in 2005-06, with that stretch including three Stanley Cup titles.
“That’s why you play — that’s the best time of year,” Crosby said. “I know how hard it is. I think I understand that. We had some tough ones where it came down to the last day and didn’t get in, and you don’t ever know. But I thought right from camp, we’ve had those intentions and had that belief.”
It was an up-and-down season that included an eight-game skid in December and a pair of six-game winning streaks later in the winter. Far from assured a place in the field in late March when the Eastern Conference race was a crowded mess, they’ve won five of six games since March 30 to get in.
“A couple weeks ago (we realized) it’s really in our hands (because we) play a lot of the teams in it,” defenseman Connor Clifton said. “We figured it was going to work itself out, and first and foremost it’s about us and getting points and we’ve done that, so it’s been good.”
It also has been a surprise. Pittsburgh was a 6-1 long shot to qualify before the puck dropped on opening night, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. This looked like one last kick at it together for an aging core of Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang, who at 20 seasons together are the longest-tenured trio of teammates in North American professional sports.
Instead, new coach Dan Muse has made general manager Kyle Dubas look brilliant for hiring him from relative anonymity: five years as an assistant under Peter Laviolette with Nashville and the New York Rangers. Succeeding two-time Cup-winner Mike Sullivan was not an easy task, but Muse aced the test in his first chance to run an NHL bench.
“He’s been great: Calm there behind the bench, and he’s just a really personable guy, easy to talk to away from the rink,” forward Justin Brazeau said. “Any time you create that atmosphere in here, it’s not too tense or anything like that. I think guys are just willing to go out there and play free.”
Center Ben Kindel, picked 11th in the draft last year, made the team at 18. Defenseman Erik Karlsson thrived at 35. Crosby was a point-a-game player for a 21st consecutive season, even if it was interrupted by the injury that knocked him out of the Olympics.
“It takes everybody,” Crosby said. “Everybody has had a part in this. Obviously it’s a team game, but especially with this group: With the injuries and all the different guys in and out, everybody’s contributed to us getting there.”
Muse, like Crosby, saw evidence in training camp that this was a playoff-caliber team.
“I just saw the competitive nature of the group,” Muse said. “There’s ebbs and flows in every season, but I think this group has just continued to grow. Enjoy it for a little bit, a minute, and then it’s just continuing that preparation. It’s a big step for the group. I’m really proud of these guys, happy for these guys, the staff, everybody involved. The players have done a great job with it throughout the year. We talked about earning things at the beginning of the year. This group earned it.”
All 30 NBA teams are in action tonight, then every team is off on Saturday, then Sunday is one final shakeout day. With that said, there are a lot of scenarios that will play out today. Here is what you need to know.
Playoff Scenarios
Eastern Conference
• Boston can secure the No. 2 seed (and the Atlantic Division crown, if we care about that) with New Orleans or a New York loss to Toronto. • New York secures no lower than the No. 3 seed with a win over Toronto or a Cleveland loss to Atlanta. • Toronto can clinch a top-six playoff spot with a win over the Knicks, and if Atlanta and Orlando also lose than the Raptors lock into the No. 5 seed. • Atlanta clinches a top-six playoff spot with a win over Cleveland (or losses by Orlando and Charlotte). • Charlotte becomes locked into the play-in with a loss to Detroit. • Orlando becomes locked into the play-in with a loss to Chicago or wins by Atlanta and Toronto. • Philadelphia is locked into the play-in with a loss to Indiana or a Toronto win over New York
Western Conference
• Denver can lock in as the No. 3 seed with a win over Oklahoma City and a Lakers loss to the Suns. • The Los Angeles Lakers can lock in no lower than the No. 4 seed with a win against Phoenix and a Houston loss to Minnesota. • The LA Clippers can secure the No. 8 seed with a win over the Portland Trail Blazers.
