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Brandt Clarke and Liam Greentree Represent Kings in Latest U-23 NHL Rankings

The Los Angeles Kings were represented by two of their youngest players on Corey Pronman's latest U-23 rankings. Defenseman Brandt Clarke and prospect winger Liam Greentree both fell into the bottom-tier 7 projection, reserved for players who have incredible potential but have a lot of room to climb up in the rankings. 

Today, we will analyze why Clarke and Greentree rank at the bottom of this list, their stats for this season, future projections, and why they sit very far behind names like Dalibor Dvorsky and Conor Geekie, who sit at the top of tier 7. 

Brandt Clarke Ranked 89th, Tier 7: Middle of the Lineup Player 

Brandt Clarke, drafted 8th overall in the 2021 NHL draft, has already found his role on this team, playing the most minutes of his career this season for the Kings. The 22-year-old defenseman has been a key part of the Kings' blue line this season, already having the most goals he's had in his career, and is on pace to end the year with his best numbers. 

This season, we've seen Clarke step up in big moments for the Kings when games have come close. Clarke, right now, is averaging 17 assists, 23 points with six goals on 18 minutes of ice played for the Kings, in which, if he stays healthy, he will end the season with his best play. 

However, despite Clarke's improvement this season and bright future, Pronmam's evolution reflects the same concerns that scouts have long had. The biggest concern is Clarke's skating, which is rated poor and is well below average, limiting his ceiling despite his above-average puck skills, shot, and hockey sense. 

Right now, we know Clarke is a solid offensive defenseman who can get his own shot up and score when called upon, but what is lacking is the other side of the ice, being a true two-way player. While Clarke has definitely shown some great defensive reads this season with more playing time, he will do so with the right development. It's still too soon to put him ahead of other players who have more opportunities right now.

Liam Greentree Ranked 134th, Tier 7: Middle of the Lineup Player

Liam Greentree, selected 26th overall in 2024, remains firmly in the prospect phase but continues to trend upward in the Ontario Hockey League. The 20-year-old winger has yet to play for the Kings, but has posted a great start playing for the Windsor Spitfires. 

His game leans heavily on above-average puck skills and his shot, making him a legitimate scoring threat at the next level. This season, Greentree is averaging 17 goals, 17 assists, and 34 points in 27 games. Those are great numbers that will continue to go up when the season ends if he continues to play well and stays healthy. 

But, as with Clarke, the skating is the issue; sitting below average suggests a longer development curve for Greentree. The Canadian right-winger profiles as a power winger with offensive upside, but is not yet a complete NHL-ready player, placing him squarely at the very bottom ranking of tier 7.  

How Clarke and Greentree Compare to Other Tier 7 Players

Dalibor Dvorsky and Conor Geekie remain at the top of tier 7, with Dvorsky sitting at 64 and Geekie at 65, respectively.  Both Dvorsky and Geekie remain below average at skating, similar to Greentree and Clarke, but have stronger projections due to their offensive ceiling and longer tenure in the NHL. 

Geekie, despite a bad start to this season with zero goals and just one assist and point, has a similar development arc to Greentree but is a bigger body forward with above-average puck skills, a shot, and average hockey sense. 

Dvorsky, meanwhile, is off to a great start after playing just two games last season. The 20-year-old already has seven goals, 10 points, and 3 assists in 38 games. His profile is built on a high-end shot and above-average puck skills and is already making his way as a top-six NHL scorer. 

Final Note

• Clarke offers the most immediate impact in the NHL due to his current role with the Kings. 

• Dvorsky carries the bigger offensive load and upside. 

• Geekie brings size and scoring tools, but remains limited by skating. 

• Greentree is the longest-term project but has similar skillsets to Clarke and Dvorsky, particularly as a scorer. 

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Blackhawks Vs Bruins: Projected Lineup, How To Watch, & More Ahead Of Game 48

The Chicago Blackhawks are set to take on the Boston Bruins on Saturday night. This Original Six matchup is a special one for the Blackhawks, as they will honor “The Banner Years” to close out the third chapter of their centennial celebration. 

There will be over 20 Blackhawks alumni in attendance, all of whom won the Cup with Chicago in 2010, 2013, and/or 2015. A pregame ceremony hosted by Pat Foley will take place after warmups. 

Scouting Boston

The Boston Bruins came into 2025-26 with mixed expectations. As an organization, the playoffs are a goal every single year, no matter what. However, a tough 2024-25 had many thinking it might be a couple of years before they returned to the postseason. So far, they’ve been a surprise.

The Bruins currently hold the final Wild Card spot in a crowded Eastern Conference with a record of 27-19-2 (56 points). They come into this matchup with Chicago on a five-game winning streak. 

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Everything on this Bruins team runs through David Pastrnak. He is one of the three best wingers in the NHL, and he drives offense like a center. His line with Elias Lindholm and Murat Khusnutdinov has been on fire in recent weeks. 

Morgan Geekie has a lot of goals this season, but Khusnutdinov took his spot on the top line. Still, that’s a sniper playing a depth position to keep an eye on if you're the Blackhawks in a pre-scout meeting. 

On defense, forecheckers must avoid former Blackhawk Nikita Zadorov, as he is known to hit them hard. Their number one defenseman, and Team USA star, Charlie McAvoy, is the one who can burn in all three zones. 

Jeremy Swayman, Boston’s number one goalie, will be with McAvoy on Team USA in Milan. He is a big reason the Bruins are having a bounce-back season. Joonas Korpisalo, his backup, will get the start, though. Korpisalo is a competent goalie as well, meaning the Blackhawks must be on their game if they want to break out of their offensive slump.

This isn’t the Bruins team loaded with Hall of Famers as the Blackhawks faced in the 2013 Stanley Cup Final, but it’s a feisty bunch led by a handful of superstars at each position. 

Projected Lines, Defense Pairs, & Goalie For Chicago

The Chicago Blackhawks are coming off two tough losses at home to the Alberta teams, but they are still 5-4-1 in their last 10. A win over the Bruins would be a strong bounce-back victory, based on how well Boston has played in recent weeks. 

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Teuvo Teravainen’s injury is starting to linger. He will not play against the Bruins and is still day-to-day. Jason Dickinson left practice with an injury, but Jeff Blashill said that he will play. 

These lines are well-balanced based on the tools that they have. Each line has a shooter, a playmaker, and a player capable of playing hard in all three zones. 

