LEXINGTON, KY - DECEMBER 13: Basketball Hall of Fame member and commentator Charles Barkley walks to the floor with legendary announcer Dick Vitale before a game between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Kentucky Wildcats on December 13, 2025, at Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY. (Photo by Jeff Moreland/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Dick Vitale is a college basketball legend, but somehow the 86-year-old announcer has never called a March Madness game. That’s about to change: Vitale will be on the call for a First Four game in the 2026 men’s NCAA tournament next to Charles Barkley thanks to a partnership between ESPN and Turner Sports.
Turner has long owned the rights to March Madness, and that means Vitale, an ESPN employee, wouldn’t call games during college basketball’s spotlight event. An emerging partnership between ESPN and Turner formed when Turner lost the NBA rights in the latest TV deal, but ESPN swooped in to save the beloved ‘Inside the NBA’ featuring Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson. It’s nice to see the two sides working together to get Dickie V on the call for a tournament game.
— March Madness Men’s Basketball TV (@MM_MBB_TV) March 4, 2026
Vitale and Barkley were also on the call together for the Indiana vs. Kentucky game on Dec. 13 earlier this season. Let’s hope these two sports broadcasting icons get a good game to call when the bracket is announced.
Vitale beat several different types of cancer in recent years, including melanoma, lymphoma, and vocal cord cancer. He’s one of the best ambassadors for the sport, and he deserves a shot to call March Madness after giving us so many iconic regular season calls over the years.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 19: Isaac Paredes #15 of the Houston Astros smiles in the batting cages during spring training workouts at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on February 19, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s looking increasingly likely that the deal that sent Christian Vazquez to the Houston Astros for Wilyer Abreu will be remembered not only as Chaim Bloom’s best trade during his tenure at the helm of the Red Sox, but as one of the best trade’s in recent baseball memory. Abreu has already won two Gold Gloves and isn’t that far off from making the all-star team; he could do so as early as this year and it wouldn’t be all that surprising. On the other side of the deal, Vazquez has compiled a total of -0.1 bWAR for the Astros and Twins since the trade. And to make matters worse for Vazquez, now he doesn’t even have a place on a Major League roster as we enter the 2026 season. But he’ll be playing for Puerto Rico in the WBC, and he hopes he can parlay that into a job somewhere. (Peter Abraham, Boston Globe)
Speaking of trades between the Astros and Red Sox, Isaac Paredes trade chatter is back in the news cycle. While the Sox are seemingly comfortable with their outfield surplus, the Astros infield surplus is said to be “untenable,” with the team continuing to explore a move to clear the logjam and bring in a lefty bat. The Sox and Astros haven’t been in contact for a couple of weeks now, but they had engaged in “thorough discussions” about Isaac Paredes earlier in the offseason and the Astros reportedly may try to rekindle things. (Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic)
Of course you wouldn’t think the Sox had an outfield surplus based on the spring training lineups they’ll be running out over the coming weeks. All four of the team’s primary outfielders (that’s right, we still got four starting outfielders!) will be participating in the World Baseball Classic, along with the team’s maybe-DH/maybe-outfielder Masataka Yoshida. That’s going to make it hard for Alex Cora to fill out the lineup, but it’s also going to create some spring opportunities for guys like Braiden Ward. (Tim Healey, Boston Globe)
Team Brazil has a connection to the Red Sox as well. Angels minor leaguer Lucas Ramirez will be suiting up for the baseball version of the Canarinho, but his father once took the field for the Dominican Republic. That’s because his father is Manny Ramirez. (Martín Gallegos, MLB.com)
And finally some injury news. Carlos Narvaez was scratched from the game with back spasms yesterda, but it’s nothing serious and he plans on playing this afternoon. (Chris Cotillo, MassLive)
Black Caps opener Allen blasts 100 not out from 33 balls
South Africa won every match they could afford to lose in this tournament and then lost the first one that they had to win.
They were completely marmalised by New Zealand, who won the first semi-final by nine wickets. Finn Allen ripped through South Africa’s feared fast bowling attack, and hit an unbeaten hundred off just 33 balls. It was the fastest century in the history of the competition, and, as Allen said himself, the innings of his life. Only two batters have ever hit a faster ton in international T20 cricket.