Games to Watch
Cleveland Cavaliers at Atlanta Hawks, 7 p.m. ET, Prime Video
Both teams want this one and both teams come in playing well. Cleveland still has a slim chance at passing the Knicks for the No. 3 seed (the Raptors would have to win out and the Knicks lose out). This game matters more to the Hawks, who can still finish anywhere from fifth to eighth in the East, but with a win over Cleveland secures itself a top-six spot and avoiding the play-in at least.
Toronto Raptors at New York Knicks, 7:30 p.m. ET, League Pass
New York can clinch the No. 3 seed with a win, making their Sunday game against Charlotte moot for them. Toronto could still finish anywhere from fifth to eighth in the East, but a win against New York secures a top-six seed and avoids the play-in.
Oklahoma City at Denver Nuggets, 9 p.m. ET, League Pass
Oklahoma City has locked up the No. 1 seed, but this could be an interesting game for it strategically. While the Thunder will say they don't care about playoff matchups, they would be much better off with Denver as the No. 3 seed (which could set up a brutal seven-game series between the Nuggets and Spurs in the second round). The Lakers and Rockets are just one game back of the Nuggets. If OKC beats Denver, it opens the door to the Nuggets falling back to fourth, and with that, potentially meeting the Thunder in the second round. The Thunder are never going to try to lose a game and have a deep roster, but if they lost this game, would it be the worst thing?
LA Clippers at Portland Trail Blazers, 10 p.m. ET, League Pass
This game essentially decides the 8 and 9 seeds in the West (Portland is one game back of the Clippers but would have the tiebreaker with the win). The Clippers lock up the No. 8 seed with a win. Portland would control its own destiny to be the No. 8 with a win — it would have the tiebreaker over LA and could only fall to ninth if it lost to Sacramento on Sunday while the Clippers beat the Warriors. Eighth is a much easier path to the playoffs (win just one of two games, rather than having to win two in a row).
Hagens skated at an optional practice with the Bruins for the first time Thursday at Warrior Ice Arena. His first full practice was Friday. The Bruins’ next two games are this weekend: home against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday and at the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday. B’s head coach Marco Sturm confirmed Friday that Hagens won’t play against the Lightning.
It’s hard to know exactly how ready a 19-year-old player is for the NHL. It’s a clear step up in speed, skill and physicality compared to the NCAA and AHL levels. But Hagens’ improvement as a sophomore for BC this past season — especially in the defensive aspect of his game — should help the transition to the Bruins.
“He did take a great jump in so many areas,” Boston College men’s hockey head coach Greg Brown told NBC Sports Boston this week.
“His offensive game was always there, and he still continues to develop it. He’s only 19 years old now, but I think he took huge steps in the rest of his game, becoming a 200-foot player, defensive awareness, defensive detail — all those things that you’re going to need to play in the NHL, James really improved on this year, so it’s great to see.”
Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images
James Hagens won the Hockey East scoring title with BC this past season.
Inside Hagens’ offensive breakout
One of the most notable improvements Hagens made in Year 2 with the Eagles was becoming a more prolific goal scorer. He’s always been an elite playmaker, but his goal-scoring went to another level this past season. He scored 11 goals in 37 games for BC as a freshman, and then he jumped to 23 goals in 34 games in 2025-26.
What led to Hagens finding the back of the net more frequently?
“A couple of things. One, he worked very hard on his shot,” Brown said. “It was almost every day he was out there after practice or before practice taking shots to improve his one-time or to improve his release on his snapshot. So, he had physical gains that way.”
“But also, I think his awareness of where to find openings — he scored a bunch of one-timer goals, whether it was low by the goal line or whether it was up at the top of the circle. He really did a great job of finding the space. As well as having a good shot, it’s critical to be able to find the opportunities to get shots, and he made great strides in that area, too.”
One area where Hagens could really make a positive impact early in his Bruins career is on the power play.
He thrived in those situations for BC, where his vision, playmaking and ability to carry the puck into the offensive zone made a huge difference.
“James was tremendous for us on the power play this year,” Brown said. “He kind of ran it from the flank, and his skill set obviously lends to offensive hockey. But his ability to play the game with his head up the whole time allows him to see opportunities and where openings come very quickly.