Arvid Soderblom will get the start in goal. Spencer Knight has been playing incredibly lately, but he gets the night off. He will likely start on Monday night against the Winnipeg Jets. 

How To Watch

The game can be heard locally on AM 720 WGN in the Chicagoland area. To view this game, it can be found locally on CHSN. The puck will drop shortly after 7:00 PM CT. 

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How to watch Warriors vs. Hornets

The Golden State Warriors look to keep their momentum rolling Saturday night when they host the Charlotte Hornets. The game will tip off at 5:30 PM PT in San Francisco and can be watched on NBC Sports Bay Area.

Previously with the Warriors:

Golden State enters the matchup riding a two-game winning streak after Thursday night’s 126–113 comeback win over the New York Knicks. The Warriors erased an early 14-point first-quarter deficit behind a dominant performance from Jimmy Butler, who scored 32 points on 14-of-22 shooting — his second 30-point outing in the last three games.

Stephen Curry followed with 27 points, while Moses Moody knocked down seven three-pointers on his way to 21 points. The victory pushed Golden State to four games above .500 for the first time this season.

What to watch for tonight:

The Warriors are 4–1 during this eight-game homestand and now turn their attention to a Charlotte team they’ve beaten six straight times dating back to the 2022–23 season. Golden State will once again look to take advantage of the Hornets’ defense, which ranks 23rd in the league with a 116.6 defensive rating.

Although Charlotte has struggled on that end, it remains dangerous offensively. They own the NBA’s ninth-best offensive rating while featuring four players averaging 19 points or more, led by All-Star point guard LaMelo Ball’s 20.4 points per game. That combination sets the stage for another high-scoring night, especially with the Warriors posting a league-best 125.4 offensive rating over the past five games of this homestand.

Enjoy the game Dub Nation. GO WARRIORS!!! 

Projected Starters

Warriors: Steph Curry, Moses Moody, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, Quinten Post

Hornets: LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges, Moussa Diabate

How to watch Regular Season Game 43

Who: Golden State Warriors (23 – 19) vs. Charlotte Hornets (15 – 26)

When: Saturday, January 15th, at 5:30 p.m. PT

Where: Chase Center, San Francisco, California

TV: NBC Sports Bay Area (available on fuboTV)

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Celtics (25-15) at Hawks (20-23) Game #41 1/17/26

Boston Celtics (25-15) at Atlanta Hawks (20-23)
Saturday, January 17, 2026
7:30 PM ET
Regular Season Game #41  Road Game #22
TV: NBCSB,  FDSNSE, NBA-LP
98.5 Sports Hub, 92.9 The Game, Sirius XM
State Farm Arena

The Celtics continue their road trip after a loss to the Pacers and a win over the Heat. After this game at Atlanta, they will finish the trip in Detroit on Monday. This is the 1st of 4 games between these two teams this season. They will meet again in Atlanta on March 30 and will play twice in Boston on January 28 and March 27. The Hawks won the series 2-1 last season with the Celtics winning one in Atlanta and the Hawks winning twice in Boston. The Celtics are 245-151 overall all time and they are 113-95 in games played in Atlanta.

The Hawks saw a lot of change in the off season. They were part of a 3 team trade That sent Georges Niang to Boston and Terance Mann to Brooklyn and brought back Kristaps Porzingis from Boston. They were also part of a 7 team trade involving Kevin Durant where they sent Clint Capela to Houston in return for David Roddy, who they cut. They got Nickeil Alexander-Walker in a sign and trade with Minnesota.

They traded Kobe Bufkin to Brooklyn for cash. Caris LeVert and Larry Nance, Jr both left in free agency and they cut Charles Bassey. They signed N’Faly Dante and Luke Kennard as free agents. They drafted Asa Newell with the 23rd pick in thee draft. Just last week, they made the first big trade of the silly season when they sent Trae Young to Washington for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert.

The Celtics are 2nd in the East, 4.5 games behind 1st place Detroit. They are half a game ahead of 2nd place New York. They are 1 game ahead of 4th place Toronto, 2.5 games ahead of 5th place Philadelphia and 6th place Orlando. The Celtics are 18-9 against Eastern Conference opponents. They are 13-8 on the road and 6-4 in their last 10 games. They are coming off a win in their last game.

The Hawks are 10th in the East, 11 games behind first place Detroit, 5.5 games behind 2nd place Boston, 4 games behind 6th place Orlando, 3.5 games behind 7th place Cleveland, 2 games behind 8th place Miami, and half a game behind 9th place Chicago. They are 2 games ahead of 11th place Milwaukee. They are 10-15 against Eastern Conference opponents. They are 7-11 at home and 5-5 in their last 10 games. They have lost their last 2 games.

The Celtics are playing in the 3rd game of a 4 game road trip. They lost the first game in Indiana and won in Miami. They will play Detroit on Monday to complete the trip. They will then play one game at home against Indiana before playing Brooklyn and Chicago on the road. They will then have another 4 game home stand against Portland, Atlanta, Sacramento and Milwaukee. Then, they are on the road at Dallas and Houston before playing Miami, New York, and Chicago at home, taking them into the All Star Break.

The Hawks are playing in the first of 2 consecutive home games. and will host Milwaukee on Monday. They will then play at Memphis and then host Phoenix and Indiana. Then they play at Boston, home vs Houston and on the road against indiana and Miami. Next up are 2 home games against Utah and Charlotte before playing at Minnesota and at Charlotte that brings them to the All Star game.

For the Celtics, Jayson Tatum remains out as he continues to rehab from the Achilles tear he suffered in last year’s playoffs. Josh Minott will miss his sixth straight game due to an ankle sprain. Payton Pritchard is in danger of missing his first game of the season as he is listed as doubtful due to ankle soreness. I’m guessing that Sam Hauser will continue to start at power forward and taking a very wild guess that Anfernee Simons will get the start at shooting guard after his big game against the Heat. Joe will likely start the person I least expect to start, however, and may start Jordan, Hugo or Baylor.

For the Hawks, Dyson Daniels is questionable due to a right ankle sprain that he has been managing. I’m thinking he will play, but if not, we may see new Hawk CJ McCollum get the start. Former Celtics Kristaps Porzingis will sit out his 5th consecutive game due to left Achilles tendinitis. Zaccharie Risacher will miss his 5th consecutive game due to a left knee injury. N’Faly Dante is out for the season with a knee injury.

