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Kings reportedly open-minded about trading star players before deadline

Kings reportedly open-minded about trading star players before deadline originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Kings are gearing up to re-enter familiar territory: rebuild mode.

With a 6-18 record, Sacramento and first-year general manager Scott Perry are “open-minded” about discussing trades throughout the roster, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported in a story published Tuesday, citing sources.

“The Kings and first-year general manager Scott Perry are using this season as a patient evaluation campaign, trying to build a gritty culture,” Charania wrote. “Teams are monitoring veterans Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, along with 25-year-old guard Keon Ellis.” 

Sabonis was acquired from the Pacers in February 2022 in a trade that sent budding star Tyrese Haliburton to Indiana. He became a foundational piece in the Sacramento core alongside guard De’Aaron Fox, and the duo led the Kings to their first playoff appearance since the 2005-06 season the following year. 

The Kings acquired DeRozan in a sign-and-trade deal in July 2024. LaVine was acquired nearly seven months later in a trade that sent the disgruntled Fox to the San Antonio Spurs. 

Despite having three All-Star caliber players, the Kings’ 2024-25 season ended with a disappointing 40-42 record and an elimination in the NBA Play-In Tournament. In the wake of that result and a subsequent struggle out of the gate this season, the team is closer to entering a rebuild phase than contending for another playoff appearance. 

In an appearance on FanDuel TV’s “Run it Back,” The Athletic’s Sam Amick corroborated Charania’s report. 

“Now, you have the shifting of the storyline and the framing, which is – it’s time to rebuild. That’s a tough pill to swallow…” Amick said. “…And right now, GM Scott Perry is trying to keep [Kings owner Vivek Ranadive] at bay and convince him that this might take three, four, five years to turn around…” 

“…I mean really, you’re just talking about Nique Clifford and a couple other guys who are part of the future. The rest of them, they’re trying to test the market and figure out what kind of moves they can make,” Amick said. 

Amick said that DeRozan, out of the three Kings stars listed, could be “easy enough” to move, but his partial guarantee for next season could make negotiations tricky. 

LaVine and Sabonis’ remaining money could make their contracts tougher to move. Amick notes that the only “concrete” team that has some level of interest in Lavine is the Milwaukee Bucks, while for Sabonis, not many teams are interested in having their offenses run through the center position. 

“That’s why Scott Perry is asking for a long runway and a lot of patience here, because the market for their guys, I don’t think, is great,” Amick noted. 

Keegan Murray might be the player who the Kings would be most reluctant to part ways with, Amick said. The 25-year-old forward signed a five-year, $140 million contract extension prior to the start of the season. 

But, as Amick mentioned, with the blockbuster trade of Luka Dončić last season, there might be no truly untouchable player in the NBA. 

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Canadiens: Big Divisional Clash

When they lost their last game to the St. Louis Blues, the Montreal Canadiens missed a golden opportunity to leapfrog their divisional rival to take the lead in the Atlantic Division. Still, on Tuesday night, they’ll at least have a chance to overtake the Tampa Bay Lightning in the standings. This game will be the first of four duels between the two sides this season.

Jon Cooper’s men will be playing the second half of a back-to-back tonight after suffering a 2-0 loss against the Toronto Maple Leafs last night. That was their fourth loss in a row and a second shutout in a row. Nikita Kucherov made his return to the lineup after missing a couple of games, but goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy and defensemen Ryan McDonagh and Erick Cernak are all still sidelined.

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There’s no word yet on who will be in net for the Habs tonight, but given the fact that Jakub Dobes has played the last two games and that Kaapo Kahkonen was returned to the Laval Rocket after the previous match, Samuel Montembeault should be back in net. The Becancour native has a 3-3-1 record against the Bolts with a 2.85 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage. As for Dobes, he has faced the Lightning only once and was pulled after allowing three goals on eight shots after 21 minutes of play. That means he has an 8.54 GAA and a .625 SV.

As for Tampa Bay, Jonas Johansson was in the net on Monday night and made 22 saves on 23 shots, and Brandon Halverson is expected to start tonight. The 29-year-old has only played two NHL games since the 2017-18 season, bouncing between the AHL, the ECHL and spending a season in Germany’s second division league. He has never faced the Canadiens. As for Johansson, he’s 2-2-0 with a 4.52 GAA and a .852 SV.

The Canadiens will want to keep an eye on the usual suspects tonight. Victor Hedman has 51 points in 51 career games against the Habs, Kucherov has 44 points in 38 meetings, and Brayden Point wraps up the top three with 24 points in 29 games. Jake Guentzel isn’t far behind with 22 points in just 18 games.