FORT MEYERS, FL - MARCH 03: Willi Castro #3 of Team Puerto Rico bats during the game between the Team Puerto Rico and the Boston Red Sox at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 in Fort Meyers, Florida. (Photo by Kylie Bridenhagen/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
First Pitch (CT):12:05 TV: Twins.TVand MLB.TV (FREE) Radio: Audacy App Know Yo’ Foe: Go on vacation to Puerto Rico or something
What to watch: The three backup SS options are all in the lineup as they fight for the Twins’ final roster spot. Gray at SS, Arcia at 3B, and Kreidler in RF. Also, Willi Castro and Christian Vazquez make their grand returns to Fort Myers (which many poeple call the Minneapolis of Florida).
Duke won the regular season title and No. 1 seed with a few games to spare, while Virginia, Miami and North Carolina also earned double-byes.
The ACC tournament this season is being played at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Games tip off Tuesday, March 10, with the championship game scheduled for Saturday, March 14.
Here's how the bracket looks:
Let March officially begin 🏆
The bracket for the 2026 T. Rowe Price ACC Men's Basketball Tournament is set!
BRADENTON, FL - FEBRUARY 27: Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin (75) enters the field from the dugout during a game against the Baltimore Orioles on February 27, 2026, at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates have landed themselves a generational kind of player in rising star Konnor Griffin. In Spring Training so far, Griffin has been very impressive and is being compared to players of the past who made their MLB debuts with roughly the same amount of inexperience and youth in their professional careers.
At just 19-years-old and only one professional season under his belt, Griffin is looking to do what very few have done and that’s make an MLB opening day roster as a teenager. The Mississippi native has already found himself in a small group of players with the kind of hype that he has generated, but he’s in line to be in an even smaller fraternity if he can crack the Major League level this season.
Over the last 40 years, there has only been four players to see time on a big league roster as a teenager and with so little experience in the Minor League ranks. Those four players are Ken Griffey Jr., Bryce Harper, Alex Rodriguez and Juan Soto. All four of those players were highly touted in their respective draft classes and have gone on to become all-time greats in the game of baseball, and now Konnor Griffin has a real shot at being mentioned in this rarified group.
The most notable of this group is without a doubt Griffey Jr. who made the Seattle Mariner’s opening day roster at 19-years-old in 1989 after being drafted first overall in 1987. “The Kid” went on to have one of the most storied careers of any player in MLB history amassing 10 Gold Gloves, seven Silver Sluggers and was a 10 time All-Star and was the AL MVP 1997.
Bryce Harper was one of the most highly touted prospects in baseball history and ended up dropping out of high school after his sophomore year to play college baseball at Southern Nevada. Regarded as a true five-tool player Harper primarily played catcher but was drafted first overall as an outfielder by the Washington Nationals in 2010 in an effort to maximize his talents and get him to the Major League roster faster. It took little time for Harper to make an impact in Washington as he spent just one season in the Minor Leagues before being promoted to the majors in 2012. Harper is one of the most dangerous hitters in baseball and is an eight time All-Star selection, a two time NL MVP, was the NL Rookie of the Year and is a four time Silver Slugger.
Perhaps the most controversial player of this fraternity is Alex Rodriguez. After being drafted first overall in 1993, Rodriguez made his professional debut in 1994. On July 8, 1994 Rodriguez would make his MLB debut as an 18-year-old. At the time he was just the third 18-year-old shortstop in MLB since 1900 and was the youngest player to ever suit up for Seattle. He remains as the last 18-year-old to play in an MLB game. “A-Rod” became a World Series champion with the New York Yankees in 2009 and is also the recipient of the most Hank Aaron Awards with four. His history with PEDs will likely keep him out of Cooperstown but there is no doubt he is one of the most successful baseball players of all time, especially considering he made his MLB debut at just 18.
The most recent draftee of this group (so far) is Juan Soto. The Dominican superstar was signed by the Washington Nationals in July 2015 and made his professional debut in 2016. When Soto made his MLB debut in 2018 he was the youngest player in the majors at 19-years-old and was the first player born in 1998 to appear in an MLB game. Even at a young age Soto was a feared hitter. He became the youngest player since Griffey Jr. to be intentionally walked in a game and was the youngest player in Nationals history to hit a home run. Soto became a World Series champion with Washington in 2019 and is a six time Silver Slugger Award winner. Soto signed the largest contract in professional sports history during free-agency in 2025.