Probable Starting Matchups
PG: Derrick White vs Nickeil Alexander-Walker

SG: Anfernee Simons vs Dyson Daniels

SF: Jaylen Brown vs Vit Krejci

PF: Sam Hauser vs Jalen Johnson

Sam Hauser

C: Neemias Queta vs Onyeka Okongwu

Celtics Reserves
Baylor Scheierman
Xavier Tillman
Hugo Gonzalez
Luka Garza
Chris Boucher
Jordan Walsh

2-Way Players
Ron Harper, Jr
Max Shulga
Amari Williams

Injuries/Out
Jayson Tatum (Achilles) out
Josh Minott (ankle) out
Payton Pritchard (ankle) doubtful

Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla

Hawks Reserves
Nikola Durisic
Mouhamed Gueye
Luke Kennard
Corey Kispert
CJ McCollum
Asa Newell
Keaton Wallace

2 way Players
Rayj Dennis
Caleb Houston

Injuries/Out
N’Faly Dante (knee)  out
Kristaps Porzingis (Achilles)  out
Zaccharie Risacher (knee)  out
Dyson Daniels (ankle) questionable

Head Coach
Quin Snyder

Key Matchups
Sam Hauser vs Jalen Johnson
Johnson is averaging 23.1 points, 10.1 rebounds, 8.1 assists and 1.3 steals. He is shooting 51.9% from the field and 35.4% from beyond the arc. Sam needs to hit his 3’s to spread the floor and keep Johnson out of the paint and off the boards.

Derrick White vs Nickeil Alexander-Walker 
Alexander-Walker is averaging 20.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 44.8% from the field and 37.8% from beyond the arc.  Derrick White struggled against the Heat and so hopefully he will bounce back with a big game in this one.

Honorable Mention
Neemias Queta vs Onyeka Okongwu
Okongwu is averaging 16.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.2 steals and 1 block per game.  He is shooting 48.2% from the field and 36.3% from beyond the arc.  The Celtics need tu guard Okongwu both inside the paint and on the perimeter because he shoots well from both. 

Keys to the Game
Defense – Defense is always a key to winning games.   The Celtics have an offensive rating of 121.5 (3nd) while the Hawks have an offensive rating of 113.8, which is 19th.  The Celtics have a defensive rating of 114.4 which is 15th while the Hawks have a defensive rating of 114.7, which is 16th. The Celtics have been hot and cold on defense this season.  Sometimes they can shut down the other team and sometimes they allow them to score at will.  the Celtics need to defend the perimeter because the Hawks are 6th, shooting 37% pm threes.  They also have to defend the paint as the Hawks are 10th with 52 points in the paint per game.  The Celtics must make defense a priority in this game and they have to play that tough defense for 48 minutes and not let up. 

Rebound – Next to defense, rebounding is the key to winning. When the Celtics put out the extra effort on the boards,  it usually carries through to the rest of their game.  The Hawks are averaging 41.7 rebounds per game (25th) while the Celtics are averaging 44.7 rebounds per game (12th).   The Celtics need to aggressively go after every rebound.  They can’t afford to give the Hawks extra possessions and 2nd chance points by allowing them to beat them to rebounds.

Effort and Focus for 48 Minutes– The Celtics have to play with extra effort overall for all 4 quarters. In most of their losses and even in their wins, they have allowed their opponents to play with more energy than them for periods of time during the game. They play well for stretches but let up and allow their opponents to surge ahead, especially down the stretch. They have to stay focused for all 48 minutes and be ready for their opponents to play harder in the second half and they need to match that effort.  They also have to come out with more effort and energy to start the game and not get into a hole as they did against the Heat. 

Move the Ball Carefully – When the Celtics move the ball and find the open man,  they are tough to beat.  When they hold the ball and try to play hero ball, they become predictable and struggle.  When the Celtics have more assists than their opponents they are 11-0 and when their opponents have more assists than the Celtics,  they are just 12-14.  The Celtics need to move the ball, but they have to make careful passes because the Hawks are 5th in the league with 20.3 points off turnovers per game. 

X-Factors
Road Game –  The Celtics are playing in their 3rd straight game on the road and will have the distractions of travel and a hotel stay and playing in front of hostile fans in an unfamiliar arena.    Both teams are also playing short handed and so fatigue due to the missing players and also fatigue from travel can be a factor down the stretch   

Officiating – Officiating is always an x-factor in every game. Every crew officiates differently. Some call it tight, others let them play. The Celtics need to adjust to how the refs are calling the game and not allow bad calls or no calls to take away their focus from playing the game. We have recently seen how much of an x-factor officiating can be. The Celtics have to play so well all game that the officiating, no matter how bad, can’t influence the outcome.

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Rangers snap five-game losing streak with 6-3 win over Flyers

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Mika Zibanejad became the Rangers’ all-time leader in power-play goals and his three-goal performance tied the team record for most career hat tricks in New York’s 6-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.

The 32-year-old Swede scored with a man advantage at 5:38 of the second period, giving him 117 power-play goals and moving him past Camille Henry and Chris Kreider, who each had 116 for New York.

Zibanejad’s first-period goal at 7:26 put the Rangers ahead to stay at 2-1 and he completed his scoring at 8:25 of the second, matching Bill Cook with nine career hat tricks with the Rangers.

Artemi Panarin added two goals and an assist, and Brennan Othmann also scored for the Rangers, who snapped a five-game skid. The Rangers, whose last victory came January 2 against Florida, had lost eight of their last nine games. J.T. Miller, Alexis Lafreniere and Vincent Trocheck each had two assists. Spencer Martin made 25 saves and earned his first win of the season.

Rangers coach Mike Sullivan earned his 500th coaching win. Sullivan was a two-time Stanley Cup winner in his 10-year tenure with the Penguins. He parted ways with Pittsburgh after missing the playoffs for a third straight season and was hired by New York in May, after Peter Laviolette was fired.

Travis Konecny, Travis Sanheim and Trevor Zegras each had a goal and an assist for the Flyers, who lost their sixth straight game. Samuel Ersson made 22 stops.

Flyers center Rodrigo Abols left the game in the first period with a lower-body injury and did not return. Abols appeared to catch his right foot in an odd position while battling along the boards and struggled to put weight on his right leg as he was helped off the ice

The Flyers were without Dan Vladar, Tyson Foerster (arm injury), Bobby Brink (upper-body injury) and Rasmus Ristolainen (upper-body injury for the game.