Meanwhile, Montreal only has four players who have reached double digits against Tampa Bay, and that includes the injured Patrik Laine. Brendan Gallagher is the team’s most productive player against the Bolts with 19 points in 37 games, but he is struggling mightily this season with only 10 points in 28 games, and he has been held off the scoresheet in the last six games. Nick Suzuki has 12 points in 18 tilts, while Josh Anderson has 10 points in 21 duels. As for Cole Caufield, who is on an 11-game point streak, he has only 6 points in 12 games.

The Bolts aren’t the Canadiens’ favourite team; the Florida outfit has won seven of the last 10 games between the two sides, including the previous meeting. They are currently in second place in the Atlantic Division, just one point ahead of the Canadiens, who are fourth in the division and outside the playoff picture, one point behind the Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Rangers, who are in the wildcard spots. It’s worth noting that the Rangers have already played 31 games, while Montreal has played only 28 so far. Interestingly, the Habs will be taking on those two teams later this week, visiting Pittsburgh on Thursday night and New York on Saturday.

Tonight’s game is scheduled at 7:00 PM, and you can catch it on RDS, TSN2 and The Spot.

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'I'm Just Trying To Enjoy It': Dennis Hildeby’s Confidence Grows In Maple Leafs Net Following First Career NHL Shutout Against Lightning

Dennis Hildeby struck the right balance of confidence and humility after picking up his first career shutout. The Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender made 29 saves to help his club defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-0 at Scotiabank Arena on Monday.

“Could have felt better, honestly, but I mean, it worked out,” Hildeby said. “I think I competed in there and got lucky, and some great effort by our guys out there too, carrying some rebounds and all that. I got away with it.”

Early on, the Lightning peppered Hildeby with shots. One particular chance flipped over the goaltender and appeared to be on its way into an open net, only to have defenseman Troy Stecher snatch it away at the goal line.

“It's a great play. One of those times where I felt a little off,” Hildeby admitted. “Maybe I wasn't doing what I was supposed to, but, I mean, yeah, he got it done there. So I'm very thankful for that.”

Thrust into the spotlight after goaltenders Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll went down with injuries, the Leafs find themselves riding their fourth-round pick from the 2022 NHL Draft. He is expected to hold the fort for the next week or more. That is when Woll is expected to return, although past experience with the goaltender could mean it could take longer.

But with the pressure placed squarely on the goaltender known as the ‘Beast’, he has put forth solid back-to-back performances: first a 2-1 shootout loss on Saturday, and now a shutout against the Atlantic Division-leading Tampa Bay Lightning.

“I'm just trying to enjoy it. I mean, it's easier said than done, but at the end of the day, it's like what I've been dreaming of since I started playing hockey,” Hildeby said. “So you just got to remind yourself of that and have a lot of fun in the meanwhile and just compete.”

The confidence in his play since taking over the No. 1 spot hasn’t gone unnoticed.

“That's one big thing I find with goaltending is when they get more comfortable, you can see with their puck play too, and just had another layer of confidence for him,” Jake McCabe said of Hildeby. “He's been rock solid. He put in some work the other night, comes into the third period and shuts the door as well. So, yeah, it's good stuff.”

McCabe was referring to Hildeby coming on in relief of Woll for the third period of the club’s win against the Carolina Hurricanes. It became evident then that it was Hildeby’s net for the time being.

Hildeby was given the game puck at the end for the shutout and said he will give it to his father, who collects them. The one thing that is evident is the Leafs seem to be playing better in front of him, too.

“I think what I see in that is he's trusting his ability and his size and, you know, staying pretty calm and cool in net,” Head Coach Craig Berube said. “That's what I see. You know, his puck play has been good, but overall his mindset is really good.”

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NHL Rumors: 2 Potential Trade Fits For Penguins' Tristan Jarry

Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry has been the subject of trade rumors for quite some time. It has carried over to this season, and it makes sense with the Penguins having two promising young goalies in Arturs Silovs and Sergei Murashov. 

Jarry is also in the middle of a strong bounce-back season, as he has a 9-2-1 record, a 2.54 goals-against average, and a .913 save percentage in 13 games so far this campaign. Due to this, the Penguins could be in a position to sell high on the 10-year veteran.

With this, let's look at two teams that could make sense as landing spots for Jarry if the Penguins decide to move him. 