“He doesn’t have to look down and check the puck and make sure it’s on his stick. He’s always scanning, always ready to look for the next opportunity. So, I think that will serve him very well as he makes the transition to pro hockey.”
Will Hagens play center or wing?
Bruins head coach Marco Sturm did not commit to putting Hagens into a certain spot in the lineup when asked at a press conference Thursday, but it sounds like most, if not all, of his early reps will be on the wing.
“It’s probably a wing for sure, because right now we feel very comfortable with our centermen,” Sturm told reporters. “It’s not fair to put him as a center because he didn’t play it all year long. I think he’s in a safe spot here as a wing. Moving forward, we’ll see. I would love to see him as a center because he has that speed and ability to move pucks, but definitely not this year.”
Hagens is a natural center, but he played on the wing plenty for BC this past season. This kind of versatility should be a benefit to the Bruins.
“It was huge for us, (for Hagens) to be flexible and to be effective in all three forward positions, but I also think that it’s critical if you’re going to become an NHL forward. As you’re joining a team, you don’t know what their strengths are, where they have guys slotted. You want to be able to be put in anywhere,” Brown said.
“If they ask you to play left wing, right wing, or center, you wanna be able to say, ‘Yes, I can do that.’ I think he gained a lot of valuable experience, playing all positions, and he did a great job for us wherever we put him.”
Can Hagens live up to the hype?
Expectations for Hagens are high. That’s part of the deal playing in a sports-crazed city like Boston, especially when you’re a top-10 draft pick. But dealing with pressure and expectations are nothing new for Hagens. That experience will help him as his pro career gets underway.
“James does a great job of blocking out the noise and focusing on playing,” Brown said. “I thought, as much attention as he got from being a high pick and playing in Boston, I think even his freshman year was harder before the draft, when there was so much attention put on him, and he had to do interviews all the time, whether it was with teams or with the media.
“So the fact that he was able to handle that, handle those responsibilities and also still play at a high level, really showed his maturity and his ability to separate the two things. He’s going to have a lot of attention, but so far, the way he’s handled it, it gave him great experience in that department, and I think he really doesn’t let it affect him.
“When he steps on that ice, he’s all-in on how he’s gonna play.”
The Sixers on Friday reportedly made a couple of late-season roster moves.
The Athletic’s Tony Jones reported that the team is converting Dalen Terry from a two-way contract to a standard NBA deal that includes a team option for next season. The Sixers are waiving Cameron Payne to make room for Terry, The Athletic reported.
Terry was the 18th overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft. Since joining the Sixers in the middle of this season, Terry’s appeared in 13 games and averaged 4.3 points, 1.8 assists and 1.5 rebounds in 13.0 minutes per contest.
He’s a versatile 6-foot-6 wing who passes well and has had good steal and block rates through his NBA career. Terry’s been a subpar shooter as a professional. Over 217 games in the NBA, he’s gone 44.2 percent from the field, 31.4 percent from three-point range and 64.2 percent at the foul line.
Terry joins Dominick Barlow and Jabari Walker as Sixers converted from two-way to standard NBA contracts this year.
The Sixers signed Payne in February and the 31-year-old guard came back to the NBA from Serbia. Payne played 22 games in his second stint with the Sixers and averaged 7.4 points, 2.6 assists and 2.0 rebounds.
The threat of the Play-In Tournament is fueling the Orlando Magic in their final games of the NBA season.
Orlando is a half-game back of the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference — the cutoff to avoid the Play-In — and gets a gift from the schedule gods by facing the lowly Chicago Bulls tonight.
With all hands on deck, my Magic vs. Bulls predictions expect plenty of points from the visiting team.
Our NBA picks like Jalen Suggs to shred a patchwork Chicago backcourt and top his scoring prop on Friday, April 10.
Magic vs Bulls prediction
Magic vs Bulls best bet: Jalen Suggs Over 13.5 points (-112)
Orlando Magic point guard Jalen Suggs hasn’t been as aggressive a scorer recently, and that’s trimmed his points prop for Friday.