Up next

Rangers: At Anaheim on Monday for the second game of a four-game trip.

Flyers: At Vegas on Monday in the opener of a three-game trip.

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Kansas State women dominate glass to knock off undefeated No. 17 Texas Tech 65-59

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Four players scored in double figures as the Kansas State women used a dominant team rebounding performance to beat previously undefeated No. 17 Texas Tech 65-59 on Saturday.

Tess Heal led the Wildcats (10-9, 3-3 Big 12) with 12 points, four rebounds and three steals. Gina Garcia, Jordan Speiser and Taryn Sides all scored 11 points. Speiser led with seven rebounds and added two steals.

The Wildcats dominated the Lady Raiders (19-1, 6-1) by a margin of 46-20 on the glass, leading to a 28-14 advantage on points in the paint, and a 14-3 advantage on second-chance points. That rebounding negated the Lady Raiders' 18-10 advantage on turnovers, leading to a 18-5 advantage on points off turnovers.

Bailey Maupin had 18 points and two steals for the Lady Raiders. Jada Malone added 15, going 5 of 8 and 5 of 5 at the free-throw line. Snudda Collins had 12 to go with two blocks.

The Wildcats used a 14-3 run to build a 30-25 lead at the half. The Lady Raiders responded to take the lead with an 11-0 run, using seven points from Malone and a four-point play by Collins to lead by six with 8:17 remaining.

That lead evaporated in the waning minutes. After a 3-pointer from Collins with 2:24 remaining, the Lady Raiders' only point came from a Sidney Love free throw with six seconds left, while the Wildcats closed with an 8-1 run.

The loss removes the Lady Raiders from the list of remaining undefeated teams in the country (No. 1 UConn, No. 5 Vanderbilt), after the best start to a season in program history.

Up next

Kansas State will host Houston on Wednesday.

Texas Tech plays at BYU on Wednesday.

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Boston Celtics Daily Links 1/17/26

HeraldKristaps Porzingis, Boston starter ruled out for Celtics-Hawks

GlobeWatch: Jaylen Brown reacts to having his high school basketball number retired

Hawks’ Kristaps Porzingis (left Achilles tendinitis) ruled out vs. Celtics

Celtics at Hawks preview: Boston visits Atlanta for the first time since the Trae Young trade

Seven teams after starting his career with the Celtics, Kelly Olynyk embraces role of mentor with the Spurs

CelticsBlogJaylen Brown finally tells story behind viral jail tweet — and much more

Payton Pritchard likely to miss Celtics game vs Hawks

CLNS MediaSitting Anfernee Simons Becoming More Difficult for Celtics as Deadline Nears

NESN Celtics Writer Discusses Potential Day’Ron Sharpe Trade

Mass LiveSons of former Boston Celtic compete at 2026 Hoophall Classic

Jaylen Brown talks Kristaps Porzingis ahead of Celtics reunion

Celtics Wire Did losing Jayson Tatum make the Celtics a more efficient ball club?

Celtics at Hawks: Stream, lineups, injury reports, broadcast (1/17)

Sam Hauser shares how the Boston Celtics help their players defend better

Boston Celtics jersey history No. 54 – Brad Lohaus (1987-89)

Celtics history: Parish scores 20k; Minniefield, Zeller born

Boston Sports JournalJaylen Brown’s jersey retirement was a perfect reflection of everything he’s become

Hardwood HoudiniDerrick White credits unlikely source for changing the course of his career

Even Celtics fans will love Jaylen Brown’s story about LeBron James

CLNS Media/YouTubeJaylen Brown Reacts to Getting High School Jersey Retired | Celtics vs Hawks Pregame

Basketball NetworkPaul Pierce says Denzel Washington and Barack Obama were the only people who left him starstruck: “You talking to me?”

“We contributed 1 million dollars” – Jaylen Brown on how his 300 million dollar NBA contract sparked an idea of creating a black Wall Street in Boston

“This season I focused more on basketball than I ever have” – Jaylen Brown on why the Celtics need him more than ever

BBall RumorsNBA Trade Rumor: Wild 3-Team Proposal Makes Celtics Immediate Title Contenders

Clutch PointsWhy Derrick White doesn’t view himself as a star or role player

WSB-TV 2 Wheeler High retires Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown’s jersey

Mundo DeportivoHugo González might need to bulk up: one high-five is all it takes to get this reaction

SI .comAtlanta Hawks vs Boston Celtics: Game Preview, Injury Report, Projected Starting Lineups for Today’s Matchup

Jaylen Brown on Boston Celtics biggest January challenge: ‘Mentally … you start to wane’

Heavy$58 Million Center Named “Ideal Target” For Boston Celtics

Two East Contenders Want To Trade For Jaren Jackson

NBA Cap Expert Weighs In on Potential Cost for Celtics to Re-Sign Anfernee Simons

Celtics Bombshell Trade Idea Adds Multi-Time All-Star

Atlanta Daily WorldJaylen Brown Honored at Wheeler Alma Mater with Official Jersey Retirement

SportscastingNBA All-Star Game 2026: Picking East Starters & Reserves

WEEI/YouTubeWhy the Celtics should hang onto Anfernee Simons at the trade deadline | Jones & Keefe

King James Gospel Celtics could crush the Cavaliers’ dreams of ruling the East with one swift blow

Hoops RumorsPistons, Celtics Among Teams To Express Interest In Jaren Jackson Jr.

Essentially Sports Draymond Green’s Damning Verdict Changed Celtics Star’s Career, Latest Confession Reveals

Barstool SportsThe Knicks Are Sinking In The Standings And Darius Garland Is On The Mend Again

Sporting NewsCeltics trade idea swaps $100M guard for 5-time All-Defensive center to help Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum

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Rangers rout Flyers to snap five-game losing streak day after Chris Drury’s ‘retool’ declaration

Three New York Rangers players smiling on the ice during a game.
Brennan Othmann #78 of the New York Rangers celebrates his goal with Noah Laba #42 and Will Borgen #17 during the first period against the Philadelphia Flyers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on January 17, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

PHILADELPHIA — The Rangers finally found their response.

In the first game since president and general manager Chris Drury declared the team would be entering a retooling period, the Blueshirts powered through the also-spiraling Flyers on Saturday afternoon in a 6-3 win at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

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Both clubs rode a season-high five-game losing streak into the contest, but the Rangers’ desperation — which had seemingly gone dormant — was evident from puck drop and fueled a much-needed victory.