Griffin has one minor league season under his belt in which he was very impressive. Baseball America named him the top Minor League player of the year in 2025 and a Minor League All-Star. USA Today named Griffin the top Minor League player of the year as well. He was also named a Rawlings MiLB Gold Glove award recipient. Griffin finished the 2025 season with a slash line of .333/.415/.527 to go along with a .942 OPS, 21 home runs, 94 RBIs and 65 stolen bases. Now in just six Spring Training games Griffin is the first teenager to have three homers in a single Spring in at least 20 years.
On paper, this is the best looking Pirates team in at least a decade if not longer, and Griffin could certainly be a player that puts them over the top. If he doesn’t make the opening day roster, there is a strong probability that he’ll still make his MLB debut in 2026, and if he’s half as good as any of the other aforementioned players, the league is going to have to recognize that the future of baseball has a name; that name is Konnor Griffin.
BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq’s hopes of World Cup qualification are being impacted by the Iran war because players cannot get visas for the playoff tournament in Mexico and the team's coach is stranded in the United Arab Emirates.
“Because of airspace closures, our head coach, Graham Arnold, is unable to leave the United Arab Emirates,” the Iraqi soccer federation said in a statement on Instagram on Wednesday. “In addition, several embassies remain closed at the present time, preventing several professional players, technical and medical staff members from obtaining entry visas to Mexico.”
Iraq is scheduled to play either Bolivia or Suriname in Monterrey, Mexico on March 31 for one of the last two qualification places for the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The federation said it is in “constant communication with FIFA regarding the arrangements for our national team’s participation” in the match. It said the Asian Football Confederation is also “fully aware of every development regarding our team’s situation.”
If Iraq fails to qualify through the playoff, it could take another path if Iran is unable to take part in the tournament because of the U.S. and Israeli attacks on the country.
“We cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope,” Iran’s top soccer official Mehdi Taj said.
Should Iran pull out — still hugely speculative — Iraq or the United Arab Emirates would be likely replacements as the ninth and 10th-ranked Asian teams in qualifying.
But FIFA’s legal regulations are vague and appear to give FIFA president Gianni Infantino wide powers to shape any decision.
Iraq’s most certain hope of qualifying remains winning the playoff later this month.
The NHL trade deadline is just a couple of days away, and the understanding is that the Los Angeles Kings' GM Ken Holland won't be a busy customer by the time the week's over.
He had his say, explaining that trading for Artemi Panarin from the New York Rangers on Feb. 4 was his "big deadline deal." Holland also said that he anticipates the team's first-round pick not being in play this week.
Nonetheless, here is a roundup of the players that have been linked to the Kings in some way, leading up to Friday's deadline.
Elias Pettersson, C, Vancouver Canucks
Throughout the season, there have been rumblings regarding Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson and Los Angeles.
It seemed to be an obvious fit, looking on the outside. Captain Anze Kopitar, who has been the Kings' first-line center for practically the length of his 20-year career, will be retiring at the end of this season.
Therefore, Los Angeles is going to have to replace the veteran in some way, shape or form.
Pettersson could fit the bill of what the Kings will be missing as he is a top-six center and was once a superstar, recording a 103-point campaign back in 2022-23. The Swede is also 27 years old, meaning the Kings would get some prime years from Pettersson.
The trickiest part of that potential marriage is Pettersson's contract. The Canucks center carries an $11.6 million salary cap hit for the next six years. He also has a full no-move clause activated throughout the entire deal that expires following the 2031-32 campaign.
To this point, it doesn't seem like Pettersson is in play - for any team - ahead of the trade deadline. If Vancouver ever decides to trade him away, it'll likely be an off-season move when teams have a little more flexibility with the cap and their rosters.
Robert Thomas, C, St. Louis Blues
Robert Thomas has been one of the hottest topics in the NHL in terms of candidates to be moved before Friday's deadline. At his age, cap hit, and several years under term, what team wouldn't be interested in kicking tires at Thomas?
TSN's Darren Dreger said on the Barn Burner podcast that he could see Thomas being a fit for L.A. The fit here is built on the same philosophy as the Pettersson addition.
However, Thomas is younger than Pettersson at 26 years old and has a cheaper salary cap hit of $8.125 million until 2030-31.