He’s attempted just six and nine field goals in the past two outings, making four shots in each contest, and finishing with 11 and 12 points. That’s a notable decline in usage considering he was averaging almost 12 attempts over the past month.
Suggs' scoring total for tonight takes a tick down to 13.5 O/U after being set at 14.5 for the past couple of weeks. He can snap out of that slumber in the Windy City tonight.
The Chicago Bulls rank 23rd in defensive rating over the last 10 contests, allowing more than 127 points per game in that span. More than 70 of those points are coming from opposing guards.
Chicago is down to eight healthy bodies, and many of those guys are D-League callups. On top of that lack of talent, the Bulls are playing the second of back-to-back games after prevailing in Washington on Thursday.
Before this lull in offensive activity, Suggs was averaging around 14 points per outing. His player projections for Friday expect at least one better from the Gonzaga product, with his scoring forecast ranging from 15.2 to 16.1 points.
My number comes out to 15.6 points, which should have the Over 13.5 prop priced around -155 instead of this modest -112 juice.
Magic vs Bulls same-game parlay
The Bulls picked up a rare win in D.C. last night, setting up a letdown spot back home. Chicago is tired and down to eight healthy bodies while the Magic are going all out to avoid the Play-In Tournament, as they chase the No. 6 seed.
Paolo Banchero will also have a big night against this thin Chicago interior. The Bulls are getting completely bullied in the paint, and Banchero is projected for 24+ points in this must-win matchup. He’s averaged 27.5 ppg against Chicago this season.
Magic vs Bulls SGP
Magic -15
Jalen Suggs Over 13.5 points
Paolo Banchero Over 22.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Sleight of Hand
Suggs and Banchero will pile up the points and round up rebounds against a shorthanded Bulls squad that's sucking wind.
Both Orlando stars are projected to top their points and rebounding totals tonight.
Magic vs Bulls SGP
Paolo Banchero Over 22.5 points
Paolo Banchero Over 8.5 rebounds
Jalen Suggs Over 13.5 points
Jalen Suggs Over 3.5 rebounds
Magic vs Bulls odds
Spread: Magic -15 (-110) | Bulls +15 (-110)
Moneyline: Magic -1000 | Bulls +650
Over/Under: Over 243 (-110) | Under 243 (-110)
Magic vs Bulls betting trend to know
Orlando has gone Over the total in 23 of its last 35 games (+9.80 Units / 25% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Magic vs. Bulls.
How to watch Magic vs Bulls
Location
United Center, Chicago, IL
Date
Friday, April 10, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN Florida, CHSN
Magic vs Bulls latest injuries
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While identifying good value, especially later in drafts, can win a fantasy league, a draft pick bombing can sabotage a season. Below are some of the most disappointing players in fantasy basketball this season, including two on the same team. And we start with a player whose future appears to be up in the air.
While Giannis has dealt with injuries in the past, he appeared in at least 61 games in each of his first 12 seasons. Unfortunately, lower-body injuries limited him to 36 games in 2025-26, and the production dipped when he was on the floor. Antetokounmpo's averages of 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.2 blocks per game certainly look good on paper.
However, only in steals did his per-game production not decrease when compared to his 2024-25 numbers. And that doesn't take into consideration the constant scrutiny regarding his future in Milwaukee. Given the Yahoo! ADP of 6.2, this was a terribly disappointing season for those who invested a first-round pick in Antetokounmpo.
F/C Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings
Given how things played out in Sacramento after last season's trade deadline, Sabonis entering the 2025-26 campaign with a top-20 ADP felt off. Sure enough, the logjam of ball-dominant options did the center no favors before a torn meniscus ended his season in early February. Sabonis played in 19 games this season, averaging 15.8 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 0.9 steals in just under 30 minutes. The only major statistical category in which his production did not decrease was steals, and few fantasy managers roster Sabonis expecting reliable production in that category.