Edmonton Oilers 

The Oilers have been heavily linked to Jarry this season, and it was recently confirmed by Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman that Edmonton is interested in the Penguins goalie. It makes sense, as the Oilers need serious help between the pipes, and Jarry would give them that. 

Yet, the big obstacle in a potential Jarry to Edmonton trade is his $5.375 million cap hit until the end of the 2027-28 season. The Penguins and Oilers would need to find a way to make a trade work out financially, but on paper, Edmonton looks like a great fit for Jarry. 

Montreal Canadiens 

The Canadiens could make for an intriguing landing spot for Jarry if they are looking to make an upgrade. Sam Montembeault is in the middle of a nightmare season with the Canadiens, as he has a .861 save percentage and a 3.61 goals-against average in 14 games so far. 

The Canadiens have Jakub Dobes and an exciting prospect in Jacob Fowler, but if they want immediate help between the pipes ahead of the playoffs, Jarry could make for a good addition. 

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NHL Rumors: 3 Potential Trade Fits For Blackhawks' Ilya Mikheyev

The Chicago Blackhawks have many pending unrestricted free agents (UFAs) this season. Because of this, the Blackhawks could be active as sellers if they find themselves out of a playoff spot as we get closer to the 2025 NHL trade deadline.

Among their most notable pending UFAs is forward Ilya Mikheyev. If the Blackhawks make him available this season, he would likely generate interest, as he is a solid forward who can score and kill penalties. He also just had a 20-goal and 34-point season in 2024-25. 

Due to this, let's look at three teams that could target Mikheyev if the Blackhawks shop him this season. 

Washington Capitals 

The Capitals could be an interesting landing spot for Mikheyev if the Blackhawks shop him. He would offer them another solid option for their third line and could give them a bit more secondary offensive production if brought in. 

Tampa Bay Lightning

The Lightning will likely be on the hunt for forward depth this season, as their bottom six could use a boost. As a result of this, Mikheyev could fit in nicely in their bottom six if acquired. He would also give them another option to work with on their penalty kill, which would not be a bad thing for the Bolts. 

Detroit Red Wings 

The Red Wings could also be a team to watch when it comes to Mikheyev. When looking at their roster, it is clear that they could use some help on the wing, and Mikheyev could provide them with just that if acquired. 

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Columbus Blue Jackets (32 pts) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (36 pts) Game Preview

  The Columbus Blue Jackets are on the road to take on the Carolina Hurricanes at Lenovo Center. 

Carolina Hurricanes - 17-9-2 - 36 Points - 5-4-1 in last 10 - 2nd in the Metro

Columbus Blue Jackets - 13-10-6 - 32 Points - 3-3-4 in the last 10 - 8th in the Metro

Blue Jackets Stats

  • Power Play - 18.3% - 20th in the NHL
  • Penalty Kill -72.2% - 29th in the NHL
  • Goals For - 86 - 16th in the NHL
  • Goals Against - 98 - 28th in the NHL

Hurricanes Stats

  • Power Play - 15.3% - 27th in the NHL
  • Penalty Kill - 79.0% - 23rd in the NHL
  • Goals For - 93 - 8th in the NHL
  • Goals Against - 81 - 12th in the NHL

Series History vs. TheHurricanes

  • Columbus is 29-30-0-5 all-time, and 13-16-0-3 on the road vs. Carolina.
  • The Jackets are 0-6-0 in their last six games in Lenovo Center.
  • The CBJ went 2-2 vs. the Canes last season.

Who To Watch For The Hurricanes

  • Seth Jarvis leads the Canes with 16 goals.
  • Sebastian Aho leads Carolina with 26 points.
  • Goalie Brandon Bussi is 8-1-0 with a SV% of .903. His last start was on December 6th.
  • Pyotr Kochetkov is 4-1-0 with a SV% of .915. His last start was on December 7th.

CBJ Player Notes vs. Hurricanes 

  • Zach Werenski has 16 points in 31 career games against Carolina.
  • Kirill Marchenko has 11 points in 10 games, which includes 9 goals.
  • Sean Monahan has 16 points in 19 games vs. the Canes.

Injuries 

  • Erik Gudbranson - Upper Body - Missed 21 Games - IR - No timeline for a return
  • Boone Jenner - Upper Body - Missed 13 Games - IR - Could return this week
  • Mathieu Olivier - Upper Body - Missed 6 Games - IR- No timeline for a return

TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 56

How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be on ESPN+ & HULU. Bob Wischusen will be on the play-by-play. The radio broadcast will be on 93.3 THE BUS, with Bob McElligott behind the mic doing the play-by-play. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!