The problem with this potential move is that the St. Louis Blues have a high asking price for Thomas, and given the position the Kings are in, Holland shouldn't unload his prospects and future assets. Making the playoffs isn't a certainty for Los Angeles this year.
Vincent Trocheck, C, New York Rangers
While Vincent Trocheck has three more years on his contract, he wouldn't be the type of fit for the Kings that Pettersson or Thomas would bring. Trocheck is a 32-year-old veteran center that contending teams will be looking to add.
Not only would the Rangers center only bring the Kings a few years of great penalty killing and second-line contributions, but Trocheck is reportedly uninterested in moving to the Western Conference.
Trocheck's 12-team no-trade list allows him to exercise that request. Along with that clause in his contract, he earns $5.625 million until the end of the 2028-29 season
Even though the Olympic gold medallist would be a great help for Los Angeles in their quest to get into the playoffs, it doesn't seem like a likely transaction.
Steven Stamkos, C/LW, Nashville Predators
The Kings were linked to Nashville Predators center and left winger Steven Stamkos for a brief period of time. Those rumors came to fruition before the Panarin acquisition and, since then, have gone silent.
In addition, there's no guarantee that Stamkos gets moved anywhere, as he has a full no-move clause for the remainder of his contract. The deal that sees him earn $8 million per season expires following the 2027-28 campaign.
Furthermore, Stamkos has hinted at not being interested in waiving his clause, keeping him in Nashville.
Nonetheless, the 36-year-old veteran has had an excellent campaign to this point, scoring 30 goals and 47 points in 61 contests.
Patrik Laine, RW, Montreal Canadiens
There are two parts of the story when it comes to Los Angeles pursuing Montreal Canadiens right winger Patrik Laine.
Initially, Holland contacted the Habs to check in on the status of Laine, but quickly began looking elsewhere as there didn't seem to be a fit.
However, the latest reports from David Pagnotta say that the Kings are circling back on the Finnish sniper. This likely has to do with the injury to Andrei Kuzmenko, who received surgery and is out for the long term.
At any rate, Laine also hasn't been healthy. He's only featured in five games this season, with his last appearance coming on Oct. 16. The 27-year-old has been sidelined for several months following a core muscle surgery.
Last season, the second-overall pick of the 2016 draft featured in 52 contests, scoring 30 goals and 33 points. The pending UFA carries an $8.7 million cap hit and has a 10-team no-trade list.
Evander Kane, LW, Vancouver Canucks
The rumor linking Canucks left winger Evander Kane to the Kings hasn't been a hot headline for some time. However, the reality of a deal happening is very much alive.
One thing to consider is how Los Angeles' GM feels about the player. Holland has brought in Kane before, when he was with the Edmonton Oilers, and could easily do it again if he wished.
Elias Pettersson and Evander Kane (Bob Frid-Imagn Images)
Kane, 34, was acquired by Vancouver in the off-season for a fourth-round pick. If Holland wants to add experience, sandpaper, and depth to the bottom half of his forward group, trading for Kane may be the easiest transaction the GM has ever made in his career.
This season, Kane has played 59 games and has registered 11 goals and 27 points while averaging 16:48 of ice time for the Canucks.
Blake Coleman is very likely to be moved by the Calgary Flames ahead of this deadline. But Coleman's connection to Los Angeles has been a relatively new development.
Dreger reported on Barn Burner that among the laundry list of forwards that the Holland and the Kings are keeping an eye on, Coleman appears to be one of them.
The 34-year-old is a very versatile player who can do a job in all forward positions. He's in his fifth season with the Flames, but played a key role as a checking forward for the Tampa Bay Lightning in their back-to-back Stanley Cup runs.
Coleman is in the fifth year of a six-year contract that pays him $4.9 million per season and has a 10-team trade list. He has 13 goals and 22 points in 48 games for Calgary.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
Arizona is all but a lock for one of four No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament. Could Houston or Iowa State sneak onto the final No. 1-seed spot with a Big 12 championship win?
Kansas is also capable of making a run for a Big 12 title, especially with Darryn Peterson fully available, which he has been as of late. Peterson, one of the top projected picks of the 2026 NBA Draft, has played 30 or more minutes in each of his last four games.
The Big 12 tournament could also have huge seeding implications for TCU, UCF, Cincinnati and others vying for an at-large bid.