“The last couple of days have been pretty emotional for the whole group, and to respond with an effort like they did tonight, for me, is just I think evidence that these guys are quality people and they care a lot about each other and about the Rangers,” head coach Mike Sullivan said after the win, the 500th of his career. 

Key skaters, including a few who are on the trade block, shouldered the weight of this one.

Mika Zibanejad recorded his second hat trick of the month, extending his point streak to eight straight games in a dominant performance.

Fresh from learning the Rangers would not give him a contract extension, Artemi Panarin registered two goals and one assist.

New York Rangers defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov (44) battles for the puck against Philadelphia Flyers left wing Noah Cates (27) in the second period at Xfinity Mobile Arena. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Captain J.T. Miller, Vincent Trocheck and Alexis Lafrenière all posted two-assist efforts.

Even Brennan Othmann, who has heard his name in trade rumors since October, scored his first NHL goal.

“It felt great,” the 23-year-old said. “It was a long time coming.”

It was a total outpouring from the Rangers amid a precarious time in the organization.

The Flyers may have struck first, but the rest of the first period belonged to the Rangers

After Travis Konecny opened the scoring, the Rangers netted the next three goals to go into the first intermission with a two-goal lead. 

Brennan Othmann #78 of the New York Rangers celebrates his goal with Noah Laba #42 and Will Borgen #17 during the first period against the Philadelphia Flyers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on January 17, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Getty Images

The response was almost immediate, with Panarin capitalizing on an aggressive passing sequence with his linemates, Lafrenière and Trocheck.

Just 21 seconds later, Zibanejad scored the first of his three goals to give the Rangers their first lead of the day.

A tough season for the Rangers has been particularly challenging for Othmann, who competed in his ninth NHL game of the season on Saturday. 

From getting cut from training camp early, hearing the Rangers are willing to move on from him and getting lit up by Washington’s Tom Wilson, the 23-year-old Othmann was overdue for a feel-good performance.

Scoring his first goal in the 34th game of his NHL career, Othmann made it a 3-1 game off a snipe on a 3-on-1 rush.

The Flyers were held to one goal on seven shots in the middle frame, in which the Rangers were able to build a 6-2 lead going into the second intermission.

Scoring a power-play goal, Zibanejad became the all-time leader for the franchise.

And after burying a give-and-go with Miller, Zibanejad now leads the NHL in goals (9) and points (16) since Jan. 2.

“He’s really committed to trying to play the game the right way, the way that we’re trying to play,” Sullivan said. “I think he has personified that most of the year. We’ve challenged him to use his size and his physicality, both offensively and defensively, and I think he’s really embraced that challenge. He’s played extremely well for us.”

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Cardinals Must Nail Rebuild as Dodgers Flex Huge Payroll

If your jaw hit the floor when you learned that the Los Angeles Dodgers had signed free agent Kyle Tucker to a borderline offensive contract this week, you were not alone. Now that we know that the Dodgers payroll will top $400 million dollars for the upcoming season, it’s more important than ever that Chaim Bloom and his team get this rebuild of the St. Louis Cardinals done right for us to contend again soon.

Just for reference, here is the payroll for the Los Angeles Dodgers dating back a decade:

2015 – $266.1
2016 – $235.9
2017 – $227.8
2018 – $177.4
2019 – $206.0
2020 – $221.6
2021 – $237.0
2022 – $263.5
2023 – $210.6
2024 – $277.5
2025 – $354.8

The projected payroll for the Dodgers for the 2026 season is a remarkable $413.6 million dollars. Now, let’s all exhale and try to find our happy place because this outrageous Dodgers spending shouldn’t be intimidating. It should be inspiring because I believe we have the management team now that is capable of taking down giants (and I’m not talking about the San Francisco kind). I can’t remember which one of my favorite Cardinals writers said this, but I think it’s Bernie Miklasz. It’s not the amount of your payroll, but it’s what you do with it that matters. Yes, the Los Angeles Dodgers have used their money to grab nearly every all-star within reach, but the choices they made have been smart and roster management by Dave Roberts has been masterful.

One of our fine writers recently described how the St. Louis Cardinals are currently building a nice farm system pipeline. That’s part of the key to how the rebuilt St. Louis Cardinals can become a lean, mean fighting machine capable of taking down big spending teams like the Dodgers again. In 2014, the Los Angeles Dodgers had a payroll of $235 million dollars which was huge for 12 years ago. What was the St. Louis Cardinals payroll for 2014? A measly $111 million dollars. Hold on a sec while I daydream about Clayton Kershaw’s response to that Matt Adams home run in the 2014 NLDS again. Good times, good times.

My point to this is the St. Louis Cardinals used to be great at developing great young players and then adding the appropriate pieces during the offseason and at the trade deadline to fill needs and improve strengths. Our beloved team lost that vision over the past half decade. It doesn’t matter if you want to blame ownership or the previous president of baseball operations, the bottom line is our farm system did not progress the way it needed to for us to be real contenders against big market teams like Los Angeles. After seeing the moves made by Chaim Bloom this offseason, I’m a believer again. He has accomplished nearly everything he said he wanted to do and that should be applauded.

There is history to prove that if the St. Louis Cardinals get this rebuild done right, a big payroll will not stop us from ascending back into a place where we’re consistently contending for pennants again. Remember the lowly 2003 Florida Marlins who won the championship with the league’s smallest payroll? The 2007 Tampa Bay Rays (then Devil Rays) ended up in the World Series with a team that may have included some buy one, get one free coupons. The Kansas City Royals 2015 World Series title was accomplished with a payroll of just over $112 million. Even the recent 2023 Arizona Diamondbacks made a deep playoff run with only a $116 to $119 million dollars roster. Having a world championship caliber team with a non-stratospheric payroll has been done in the past and it will be done in the future. Let’s hope that there are birds on the bat uniforms that make that happen. We’re coming for you, Dodgers. It’s only a matter of time before you have to explain to your Hollywood fans how a small market team took you down. Ask Clayton Kershaw how that feels. He remembers it well.

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Mavericks vs Jazz Preview and Injury Update: One last time, with feeling

The Dallas Mavericks (16-26) play the second night of a back-to-back against the Utah Jazz (14-27) on Saturday afternoon in the final game of a four game homestand. These two teams each faced one another on Thursday in the Seats for Heroes night, and Dallas won by many, many points. Perhaps Utah will have an ounce of shame and actually play some of their players instead of benching guys luke Jusif Nurkic.