C Myles Turner, Milwaukee Bucks
After a career year with the Pacers in 2022-23, Turner's production dipped in each of the two seasons that followed. There was hope that a move to Milwaukee would boost the center's value, with the Bucks tabbing him to replace Brook Lopez as the starting center. Unfortunately, Turner's first season in Milwaukee was a struggle, with the center averaging 11.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.7 steals, 1.6 blocks and 2.4 three-pointers in 26.9 minutes per game.
Turner's rebounding average was the lowest of his NBA career, and his scoring average was the lowest since his rookie season. He shot 43.8 percent from the field and 74.4 percent from the foul line, the former percentage being a career low. While one can point to his per-game value and argue that Turner was still a top-100 player, this was an underwhelming campaign, especially with rebounding struggles contributing to the decrease in playing time.
G Jordan Poole, New Orleans Pelicans
With Dejounte Murray unavailable to begin the season as he recovered from a ruptured Achilles tendon, there were fantasy managers who believed that Poole's production would not take too big of a hit with the move from Washington to New Orleans. To say that he failed to live up to his Yahoo! ADP of 71.3 (per Hashtag Basketball) would be an understatement.
A quad injury in early November sidelined him for over a month, and Poole would fall out of the Pelicans' rotation entirely in late January. He would get some run after the All-Star break, but the DNP-CD's restarted in early March. Poole has appeared in 38 games this season, averaging 13.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 0.6 steals and 2.5 three-pointers, shooting 37.3 percent from the field and 87.2 percent from the foul line. A player who entered the season with top-75 expectations will finish ranked well outside of the top-200, regardless of league format.
C Deandre Ayton, Los Angeles Lakers
After averaging a double-double in each of his first seven NBA seasons, Ayton appeared well-positioned to do the same in his first season with the Lakers. Sure, a lineup with Luka Dončić, LeBron James and Austin Reaves means that Ayton's scoring output would take a hit. Based on his Yahoo! ADP of 66.5, many fantasy managers bet on the 7-footer doing enough as a rebounder, finisher and shot-blocker to provide solid value.
Unfortunately, Ayton failed to come through for most fantasy managers. With two games remaining in the regular season, he has averaged 12.4 points, 8.0 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.9 blocks in 27.2 minutes per game. The good news is that Ayton shot a career-high 67.2 percent from the field, but that wasn't enough to salvage what has been an underwhelming fantasy season.
G/F Cam Thomas, Free Agent
Even with his limited production outside of the points category, it felt like Thomas was capable of using the 2025-26 season as a springboard into unrestricted free agency next summer. It didn't happen. Hamstring issues did Thomas no favors, as an injury in early November sidelined him until after Christmas. With his minutes limited, Thomas' production took a hit, and the Nets waived him after the trade deadline.
Milwaukee picked him up, and Thomas scored 34 points in his second game with the team. That would be the high point of his time with the Bucks, who waived the one-dimensional guard on March 23. Whether it's category leagues or points leagues, Thomas' fantasy value this season was poor. With a Yahoo! ADP of 83.9, fantasy managers who drafted him did not take too big of a hit. However, few expected Thomas to be out of the league entirely.
The Atlanta Hawks can lock down a playoff berth with a victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs will be locked into the East’s No. 4 seed if they lose to the Hawks or the New York Knicks beat the Toronto Raptors.
How to watch Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Atlanta Hawks
Coaches: Will Bolt (7th season, 196-133-1) & Mark Wasikowski (7th season, 317-197)
TV/Stream: All games on B1G+
Radio: All Nebraska games on Huskers Radio Network, Huskers.com, Huskers App
After a tough first 3 weeks of a non-conference schedule, Nebraska has rolled through the easier part of its schedule. Prior to the mid-week game against an impressive Kansas team, only a single game against a hot veteran pitcher stopping them from winning 22 in a row. In baseball, it doesn’t matter what level you are playing, that streak is still impressive (just ask the Back to Back Big Ten Champion teams that struggled in the midweek against South Dakota State and Omaha). Now the team gets to find out if the momentum will carry them against the two best teams remaining on its weekend schedule and secure a top 4 seed AND potentially a home regional.