Here's how the Big 12 bracket looks:
A historic #Big12MBB season has led us to this moment.
The OFFICIAL 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament Bracket is here 👀 pic.twitter.com/tkKZYPWggt
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) March 8, 2026
The Oklahoma City Thunder are so deep that a guy like Isaiah Joe gets overlooked. Joe has seen an expanded role since the start of February, and he’s taken advantage.
Joe is averaging 15.6 points over his last 14 games and has been a deadly 3-point shooter, draining a crazy good 46.6% of his 7.4 attempts per game during that stretch. I like him to light up the scoreboard at Madison Square Garden when OKC visits the New York Knicks tonight.
The Knicks have struggled with their perimeter defense, ranking 20th in opponent made threes per game, and are playing the second half of a back-to-back. Joe has hit three or more threes 10 times over this 14-game run.
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: ESPN
Prop #2: Brandon Miller Over 3.5 made threes
+125 at bet365
Brandon Miller’s development might be the biggest reason the Charlotte Hornets are becoming a good basketball team. Miller is having a great season and is on fire from beyond the arc.
He’s averaging 23.4 points and shooting 41.3% from 3-point range on 10.2 attempts over his last nine games, and you can expect Miller to keep letting it fly tonight against the Boston Celtics.
The Celtics live and die by the 3-ball. They are one of the best long-range shooting teams while ranking 22nd in opponent made threes per game.
Miller has hit four or more threes in seven of his last nine games. At this price, I love backing him to do it again.
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Where to watch: FanDuel Sports Network Southeast-Charlotte, NBCSB
But, even with Giannis, this Bucks team has too many issues, including on the glass. Even with one of the best rebounders in the game, Milwaukee owns the fourth-worst rebounding rate.
Meanwhile, Hawks big man Onyeka Okongwu has been putting in extra work on the boards. Okongwu is averaging 9.2 rebounds in his last six games, hauling down 10 or more five times. Over 7.5 should be light work against the Bucks tonight.
Cash your ML bets quicker with bet365's early win payout!
Take advantage of the early win payout at bet365, where any pre-game NBA moneyline bet gets paid out as a winner if your team goes up by 20+ points!
Learn more about this feature, and all of bet365's offerings, with our comprehensive bet365 review!
Sign Up Now atimg src="https://img.covers.com/betting/sportsbooks/2/bet365.svg" alt="bet365" width="100" height="28" style="vertical-align: middle;"
21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The Detroit Red Wings return home with momentum after a statement 4–2 road win over the Nashville Predators, bouncing back from a tough trip that also included a stop against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Awaiting them are the Vegas Golden Knights, who enter Wednesday’s matchup struggling at 4-8-2 over their last 14 games and riding a three-game losing streak. While Detroit has dropped three of the last four meetings overall, Vegas has lost four of its last five games in the Motor City.
Vegas could again be without captain Mark Stone, paving the way for Pavel Dorofeyev to continue his hot stretch alongside Mitch Marner, with 15 points in his last 16 games. Detroit will counter with Lucas Raymond and Dylan Larkin, who have combined for eight goals over the past 10 games.
The biggest question surrounds Detroit’s crease after John Gibson exited Monday’s game, prompting the recall of top prospect Sebastian Cossa. Cam Talbot is expected to start against Adin Hill, as both teams look for stability in net in what shapes up to be a pivotal matchup.
Detroit Red Wings’ Expected Line Combinations vs Vegas (Wednesday)
Rasmussen – Larkin – Kane
DeBrincat – Copp – Raymond
van Riemsdyk – Compher – Shine
Finnie – Kasper – Appleton
Edvinsson – Seider
Johansson - Sandin-Pellikka
Chiarot – Benard-Docker
Talbot
Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
The hosts must conjure the spirit of their last title triumph, 27 years ago, when the sides meet at Murrayfield
Even now, 27 years on, Kenny Logan still remembers how good it felt. Back in 1999, as this year, Scotland were title outsiders before a crunch fixture against the defending champions, France. Beneath a bright blue Parisian sky they gloriously ripped up the script with five first-half tries and, thanks to England’s late implosion against Wales at Wembley a day later, hoisted the trophy at Murrayfield in front of 15,000 fans on the Monday.