Heres the main things you need to know before tipoff.

  • WHO: Dallas Mavericks vs Utah Jazz
  • WHAT: A midseason tankfest
  • WHERE: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
  • WHEN: 4:00 pm CST
  • HOW: KFAA Channel 29, MavsTV streaming, NBA League Pass

The injury report for the Dallas Mavericks grows even longer than the one from Thursday. The core four are out (Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, Dereck Lively, and Dante Exum), but D’Angelo Russell was added to the report as out just recently due to illness and PJ Washington is missing the game due to personal reasons.. Cooper Flagg and Daniel Gafford are each listed as doubtful due to ankle sprains they suffered during the Denver Nuggets game. Thats EIGHT Mavericks. Max Christie is going to suit up, though.

The Jazz won’t have Walker Kessler, who is missing the whole season due to shoulder surgery. Lauri Markkonen is out due to an illness and Georges Niang will miss the game due to a foot injury.

The Jazz openly tanked the Thursday game, sitting playable guys who got “Did not play – Coach’s decision”. I expect a fine from them at some point, particularly if they do it again today. Dallas isn’t tanking, they are simply hurt and also stink.

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Consider joining Josh and me on Pod Maverick live after the game on YouTube, we should start LATE. Thanks so much for spending time with us here at Mavs Moneyball. Let’s go Mavs!

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Mobley Jr.'s 28 points push Ohio State over UCLA 86-74

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — John Mobley Jr. scored a career-high 28 points and knocked down a career-high six 3-pointers as Ohio State pulled away in the second half for an 86-74 win over UCLA on Saturday.

Bruce Thornton added 21 points and eight rebounds, while Devin Royal finished with 22 points and nine rebounds for the Buckeyes (12-5, 4-3 Big Ten).

Ohio State erased a six-point first-half deficit by closing the half on a 12-6 run to take a 42-36 lead at the break. Mobley and Royal opened the second half with consecutive 3-pointers, stretching the margin to 48-36 less than two minutes in.

The Bruins cut the deficit to 54-40 midway through the half, but the Buckeyes responded with an 8-3 spurt capped by Mobley’s 28-foot 3-pointer that made it 66-49 with 10:31 remaining. Ohio State led by double figures the rest of the way.

Mobley shot 8 of 15 from the field and 6 of 12 from behind the arc and added three assists without committing a turnover in 38 minutes. Thornton went 7 of 7 from the free-throw line, and Ohio State finished 21 of 25 at the line while outrebounding UCLA 37-27.

Tyler Bilodeau scored 30 points on 9-of-19 shooting for UCLA (12-6, 4-3), his seventh 20-point game of the season and second career 30-point performance. Donovan Dent added 13 points and seven assists, and Eric Dailey Jr. scored 12 for the Bruins, who shot 40% from the field.

Up Next

UCLA hosts fifth-ranked Purdue on Tuesday.

Ohio State faces Minnesota this Tuesday.

___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

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Roster Moves: Flames Recall Gridin, Assign Parekh, Stromgren

The Calgary Flames made a series of roster moves Saturday, shuffling personnel between the NHL club and their AHL affiliate, the Calgary Wranglers.

Forward Matvei Gridin was recalled from the Wranglers, while William Strömgren was reassigned back to the AHL. In addition, defenceman Zayne Parekh was sent to the Wranglers on a conditioning loan as he works his way back from injury.

Gridin earns another NHL opportunity following an impressive rookie campaign in the American Hockey League. The 19-year-old was recently named to the AHL All-Star Team and has been one of the Wranglers’ most consistent offensive contributors, posting 10 goals and 18 assists for 28 points in 32 games, along with a plus-6 rating. Gridin also made an early impression at the NHL level, scoring in his Flames debut on opening night against the Edmonton Oilers. He has one goal in four games with the Flames this season.

© Nick Wosika | 2026 Jan 5
© Nick Wosika | 2026 Jan 5

Parekh, meanwhile, heads to the AHL after missing time due to an upper-body injury sustained following the World Junior Championship, where he helped Canada capture a bronze medal. The Flames had listed the blueliner as day-to-day after the tournament. His conditioning assignment can last up to 14 days.

Strömgren returns to the Wranglers after a brief stint with the Flames. The 22-year-old was recalled on January 5 and made his NHL debut two days later against the Montreal Canadiens. He appeared in three games with Calgary, finishing without a point and posting a minus-1 rating.

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Community Prospect Rankings: #6 prospect in the Cincinnati Reds system

Edwin Arroyo has a chance to fight his way onto the Cincinnati Reds roster at some point in 2026, and his elite defense likely means he’ll stick there for quite some time. That was good enough for him to take home the #5 spot in this year’s Community Prospect Rankings, and now we move on to the voting for who’ll follow him!

Per usual, there will be a poll embedded at the bottom of the post where you can cast your vote, but if that’s stripped out you can also find the link to the ballot by clicking here (up until voting ends and I remove both access points).

Also, if there’s someone you think worthy of consideration at this point who has not yet been listed, let us know in the comment section below.

On to the candidates for spot #6!

Cam Collier, 3B/1B (21 years old)

2025 at a glance: .279/.391/.384 with 4 HR, 21 2B in 396 PA split between ACL Reds (Arizona Complex League), A+ Dayton Dragons (Midwest League), and AA Chattanooga Lookouts (Southern League); .221/.368/.325 with 1 HR in 95 PA with Peoria Javelinas (Arizona Fall League)

Pros: Plus hit tool and his plate discipline is rapidly moving into plus category as well; plenty of power that we’re still hoping can return in-game after his thumb injury

Cons: Defense leaves a lot to be desired, and he’s likely already a 1B-only at this point

Collier busted his thumb in spring training in 2025, and the break (and recovery) caused him to miss the first two months of the season. A rehab stint came in Arizona next, and he eventually worked his way all the way up to AA Chattanooga…albeit with a shocking lack of power from the guy who swatted 20 homers for A+ Dayton in 2024, a mark that tied him for the Midwest League lead.

What Collier did do in 2025, though, is begin to show some pretty elite OBP skills, and if he can maintain that and get the power back a year removed from the broken thumb, well, the Reds have the guy they gave an overslot bonus to in the 1st round back in 2022 who repeatedly made Top 100 overall prospect lists in his first years as a pro. And even if that all only comes as a 1B who’s not the world’s greatest defender that’s an incredibly valuable thing, especially with the dearth of offense the franchise owns right now.