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Islanders Netminder Ilya Sorokin Named NHL's First Start Of The Week

The NHL has named New York Islanders No. 1 netminder Ilya Sorokin their first star of the week ending Dec. 7.  

In three starts, Sorokin went 3-0-0, with a 1.33 GAA and a .960 SV%, which includes a 32-save shutout against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday, a 2-0 win:

This is the second time Sorokin has won the award, last doing so the week of Feb. 1, 2025.

Ironically, he posted a 3-0-0 record with a 1.33 GAA. The difference was a .953 SV%. 

Expect Sorokin to be in between the pipes against the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday night at UBS Arena. 

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Former Mets closer Edwin Diaz joins Dodgers with record 3-year deal, $69M: Report

Former Mets closer Edwin Diaz joins Dodgers with record 3-year deal, $69M: Report originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The rich have gotten richer, again.

In what’s seemingly become an annual offseason tradition, the Los Angeles Dodgers have signed one of the top free agents on the market.

Former New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz reportedly agreed to a three-year, $69 million deal with the two-time defending World Series champions, The Athletic’s Will Sammon first reported and ESPN’s Jeff Passan confirmed Tuesday.

The average annual value of $23 million is a new record for MLB relievers, Passan added.

Diaz, 31, has been one of the game’s best closers since making his first All-Star appearance in 2018. The three-time Reliever of the Year (2018, 2022, 2025) has 253 career saves, which is tied for fourth among active players.

Bullpen was the Dodgers’ biggest weakness in 2025, but the issue was solved during the postseason — largely thanks to rookie Roki Sasaki. The Japanese sensation could move back to the starting rotation in 2026 with Diaz now able to handle closing duties.

As for the Mets, the team signed reliever Devin Williams away from the New York Yankees last week. The right-hander is now expected to fill Diaz’s role as the Mets’ closer in 2026.

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Michael van Gerwen: ‘Of course I love darts, but I love my kids much more’

The former world No 1 shares how a traumatic year has shaped him as a darts player and a father and insists he can recapture his glory days at the world championship

“I can be a miserable bastard sometimes,” Michael van Gerwen says with a grin and a shrug as he tries to explain his new burst of optimism after a horribly testing year. “But I can also be quite positive. If you asked me this question a month ago, and we did this interview then, you would find me a bit different to today. But I feel good now even if, 100%, this has been a very tough year for me both on and off the oche.”

Rather than being miserable, the 36-year-old is amiable company – which seems remarkable as in 2025 he has been through a divorce after 17 years with his wife, Daphne, witnessed the devastating effect of cancer on his father, endured intense scrutiny in the Dutch media, and struggled to regain his once imperious form with the arrows.

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Phillies, Schwarber agree to new deal as slugger stays put

Phillies, Schwarber agree to new deal as slugger stays put originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Kyle Schwarber is back in Philly.

The designated hitter is returning to the Phillies on a five-year, $150 million deal, according to a report from ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

The 32-year-old slugger is coming off a season that ranks among the best in franchise history. He hit .240 with a league-leading 56 home runs and 132 RBIs in 2025, posting a .928 OPS. Since joining the Phillies in 2022, Schwarber has launched 187 homers, the most in the National League during that stretch.

President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski called re-signing Schwarber “a priority” at the club’s end-of-season press conference, noting, “We’d love to bring Kyle Schwarber back … He’s a huge part of what we do.”

Manager Rob Thomson echoed the sentiment, praising Schwarber’s leadership and professionalism: “He brings a lot — his calmness, his experience, how he talks to younger players when they’re scuffling. He’s a huge piece in that clubhouse.”

Beyond the numbers, Schwarber has become the heartbeat of the Phillies’ lineup. His power and steady presence have helped define the club’s four consecutive postseason runs.

He’s also left an imprint off the field — his “Neighborhood Heroes” foundation continues to support first responders and military families across the Philadelphia region.

Originally signed to a four-year, $79 million contract before the 2022 season, Schwarber will remain the team’s primary designated hitter as the Phillies look to extend their playoff window into 2026 and beyond.

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Sporticast 508: College Football Playoff Selections Stoke Ire

On the latest Sporticast episode, hosts Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams discuss some of the biggest sports business stories of the week, including the controversy surrounding the College Football Playoff selection process. The final rankings were unveiled on Sunday, and Notre Dame and Texas were among those left out. First, however, they talk about Sportico‘s …