Oregon rolled through the early part of its schedule, with only a slip up against an average UC Irvine team, and a loss in the baseball version of the Civil War to Oregon State. Since a trip to UC Santa Barbara, the offense which had been mashing the ball (it still leads the Big Ten in home runs and total bases) has stalled a bit. They’ve averaged just 3 runs per game in their last 8 games, which included two mid week losses to Portland sandwiched around the team’s first weekend series loss at Michigan.
It’s hard to imagine a whole team has gone cold for an extended period of time. Then again, Nebraska fans only have to look to last season (sorry for the PTSD) to see how a good offensive team can just go ice cold for a couple stretches. Is the past couple weeks just a blip for the Ducks and they just need some home cooking to regain their power? Or can Nebraska’s strong pitching staff capitalize on their recent woes?
Game 1: RHP Ty Horn (1-1, 4.70 ERA) vs. RHP Will Sanford (4-1, 2.54 ERA)
Game 2: RHP Carson Jasa (6-1, 3.64 ERA) vs. RHP Collin Clarke (5-2, 2.72 ERA)
Game 3: RHP Cooper Katskee (5-0, 2.79 ERA) vs. RHP Cal Scolari (4-0, 2.81 ERA)
For the first time really all season, Ty Horn struggled mightily, and to the point he couldn’t get an out in the 4th inning. His pitches, which have lived at the bottom of the strike zone, just didn’t seem to have a lot of downward bite to them against a substandard Penn State offense. 3 doubles and 2 home runs took advantage of the elevated Horn pitches. Horn always seems to dig deep and be at his best against top competition, and bounces back big time the week after a rough start.
The Carson Jasa experience continues for the Huskers. He set a career high with 11 strikeouts against Penn State. Other than the disasterous Auburn start, he’s struck out at least 8 batters in each start. He is up to 66 strikeouts in 42 innings over his 8 starts. Joba Chamberlain and Shane Komine are the only Husker pitchers with more than 65 strikeouts over their first 8 starts in a season.
As is his custom, Cooper Katskee gave up 2 runs early, then cruised through a season best 7 innings. Michael Anderson got 2 home runs off of him, but really nothing else of consequence came from the Nittany Lions offense against the senior. It was a real luxury to have him go so deep to help make up for the short outing by Horn. The staff has a good balance of different types of starting pitchers that can all potentially get deep into games. It’s been a while since a Husker team could say that.
After a freshman season in which he started and you saw glimpses of greatness, Will Sanford has taken the Friday night baton and run with it. He’s pitched almost the exact same innings (39) as last season, and has dropped his walks from 39 to 23 and increased his strikeouts from 42 to 51. Like Ty Horn, he is coming off his worst start of the season, giving up 6 runs in 2.2 innings at Michigan. He hasn’t really struggled like that at all this year. How will he bounce back?
When Saturday starter Collin Clarke is on, he really has a ton of movement on each one of his pitches. Really looks like Koty Frank (shoutout Frank Koty!) when he was stalking the mound for the Huskers. He eats up innings, having gone 6 innings in all but 2 starts so far, and doesn’t waste pitches. He will be in the zone on nearly every throw. He can get in hitters heads to, he is very demonstrative on the mound. If you can watch the video on the tweet below, he has something to say after nearly every strike thrown.
Collin Clarke (rhp, @OregonBaseball). Very impressive; pitched with an edge. Ended 4-of-6 innings with a punchout. Missed bats with whole arsenal.
The highest ceiling may be Sunday starter Cal Scolari. As a redshirt freshman at San Diego last season (Man, I hate those guys!) he was the West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year. He has 46 strikeouts in just 32 innings. He and Katskee are both undefeated on the year. The series may come down to who gets their first blemish on the year.