For Logan, who landed five successful kicks on that famous afternoon, the timeless lessons of the story are twofold. The first is that Scotland have failed to win the tournament since; and the second is that, at times like this, fortune favours the brave: “When we went to France that year we took the game to them. That’s what Scotland will do this weekend – and probably do it better than we could.”
Things aren’t looking particularly good for the Florida Panthers and their hopes of making the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season.
Following Florida’s 5-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday, the third straight for the Panthers, they fell 10 points behind the Boston Bruins for the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.
It wasn’t that long ago that Florida was in a much better position with solid prospects of making the playoffs.
After winning a third straight game on Jan. 25, the Panthers were just three points out of a playoff spot with 31 games remaining on their schedule.
They have played 10 games since then, losing eight of them and leaving any hopes at reaching the postseason into extremely critical condition.
With the NHL’s annual Trade Deadline looming on Friday, it seems the Panthers may have played themselves out of being buyers and instead may be looking toward the future.
According to NHL insider Pierre LeBrun, Florida may be taking a selling position at the deadline.
The Panthers lost again last night and my understanding is they've made the decision to be sellers as far as listening on pending UFAs, which most notably include the likes of AJ. Greer and Sergei Bobrovsky. Bobrovsky has a 16-team no-trade list. Doesn't mean he will be dealt…
That means pending unrestricted free agents Sergei Bobrovsky and A.J. Greer could be prime targets for teams looking to bolster their rosters ahead of the playoffs.
Greer, 29, is having the best season of his nine spent in the NHL, racking up career highs in goals (11) and points (22), and he’ll likely set a new mark for shots on goal in a season as well (he needs nine shots to break last season’s total of 86).
Bobrovsky, on the other hand, is having a regular season to forget.
Following Tuesday’s defeat to the Devils, Bobrovsky’s record dropped to 22-19-1. Through 43 appearance, Bob has skated to a career-worst .873 save percentage, and the only season he had with a higher GAA (goals against average) than his current 3.13 was during his first year with the Panthers, when it was 3.23.
Not since his second season in the NHL has Bobrovsky, who is 37 years old, had a save percentage lower than .900.
But Bobrovsky’s recent play during the postseason, where he’s been excellent, will keep him in high regard among potential playoff teams looking for help in the goaltending department.
While helping lead the Panthers to three consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances, Bobrovsky has been lights out between the pipes, cementing his place as one of the NHL’s all time great goaltenders and playoff performers.
He struggles this season could also be attributed to Florida playing with a roster missing several of their key pieces, as Sasha Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, Dmitry Kulikov and Tomas Nosek all missed months upon months, with Tkahcuk only returning in January and Kulikov and Nosek in the past week, while Barkov remains on LTIR.
The thing about Bobrovsky is that he has a 16-team no-trade list attached to his contract, and he and his family are very happy in South Florida.
It’s where he and his wife Olya have started their family, with two daughters joining the Bobrovsky clan in recent years, and where Bobrovsky has reportedly said he wants to continue his career beyond his current contract.
How all of this plays out in the coming 48 hours will be very interesting to watch unfold.
Photo caption: Jan 8, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Florida Panthers Sergei Sergei Bobrovsky (72) sprays his face with water against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period at Bell Centre. (David Kirouac-Imagn Images)
The Houston Astros (1-6-3) travel to Sarasota to take on the Baltimore Orioles (5-4-1) in Grapefruit League action.
LHP Colton Gordon will make his third appearance of the Spring for the Astros, while RHP Shane Baz will take the mound for the Orioles.
TODAY’S STARTER: LHP Colton Gordon is coming off a productive rookie season, where he recorded a 5.34 ERA (51ER/86IP) in 20 games, including 14 starts for the Astros. Entered the 2025 season as the one of the Astros top pitching prospects and finished the 2025 season with the third most starts in the Astros rotation. Among AL rookies in 2025, he ranked first in walks per nine innings (1.99) and first in strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.79).
TODAY’S POTENTIAL RELIEVERS: RHP AJ Blubaugh, RHP Alimber Santa and RHP Miguel Ullola.
CAMP BY THE NUMBERS: The Astros have 61 players in camp, including a full 40-man roster and 21 non-roster invitees. 34 pitchers, seven catchers, 11 infielders and nine outfielders.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Wednesday, March 4, 12:05 p.m. CST
Isaiah Joe
Brandon Miller
Onyeka Okongwu