Chase Petty, RHP (23 years old)

2025 at a glance: 6.39 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, 102/58 K/BB in 112.2 IP with AAA Louisville Bats (International League); 13 ER in 6.0 IP with Cincinnati Reds

Pros: Three plus pitches, including a fastball that flirts with 100 mph and 60-grade slider and cutter

Cons: Lit up in first cups of MLB coffee, and struggled in AAA after being sent back down

Petty has long been on the radar of every scout in the game, a former 1st round pick of the Minnesota Twins out of high school (whom the Reds had eyes on drafting back then, too). He was the centerpiece of the deal that sent Sonny Gray the other way, and he’s pitched his way onto multiple Top 100 overall prospect lists since.

Of course, he’s also pitched his way back off those same lists, with much of his work in 2025 doing just that. He was shelled at the big league level, though that’s with the caveat that he’d just turned 22 years old when that went down. The stuff’s still there, he’s just struggled to blend it all together for long enough stretches to show he can be an effective big league starter. The hope is that the lumps he took in 2025 paired with a mostly healthy offseason for the first time in a while will send him into 2026 both ready and with something to prove.

Tyson Lewis, SS (20 years old)

2025 at a glance: .340/.396/.532 (.928 OPS) in 207 PA with ACL Reds (Arizona Complex League); .268/.347/.417 (.765 OPS) in 144 PA with Class-A Daytona Tortugas (Florida State League)

Pros: Statcast darling with elite exit velocity and power with his left-handed swing; elite athleticism and plus speed gives him a chance to stick at SS long term, though a move off the position seems likely

Cons: Struck out at an alarming 35.4% rate with Daytona (and at an alarming 29.1% rate overall last year); .432 BABIP across all leagues last year screams ‘regression’

Tools. Tyson Lewis has just about every tool there is. He hit a ball over 119 mph in his pro debut, was the Gatorade Player of the Year in Nebraska prior to being a 2nd round pick (with an overslot bonus) by the Reds, and was originally committed to the University of Arkansas.

The upside here is obvious, as he’s got one of the loudest bats at any level. The swing and miss stuff, though, is something he’ll have to completely overhaul as he moves up the ladder, though getting out of the extremely pitcher-friendly confines of the FSL will perhaps help that some.

Steele Hall, SS (18 years old)

2025 at a glance: Drafted 9th overall in the 1st round of the 2025 MLB Draft by the Cincinnati Reds out of Hewitt-Trussville HS (AL); 2025 Mr. Baseball in the state of Alabama, once committed to powerhouse University of Tennessee before signing with the Reds for $5.75 million

Pros: Speed, and plenty of it; projectable power and potential five-tool player whose defense and arm look like they’ll play plenty well at short; just 17 years old when drafted after reclassifying a year early

Cons: It’s all still ‘projectable’ as, again, he just turned 18 after the draft and has zero professional PA to show for it

Hall reclassified to the class of 2025 despite originally being part of the class of 2026, and the Reds – who’d been scouting him already – thought he had the talent to eventually mature into a player who’d be in the mix for the #1 overall pick in 2026. So, when he was there at pick #9 in 2025, they jumped at the chance to sign him, knowing full well there was no rush for his development.

He’s drawn comparisons to the likes of Trea Turner and Dansby Swanson, which is pretty damn lofty. Despite not having played a pro game and still being just 18, he’s ranked 79th in MLB Pipeline’s list of the Top 100 overall prospects in the game. How quickly he can physically mature and adapt to breaking balls at the top levels remains to be seen, but the speed, glove, and arm all look like they’ll be big-league caliber in very short order.

Aaron Watson, RHP (19 years old)

2025 at a glance: Drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 2nd round of the 2025 MLB Draft out of Trinity Christian Academy (FL); signed overslot $2.7 million bonus to forego commitment to the University of Florida

Pros: 6’5” frame; potential 60-grade slider; fastball that runs up to 96 mph from a three-quarter arm slot and already has a solid three-pitch mix with his change rotated in

Cons: Did not pitch professionally after being drafted, so he’s a complete unknown

One glimpse of Watson on the mound and you immediately think yep, I bet that guy can turn into a pretty dang good pitcher. He’s got an ideal frame to produce downhill offerings, and his fastball/slider mix is already something on which he can hang his hat.

However, command of all three of his pitches – specifically a very developmental changeup – will be what he needs to work on to begin to move quickly through the ranks. He possesses a good ‘feel’ at the moment in terms of what pitches to throw, which part of the zone to attack vs. which hitters, etc., but how well he can build in more deception with his offerings will be vital.

Jose Franco, RHP (25 years old)

2025 at a glance: 3.11 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 118/54 K/BB in 110.0 IP split between AA Chattanooga Lookouts (Southern League) and AAA Louisville Bats (International League)

Pros: Fastball that flirts with triple digits with ease

Cons: Secondary pitches need work, and that’s impacting his overall command (and ability to limit walks)

Franco turned 25 years old in November and earned a promotion to the 40-man roster of the Reds shortly thereafter due to his consistent performance across the upper levels of their farm system.

The Reds have a few hulks they’ve put on the mound in recent years, and Franco thoroughly qualifies. He’s listed at 6’2” and an oddly specific 257 lbs, and his size and frame allows him to tap into his excellent fastball velocity with ease. It’s the pitch he misses bats with the most, but how well he can differentiate his breaking pitches (and improve his changeup command) will determine whether or not he can a) get left-handed hitter out with aplomb and b) avoid ending up in the bullpen.

He’s been a late bloomer, in part due to injuries that cost him his entire 2023 season, and if he continues the path he’s been on since getting healthy there could be a whole lot more from him as early as 2026 for Cincinnati.

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Game Preview: Suns Face the Knicks in the World’s Most Famous Arena

Who: Phoenix Suns (24-17) @ New York Knicks (25-16)

When: 5:30pm Arizona Time

Where: Madison Square Garden — New York, New York

Watch: NBA TV, Arizona’s Family 3TV, Arizona’s Family Sports

Listen: KMVP 98.7

The Phoenix Suns have their first losing streak of 2026 and their first in over a month. Losses to the Miami Heat and Detroit Pistons, the Suns had a chance to win the first two games of their six-game road trip, but too many free throws and couldn’t execute in clutch time to get the wins.