Scouting Report
On offense, the Ducks looked to a pair of All-Conference juniors to help replace all the production lost off of last year’s team that belted a conference leading 115 home runs. The two middle infielders who had big time seasons a year ago, have gone in different directions in 2026.
Second baseman and leadoff man Ryan Clooney is taking his game to another level, he is batting .359 and already has as many extra base hits as he did all of 2025. He has 33 runs scored and has 28 RBIs, which is outstanding for a leadoff batter. Cooney is also he biggest threat the Ducks have on the base paths, stealing 11 out 13 bases on the year. His partner, short stop Maddox Moloney is going through his worst season in Eugene. His batting average is down almost 80 points from a season ago to just .235. After hitting 8 doubles and 15 home runs last year, he is at 6 and 5 respectively this season. As D1Baseball’s Burke Granger shows, he has lost the ability to hit the off-speed pitch, batting .225 lower on sliders than last year and .144 lower on change-ups.
Maddox Molony (SS, @OregonBaseball). Struggling after OPSing .969 w/ 15 HR in '25. Disparity vs off-speed year-over-year.
One Duck that has been good his whole career, but really exploded this season is third baseman Drew Smith. He really worked on his swing in the offseason and it seems his batting average speed has really taken off. He is leading the team in batting at .386, home runs, with 10, and RBIs, at 38. His OPS is third in the conference behind Penn State’s Michael Anderson (Sorry for bringing him up again.) and UCLA’s Will Gasparino (Who you will find near the top of nearly every offensive category.). Oh, and by the way he is probably the best defensive third baseman in the Big Ten.
— Oregon Duck Baseball (@OregonBaseball) April 3, 2026
One player who has been slumping recently but is capable of changing the outcome of a series with the power in his bat is Dominic Hellman. Listed at 6’6” and 281 lbs, the senior hit 13 home runs in his first healthy season last year, and despite his recent lack of success still has 7 doubles and 8 home runs on the season, including hitting 4 home runs in an earlier series against Northwestern.
One freshman to keep track of, that may be the next great Oregon player is right fielder Angel Laya. Their top recruit is batting .296, but is second on the team in home runs with 9. He also has 25 runs scored and 28 RBIs.
Oregon has the best bullpen Nebraska has seen in a while. The staff as a whole is 2nd in the nation in WHIP at 1.13. Closer Devin Bell transferred in from D-II Western Oregon. He was the closer there as a freshman and sophomore, before becoming an All-American starter as a junior. He has 7 saves this season, an ERA of 4.26, 11 strikeouts and 5 walks in 12.2 innings.
The guy the Ducks go get to get them out of a jam is sophomore Tanner Bradley. After not seeing the field much as a freshman, with only 4 appearances, he is leading the team with 15 this year. And it’s not hard to see why. In his 25.1 innings, he has struck out 41 batters and walked 8. His 1.42 ERA leads the regular on the team as well.
The other regular out of the pen is former top ranked pitcher out of the state of Nebraska Michael Meckna. The Elkhorn South grad is second on the team with 14 appearances, and has struck out 18 in 17.1 innings.
The Ducks are an elite defensive team, fielding at 98.1% on the season, good enough for 4th in the Big Ten currently, behind Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota.
Series History
This is the first regular season matchup between the Huskers and Ducks. You may remember their only previous meeting, a 7-3 Nebraska win over the top seeded Oregon team in that horrible pool play structure.
On Deck
This is the Huskers’ first weekend series where both teams are ranked since 2015. When #17 Maryland swept #18 Nebraska in College Park, MD.
Former Oregon Duck Mac Moyer is leading the Big Ten in both batting average (.406) and hits (52). He is 3rd in on base % (.500) behind Iowa’s Miles Risley, and former Husker and current Purdue Boilermaker Aaron Manias.
The NU pitching staff is holding opponents to a .215 batting average against, currently besting the previous low this century of .227 in 2005.
Jordan Binnington Named Blues' 2026 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy NomineeJordan Binnington has been selected as the St. Louis Blues’ 2026 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy nominee.
Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images
Raphielle Johnson