The good thing for the Suns? Help might be on the way.

Devin Booker, who missed the team’s last game with an ankle injury that he suffered against the Heat, could return to action tonight. Booker has had major success against the Knicks the past couple of seasons, especially at Madison Square Garden. Last season, he had a 40-point outing, and in the 2023-24 campaign, he hit a game-winning three late.

Just like the Suns, the New York Knicks head into this matchup on a losing streak. They’re also on a two-game losing streak and are 2-7 in their last nine outings. Previously, they had won 11 out of 1,3 including their win in the Cup Championship. Tonight is the Knicks’ first home game in more than a week. They started their road trip against the Suns, losing 112-107.

Can the Suns get back on track against a struggling New York team?

Projected Starting Lineup

Injury Report

Suns

  • Devin Booker — QUESTIONABLE (Right Ankle Sprain)
  • Jamaree Bouyea — OUT (Concussion Protocol)
  • Jordan Goodwin — AVAILABLE (Jaw Sprain)
  • Jalen Green — (Right Hamstring Sprain)

Knicks

  • Jalen Brunson — QUESTIONABLE (Right Ankle Sprain)
  • Trey Jemison — OUT (G-League)

What to Watch For

In his last five games against the Knicks, Booker is averaging 32 points and seven assists. Throughout his career, he’s averaged 28.6 points per game against New York. Assuming he plays, does Booker continue his streak of historically strong play against them?

When the two teams faced off in Phoenix last week, Booker scored 31 points, hit four threes and dished in eight assists. Down the stretch of the game, he made numerous big plays to help the Suns secure the win.

After a rough few games getting his legs under him returning from injury, Grayson Allen is playing similarly to how he was at the start of the season when he was the team’s second-leading scorer. Allen scored 30 points for the second time this season in Thursday’s loss to Detroit, going for 33 points, seven threes, and three blocks. After recording three triples and three swats in the first quarter, Allen became the first Sun to ever record such a stat line in a single quarter.

Allen has more points in his last two games, 58, than he did in his previous four games, 41. Does Allen keep his strong scoring going?

Key to a Suns Win

No matter the opponent, the Suns need to shoot better from the free-throw line than they did against the Pistons. Going 16/25 from the line, one of the main reasons the Suns were in the game down the stretch was because Detroit actually shot a worse percentage from the charity stripe. In the Knicks and Suns’ first matchup of the season, Phoenix executed down the stretch at the line, hitting all six of their attempts in the final 15 seconds to ice the game. The Suns need to get back to knocking down their free throws at a high rate to keep them in games and secure victories.

If Devin Booker doesn’t play, the Suns need to decide who is going to step up as the primary scorer. Last game it was Allen and Collin Gillespie with Dillon Brooks in foul trouble. Despite his injury and availability status progressing in the right direction, Jalen Green remains out. Who will step up if Booker is not able to go.

Prediction

New York has been struggling and just made a cross-country flight to get back to the East Coast. The Suns look like the healthier and better team right now. Give me Phoenix in a close one as long as Booker plays.

Suns 113, Knicks 109

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Penguins' Chinakhov Responds To Firing Of Blue Jackets Coach Dean Evason

It's safe to say that Egor Chinakhov's time with the Columbus Blue Jackets came to an ending that neither party wanted to reach. 

After requesting a trade during the offseason, the 24-year-old winger was finally dealt to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Dec. 29. There were a lot of rumors surrounding Chinakhov's desire to start fresh elsewhere, many of which were linked to an apparent rift with former head coach Dean Evason. 

Well, Evason was fired by the Blue Jackets on Jan. 12 and replaced by Rick Bowness, and Chinakhov was asked Saturday in Pittsburgh if he was surprised to hear the news.

"I don't know," Chinakhov said. "I just saw the news, and I texted the guys and how they think about it. And, I mean, I'm not surprised."

Rumors about the strained relationship between Chinakhov and Evason came to a head on Jul. 17, when the trade request was officially initiated publicly by Chinakhov and his agent, Shumi Babaev. Babaev's agency shared Chinakhov's request on social media.

"I had some misunderstandings with the coach during the season. Now I would be glad to have a trade. I would like to move to a different location. Will I return to Russia? As long as I can play in the NHL, I will keep developing here," Chinakhov said via the agency's X post. 

And the Blue Jackets, suffice to say, were not very happy about how the situation was handled publically by Chinakhov or Babaev.

“I’m surprised his agent went public,” Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell told Aaron Portzline of The Athletic. “But I’m not surprised it because we’ve talked about it. He got back [from a back injury in 2024-25] and didn’t play well, and [Chinakhov and Evason] fell out of favour."

Waddell also added at the time: “When he came back, he was not the Chinakhov we were hoping he was, and he got healthy scratched at the end. That’s what happens with guys. He couldn’t handle that.”

Since being dealt to Pittsburgh for forward Danton Heinen, a 2026 second-round pick, and a 2027 third-round pick, the Omsk, Russia native has tallied three goals and four points in eight games, largely seeing time on the Penguins' second line with veteran star forward Evgeni Malkin. 

Takeaways: Penguins Take Down Cross-State Rival Flyers In Commanding 6-3 WinTakeaways: Penguins Take Down Cross-State Rival Flyers In Commanding 6-3 WinThe Pittsburgh Penguins snapped their three-game losing skid with a big win over their rival Philadelphia Flyers to catapult themselves to third in the Metropolitan Division standings

And his new head coach has been complimentary of Chinakhov's work as a Penguin so far. 

“I don’t think he gets enough credit for the way he works away from the puck," Muse said. "He’s done a really good job there in terms of the tracking, the getting back. He’s got some detail to his game. You watch, and he’s changing at the right time, he’s driving wide, he’s drawing a number of penalties.

"So, I think the scoring’s obvious with him, but there’s some things that I’ve learned about him since he’s been here that, maybe, I didn’t know as much but really like.”

Chinakhov has 40 goals and 81 points in 212 career NHL games. His best season came with Columbus in 2023-24, when he registered 16 goals and 29 points in 53 games. 

Chinakhov Trade Shows Penguins Are Starting To Shift GearsChinakhov Trade Shows Penguins Are Starting To Shift GearsKyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins traded for Yegor Chinakhov from the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday, and it could be a sign of things to come over the next several months.

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